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America reaches solar power milestone amid fossil fuel decline

The Massachusetts SMART program is an earn-as-you-produce incentive program, which compensates solar system owners with monthly payments from their electric utility, allowing residents to receive payments up to 20 years after installation, according to the Mass Clean Energy Center. (Adobe Stock) Jul 17, 2026 Listen to this story HERE By Tik Root for Grist – Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Commonwealth News Service reporting […]

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ME Governor Mills announces $500,000 in grants to help expand local food production and agricultural education

July 30, 2026 Program created by Governor Mills will help schools and communities across Maine grow fresh, local food and extend growing season By Ramona Cornell du Houx Augusta, MAINE – The Mills Administration has awarded $500,000 to 10 Maine communities to expand local food production and agricultural education through the construction of durable, shared-use greenhouses. Governor Mills conceived the Community Greenhouse […]

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Climate, ocean research slashed under proposed NOAA budget

Critics of the Trump administration’s proposed a $1.6 billion cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2027 budget argue it will weaken weather forecasting and disrupt fisheries management. (Adobe Stock) Listen to this story HERE By Kathryn Carley Apr 10, 2026 Ocean advocates in New England are calling on Congress to reject proposed funding cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric […]

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Mainers losing millions to online scams as federal oversight fades

Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley Jul 29, 2026 A recent AP-NORC poll found 58% of adults receive a suspected scam attempt daily, with more people encountering scams on Facebook than on any other platform. (Adobe Stock) Online scams and other crimes against Mainers skyrocketed last year after the Trump administration cut the budget for consumer and financial protections in half. A new […]

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ICE targets Maine youth after removal of legal protections

Research shows exposure to severe immigration enforcement experiences during childhood carries long-term, significant consequences for both physical and mental health. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE BY Kathryn Carley  Jul 21, 2026 ICE raids continue to escalate in Maine and legal aid groups said young people are increasingly the target. For decades, unaccompanied minors who suffered abuse or neglect […]

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Tiny plastic pellets ‘a slow motion oil spill’ in New England waterways

An estimated 10 trillion plastic pellets make their way into oceans each year, where they can take 100 to 1,000 years to break down, according to a report by The Pew Charitable Trusts. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley   Jul 7, 2026 Environmental groups said tiny plastic pellets are increasingly showing up in U.S. waterways, threatening wildlife […]

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Court orders national park signage restoration by Fourth of July

Signs were posted last summer at Maine’s Acadia National Park, asking the public to report any visible information deemed negative about America’s past. Data obtained from QR codes used by visitors revealed overwhelming support for the factual interpretation of science and history. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley Jun 23, 2026 A federal judge has ordered […]

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Maine climate group: U.S. coal investment a step in wrong direction

Maine’s climate commitments are to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 45% (from 1990 levels) by 2030 and 80% by 2050, and achieve net-zero by 2045, according to the Acadia Center. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley Jun 5, 2026 Climate activists in Maine said the Trump administration’s latest investment in coal-fired power plants will put the U.S. further behind in renewable energy development. Federal officials said they will spend nearly $700 million to build, modernize and restart coal plants nationwide. The administration said the move will create more than 14,000 jobs and reinforce the reliability of the nation’s electric grid. Amy Eshoo, director of the advocacy group Maine Climate Action Now, called the investment a step in the […]

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Maine households cope with nation’s highest energy burden

Between January 2025 and January 2026, Home electricity prices in the U.S. rose nearly 9.5%, according to the Sierra Club. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley Jun 3, 2026 As electricity rates continue to climb in Maine, a new online data tool shows the state’s low-income households bear the heaviest energy burden in the nation. The Sierra Club compiled Department […]

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Lure of data center derails needed housing project in rural Maine

According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of planned data centers in the U.S. are in rural areas, while 87% of existing data centers are in urban areas. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE May 26, 2026 By Julia Tilton for The Daily Yonder. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration […]

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EPA rule could let ME data centers off the hook for clean-air violations

Data centers, especially those powered by natural gas, emit significant pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, methane and fine particulate matter, which can increase rates of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular conditions, according to the Environmental Health Project. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE May 21, 2026 By Kathryn Carley\ A new Maine Data Center Advisory Council aims to protect ratepayers and minimize the […]

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Unpaid emotional labor adding to parents’ heavy ‘mental load’

American women spend an average 4.5 hours per day doing unpaid work, compared with 2.8 hours for men, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley May 15, 2026 By Haley Swenson and Leah Ruppanner for Better Life Lab at New America. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for […]

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