View in browser   |   Forward

Good morning from the shores of Gouldsboro Bay, which has yet to see any snow other than a few, brief flurries with little staying power. I can safely say everyone here is fine with that.

Ice, though, seems to be more of a problem than ever before, with many municipalities increasing the salt content in their sanding material to cope with slick and dangerous roads.

The end of the year also means getting ready to look at next year’s municipal budgets and paying attention to how expenses are matching up with what was budgeted for the year. 

The wild card in any city and town budget is usually the school budget, where the struggle is always to pay for staff, fund educational programs, keep up with needed maintenance, and ensure that municipalities can pay their share of the bill.

If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for The Maine Monitor's newest newsletter, "The Health Monitor," which launched this week. Every other week, Monitor Senior Healthcare Reporter Rose Lundy will bring you an original story and a roundup of the latest healthcare news from around the state. Sign up here.

And lastly... we're hiring! Check out the jobs posted:

Board approves final packaging rules

The Maine Board of Environmental Protection has finalized rules intended to reduce the amount of packaging waste produced in the state while boosting municipal recycling infrastructure and shifting costs onto companies and packaging producers.

Read this story by Kate Cough.

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

ICYMI from The Monitor: Citing reimbursement shortfalls, two of the three agencies in the state that pair people with in-home nursing care are no longer accepting new clients under the Section 96 MaineCare program. | The Maine Monitor

After three of the four towns in a Deer Isle-area school district already voted to suspend their shared superintendent, the board overseeing the whole district voted to place him on paid administrative leave. | Bangor Daily News

Christopher J. Whalley, a disbarred criminal defense lawyer from Ellsworth, was sentenced to serve 14 months for stealing $190,000 from the estate of a dead client. | Bangor Daily News

Advocates working to end child food insecurity in Maine preparing to defend federal welfare programs | Maine Public

The Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport is on track to meet its annual target of 10,000 passengers boarding a plane. If the threshold is reached, the airport will receive $1.3 million from the FAA for capital projects. | Mount Desert Islander

Mount Desert Island Hospital is acquiring Acadia Family Center in Southwest Harbor. The center’s behavioral healthcare services will be integrated into MDI Hospital’s Community Health Center in Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor Clinic. | Mount Desert Islander

The Maine Department of Labor finalized rules for the state's new paid family and medical leave program. | Maine Public

Maine game wardens in cooperation with Operation Game Thief are offering a $2,000 reward for each of two moose that were found illegally shot in Washington County. | Bangor Daily News

A survey of almost 250 educators across the state reveals concerns about the costs of being a teacher, the lack of professional development and the need for improved diversity in the workforce. | Maine Public

A new report says Maine’s infrastructure rates a “C” grade, with bridges and dams needing the most attention. | Spectrum News Maine

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.