Maine

The City Manager of Portland, Maine terminates 98 positions, including the Urban Designer and Historic Preservation staff, eliminates the Parks Department, and moves the Economic Development department in to the Administrative office.

A 2,300-unit development near a Maine lake is facing an environmental test to determine its carbon footprint. Environmentalists say the impact is too great, but developers dispute the analysis.

The Bayside neighborhood's economic, cultural and racial diversity is reflected in housing types, restaurants, scrap yards and grocery stores.

The New England region's population growth rate continues to drop below that of the nation as a whole, measuring at a rate of just 0.2 percent between July 2005 and July 2006. This compares with a national growth rate of about 1 percent.

A study released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that nutrient pollution in New England and the Gulf of Maine has increased over the last 15 years, due to pesticide use, stormwater runoff, and sewage leaks.

As the carbon neutrality market grows, some experts wonder if the non-regulated practice is having any real effect on the environment.

Despite the sudden sale and closure of Portland's once vibrant public market, one pizza parlor owner continues to incur large losses but refuses to shut down.

The founder of Burt's Bees is buying land in hopes of creating a new national park in Maine, but locals disagree with the plan to ban snowmobiling, hunting and all-terrain vehicles on 50,000 of her acres.

The City of Portland, Maine, continues to struggle with the decision of whether or not to renovate or rebuild the 28 year old Cumberland County Civic Center.

A small college in Maine has made a pledge to reduce and offset all of its greenhouse gas emissions, including those generated by students' trips to and from school.

Despite a cooling real estate market, developers and city officals are moving forward on plans to develop a new neighborhood along Portland's eastern waterfront.

Bold action can help the state of Maine reach sustainable prosperity.

Maine's new governor has made energy conservation, efficiency and alternative energy key themes to his administration, mandating LEED standards for state buildings, increasing hybrid vehicles, use of bio-diesel, and embracing wind farms.

The nation's largest landowner, Plum Creek Timber Co., is entering a legal battle with environmental groups over its proposal to create the largest development in Maine's history.

The twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn have long been known as Maine's worst urban area. Today, it is using art, history, diversity, and culture to carve out its niche as one of the state's funkiest and most historical urban areas.

The City of Portland, Maine, might join other cities around the country by lowering its parking requirements in exchange for a fee from developers.

Differences between largely rural, conservative northern Maine and the more urban and progressive southern half of the state are growing wider, with conflicts coming to a head over the preservation of Maine's famous North Woods.

Former NBA star Christian Laettner's development company, Blue Devil Ventures, is working with state and local officials to revitalize the Kennebec Arsenal, a historic parcel of land across the Kennebec River from Augusta's downtown.

Expanding Maine's majestic Baxter State Park has proved to be far more controversial than state officials expected.

The region's transportation network is beginning to buckle under the strain of auto-dependence, write Neal Peirce and Curtis Johnson.