Author: Public News Service
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 disparities in pass rates for people of color, nonnative English speakers and older adults. Jeanette Andonian, associate dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Southern Maine, said…
Maine lawmakers are calling for greater transparency in how hospitals and other health care centers charge so-called facility fees. A legislative task force says providers should notify patients prior to a scheduled service if they’ll be charged an added fee, and recommends the fees be eliminated for telehealth services or outpatient evaluations, including visits to a doctor’s…
Advocates for mental-health care in Maine are applauding Gov. Janet Mills’ push to increase access to services, following last year’s deadly shooting in Lewiston. Mills has proposed the establishment of a statewide network of crisis receiving centers so that any person can get prompt and appropriate care. Hannah Longley, clinical director of advocacy and crisis interventions with…
A new study found seasonal snowpacks throughout New England have shrunk significantly over the past 40 years due to human-driven climate change. Researchers at Dartmouth College say snowpacks have declined between 10% and 20% each decade. Alex Gottlieb, a doctoral candidate at Dartmouth College, said by the end of the 21st century, the region could be close…
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 and contains the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which ensures food banks can help the 11% of Maine households facing hunger. Vince Hall, chief government relations officer for Feeding America, said advocates for…
Dan Neumann contributed reporting to this article. Lawmakers in Maine heard hours of emotional public testimony today regarding a potential constitutional amendment to protect reproductive autonomy. Two-thirds of both the House and Senate would need to pass the resolution before it would go to a statewide ballot. “The ability to determine our reproductive health is…
Healthcare advocates in Maine say people who missed the most recent open enrollment deadline for healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act have another chance to sign up. Mainers have until Jan. 16 to enroll for coverage beginning in February, and the majority of those who enroll are expected to qualify for premium subsidies to lower…
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 coast. Scientists say the ocean current, which carries tropical water up the Eastern Seaboard, has warmed two degrees Fahrenheit since 2001 and could be pushing warmer water into the Gulf of Maine.…
Community groups across Maine are helping small towns with fewer resources better prepare for the growing threat of climate change. They are conducting energy audits to help towns save money and implement renewable energy projects, including off-grid emergency shelters. One example is the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy, an environmental organization based in Norway. Executive…
The proposal to create a publicly-owned electric power utility in Maine was defeated but the confusion surrounding electricity rates remains. A series of free upcoming workshops aims to help older Mainers better understand their electric bills and advocate for lower rates. Alf Anderson, associate state director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Maine, said the election…