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A bit of a regular fall weekend here in western Maine, with a nice rainy week followed by some spectacular colors from our remaining foliage. While we
need as much as a foot of rain in November to fend off this stubborn drought, last week was the first step in turning things around before the ground freezes. Hopefully, more rain is on the way next week.
Of course, we’re watching more than just the skies. In the links are stories about creating a new regional jail, our summer visitor numbers, not shutting down a school and the upcoming statewide referendum votes.
Lots to catch up on, but nothing that should distract you from Halloween weekend! A bunch of communities in western Maine are planning celebrations, which can be found here.
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Maine hired contractor to organize timely visits for families in child welfare cases. It delivered 10% of the time.
Last December, the state renewed the organization’s contract even though it fell far short of its performance requirements, according to an examination by The Maine Monitor.
Read this story by Josh Keefe of The Maine Monitor
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While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind paywalls, some newsrooms we link to in this newsletter may.
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Electricity rates for Mainers are going up because more natural gas is being sold overseas | The Maine Monitor
Franklin County commissioners voted to study the possibility of creating a regional jail facility with Oxford and Androscoggin. All three counties have aging facilities and have boarded prisoners elsewhere due to overcrowding. | Sun Journal
Polling indicates that referendums on red flag and voter identification laws could be close. | Portland Press Herald
Despite the recent rain, drought conditions are worsening across the state. | Maine Public
Residents in Woodstock are concerned about a roadside spring, as the property that feeds the spring is now up for sale. A study is being planned. | Bethel Citizen
The summer visitor numbers were down slightly this year. | Maine Public
The Franklin County jail is prohibiting personal phones and other electronic devices for people in the secured area of the facility. | Sun Journal
The University of Maine System plans to switch to Anthem health insurance for its employees, even though the insurer has been publicly feuding with Northern Light Health for months. | The Maine Monitor
The MSAD 58 school board failed to reach a two-thirds majority vote to begin the process to close the Day Mountain Middle School in Strong. | Rangeley Highlander
Food pantry organizers are bracing for higher traffic as federal SNAP benefits are threatened by the ongoing shutdown. | WABI
Some civil rights advocates are worried that Question 1 on next month’s referendum ballot could block incarcerated people’s right to vote. | The Maine Monitor
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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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