Maine News & Current Events | Public News Service

The Biden administration recently announced that Medicare will soon begin to negotiate prices for up to 60 drugs covered under Medicare Parts 'D' and 'B,' through a new program under the Inflation Reduction Act. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 25, 2023

First public hearing for Mainers on healthcare, drug costs

Maine's new Office of Affordable Health Care holds its first public hearing this week, and people are being strongly encouraged to participate…

Power outages have increased to more than 100 times a year in the last five years, double the approximately 50 times a year in the early 2000s, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Researchers Help Develop Climate Change-Resilient Power Grids

Researchers at the University of Maine are working to develop a more resilient electric power grid to withstand the growing number of climate change-r…

The price of Enbrel, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, has increased by 701% since coming to market in 1998, and the price of Januvia, used to treat diabetes, has increased by 275% since 2006, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock)

Mainers Celebrate First Step in Lowering Medicare Drug Prices

Hundreds of thousands of Mainers are expected to benefit from the Biden Administration's recent announcement that it will begin drug price negotiation…

In 2012, candidates took 7%, on average, of all their out-of-state money from ideologically-driven donors. But in the 2022 election cycle, ideological donors typically made up 13% of the out-of-state donor pool, according to Open Secrets. (Adobe Stock)

Local and State Politics Grow Increasingly 'Nationalized'

Political candidates running for federal office have grown increasingly reliant on out-of-state donations, according to a new report. Government …

Named for Dr. Charles Scontras, a long-time Maine labor historian, author, and educator who died in March 2021, the Charles Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education will be located at the University of Southern Maine with a potential satellite office at Lewiston-Auburn College. (Adobe Stock)

New Labor Center in Maine to Focus on Union Organizing, Community Education

Union activity is thriving nationwide and a new labor center in Maine aims to keep it going. The University of Southern Maine will open the Charles …

Crisis clinicians say some behaviors that indicate a serious risk of suicide include talking about feeling trapped or being a burden to others, increasing the use of drugs or alcohol and withdrawing from loved ones. (Adobe Photo Stock) <br />

Suicide Prevention Focus of New ME Bridge Barriers

Recently approved legislation provides funding for barriers on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge - a scenic but unfortunate hot spot for suicide attempts…

Maine had one of the highest voter turnout rates in the country for the 2022 midterm elections with 73% of registered voters taking part. (Adobe Stock)

State Officials Warn of Threats Ahead of 2024 Election

Election officials nationwide are urging Congress to provide the funding needed to ensure a safe and secure 20-24 election. They've asked for at …

The number of climate-related cases has more than doubled in the last five years, with 1,522 cases currently underway in the United States, according to Columbia University's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. (Adobe Stock)

Climate Activists Organize for 'Green Amendment' in Maine

Youth climate activists in Maine are working to enshrine "the right to a clean and healthy environment" into their state's constitution. It is …

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…

Teachers could use the new Maine Climate Hub to teach students about the Gulf of Maine, which is considered one of the fastest-warming ocean regions on the planet. (Adobe Stock)

ME Students Benefit from New Climate Change-Related Education Tool

Educators in Maine will have a new online resource this school year to help them teach what they say is one of the most challenging subjects: climate …

The Biden administration has jump-started offshore wind development, infusing coastal states such as Maine with funding through the Inflation Reduction Act, with a goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

More Climate Investments Sought After Inflation Reduction Act

Backers of the Inflation Reduction Act say its historic funding is helping build a clean-energy future, but a National Climate Emergency Plan is …

By upgrading its treatment plant, separating sewer lines and increasing stormwater storage, Portland, Maine, is on track to end sewage overflows into Casco Bay by 2030, according to Environment America.(Adobe Stock)

Investments Urged to Protect ME Water Infrastructure from Climate Change

More work and investment are needed to ensure all waters in Maine are safe for swimming, according to a new report. At least 36 beaches in the state …

Studies show the United States will need to train and employ more than a quarter-million electricians by 2030 in order to support and maintain the country's growing electrical infrastructure, including millions of electric vehicle charging stations and carbon-free building systems. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

More STEM Workers Needed in ME to Fill Growing Green Energy Sector

Business leaders in Maine are working to raise awareness of the growing number of climate change-related job opportunities. The state's recent …

A recent American Farmland Trust survey revealed that over 50% of farmers surveyed sought conservation education from another farmer, versus 20% who looked for help from the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Bill Aids Farmer Education to Tackle Impacts of Climate Change

New federal legislation aims to help farmers in Maine and elsewhere share their knowledge of conservation practices as they face an increasing number …

Corporate donations were the largest source of spending in Maine's 2020 election cycle, including some from foreign-owned companies. (Adobe Stock)

Maine 'Clean Elections' Campaign Shifts to November Ballot

Advocates for "clean" elections in Maine are gearing up for a November ballot referendum that would ban foreign government spending in state elections…

As part of Maine's Offshore Wind Initiative, the state will develop a Floating Offshore Wind Research Array in the Gulf of Maine to foster research into floating offshore wind and how it interacts with the marine wildlife, fishing industry, shipping and navigation routes, and more. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME Labor Groups Applaud New Offshore Wind Energy Industry Standards

Labor advocates are hailing Maine Governor Janet Mill's signing of a landmark bill creating a new offshore wind energy industry in the state…

People with mental health-related challenges are far more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of violence, according to the Coalition for Smart Safety. (Adobe Stock)

Mental Health Advocates Reject Blame for Gun Violence Epidemic

Mental health experts say people with psychiatric diagnoses are being unfairly scapegoated for the gun violence epidemic in Maine and across America…

About one-quarter of Maine farmworkers live in poverty, making them roughly 4.5 times as likely to live below the poverty line as other Maine workers, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy. <br />(Adobe Stock)

ME Farm Workers Denied Minimum Wage

Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed a bill to pay Maine farmworkers the state's minimum wage, but labor groups say the fight isn't over. They plan to keep …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently allocated $300 million for projects that will increase land access for underserved farmers, including funding to restore lands into the hands of those who have been underserved. (Adobe Stock)

Cultivating Food and Community for Maine Immigrants

New immigrants in Maine are benefiting from an effort to improve access to traditional foods and farming practices. Presente! Maine, a Latino and …

ME Lawmaker Seeks Solution to 'Fast Fashion' Pollution

Democratic lawmakers are asking federal investigators to study the true cost of so-called fast fashion and its contribution to climate change…

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…

Around 65% of rural counties in the United States do not have psychiatrists, and more than 60% of rural Americans live in areas lacking mental-health providers, according to the Journal of Clinical and Translational Sciences. (Adobe Stock)

Broadband Funds Could Improve Mental Health Care in Rural ME

Health care providers in Maine hope an influx of federal dollars to expand high-speed internet service will improve access to mental health care in Ma…

90 percent of middle and high schools and 84 percent of elementary schools were providing a device for every student, according to a March 2021 Education Week survey of school leaders. (Adobe Stock)

Education Advocates Say Expired Chromebooks Teach Kids the Wrong Lesson

Education advocates say pending expiration dates for Google Chromebooks teach kids the wrong lesson about technology. Software on thirteen models …

56% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it, according to the Trevor Project. (Adobe Stock)

Study Shows Benefits of Creativity for Youth Mental Health

Young people who engage in creative activities report a reduction in feelings of stress or anxiety, according to a new study. The Adobe Foundation …

Only 22 states have educational standards which require at least one semester course in personal finance to graduate high school, according to Nex Gen. Maine is not one of them. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Bowdoin Students Benefit from Job Training 'Bootcamp'

Students at Bowdoin College are benefiting from an innovative, student-led program aimed at taking the mystery out of career planning. Each winter …

A study by the American Institutes for Research showed children who participated in outdoor education programs raised their science test scores by 27%. (Adobe Stock)

Outdoor Education Key to Improving Health of Students, Planet

Congressional lawmakers are considering a bill to help improve the environmental literacy of America's students. Dubbed the "No Child Left Inside …

In 2021, workers in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry experienced one of the highest fatal injury rates at 20 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, compared to a rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 workers for all U.S. industries. (Adobe Stock)

ME Farmworkers Strive for Minimum Wage, Right to Unionize

Lawmakers in Maine are considering legislation to improve the wages and working conditions of thousands of farmworkers. Current law requires …

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 …

In the next decade, as much as 400,000 acres of Maine farmland will change hands, according to Maine Farmland Trust. The 2017 Census of Agriculture revealed that only 11% of Black farmers in Maine own the land that they cultivate. (Adobe Stock)<br /> <br /><br />(Adobe Stock)

Congress Aims to Remove Land Access Barriers for Young Farmers

New bipartisan legislation in Congress aims to fix the number one challenge facing the next generation of American farmers - access to land. The …

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)

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…

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