Maine Calling

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap discusses the recent primary election, including how absentee ballots and ranked-choice voting worked out. We'll find out what is in store for the November election, including the debate over a CMP corridor ballot referendum. He'll also offer up dates on how well the U.S. Census response has been among Mainers, and he'll answer your motor vehicle questions.

Being at home during the pandemic, many of us have paid more time and attention to what's happening in the natural world around us. In fact, it seems that wildlife is more plentiful and animals are venturing into places that are usually busy with human activity. We will learn how to observe and appreciate natural phenomena during this time, and what to do about wildlife interactions. We’ll also hear about some fun ways—for the young, the old and everyone in between —to appreciate nature, while

According to a June 2020 state report, Maine’s 38 colleges and universities educate more than 72,600 students and employ more than 20,000 regular and student employees, generating $2.2 billion in annual revenue. The pandemic is forcing schools to alter their normal schedules and modes of instruction, as well as housing and use of campus space. We'll talk with leaders, educators and students from a range of Maine colleges and universities about what school will look like, how institutions will

Whether or not to re-open K-12 schools for in-person instruction in the fall has become a heated national debate. We’ll examine what factors are being considered in Maine, from public health concerns to the role schools play in providing instruction and support to families. We will hear from state leadership, educators, a health professional, students and parents to explore the complex dilemma of how to keep kids learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

From the start of the pandemic, with people staying home, those who work in the performing arts have lost their audiences and, most often, their sources of income. From musicians to actors to dancers to theater staff, it has been a particularly trying time for this creative segment in Maine. We discuss how they are faring, and what ways some have found to pivot.

All discussions about the end of the Covid-19 pandemic hinge on having a viable vaccine. We examine what it will take for this coveted vaccine to reach the stage where it can be widely administered, and can offer the necessary protection that will enable people worldwide to begin to return to normal life. We'll learn how research is progressing, how safety and efficacy will be tested, what it will take for the vaccine to be administered en masse, and how long it takes to be effective. And the

As part of the annual READ ME program, we discuss books and hear from different authors about their recommendations for good summer reads. READ ME is a statewide community reading program in which one well-known Maine author recommends two books by other Maine authors. This year, author Lily King ("Writers and Lovers," "Euphoria") has chosen "Roughhouse Friday" by Jaed Coffin and "The Vigilance of Stars" by Patricia O’Donnell.

Since the pandemic began, instances of domestic abuse have been on the rise, as those who are vulnerable face additional challenges. Not only are people confined at home more, increasing the likelihood of abuse, but shelters and support systems are harder to access due to COVID-19. We’ll talk with local experts about who is being affected and how they can access help. We’ll also hear about a new campaign in Maine to call attention to the prevalence of domestic violence.

Frances Perkins, whose roots were in Maine, is remembered as “the woman behind the New Deal.” As FDR’s Secretary of Labor and the first woman to serve as a cabinet secretary, Perkins was the driving force behind the policies that pulled the nation out of The Great Depression of the 1930s. We discuss how her pioneering work on behalf of the rights of workers and the middle class is relevant today, as we face a similarly dire economic crisis due to the pandemic. This show is part of our ongoing

The use of face coverings has become a polarizing issue in Maine and nationwide. Now, Gov. Mills has issued stricter guidelines for wearing masks in public places. We discuss the many charged issues involving mask-wearing: medical reasons, state guidelines and enforcement, political symbolism, psychological effects, reasons some cannot wear masks and more.