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Happy Halloween from us at The Maine Monitor!

The next week will bring us costume parties, window decorating contests and trunk-or-treat events, but it's also a busy time for our schools and communities as western Maine moves into late fall.

On top of all that is the election on Nov. 5 and all of the preparation that goes into collecting, securing and counting ballots.

In between last-minute costume adjustments and securing an extra bag of candy or two, feel free to brush up on just some of the news happening in our communities.

It's going to be a busy week.

Three takeaways from The Monitor’s investigation into child care facilities

Over the last four months, The Maine Monitor and The Center for Public Integrity worked on an investigation that found the state has not revoked a single child care license since 2021.

Providers across the state have been cited for violations ranging from missing immunization records to dragging children across the room.

Read this story by Alexa Foust of The Maine Monitor

While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind paywalls, some newsrooms we link to in this newsletter may. 

ICYMI from The Monitor: Bucking national trends, a third of Maine towns still count ballots by hand. | The Maine Monitor

ICYMI from The Monitor: In Maine’s probate courts, most adults placed in guardianships don’t have lawyers. | The Maine Monitor 

Oxford Hills school district starts process to permanently close Agnes Gray Elementary School. | Advertiser Democrat

State warns against eating meat from deer, wild turkeys in Unity area. | Portland Press Herald

Meals on Wheels in Jay is moving its operation to a new location with twice as much space, due to increased need. | WMTW

Lewiston mass shooting: one year later. | Sun Journal

The town of Bethel has shifted operations out of its town office due to mold this week; the town will be in contact with the state to determine how the move will impact the securing and counting of early voting ballots. | The Bethel Citizen

Kingfield residents discussed the use of fireworks within town limits with the sheriff this week. | Daily Bulldog

A well-known Readfield resident, volunteer and town official was killed after he tripped, fell down onto the roadway and was struck by a vehicle this week. | WMTW

This week, the Select Board in Phillips reviewed the town's response to the December 2023 flood on the Number 6 road; the Maine DEP is looking into the town's actions and how they may have impacted fish habitat. | Daily Bulldog

The Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls area is seeing increased interest younger people in adult education programming. | Livermore Falls Advertiser

The Maine State Police is investigating after an unidentified male's remains were found in Jay. A psychic searching for a different missing person alerted that person's father to the presence of the remains; he then called police. | WMTW

Know of a story that we should be digging into? Send it to our newsroom. 

The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.