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Franklin County's commissioners recently accepted a proposed budget for the next fiscal year, allotting funding for emergency services, jail operations and a host of other functions that county government is responsible for. It's the first budget process for a new board of five commissioners — a change that I covered last year.

I've been working on a story these past couple of weeks that began before the expansion, back when there were just three commissioners. The article is about a lawsuit — as many of the why's and how's as I could answer — but it's also about our government, and how it functioned in this specific instance. 

It touches on important issues like workplace culture, something that the new board is continuing to try and address.

I hope you'll give it a read while you're enjoying the weekend.

A county employee was placed on leave after her dog allegedly bit someone at the office. Now she’s suing.

The complaint fits into broader concerns about Franklin County’s workplace culture, which one commissioner called “the elephant in the room.”

Read this story by Ben Hanstein of The Maine Monitor

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

ICYMI: Federal agencies have funded more than a billion dollars in biomedical research in Maine over the past 10 years. Maine research organizations face uncertainty as Trump administration vows to cut “wasteful spending." | The Maine Monitor

State officials are worried that federal staffing cuts could impact a heating assistance program that is relied upon by thousands of Mainers. | Maine Public

Rangeley selectmen reviewed a proposed $12 million budget to fund town, RSU 78 and county operations at a public hearing. The town meeting is in June. | Rangeley Highlander

Mexico will contract with the Oxford County Sheriff's Office for police services after residents of the town voted in favor of disbanding their department. | Rumford Falls Times

The secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated that an unspecified amount of federal funding would be frozen for Maine administrative and technological programs, citing violations of Title IX. | Maine Public

Franklin County commissioners approved a proposed $11 million budget for 2025-26, sending the proposal to the county's budget committee. | Sun Journal

An attempt to close the federal Institute of Museum and Library Service may imperil grant funding for Maine libraries. | WGME

A divided RSU 73 school board approved the first reading of five policies relating to Title IX, in a discussion that focused on transgender athletes participating in women's sports. | Livermore Falls Advertiser

The University of Maine System has paused new financial offers to graduate students, citing uncertainty in the availability of federal funding. | Daily Bulldog

Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. If you have feedback or a tip that you want to send to Ben Hanstein directly email him at: benjamin@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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