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Good morning:

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting turnout has been high around the state; if you haven’t already voted, we have everything you need to make an informed decision in our Voter Guide. And be sure to visit themainemonitor.org on Election Day – we’ll be reporting live from more than 40 polling stations around the state, talking to voters and documenting what’s happening on the ground. 

In recent weeks, we’ve been gearing up with many stories about what’s on the ballot. Data centers have been a hot topic; you can see which towns around the state have proposed and enacted data center moratoriums in our recent report. 

We’re also reporting on the hiring of three new full-time emergency medical technicians for the Machias Ambulance Service. At full staff, there will be potential to expand coverage to the Dennysville area and Unorganized Territories in Washington County. Dennys River Ambulance Service, which has served nearby townships since 1966, is closing Nov. 30.

On Tuesday, the Washington County Budget Advisory Committee reviewed a letter from the county’s attorney who recommended that county commissioners hold a vote to confirm that they had submitted their budget estimate to the budget committee as required by law.

When commissioners met Wednesday, they did just that. 

We also reported this week on a public hearing held by the Maine Library Commission to gather comments on proposed standards for Maine’s public libraries, where commissioners were urged to continue to allow volunteer staffing in Maine’s smallest libraries. The comment period on the proposal goes through Nov. 20. 

And, next week, voters in Lubec will consider whether to raise the water district’s debt limit from $200,000 to $2 million, which would allow the utility to accept $720,000 in state loans to replace aging pipes.

The debt limit hasn’t been raised since 1951.

We are weeks away from launching a new Monitor Local newsletter as we expand our civic news reporting to Kennebec and Waldo counties in November. 

If you’d like to join our team of community journalists, we’re prepared to train people through Journalism New England’s Career Lab and also working with me. If you’re interested, apply here. 

And if you’re interested in reading more local news, sign up at themainemonitor.org/newsletters. All of our journalism is free to read, so please share this link with family and friends.

Have a great weekend!

Judy

Small public libraries urge Maine Library Commission to allow volunteer staffing, unpaid directors: Rural officials warn that proposed state rules requiring paid staff members to keep key services will create an unsustainable financial burden. Read this story by Jay Field

Washington County finance director resigns, citing personal reasons: Jenny Windsor agrees to stay through Dec. 17 as commissioners vote to confirm 2027 budget submission and authorize early loan payoff. Read this story by Judith Meyer

Washington County Commission advised to hold confirmatory vote on budget estimate: The vote was recommended by legal counsel after an attorney for the Sheriff’s Office challenged whether commissioners properly followed state law on the budget process. Read this story by Judith Meyer

Voters to decide Nov. 3 on raising Lubec Water District debt limit from $200,000 to $2 million: Approval would allow the utility to accept $720,000 in state loan funds for a multiyear pipe replacement project. Read this story by Ethan Bien

Machias Select Board approves three EMT positions, honors Dalton ‘Denny’ Farley, who is retiring after 37 years: The board moves to expand emergency medical coverage ahead of a regional closure while managing higher fuel costs and an equipment purchase. Read this story by Evan W. Houk

Maine banned cellphones in schools to help teens focus and connect. Teachers and students say it’s working: “My phone left my mind, and I didn’t really think about not having it,” one student said. “In fact, I think I almost left it at school that day.” Read this story by John Forbes

Early voting turnout is high. Election fatigue is building: Mainers are turning out in high numbers to cast their ballots early as a controversy-ridden campaign season nears the finish line in Maine. Read this story by Kristian Moravec and Emily Bader

See where mobile home lot rent ordinances are on the ballot across Maine: Voters in at least eight towns and cities in Maine will decide whether to add some level of rent control for mobile home parks on Nov. 3. At least 10 have already passed similar measures. Read this story by Caitlin Andrews

Here are the Maine towns weighing data center bans: At least seven towns are considering temporary freezes on data center development on Nov. 3. One town is putting a full ban directly to voters. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News

Tensions at UMaine rise as workers call for a stop to layoffs: Union leaders, who gathered on campus on Monday, said little is known about how millions in budget cuts will unfold and affect workers on campus. Read this story by Kristian Moravec

With a shortage of young striped bass, Maine anglers fear for their sport’s future: Few juvenile stripers have survived in recent years, putting the beloved recreational fishery at risk. Read this story by Delger Erdenesanaa

‘A disaster from the start’: How delays have plagued Maine’s new campaign finance website in the middle of an election year: The delayed site rollout and lagging functionality means that work on the roughly $1 million project will stretch into 2027, even after improvements in recent weeks. Read this story by Matt Junker

In September ‘radio hour,’ Monitor fellows discuss what they learned reporting in Maine: The Maine Monitor hosted its largest class of interns and fellows this year, welcoming five young reporters who covered everything from prediction markets to packaging waste. Listen to this episode

Election Day live blog: The Monitor will run a live blog on its website on Election Day with dispatches from more than 40 locations around the state. Follow along at themainemonitor.org.

The following stories are from other newsrooms. While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind a paywall, some newsrooms we link to below may. Paywalled stories are followed by a ($). We encourage you to consider supporting local Maine newsrooms.

Washington County students serve up local seafood at Down East cookoff | WABI

Heating oil prices hit a new state record this week | WABI

Growth over the next decade is expected in the state’s healthcare industry, which represents 17% of all nonfarm jobs in 2025 | Maine Public

A group organizing a citizen’s initiative to ban transgender girls from playing on sports teams will submit additional signatures Monday | Spectrum News

The state may be in for a warmer, wetter winter this year, thanks to a strong El Nino | WGME

Maine DEP recorded the lowest amount of sewage pollution into waterways last year | Maine Public

Maine backs off eliminating emerald ash borer quarantine | Maine Public

New Englanders urged to ‘leave the leaves’ for bats, other wildlife | Public News Service

Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. You can reach Monitor Local editor Judith Meyer directly via email:  judy@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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