Category Archives: Government

How we pieced together a lobbying puzzle

Maine’s working to update how it presents campaign finance and lobbying reports, an acknowledgment that moving government transparency online is a long and ongoing process. I took a closer look at ways of presenting that information in a story today, finding a different perspective on the lawmaking process in 2015. It’s an important part. The disclosed amount paid to communicate […]

Pike’s peak: Toll data signals better Maine tourism season

If you’ve felt the Maine Turnpike is more crowded than last year, it’s not just you. Traffic through the first two weekends of busiest August was up about 1.6 percent and passenger traffic (cars, motorcycles and buses with fewer than 13 passengers) was up more than 5 percent from January-July. The latest figures are one sign that Maine’s tourism season […]

Maine gets ranked 42nd in fiscal health

Analysis by a research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University has placed Maine 42nd in the state for fiscal health, due largely to its poor ranking for short-term insolvency. The overall ranking is based on 2013 audited financial reports for the states, assessing their ability to pay short-term and long-term obligations. Maine ranked 50th for cash-on-hand based on […]

Maine exports to China, Japan have declined over past two years

A trade delegation from Maine will head to China and Japan later this year, hoping to bolster trade where it has been on the decline in recent years. The drop in 2014 was due mostly to declines in paper-related exports, like wood pulp. That’s appeared to turn around so far in the first two months of 2015 […]