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While today may not be too warm and sunny, we're finally into early summer. The solstice isn't until June 20, but the gardens, the birds and the bugs all say that summer is here. 

It should be an interesting one; these are interesting times: what the tourist trade looks like, how the ongoing federal/state tension develops, summer town meetings, police department decisions, school districts realigning. I was in Embden on Thursday evening to help report on this last issue. Be sure to check out Kristian Moravec's story about the debate in RSU 74 below.

And with all this going on, hopefully we'll still get at least a little time to hike in the woods.

Amid rising education costs, a rural Maine town weighs leaving its school district

Embden is debating whether to start the process of withdrawing from its school district. A vote is set for June 10.

Read this story by Kristian Moravec of The Maine Monitor

Plus: What does it mean to withdraw from a Maine school district? Several towns are weighing whether to leave their school districts. Here’s a breakdown of what that entails.

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

Paris selectmen accused the Oxford County sheriff of breaking the law while attempting to assist in the defunding of the town's police department. The sheriff called the accusation a "blatant lie." | Sun Journal

The state has had some odd weather lately, even by Maine standards. | Portland Press Herald

ICYMI: Maine lawmakers want to examine how judges are disciplined. The judicial branch says that isn’t their call. | The Maine Monitor

An upside of this wet spring has been fewer browntail moth caterpillars, which have toxic hairs that can cause a rash. | Maine Public

While there is still time for other candidates to emerge, Rep. Jared Golden and former Gov. Paul LePage are on a collision course that could have national implications. | Portland Press Herald

Franklin County officials named in a lawsuit filed by the Register of Probate have asked that the suit be dismissed. | Sun Journal

The Border Patrol arrested a man in Dallas Plantation that the agency identified as a member of MS-13 wanted by Interpol for aggravated murder in El Salvador. | WGME

A number of environmental groups have appealed the judicial approval of the New England Clean Energy Connect project. | Portland Press Herald

Two-thirds of a 10 percent increase in Rumford's proposed budget is being driven by rising public safety costs, which town officials have said is necessary to keep its police force. | Rumford Falls Times

The town of Mexico will vote on June 10 whether or not to leverage $4.5 million in federal grant funding to build a new fire station. | WGME

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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