When Maine daycares stay quiet about abuse and neglect within their walls

On April 2, a teacher at a Brewer child care center picked up a young boy who had crawled away, swung him until his feet were about three feet off the ground and slammed his bottom onto the floor so hard he bounced, according to video footage. A...

Health The Cool Down Researchers discover concerning substances lurking in US food crops: 'There is no one-size-fits-all'

Forever chemicals are showing up in food crops. Research has shown that PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, from contaminated soil can end up in roots, leaves, and fruits people eat — putting human health at risk. What's happening? A...

CDC rushes to hire back top scientists after they were sent layoff notices 'in error'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been thrown into chaos after mistakenly issuing layoff notices to some of its most experienced disease experts, including officials leading responses to active measles and Ebola outbreaks. The...

Maine Supreme Judicial Court travels for hearings including alleged Sixth Amendment violations

BINGHAM, Maine (WABI) - The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is hearing cases at several high schools this week. On Tuesday in Bingham at Upper Kennebec Valley High School, the high court heard oral arguments in three cases. Two of those regarding...

Maine regulators rule Passamaquoddy solar project complies with state rules

Maine utility regulators have sided with the Passamaquoddy Tribe in a dispute with its local utility to install solar panels and battery storage across more than 200 homes in Indian Township. The tribe's plans have been delayed for almost a year,...

Maine Franco-American Genealogical Society Offers a special gift | Sun Spots

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Readers, what should you get Mémère and Pépère for the holidays, or any other hard-to-buy-for relative? Think about genealogy. What about a direct line back to your immigrant ancestors from France? Maine Franco-American...

Maine Listings Unveils New Logo and Brand Strategy

Maine Listings, one of the nation’s oldest statewide MLS organizations, has announced the launch of a new brand identity and the unveiling of a new logo and visual direction that is intended to reflect its mission as a customer-centric, accessible...

Alzheimer’s Association Maine sees largest turnout for annual fundraiser walk

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - For more than two decades, folks have hit the streets of Bangor to help raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s. On Saturday, Maine’s chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association says they saw the largest crowd yet of about 400...

Maine parents say getting an old school landline for kids is revolutionary

Standing in the kitchen of her South Portland home, eight-year old Piper Morse picks up a phone to call a friend. "Hi Carly. Whatcha doin?" Piper asks. The two have a lot to discuss: soccer game scores, an upcoming bake sale, and the latest on the...

Background Briefing: October 19, 2025

Resistance to Trump is Growing With 2,600 No Kings Protests Across America We begin with the 2,600 No Kings rallies held on Saturday across the country from Maine to the Marianas which peacefully displayed the growing resistance to Trump...

Researchers discover concerning substances lurking in US food crops: 'There is no one-size-fits-all'

Researchers are helping farmers and policymakers make better decisions to keep food safer. by Geri MilevaOctober 7, 2025 Forever chemicals are showing up in food crops. Research has shown that PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, from...

Maine’s green crab problem: Here’s how Mainers are fighting back

The first time Sam Cheeney saw a green crab was in the early 2000s, as part of an ecology class at the University of Maine at Machias. He and his classmates ventured out across the mud flats and rocky shoreline in search of the invasive species,...

Maine accuses woman of $22K scam over bison collagen supplement

Maine Listings unveils new logo in rebrand effort

The MLS said the rebrand is part of a larger initiative to demonstrate Maine Listings’ role as a model MLS organization. “This is about more than a logo,” said Jeff Harris, 2025 president of the Maine Association of Realtors, which powers Maine...

Maine state auditor defies national Democrats, launches primary against moderate Jared Golden

This story was produced as part of a new partnership with NOTUS and the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute. Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap on Monday launched a primary challenge against moderate Democratic Rep. Jared Golden in...

Tourism Pays in Portland, Maine

Published: October 6, 2025 Tourism pays in Portland, Maine, including for students across the University of Maine System. In September, the Tourism, Hospitality, and Outdoor Recreation Institute (THOR) began offering $1000 scholarships to students...

Here’s Why Maine Just Had Its Worst Fire Season in Years

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by the Maine Monitor, a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting. When a campfire jumped its ring near a remote northern Maine lake last month, it took Maine Forest Rangers...

Maine’s newest national monument celebrates 1st season, even without federal funding

It’s a cool, September evening and a crowd had gathered in Newcastle to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Social Security, the landmark federal program that has offered a critical safety net to generations of Americans. But the event, held beneath...

Research reveals which spooky states love Halloween the most

(Photo by olia danilevich via Pexels) By Talker Trick or treat? Those in North Dakota, Delaware and Idaho are most eager to find out as new data shows they’re the biggest Halloween fanatics. A new survey polled 5,000 Americans who celebrate...

A Maine Victorian Gets a Modern Renovation

Experience one Maine summer and you are hooked for life—or several lifetimes, judging from the many family estates that dot the coastline. One such property, owned by the same family for over a century, recently received a thoughtful refresh from...