A new nonpartisan report finds significant shortcomings in Maine’s treatment of its mentally ill, despite a 27-year-old court-ordered decree.
Lance Tapley
Lance Tapley, of Augusta, is a veteran investigative reporter and a co-author of “The United States and Torture: Interrogation, Incarceration, and Abuse,” published by New York University Press.
LATEST ARTICLES
Advocates: Inadequate funding undercuts consent decree’s potential for mental health care
Advocates believe Maine’s refusal to appropriate enough money to meet a court decree is at the root of many problems in the mental health care system.
‘Lack of will’, potential conflicts of interest plague comprehensive mental health solution
Critics say a comprehensive mental health solution for Maine’s mentally ill has not been found, though drug courts and other innovative ideas show promise.
Maine’s future with Irving
If the giant, ever-growing Irving corporations were to have a larger presence in Maine, what effects might there be on Mainers’ daily life?
Irving lost mining battle, but history says Canadian corporate giant will not give up
Irving corporate presence in Maine and New Brunswick and the Irving-family domination and its growing economic and political influence in Maine.
New Brunswick, Irving company province
Several books and a Canadian-government report have noted the Irving family business’ power over the province of New Brunswick is probably unparalleled in the developed world. I spent a number of days in the province, getting an unusual tour of the Irving refinery, and talking with both critics and supporters of Irving’s influence in the province.
Irving: No more ‘oil trains’ in Maine
Irving Oil has stopped and has no plan to resume shipping oil to its Canadian refinery via Maine rail lines. The decision was made earlier this year and confirmed recently in an email to the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting.
Key legislator promoting Irving mining proposal took unreported free flight from firm’s lobbyists
Sen. Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton, accepted a free private plane ride to Aroostook from Irving’s lobbyists and didn’t report it to the state ethics commission.
Irving lowers Rep. Martin’s bankruptcy debt by $150k and Martin pushes another Irving firm’s mining interests
An Irving family company agreed to reduce by $150,000 the debt Rep. John Martin, a leading Democratic legislator, owed to the company.
State OKs doubling pollution at Old Town pulp mill
DEP to grant most of Old Town Fuel & Fiber pulp mill’s request to increase its permitted carbon monoxide emissions.
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