Rep. Pingree built a farm-to-politics career. Now she’s working with MAHA moms.

MAINE MORNING STAR • March 10, 2026

Long before entering politics, Rep. Chellie Pingree was a self-described hippie, a back-to-the-lander and an organic farmer. Representing Maine’s 1st District in Congress since 2009, the 70-year-old Democrat has focused on bolstering organic food production, creating better access to healthy foods for kids and fighting pesticides. Much of her life’s work on these issues aligns neatly with certain facets of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which is led by current Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. but gained momentum through the support of moms on social media. For environmental groups, the MAHA movement has also helped make some of these issues relevant to Republicans who need to keep their constituents happy ahead of midterms.

Opinion: Northern Maine is a very fine place for a data center

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 10, 2026

Van Buren is a perfect Maine home for an AI data centers. Van Buren is cold in the winter, which is why lots of companies overlook the great resources available in the town. But this handicap is a benefit for data centers, which require massive cooling to function. Van Buren’s cool climate would give a data center a much better power usage coefficient. LiquidCool Solutions is already building a data center at the nearby Loring Commerce Center, immersing its data chips in liquid nitrogen to keep them cool. In 2023, Eternal Mind opened a data center at Loring, hosting quantum computers. Only: Loring is in a cellular dead zone. Van Buren has good cell service. Both Loring and Van Buren are connected to the “Three-Ring Binder” high-speed internet infrastructure. C’est bon! ~ Keith Hall Taft, former resident of Van Buren now living in St. Petersburg, Florida

Why Mainers aren’t getting their blood tested for PFAS

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 10, 2026

In the fall, a state program sent out nearly 700 letters to people whose wells tested high for PFAS, encouraging them to get tested and offering state help in paying for tests. But the effort has been slow to start, with the state collecting only 164 positive tests as of mid-February, likely a fraction of those who have been exposed to high PFAS levels. Reluctance and other barriers to testing, including lack of insurance, have meant that few Mainers are getting tested even after the statewide push that is aimed at tracking health conditions linked to exposure and finding new hotspots for contamination. Maine officials have identified more than 90 farms that have unsafe levels of PFAS. In 2022, lawmakers approved a $60 million PFAS Fund aimed at helping farmers and others whose land was affected by sewage sludge spreading, the now-banned practice that began in the 1980s and unwittingly caused widespread pollution. “Some people are saying, ‘I don’t want to know if something’s going to kill me.’”

New cultural exhibit tells artistic story of the Wabanaki Nations

THE COUNTY • March 9, 2026

Vivid abstract lime green, orange and teal painted figures accented the more traditional birch bark shavings and woven indigenous creations in the new Wabanaki Cultural Exhibit designed to breathe life into the generational artistic story of the state’s Indigenous people. The cultural exhibit, a project of the Wabanaki Nations, the Maine Tourism Association and the Maine Office of Tourism, opened on Thursday with a ceremony at the Maine State Visitor Information Center in Houlton on North Road just off I-95. The exhibit welcomes visitors to the Wabanaki Territory and invites a deeper understanding of the cultures of Wabanaki Nations, and the traditions of the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot that have shaped this land for generations.

Moose found stuck in ice on Aroostook River

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 9, 2026

A moose has drowned after falling through ice on the Aroostook River in Presque Isle, according to the Maine Warden Service. “This was just a young moose that had walked out on the river and fell through the ice, and in the end it succumbed,” Warden Alan Dudley said. “Believe it or not, this is not uncommon. The only uncommon thing about this was that it was in public view.”

UMaine identifies human remains and hundreds of artifacts for repatriation to Wabanaki tribes

MAINE PUBLIC • March 9, 2026

The University of Maine's Anthropology Department has identified hundreds of Wabanaki burial artifacts and the physical remains of at least 26 individuals in its collection. The process of returning them to the tribes in accordance with federal law could begin next month. The human remains and cultural artifacts were removed from multiple burial locations, mostly along the coast or near the Penobscot River, according to a notice filed this month in the Federal Register. Some of the sites are estimated to be thousands of years old. Many were excavated in the second half of the 20th century. A total of 532 objects in the university's collection include bone fragments, pigment samples, gouges, hammerstones, as well as other tools and funerary items.

Maine's outdoor recreation economy nearly doubled over the last decade

MAINE PUBLIC • March 9, 2026

New federal data show Maine's outdoor recreation economy has nearly doubled over the last decade or so. The U.S. Commerce Department finds that Maine's outdoor recreation sector generated nearly $4 billion and accounts for 4% of the state's gross domestic product. Maine ranks sixth in the nation in the value that the sector generates for its gross domestic product. "It shows that outdoor recreation is our competitive advantage here," said Jenny Kordick, executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands. "We are a leader in the country, and if you take a step back and think about it, it makes sense, how infused the outdoors is to everything in the state of Maine. It's something we should be proud of."

LMF Action Day at the State House

NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • March 9, 2026

Come to the State House to let legislators know you want them to fund the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) program this year. LMF is the state's most successful and popular land conservation program, but it is out of money and legislators need to act this session to provide funding. We need LMF to protect working lands and waterfronts, support our outdoor recreational economy, and protect the beauty and open space that define Maine's way of life. 

At Saddleback’s The Nest, architecture opens up to nature

RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • March 9, 2026

Saddleback reopened Dec. 1, 2020, after five years of closure. Of Saddleback’s 6,300 acres, only about 600 are developed. A new lift debuted that season, and three years later The Nest opened. Davies Toews Architecture designed the modern, utilitarian structure with environmental sensitivity in mind. Architects were aware of the rare Bicknell’s thrush, a small bird inhabiting dense alpine forests at high elevations, like at Saddleback. Bird-deflection screens protect the thrush from collisions with The Nest’s expansive sliding doors.

Smart stream crossings benefit wildlife, public safety

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 9, 2026

Like the blood vessels in your body, Maine’s rivers and streams carry rainwater and snowmelt downstream to the sea. Yet across the state, thousands of undersized and aging road-stream crossings are quietly choking those arteries. If we are serious about climate resilience, public safety, and protecting Maine’s outdoor heritage, we must significantly increase funding for improved stream crossings that meet Stream Smart standards. The town of Brownville recently completed two Stream Smart crossings. Stream Smart funding made it possible to replace these aging structures with modern, climate‑resilient designs that the Town could not have otherwise afforded. The ecological benefits are just as important. Maine’s outdoor economy — fishing, paddling, wildlife watching — depends on healthy aquatic systems. Maine Audubon, towns across Maine and many others are working hard in the Maine Legislature to find the necessary funding to help Stream Smart support for municipalities continue. ~ Lance Farrar, town manager, Brownville, and Sarah Haggerty, conservation biologist, Maine Audubon

I discovered this epic 12-mile ski loop in Acadia National Park

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 8, 2026

Around-the-Mountain is one of several named circuits in the winter carriage road system, which totals about 30 miles of cross-country skiing when conditions are right. And when they are right, it’s spectacular. At the 600-foot contour on Parkman Mountain, views begin opening to the west. Across Somes Sound I can see flat-topped Acadia Mountain, and below it Jock Williams boatyard in Hall Quarry. The next opening offers a look at the unmistakable profile of Blue Hill Mountain and the cliffs on Great Pond Mountain. Before heading out it’s worth checking the Acadia Winter Trails Association page on the Friends of Acadia website or the FOA and Ski MDI Facebook pages for current trail updates. ~ Carey Kish

Coast Guard to break ice on Penobscot, Kennebec rivers

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 8, 2026

The U.S. Coast Guard will conduct ice-breaking operations on two Maine rivers this month to clear shipping channels. On the Penobscot River, the Coast Guard cutters Thunder Bay and Bridle will break ice from March 9 to 11. The cutter Tackle may also assist in the operation. Ice breaking on the Kennebec River is scheduled for either the third or fourth week of March, using the cutter Shackle. The Coast Guard is advising anyone with fishing gear or other personal property on the Kennebec River to remove it before operations begin.

Coastal Rivers conservation trust seeking community ambassadors for upcoming season

BOOTHBAY REGISTER • March 8, 2026

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust is inviting community members to help grow the local conservation movement by becoming volunteer ambassadors. A training session for outreach and events volunteers will be held on Thursday, March 19, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Coastal Rivers Denny Conservation and Education Center in Damariscotta. In preparation for the busy summer and fall seasons, Coastal Rivers is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to represent the organization at the weekly farmers market and various other community events. This training is designed to provide both new and returning volunteers with the tools they need to share the trust's mission effectively. The training session will cover setting up engaging event displays, key talking points regarding Coastal Rivers’ mission and current programs, and best practices for public engagement and community outreach. 

Coastal Maine boatyard gets $1.5M to expand further into new technology

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 8, 2026

Brooklin Boat Yard, one of Hancock County’s larger employers, has grown in recent decades from a small yard in a town defined by wooden boatbuilding to a 65-person operation building custom high-end vessels and servicing about 160 more. Along the way, it has developed unique approaches to mixing wood and composite materials along with 3D printing. The boatyard is set to continue in that direction with a $1.5 million state investment aimed at adding more room for working with and developing such technology, along with expanded space for boat projects.

Letter: Disgusted by crow hunting column

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 7, 2026

I read with dismay the article “Why crow hunting is more fun than you think,” published in Feb. 28-March 1 weekend paper. Hunting for and killing these amazing and intelligent birds for no other reason than “for fun” is beyond disturbing, showing no respect for another being’s life. And what do you do with the bodies that are contaminated with lead shot? Leave them for other animals to eat and be poisoned? ~ Rosa Livonius, Etna

3 takeaways from governor candidates at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 7, 2026

A dozen candidates for Maine governor met Saturday at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum to discuss the latest trends and topics impacting the state’s commercial fishing industry. All six of the candidates that had to answer a question about whether they support a 2022 federal spending provision that delayed new whale-related restrictions on lobstering gear said they do and would advocate for an extension. “Federal restrictions on fishing gear cannot be built on the backs of Maine fishermen,” said Rick Bennett, an independent. Jim Libby, a Republican, said, “We’re asking people to change what they’re doing and use technology that is not proven. Democrat Shenna Bellows said she would work on improving the collective buying power of fishermen to make insurance more accessible, negotiate down drug prices and invest in rural health infrastructure. Democrat Nirav Shah called for investments in workforce housing, zoning reforms and said the state could explore a “deeded access or land trust model” to ensure housing access in waterfront communities. Candidates from both parties stressed that people who work on Maine’s coast should not be priced out of living there.

Opinion: It’s time we scrutinize the effects of tour buses on Kennebunkport

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 7, 2026

When Kennebunkport village center was laid out more than 300 years ago, no one anticipated the need to allow passage for large commercial vehicles. Our infrastructure cannot be expanded. The mass arrival of visitors via motorcoach is different than the ebb and flow of people who circulate to and from Dock Square via car or on foot. It is time for Kennebunk and Kennebunkport to begin a serious conversation about the capacity of our river villages to welcome hundreds of visitors at once within the boundaries of our limited business districts without destroying the qualities that make people want to come here in the first place. ~ Susan Graham, Kennebunkport

Opinion: Sea farming preserves Maine’s marine heritage. Stop squeezing it out.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 7, 2026

Economist Christian Brayden of the Maine Aquaculture Association estimates that aquaculture leases in Maine do not typically sustain themselves financially until they grow to over five acres. In South Bristol an ordinance on aquaculture leases over one-half of an acre is up for a vote, and the residents will decide if the town moves forward with what is effectively an aquaculture ban. Nearby, Cushing is facing a similar vote on March 16. If the ordinances pass, profitable aquaculture businesses in these towns could end, affecting dozens of livelihoods and families. The Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition was founded in 2025 to act as a collective voice that tells the stories of real Maine sea farmers like Smokey and Sarah and to share information about the benefits of aquaculture to Maine. We firmly believe that supporting sea farmers is a path toward a more sustainable future for our working waterfront communities and Maine’s marine economy and culture. ~ Sebastian Belle and Andrea Cianchette Maker, Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition

Letter: Portland’s Bayside parcels could transform city

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 7, 2026

Portland’s city-owned Bayside parcels offer a rare chance to demonstrate how a neighborhood can support residents across the full housing life cycle. Instead of viewing these parcels as discrete development sites, the city and development partners could approach them as a cohesive neighborhood, where renters, first-time buyers, families, downsizers and seniors can all find appropriate housing within a livable, mixed-use environment supported by civic space and local commerce. Publicly owned land in a central neighborhood is an uncommon civic asset. If approached with intention and imagination, Bayside could become a visible example of how communities can build housing that works not just for today’s residents, but for the lives they will lead here over time. ~ Mike Carey, Portland