The new forever chemical standards follow federal limits set by Biden-era regulators.
Penelope Overton
Staff Writer
Penny Overton is excited to be the Portland Press Herald’s first climate reporter. Since joining the paper in 2016, she has written about Maine’s lobster and cannabis industries, covered state politics and spent a fellowship year exploring the impact of climate change on the lobster fishery with the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. Before moving to Maine, she has covered politics, environment, casino gambling and tribal issues in Florida, Connecticut, and Arizona. Her favorite assignments allow her to introduce readers to unusual people, cultures, or subjects. When off the clock, Penny is usually getting lost in a new book at a local coffeehouse, watching foreign crime shows or planning her family’s next adventure.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools & Education
Maine schools tackle food waste to save money, time and the environment
A pilot program from UMaine’s Mitchell Center found big reductions in school cafeteria food waste, and a toolkit rolled out this fall will help schools prepare for a food waste ban that starts in 2030.
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Posted inBusiness, Maine, New England, News
Authorities investigating theft of $400K worth of lobster
The Dec. 12 heist from a cold-storage facility in Taunton, Massachusetts, is the latest in a string of high-value cargo thefts plaguing the transport industry.
Posted inBusiness, Food, Maine, News
Maine’s PFAS ban expands to consumer items on Jan. 1
Under the updated law, many common household items like cookware, cosmetics and children’s toys must be free of harmful forever chemicals.
Posted inMaine, News
A Mainer’s guide to a greener holiday cleanup
What to do with the trees, wrapping paper, lights and leftovers.
Posted inMaine, News
Thousands of Mainers still in the dark after windstorm
Over 20,000 people are still without power after violent gusts of up to 60 mph and an inch of rain hit the state on Friday.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Can European holiday demand reverse Maine’s lobster export slump?
Hopes are high after the U.S. and Europe agreed over the summer to extend a trade deal that keeps Maine companies on equal footing with their Canadian rivals.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Group launches ballot initiative aimed at ending recreational marijuana sales in Maine
If the referendum question makes it onto the state ballot, voters will decide the fate of the $240 million-a-year market at the polls in 2026.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools & Education
Maine schools explore nature-based playgrounds
More than two dozen schools have added play areas with features like rocks, logs and water. Experts say they can help children develop key skills and cultivate an interest in sustainability and the outdoors.
Posted inMaine, News
Maine is lagging on key climate targets
A new report from the Maine Climate Council suggests the state might not meet some of its deadlines for reaching environmental milestones.