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Sunny days, cool nights, fewer bugs. Apple orchards, fairground midways and Halloween candy. 

But of all of autumn's signs in western Maine, perhaps the best known is our famed fall foliage, which transforms our tree lines and brings thousands of tourists every year. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry released its first foliage report this week (as you'll see in the links), which promises a vibrant display thanks to cooperative summer weather.

That's good news for businesses that are dependent on tourists, particularly after last year's wet summer and relatively lighter turnout (although those fewer visitors did spend slightly more money than previous years, per the state's tourism numbers). 

But it's even better news for us! We can enjoy all of the splendor without any of the commute.

‘Not in the business of politics’: 

The local officials making sure Mainers get to vote

Clerks across Maine share their thoughts on election security ahead of November.

Read this story by Maine Monitor reporters

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

A depleted staff at Oxford County Regional Communications has first responders sounding the alarm. | Advertiser Democrat

The state is seeking vendors to construct a 530-mile fiber optic network designed to improve Mainers' access to broadband internet. | Maine Public

ICYMI from The Monitor: Fall in Maine is arriving later, getting warmer. Maine has seen above-normal temperatures in September almost every year since the late 1990s. | The Maine Monitor

Students from Telstar attended class at Sunday River this week, after a fire alarm issue closed their school for two days. | Bethel Citizen

Governor Mills said late last week that police in Maine had utilized the state's 'yellow flag' law 15 more times since last October's mass shooting incident than they had in the previous three years. | Associated Press

Federal funding for the Farmington Police Department to support the installation of intersection cameras and station security improvements is moving forward. | Franklin Journal

A Fairfield man convicted of assaulting a child fled a Skowhegan courtroom in handcuffs Wednesday, only to be stopped by two jurors outside. | Morning Sentinel

The perfect combination of sunshine and rain this summer has resulted in ideal foliage conditions for leaf-peepers later this fall. | Portland Press Herald

Maine's minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $14.65 at the beginning of next year. | 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.