A new nonpartisan report finds significant shortcomings in Maine’s treatment of its mentally ill, despite a 27-year-old court-ordered decree.

A new nonpartisan report finds significant shortcomings in Maine’s treatment of its mentally ill, despite a 27-year-old court-ordered decree.
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.
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.
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 corporate presence in Maine and New Brunswick and the Irving-family domination and its growing economic and political influence in Maine.
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 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.
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.
An Irving family company agreed to reduce by $150,000 the debt Rep. John Martin, a leading Democratic legislator, owed to the company.
DEP to grant most of Old Town Fuel & Fiber pulp mill’s request to increase its permitted carbon monoxide emissions.
Many of our stories, including some by this author, have been based on tips from readers.
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