Maine News & Current Events | Public News Service

Friday, February 3, 2023

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-…

Maine is one of nine states that allows people with disabilities to vote online, which research shows has helped increase participation among historically disenfranchised voters. (Adobe Stock)

More First-Time Voters with Disabilities Use Maine's Online Voting System

Advocates for Mainers with disabilities say the state's online voting system is helping to increase turnout among this group of voters, some of whom …

State leaders want Maine to be known by new Americans as the most effective state to<br />find a meaningful job through effective transitional supports. (Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center)

New Mainers Learn about Democracy at Immigrant Welcome Center

Understanding the rules about elections can be confusing for anyone, and for immigrants who are eligible to vote, the process can often be unnerving…

The Maine Office of Tourism says the state experienced a 29 percent increase in tourism-related visitation in 2021 over 2020, with an estimated 15.6 million visitors. (Adobe Stock)

Revamped 'NewEngland511' Aims to Reduce Congestion, Pollution

Visitors and residents of Maine count on the New England 511 website for real-time road and weather conditions, and a recent makeover could help even …

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maine experienced a 27% decrease in the estimated number of people without health insurance. But as of 2021, more than 77,000 Mainers were still uninsured. (Adobe Stock)

Maine’s Open Enrollment for ACA Insurance Begins Nov. 1

Maine continues to see the largest decreases in the number of people who are uninsured in recent years, and the trend is expected to continue as open …

About 67% of firefighters in the United States are volunteers, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. (Adobe Stock)

Volunteer Firefighter Shortage Spurs ME Departments into Action

If you dial 911, it is more than likely a volunteer firefighter will respond to your emergency, but in Maine, there are not enough volunteers for …

Older voters traditionally have been a major factor in determining the outcome of Maine elections. (Adobe Stock)

Older Voters: A Formidable Factor in Maine Gubernatorial Race

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and her challenger, former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, both are courting votes from Maine's largest contingency -- …

According to a poll by Voto Latino, one of the most important issues to Latino voters in the 2022 midterm elections is abortion rights, with 70% of those surveyed supporting a person's right to choose. (Felipe Sanchez/Adobe Stock)

Latino Voter Turnout Uncertain for 2022 Midterms

With the November midterms fast approaching, concerns have risen about Latino voter turnout. Across the U.S., 11% of voters in the 2020 General …

This year, more than 70% of the attempts to restrict library resources have targeted multiple titles, according to the American Library Association. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Libraries Observe 'Banned Books Week'

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. For the American …

Maine artist Russel Whitten creates an ocean scene at East Point Audubon Sanctuary at Biddeford Pool. (Elizabeth Creamer/Maine Audubon)

Maine Audubon 'Brush with Nature' Event Captures Wilderness Sanctuaries

The beauty and inspiration of Maine's coastal wetlands soon could be hanging on a wall near you. Twenty-seven plein-air painters will be creating …

Once installed, a trio of solar arrays is estimated to save Maine taxpayers at least $7.2 million over the next 20 years. (Photocreo Bednarek/Adobe Stock)

MaineDOT Installing Solar Arrays to Power Capitol Complex

The Maine Department of Transportation is "going green," with plans to install solar arrays on three state-owned properties in Augusta. The …

Parents of roughly 36,000 Maine kids have been told by a medical professional that their child has anxiety or depression. (Adobe Stock)

Well-Being Report Highlights Mental-Health Struggles of Maine's Kids

Children's advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the mental-health challenges of Maine's kids. The 2022 Kids Count Data Book released today …

Different municipalities may have different rules about accessory dwelling units, sometimes known as

Maine Communities Work to Become More Age-Friendly

Eleven projects in Maine have been awarded grants from AARP to make communities more livable, especially for older residents. Types of projects …

Maine is among 22 states plus Washington D.C. with automatic voter registration when eligible voters get or update their driver's license. (evgenii/Adobe Stock)

Mainers Can Now Register to Vote at the BMV

Maine now has what is known as automatic voter registration at Bureaus of Motor Vehicles. When someone goes to get a driver's license or update one…

At least four U.S. Supreme Court justices have signaled support for the independent state legislature theory, which the Brennan Center for Justice says could have

ME Election Officials Sound Alarm on 'Independent State Legislature Theory'

The U.S. Supreme Court plans to consider a case which could have major implications on the power of state legislatures to control elections. In …

Maine residents can contact MaineCare Member Services to find a dental provider that accepts MaineCare. (satura_/Adobe Stock)

ME Groups Spotlight Improvements to MaineCare Coverage, Eligibility

MaineCare is seeing two big changes this month. Children under 21 and Mainers who are pregnant now are eligible for coverage regardless of their …

In 2019, Maine passed a law requiring MaineCare to cover all pregnancy outcomes including abortion. (alexkoral/Adobe Stock)

ME to Protect Abortion Patients, Providers from Restrictive States

The legal status of abortion in various states is changing day-to-day with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but Maine is among those taking action to …

Proponents of a consumer-owned utility say as Maine works to improve the power grid, it is important to hold power companies in the state accountable. (Adobe Stock)

Campaign Gathers Signatures to Start Consumer-Owned Utility in Maine

A campaign in Maine is gathering signatures to replace the state's investor-owned energy grid with a consumer-owned utility. Central Maine Power (…

The price of meat has gone up 12.3% in the last year. (Fxquadro/Adobe Stock)

Report: Corporate Consolidation Seen as Major Driver of Inflation

Seven in 10 Americans view inflation as the most pressing issue facing the nation right now, and in Maine, a new report seeks to explore the causes…

The Common Loon mostly breeds in Canada and the northern United States. (Tim Corner/Adobe Stock)

Maine Biologists: Give Loons Space This Nesting Season

Maine is home to the largest number of loons in the region, and it's nesting season. The Maine Loon Restoration Project is a five-year effort to …

More than 90% of voters surveyed by AARP Maine want a candidate who supports allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drugs. (hankimage9/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Older Mainers Worry About Inflation, Prescription Drug Prices

Ahead of next Tuesday's primary election, new polling shows many Mainers are extremely motivated to vote, and reveals the issues that matter most to …

More than 1,700 Mainers have completed the HiSET since 2020. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

ME Officials Urge Adults Without High School Diploma to Complete HiSET

Maine education officials are encouraging residents who never graduated from high school to return to adult education and complete the High School Equ…

On June 14, Maine voters will select candidates for governor, U.S. House of Representatives and all 186 seats in the Maine Legislature. (Adobe Stock)

ME Outreach Works to Increase Low-Income, Minority Voter Turnout

Maine outreach groups are doing their part to increase voter turnout for the June 14 primary election and November general election. They are …

Conservationists note that old, wild forests bring various benefits, from storing carbon to preserving biodiversity. (Wikimedia Commons)

Groups Aim to Protect Old Forest in Northern Appalachian-Acadian Ecoregion

Conservationists in the Northern Appalachian-Acadian region are changing how they think about forest protection and management, by bringing together …

Maine's Climate Action Plan cites supply disruptions during the pandemic as a wake-up call to improve the state's local food systems. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Seeks Proposals to Increase Access to Local Food

Maine is seeking proposals for a grant opportunity to support local food producers and production and assist low-income residents in accessing local f…

679 people who were counted in the 2022 Point in Time survey are chronically homeless. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

MaineHousing: Better Data Collection Can Help Reduce Homelessness

Data from Maine's annual Point in Time homelessness survey has been released, showing 4,411 individuals were experiencing homelessness on Jan…

Arctic terns have one of the longest annual migration patterns of any species on the planet, traveling from the Arctic to the Antarctic circles and back, nearly 19,000 miles. (rabbitti/Adobe Stock)

Experts, Birders: Turn Off Home Lights at Night During Migration Season

Saturday is World Migratory Bird Day, and bird experts said it is a great time to be on the lookout for types of birds you may not see every day in …

Nearly 70% of voters who identify as Independents oppose overturning the decision in Roe v. Wade, according to a January 2022 poll by Marquette University Law School. (Judith Anne/Adobe Stock)

Mainers Rally In Support of Roe v. Wade After Leaked Draft Opinion

Mainers gathered Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Portland, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the right to have an abortion. Politico …

Polling shows that many Mainers worry about affording future health-care costs, and groups hope Maine will continue to take that concern seriously in future legislative sessions. (hafakot/Adobe Stock)

Groups: Maine Lawmakers Took Health Care Seriously This Session

With the conclusion of this year's legislative session, advocates say Maine lawmakers have taken key steps toward reducing the cost of health care…

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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