Maine Calling

Our panel of Maine editorial page editors returns to discuss the news that made Maine headlines in October. Issues we may discuss include: views on the impeachment inquiry, 2nd District Congressional Race up date, local elections, and other news from around the state. Ben Bragdon , editorial page editor, Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel Susan Young , editorial page editor for the Bangor Daily News Greg Kesich , editorial page editor, Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram

The bat population has been in decline in Maine ever since 2011, when the onset of white nose syndrome caused by a harmful fungus began to kill off different bat species here. Bats are beneficial to the ecosystem, particularly because they eat insects and pests. During National Bat Week, we’ll learn about statewide efforts to monitor and foster the health of the bat population, and we’ll also talk with experts about what to do if bats are in your home—or if you are worried about exposure to

Human trafficking encompasses sex and labor trafficking and affects women, men and children. A 2015 study for the Maine Sex Trafficking and Sex Exploitation network estimates 200-300 cases of human trafficking in Maine each year, but cases are hard to investigate and experts believe they are under-reported. We’ll learn how Maine prosecutors and law enforcement officials are changing the way they approach trafficking cases, what’s being done to address it, and where to turn for help.

For years, if not decades or more, menopause has been a subject rarely discussed with candor and often feared, although it affects half of the population. In her provocative new book, "Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of the Natural Life," author Darcey Steinke explores the way society and science are reframing menopause. We'll discuss the importance of talking about menopause and why certain symptoms may indicate serious health problems. And, we have actor Cindy Williams of

Ambassador Susan Rice served as National Security Advisor and UN ambassador during the Obama administration. Her memoir, "Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For," was published this month. She will be in Portland for speaking engagements to discuss her new book, which includes her personal story, including family ties to Maine. She'll talk with us about her book, her career, and current events.

A state task force has been formed to address juvenile justice issues in Maine. We will learn about efforts to eliminate youth incarceration, discuss Long Creek, and other issues about dealing with young people and criminal justice.

We discuss the growing efforts to integrate nature into the classroom at all levels of a young person's education, and how this practice might benefit children's physical mental and emotional well being. Richard Louv, author of the landmark book " Last Child in the Woods" and national expert on kids and nature, joins us to talk about the importance of connecting kids with the environment through the curricula. He is in Maine for the Maine Conservation Voters' Evening for the Environment event at

Donna Loring has stepped into a position specifically created to better represent the needs and issues of Maine’s Native communities. The state and tribal governments have had difficult relations over issues including tribal sovereignty over land claims, gambling, fishing and hunting. Recent improvements in relations include the recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day and ban of mascots reflecting Native symbols and people. We’ll discuss the history and current status of relations between the

NPR’s Tom Gjelten joins us in studio to discuss his current beat - religion, faith, and belief. His reporting draws on his many years covering national and international news from posts in Washington and around the world. We’ll also touch on his time as one of NPR's pioneer foreign correspondents , posted first in Latin America and then in Central Europe. And we’ll talk about his earlier connections to Maine, including as a public school teacher in North Haven. Gjelten reports on religion, faith

Stories of fake news continue to make headlines, get spread by political leaders, and raise questions about what and whom to believe. Advances in technology now make it easy to create fake images and videos, a trend that raises alarms as we enter election season. We’ll discuss what more we’ve learned about identifying and combatting fake news, and what are some practical ways to counterbalance its impact on society.