A lot of stories came from public records: whether via sources, long delayed FOAA requests, or just asking for docs I knew existed. I broke the news that a multi-million dollar opioid effort had helped just 5 uninsured Mainers last year.https://www.apnews.com/6800ef5c0ea14bee8c39a5c4d56d06ef …
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I found six lobbyists who described a culture of unwanted touching, lewd comments and suggestive looks at the Maine State House.https://bangordailynews.com/2018/02/27/politics/maine-lobbyist-calls-out-sexual-misconduct-at-statehouse/ …
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Here I contributed to
@AP's#NotRealNews effort. Maine lawmakers did NOT vote to allow female genital mutilation, despite fake news thingamajigs claiming otherwise.https://apnews.com/a3f7fab597724dd4bbe32de03cc8f753 …Show this thread -
SO much happened this year with Medicaid expansion, which LePage blocked. I broke the news that LePage was suggesting that Maine pay for expansion with a hospital tax... months after telling lawmakers not to raise taxes.https://www.apnews.com/fba00d7e6d424eb4a41122d9c498669d …
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Very grateful for clerks who gracefully handled my never-ending requests for filings in a year of many newsy lawsuits. I found court docs showing LePage's admin was ignoring his exec order to halt new wind turbine projects.https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine/articles/2018-07-13/governors-push-against-wind-permits-gets-day-in-court …
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Efforts to unite and fund independent lawmakers got pushback from politicians critical of influence of any kind. My story also revealed a loophole in Maine law that allowed a political nonprofit to fund a legislative intern for an independent.https://apnews.com/7ce5cf60eb7a42c980b3b216dd9fc7e3 …
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A company fought my request for government records concerning a secretive privately run psychiatric home that LePage has moved forward on without legislative approval.https://bangordailynews.com/2018/08/13/politics/company-fights-to-keep-details-of-bangor-psychiatric-home-a-secret/ …
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I kept tabs on LePage's legal costs: well over $500K. AG (and gov-elect) Janet Mills has at times declined to represent LePage in court if she decided it wasn't in the public interest.https://www.apnews.com/231e2c4ab6874c0db0cdc5f5b06f9a98 …
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LePage stormed out of a committee meeting and ripped up a letter from lawmakers demanding an apology. I got a copy of the letter.https://www.pressherald.com/2018/09/12/lepage-says-he-wont-apologize-to-lawmaker-until-he-gets-an-apology-first/ …
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I worked with
@David_Sharp_AP on a story that confirmed the governor's LifeFlight helicopter ride.https://www.apnews.com/444e6ccd37e64189a2793bac2d48202a …Show this thread -
I looked at how states were paying for their share of Medicaid expansion costs as federal funding declined. Most states just use general funds.https://www.apnews.com/bc5e4a5990d5487d8a1c18baa6934903 …
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I broke the news that federal regulators said no to LePage's attempt to punish Maine job-training groups. He says too much money goes to overhead costs, even though federal law already limits such spending.https://apnews.com/883f115c6f564cca91306fb4a6d17961 …
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LePage halted the flow of money for AG Mills' office over his concerns about her legal bills. He told me he needed to know her office was "actually working for the state."https://apnews.com/1df14e2bbc0e450cad0e3b11fbbcf3e3 …
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The race for governor and Maine's 2nd CD was a big story this year. I delved into campaign finance reports for many stories, including this look at dark money fueling campaign adshttps://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine/articles/2018-11-04/dark-money-boosting-ads-to-mainers-ahead-of-election …
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Maine became the first state to allow voters to rank congressional candidates. I made my first national TV appearance (trying) to make sense of many twists, many turns in the fall-out.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N23Lzxnalyo …
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Mainers elected a record number of women this year, including first female governor Janet Mills. Democrats in the state got a lot of help ($$$) from national liberal groups, and outspent Republicans, particularly in races where female Dems won.http://www.dailyjournal.net/2018/12/03/me-election-2018-maine-female-lawmakers/ …
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Lastly, in past weeks, I've interviewed dozens of observers about the impact LePage had on Maine. He made good on campaign promises, but critics say he stigmatized poor/minorities while doing so.https://www.apnews.com/a1700cf8cb83417f8388c19595c0d26e …
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And as LePage's term ends Wednesday, his office told me the administration intends to fulfill all pending records requests before he leaves. Those waiting months for records are skeptical.https://www.apnews.com/5e687dbf751c451e89a69490c0353794 …
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SO grateful for my dream job
@AP, & colleagues who inspire me to hold powerful to account. Many thanks to the Maine dream team:@David_Sharp_AP@pxwhittle, for being so excellent, supportive & hilarious. It was an incredibly tough year personally, but I made it!! Here we go 2019.Show this thread
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