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Those looking for some extra color in the fall sky had a good night of it Thursday, as geomagnetic storms provided us with a gorgeous display of aurora borealis over much of the state.

It was difficult to make out from certain well-lit streets in Farmington, but after a bit of hiking we could make out the pink diffusion of the aurora.

By morning's light the effect was gone of course, leaving us with the ho-hum consolation that only a particularly splendid western Maine autumn can bring. Oh well it's nice to know that even amid the hustle and bustle of a Maine fall, the sky can still surprise us.

New bill would pay farmers to put rentals on their land 

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Angus King, would give certain rural property owners two grants of up to $100,000 each to build rental housing on their land, such as an attached apartment unit or a small home nearby.

The Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act is just one piece of a patchwork effort to create a flurry of housing around the country after decades of lagging construction, aging stock, zoning restrictions and local resistance to building collided with a dramatic change in migration patterns post-pandemic, leaving rural communities in particular struggling to deal with a lack of places for people to live.  

Read this story by Joyce Kryszak of The Maine Monitor

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ICYMI from The Monitor: The aurora borealis lit up skies across the state this week, showing up in spectacular fashion across Maine. Read this story by Kate Cough

A Eustis man has been charged with murder and arson in connection to a fire in Mexico two weeks ago that killed a local woman. | Sun Journal

MSAD 17 voters approved the Paris-based school district's $50.43 million budget on the third try this week. | Advertiser Democrat

Federal court sides with Avangrid in dispute over western Maine power corridor
 | Portland Press Herald

Some users of the state's E-ZPass system have been getting scam text messages purportedly to be collecting unpaid tolls on behalf of the Maine Turnpike Authority. The MTA has indicated that it never collects money via text. | WMTW

Paris, West Paris officials reviewing legal options against school district closing West Paris school | Advertiser Democrat

The Republican candidate for House District 60 in Augusta claimed through a series of Facebook posts that the government is utilizing weaponized hurricanes to seize lithium mines in southern states. | Morning Sentinel

RSU 10 students in Mexico are switching to remote studies after the Mountain Valley Middle School was closed due to poor air quality stemming from mold spores. | Rumford Falls Times

Farmington officials discussed the town's potential mil rate and the upcoming revaluation at this week's meeting. | Daily Bulldog

Moody Beach dispute reaches Maine Supreme Court | Maine Public

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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.