Maine News & Current Events | Public News Service

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 />

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

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…

The majority of women veterans are not enrolled in Veteran Health Administration care, yet these women have experienced a more than sixty-percent increase in suicide rates over the past two decades. (Adobe Stock)

ME women veterans request counselors for military sexual trauma

Advocates for women veterans, who've experienced sexual trauma while serving in the military, are asking state lawmakers for much-needed funding…

At least 55 of America's largest corporations paid no federal corporate income taxes in 2020, relying on the tax breaks preserved or expanded by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as well as the 2020 CARES Act tax breaks. (Adobe Stock)

ME legislation aims to uncover corporate tax avoidance

Maine lawmakers are considering legislation to require corporations to reveal the amount of state income taxes they pay. Supporters of the bill say …

About one-quarter of Maine farmworkers live in poverty, and they are roughly 4.5 times as likely to live below the poverty line as other workers in the state, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Effort continues to ensure state minimum wage for ME farmworkers

Legislation proposed by Maine Gov. Janet Mills would ensure thousands of farmworkers are eligible to receive the state minimum wage. Current law …

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a shortage of 74,000 social workers each year for the next decade, with more rural areas such as Maine hit hardest. (Adobe Stock)

ME social workers, educators seek end to state licensing exam

Social workers in Maine say the state's required licensing exam is biased and contributing to a shortage of workers in the field. Data show …

The Atlantic herring is one of the most important fishery resources in Maine, supplying the primary bait used in its iconic lobster industry. It is also an important forage species for seabirds, marine mammals and a variety of larger fish species, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Anglers seek trawler buffer zone as Atlantic herring stock declines

Recreational fishermen in New England say commercial trawlers are threatening the survival of smaller businesses relying on a healthy stock of Atlanti…

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…

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard generated $1.46 billion in regional economic activity last year, according to a study by the Seacoast Shipyard Association. Shipyard workers living in Maine amassed nearly $372 million in payroll. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME naval workers seek state-backed loans in case of government shutdown

Federal workers in Maine are backing legislation to help ensure they can pay their bills in case of a government shutdown. Those who might be …

Medicare Savings Programs help people with limited income and resources pay for some or all of their Medicare costs. Enrollment in these MSPs puts more than $2,000 back into the wallets of seniors and adults with disabilities each year, according to AARP Maine. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Supplemental budget puts Maine’s Medicare Savings Programs at risk

Some 30,000 Mainers could lose access to critical healthcare benefits under Gov. Janet Mills' proposed supplemental budget. The state legislature …

A poll of 15,000 people conducted by Stack Data Strategy in November showed the candidate winning the most popular votes nationwide next year would likely lose the presidency, repeating what happened in 2000 and 2016. (Adobe Stock)

Majority of Mainers support leaving Electoral College for national popular vote

Ahead of Super Tuesday, a new poll finds a majority of Mainers support replacing the Electoral College system with a national popular vote. More …

Majorities of Americans expressed confidence in higher education in 2015, but by 2018, confidence had fallen across all groups, including a 17% drop among Republicans, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Maine’s Colby College counters higher ed mistrust with community outreach

Americans' confidence in higher education has plummeted but students and staff at Maine's Colby College hope continued community outreach will help br…

New survey data from Maine's Consumers for Affordable Health Care found two of three Mainers said they would have difficulty paying a $500 medical expense.(Adobe Stock)

ME survey shows support for transparent hospital prices, facility fee limits

A new survey reveals most Mainers support policies requiring medical providers to disclose their facility fees before they receive treatment…

More than 60% of candidates for Maine's legislative offices participated in the state's Clean Election program in 2022, up from 30% of candidates in 2000, when it began. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

Maine considers expanding 'clean elections' law to county candidates

Maine could become the first state in the nation to provide public funding to candidates seeking the office of district attorney. Lawmakers are …

Local and federal resources for Mainers who have been affected by the damaging storms that hit Maine on December 18, 2023, and January 10, 2024, are available through the Maine Emergency Management Agency by calling 1-800-452-8735. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Climate change, development threaten Maine’s working waterfronts

Reintroduced federal legislation aims to preserve Maine's iconic, working waterfronts still recovering from recent powerful storms. Strong winds and …

Consumer advocates say the growth of health care facility fees stems from an increasingly consolidated health care provider market, highly complex billing systems, and frequently inadequate health insurance coverage. (Adobe Stock)

Facility fees add to Mainers' growing concerns over medical debt

Maine lawmakers are calling for greater transparency in how hospitals and other health care centers charge so-called facility fees. A legislative …

Studies show fewer than half of people with a mental illness are able to access prompt care while rural and lower-income communities in particular suffer from a lack of behavioral health care providers. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

ME mental health care advocates push for services after Lewiston shooting

Advocates for mental-health care in Maine are applauding Gov. Janet Mills' push to increase access to services, following last year's deadly shooting …

The Hudson, Susquehanna, Delaware, Connecticut and Merrimack watersheds in the Northeastern U.S. have experienced some of the steepest declines in snowpack, according to a study by Dartmouth researchers. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Study reveals climate change erasing seasonal snowpacks of New England

A new study found seasonal snowpacks throughout New England have shrunk significantly over the past 40 years due to human-driven climate change…

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 …

Around 30% of registered voters say they will only vote for a candidate who shares their views on abortion, according to a KFF poll. (Adobe Stock)

Maine lawmakers consider constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights

Lawmakers in Maine will hear hours of emotional public testimony today regarding a potential constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights…

Latino children in Maine fare better than their peers nationwide, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation report. An estimated 70% of Latino children in Maine live in families with incomes at or above 200% of the poverty line, compared to 47% of Latino children nationally. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report finds gaps in child well-being persist across Maine

Children of color in Maine fare relatively well compared to their peers nationwide, but gaps in child well-being persist - according to a new report…

More than 95% of Mainers have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 84% of the state's population is considered fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Health misinformation online builds distrust in science, vaccines

Public health experts say the rapid spread of health misinformation online is contributing to a dangerous decline in vaccination rates. Surveys show …

NextGen's new website aims to help young Mainers access the Inflation Reduction Act for up to $7,500 in tax credits towards the purchase of a new clean car, and up to $4,000 for a used clean car. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Website helps Maine’s young voters track climate change resources

A new website aims to help young voters in Maine take advantage of the historic climate progress being made through the Inflation Reduction Act…

Several studies find shifts in partisan support in places where health has stagnated or declined. For example, the frequency of alcohol-related deaths and suicide has been linked to increasing regional support for conservative candidates and movements while gains in health-care insurance coverage are associated with vote shifts toward the Democratic Party. (Adobe Stock)

Doctors say voting brings Mainers a clean bill of health

Voting is not only good for democracy - it's also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

Roughly half of U.S. adults report experiencing feelings of loneliness, making them more susceptible to fraud. Crime experts note that interventions to reduce social isolation among senior citizens in particular could reduce their chances of being scammed. (Adobe Stock)

Holidays, loneliness leave ME seniors vulnerable to online scams

It may be the season of goodwill, but advocates for the elderly say online financial scams only increase around the holidays. Conversations with a …

Twenty-seven states had a higher percentage of people with health insurance coverage in 2022 than in 2021. But Maine was the only state where the uninsured rate increased, up to 6.6% in 2022 from 5.7%, according to the Census Bureau. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Mainers get another chance at open enrollment for health coverage

Healthcare advocates in Maine say people who missed the most recent open enrollment deadline for healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act h…

A Spray underwater glider shortly after deployment in the Gulf Stream offshore of Miami, Fla., began one of the many glider-based surveys of the Gulf Stream completed by Associate Scientist Robert Todd's group at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution since 2015. (Robert Todd/WHOI)

Study confirms Gulf Stream warming, shifting toward Maine coast

The latest research finds the Gulf Stream has warmed faster than the global ocean over the past two decades, and has shifted toward the Atlantic …

Members of the Sunrise Movement in Franklin County, Maine, advocate for a Green New Deal. The Fifth National Climate Assessment showed greenhouse gas emissions in the United States fell 12% from 2005 to 2019 but will need to decrease 6% annually to meet international climate goals. <br />

Young activists call on Biden administration to declare climate emergency

Young activists are pressuring President Joe Biden to declare a climate emergency and use the additional powers to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions…

The Maine Legislature has enacted laws to reduce the state's greenhouse-gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050, and transitioning Maine's electricity use to 80% renewable energy by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

New heat-pump technology helps Maine reduce oil use, reach climate goals

A new report shows Maine is exceeding the home-heating goals set forth in its ambitious four-year climate plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions…

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…

Maine's four-year climate plan aims to decrease the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. (Adobe Stock)

ME towns share plans, resources to build climate resilience

Community groups across Maine are helping small towns with fewer resources better prepare for the growing threat of climate change. They are …

Second-graders in South Portland are designing their own Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons to take part in a popular lesson based on the children's book,

Beyond book checkouts, ME librarians teach “digital citizenship”

School librarians in Maine are teaching students the importance of "digital citizenship." The concept is similar to civics education but helps stude…

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