© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air Stationson Friday that allows employees at many Maine businesses to earn up to 40 hours of paid leave a year, for use as either sick or vacation time.Maine Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards Michael Roland says it’s unique in the U.S., and was deliberately designed that way.“So that a worker can take time off to be with their family, to take a vacation — or if they’re sick, or their child is sick, or their daycare is closed, or if there’s a snowstorm, or if their car breaks down or for any of those reasons that happen in real...…© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air Stationson Friday that allows employees at many Maine businesses to earn up to 40 hours of paid leave a year, for use as either sick or vacation time.Maine Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards Michael Roland says it’s unique in the U.S., and was deliberately designed that way.“So that a worker can take time off to be with their family, to take a vacation — or if they’re sick, or their child is sick, or their daycare is closed, or if there’s a snowstorm, or if their car breaks down or for any of those reasons that happen in real...WW…

© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsWhen the COVID-19 pandemic began, it shut down Maine’s court system, creating a serious backlog of cases.According to Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court, about 9,200 criminal cases have been pending for more than six months, compared with just 2,600 such cases at this time last year.Supreme Judicial Court Acting Chief Justice Andrew Mead spoke with All Things Considered host Nora Flaherty about the backlog, which he has described as “staggering.”This interview has been edited for clarity.Mead: We are operating at full capacity...…© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsWhen the COVID-19 pandemic began, it shut down Maine’s court system, creating a serious backlog of cases.According to Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court, about 9,200 criminal cases have been pending for more than six months, compared with just 2,600 such cases at this time last year.Supreme Judicial Court Acting Chief Justice Andrew Mead spoke with All Things Considered host Nora Flaherty about the backlog, which he has described as “staggering.”This interview has been edited for clarity.Mead: We are operating at full capacity...WW…

© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsA new analysis of census data by the national Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and Maine Center for Economic Policy finds that about 257,000 Maine adults are having trouble paying their usual household expenses.“That includes things like utility bills, groceries, being able to make payments for your rent or mortgage, putting gas in the car, that sort of thing, those everyday expenses that we all have to put in our regular weekly or monthly budget,” says James Myall with the Maine Center for Economic Policy.Maine’s...…© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsA new analysis of census data by the national Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and Maine Center for Economic Policy finds that about 257,000 Maine adults are having trouble paying their usual household expenses.“That includes things like utility bills, groceries, being able to make payments for your rent or mortgage, putting gas in the car, that sort of thing, those everyday expenses that we all have to put in our regular weekly or monthly budget,” says James Myall with the Maine Center for Economic Policy.Maine’s...WW…

Maine Public RadioRelated Program: Related Program: Listen Listening... 4:26 Alfond Foundation Announces $500 Million In New Grants The Harold Alfond Foundation today announced that it was to aid organizations around the state, with a particular focus on higher education. The foundation says the groups will receive millions to create new programs, scholarships and buildings that it says will help boost the state’s workforce and economy going forward. Greg Powell, chairman of Harold Alfond Foundation, spoke with All Things Considered host Nora Flaherty about where the $500 million...…Maine Public RadioRelated Program: Related Program: Listen Listening... 4:26 Alfond Foundation Announces $500 Million In New Grants The Harold Alfond Foundation today announced that it was to aid organizations around the state, with a particular focus on higher education. The foundation says the groups will receive millions to create new programs, scholarships and buildings that it says will help boost the state’s workforce and economy going forward. Greg Powell, chairman of Harold Alfond Foundation, spoke with All Things Considered host Nora Flaherty about where the $500 million...WW…

© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsThe Maine Department of Marine Resources has identified Julie Dimperio Holowach, of New York City, as the victim of a shark attack near Bailey Island yesterday. She was pronounced dead after being helped to the shore following the attack.It may be the first recorded encounter of its kind in Maine and has sparked beach closures in parts of the state.Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist and chair of the Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies Program with the New England Aquarium in Boston, spoke with Maine Public's Nora...…© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsThe Maine Department of Marine Resources has identified Julie Dimperio Holowach, of New York City, as the victim of a shark attack near Bailey Island yesterday. She was pronounced dead after being helped to the shore following the attack.It may be the first recorded encounter of its kind in Maine and has sparked beach closures in parts of the state.Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist and chair of the Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies Program with the New England Aquarium in Boston, spoke with Maine Public's Nora...WW…

© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsThe pace of first-time claims for unemployment in Maine slowed last week, but at about 13,000, are still well above the numbers before the pandemic, which were generally in the hundreds per week.Eligibility will expand under the new, which made unemployment available for freelance workers, independent contractors and workers who had exhausted their annual benefit.Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman says the state has expanded eligibility under its own unemployment rules as well.Ed note: interview has been edited for...…© 2022 Maine PublicPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsThe pace of first-time claims for unemployment in Maine slowed last week, but at about 13,000, are still well above the numbers before the pandemic, which were generally in the hundreds per week.Eligibility will expand under the new, which made unemployment available for freelance workers, independent contractors and workers who had exhausted their annual benefit.Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman says the state has expanded eligibility under its own unemployment rules as well.Ed note: interview has been edited for...WW…