An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 lobster traps go missing in Maine’s coastal waters every year—a staggering loss rate that exceeds any other North American fishery. This "ghost gear" places a significant burden on marine ecosystems, waterfront communities, the food supply, and the fishing industry. For years, these lost traps remained an unseen and largely ignored problem. Previously, conventional wisdom suggested that lost gear simply created additional submerged habitat. Howev

Who knew there was a branch of the Alaska State Police that specializes in working in the small villages of America’s largest state? Covering a territory almost the size of Texas, brown-uniformed Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs) conduct standard policing and help coordinate fire and EMS efforts. Officers also respond to drownings in the numerous inland lakes and rivers, helping to bring closure to the local families of lost loved ones. It was an honor and a pleasure to