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Happy Saturday from Farmington in western Maine, where we’re currently enjoying extreme drought conditions and our first frost of the season. Hopefully we get some rain soon … ideally sometime before snow arrives.

In any case, we’re into the heart of the fall season. The first of this year’s foliage sightseers are arriving, I rode on the Ferris wheel at the fair last night and Halloween decorations are popping up in lawns across town. Even during the warmer days, the breeze brings a hint of a chill.

In the links today is more change, beyond the weather. We have more towns considering leaving their school districts, a proposal to increase the electric distribution rate and communities setting new plans for their future.

Beating of handcuffed man casts doubt on Maine State Police’s perfect record of clearing officers

The agency has reviewed nearly three dozen complaints about use of force in the past decade. None were found to be excessive.

Read this story by Callie Ferguson & Josh Keefe

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

The first frost of the season is likely on its way this weekend. | WGME

Meanwhile, part of western Maine are considered to be experiencing extreme drought conditions. | WMTW

Further work is planned at three sites in Newry, relating to mitigating issues created by the December 2023 storm. | Bethel Citizen

A proposal by Central Maine Power to increase its rates as part of a five-year infrastructure investment plan has drawn criticism, including from Gov. Janet Mills and other state officials. | WMTW

A new policy that has required Mt. Blue High School students to secure their cell phones in magnetically-locked pouches is being credited with creating a different, more positive environment. | Franklin Journal

Since President Trump took office earlier this year, scientists have rewritten grant proposals to remove language that, before Trump, would have been required to secure funding but now is considered a disqualifier. | The Maine Monitor

Voters in Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner will decided whether or not to file petitions to withdraw their towns from RSU 10 in November. | Rumford Falls Times

Chesterville is seeking candidates for selectperson following a resignation from the board last month. The town clerk position is also vacant. | Livermore Falls Advertiser

In Rangeley, voters at a special town meeting approved an updated Comprehensive Plan and amended the town’s sign ordinance. The changes to the plan address issues such as land use, housing, access to health care and maintaining clean lakes and rivers. | Rangeley Highlander

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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