A version of this story first appeared in the Morning Update newsletter. Sign up here to receive the Morning Update and other BDN newsletters directly in your inbox.
Yes, it’s Monday again. So before you put what’s left of your nose back against that grindstone, here’s a preview of this week’s weather and the Big Story we’re talking about today.
We have another beautiful week ahead in Maine, with temperatures peaking in the 80s but slowly getting lower into the weekend, giving us all a much-needed break from the heat. Overnight rainstorms later may take the edge off the humidity.
All in all, it looks to be a classic August week — enjoy it while it lasts.
A local Maine politician rose to power despite sex abuse allegations that won’t go away
Local governments rarely get the robust scrutiny seen in the larger political world, which can leave all but the most engaged citizens in the dark about their town representatives and local controversies. When Lincoln Town Councilor David Ireland drew outrage from community members after proposing deep budget cuts, BDN reporter Daniel O’Connor heard more than just anger at his policies. He heard talk of sexual assault allegations that have followed Ireland through the decades.
Allegations of sexual assault have surrounded Ireland since before he was elected to the Town Council last year. Covering serious allegations like these required countless difficult conversations and weeks of robust reporting, editing and fact-checking. Those allegations have been largely relegated to social media posts and meeting-room chatter — until now.
Read the story about Ireland, the man who has risen to power in Lincoln despite old allegations that continue to roil local politics.
Latest Stories
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- Maine paper mill employees asked for safety monitors for decades. It took 2 deaths to get them.
- Edgecomb man dead after truck crash in Wiscasset
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- Fire crews battle blaze at old Moosehead Mill
- Kenduskeag man arrested after standoff
From the Opinion Page
“The state economist projects that in just six years, nearly a third of Maine’s entire population will be over 65.”
Opinion: A global model of community support could help Maine’s rural older adults