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Welcome to Maine Public News Connect Episode 148 is out today in French, Portuguese, Somali, English, and Spanish with additional newsletters in Arabic, and Khmer. View all via the links below, or on Facebook,YouTube, and mainepublic.org. News Connect is also available on WhatsApp! Click to join for direct access links to weekly episodes. Visit mainepublic.org/connect to sign up for this newsletter, with options in each language, straight to your inbox. Subscribe, and help us spread the news! A big thanks to our sponsors for making this program possible. Today is Friday, March 29, and below are the week's top stories. |
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We are happy to partner with the following community media stations in Maine. News Connect will be broadcast on: Channel 3 in South Portland on Mondays at 8 PM, Tuesdays at 2 AM, Wednesdays at 8 AM, and Thursday sat 2 PM; Channel 22 in Berwick on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 6 PM. Channel 5 in Portland on Fridays at 10 PM, Mondays at 7 AM and 8 PM, Wednesdays at 2 PM, and Thursdays at 3 AM. Channel 1301 in Mt. Blue on Fridays at 5:00 PM and 11 PM EST, Saturday at Noon, and Sunday at 8 AM. |
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Preparing for Extreme Weather Maine's gas and electricity companies will no longer be allowed to disconnect customers during severe heat and other extreme weather events, under a new measure signed by Governor Janet Mills. State regulators say the new rule is an important step, as climate change leads to more intense summer heatwaves. During periods of extreme heat, air conditioning can be critical to keeping people safe. Maine’s major utility companies say they support the new rule, adding that they expect intense heat to become more common. Supporting Victims The Maine Community Foundation announced last week that it has given nearly $4.7 million to 162 people directly affected by last year’s mass shooting in Lewiston. Recipients include relatives of those who were killed, people injured during the shooting, and people who were at the bar and the bowling alley where the attacks took place. Each applicant was supported by victim advocates, and their presence the night of the shootings was validated by law enforcement and medical providers. The Community Foundation said it was "humbled to have helped provide a way for people around the world to contribute to victims of this horrible tragedy and the community's road to recovery." School Enrollment After a few years of growth, the number of students enrolled in Maine's public schools fell last fall. Data from the Maine Department of Education shows a slight decline this fall to about 172,000 students, about 4% below pre-pandemic levels. Enrollment fell sharply during the 2020-2021 school year, but had rebounded over the past several years. A spokesperson for the Department attributes some of the decline to an increase in home schooling, as well as more students completing high school early through college courses and adult education classes. Losing Farmland Maine has lost 564 farms within five years, according to the latest data from the U.S. agricultural census. The state had 7,036 farms in 2022, the fewest number in at least 25 years. Farmers have been challenged by high production costs, labor shortages and unpredictable growing seasons, said David Kent, president of the Maine Farm Bureau. And he said some farmers, particularly those in southern Maine, are facing pressure from developers to sell their land. Across the board, production costs for all Maine farmers have increased by 24% in the past five years. |
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Thanks for tuning in. You can watch for free in all our languages on Facebook, YouTube, andmainepublic.org – and on community access television across the state. If you enjoy the program, feel free to like, comment, and share. Sign up for direct links to the videos in your preferred language through our Newsletter and WhatsApp groups. New episodes and newsletters are available every Friday. We want to hear from you! Please reach out with any thoughts or story ideas. See you next time. |
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The translator-presenter team includes Paola, Victoire, and Tamara. The reporting for News Connect is compliled by Ari Snider via Report for America, and edited by Mark Simpson and the Maine Public News Department. The newscast videos are produced by Brian Bechard, with Rebecca Conley, and overseen by Cory Morrissey. News Connect was created by as part of the Connecting Communities initiative. |
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Questions about Maine Public News Connect can be directed to Cory Morrissey Email: [email protected] |
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We have News Connect posters available! If you would like a print copy for your organazation, please contact: [email protected] |
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Maine Public News Connect has been made possible by individual supporters, businesses, and foundations from across Maine, and by Koo & Patricia Yuen, IDEXX, cPort Credit Union, MaineHousing, and Hannaford, all organizations dedicated to making a difference in Maine. |
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To support Maine Public and the News Connect program, please reach out for sponsorship and advertising opportunities. |
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