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Whenever I used to complain about snow in the spring, my mother would tell me it was just white rain.

I've been saying that an awful lot this year.

As winter creeps onward into mid-April, our municipal, school and state budget processes continue to grapple with shortfalls and withheld funding.

At some point, we'll get back to hikes in the woods and days in the garden, but for now I'm afraid it's mostly overdrafts and white rain.

We will get there. For now, take care on the roads and think about spring.

Legislators land airport habitat bill after turbulent takeoff

Wildlife and aviation officials compromised on a new amendment that eases habitat protections around airports with more precision for flight safety.

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. 

The owner of an engineered wood factory that is slated to be constructed at the site of the former Androscoggin Mill says that tariffs could impact the cost of the facility. | Sun Journal

An analysis of Maine hospitals found them to be in precarious financial positions. | Maine Public

Long wait times are being reported at Motor Vehicle branches as Real IDs or other federally accepted identification will be required to fly domestically starting on May 7. | News Center Maine

ICYMI: Maine doesn’t have a statewide system to track rape kits. Lawmakers are considering a bill to change that. | The Maine Monitor

The board of the Oxford Hills school district voted to close Waterford Memorial School and shift elementary students into Harrison Elementary before the start of the next school year, as the district faces a $1 million drop in state support. | Advertiser Democrat

The new Franklin County emergency operations building in Farmington is nearing completion, with a number of county offices expected to move in later this month. | Sun Journal

The Legislature has passed a bill to expand the state's public defender office. | Maine Public

Voters narrowly backed covering overdrafts for the police department at a special town meeting. The overdraft, estimated at $95,000, is chiefly due to the department recruiting officers to fill empty positions. | Rangeley Highlander

Jay voters will head to the polls on April 29 to cast ballots on a proposed $6.7 million municipal budget. | Sun Journal

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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