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In November, when the U.S. House of Representatives voted to adopt the Senate-backed budget – ending a 43-day government shutdown – the appropriations bill contained a change to the definition of hemp products, which came as an unwelcome surprise to Schoppee Farm owner Ben Edwards.

That change, according to Edwards, means that “every single (hemp) product that we make, all our genetics, and every intermediary product that we sell to other people who use our extracts to make their products – everything – is illegal,” when the new regulation goes into effect in November.

For more about the change in regulation and what Edwards intends to do about it, read our story about his plans and what happens next. 

Voters in Maine head to the polls on Tuesday. You can find all of the information you need to be informed in our 2026 Voter Guide.

Lastly, please share this newsletter with family members and friends. They can sign up on our website to have it delivered to their own inbox each Saturday.

Rumors of pink slips, service cuts force Washington County Commission into special meeting Friday: With cash flow tight and spending under restrictions, county leaders insist the situation is serious but not a crisis. Read this story by Judith Meyer

Voters approve $1.6 million budget for Beals Elementary School: The spending plan exceeds the state funding model by $892,210. Read this story by Jessica Brockington

Schoppee Farm halts market as federal hemp rule hits; Machias to host this season: A federal rule change threatens the farm’s hemp business, forcing the long‑running market to relocate for 2026. Read this story by Melissa S. Razdrih

Alliances and feuds shape final stretch of crowded primary races for Maine governor: Ranked-choice voting strategies could decide which Democratic and Republican candidates win the June 9 primaries. Read this story by Matt Junker

‘Just dead ends’: Daughter said investigation into father’s care left her in the dark: Unable to feed or bathe himself, her father lived in squalor and developed a bone infection. How thorough was an investigation into his caregivers? The state declined to provide answers. Read this story by Rose Lundy

This Maine lawmaker is trying to ban Flock license plate readers: Automatic license plate readers are proliferating in Maine. Footage is sometimes shared with police, raising privacy concerns. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News

Here’s why primary votes for Janet Mills will still count: Mills suspended her campaign but never submitted a written withdrawal notice to the secretary of state’s office. The same is true for Republican candidate for governor James Libby. Read this story by Matt Junker

A claim that shaped Graham Platner’s explanation for private schooling isn’t true: The candidate’s schooling has been a focus of his supporters and detractors during his campaign against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Monitor and BDN

The following stories are from other newsrooms. While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind a paywall, some newsrooms we link to below may. Paywalled stories are followed by a ($). We encourage you to consider supporting local Maine newsrooms.

Democrats’ Graham Platner headache isn’t going away | NOTUS

The Maine Department of Transportation commissioner says that his department requires an additional $170 million a year to fund its work plan | Maine Public

Democrats concede gun control is no longer their top issue | NOTUS 

The last sardine cannery in Maine closed in 2010 but a new company aims to bring fish canning back | Maine Public

The MDOT has cut up to $400 million in projects due to the funding gap | Spectrum News Maine

New England Aquarium pens letter opposing changes to vessel speed limit | Maine Public

Low-income households in Maine bear the heaviest energy burden in the nation, spending roughly 20 percent of their annual income on electricity and heating fuel | Public News Service

An advisory council formed to examine the state’s policy toward data centers has started meeting, with its recommendations due in eight months | Maine Public

Polling indicates that most Mainers are against AI data centers being built in their communities | WGME

A Maine climate activist group is warning that further national investment in coal power could impact the state | Public News Service

Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. You can reach Monitor Local editor Judith Meyer directly via email:  judy@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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