Western: Farmington’s second town meeting of year is Monday

banner that states by judith meyer, the editor of monitor local

Good morning:

I'm Kate Cough, editor of The Maine Monitor, filling in for Judy as she's out this week. We've got some fascinating stories for you on the use of AI in the courtroom, an update on Farmington's second town meeting of the year, and lessons from thorny school budget disputes around the state, among others.

There's rain in the forecast, but spring is (sort of) springing here where I am in Downeast Maine, with leaf out tantalizingly close. I hope you'll get out and enjoy it.

As always, thanks for reading.

-Kate

She buries the dead who have no one left to say goodbye: “It matters a great deal to me that people are not sent on the next journey alone,” Janie Sweeney said. Read this story by Rose Lundy

Farmington’s second town meeting of year is Monday, with votes on budget, projects: An informational session on the $16.6 million budget is set for Wednesday evening. Read this story by Ben Hanstein

Wilton Board of Selectpersons sets forums on revaluation, ATVs: The town’s assessing agent previously told Monitor Local he expects property values to be “pretty close to double” current assessments. Read this story by Bob Neal

MSAD 54 budget up 4.78 percent; Skowhegan share rises 2 percent: The overall budget stands at $53.9 million. Of that total, Skowhegan taxpayers would contribute $16.8 million. Read this story by Evan Houk

Attorney for Maine client faces sanctions for AI-driven errors in court filing: The case offers the latest example of how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal field and raising ethical questions. Read this story by Sean Scott

From rural Piscataquis County to UMaine valedictorian: How one student’s background growing up in Parkman influenced her academic pathway. Read this story by Kristian Moravec

Skowhegan Select Board approves funds to repair vandalized cemetery headstones: Daughters of the American Revolution hopes to have the gravestones repaired by Memorial Day. Read this story by Evan Houk

Skowhegan Select Board reaffirms denial of downtown law firm’s TIF request despite committee’s unanimous support: Firm President John Youney accused the board of “moving the goal posts” on his application and called the denial “not ethical or moral.” Read this story by Evan Houk

Delger Erdenesanaa joins The Monitor as environment reporter: Stepping into this role feels like coming full circle for the Bowdoin alumna. Read this story

3 lessons from Maine’s election-year rash of local budget disputes: Schools are asking for more money due to rising costs. Some places are having to confront thorny service reductions. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News

Bangor public health director reflects on conditions that escalated HIV outbreak: Penobscot County has now logged 41 known cases of HIV, but there are likely more. Read this story by Rose Lundy

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.

Maine researchers study long term Lyme disease symptoms and urge steps to control ticks | Maine Public

Scarborough considers data center pause after development proposal | Maine Public

Franklin County sends $13M budget to advisory panel | Sun Journal ($)

Maine wardens confirm search for 2 missing girls in town of Mexico | WMTW

Maine notches record-long stretch of unemployment below 4% | Maine Public

Madison school district’s proposed budget comes with 10% tax increase | Morning Sentinel ($)

Town of Jay Special Town Meeting May 11th | Daily Bulldog

Nearly all gravestones restored after Skowhegan cemetery vandalism | WABI

Secretary of State says People's Veto of state supplemental budget will not move forward | Maine Public

Oxford Hills School District says proposed budget will stay at $54 million | WGME

State officials giving Albany ‘junkyards’ a push to clean up | Sun Journal ($)

Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. You can reach Monitor Local editor Judy 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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