Politics
Temporary public defense director selected amid major reform, barebone budget
On the same day the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services selected a new interim director, Gov. Janet Mills’ $8.4 billion budget excluded funds for public defense reforms that lawmakers say are needed.
Maine’s public defense agency acknowledges it didn’t enforce rules on attorney qualifications
The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services is nearing a vote on a sweeping overhaul of requirements for attorneys who represent the poor. Members were stunned to learn existing rules for protective custody cases have not been enforced for nearly a decade.
State budget to take center stage during 2021 legislative session
GOP to look for ways to reassert legislative power while Democrats eye health care and climate change.
Courthouse statue has Kennebec County officials searching for an answer
Melville Fuller, a Maine native, rose to become chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, but an 1896 decision leaves some wondering whether honoring him on courthouse grounds is proper.
Building a renewable future poses daunting task for Maine
To achieve the legislated goal of decarbonizing Maine by 2050, the state must dramatically expand renewable power generation and transmission. Overcoming negative public opinion in the wake of the Hydro-Quebec corridor debate is just one obstacle in the way.
Coronavirus in Maine: Timeline
Trace key events in the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Maine — and how officials are responding — using this interactive, multimedia timeline.
How record sums of money have shaped Maine’s 2020 elections
The Maine Monitor investigated campaign finance trends in this year’s state and federal races. Here are our top findings.
The political origins of Dale Crafts in Maine’s battle against LGBTQ rights
Dale Crafts, center, running against incumbent Democrat Jared Golden in the 2nd District, believes further protections for LGBTQ people are not needed and a federal law would be offering special rights.
CMP, Avangrid spent dark money to drum up support for controversial power corridor on top of record-breaking $11.3M public campaign
A lawyer for the dark money conduit, Mainers for Clean Energy Jobs, said the financial ties between it and the utility would have been disclosed by Sept. 7 under new ethics guidelines. But now that the referendum is off the ballot, the extent of those connections will go unreported.
Legislative committee passes bill helping convicted people introduce new evidence, but arguments persist on both sides
The bill, which heads to the full legislature, would eliminate a time limit for prisoners to present new evidence, but some say that would burden courts and mean cases never would be final.
