Maine

Every Friday this summer, we're featuring the work of young writers in partnership with the Telling Room In Portland. Our first installment is called "Whaleback," a piece inspired by the Patriot's Day storm of 2006, when writer Anna Mitchell was only 4 years old.

The red suburban crept along the sea foam blanketed pavement, carrying us like a faithful steed into battle. The wind blew at an unruly pace, lifting wave after wave into the somber sky. The tires rolled. The ocean rolled.

Astronaut Eugene Cernan flew three space missions, including Apollo 10, the dress rehearsal for the moon landing, and Apollo 17, which he commanded and which made the final, manned landing on the moon in December, 1972. Cernan and astronaut-geologist Harrison Schmidt spent three days on the lunar surface, the longest stay of any of the Apollo landing missions. Cernan, who's retired now, was in Portland Thursday for a Salvation Army "Champion for Kids" fundraising event. He spoke with MPBN Morning Edition host Irwin Gratz.

The LePage administration has suffered a major setback in its effort to exclude asylum seekers and certain immigrants from General Assistance. The Maine Attorney General's office has reviewed the request, and after "extensive research," has concluded that it is unconstitutional, represents an unfunded mandate and exceeds statutory authority.

After three years on the job, University of Maine President Paul Ferguson is heading west - to Indiana. The board of trustees at Ball State University selected Ferguson at a meeting this afternoon, bringing to an end what's been described as an "exhaustive" five-month search for a new president.

Ferguson has been the president of the University of Maine since 2011. Before that, he was provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and a professor of pharmacology and toxicology.

With the Memorial Day weekend approaching, experts discuss how to be a better driver, and ask our listeners questions about the rules of the road. Learn about the most dangerous things people do on Maine roads, the rules most people ignore, and ways to drive more safely as we age.

  We've all heard the saying Driving is a privilege, not a right. But everyday some drivers from all walks of life treat their car, and the road, as their own personal space with little regard for the safety of those traveling the same highways and byways. Some just forget the rules of the roadl.

  A discussion about the just released Maine Food Strategy Report. It details the food choices and buying habits of Mainers, including where they shop, how they define "local" and what influences purchasing decisions. What is the potential for Maine's farmers and fishermen?

Walker School in Liberty made impressive gains over the past year. The school's grade on it's 2014 state report card jumped from a D to a B. Thanks to budget cuts, Walker now shares its principal with another elementary school in the district, Regional School Unit 3. Troy Central School moved from an F to a D this year. According to the state, it's still struggling. But a visit to Troy revealed the same kind of energy and programs in place that eventually allowed Walker School to become more successful.

An update on some of the recent events in Africa. The latest news on the search for the abducted school girls in Nigeria, the civil war in South Sudan and the crisis in the Central African Republic.

Host Jennifer Rooks speaks with:

One-hundred-fifty years ago this week, soldiers from Maine were among those taking part in one of the bloodiest clashes of the Civil War: the battle of Spotsylvania Court House. For one Vermont resident, it's an historical event bought to life by a recently-discovered cache of letters written by her great-great-grandfather who was there - and captured an enemy flag before being wounded. Tom Porter has more.

Tasha Wallis says her interest in this historic event began a few months ago when a family gathering took an unexpected turn.