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Good morning from the shores of Gouldsboro Bay, where the tourists are surfacing at the same time as the daffodils. Businesses are opening one by one. Everyone is primed for one of the area’s largest income producers.

Across the state, municipalities are wrestling with local budgets. RSU 24 rescinded its policy protecting transgender students. Presque Isle wants area towns to help pay for the local homeless shelter. And Gov. Mills and other regional governors are planning a summit with Canadian leaders to try and restore some peace with our northerly neighbor.

A quick pat on the back: This newsletter (and the Western Maine Monitor) won an award for “acting as a crucial information hub” for local, rural communities. The Local Media Association looked at entries that showcased the creative and impactful ways newsletters can grow audiences, deepen reader relationships and drive revenue. The story can be found here.

The Maine Monitor would love to see some Downeast readers in attendance (even virtually!) for a free event May 14 featuring a panel of health care experts discussing the state of health care access in Maine. The event is in collaboration with Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs at Colby College. Register to attend in-person or virtually.

One last thing: We are in the middle of our spring fundraising drive and we need to raise $40,000 to power our nonprofit, in-depth reporting. The support of our readers is what makes this newsletter and all of our free-to-read reporting possible. If you’re able, please consider making a donation at whatever level makes sense for you. If you’re already a supporter, thank you! We truly couldn’t do what we do without you.

Washington County wreath-making company fined nearly $16,000 for worker housing violations

Over the past four years, Worcester Resources has racked up more than $50,000 in federal fines for workplace safety and record-keeping infractions.

Read this story by Emmett Gartner of The Maine Monitor

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

RSU 24 has voted to rescind the district’s policy protecting transgender and other students. Particularly controversial was the clause providing students with privacy on the issue unless legally required to disclose the student’s status. | The Ellsworth American

The Passamaquoddy Tribal Council at Sipayik has terminated the employment of Vice Chief Ernest Neptune over sexual harassment allegations, though the council does not have the authority to remove Neptune from his elected office. | Quoddy Tides

The Ellsworth School Department is warning parents of a dangerous TikTok trend circulating on social media that encourages sticking metal objects in the USB ports of Chromebooks or computers. | The Ellsworth American

ICYMI: Over the past month, state lawmakers have considered a slate of bills that would change the way Maine’s child protection system defines abuse and neglect — a definition that influences the number of families that get pulled into the system. | The Maine Monitor

More than 100 nurses demonstrated on the Village Green in Bar Harbor this week to protest the closure of Mount Desert Island Hospital’s obstetrics department. | Mount Desert Islander

Maine Conservation Corps is funding the remainder of the Ellsworth Arbor Commission’s 10-month contract with a community tree steward now that the federal government has pulled nearly $400 million in AmeriCorps grants. | The Ellsworth American

Bar Harbor’s iconic Shore Path is due to reopen in mid-June after being heavily damaged in twin January 2024 storms. Nearly 1,000 feet of seawall has been rebuilt and reinforced with concrete. | Mount Desert Islander

ICYMI: The counties and municipalities that receive a direct share of the settlement funds from opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers have spent less than half of the money paid out so far. | The Maine Monitor

A fishway planned for the historic Whiting Mill Pond dam will restore alewife habitat access. | Quoddy Tides

The Presque Isle City Council is asking about 40 area communities to help support the local homeless shelter. Homeless Services of Aroostook asked the city for a $150,000 loan to help stay in operation. | Bangor Daily News

A Pembroke man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years for murder of a Whitneyville man. | WABI

Agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested four people on drug trafficking charges after raids in Addison. | Bangor Daily News

Maine State Police is investigating the cause of a crash that killed a man along Route 1 in Milbridge. | WMTW

A hearing in Lubec about possibly opening up the town to ATV traffic drew a large crowd. The meeting room was so full people clustered outside the windows trying to listen and the meeting was so chaotic the chairwoman frequently pounded the gavel. | Quoddy Tides

Gov. Mills and five other regional governors are inviting six Canadian premiers for a cross-border summit in Boston to help smooth the current troubled waters. | Mainebiz

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 Jacqueline Weaver
directly, email her at: jacqueline@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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