As a part of its strategic efforts in local journalism, Maine Public presents a year-long series of news reports on Maine Public Radio and digitally that highlight the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of life in today’s rural and western Maine.
Reporting on rural and western Maine is decreasing. Most local media outlets have diminished in size, capacity, and reach, to only cover the higher profile stories from Augusta, Portland, Lewiston and Bangor. This shrinking level of coverage widens the gap in what listeners, viewers, and readers know about their fellow Mainers. And the need to connect with our neighbors and understand people everywhere in our state is entirely evident now, more than ever.
This series will showcase the best that rural Maine has to offer, while also featuring the stories that show how these communities have challenges unique to each.
-
As parents in Maine and across the country struggle to find and keep childcare, those challenges are amplified in rural areas like Aroostook county, where its particularly hard to hire and retain staff, and keep fees affordable for parents, all in a time of significant inflation.
-
Some residents may be unable to vote in March primaries after unintentionally changing their party enrollment.
-
Along the eastern shore of Moosehead Lake, Scammon Ridge is a highly visible, scenic property that Greenville residents like to explore, hike and hunt. It contains Prong Pond, a popular fishing hole for area children.
-
Emergency Management Agency officials estimate $5.7 million in damage to public roads, bridges and buildings from the storm. Much of that is spread across the county, although Rumford was one of the worst hit areas.
-
The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Thursday terminated its deal with LS Power, which had won a contract to build a billion-dollar powerline from southern Aroostook County to central Maine.
-
Partner Tony McDonald said the company plans to demolish about 900,000 square feet of buildings on the site, while retaining the remaining 475,000 square feet.
-
The Mills administration announced $3.5 million in funding Monday to expand substance use disorder treatment programs in Kennebec and Washington counties.
-
While the state's Latino population is still one of the smallest in the country, it's increased by roughly 75% since 2010.
-
The board of the Island Nursing Home on Deer Isle says it will turn the facility into affordable housing for seniors.
-
Newly released documents from the Maine Ethics Commission show that energy giant NextEra secretly financed two groups working to defeat a transmission project through western Maine between 2018 and 2019