Caitlin Troutman

More than 500 climate change protesters and environmental advocates gathered in Portland Saturday as part of a rally and “funeral” for various environmental and political causes.

Both anti-abortion and abortion rights advocates gathered Saturday morning outside the Portland office of Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who is considered a possible swing vote in the confirmation process of Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Climate change, pollution and water acidity are all among the issues affecting the water in Maine. The vastness and complexity of ocean environments, however, make it difficult for scientists to measure these important changes in the water. That’s why one nonprofit is looking to its volunteers to put a modern spin on an old way of assessing water quality.

As you take a walk along the shores of Casco Bay this summer, you may notice other beachgoers taking pictures — of the water.

There are currently about 2,500 people in Maine’s prison system, and the majority of those who are incarcerated will eventually be released. Each individual is then tasked with looking for a job, finding a place to live and finding health care, all on a truncated timeline. Several factors—like the case worker assigned to an ex-prisoner, family and resources on the outside—impact whether or not someone may be successful.

It seems that whenever warm temperatures and muggy weather return to Maine, air quality warnings follow. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) often issues air quality alerts and warnings when the temperatures increase, advising those with respiratory problems to stay indoors and take other precautions. So far in 2018, the Maine DEP has issued two air quality warnings. In 2017, they issued six.

On a farm in Lewiston, fresh garlic is growing plentifully, and beet greens and spinach are popping out of the ground across three acres of farmland. Not long ago, though, there wasn’t anything growing here.

Four new Mainers, originally from Somalia, have been farming this land in Lewiston since they broke ground in 2016, but they have all been farming much longer.

When the second regular session of the legislature adjourned and lawmakers left the statehouse this week, both parties were blaming the other for unfinished business. 

The blame continued when Governor Paul LePage gave his latest weekly radio address with the title “Speaker Gideon Kills Good Legislation That Would Benefit the Maine People.”

Speaker of the House Sara Gideon has now released a statement responding to the governor's remarks.

Although some of us are still recovering from the winter or dreading another nor’easter, spring has officially started in Maine. As temperatures rise, many have already begun looking for a way to get outside and celebrate the outdoors. Luckily, Maine has no shortage of outdoor attractions, and many are accessible to those with limited mobility and people with disabilities.

Gun rights advocates gathered around the nation Saturday in a series of pro-Second Amendment rallies. In Maine, hundreds demonstrated at the plaza between the State House and the Burton M. Cross State Office Building in Augusta.

Every year, Maine’s maple syrup producers celebrate Maine Maple Sunday by offering free samples and demonstrations on how the syrup is made. Many establishments have also begun to offer games, tours, music and other events, making the day a holiday for many.

You can find a map of sugarhouses and find out what events they are offering from the Maine Maple Producers Association here.

Republican Maine State House candidate Leslie Gibson has announced that he is dropping out of the race for the Maine House District 57 seat, representing Greene and Sabattus.

Gibson came under fire for his Twitter remarks about two students who survived the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. He wrote that one of the Parkland survivors was a "skinhead lesbian," and the other a "bald-faced liar." Gibson later apologized to one of the students.