How Maine making school meals free last year allowed districts to move away from what experts have called a flawed poverty metric: the free and reduced meal form. themainemonitor.org/free-lunch-pov… via The Maine Monitor

Maine Monitor education reporter Eesha Pendharkar took a look at three education bills from Maine's 131st Legislature in our legislative wrap-up. Read her recaps: themainemonitor.org/legislative-ro…

Important discussion on my staffing shortage impact story from this weekend

Started a new job at the Maine Morning Star (part of the national nonprofit, News from the States || bsky @statesnewsroom.com) today! I’ll still be covering education in addition to state politics so send me your tips, recommendations and burning questions.

A new report by the Maine Center for Economic Policy examines the gap between care needed and what’s available for seniors as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Maine. mainemorningstar.com/2024/06/18/mai…

My first story for the Maine Morning Star examines what is in store for trans rights in Maine schools, following a midcoast district’s reversal of explicit protections for trans students. mainemorningstar.com/2024/06/25/wha… via Maine Morning Star || bsky @@mainemorningstar.com & News from the States || bsky @statesnewsroom.com

Citing stakes of election, Maine’s Democratic delegates defend support for Biden Here's what they had to say & what the pledged delegate system means for what could come, with Eesha Pendharkar: #mepolitics mainemorningstar.com/2024/07/10/cit…

Why Maine is struggling to expand access to summer meal programs while being one of the best states in terms of student participation in summer meals:

As hundreds of people, both in and out of jail, wait for legal representation, the ACLU of Maine was given the green light to sue the state for chronically failing to provide access to public defenders. Check out this timeline of the legal battle. mainemorningstar.com/2024/08/15/acl…

How Maine’s public universities reversed years of declining enrollment this fall: mainemorningstar.com/2024/08/27/how…

We’re officially a year old! Even being relatively new, I’m very proud to be part of this team of some of the smartest journalists I’ve met, and grateful to bring Maine’s stories to News from the States || bsky @statesnewsroom.com. Now would be a great time to subscribe 👀 mainemorningstar.com/2024/09/19/one…

Maine funded its first peer-led harm reduction community center, to be operated by a Lewiston nonprofit:

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How enrollment declines are tied to low academic performance in schools across the country, and how that affects Maine schools:

In Maine! ‘State’s first peer-led harm reduction community center opens in Lewiston’ Designed for a safe space, The Sanctuary looking to give respect and autonomy. mainemorningstar.com/2024/09/27/lew… By Eesha Pendharkar

Over 140 Maine schools participated in mock election that went handily to Trump, Eesha Pendharkar reports. mainemorningstar.com/2024/10/30/ove… via @mainemorninstar #Election2024

In a key U.S. House race still declared too close to call, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden gave a victory speech Wednesday, though his opponent said he is not yet ready to throw in the towel. mainemorningstar.com/2024/11/06/mai…

In the tension between cities and states on who should govern syringe service programs, the people they serve pay the price. First long enterprise project for News from the States || bsky @statesnewsroom.com Maine Morning Star || bsky @@mainemorningstar.com! mainemorningstar.com/2024/11/25/nee…