This week I wanted to lead off with something that happened late last week. Our Statehouse Bureau Chief Steve Mistler dug into a bit of action by the Maine Ethics Commission - it involved the commission going into executive session, which they are allowed to do, but it also removes public oversight when this happens. Check out Steve’s piece below to get the details. What a great moment to highlight the value of statehouse and government coverage that our journalists provide.
I am also fascinated by the return to work conversation that is ongoing…we pulled a piece from PBS NewsHour that says things can’t go back to the way they were.
Finally, if you’ve spent time outdoors in Maine, you know trees are being hit by brown tail moth caterpillars. Well it’s happening in Vermont, too...with a different caterpillar species.
Keep cool,
Mark
Mark Simpson, News Director
Maine Public: Deep Sea Corals Off Coastal Maine Get Protection
Fisheries regulators in the Northeast are putting some 25,000 square miles of seafloor off-limits to some types of commercial fishing, in an effort to protect sensitive deep-sea corals.
This might be a good time to kick back and start reading our next All Books Considered Book Club selection: The Exiles by Christine Baker Kline. It’s a wonderful read and it was a finalist in the 2021 Maine Literary Awards. This book club event will take place on Thursday, July 29 at 7:00 pm and will be hosted by Cindy Han. Not a book club member yet? Sign up today!