Maine
Maine could soon see a statewide ‘bell-to-bell’ cellphone ban in schools
AUGUSTA (WGME) — Maine could soon join a growing number of states that ban cellphones during school hours, after lawmakers advanced funding to create and enforce a statewide “bell to bell” policy.
Governor Janet Mills called for the ban during her State of the State address back in January.
“I propose that we enact a statewide ban on cellphone use during the school day, from bell to bell, to reduce distraction and disruption and to keep children’s attention on learning,” Mills said.
Earlier this week, the legislature’s budget committee signed off on $350,000 to support starting a statewide school cellphone ban. The proposal would prohibit students from using their cellphones or smart devices from the first bell until they are dismissed.
“Appropriations has included $350,000 in its budget to support schools with the ban, presumably to cover the cost of phone lockers, Yondr pouches and other possible ‘enforcement-related’ expenses for this possible rollout,” Maine School Management Association Executive Director Eric Waddell said.
Some Maine schools already have their own restrictions. At Cony High School, Principal Kim Liscomb says the school began implementing stricter cellphone policies five years ago after teachers reported students were distracted.
“We said, ‘All right, nope, they need to be in backpacks, they need to be in bags, they can’t be out at all, and there only certain areas in the school you can use them,” Liscomb said.
Under Cony’s current rules, students are permitted to use their phones before and after school and during lunch. Liscomb says the tighter policy has improved classroom participation.
“The best impact is the engagement of students in the classroom, the highly engaged conversations and discussions, teachers have reported a significant improvement there,” Liscomb said.
In response to this proposal, some state lawmakers like Representative Jack Ducharme of Madison say they are against an entire state mandate.
“I did not, nor will I support a state mandate for local schools to ban cellphones in the classroom bell-to-bell. We have local school boards made up of local people: parents, grandparents and others that represent the people of that school district. While I understand that cellphones in schools are a problem, I trust local people to address the problem rather than another government mandate,” Ducharme said.
Waddell says that if a statewide school cellphone policy is enacted, the association will work with the Maine Department of Education to provide a sample policy for school boards.
The proposal still must pass the House and Senate before it can go to the governor for approval. If passed, it would take effect at the beginning of next school year.
Maine
Maine astronaut Jessica Meir shares stunning aurora view from ISS
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, (WGME) — Maine native and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir is giving us a look into her view from the International Space Station.
Meir shared this breathtaking view on X Sunday. It’s a stunning aurora show.
Meir is the commander for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission.
Maine native and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir is giving us a look into her view from the International Space Station. (Courtesy of Jessica Meir)
She says there is a lot going on right now on the space station.
A few days ago, astronauts had to deal with a leak.
Meir says everyone on board is safe and happy to see the spectacular views.
The SpaceX Crew-12 has been up in the stars for 115 days.
Maine
Showers passing across Maine today; warmer and drier to start the workweek
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Good morning, and Happy Sunday everyone. Skies are on the cloudier side across Maine this morning with scattered showers for much of the state. A couple of breaks in clouds can be found here or there. Temperatures vary throughout the 50s for most, while reaching the 60s and low 70s in Southern Maine as more consistent sunshine is allowing for plenty of heating. Patchy fog remains across a good chunk of the state with some towns under one mile. Winds are on the calmer side this morning.
The morning hours will remain cloudier with showers and patchy fog for many. By the afternoon, showers will continue for most of the state, but will taper off from the NW to SE. This means conditions will dry out with sunshine developing across Northern Maine by the midafternoon. Showers will continue along the interstate until 3-4pm, with sunshine then filtering in by the later evening hours. Coastal locations will experience showers until the later evening hours, with clouds breaking by sunset, allowing for some sun to end the day. High temps today will vary from the upper 50s to low 70s. Dewpoints will become sticky in spots. Winds will be on the lighter side in the morning, before becoming breezy in the afternoon with WSW to NNW gusts reaching 25-35 mph.
Rainfall totals today will vary between a quarter to a half of an inch for most. Some pockets to the northwest, however, will only reach a tenth of an inch to a quarter inch.
Conditions will be quiet tonight. Besides a few clouds and light showers Downeast shortly before sunset, skies will clear with mostly to completely clear conditions and some patchy morning fog. Low temps will reach the low 40s to low 50s with North to NNW gusts remaining a bit breezy, reaching 20-30 mph.
Monday will be a dry day, and in my opinion, the pick of the week. Skies will be sunny with just a few clouds developing later in the evening. High temps will warm up, from the low 70s to low 80s. NNW/SW gusts will remain just a little breezy, reaching 20-25 mph.
Another beautiful day with mostly sunny skies is expected on Tuesday. However, temperatures will really start to warm. Highs will vary from the mid 70s to upper 80s. WNW/SW gusts will only reach 20 mph.
Above average temperatures will carry on Wednesday through Friday with highs throughout the 70s and 80s for most. However, this stretch of days is becoming increasingly unsettled. Showers and thunderstorms look increasingly more likely to develop during the afternoons as some frontal systems pass through. The greatest chance of showers and storms will be Wednesday night through Thursday. More cloud cover is thus expected, so temperatures aren’t looking to peak as high as they were originally expected to reach. Dewpoints will also become sticky towards the end of the work week, reaching into the 60s on Thursday and Friday.
SUNDAY: Highs from upper 50s to low 70s. Cloudier AM with showers. PM showers tapering off from NW to SE. Evening sunshine developing. Slightly sticky dewpoints. WSW to NNW gusts reach 25-35 mph during PM.
MONDAY: Highs from low 70s to low 80s. Sunny skies. A few evening clouds. NNW/SW gusts reach 20-25 mph.
TUESDAY: Highs from mid 70s to upper 80s. Mostly sunny skies. WNW/SW gusts reach 20 mph.
WEDNESDAY: Highs from low 70s to upper 80s. Partly to mostly cloudy AM. Cloudy PM with showers & storms possible. Slightly sticky dewpoints. SW gusts reach 15-20 mph.
THURSDAY: Highs from upper 60s to mid 80s. Partly to mostly cloudy. Showers & storms possible. Sticky dewpoints. South/SW gusts reach 15-20 mph.
FRIDAY: Highs from mid 60s to low 80s. Partly cloudy, few mostly cloudy spots. PM showers/storms possible. Sticky dewpoints. South gusts reach 15-20 mph.
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