Thursday’s vote cut $6.6 million from the original proposed budget, ending a contentious month of budget deliberations.
Ethan Horton
Staff Writer
Ethan covers local politics and the environment for the Kennebec Journal, and he runs the weekly Kennebec Beat newsletter. He joined the KJ in 2024 shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in journalism and political science and was an editor for The Daily Tar Heel. For better or worse, Ethan always wanted to live in Maine.
Posted inCommunity
Augusta police search for missing girl, 14
Diojanae Baker was reported missing after she left her Augusta home April 30, police said.
advertisement
Posted inCommunity, News
St. Albans woman charged with arson, domestic violence assault stemming from April fire
Lisa Hall, 61, was taken Tuesday to Penobscot County Jail, where she is being held on $10,000 bail.
Posted inCommunity, News, Schools and Education
‘Corn Pop’ free speech court case prompts review of Augusta schools public comment policy
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann has prohibited the Augusta Board of Education from enforcing parts of a policy that she deemed likely violate the First Amendment.
Posted inCommunity, News
Augusta’s airport could get new 30-seat commercial flights. Here’s how.
Cape Air’s contract with the state airport runs out this year, and 2 airlines are competing to replace them — including one that hopes to bring bigger passenger jets and a further destination.
Posted inCommunity
After nearly 60 years, Augusta’s Colonial Theater renovations move forward
The historic theater hosted its first ticketed event in more than 50 years back in 2022, and new renovations and additions to the building aim to bring it back to the center of downtown Augusta life.
Posted inCommunity, Schools and Education
Cony students walk out to protest $3M cuts for Augusta schools
A majority of the Augusta City Council agreed Tuesday to cut more than $3 million from the school department’s proposed budget, forcing the potential elimination of 20 positions, including teachers and education technicians.
Posted inCommunity
Augusta advances $6.6M in budget cuts, gutting city and school services
The cuts to the proposed budget were necessary, a majority of councilors said, to minimize the impact of an ongoing property revaluation on the city’s aging and economically disadvantaged population.
Posted inCommunity
State seeks court approval to medicate Sidney woman accused of killing son
Megan McDonald, who has failed 4 competency evaluations to stand trial, is hospitalized at Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Institute in Bangor.
Posted inCommunity
Manchester fire chief ousted after 15 months over direction of agency
Stephen Caswell also resigned his position as Richmond’s part-time fire chief Feb. 19.