Maine

A 1-in-30-million orange lobster in Maine is having colorful babies

Published

3 months ago

August 8, 2024

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A 1-in-30-million orange lobster in Maine is having colorful babies

University of New England studying rare orange lobster and dozens of babies

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BIDDEFORD, Maine – A one-in-30-million lobster in Maine is a little less rare now after giving birth. Peaches the lobster, who is being studied by the University of New England in Biddeford, has at least 40 offspring that share her unique orange color.

Peaches, who only has one claw, was caught last year by a fishing crew in Casco Bay and donated to the university for study.

Some of the larvae even appear blue, which according to the New England Aquarium is about a one-in-2-million occurrence, though it’s not clear yet if they’ll remain that color after they molt.

The colorful lobster larvae being studied at University of New England.

Markus Frederich/UNE
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Why are some lobsters different colors?

UNE is home to blue, orange, yellow and even a split-colored orange and brown lobster that is estimated to be a one-in-50-million catch.

Student researchers and faculty at the school are studying these crustaceans and their offspring to see how many keep their remarkable coloration. The scientists are developing noninvasive techniques that do not harm the lobsters while extracting genetic samples from their shells.

“These rare lobsters appearing more and more on social media, and no one seems to know exactly why they turn these different colors,” marine sciences professor Markus Frederich said. “We have access to all these different lobsters, and we have the students who are eager to do the research. We thought, ‘Let’s jump on this.’”

Young orange lobsters at the University of Maine.

Markus Frederich/UNE
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Peaches has had more than 100 babies so far. Another rare orange lobster at UNE named Pineapple has eggs that are anticipated to hatch next spring.

Neal Riley

Neal J. Riley is a digital producer for CBS Boston. He has been with WBZ-TV since 2014. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. Neal is a graduate of Boston University.

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Maine

Maine photographer offers discounts, free services to same-sex couples who want to get married before inauguration

Published

2 hours ago

November 14, 2024

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Maine photographer offers discounts, free services to same-sex couples who want to get married before inauguration

PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) – Many people in the LGBTQ+ community are concerned about last week’s election results, as they fear marriage equality protections may change under the new Trump administration.

As a result, a growing number of professional photographers are coming together to offer discounted or free same-sex wedding ceremony coverage.

That list includes Cassandra Fontaine of Koa & Kai Photography, who is based in Maine.

“Personally, in my family, my sister is in the LGBTQ community. My mom is,” Fontaine said. “It was more out of love and just knowing that I know how afraid they are, and I want to support them in whatever way that they can.”

The discounts and free services are being offered to those who are considering moving their wedding timelines up to between now and January.

It is important to note the Trump administration has not announced any plans to challenge marriage equality.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Maine since 2012, which is three years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

In its Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the Supreme Court ruled that all 50 states must allow and recognize same-sex marriages under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment.

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Maine

11 Maine legislative races headed to recounts, including one tie

Published

9 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

11 Maine legislative races headed to recounts, including one tie

Eleven races in the Maine Legislature that were contested on Nov. 5 are headed to recounts, the Maine secretary of state’s office announced Wednesday.

Ballots will be recounted in nine House races and two Senate races. Recounts will start on Friday and continue through Nov. 25.

Preliminary counts included a dead-even tie in House District 141, and three races where the margin between the apparent winner and loser was fewer than 20 votes.

The results below are unofficial preliminary counts provided by the secretary of state’s office.

House District 44

William Pluecker – 2,731

Ray Thombs – 2,369

House District 52

Sally Cluchey – 2,748

David Guilmette – 2,732

House District 58

Sharon Frost – 3,158

Daniel Newman – 3,114

House District 75

Stephan Bunker – 2,318

Randall Gauvin – 2,308

House District 81

Peter Wood – 2,835

Joan Beal – 2,816

House District 96

Michel Lajoie – 2,550

Kerryl Clement – 2,514

House District 98

Kilton Webb – 2,995

Guy Lebida – 2,941

House District 141

Patricia Kidder – 2,476

Lucas Lanigan – 2,476

House District 142

Anne-Marie Mastraccio – 1,938

Amy Bell – 1,874

Senate District 8

Leo Kenney – 10,112

Michael Tipping – 10,229

Senate District 15

Richard Bradstreet – 10,820

Raegan LaRochelle – 10,621

Maine law does not have mandatory recounts, but when the apparent margin of victory is 1 percent or less in statewide or multi-county races, or 1.5 percent or less in legislative or single county races, a candidate can request a recount free of charge.

When the margin is larger, the candidate must pay a deposit. That money is refunded if the result is overturned by the recount.

Wednesday was the last day that a candidate could request a recount in a non-ranked-choice race, according to the secretary of state’s office.

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Maine

Transgender support groups in Maine see spike in contacts after election

Published

17 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Press Room

Transgender support groups in Maine see spike in contacts after election

Transgender support groups in Maine said they are seeing a spike in contacts similar to those reported by national LGBTQ+ groups since Donald Trump’s election last week.

Bre Danvers-Kidman with the Maine Trans Net said about 100 people came to the group’s post-election support event and that many others have reached out through various platforms in the week since.

Some have expressed fears about losing their gender affirming care, the potential roll back of Title IV protections and a rise in harmful rhetoric.

Danvers-Kidman said that though there is valid concern about federal funding for care being rolled back, Maine has its own protections in place.

“We have the good laws here, we have the infrastructure to fight those battles with. And so to the extent that those battles rear their heads, Maine is going to be a place where I feel like we can fight them and we can win,” Danvers-Kidman said.

They expressed confidence that the “good laws” in Maine would remain, even if policy changed at a federal level.

“If the state offers greater protection to citizens than the federal government, the state wins. And so those greater protections that Maine offers to trans people, those will hold. I expect those to hold,” Danvers-Kidman said.

The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, reported a 700% increase in crisis contacts the day after the election.

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