NEWS & UPDATES
First Lady Issues Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness
First lady Michelle Obama announced a new commitment to end veteran homelessness. Part of the Joining Forces Initiative, the commitment includes 77 mayors, four governors, and four county officials to end veteran homelessness by 2015. The first lady was introduced by Chris Fuentes, a war veteran who lived in her car briefly after returning from Iraq. Housing
Grant loss threatens health care for homeless in Portland
The Portland health clinic that has served homeless people for 23 years is in danger of closing its doors unless Portland officials can make up for the loss of a long-held federal grant.
Grant award triggers heated debate in Portland about which clinic is best suited to treat homeless people
PORTLAND, Maine – The recent decision by a federal agency to move sought-after grant funding from one Portland clinic to another has touched off a dispute over which institution is better able to treat the city’s growing homeless population. After having received the annual allocation for more than two decades, the city-run Health Care for
Nutrition is focus of kids’ Summer Food Program
WESTBROOK – While the school year may be winding down, efforts to prepare for this year’s Summer Food Program are ramping up, as Westbrook officials and volunteers work to keep food, nutrition and physical activity on students’ plates. The program, which is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides free lunch for children
On the Move: Preble Street Volunteer Manager completes Institute for Civic Leadership
• The Institute for Civic Leadership graduated 33 participants from the 21st Leadership Intensive class on April 4 at the Freeport Hilton Garden Inn. The graduates and their professional affiliations are: Tom Acousti, 3 for 3 Partnered Events; Rachelle Curran Apse, Portland Food Co-op; Dakotah Atchinson, Baxter Academy for Technology & Science; Corey Bouyea, L.L. Bean; Elise Boyson, Preble Street Resource Center; Emily
U.S. attorney honors investigators in Maine child pornography, drug trafficking cases
PORTLAND, Maine – Some of Maine’s highest-profile cases of trafficking in drugs and child pornography were recalled Tuesday in Portland, where the local, state and federal law enforcement officers involved were awarded for their work. In a late morning ceremony, U.S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty also handed out awards to five others, largely for ongoing advocacy
How do you act when you’re hungry? What LePage’s school grades really show
The governor’s recent report cards of Maine schools tell an important story, but not the one he is trying to tell. Rather than highlight what certain schools are doing well while offering constructive criticism to others, the grades show how closely educational outcomes are tied to economic circumstances. According to Maine Department of Education data, a staggeringly high
Feds seek more information about state plan to include photos on Maine EBT cards
AUGUSTA, Maine – The federal government is asking Gov. Paul LePage’s administration to provide details on its efforts to pilot a new electronic benefits transfer card system that would include a recipient’s photo. The state uses EBT cards to dispense a variety of public assistance, including the largely federally funded food stamp or Supplemental Nutrition
Maine Calling: What to Do About Panhandling
The city of Portland has been at the center of the storm over the issue of panhandling, but other Maine communities are also grappling with it and discussing whether to put limits on people soliciting money from passers-by. In Portland, a ban on panhandling from median strips was ruled unconstitutional earlier this year and now
Pay it forward with kindness
PORTLAND/GORHAM (WGME) — Random acts of kindness and paying it forward. They’re phrases we’re hearing more and more of these days. Bottom line is, it seems being rude and having mo manners are on their way out and being nice and thoughtful are in. So we decided to see if that’s the case in Maine.
Homeless improv group focus of 'drama therapy' talk
After a year of field research, the creators of "Off the Cuff," an improv theater group for the homeless, will present their findings at an upcoming college conference. Tommy Waltz, a student at the University of Southern Maine’s School of Social Work, came up with the idea of bringing weekly acting classes to clients of
Augusta Police Chief staged panhandling protest
AUGUSTA, Maine (NECN) — The police chief in Augusta took a day off work last Friday to stage a one man protest against panhandling in his city. Chief Robert Gregoire said, based on his department’s interactions with many panhandlers, he believes the public’s donations are often used to buy drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. He held
