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Today we bring you an important story that took more than six months to confirm.
When children are removed from their homes due to concerns about abuse or neglect, the state is required to provide a way for them to see their parents within seven days. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services contracts with certain agencies to organize these supervised visits, and reporter Josh Keefe wanted to know how they were doing.
It turns out that two of the three agencies did not schedule most visits quickly enough last year and failed to meet the terms of their state contracts, according to performance data Josh got in a public records request. One of the agencies met its benchmark just 10 percent of the time. In December, the state signed another contract with it anyway.
We also have a story from reporter Emily Bader highlighting prisoners’ concerns that Question 1 on next month’s ballot would prevent them from voting in the future. Contributor Tux Turkel explains a big reason behind why electricity bills are going up. We have a story about local efforts to kill the invasive plant brittle naiad that seem to be working. And of course you’ve got to see Derrick Jackson’s puffin photos.
Congratulations to our newsroom staff who were recognized by the Maine Press Association with awards yesterday — especially our very own senior public health reporter Rose Lundy who won Journalist of the Year!
Thank you, as always, for reading.
– Erin
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Maine hired contractor to organize timely visits for families in child welfare cases. It delivered 10% of the time.
Last December, the state renewed the organization’s contract even though it fell far short of its performance requirements, according to an examination by The Maine Monitor.
Read this story by Josh Keefe
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Question 1 could stop Maine prisoners from voting: The referendum question would require voters to show IDs that prisoners currently can’t have.
Read this story by Emily Bader
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Electricity rates for Mainers are going up because more natural gas is being sold overseas: The increase is anticipated as CMP separately requests a rate hike. Read this story by Tux Turkel
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In Franklin County, officials are debating who has ultimate say over the budget: county commissioners or the budget advisory committee?: County commissioners are collecting health insurance stipends that were cut by the budget advisory committee. They are seeking advice from the attorney general’s office on whether that is allowed. Read this story by Ben Hanstein
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How do Maine counties set their budgets?: Each of Maine’s 16 counties has its own budget process, described in a separate section of the statute. Read this story by Ben Hanstein
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On Eastern Egg Rock, puffins get the last laugh: Crew members from the Audubon Seabird Institute worked to cull laughing gulls this spring and summer, part of an effort to protect breeding puffins and terns. Read this story by Derrick Z. Jackson
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‘Encouraging news’ in fight against invasive plant in Sokokis Lake: The state hopes herbicide stops the spread of brittle naiad, which can rapidly reproduce. Read this story by Chris D'Angelo
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September ‘radio hour’ explores journalism through the eyes of Gen Z: Stacey Zhang and Yasmeen Khan speak about their experiences trying to make a career in the field of journalism and how their Gen Z colleagues are consuming the news. Listen to this episode of The Maine Monitor Radio Hour
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October ‘radio hour’ explores Monitor-BDN investigation of Justin Savage arrest: The show offers a behind-the-scenes look at the investigation. Listen to this episode of The Maine Monitor Radio Hour
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Graham Platner asked why Black people ‘don’t tip’ and referenced rape in old Reddit posts: The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate posted to the online social media site Reddit more than 1,800 times between 2009 and 2021. Read this story by Sawyer Loftus of the Bangor Daily News
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Sheriff directed investigation into Maine lawmaker over dropped electioneering charges: Rep. Nina Milliken, D-Blue Hill, called her prosecution politically motivated and has history with Hancock County Sheriff Scott Kane. Read this story by Callie Ferguson of the Bangor Daily News
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Janet Mills announces bid for Senate: Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday she plans to run for Susan Collins’ Senate seat, a recruitment win for national Democrats. Read this story by Alex Roarty and Torrie Herrington of NOTUS
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Janet Mills would be the oldest freshman senator ever. Do Democratic voters care?: Democrats’ Senate majority hopes hang on three candidates older than 65. Read this story by Alex Roarty of NOTUS
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Anti-establishment anger is set to rock Senate Democratic primaries in 2026: It’s been nearly a decade since the last establishment-backed Democratic Senate candidate faced a close race in a primary. Read this story by Reese Gorman and Alex Roarty of NOTUS
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Maine Monitor reporter Rose Lundy named Maine’s Journalist of the Year
Notable awards given to Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough and reporter Kristian Moravec were also among the haul of awards The Maine Monitor received this year.
Read this story
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Have feedback or a correction to send to Erin Rhoda? Send it to her directly via email: erin@themainemonitor.org.
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.
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