Interpreting the decision on Maine’s tuition program is complicated by a state law that bars schools that receive tuition from discriminating against students and staff based on gender or sexual orientation.
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
New federal PFAS advisory adds challenges to Maine’s costly PFAS cleanup
Water filtration systems that the state has been installing in Mainers’ homes appear to be removing detectable levels of harmful forever chemicals, but no one knows if they achieve the much lower levels deemed safe by the EPA.
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Posted inMaine
Even trace amounts of PFAS chemicals pose health risk, new federal advisory says
Under the new guidance, Maine’s PFAS problem would challenge public water districts that serve hundreds of thousands of customers, not just rural residents and farmers who rely on well water.
Posted inMaine, Nation / World, Uncategorized
Proposed federal grants would help remove PFAS from rural water supplies
The Healthy H2O Act would help rural areas that rely on well water tests and treat for so-called forever chemicals.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Democrats tout Gov. Mills’ record on LGBTQ rights
The party slams Republican Paul LePage over his 2018 veto of a bill to ban gay conversion therapy, as well as GOP attacks on LGBTQ rights in many states.
Posted inMaine
Court orders state police to reveal more details about misconduct by troopers
Maine State Police officials were wrong to redact non-medical parts of trooper disciplinary records and must conduct a new search for missing disciplinary records requested by newspapers.
Posted inMaine, Politics, Schools & Education
Maine policy supports incorporating LGBTQ lessons, but lacking guidance, most schools aren’t doing it
The state encourages but does not require or give specific instruction for teaching about sexual orientation and gender diversity, topics many experts believe should be addressed at an early age.
Posted inMaine, Politics, Schools & Education
Teacher defends LGBT kindergarten lesson featured in anti-Mills ad
The kindergarten teacher is disappointed that Gov. Mills and the state Department of Education responded to criticism by removing her video lesson from the state’s website.
Posted inMaine
Maine DOE removes LGBT lesson plan at heart of anti-Mills TV ad
The state Department of Education determined the online video lesson was inappropriate for kindergarteners.
Posted inMaine, Uncategorized
Susan Collins calls police after abortion-rights message is written on sidewalk
The red-white-and-blue chalk message found outside her home Saturday night urged Collins to vote in favor of the Women’s Health Protection Act on Wednesday to protect a woman’s right to abortion.