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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

ME: Family/Father Issues

More than 3,300 Mainers have died from COVID-19 since 2020 and more than 9,000 have been hospitalized. Cumberland, Penobscot and York counties have seen the highest numbers of deaths. (Adobe Stock) <br />
ME fighters of COVID-19 alarmed by new federal recommendations

Today is "Long COVID Awareness Day," and Mainers will be among those who gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to commemorate it…

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It is estimated that Mainers facing hunger would need a total of $97,584,000 more income per year to adequately meet their food needs, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)
Maine food banks meet growing demand as Farm Bill lags

Food banks in Maine are struggling to keep up with demand as the Farm Bill remains stalled in Congress. The bill is renegotiated every five years …

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Respite for ME Grants, funded by the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, provide caregivers up to $5,171 to access needed services and can be accessed through the state's five Area Agencies on Aging. (Adobe Stock)
Unpaid caregivers in ME receive limited financial grants

Advocates for unpaid family caregivers in Maine say they'll need continued support beyond the recently passed paid family and medical leave program…

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Mainers offered family insurance plans through their workplace that cost more than 9.12% of the total family income may qualify for more affordable healthcare coverage through the health insurance marketplace. (Adobe Stock)
MaineCare Recipients Urged to Update Forms to Ensure Coverage

Public health advocates are working to ensure Medicaid recipients in Maine continue to have health care coverage as pandemic-era policies have ended…

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Care provided by millions of unpaid family caregivers across the United States was valued at $600 billion in 2021, a $130 billion increase in unpaid contributions since 2019, according to AARP. <br />(Adobe Stock)
Mainers Celebrate Passage of Paid Family Medical Leave Program

After years of grassroots advocacy, Maine will become the 13th state in the nation to adopt a mandatory paid family and medical leave program…

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Maine ranks first in the nation for having the lowest percentage of children in families where the head of household lacks a high school diploma, at 4%, compared to the national rate of 11%, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock) <br />
ME Parents Struggle with Lack of Affordable, Accessible Child Care

CLARIFICATION: Percentages of students' reading and math scores were clarified. (12:46 p.m. MDT, June 14, 2023) Maine ranks 12th in the nation on …

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In Maine, an estimated 92% of abortions occur by the 12th week of pregnancy, with nearly 70% occurring before nine weeks. Abortions at or after 21 weeks are rare, representing 1% of abortions in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)
ME Medical Community Reaffirms Support for Abortion Medication

Maine's medical community is applauding the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone. The justices …

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From 2008 to 2021, Maine saw a sharp decline in the number of licensed child care providers operating in the state, with Lincoln County alone experiencing a 61% decrease. (Adobe Stock)
Training Underway to Eliminate 'Child Care Deserts' in Maine

A community-development nonprofit is helping to counter the sharp decline in child care providers in Maine by offering the training needed to start an…

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Maine's biennial budget proposal recommends $169 million in state funds to strengthen care for older Mainers and expand services to help them age in their homes, including increased support for home-delivered meals and programs that reduce senior neglect and exploitation. (Adobe Stock)
Supporters of Paid Family, Medical Leave in ME Hopeful This Legislative Session

AARP Maine said it is hopeful lawmakers will find common ground on issues to support older Mainers this legislative session, including establishing a …

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Starting in 2023, parents who are offered family health insurance at work may qualify for affordable health care coverage through the federal marketplace if premiums for that family plan cost more than 9.12% of their total family income. (Adobe Stock)
Maine Increases Rates of Children with Health Insurance

Federal funding during the COVID-19 public emergency helped to further reduce the number of uninsured children in Maine, but as pandemic-era dollars …

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AARP Maine provides an online caregiver resource guide, which includes health and community resource listings, and a toll-free AARP Family Caregiving Resource Line at 877-333-5885. (Adobe Photo)
Maine Advocates: Paid Family Medical Leave Possible in 2023

Not everybody gets a holiday break, especially caregivers, but advocates of paid family medical leave in Maine say momentum is building for a plan to …

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During the pandemic, 141 child-care centers closed in Maine, and many more closed temporarily. That's limited some women from getting back into the workforce. (Rafael Ben-Ari/Adobe Stock)
Report: Gaps in Data Limit Maine's Ability to Support Marginalized Women

A new report finds the pandemic disproportionately impacted women, but that gaps in data limit Maine's ability to help those in need. Women are …

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