Clean-energy advocates in Maine are applauding an expansion of the state's electric vehicle charging network. State officials recently announced the addition of seventeen new high-speed electric-vehicle charging stations, aimed at filling gaps on some of the most heavily used highways and roads.

Michael Stoddard, executive director with Efficiency Maine, said federal funds are helping place chargers in more rural areas, where swapping out older vehicles has been a challenge.

"People will know that the next time they're shopping for a car, they really can consider getting an EV as an option," he explained.

The new chargers will be installed over the next year and were funded in part by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Stoddard added the goal is to ultimately have a publicly-accessible EV charger located every 50 miles.

Roughly half of Maine's greenhouse-gas emissions come from the transportation sector. State officials have set a goal of cutting all emissions nearly in half over the next several years - ultimately reaching net-zero by 2045. It's estimated the state will need more than 200,000 light-duty EVs on the road to meet that target. Stoddard says expanding the EV infrastructure is a step in the right direction.

"If we can make real progress over the next five years on how we heat our homes and businesses and how we drive our cars and trucks, we will be really on the right track to meeting our climate action goals," he said.

Stoddard added Mainers interested in buying an electric vehicle can benefit from federal tax credits aimed at increasing EV sales. New vehicles are eligible for up to $7,500 in federal credits while state rebates can knock even more off the manufacturer's retail price.


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A new report shows housing and transportation are key factors that can keep young professionals from leaving Nebraska for opportunities elsewhere. Better pay is also near the top of the list.

To counter the brain drain happening across much of the Midwest, the City Of Omaha has launched a brain gain initiative, trying keep the state's young, professional talent in Nebraska.

Omaha Chamber of Commerce Director of Workforce Development Merrick Brtek said they did a survey to find out why young people are leaving.

"One of the reasons was job opportunities - that they were seeking job opportunities elsewhere," said Brtek. "Maybe they had their first career role here and were looking to advance, and they found an advancement role in another state."

Brtek said the city is helping young professionals understand that many of the priorities they're looking for elsewhere, including those advancement opportunities, already exist in Nebraska.

She added that Omaha is working to address the things that could be better, like creating more access to reliable mass transit, availability of affordable housing and higher wages.

Brtek said economic development teams are also shifting their focus to the younger demographic, trying to dispel the perception that good opportunities don't exist in Nebraska.

"We're trying to spend time working with kiddos that are a little bit younger, maybe high school students or college students, to make sure they're aware of the opportunities that are available," said Brtek. "Not just in Omaha but in the state of Nebraska to keep talent here, as well."

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show Nebraska has been consistency losing population for the last 15 years, though some larger communities are seeing growth, mostly immigrants relocating from other countries.

Communities in southern and eastern Montana were connected to passenger rail lines running from Chicago to Seattle until 1979. An effort to fund the revival of those routes passed the House but failed in the Montana Senate this week by a few votes.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority has garnered support from county commissioners, city council members and Montanans across party lines since its creation in 2020, especially in communities that could again become rail towns.

Jason Stuart, vice chair of the authority, called rural rail a "critical lifeline."

"Folks need access to critical health care services and other services and the only way they can reach them is by car," Stuart noted. "Passenger trains would just be such a blessing for all these communities up and down, throughout Southern Montana and southern North Dakota."

He added it would bring economic opportunities as well. House Bill 848 had requested $2 million from the state's railroad car tax to go to the authority annually, about half of its average revenue.

Opponents, largely with the freight industry, argued they should not be expected to subsidize passenger rail.

Rep. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, brought a late amendment suggesting each local government entity that is a rail authority member fund it with $50,000 annually.

Samantha Beyl, Rosebud County director for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, said the payments are not practical.

"Especially the rural towns, I don't see how any one county has an extra $50,000 laying around to do that," Beyl contended.

A $500,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program helped support plans for the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, mapped from Glendive to Saint Regis through Billings, Helena and Missoula.


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Law enforcement agencies are still trying to get the message through about the dangers and costs that stem from distracted driving.

A Minnesota police chief is echoing calls for people to realize that a text message can wait.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

This year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rolled out its "Put the Phone Away or Pay" campaign in hopes of convincing drivers to resist looking at their cell phones when behind the wheel.

Winona Police Chief Tom Williams said he feels this is still a pervasive issue.

"We've kind of lost track of the responsibilities associated with operating a motor vehicle," said Williams, "and we're so attached to our phones and social media."

Williams encouraged drivers to seek out safe spaces to pull over -- like a well-lit parking lot -- to answer a text or email, if it's urgent.

Along some roadways around the country, transportation departments have added texting zones, similar to areas for a stalled vehicle.

Last year, there were 29 deaths linked to distracted driving in Minnesota, up from the previous year.

Like most states, Minnesota has laws that require hands-free cell phone use when driving.

Car technology has improved to keep motorists connected while still paying attention to the road. But Williams said many models out there are not equipped with those amenities.

"And people aren't necessarily always going to spend anything," said Williams, "for aftermarket additions to their cars."

Analysts say some newer cars have too many technological bells and whistles that can overwhelm a driver, even if they're hands-free.

They say things like collision warning features might be making drivers too reliant on those aids, diminishing their safety instincts.

Federal officials estimate distracted driving costs Americans $129 billion each year due to property damage, medical expenses and legal fees.




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