The decision, dated Feb. 25, came just days after the administration announced its investigation and does not appear to be based on conversations with state officials.

Four years ago, state officials first investigated a ‘prohibited collective’ of medical caregivers and illegal grow houses identical to the ones later raided by police. Now, 1 in 10 Maine caregivers exhibits the hallmarks of those same operations.

The state tapped its PFAS relief fund to spend $333,000 to buy a Palermo hay field where sewage sludge was once spread as fertilizer that tested 3 times above the state's recommended level for safe dairy forage.

Taller aluminum poles and a new set of flashing crosswalk lights on Main Street will be installed Monday and Tuesday.

The requested funding would pay for additional corrections officers and an additional deputy and is expected to lower overtime costs.

Transportation accounts for nearly half of the carbon emissions in Maine and expanding electric vehicle use would help the state achieve its target of reducing greenhouse gases by 45% in 5 years.