Maine

Part of Maine's brand is that it is a desirable place to hold events, from summer festivals to scenic weddings to races to major conferences. These contribute substantially to Maine's economy, drawing locals and out-of-staters—and serving as catalysts for other industries, such as restaurants and tourism. How are these events taking place in light of the Covid-19 pandemic? We'll learn how many organizations are finding ways to hold events, either in a virtual format or other creative solutions.

Sen. Angus King joins us to discuss his work on the Great American Outdoors Act — bipartisan legislation to protect and preserve national parks and public lands. He'll also address government response to current events, including the nationwide civil unrest over racial justice and the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Back in the 1990s, Congress authorized the transfer of certain excess military equipment to law enforcement agencies around the U.S., including many local police departments. Under the federal 1033 program, a number of police departments in Maine have acquired equipment including rifle scopes, computers, night vision goggles and armored vehicles.

Gov. Janet Mills recently announced a change to the controversial rule requiring a 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors to Maine. We'll discuss the new guidelines, which call for visitors from certain states with higher rates of infection to test negative for COVID-19. The new rule hinges on increased COVID-19 testing capacity in Maine. We'll discuss what the guidelines mean, how they will be enforced and how they are being received by Maine's tourism industry.