Articles by Patrick Whittle

Youth, Environmental Groups Sue Maine to Force Action on Climate

A youth organization and a pair of environmental groups are suing the state of Maine to try to force the state to reduce carbon emissions in the era of climate change. Maine Youth Action, the Conservation Law Foundation and the …

Northeast Warned to Expect More Floods Like This Winter’s

After back-to-back storms lashed the Northeast in January, rental properties Haim Levy owns in coastal Hampton, New Hampshire, were hammered by nearly two feet of water, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and causing him to evacuate …

Lobstermen’s Suit Against Conservation Group Over ‘Do-Not-Eat’ List Dropped

A California court has dismissed a lawsuit from a group of fishermen against a conservation group that added New England lobster to its list of seafood to avoid. The lawsuit stemmed from a decision by Seafood Watch, which rates the …

Storm in Northeast Take 5 Lives; Causes Power Outages, Floods, Road Damage

Just days before the Christmas holiday, people across the northeastern U.S. were mopping up Tuesday after a major storm dumped torrential rains and brought damaging winds from Pennsylvania to Maine, as some rivers in the region rose even higher. At …

Northeastern Storm Causes Power Outages, Flooded Roads, Fallen Trees, Travel Delays

A storm barreled up the East Coast on Monday, flooding roads and downing trees in the Northeast, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, and forcing flight cancelations and school closures. More than 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain had …

Lawmakers Urge Expanded Safety and Mental Health Programs for Commercial Fishermen

A federal program that protects the health and wellbeing of commercial fishermen should be expanded to include substance use disorder and worker fatigue, a group of lawmakers from New England and Alaska said. The lawmakers want to expand a federal …

Cannabis Industry Reports First Worker Death From Asthma Attack

The U.S. cannabis production industry’s first reported occupational asthma death took the life of a worker in Massachusetts, federal health and safety officials said. The woman, 27, was working in a cannabis cultivation and processing facility when she experienced worsening …

Coast Guard Opens Inquiry Into Fatal Collapse of Mast on Maine Schooner

The Coast Guard said Monday it has launched a formal investigation into a fatal accident aboard a historic schooner off the coast of Maine in which a mast fell and killed one person and injured three others. The main mast …

Rare New England Tornado Damages Homes, Floods Roads, Topples Trees

A rare Rhode Island tornado lifted a car off an interstate highway Friday as severe weather swept already storm-weary New England, damaging homes, flooding roads and toppling trees. Tornadoes were reported in several spots in the same general area of …

Maine Lobster Industry Files Defamation Suit Over California Aquarium’s Whale Warning

A coalition representing the Maine lobster industry is suing an aquarium on the other side of the country for recommending that seafood customers avoid buying a variety of lobster mostly harvested in their state. Industry groups including Maine Lobstermen’s Association …