Esta Pratt-Kielley

3 days ago | mainepublic.org | Esta Pratt-Kielley

A federal judge hasblocked aTrump administration policy prohibiting the use of the 'X' marker on passports, as well as updates to sex designations. The ACLU sued the Trump administration over the policy on behalf of five transgender Americans and two nonbinary plaintiffs. ACLU attorney Sruti Swaminathan said the policy would harm transgender, nonbinary and intersex Americans by inhibiting them from getting an accurate passport.

2 weeks ago | bangordailynews.com | Esta Pratt-Kielley

In January, the State Department announced that it would no longer issue “X” gender markers on passports or allow transgender Americans to update their passports with their gender identity. Shortly after that, Leo Goddard called the Franklin County Probate court with a simple question. “I stumbled over my words when I called and I was like, ‘I don’t know any other way to phrase this. … Can trans people even get their passports anymore? Like, are trans people allowed to get passports?’” Goddard said.

3 weeks ago | mainepublic.org | Esta Pratt-Kielley

Beginning May 7, domestic air travelers will need a Real ID-compliant identification, or a valid passport. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said that Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches across Maine are seeing record-breaking numbers of applicants and visitors in anticipation of that deadline. "[Last] Friday night at five o'clock, there were approximately 300 people statewide across all our branches still waiting to get served," Bellows said.

Aug 1, 2024 | mainepublic.org | Esta Pratt-Kielley

This story will be updated. Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich was freed from Russian custody on Thursday in a poisoner swap, according to Pennsylvania congressman Rep. Brendan F. Boyle. He spent 16 months in Russian prison. Gerschkovich, a Bowdoin alum, was detained in Russia in March 2023 on espionage charges, and was convicted and sentenced to 16 years last month. The Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government have maintained that the charges are false.

May 10, 2024 | nhpr.org | Robbie Feinberg |Esta Pratt-Kielley

Once a fixture in nearly every community, the blacksmith shop is now mostly a relic of the past, but for a few hobbyists and shops scattered across the state. But a small charter school in central Maine is trying to re-invigorate interest in the craft. Over the past few years, the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences has vastly expanded its blacksmithing program, which has become, for some students, a stepping stone into the trades.