For the past month or so, I've been buried in Google Sheets trying to understand how Maine students doing worse on tests. What I found: some of Maine's most vulnerable students are falling the fastest. Read my analysis here: https://themainemonitor.org/these-students-are-sinking-to-the-bottom/

Here I am, back on Bluesky, to give you a story about some education bills. What must be done to address a teacher shortage? Lawmakers pitched a couple ideas this session. Read more for free (no paywall!) below

New job, new office (plus taxidermy)

It’s the last day for me with the Times Record. It’s bittersweet, but I’m very excited for what’s next! I’ll be moving on to cover education and workforce at The Maine Monitor. Left is a photo from my first day in March 2024. The right is from my final office visit this morning. The year flew by!

A local organization tested sewer pits near a Brunswick hangar back in November. Here are the results:

4.1 magnitude earthquake felt across southern Maine

No, you didn't imagine it - it was an earthquake!

Fish samples from weeks after the spill show high levels of PFOS

In case you missed it, the DEP uploaded its latest PFAS sampling results on Friday:

“I believe that we may, this far north, sometimes live in a world of denial that ‘that’s not going to happen to me.’” Brunswick’s Ben Cameron of Harbor Digital breaks down why and how Midcoasters should safeguard their information.

When you've never had a true "home match" before, might as well make the most of it. www.pressherald.com/2025/01/16/b...

Come next fall, the Brunswick football team will have its fourth head coach in the last five years. www.pressherald.com/2025/01/15/b...

A Brunswick agency now says that there are actually 5,700 gallons of toxic foam (AFFF) at its airport - a decrease from an earlier report submitted in the wake of a toxic foam spill. Read more below:

An updated inventory report for Brunswick Airport’s AFFF - the type of foam concentrate that spilled back in August - is now available on the Town’s website — Brunswickme.gov

I realized this company was Chicagoland-based one day before a personal trip to Illinois. What are the odds? I called to squeeze in a meeting. Here’s the story that came from my side quest:

Reset for the week ☀️

In case anyone’s looking for a feel good story to start their weekend, read about how the Brunswick community stepped up for this local bottle collector

Changes are on the horizon for a large swath of land in Brunswick. This Saturday, residents get to weigh in on the property’s use plan before it goes to Town Council.