More than 400,000 Maine residents have already received economic impact payments from the federal government, according to data released jointly by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service on Friday.

Although the library building is closed to the public, library staff is still working in the building and ready to supply patrons with books, magazines, movies, audio books and other library materials.

Hiking with kids can be a wonderful experience that leads to cherished memories. But sometimes, things don’t go so smoothly.

Only a few days remain until the start of Maine’s spring turkey hunting season on Saturday, May 2. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on Tuesday announced the season would begin earlier and suspended the requirement to register harvested birds to accommodate social distancing guidelines.

I understand that the drawing for moose permits will be online only as those in charge feel that would be prudent. Many unusual restrictions of gathering and other freedoms have been decreed by the authorities in these troubled times.

We have heard the word “unprecedented” more than we care to acknowledge since COVID-19 invaded our planet. We have seen pandemics before, yes we have had economic crises before as well but the impact of COVID-19, coupled with the federal and local government’s response and controversial remedy, has ushered in a season unlike this generation has ever seen before in this country.

Self-distancing and other stay-healthy-at-home mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have made for an unusual level of isolation, even for the most outgoing Mainers. But consider the lot of those additionally isolated by declining health, particularly those residing in the state’s nursing homes.

Better habitat in Maine streams may lead to a substantial increase in the number of brook trout living there after Trout Unlimited completes projects that will be funded by a nearly $1.8 million grant.

Maine will take a gradual approach to lifting restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, but things “will not return to normal soon,” Gov. Janet Mills said Thursday.

Nearly 130 years later, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center stands on that foundation. Our promise remains strong as our physicians, nurses, first responders and other frontline caregivers face the unprecedented challenges and uncertainty presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.