Maine News & Current Events | Public News Service

Studies show nature-based outdoor learning has measurable socio-emotional, academic and physical health benefits for students. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Monday, November 18, 2024

ME counters learning loss with expanded outdoor programs

Maine educators are expanding outdoor learning opportunities to help build the next generation of environmental stewards. The state has unveiled a …

40% of the more than 60,000 Mainers enrolled in marketplace plans last year paid premiums of $99 or less a month, according to DHHS Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Open enrollment for ME health insurance marketplace underway

It's open enrollment time for Maine's health insurance marketplace. People without access to health or dental insurance through their employer…

Backers of the Maine Trails Bond said an infusion of $30 million will provide greatly needed funding to design, build and maintain all public-use trails statewide. (Adobe Stock)

ME voters weigh trail bond measure as climate change alters terrain

It is Election Day and Maine voters are weighing the future of the state's extensive trail system. If passed, the Maine Trails Bond would inject …

Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their benefits beginning in 2025, according to the federal government. Officials said it translates to an average increase of roughly $50 for retirees each month. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Social Security, caregiving top issues for older ME voters

Mainers over 50 are the state's largest voting bloc and surveys show they are concerned how the election will affect Social Security. The fund's …

More than 2,300 voting jurisdictions from 39 states or territories, including Maine, use hand-fed optical scanners to tabulate votes from hand-marked paper ballots, according to the nonpartisan organization Verified Voting. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME towns stick with tradition, hand count ballots on election night

By Emily Bader for The Maine Monitor.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Rural News Network-Public News Servi…

Around 1 million chickens, 14,000 pigs and 4,000 cows are slaughtered every hour in the United States, according to the Animal Welfare Institute. Advocates said despite congressional action, enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act by government regulators remains lacking. (Adobe Stock)

From puppies to whales: 2024 election gives animals a political moment

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration…

The Maine lobster industry employs nearly 6,000 independent lobster workers, harvesting roughly 100 million pounds of the iconic crustacean, according to the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME lobsters change habitats as climate change warms Atlantic

American lobsters along Maine's coast are relocating to new habitats as the Atlantic continues to warm. Researchers with the University of Maine …

Starting in January 2025, Medicare Part D enrollee out-of-pocket costs will be limited to $2,000 per year. (Adobe Stock)

Medicare open enrollment brings Mainers new savings on prescription drugs

Medicare open enrollment is underway and Maine seniors are encouraged to weigh the various plans. Advisors say it's important to consider both …

Two in five college students said their mental health affects their ability to perform academically, while one in 10 rated their mental health as

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Well-being 101: U of Maine researchers reveal keys to college success

A new study from the University of Maine showed college students' well-being is as important as their grade-point average for overall success…

There is no safe level of lead in a person's blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Scientists note even low lead levels have been shown to affect IQ, the ability to pay attention and academic achievement. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New EPA lead rule leaves ME schools with clean water homework

Clean water advocates in Maine are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule on lead pipe removals but warned drinking water in school…

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ME ‘living shorelines’ counter rising sea levels, stronger storms

By Erik Hoffner for Mongabay.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Ser…

Supporters of large-scale aquaculture say it's needed to meet the growing demand for seafood. U.S. per capita consumption of fish and shellfish rose from nearly 16 pounds in 2002 to more than 20 pounds in 2021, a 31% increase, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. (Adobe Stock)

Federal court rejects permit for industrial aquaculture structures

Ocean advocates are hailing a federal judge's decision that deemed a nationwide permit for industrial aquaculture structures unlawful. The U.S…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates more than one-third of food produced in the U.S. is never eaten, wasting the resources used to produce, process and distribute it. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME tackles food waste in effort to mitigate climate change

A new study found Maine households are a leading contributor of food waste in local landfills, which in turn contributes to climate change. …

More than four out of ten Mainers have medical debt in their household, and nearly all of them who've accrued that debt within the past two years still have it, according to a survey from Consumers for Affordable Health Care. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Mainers offer insight into barriers to affordable health care

Mainers will get a chance to weigh in on health care costs today at the state's annual public hearing on health care affordability. Legislation …

In Maine, asthma is responsible for an estimated $14.3 million in lost productivity and nearly $173 million in direct medical costs each year, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Improved air pollution standards could help reduce ME asthma rates

New air pollution requirements issued by the Environmental Protection Agency should bring $250 billion in economic benefits each year to Maine and acr…

Maine's clean energy sector grew more than three times faster than the state's overall economy between 2016 and 2022 and now employs more than 15,000 people, according to the Governor's Energy Office. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Federal funds, clean energy projects boost ME union workforce

Union workers in Maine say federal funds are helping fuel the state's clean energy transition and offering incentives for young people to stick around…

The Land for Maine's Future program has helped preserve more than 67 miles of shoreline on rivers, lakes and ponds, as well as 42 farms and 9,819 acres of farmland and the conversion of 158 miles of former railroad corridors into recreational trails. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME boosts land conservation projects as climate change alters terrain

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

In 2017, the country's seafood industry supported 1.7 million jobs and contributed $212 billion in sales, according to NOAA's Office for Coastal Management. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

Clamming for workers: ME boosts aquaculture training programs

The University of Maine is helping to train the next generation of skilled aquaculture workers. Designs for a new $10 million Sustainable …

The U.S. Census Bureau's supplemental poverty measure rose to just under 13% in 2023, up from 12.4% in 2022, despite an increase in median household incomes nationwide. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Census data: More Mainers struggle to meet basic needs

More Maine households struggled to meet their basic needs last year, according to new census data. More than 80,000 Mainers, or roughly 6% of the …

More than 20% of Maine students age 6-11 have suffered from two or more adverse childhood experiences, including bullying or living with a parent with a mental illness, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Schools' services help ME kids tackle mental health challenges

Mental health experts have released a checklist for parents of students headed back to school in Maine. The state's Department of Health and Human …

About 530,000 tons of food and 45 million gallons of milk is wasted in U.S. school cafeterias each year, according to the World Wildlife Fund. It translates to roughly $1.7 billion worth of uneaten food. (Adobe Stock)

ME school cafeterias become classrooms in effort to reduce food waste

By Bridget Huber for the Food and Environment Reporting Network.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Solutions…

1 in 5 U.S. voters is a caregiver, providing $600 billion in unpaid labor annually, according to AARP.(Adobe Stock)

Online resource guide helps Mainers prepare for upcoming elections

A new online resource guide is available to help Mainers prepare for the upcoming presidential election. It includes key dates for voter …

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Mainers seek more ‘sustainable’ seafood but labels may be misleading

Mainers are buying more "sustainable" and "humane" seafood but animal welfare advocates said such labels may not be telling the whole story. The …

China is Maine's top export destination for seafood, accounting for 80% to 85% of U.S. lobster sales and bringing in more than $300 million to the state's economy in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

U of Maine study reveals pathways for U.S. seafood independence

A new study from the University of Maine found the nation could reduce the amount of seafood it imports and still meet consumer demand. Americans …

Scientists say a major shift in ocean currents has helped increase the rate of warming in the Gulf of Maine to triple that of the world's oceans with annual average sea temperature now more than 1.9�F above normal. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Protecting 'The Yellowstone of the North Atlantic' – Maine’s Cashes Ledge

Conservation groups across New England are seeking permanent protections for the Cashes Ledge Area in the Gulf of Maine. Often called the …

An analysis from the University of Massachusetts Amherst found the more than 100 climate, energy and environmental investments in the Inflation Reduction Act will create more than 9 million good jobs over the next decade. (Adobe Stock)

Two years on, Maine reaps benefits of Inflation Reduction Act

Nearly two years since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law, Maine communities continue to benefit from federal funding aimed at …

A new energy storage project in Lincoln, Maine, could help the state reach its climate goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030, and reach net zero emissions by 2045. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME unions applaud construction of world’s largest battery storage system

Labor leaders in Maine say the approved construction of the world's largest energy storage system will also create quality union jobs. The project …

The share of Americans who consider immigration the most vexing problem facing the U.S. has reached a record high, according to a recent Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Study: Undocumented immigrants grow ME, national economy

As immigration takes center stage this election season, a new study revealed the significant tax contributions made by undocumented immigrants…

The vast majority of poll workers in Maine are women, college-educated and are retired, according to a survey by the Scholars Strategy Network. (Adobe Stock)

ME poll workers get closeup view of 'democracy in action'

Maine election officials are encouraging registered voters to sign up as poll workers ahead of the Nov. 5 general election. While some poll worker …

Two of three Mainers said they would struggle to pay a $500 medical bill, according to Consumers for Affordable Healthcare. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed rule would benefit Mainers struggling with medical debt

Maine households struggling to pay medical debt could benefit from a proposed federal rule to remove medical bills from credit reports. The rule …

The Biden administration has released a Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, describing how programs funded by the Farm Bill should adopt practices to improve manure management and substantially reduce methane emissions from livestock, which contribute to climate change. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Farm waste ups dangers of climate change-related weather events

As the Atlantic coast braces for what could be an active hurricane season, environmental groups are warning about the dangers of agricultural …

The town office and post office in Machias, Maine, could face biannual flooding by 2050, according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. (Charlie/Adobe Stock)

Report: Maine’s coastal infrastructure at risk as sea levels rise

A new report is warning of threats to Maine's coastal infrastructure. From power plants and post offices to affordable housing units, the report …

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued its busiest preseason Atlantic hurricane season forecast ever in 2024, predicting the North Atlantic could see 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes, and four to seven major hurricanes by the end of November. (Adobe Stock)

New England braces for 'above-normal' hurricane season

Forecasters are warning New Englanders to prepare for an "above-normal" number of hurricanes this summer. Hurricane Beryl was already the strongest …

The National Retirement Risk Index finds half of U.S. households will not be able to maintain their standard of living when they retire, even if they were to work until age 65 and annuitize all financial assets. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME worker retirement program hits major savings milestone

Supporters of a new state-sponsored retirement savings program in Maine are celebrating a significant milestone. More than six months after the …

Nearly 50% of Mainers age 12�17 who have depression did not receive any care in the last year, according to NAMI Maine. Mental health care advocates say listing the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on student I.D�s could help. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME groups boost awareness of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline services

A monthly telecom surcharge could generate significant funding for Maine's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, according to a new report. The mental …

The living wage for a person in Maine who lives alone with no dependents is $22.04, or $4.65 more than the median wage for a home health aide, according the MIT Living Wage Calculator. (Adobe Stock)

Low wages, burnout cited for ME direct-care worker shortage

A critical shortage of direct care workers in Maine is leaving residents without needed health services, according to a new report. It showed more …

The Biden administration is awarding more than $600 million in grants to build the nation's electric-vehicle charging network. Maine is just the fifth state to benefit from what's known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula. (Adobe Stock)

Federal funds boost ME high-speed EV charging network

Clean-energy advocates in Maine are applauding an expansion of the state's electric vehicle charging network. State officials recently announced the …

Up to $31 trillion in U.S. economic activity hinges on helping young people complete learning delayed by the pandemic, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer ME kids living in poverty but education problems grow

The economic well-being of kids in Maine is improving, but chronic school absence is impacting learning, according to a new report. The 2024 Kids …

Legislative reforms to Maine's Medicare Savings Plans expand eligibility to residents age 65 and older earning 250% of the poverty level, or $33,975 for an individual. (Adobe Stock)

ME health advocates tout benefits of expanded Medicare Savings Plans

Maine lawmakers have approved a full expansion of the state's Medicare Savings Plans, ensuring continued eligibility for some 45,000 low-income …

More than one-third of plants and animals in Maine are expected to suffer dramatic population decline by the end of the century due to the impacts of climate change, according to the Natural Resources Council of Maine. (Adobe Stock)

Climate change alters ME biodiversity as species' range shifts north

Scientists said climate change is having an unprecedented and accelerating effect on the biodiversity of plants and animals in Maine. Rising sea …

Studies show volunteering can significantly improve mental and physical health, life satisfaction and self-esteem and decrease depressive symptoms. (Adobe Stock)

Andrus Award honors older volunteers enriching ME communities

AARP Maine is seeking nominations for its 2024 Andrus Award for Community Service. The award honors individuals or couples over age fifty, who …

Climate scientists in Maine said the state has already experienced 8 inches of sea level rise over the past century and could see an additional 1.5 more feet by 2050, with significant implications for coastal industries, tourism and home insurance rates. (Adobe Stock)

Warmer, wetter climate in Maine impacts human health, infrastructure

Scientists said Maine's climate is getting warmer and wetter, with significant implications for human health and infrastructure. Data show the 10 …

Maine's aquaculture harvest more than doubled in volume and in value over the past decade. It creates more than $100 million in annual revenue for the state, according to the Maine International Trade Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New England groups warn against 'factory' fish farming in federal waters

New England fishermen and environmental groups are working to prevent the growth of industrial-size fish farms in U.S. open waters. They said …

Researchers studying ways to reduce the dairy industry's climate-altering emissions say a hotter climate can cause heat stress in dairy cows, reducing their feed intake, milk production, and fertility. (Adobe Stock)

Cow feed research aims to cut ME dairies' methane emissions

New research could help Maine dairy farmers increase profits while reducing effects on the climate. Scientists said adding a plant-based essential …

The Maine Labor Climate Council finds that building net-zero single-family residential homes (including renewable energy) would create 839 direct jobs per year and reduce carbon emissions by 16,770 metric tons per year. (Adobe Stock)

ME promotes youth apprenticeships to build green economy workforce

State officials in Maine are highlighting apprenticeships as a way to earn a living wage and contribute to the state's growing green economy…

Maine has already experienced eight inches of sea-level rise over the last century with another 1.5 feet expected by 2050 and four more feet by 2100, according to the Maine Climate Council. (Adobe Stock)

ME prepares young people for climate change-related jobs, activism

State officials in Maine are preparing the next generation for climate change-related activism and careers. A new state-run website helps young …

Maine lawmakers expanded the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit in 2023, allowing an estimated 157,000 dependent adults and children in families with the lowest incomes to receive the full credit for the first time. (Adobe Stock)

ME lawmakers increase aid for families experiencing deep poverty

Gov. Janet Mills has signed legislation to increase temporary assistance payments to families experiencing deep poverty. Payments will increase by 2…

There are more than 1,300 species listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, including the piping plover, a shorebird found on sandy beaches in southern Maine. (Adobe Stock)

New Endangered Species Act rules consider climate impact on ME wildlife

Conservationists in Maine said reinstated protections of the Endangered Species Act could help wildlife already struggling to adapt to climate change…

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