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This newsletter is sponsored by Coastal Enterprises Inc., Koo & Patricia Yuen, IDEXX, cPort Credit Union, MaineHousing, Maine Health Access Foundation, Hannaford, The Sam L. Cohen Foundation, and DHHS Office MaineCare Services. |
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Welcome to Maine Public News Connect Episode 167 is out today in Portuguese, Somali, French, English, and Spanish with additional newsletters in Arabic and Khmer. View all via the links below, or on Facebook, YouTube, and mainepublic.org. News Connect is also available on WhatsApp! Click to join for direct access links to weekly episodes. Visit mainepublic.org/connect to sign up for this newsletter, with options in each language, straight to your inbox. Subscribe, and help us spread the news! A big thanks to our sponsors for making this program possible. Today is Friday, August 23, and below are the week's top stories. |
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We are happy to partner with the following community media stations in Maine. News Connect will be broadcast on: Channel 3 in South Portland on Mondays at 8 PM, Tuesdays at 2 AM, Wednesdays at 8 AM, and Thursday sat 2 PM; Channel 22 in Berwick on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 6 PM. Channel 5 in Portland on Fridays at 10 PM, Mondays at 7 AM and 8 PM, Wednesdays at 2 PM, and Thursdays at 3 AM. Channel 1301 in Mt. Blue on Fridays at 5:00 PM and 11 PM EST, Saturday at Noon, and Sunday at 8 AM. |
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Legislative Priorities Leaders of Maine's immigrant communities rallied in Portland Thursday in support of federal legislation they say can help refugees and asylum seekers resettle in the U.S. The Afghan Adjustment Act would provide permanent resident status to certain immigrants who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. But the bill has been stuck in Congress since it was introduced in July of last year. Another priority for leaders in Maine is the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, which would allow asylum seekers to apply for work permits thirty days after entering the country, instead of the current 180 days. That bill has the support of Maine’s congressional delegation, but has also stalled in Congress. Lower Drug Costs U.S. Senator Angus King says certain Mainers enrolled in Medicare will see price reductions on ten commonly prescribed medicines. The cuts, which will take effect in 2026, are the result of a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that allows Medicare to negotiate discounts on certain medications. The new law also caps out of pocket drug costs at $2,000 per year, and caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month. King says the law will save Medicare $6 billion a year, and save Medicare recipients $1.5 billion each year. Offshore Wind The federal government has issued the nation's first floating offshore wind research lease to the state of Maine. The lease area covers about 15,000 acres and is located nearly 30 miles off the southern Maine coast. The site will have a dozen floating offshore wind turbines capable of generating up to 144 megawatts of renewable energy. The main goal of the project is to study the floating wind turbine technology and how it interacts with the environment, the fishing industry, and marine animals. Construction is not expected to start for several years. Recycling A solid waste task force is recommending that Auburn resume curbside recycling, roughly a year after city councilors voted to end it. During a city council meeting Monday night, task force member Ralph Harder said instituting a weekly program is important for resident satisfaction and participation. Auburn city councilors voted to end curbside recycling in the spring of 2023 due to costs. A work session on the task force's recommendations will be conducted in September. Your Opinion Maine Public News Connect wants your feedback. Join us for focus groups in Spanish and French to discuss news consumption, delivery, and content. Light refreshments will be provided. The French focus group will take place on Monday, August 12th at 9am at 323 Marginal Way in Portland. The Spanish session will take place on Monday, August 26th at 9am, also at the same address. Learn more at www.mainepublic.org/newsconnect. |
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Thanks for tuning in. You can watch for free in all our languages on Facebook, YouTube, andmainepublic.org – and on community access television across the state. If you enjoy the program, feel free to like, comment, and share. Sign up for direct links to the videos in your preferred language through our Newsletter and WhatsApp groups. New episodes and newsletters are available every Friday. We want to hear from you! Please reach out with any thoughts or story ideas. See you next time. |
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The translator-presenter team includes Paola, Victoire, and Tamara. The reporting for News Connect is compliled by Ari Snider via Report for America, and edited by Mark Simpson and the Maine Public News Department. The newscast videos are produced by Brian Bechard, with Rebecca Conley, and overseen by Cory Morrissey. News Connect was created by as part of the Connecting Communities initiative. |
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Questions about Maine Public News Connect can be directed to Cory Morrissey Email: [email protected] |
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We have News Connect posters available! If you would like a print copy for your organazation, please contact: [email protected] |
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Maine Public News Connect has been made possible by individual supporters, businesses, and foundations from across Maine, and by Koo & Patricia Yuen, IDEXX, cPort Credit Union, MaineHousing, Hannaford, and DHHS Office MaineCare Services, all organizations dedicated to making a difference in Maine. |
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To support Maine Public and the News Connect program, please reach out for sponsorship and advertising opportunities. |
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