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This week we are excited to launch what we're calling Guides to Government, a series of interactive pages meant to help you prepare to vote, parse
Maine’s budget, understand what our state and federal lawmakers are up to, and follow the legal challenges Maine has joined against the Trump administration. These will be living resources that we'll continue to update, and if you have questions they don't yet answer, feel free to let us know.
In particular I want to highlight the state budget database, which we worked on with the wonderful Investigative Reporting Workshop out of American University. Their team worked with years of complex data to create several easy-to-read graphics showing how Maine's budget has grown since 2016, which departments get the most money, and how federal funding fits in.
In-person absentee voting begins tomorrow, and Emily Bader has a detailed look at the two referendum questions that will be on the ballot: one that would change voter ID and absentee voting rules and one that would create a red flag law.
Plus: Josh Keefe and Maine Focus reporter Callie Ferguson have an update on the Maine State Police use of force incident they've been following; Julia Tilton looks at ways Mainers are making use of the invasive green crab; Sean Scott takes us inside a small Maine group pushing to criminalize abortion; Daniel O'Connor brings us the latest on the Washington County budget; and more.
And we're pleased to welcome our newest journalist, Howard Fellow Taylor Nichols, who will be reporting on housing. If you have story ideas for her, she's at taylor@themainemonitor.org.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
— Stephanie
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The Maine Monitor's Guides to Government
Here's our living guide to state and federal lawmakers, elections, and legal challenges lodged by Maine against the Trump administration. Plus, explore comprehensive breakdowns of Maine’s biennial budgets over the past decade and projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Explore the Guides to Government
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Maine is suing a protester for allegedly disrupting services at Planned Parenthood. He’s part of a small group pushing to criminalize abortion: The
group was founded in 2023, after the Maine legislature passed a law expanding abortion access. Read this story by Sean Scott
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Here’s what you need to know about Maine’s two ballot questions this November: The two questions, both of which were put forward by Maine citizens, will ask voters whether they want to change voter ID and absentee voting rules and whether they want to implement a red flag law. Read this story by Emily Bader
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Lawyer calls for criminal investigation into troopers who beat a man in handcuffs: The attorney for Justin Savage also called for independent oversight of the Maine State Police’s use of force. Read this story by Josh Keefe & Callie Ferguson
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Washington County takes $11M borrowing plan to skeptical public: In addition to the bond, officials have pitched a tax hike of up to 40% as the path out of a major budget crisis. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor
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What to do about Maine’s green crab problem? Some see opportunity: In Milbridge, a former farmer is grinding invasive green crabs into fertilizer. In South Portland, a Cambodian food incubator is incorporating them into seafood dishes. Read this story by Julia Tilton
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Nobody cares about this elected position in Maine until things go wrong: Washington County is considering a referendum to stop electing the treasurer, a position that is crucial to managing public funds but requires no financial experience of candidates. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor
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The Maine Monitor welcomes housing reporter
Taylor Nichols joins The Monitor as a Roy W. Howard Fellow to cover housing and pursue data journalism projects.
Read this story
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Have feedback or a correction to send to Stephanie McFeeters? Send it to her directly via email: stephanie@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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