|
|
 |
 |
|
You may have seen the news that the National Institutes of Health will no longer fund work that examines the health effects of climate change, per records obtained by ProPublica. This fits into a broader effort by the Trump administration to eliminate research grants as it cuts down on what it considers “wasteful spending.”
This week, Emily Bader digs into what this means for Maine. She finds that Maine’s research labs are in limbo as they figure out if and how the federal cuts will affect them. At least one Maine-based project — which supported junior scientists doing research on fisherman health, breast cancer and diabetes, among other things — has already been slashed.
You can read more about the uncertainty, and explore several charts showing the kinds of projects that get NIH funding, at the link below.
We also have a story about MDI Hospital's decision to close its birthing unit; a piece about a push to scale back miscarriage reporting requirements; a look at lawmakers’ changes to an airport habitat bill; and more.
Thanks for reading, and as always, don't hesitate to get in touch — especially if your work has been affected by federal funding cuts. We'd love to hear from you.
— Stephanie |
 |
|
Maine research organizations face uncertainty as the Trump administration vows to cut “wasteful spending”
Since 2015, the NIH has awarded more than 1,500 grants totalling more than $1.03 billion to some of Maine’s most venerable research institutions, including the Jackson Laboratory and the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, according to a Maine Monitor analysis of federal data.
But as the Trump administration cracks down on what it calls “wasteful spending,” the future of this scientific work remains unclear. Already the NIH — driven by the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — has canceled hundreds of grants, leaving research labs and public health departments across the country scrambling.
Read this story by Emily Bader |
 |
|
Lawmakers’ change to airport habitat bill leaves both aviation officials and environmentalists baffled: At issue is a piece of legislation that would loosen development restrictions meant to protect endangered species, which aviation officials say create safety concerns. Read this story by Emmett Gartner |
|
|
|
Health care groups push to roll back miscarriage reporting requirements: A MaineHealth official said the current data is ‘underreported and inaccurate.’ Read this story by Rose Lundy |
|
|
|
MDI Hospital announced plans to close its birthing unit, making it the tenth Maine hospital to do so in the past decade: The hospital president said the choice to close the unit follows a steep decline in births, calling it a “devastating decision.” The Maine State Nurses Association called it an “abject failure.” Read this story by Rose Lundy |
|
|
|
What’s behind that organic label?: A look at what “regenerative,” “natural,” “non-GMO project verified” and other food labels mean. Read this story by Julia Tilton |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Maine Monitor investigation recognized by New England Newspaper and Press Association
An investigation into residential care facilities by Monitor senior public health reporter Rose Lundy was honored Saturday night.
Read this award announcement |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
As more people enroll in MaineCare,
they may face fewer options for care
(Published in 2021)
Maine lags behind other states in how much it reimburses health facilities for treating its lowest-income residents. Without change, providers fear they can’t afford to continue.
Read this story by Jordan Wolman |
|
|
|
|
Have feedback or a correction to send to Stephanie McFeeters? Send it to her directly via email: stephanie@themainemonitor.org.
Know of a story that we should be digging into? Send it to our newsroom.
The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization. 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. |
| DONATE NOW |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
