Northern Light Health has a large presence, as anyone who lives in its footprint knows. The health system schedules hundreds of thousands of patient visits each year and employs nearly 10,000. Its flagship hospital in Bangor, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, or EMMC, is a physical behemoth along the Penobscot River.
The health system matters a great deal to those of us living in the northern two-thirds of Maine, so having an in-depth understanding of its financial picture is especially valuable. I hope you take the time to read reporter Rose Lundy’s story from this week on EMMC and Northern Light Health. She illuminates in detail the forces pulling against the system as it struggles to find its financial footing. And she places EMMC’s financial woes within the context of the system’s losses, showing just how tightly tied together they are.
We also have a story from reporter Caitlin Andrews about how the Maine secretary of state’s office paused a normally automatic process to transfer car titles to towing companies. The office aimed to give immigrants time to contest the seizures of their cars after a federal immigration enforcement surge this year.
In case you missed it, don’t forget to read Josh Keefe’s months-long reporting on the U.S. Senate primary matchup between Graham Platner and Gov. Janet Mills. Josh even jumped onto Reddit this week to answer reader questions about the story. Take a look.
And some personnel news: Matt Junker is joining The Maine Monitor to start up a new beat covering elections and state government. Please welcome him!
— Erin
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The hospital at the center of Northern Light Health’s financial problems: The health system lost money four years in a row, and its flagship hospital
lost money two of those years, leading to difficult questions about its future. Read this story by Rose Lundy
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Maine is tightening limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water. Are communities ready?: As federal funds lapse and state grants expire, dozens of Maine schools, mobile home parks and homeowners could be left to pay for filtration alone. Read this story by Emmett Gartner
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He was detained by ICE. When he got out, he couldn’t find his car: The Maine Secretary of State paused an automatic title transfer process for a month to give immigrants time to contest car seizures. Read this story by Caitlin Andrews
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Northern Light Health’s bond rating improves to ‘stable’: The outlook revision on Thursday reflects improved financial performance. Read this story by Rose Lundy
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Matt Junker joins The Monitor as elections and government reporter: Junker has spent years writing about the policy-making and people that help shape Maine. Read this story
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February ‘radio hour’ digs into The Maine Monitor’s reporting on ICE: The show offers a behind-the-scenes look at Maine Monitor reporting. Listen to this episode
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Somerset County adopts food‑sovereignty ordinance for unorganized territories. Read this story by Judith Meyer
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Paris officials say it is too late in the budget cycle to consider alternatives to Police Department staffing. Read this story by Jon Bolduc
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Farmington Planning Board unanimously approves solar power project on Farmington Falls Road. Read this story by Ben Hanstein
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Leadership shifts and licensing debate mark Lubec Shellfish Committee’s first meeting since chair’s resignation. Read this story by Ethan Bien
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Sole resident attending Waterville City Council meeting calls for more opportunity for public input. Read this story by Charley DiAdamo
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Farmington Select Board appoints interim director to RSU 9 board. Read this story by Ben Hanstein
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Jay Select Board drafts new trash pickup plan, sets police merger referendum wording. Read this story by Bob Neal
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Beals voters elect new tax collector at annual town meeting. Read this story by Jessica Brockington
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Farm bond falters as small farms in Washington County struggle to survive. Read this story by Melissa S. Razdrih
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Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. You can also email The Monitor's editors: editors@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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