|
|
Into October! One of the best months, in my opinion, where Maine really shines. Foliage is a big part of that, of course, as anyone who has seen the
cars and tour buses driving up north can attest to.
This year, the trees are contending not just with the changing season, but a worsening drought: unless we get a lot of rain over the next couple months, we’re probably looking at similar conditions across the state when the ground freezes this winter. According to experts, frozen ground doesn’t absorb water, meaning your drought conditions are frozen as well, locked in place until next spring.
We need nearly 20 inches of rain — a tall order, but one that our two rainiest months may be able to serve up. If we fall short, we could be dealing with these same issues next spring: wells and ponds going dry, crop failures and an elevated risk of forest fires.
While we’re all thinking rainy thoughts, down below we have new, proposed rules for vernal pools, a township mulling incorporation and a change in how many Mainers use heating oil. It’s all in the links.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind paywalls, some newsrooms we link to in this newsletter may.
|
Portions of seven Maine counties remain in extreme drought conditions, with western Maine ranging from moderate to extreme. | News Center Maine
Unless the state receives an above-average amount of rainfall in autumn, the drought conditions may extend into the winter. | Maine Public
Albany Township residents met recently with state and county officials on a myriad of issues, including junkyards, road repairs and rising taxes. Some want to incorporate the Unorganized Territory township as a municipality. | Bethel Citizen
Shoreland stabilization and clean water projects are being proposed for Wilson Lake and Varnum Pond in Wilton. | Franklin Journal
More older Mainers died by gun suicide than they did in car crashes over a 15-year period. The numbers represent a troubling trend playing out in rural communities across the country. | The Maine Monitor
The state’s usage of heating oil hit a new low last year, down 70 percent compared to 2010. | Maine Public
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Northern Light Health have agreed to a 30-day extension of their existing contract to give themselves time to continue negotiations. | Spectrum News Maine
The GreenLine bus service between Farmington and Lewiston/Auburn will be expanding to six round trips a day, Monday through Friday. | Daily Bulldog
Public hearings will be held on proposed changes to the state’s rules for vernal pools and other wildlife habitats which would strengthen protections. | 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
