Independent Rick Bennett, Republican Bobby Charles and Democrat Hannah Pingree all called for increased Medicaid reimbursements for providers, intensifying efforts to recruit new providers to the state and incentivizing established providers to remain.

Bobby Charles claims he has released his personal financial disclosure amid his campaign to be Maine’s next governor. In reality, his campaign has declined to provide the same level of information typically included in a financial disclosure statement.

The three candidates for governor all lamented the decline of standardized test scores among Maine children but shared differing ideas for how the state government should respond, in interviews with The Maine Monitor.

Democrat Hannah Pingree promised to continue Maine’s efforts to invest in building affordable housing; Republican Bobby Charles said he is eyeing property tax cuts; and independent Rick Bennett vowed to help homebuyers directly.

Election Day is just about a month away, and early voting started today, Monday, Oct. 5. As this process gets underway, The Maine Monitor is launching its 2026 Maine Voter Guide, where you can find everything you need to know to make an informed decision at the ballot box.

“This is one of the largest changes in the criminal-legal system in 30 years,” said Dr. Courtney Pladsen, the MaineCare medical director.

Six nurses in the emergency department at Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent have resigned, straining emergency care for patients. The hospital also eliminated the position responsible for checking patients in at night, prompting safety concerns.

One woman said she now eats just a single daily meal. Others are traveling farther each week to different stores to save money.

When asked for their thoughts about what the next governor of Maine should prioritize, Common Ground Fair attendees identified a wide range of issues, which they wrote down on sticky notes displayed at The Monitor booth.

The former Loring Air Force Base is now an industrial park overseen by a public municipal corporation created to redevelop the land and provide services to tenants. Recent lawsuits follow previous concerns about the properties.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved two more blood tests to identify signs of Alzheimer’s disease. They have the potential to help patients and their families get to a diagnosis sooner — and also come with important caveats.

Wendy Little Bear is one of about 100 survivors of sexual abuse, including roughly 10 members of the Wabanaki Nations, who reached a recent multimillion-dollar settlement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. This is her story:

At the height of the pandemic, hospitals in Maine spent $560 million on contract staffing. This year, that number dropped to $214 million.

Two federal agents who allegedly violated a Maine man’s constitutional rights by threatening him for observing their work during a January immigration enforcement surge were identified for the first time in a new court filing on Wednesday.

Seal Island saw a record 127 razorbill nests, while Eastern Egg Rock saw a record 213 puffin burrows.

The last barrier on the Narraguagus River just came down, opening up the way for salmon. But there is no guarantee they will come back in greater numbers given other challenges.