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Greetings from far Downeast Maine, otherwise known as the Bold Coast. That means we have a lot of really big rocks and jagged ledges. 

But even the Bold Coast is a little softer this time of year. We're settling into cozy sweaters. Crisp air and fluttering leaves are inspiring quiet reflection as the sun sneaks away earlier each day. 

But there's still plenty of activity: A long hoped for nursing degree program is coming to the University of Maine at Machias. Leaders of UMM and the University of Maine at Augusta said the partnership will allow UMaine Machias students to earn a bachelor of science in nursing beginning next year.

There could be hope on the horizon for the housing shortage, too. A two-day GrowSmart Maine housing workshop in Machias last week brought together leaders from as far away as the County to learn about possible solutions. 

In sadder news, Lubec lost another historic waterfront structure earlier this week. The fire at a former seafood factory brought firefighters from multiple towns trying to contain the flames. 

A quarter of Maine House races have only one major-party candidate. Here’s a map of those districts.

In the upcoming election, 37 of the 151 Maine House districts, or one quarter, will have only one major-party candidate, according to a Monitor analysis of data from the secretary of state’s office. That’s up from 22 districts in 2008 and 10 in 2010. 

This is occurring as the number of independent voters in Maine has declined, falling below the number registered with each major political party for the first time in decades. 

The number of races where Democrats and Republicans did not face off rose significantly in the pandemic election of 2020, and has stayed at almost the same level since.

Read this Maine Monitor story by Josh Keefe.

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

Number of homeschooled students increases in area school districts | Quoddy Tides

Maine DEP says expansion of state’s largest landfill would benefit public. | 

Portland Press Herald

Waterfront building in Lubec catches fire. | Bangor Daily News  

Officials confirm first case of Maine lobster gear causing the death of an endangered right whale. | Portland Press Herald 

How Canada salmon farmer Cooke became one of Washington County’s largest employers. | Mainebiz

Maine ticks are about to get more active. | Bangor Daily News

The Town of Bar Harbor scored another legal victory earlier this month as Maine Superior Court Justice Thomas McKeon granted the town’s motion to dismiss a complaint brought by resident Charles Sidman. | Mount Desert Islander

Central Maine Power’s parent company is in line to receive nearly half a billion dollars from the federal government to build a 111-mile power line in Northern Maine. | Maine Public 

Gov. Mills to lead trip to Norway and Denmark to talk offshore wind. | Maine Public

College of the Atlantic has instituted a full tuition waiver for Wabanaki students. | Mount Desert Islander

Twelve potential sites for Hancock County’s new courthouse were submitted as alternatives to the proposed Surry Road location. | Mount Desert Islander

UMaine Machias to offer new nursing program via UMaine Augusta partnership | Portland Press Herald

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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.