Articles – 2013

Bill seeks to avoid conflicts that paralyzed Maine PUC; all three commissioners had ties to Nestle Waters before hearing their case; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 31 December 2013, p. A1

Lawmakers plan to keep close watch on Maine DEP; they’ll work to tighten oversight of the department after the Press Herald uncovered failures, but don’t expect to investigate its commissioner; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 26 December 2013, p. A1

Conservative think tank: turn Maine’s poorest county into tax-free zone;  Maine Heritage Policy Center says taxes are a major hurdle to growth – but locals say that’s out of step with homegrown efforts; The Guardian (U.S.), WORLD, 5 
December 2013, EASTPORT, MAINE

Washington County residents have mixed reactions to plan to eliminate taxes; Maine’s poorest county has struggled for years, and some wonder whether the FreeME proposal from the Maine Heritage Policy Center is the answer to 
overcoming poverty and boosting population; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 5 December 2013, EASTPORT, MAINE, p. A1

Virginia’s gubernatorial race: debunking the “urban vs rural” explanation; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 18 November 2013.

New Jersey: Regional Divide Reflected Even in Christie’s Landslide; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 8 November 2013.

Virginia: Two Regional Cultures, Stark Differences in Gubernatorial Voting; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 6 November 2013.

Probe continues into tribe’s ex-finance director; Passamaquoddy ex-official had hidden past; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 6 November 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Violence is a Regional Issue; indices, policy positions vary widely by region; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 1 November 2013.

Maine legislators try to end missed dam deadlines; A bill would tighten oversight of the DEP when it comes to dam relicensing to keep the state from losing its say on water levels; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE; 1 November 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Nassau, mer patrie de la piraterie; the founding of the Golden Age pirate republic (in French); Historia,  (Paris), October 2013 Hors-serie

Up in Arms; the regional origins of American violence, the gun policy debate, and more; Tufts Magazine, COVER STORY, Fall 2103, pp. 17-22.

New York, Delaware oppose Maine plan to loosen smog rules; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 22October 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Regional Differences Have Doomed the Tea Party; Outside the Deep South, Appalachia and interior West, the Tea Party is over; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 15 October 2013.

Maine PUC chairman drops out of Poland Spring water case; His recusal effectively halts review of a controversial contract between Nestle Waters and Fryeburg Water Co.; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 15 October 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

DEP dam relicensing effort in disarray, records show; Maine nearly missed fourth dam deadline; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE; 13 October 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Maine tribe fires finance director with embezzlement record; The Passamaquoddy check the books for irregularities and say the new hire misled them on his past and identity; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 3 October 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Maine PUC chief won’t recuse himself in water case…yet; update on Nestle Waters case in Fryeburg, Maine; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 20 September 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Vaccine from Maine firm can’t be used to make bioweapon, expert says; The question of how the virus sent to Syria in 2001 can be used arose after a New York Times allegation; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 20 September 2013, 
PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Did Maine firm seed a Syrian bioweapon?; The company shipped a vaccine in violation of a federal export ban, and several former executives were sentenced to prison, but Maine Biological Laboratories denies its action led to a chemical weapon; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE;10 September 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Tablets invade Maine laptop program; Sixty percent of students will use iPads this year, a major evolution after the state let schools choose from a list of technology options; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 4 September 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Speedy rollout eases LePage delay impact; schools get computers in time despite contract delays; Portland Press Herald, NATION; 4 September 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A8

For regulators and Nestle Waters, conflict by the gallon; All three PUC commissioners and Maine’s public advocate have ties to Poland Spring’s parent company, which is seeking a 25-year contract; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 1 September 2013, FRYEBURG, MAINE, p. A1

More dam relicensing slips past Maine’s DEP; the agency misses deadlines and loses its say on five water-control projects, but says the impact will be ‘zero.’; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 27 August 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

A Word with the Boss: Numbers man is trying to make health costs add up; MaineHealth CEO Bill Caron hopes to keep the baby boomer ‘tsunami’ from breaking the bank; Portland Press Herald, BUSINESS; 15 August 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. C1

Warrior kings; A review of ‘The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England’ by Dan Jones; Washington Post; OUTLOOK; 4 August 2013

Easing of Maine smog rules backed by paper mills; Their lobbyist agrees with a Maine DEP proposal, saying the law has no ‘environmental justification.’; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 1 August 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

DEP calls for weakening of Maine smog regulations; Critics say the changes would remove Maine from a regional effort to control cross-border pollution; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 30 July 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Boothbay region ‘full of fear’ as hospital closing looms; MaineHealth officials call it the best path forward, but a community with many older residents worries about having no ER nearby; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 28 July 2013, SOUTHPORT, MAINE, p. A1

Request for probe of Maine DEP on hold; A legislator says he needs to refine the goals of any review, which he’s seeking in reaction to a Press Herald investigation; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 25 July 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B1

Getting rid of old paint to be easier in Maine; Gov. LePage lets the industry-backed recycling bill become law despite his opposition to a new fee; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 3 July 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B1

Alewives spawn optimism; Supporters expect noticeable benefits from the return of the species to the St. Croix River above Grand Falls Dam; Maine Sunday Telegram, STATE & LOCAL; 30 June 2013, BAILEYVILLE, MAINE, p. B1

A cross-border marathon has Down East looking up; Inaugural Bay of Fundy International Marathon has drawn a larger than expected field of 800 runners to Lubec and Campobello; Maine Sunday Telegram, NEWS; 23 June 2013, LUBEC, 
MAINE, p. A1

Maine leaders try and fail to dilute recycling’s success; ‘Product stewardship’ regulations – even those with industry and bipartisan support – meet staunch resistance from, among others, a commissioner with former ties to corporate 
interests; Portland Press Herald, SPECIAL REPORT: LOBBYIST IN THE HENHOUSE 18 June 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Efforts to reduce risks to kids run into a powerful foe;  Overseen by a former chemical industry lobbyist, Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection resists regulations on substances that may be harmful to children and fetuses; Portland Press Herald, SPECIAL REPORT: LOBBYIST IN THE HENHOUSE 17 June 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

The lobbyist in the henhouse: Whose interests is Maine’s DEP commissioner serving? For two years, public servant Patricia Aho has overseen Maine’s environmental protection. But whom does she really serve? A seven-month 
investigation by the Telegram points to her former corporate clients. Part 1 of a 3-day series; Maine Sunday Telegram, SPECIAL REPORT: LOBBYIST IN THE HENHOUSE 16 June 2013, EUSTIS, MAINE, p. A1

Sources describe a department under duress; Scrutiny intensifies, transparency falters, and there’s new pressure, DEP insiders say, to tell ‘one side of the story: the client’s side.’; Maine Sunday Telegram, SPECIAL REPORT: LOBBYIST IN THE HENHOUSE 16 June 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A4

‘They’re just not doing enforcement’; Whatever the cause, the stark decline in violations against commercial-scale developers and landowners under DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho likely pleases the real estate group that once hired her as a lobbyist; Maine Sunday Telegram, SPECIAL REPORT: LOBBYIST IN THE HENHOUSE 16 June 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A6

When moderation heads for the exits; Review of Olympia Snowe’s “Fighting for Common Ground”; Washington Post; OUTLOOK; 9 June 2013, p. B6

LePage looked at ending Maine school laptop program; He doubted its value to schools but was persuaded to let it continue, the Press Herald learns from emails as districts deal with related headaches; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 29 May 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

In Maine, push for virtual schools fades; After negative publicity, a task force’s preliminary report omits key digital learning reforms championed by Gov. LePage and Jeb Bush; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 16 May 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

LePage administration opposes paint recycling bill backed by industry, environmentalists; governor has opposed product stewardship in past; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 2 May 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Maine laptop choice leaves schools relived, confused; governor’s choice leaves key questions about pricing unanswered; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 30 April 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Laptop delay stalls Maine school plans; governor’s office weeks behind on deciding new contractor for 1:1 laptops in schools program; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 25 April 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Flaws found at online education provider wooing Maine; K12 Inc dinged in Florida investigators’ draft report; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 24 April 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Maine CDC official: I was harassed for not shredding documents; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 4 April 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Maine alewives begin legislative run; bill to let fish back into St. Croix River unanimously endorsed by legislative committee; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 1 April 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Alewives’ passage in St. Croix hinges on bills in Augusta; alewife opponents outgunned at Maine legislative hearing; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 25 March 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

LePage conference touts “school choice”, but not all are convinced; Maine governor’s education forum highlights Jeb Bush’s “Florida model”; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 23 March 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Is Maine ready for climate change effects?; LePage administration killed development of statewide strategy; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 17 March 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Questioned for conflict, Jeb Bush linked firm ends lobbying; A Florida foundation tied to lobbyists has influenced Gov. Paul LePage’s education agenda; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 12 March 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B6

State official: laptop official’s handling of documents violated state policy; Maine’s public access advocate says Jeff Mao’s ‘credibility has suffered’ over failure to back up documents on state networks; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 10 March 2013, AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. A1

Jeb Bush’s “Florida model” to be showcased at LePage’s education conference; Maine governor to gives Florida commissioner, Foundation for Excellence in Education officials center stage; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 8 March 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Proposed charter school linked to Turkish imam; the Gulen movement’s activities in Maine; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 17 February 2013, p. A1

Rival measures would restore alewives to the St. Croix River; Maine Sunday Telegram, STATE & LOCAL, 17 February 2013, p. B1

A strident smackdown of Christopher Hitchens; review of Richard Seymour’s “Unhitched: The Trial of Christopher Hitchens”; Washington Post; OUTLOOK; 10 February 2013, p. B6

Expansion of passenger rail in Maine faces slow track; Taking Amtrak beyond Brunswick hinges on crucial projects and powers of persuasion; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 4 February 2013, BRUNSWICK, MAINE, p. A1

Democrats take aim at virtual charter schools; bills would impose temporary or permanent bans on the controversial institutions in Maine; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 29 January 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

New rules could hurt Maine’s drug takeback programs; proposed DEA, Maine DEP rules changes may undercut environmental, health care savings benefits; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 27 January 2013, p. A1

Dixie’s Enemy Within; How the ideology of white supremacy undermined the South’s own war effort; Washington Monthly, FEATURES, January/February 2013

Operator of Web charter schools gets a bad grade; K12 Inc.’s Colorado Virtual Academy in trouble; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 18 January 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Virtual charter school denials draw more fire; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 11 January 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1

Augusta panel rejects 4 of 5 charter schools; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 9 January 2013, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1