The Maine Attorney General’s office has no formal distribution process and says it can respond “quickly and creatively” to urgent funding requests. Read more from @emilykbader.bsky.social for free below 👇 themainemonitor.org/maine-ag-off...

As the important winter #logging season begins, people are seeing the value of their timber fall, while their operating costs are increase. Environmental reporter Emmett Gartner sat down with @newscentersmaine.bsky.social to discuss how recent tariffs have impacted the logging industry in Maine.

Lewiston #Maine, city councilors voted down a proposed data center earlier this week, following concerns about potential #environmental impacts. themainemonitor.org/maine-treads...

A report card on happiness, released by the Common Good, based in New York, found that the U.S. is among the top five loneliest countries, with one in five Americans feeling lonely most or all the time. Health reporter Rose Lundy shares ways to create happiness every day.

Thanks to the 887 individuals from all over #Maine and beyond who donated to our Year-End Fundraising Drive, we have met our goal of $200K! We appreciate everyone who has shown their support this year!

On Wednesday, following a two-hour meeting of the Washington County Commission and the Budget Advisory Committee, members of the budget committee OK'd a plan to raise $11.6M through taxation for the 2026 budget. The vote was 9 to 2. The three commissioners also gave their stamp of approval.

Environmental reporter Emmett Gartner spoke with loggers, woodland owners, and representatives from the industry to hear how they are grappling with tariffs on Canadian timber. Read more on how this affects the #timber industry in #Maine at the link below. themainemonitor.org/loggers-tari...

Washington County in #Maine plans to align its budget cycle with towns to cut reliance on loans, but the change may not take effect until 2028. Read more for free at the link 👇 themainemonitor.org/dozen-towns-...

Every day, eastbound and westbound #trains meet in Jackman #Maine, forcing locals to wait for both trains to cross. With bad timing, it can take up to 30 minutes to get from one side of town to the other. Read more for free at the link 👇 themainemonitor.org/long-train-g...

In the fall, the University of #Maine released a list of 215 programs it ranked based on metrics such as enrollment, credit hours, degrees awarded and potential job growth. The goal was to rethink how it can best serve its current and future students, while addressing serious budget concerns.

We had a great time talking with readers at the Bangor Authors’ Book Fair & Literary Festival at the Bangor Public Library on Saturday! Thank you to everyone who came by to see us. If you missed us in Bangor #Maine, we hope to see you at another event soon!

A handful of maintenance employees returned to Woodland Pulp in #Maine n late November, and others started back last week. The remaining workers are expected to be back on the job by Wednesday. themainemonitor.org/woodland-pul...

As the important winter logging season begins in #Maine, people are seeing the values for their #timber fall, while their costs to operate are going up. Read more for free on how this affects the #logging industry in Maine at the link 👇 themainemonitor.org/loggers-tari...

In this week’s Climate Monitor, I wrote about what the end of the federal tax credits for heat pumps mean for Mainers.

Maine’s flagship university is undergoing a planning process that’s left some uneasy about cuts and transparency. Read more for free on how this affects the University of #Maine system from @krstnimg.bsky.social at the link below. themainemonitor.org/umaine-reenv...

Homeowners may see costs associated with installing and running a #heatpump rise in 2026, particularly as #electricity rates climb. Average electricity prices in #Maine increased at the third-highest rate over the 10 years, an analysis by The Monitor found. Read more from @juliatilton.bsky.social 👇

Property #taxes have been the subject of some of the biggest local political battles in #Maine, but have hit people far differently across the state. Read more for free on how this impacts tax payers in the state below.

Last year, at least one in 10 students was #homeschooled in more than 50 school districts, largely in central and northern #Maine. Reporter Sean Scott sits down with @newscentersmaine.bsky.social to discuss the rise in homeschool co-ops.

Join the Maine Monitor in Bangor, #Maine on Saturday, December 13th, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the Bangor Authors’ Book Fair & Literary Festival at the Bangor Public Library. Come see us at our table to talk about local #journalism! bangorauthorsfair.org

The University of #Maine recently asked all of its colleges and other divisions to shave their budgets by 7% to address an $18 million budget shortfall projected for the next fiscal year. Read more from @krstnimg.bsky.social for free at the link below. themainemonitor.org/umaine-asks-...

#Maine has the oldest electorate in the country. It’s also home to one of the highest-profile races of the 2026 midterms. Read more from our partners at @notus.com at the link below. themainemonitor.org/aging-electo...

A third Maine school district decided Tuesday to keep fighting a state #lawsuit over #transgender policies at a raucous meeting that was tinged with religious debate.

The Democratic National Committee released ads Thursday morning targeting Sen. Susan Collins over health care, its first round of Senate campaign ads this cycle. Read more for free from our DC correspondent in partnership with @notus.com. themainemonitor.org/dnc-targets-...

The number of #Maine children who are #homeschooled has jumped since the pandemic, growing from 3.6% in the 2019-20 school year to 6.4% in 2024-25, according to a Monitor analysis. Last year, at least one in 10 students was homeschooled in more than 50 school districts. Read more for free 👇

We are being challenged to get 100 new members by midnight on 12/11 and we will unlock a bonus match of $4,500 thanks to some of our members and the Newsmatch Fund! Will you make a membership gift — of any size — and help us unlock this incredible match? themainemonitor.org/donate/

Homeschooling is growing in Maine. Here’s what that looks like. from @themainemonitor.org

Communities in #Maine have had to rethink their approach as Mainers faced soaring rent and home prices over the last five years. The growing #housing crisis has put pressure on municipalities to ramp up production, but rising construction costs made building difficult since the pandemic. Read more 👇

Republican House candidate Paul LePage said he will emphasize trans-student-athlete policy in his campaign, and Sen. Susan Collins signed onto a petition related to the issue. Read more from our D.C. correspondent for free at the link below. themainemonitor.org/trans-rights...

As #abortion providers in #Maine face major funding cuts, staff from reproductive rights organizations are concerned that more women may turn to crisis #pregnancy centers, unaware of what these facilities are. Read more for free 👇👇 themainemonitor.org/reproductive...

The Department of Defense has pushed back the timeline to mitigate #PFAS at more than 100 military installations. #Maine is home to 13 active Superfund sites, several of which have languished on the list for decades. Read more for free 👇 themainemonitor.org/superfund-cu...

School boards that have bucked Maine’s legal protections for #transgender students are making quick decisions after a #Maine regulator filed a lawsuit against five of them last month. themainemonitor.org/school-board...

Around #Maine, people gather to talk about the kind of death they want for loved ones and themselves. Death cafes are not support groups but guided discussions where people can ask questions, share concerns and make plans for the future. Read more for free 👇 themainemonitor.org/death-cafes-...

The Norway #Maine select board awarded a $50K grant to @lightsoutgallery.bsky.social to support the gallery’s youth programs. @sipedan.bsky.social, co-founder of Lights Out, said the program has offered youth programs for a few years, but struggled to meet demand. themainemonitor.org/norway-town-...

Maine has long been divided between its urban south and rural north. The challenges facing rural communities are ever-growing. While #Maine saw a notable population bump during the #COVID-19 #pandemic, it did little to alter demographic trends. Read more from Daniel O'Connor for free at the link 👇

Last week for the Maine Monitor. Though federal EV tax incentives end Sept. 30, Maine’s state-level rebates remain largely unchanged. themainemonitor.org/buying-elect...

Last week I set out to understand whether recent great white shark sightings in the Gulf of Maine are connected to climate change. Turns out, the presence of the animals in northern New England waters are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Friday's story: themainemonitor.org/should-maine...

Friday for the Maine Monitor. Pumped storage hydropower could soon be coming to Maine. It would be the fourth such energy facility in New England and the first in Maine. I wrote about how the so-called "water battery" will work, and where it will go: themainemonitor.org/water-batter...

Friday for the Maine Monitor. Forest carbon credits are gaining traction in Maine, but some worry the market is inaccessible for small landowners. I wrote about one startup trying to change that by measuring trees from the sky instead of the ground. themainemonitor.org/how-does-for...

Last week for the Maine Monitor. Green crabs are an invasive species along the coast. I spoke with entrepreneurs who see an opportunity to use them for crop fertilizer and seafood dishes. themainemonitor.org/green-crab-p...

Today for the Maine Monitor. I wondered why the foliage here in Maine this year has left something to be desired. Drought has played a role. themainemonitor.org/fall-colors-...

For today's Climate Monitor, I wrote about two entrepreneurs who are using Maine seaweed as a substitute for plastic. Check it out, here: themainemonitor.org/entrepreneur...

Many towns across Washington County are set to meet in the coming weeks to vote on plans to prepay their share of the county’s outstanding 2025 debt to avoid higher taxes in 2026. Others are refusing to do so. Story courtesy of @themainemonitor.org

Energy affordability — under mounting stress chiefly from rising electricity prices — will be a litmus test for most any climate policy or spending decisions. Story courtesy of @themainemonitor.org

In the November edition of The Maine Monitor Radio Hour, Report for America corps member Daniel O’Connor discusses his reporting on the budget crisis in Washington County and the #Maine school districts that have voted to change policies around transgender students.

The #Maine State Library staff canceled an informational meeting as the system awaits legal guidance on proposed revised standards for the state’s public libraries. themainemonitor.org/library-dire...

Rose Lundy sat down with @newscentersmaine.bsky.social to discuss how the number of Medicare patients in #Maine who received buprenorphine treatment for their addiction to #opioids increased about 70% between 2019 and 2023. Read the full report for free below. themainemonitor.org/more-of-main...

This #GivingNewsDay, we are working to raise $10K to support our nonprofit, independent news. Right now, every dollar you give to The Maine Monitor will be TRIPLED thanks to challenge grants from the Barr Foundation and NewsMatch! Donate now at the link below. themainemonitor.org/donate/

Many towns across Washington County in #Maine are set to meet in the coming weeks to vote on plans to prepay their share of the county’s outstanding 2025 debt to avoid higher taxes in 2026. Others are refusing to do so. themainemonitor.org/time-running...

ICYMI: The #Maine Library Commission voted unanimously to postpone its vote to adopt a new agreement that would force the state’s smallest libraries to hire directors and expand their hours if they want to continue to access the state’s inter-library loan service.

The number of #Medicare patients in #Maine who received buprenorphine treatment for their addiction to #opioids increased about 70% between 2019 and 2023, a Maine Monitor analysis shows for the first time. themainemonitor.org/more-of-main...