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Good morning:
We had a lot of breaking news this week, including a decision by MaineHealth to close the labor and delivery unit at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta. The decision came down despite community outcry, a lawsuit, and requests from Gov. Janet Mills and other state officials to postpone the decision.
It will be the 12th labor and delivery unit to close since 2015, and will mean fewer than half of Maine's 34 hospitals will deliver babies. The Maine Monitor has been following Maine's growing maternity care crisis for years. One of our stories — about a dangerous birth in a region of northern Maine that had just lost its obstetric services — inspired a vignette on This American Life, reported by Monitor contributor Elaine Appleton Grant, that aired last weekend.
We also saw a surprising turn in proceedings over Central Maine Power’s latest request for a rate increase, in which regulators asked the company to hand over internal documents from its multinational parent company, Iberdrola, which could offer insight into how the company estimates how much it needs to earn to cover expenses and appease investors.
And our Monitor Local reporters are following more budget woes in Washington County, where costs for the jail and sheriff's office are over budget due in large part to overtime. Deputies in the county are now working 43-hour shifts to cover more than 3,000 square miles. The overtime costs are also related to increases in the cost of medical care for people who are in jail — a statewide issue that we explored in depth in a recent series on treating addiction in Maine's jails. |
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Iberdrola must open its books as CMP seeks greater profits in ongoing rate case, Maine utility regulator says: A group representing customers is seeking to understand why Central Maine Power is requesting higher returns than its parent company Iberdrola has previously said is necessary for its U.S. holdings. Read this story by Delger Erdenesanaa |
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Prediction market users wager millions on Maine elections: There is more money wagered on the financial trading platform Kalshi for Maine’s Senate contest than in that of any other state besides Texas. Read this story by Kate Kaufman |
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‘Massive Easter egg hunt’ yields new record of puffin burrows on Eastern Egg Rock: Researchers with the Audubon Seabird Institute counted 200 active puffin burrows on the island, up from 188 in 2019. They also spotted a razorbill chick. Read this story by Derrick Z. Jackson |
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MaineHealth sued over potential closure of labor and delivery unit: The lawsuit comes after months of community opposition to a potential closure of a Damariscotta hospital’s birthing center, and follows requests from Gov. Janet Mills and other officials to delay the decision. Read this story by Megan Blonigen, Emily Bader and Abi Brissett |
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MaineHealth will close Lincoln Hospital’s labor and delivery unit in December: The hospital system’s board of trustees voted to close the Damariscotta hospital’s birthing center on Thursday. It promised no additional closures in the next two years. Read this story by Megan Blonigen |
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What are prediction markets?: How prediction markets work, their legal status and how much has been wagered on Maine races so far. Read this story by Kate Kaufman |
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Maine man who watched immigration agents puts U.S. government in crosshairs of lawsuit: This is the first lawsuit filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act against the United States for the actions of immigration agents during “Operation Catch of the Day” in January. Read this story by Kristian Moravec |
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Machiasport wins decades-long fight over a gravel road: “It’s been a whole thing in town,” Clerk Marcia Hayward said. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News |
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Ousted manager’s lawsuit pulls Washington County back into political chaos: The county’s former manager is suing the county and two commissioners, alleging defamation, sex discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Monitor and BDN |
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Overtime and repair costs are pushing Washington County departments over budget. Read this story by Judith Meyer |
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Fairfield to update 1980 waste ordinance to address PFAS and Sappi landfill license. Read this story by Judith Meyer |
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Three years after the state police left, sheriff’s deputies in Washington County are still stretched thin. Read this story by Makayla Morello |
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Jonesport voters overwhelmingly approve ordinances extending construction window for Kingfish Maine. Read this story by Jessica Brockington |
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Eastport residents fill hearings to oppose DeepGreen’s underwater AI data‑center plan. Read this story by Melissa S. Razdrih |
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Rangeley Board of Selectmen approves $10,000 housing grant, caps future meetings at two hours. Read this story by Asthon F. LeCraw |
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MSAD 58 voters to reconsider school budget in Monday referendum. Read this story by Ben Hanstein |
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Machias Select Board raises transfer station bag fees, approves resident sticker system. Read this story by Evan W. Houk |
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Hidden Circle residents purchase mobile home park in Jay. Read this story by Bob Neal |
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Waterville reviews $1.89 million plan to upgrade regional emergency communications. Read this story by Makayla Morello |
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Machias Planning Board gives OK for North Street golf simulator construction. Read this story by Evan W. Houk |
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Wilton water project wrapping up ahead of schedule. Read this story by Bob Neal |
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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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