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If April showers bring May flowers, then these better be some amazing flowers. 

If you've had a chance to get to the southern part of our state, you know that the flowers are out there. Here in western Maine, we're still waiting for the daffodils to bloom. The rain will help with that, of course.

Plenty of links to look at on this rainy Saturday: more state and federal disagreements, a push to reclassify certain types of watercraft, and towns dealing with schools, meetings and housing projects.

‘We did things backwards here’: Some Maine landowners see a future in ecological forest management

Foresters argue the pros and cons of various models of sustainable forestry, but the overall goal is the same: Timber harvests generate profits; woodlands remain healthy.

Read this Maine Monitor story by Jan DeBlieu.

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

A straw poll at the June 10 town meeting will allow Rangeley voters to weigh in on whether to conduct town meetings by secret ballot or at an open meeting. | Rangeley Highlander

A scheduled inspection of the Agnes Gray Elementary School by West Paris officials in advance of the May 14 referendum was canceled by SAD 17 due to a break-in. | Advertiser Democrat

ICYMI: As Maine’s battle with the Trump administration over transgender student athletes intensifies and enters the courts, legal experts say the consequences could be huge — and extend far beyond Maine. | The Maine Monitor

The state Department of Education will not sign a letter confirming that it has removed diversity, equity and inclusion programs from schools. | Maine Public

Maine libraries are warning that proposed cuts could cripple rural services. | Franklin Journal

The town of Phillips will hold a special election on May 20 to decide on whether or not to begin withdrawing from MSAD 58. | Daily Bulldog

A proposed bill would prohibit floating camps and similar structures in Maine's lakes and coastal waters. | Bangor Daily News

Abutters of a proposed employee housing project in Dixfield spoke in opposition to the development at a planning board meeting. | Rumford Falls Times 

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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