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.
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The company cited the exchange rate, transportation costs, and tariffs as the drivers of the decision. -
In May, Houlton Regional Hospital will close its obstetrics unit. It's the fourth hospital this year close its labor and delivery services, and follows several others over the past decade — from York to Fort Kent. -
Maine's first recovery high school for teens with substance abuse disorder is scheduled to open in Fort Kent in 2026. -
Maine's highest court has struck down an appeal by two coastal conservation groups who challenged the state permits for Kingfish Maine to build an aquaculture facility in Jonesport. -
The planned revamp of the former Androscoggin paper mill is facing uncertainty because of rising costs from tariffs. -
Roughly 200 nurses, parents, and community members packed a town hall meeting in Houlton Wednesday night to urge Houlton Regional Hospital to reverse its decision to close the labor and delivery unit next month. -
In a social media post, hospital officials said like many rural hospitals, Houlton has seen a declining number of births.
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The New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association has drawn over $1.1 million from a group connected to Leonard Leo, an influential conservative activist. Now it's setting out to raise money from the coastal communities it says it's helping. -
Maine officials said it's business as usual for the remaining weeks of the home heating season, but it's unclear whether staffing cuts at the federal office that administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program mean that its future is in jeopardy. -
Legislators on the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee heard public testimony today on a bill that would ban coyote killing contests.
