Maine Morning Star - A report found Maine 14th out of all states on a number of factors that impact life satisfaction, ranking high on the environment and civil liberties but low on measures such as children and families, economic output and mental health.
As the country approaches its 250th anniversary, the nonpartisan State of the Nation Project created the State of States report to assess each of the 50 states and Washington D.C. on 31 measures — such as income inequality, social isolation, youth depression, etc. — created by a board of academics and advisers to the last five presidents.
Some of the overall takeaways include: states are becoming more alike in many ways but growing apart on issues that can drive feelings of division; only a small handful of states showed improvement on any measure of self-reported well-being; and a stronger economy does not seem to improve personal well-being, but it may build social trust.
Specifically, Maine received the top ranking for net greenhouse gas emissions and ranked third for air quality. Maine also ranked first for civil liberties, which the report calculated based on the rate of press freedom violations, such as assaults of reporters and restricting coverage, per 1 million residents.
On the other hand, Maine ranked low for fatal overdoses (43rd) and youth depression (42nd). Maine’s lowest rank of 44th was for economic output, which is based on real gross domestic product.
WCYY - For nearly six years, the old Sears location in Brunswick, Maine, has sat vacant. On a busy stretch of road in the city, it became a bit of an eyesore. But back in March, it was announced that eyesore would be getting a makeover. Retail giant Hobby Lobby had leased out a portion of the more than 82,000 square feet that was once Sears and would open their fifth location in Maine.
Construction estimates suggested the new Hobby Lobby location would open sometime in September. Now, it appears the store is going to open much, much sooner. While no firm grand opening date has been set yet, all of the signs point towards a Hobby Lobby grand opening in Brunswick, Maine, in the next few weeks.
Press Herald - A federal judge gave the Trump administration until July 3 to return signs it had removed from national parks and monuments, including climate change and Wabanaki displays at Acadia National Park....The ruling on Friday requires federal officials to restore dozens of Acadia’s displays on warming oceans and Wabanaki heritage by July 3. This legal victory ensures that the millions who visit Maine’s coast this summer will receive an unvarnished look at the state’s changing environment.
For months, hikers reaching the summit of Cadillac Mountain have found spectacular views but empty pedestals. The signs that once explained the summit’s Wabanaki origins or how a warming world is changing the park were gone, replaced by a silence that critics called political censorship.
“It was a kick in the teeth,” said former Acadia superintendent Sheridan Steele, who oversaw the park from 2003-15. “The public puts its trust in the park service. They want truth. The parks want to give it to them. It would be such a shame to lose that.”
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