BOSTON - New England has been losing forestland to development at a rate of 65 acres per day - a loss that comes at a time when public funding for preservation of open land has also been on the decline.
 
That's the conclusion of a report released Tuesday by the Harvard Forest, a research institute of Harvard University.
 
The study found public funding for land conservation in New England dropped by half between 2008 and 2014 to $62 million per year, slightly lower than 2004 levels.
 

Elected officials in Brunswick and Portland voted Monday night to call the federal Columbus Day holiday "Indigenous People's Day."

At Portland’s City Council, residents and others spoke on both sides of the issue. And many - on both sides - condemned the nation's history of genocide against Native Americans, which has its roots in the European conquest of this continent.

ORONO, Maine - The National Science Foundation is giving $100,000 to help with a University of Maine citizen science project geared at protecting the water quality of lakes.
 
The project began in 2015. The university says the grant will help extend it into next year and beyond.
 
UMaine says Maine lakes contribute about $4 billion to the state's economy through recreational and other uses. They are also experiencing a decline in water quality.
 

ETNA, Maine - A Maine man is dead after his vehicle rear-ended a flatbed truck carrying pieces of granite on an interstate in Etna.
 
Maine State Police say 56-year-old Joseph Lawler, of Jay, crashed into the flatbed around 2 p.m. Monday. WABI-TV reports that several motorists, including three nurses, stopped at the scene of the crash and attempted to perform first aid on Lawler.
 
Lawler later died in an ambulance at the scene.
 
The driver of the flatbed wasn't hurt.
 

PORTLAND, Maine - The display of wild and exotic animals will soon no longer be allowed in Portland after a unanimous city council vote.
 
On Monday, the Portland City Council voted to ban the use of big cats, elephants and other circus animals because of handling practices. The Portland Press Herald reports that a Friday rodeo will go ahead as planned, as the ban exempts the display of cattle, horses, swine, sheep and goats.