Maine Public

08/28/2026

At a special meeting before the legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services Committee Thursday, MaineHealth CEO Andy Mueller offered several reasons for the decision to close the birthing center.

At a special meeting before the legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services Committee Thursday, MaineHealth CEO Andy Mueller offered several reasons for the decision to close the birthing center.

08/28/2026

A federal appellate court in Boston ruled earlier this year that Maine's waiting period on gun purchases was likely constitutional. But a different federal court went the other way on a New Mexico law.

A federal appellate court in Boston ruled earlier this year that Maine's waiting period on gun purchases was likely constitutional. But a different federal court went the other way on a New Mexico law.

08/28/2026

Brewer Police Chief Chris Martin says the reader has helped to solve two serious crimes, a DUI that injured an elderly man and a murder.

Police Chief Chris Martin says the reader has helped to solve two serious crimes, a DUI that injured an elderly man and a murder.

08/28/2026

The developers of a land-based salmon farm in Millinocket say their project is on hold due to uncertainty with Canadian tariffs.

Great Northern Salmon, Inc. planned to build a $300 million aquaculture facility at the site of the Great Northern Paper Mill. The project was a partnership with the nonprofit Our Katahdin, which redeveloping the former mill site.

The company had its aquaculture license. Planning and design work were finished, and the initial site preparations were about 80% complete, said Marianne Naess, CEO of Great Northern Salmon.

Engineering work was expected to start this fall and construction in the spring, she said.

"But we decided we need to postpone it and see what happens, to ensure we have a more stable and predictable environment," she said.

Naess said much of the equipment for the salmon farm has steel components and needs to be imported, because the United States does not have a large aquaculture industry.

The company has not set a timeline for reexamining the project's future, Naess said she and Our Katahdin hope it can be revived.

"if someone else comes and is interested in this site, we would of course grant them the right to lease it to someone else," Naess said. "We can't hold up economic development, because Millinocket really needs it."

And Naess said she believes Maine is the right place for aquaculture.

"This has nothing to do with Maine," she added. "This has everything to do with the more unpredictable environment that we're in right now."

✍️ Nicole Ogrysko/Maine Public
📸 Gabor Degre/Bangor Daily News file

08/28/2026

Judy Woodruff is one of the most trusted and beloved broadcast journalists in the nation. The former anchor of the PBS News, Woodruff has continued her in-depth reporting with a multi-year project for PBS titled “Crossroads: America at 250.”

Thursday, August 27, Judy Woodruff joined the Maine Calling team for a live broadcast in the community event space at Maine Public’s new Portland facility. Listen back to the full conversation at mainecalling.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

08/27/2026

The union's demands for more staffing come in the wake of two CSX train derailments in the last month, including one in Orono and another in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The union's demands for more staffing come in the wake of two CSX train derailments in the last month, including one in Orono and another in Worcester, Massachusetts.

08/27/2026

Environmental groups in Maine are urging the state's congressional delegation to oppose bills that would shield big oil and gas companies from liability for climate damage.

During a Portland rally Thursday, organizers led a small group of delegates in chants and a march on representatives' offices to deliver a petition to reject "Stop Climate Shakedowns" acts proposed in the U.S. Congress.

Jackson Chadwick with Maine Youth for Climate Justice said the pair of bills would grant fossil fuel companies from lawsuits seeking damages for climate harms such as more intense storms and flooding. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey filed a lawsuit against Exxon-Mobil and other companies in 2024.

"Many communities and states across the country have sued big oil for climate deception but also for direct harms to individual communities. These bills would seek to prevent communities and states from doing that," Chadwick said.

The measures would also block state climate superfund laws intended to make major oil and gas companies pay for climate harms and fund ongoing resilience efforts.

Vermont and New York have passed climate superfund measures, while Maryland and Maine have taken the first step by enacting laws that require the calculation of damages from greenhouse gas pollution from burning oil and gas.

Joshua Caldwell with Natural Resources Council of Maine said the liability shield bills are a similar playbook used by to***co, fi****ms and pharmaceutical companies to avoid responsibility for their products' damage.

"They are trying to do so because they've put friends in power in the White House and in Congress to move forward initiatives like this," Caldwell said.

Sens. Ted Crux, R-Texas; Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas; Ted Budd, R-North Carolina; and Mike Lee, R-Utah introduced the Stop Climate Shakedown bill this spring. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, introduced a similar measure in the House.

In a statement at the time, American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers President and CEO Chet Thompson said efforts to "retroactively penalize companies for lawfully meeting consumer demand are misguided and counter productive. Congress should act decisively to reaffirm federal authority over national energy policy and end this activist-driven state overreach."

✍️+📸 Peter McGuire/Maine Public

08/27/2026

A rash of near-shore shark sightings has led to temporary beach closures and surveillance measures along the southern Maine coast.

“Maybe we are realizing that Maine’s southern coast is important habitat for juvenile white sharks. But we really don’t know for certain and we’re not going to really be able to give a direct answer until we can get some tags on these animals,” said Matt Davis, a marine biologist at the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

Read the full story at mainepublic.org.

Reporting: Peter McGuire
Video & Production: Lucy Santerre

08/27/2026

Notable journalist and PBS NewsHour host Judy Woodruff will be on Maine Maine Calling today, Thursday, August 27! Tune in live at 11 am and again at 8 pm.

Is there anything you've always wanted to ask Judy Woodruff? Live at 11 am & again at 8 pm. Call 800-399-3566; email [email protected]; or comment here.

08/22/2026

We're wagging our tails because Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)'s Common Ground Country Fair is ruff-ly one month away!

Be sure to shepherd yourself to the Maine Public booth first before retrieving your veggies at the market. You'll rollover with excitement when you see our BumperCrop voucher incentive!

While you're with us, be sure to stay... STAY... a few minutes to catch up, fetch exclusive merch, and sign-up for some paws-itively awesome newsletters.
Maine Public is happy to be a media sponsor of the fair this year.