Maine News & Current Events | Public News Service

Critics of the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission say it gave greater political influence to wealthy donors and corporations by allowing them to spend unlimited funds on elections. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Lawmakers Consider Changes to Maine’s Clean Election Law

Lawmakers in Maine are considering legislation to allow candidates seeking county level offices to receive taxpayer funds under the Maine Clean Electi…

47% of Mainers who have hospital-related medical debt are not aware that hospitals in Maine are required to provide medically-necessary care for free to residents who meet certain income guidelines. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Majority of Mainers Concerned with Medical Debt, Rising Healthcare Costs

Most Mainers believe they are one medical emergency or illness away from financial disaster, according to a new survey. The non-profit Consumers …

The Biden administration has set a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity generation by 2030, enough to power more than 10 million American homes. (Adobe Stock)

Bills Aim to Create 'Responsible' Offshore Wind Industry in ME

Maine lawmakers are considering two pieces of legislation which supporters said are needed to ensure "responsible" development of offshore wind projec…

More than one-third of threatened and endangered species live only in wetlands, according to the EPA. In Maine, some of the threatened species found in wetlands include the Blanding's Turtle, Ringed Boghaunter Dragonfly, and English Sundew. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Affects Maine Waterways

Environmental advocates say the U.S. Supreme Court has dealt a major blow to the Clean Water Act and to Maine's ability to protect some of its most …

The world is home to 1.8 billion young people between ages 10 and 24, the largest generation of youth in history, who are increasingly aware of the challenges and risks presented by the climate crisis. (Adobe Stock)

'Climate Grief' Motivates Young Mainers to Take Action

The magnitude of climate change can feel overwhelming, creating a sense of so-called "climate grief" for some, but young climate activists say they …

The 2022 National Young Farmers Coalition Survey found more than 70% of respondents have experienced at least one climate impact such as floods or drought in the past five years, impacting their livelihood and mental health. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Network of Young Farmers Provides Mental Health Supports

Young farmers in the United States face extensive structural barriers affecting their mental health, according to a new survey from the National …

Research has shown that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety, especially for people 65 and older and could help counter America's newest public health epidemic, loneliness.<br />(Adobe Stock)

Andrus Award Honors Older Volunteers Helping ME Communities

AARP is seeking nominations for its 2023 Andrus Award for Community Service, which celebrates those individuals over age 50 who share their …

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows highlighted the dangers of

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Maine Officials Cite Dangers of 'Intexticated Driving'

State leaders in Maine are calling attention to the growing number of fatalities on U.S. roads and highways due to distracted driving. The …

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 …

Since 1939, Maine has celebrated June as Maine Dairy Month. The event currently honors the 176 dairy farmers caring for 700,000 acres of critical farmland across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Grants Help ME Farmers, Processors Keep Milk Local

Dairy processors and farmers throughout Maine are eligible for grants to help them improve their operations as part of a growing movement to keep loca…

Maine labor law allows tipped employees to be paid a lower cash wage than the standard minimum wage by their employers, as up to $5.50 in tips earned per hour can be deducted from their wage as a

ME Lawmakers Aim to Raise Minimum Wage to $24 by 2033

Maine lawmakers are considering legislation to raise the state's minimum wage to $24 an hour by 2033. The current minimum wage of $13.80 would jump …

Maine Attorney General Aaron Fry says recovery houses and the people in them are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the federal Fair Housing Act, and suggests that repealing protections could put Maine in violation of those laws. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME Lawmakers Study Regulations Surrounding Addiction Recovery Homes

Public opposition to legislation requiring stricter fire-safety standards at Maine's recovery residences has led lawmakers to consider studying the sy…

People under age 18 are eligible to become organ donors in most states if they have parent or legal guardian's permission to donate at the time they get their learner's permit or driver's license. (Adobe Stock)

Maine State Lawmakers, Families Honor Organ Donation Month

Organ donor recipients and their families will join Gov. Janet Mills at the State House today to highlight Organ Donation Month in Maine. Advocates …

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…

More than 70% of Maine's total electricity net generation comes from renewable energy, and hydroelectric power provides the largest share at 27%. (Adobe Stock)

New Hydropower Dam Designs Leave Fish Unharmed

By Eric Krebs for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

Immigrants make up 3% of Maine's total population and 4% of Maine's workforce, including more than 2% of Maine's self-employed business owners, according to the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Lawmakers Consider Expansion of MaineCare to All Immigrant Adults

Lawmakers in Maine are considering a bill to expand MaineCare to all low-income residents, regardless of immigration status. LD 199 would ensure …

3,514 men and one woman have won the Medal of Honor in service of their country from the Civil War to the present day. 19 have won it twice. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Plans for National Medal of Honor Monument Progress in Washington, D.C.

Congress is moving forward with plans to build a National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington, D.C. - honoring the 3,600 Americans who have earned …

The average annual pay for a fast-food worker in the U.S. is $27,040 a year, or approximately $13.00 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Chipotle Pays Augusta, Maine Union Organizers for Labor Violations

Mexican fast-food chain Chipotle will pay workers at its former location in Augusta, Maine as part of a settlement over labor law violations…

Graduate workers at the University of Maine say they are required to pay 50% of health insurance costs with large payments due at the beginning of each school year, on plans which do not cover vision or dental care. (UMGWU)

U of Maine Grad Students Join Growing Union Movement

Graduate-student workers throughout the University of Maine System are taking steps to unionize and seek recognition from university officials…

Leaders of the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Nations tell state lawmakers tribal sovereignty would bring federal funding, and jobs. Research shows per-capita income for non-Maine tribes grew by 61% between 1989 and 2020, yet only 9% for Wabanaki Nations. (Wabanaki Alliance)

Wabanaki Nations Seek Tribal Sovereignty from Maine

Leaders of the Wabanaki Nations are asking Maine lawmakers to recognize tribal sovereignty and help ensure a better economic future for their youth…

Among the 1,648 suggested book bans in 2022, 41% explicitly address LGBTQ+ themes while 40% contain protagonists or prominent secondary characters of color, according to PEN America. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Librarians Fight Bill to Ban Books Considered 'Obscene'

School librarians in Maine are fighting a bill that would ban schools from providing students with books considered "obscene," saying it could potenti…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports the national uninsured rate reached an all-time low of 8% in early 2022, with 5.2 million people having gained coverage since 2020. (Adobe Stock)

End of Public Health Emergency Brings Changes to Mainers' Medicaid Coverage

Public health advocates are working to ensure Medicaid recipients in Maine continue to have health-care coverage once pandemic-era policies end this s…

High school graduates from the classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 can attend two years of community college in Maine free of charge, which adds another challenge to student recruitment efforts for the University of Maine System. (Adobe Stock)

Flexibility Draws 'Non-Traditional' Students to U of Maine

A program aimed at reversing the University of Maine's declining enrollment has defied expectations at Presque Isle, the state's smallest and most …

Maine's largest crop is potatoes, which grow best in cool weather. But projected warming from climate change may reduce potato yields by 25 to 35%, according to the Natural Resources Council of Maine. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers Consider Drought-Relief Measures for ME Farmers

Lawmakers in Maine are considering ways to help farmers develop long-term solutions to drought, which has plagued the state for the past three years…

The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced $18.914 million from President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would go to address emerging contaminants such as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Maine. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Farmers Seek Help with 'Forever Chemicals' Contamination

Lawmakers in Maine are considering a bill to compensate farmers for the widespread use of state-sanctioned PFAS, or "forever chemicals" on their land…

High school graduates from the classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 can attend two years of community college in Maine for free. To qualify, they must earn 30 credits per year toward a two-year associate degree or one-year certificate, and qualify for in-state tuition or commit to living and working in Maine. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Tops National Average in Higher-Ed Attainment

Maine had some of the highest increases in educational attainment between 2019 and 2021, according to a new report from Lumina Foundation. Among …

University of Maine graduate Emily Miller holds a female Arctic charr from the Floods Pond field site in Otis, Maine, where she and other scientists will measure, genetically sample and tag the long-lived species with a microchip ID. (Bradley Erdman)

Maine’s Arctic Charr Provide Insight into Climate Resilience

Researchers are studying the feeding habits of Arctic charr to help predict how other fish species could adapt to a warming climate. Arctic charr …

As many as 11% of eligible voters do not have the kind of identification that is required by states with strict ID requirements, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Secretary of State Testifies Against Voter ID Bill

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said a bill to require Maine voters to present photo identification in order to cast ballots is unnecessary and coul…

The walls, floor and roof of the BioHome3D are printed with a single continuous print path using the world's largest 3D printer, Ingersoll Masterprint, housed at the University of Maine. (U of Maine)

U of Maine Unveils World’s First 3D-Printed, Bio-Based Home

Engineers with the University of Maine say the successful construction of the world's first bio-based, 3D-printed house could help alleviate the …

Body Positivity Movement Helps Improve Body Image, Alleviate Shame

By Gabes Torres for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service, reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Data shows an increase in development has resulted in 19 acres per day, or 7,000 acres per year of New England agricultural land being lost or threatened between 2001 and 2016, according to a report from the American Farmland Trust. (Adobe Stock)

Maine’s Small Farmers See Benefits from USDA Census

Maine's small farmers are encouraged to complete the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture census to ensure they have a voice in federal decisions …

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 …

In addition to an aging population, 11% of Mainers have serious mobility impairments requiring targeted and inclusive long-term planning to ensure accessibility to public spaces across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Livable, Healthy Communities: Goal of AARP Planning Event

AARP Maine will sponsor an online workshop this week on long-range planning for health equity, with a focus on housing, community services and safe …

Today, 10% of land area on Earth is covered with glacial ice, including glaciers, ice caps and the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. These glacierized areas cover nearly 6 million square miles. (Adobe Stock)

UNE Researcher: Most Glaciers Gone by 2100

A study co-authored by a University of New England researcher finds the majority of the world's glaciers could disappear by the end of the century…

The 2021 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey found the number of Maine high school students who identify as transgender <a href=

more than doubled from 2019 to 2021. (Adobe Stock)">

Intergenerational Groups Strengthen Maine’s LGBTQ Community

Intergenerational connections can be powerful tools to help improve overall quality of life for both young and old. It can be especially true in the …

Experts say about 15% of the cars with recalled airbags have not yet been repaired and may still be on the road. (evgenius1985/Adobe Stock)

Expert: Risk Grows for Exploding Recalled Airbags

It is a brand-new year, and consumer auto safety groups are hoping to avoid further deaths from faulty Takata air bags, by raising awareness about …

Some 80% of lobster in the U.S. come from Maine's adjacent waters while the lobster industry is estimated to create over 35,000 jobs in addition to state licensed lobstermen, lobster dealers and processors, and seasonal restaurant workers. (Adobe Stock)

U of Maine Lobster Study Aims to Protect State’s Vital Fishing Industry

Researchers at the University of Maine are studying how warming Arctic waters flowing into the Gulf of Maine are affecting the region's lobster popula…

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 …

Undergraduate enrollment continued to shrink in Fall 2022, but the decline has slowed to nearly pre-pandemic rates, according to preliminary data. Colleges lost 1.1% of undergraduates this fall, leading to a total two-year decline of 4.2% since 2020. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Research Opportunities Aim to Reverse Declining Enrollment at U of Maine

The University of Maine is hoping a unique program offering students the chance to do real-world research will help reverse a trend of declining stude…

An average hotel room costs municipalities roughly $240 per night for one family and with families often scattered at various locations, social services can be difficult to administer. Transitional housing units would alleviate both costs and service gaps. (Adobe Stock)

More Transitional Housing Needed for Increased Asylum Seekers in Maine

The growing number of asylum-seekers in Maine has spurred cities and towns to join forces and build more transitional housing for families in need…

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 …

A 2020 Government Accountability Office report found the IRS had not revoked a hospital's nonprofit status on the basis of providing inadequate community benefits, or charity care, over the prior ten years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Hospital Charity Care Could Help More Mainers Avoid Medical Debt

Maine requires its hospitals to provide medically necessary care to its residents at no charge as a condition of receiving tax-exempt status…

One in six U.S. youths ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year, but only half receive mental health treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. (Adobe Stock)

Fake Threats to Maine Schools Cause Real Trauma for Students, Staff

Experts say the presence of police in full tactical gear and spending hours in school lockdown mode will leave a lasting impression on Maine teens and…

All Juul e-cigarettes have a high level of nicotine, but a single Juul pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes, according to the manufacturer. (Adobe Stock)

Efforts to Curb Youth Vaping Fall Short

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., yet efforts to prevent kids from picking up the habit continue to …

A Pew Research Center survey in 2021 found that 24% of Americans living in rural settings said lack of access to high-speed internet was

More Broadband Needed to Address Rural Mainers' Health Needs

For older Mainers living in rural areas of the state, access to reliable and affordable internet service can mean the difference between life and …

The One Fair Wage campaign says it plans to try for another ballot measure, in November 2023, to raise Maine's minimum wage to $18 an hour and end the subminimum wage for all workers. (Adobe Stock)

Progressives Vow to Keep Working for Portland Minimum-Wage Hike

Some Maine voters in yesterday's midterm election rejected Portland's "Question D," which would have increased the city's minimum wage from $12.75 an …

If Congress reinstates the Child Tax Credit, a family with one child under six would<br />receive an annual $3,600,, providing significant help to cope with rising food and energy prices. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Relief Payments Not Enough to Help ME Families in Need

With food and energy prices soaring, the one-time $850 inflation relief checks for Mainers could not arrive at a better time, but advocates for low-…

Maine has experienced the largest decline in the nation in its number of people without health insurance, falling from 8% in 2019 to 5.7% in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

'Family Glitch' Fix Means More Affordable Healthcare for Maine Families

CORRECTION: In second paragraph, people were deemed ineligible for subsidies to help pay their insurance premiums if they could get employer-…

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