Celebrating International Podcast Day

Celebrating International Podcast Day

For International Podcast Day, we’re celebrating two years and six seasons of Maine Policy Matters, the official podcast of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center.  Our title reinforces the mission, vision, and values of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center to inform public policy processes and promote civil discourse to solve the critical issues facing […]

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New Season of Maine Policy Matters

The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine launched Season 6 of their podcast, Maine Policy Matters, on September 3rd, 2024. Created to make public policy information more accessible to policymakers; government, business and nonprofit leaders; and the general public, Maine Policy Matters will feature episodes with experts on timely topics relevant […]

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WiFi networks top view highlighting citywide access.

S6E1 Maine Broadband Access Part 2: Digital Equity, Attitudes, and Access

This episode is part 2 of a two-part series on the status of broadband in Maine, with today’s topic focusing on digital equity, attitudes, and access. As we discussed in part one, Maine is uniquely situated for addressing the challenge of getting broadband access to every person, from urban to rural towns, both having their […]

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A Venn diagram depicting places, projects, and digital equity with Maine Connective Authority in the center.

S5E8 Maine Broadband Access Part 1: History and Infrastructure

In this episode, we discuss broadband’s history and infrastructure in Maine with Heather Johnson, Nick Battista, Clara McCool, and Andrew Butcher. Heather Johnson is the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, which works with statewide and local partners, private industry, and small businesses to enhance and sustain economic prosperity in Maine. […]

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Marcella Sorg Headshot

Dr. Marcella Sorg Receives Governor’s Award

We’d like to congratulate Dr. Marcella Sorg for being honored by Governor Janet Mills with the Governor’s Award during the sixth annual Governor’s Opioid Response Summit on Thursday, July 25th. Sorg was recognized for her “extraordinary contributions in the fight against substance use disorder,” according to a news release from the governor’s office. Sorg has served […]

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Image of Belfast's working waterfront.

S5E7 A Conversation on Maine’s Working Waterfront: Responding to Changing Times

On this episode, Bill Zoellick, Monique Coombs, and Jeremy Garielson join us for a panel discussion on Maine’s working waterfront. The panelists discuss the waterfront’s economic and cultural significance, on-foot access, preservation, community involvement, and much more. Resources Scuttlebutt Transcript [00:00:00] Monique Coombs: And our towns just haven’t been able to keep pace and so […]

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2024 Maine Government Internship Progran interns in the Senate chamber of the State House.

National Intern Day

As the summer of 2024 progresses, our Maine Government Internship Program interns have been making an impact across the state of Maine. Ava Shapiro Amelia Mooney Photo Courtesy of Maine Bureau of Human Resources

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Maine Policy Review 20th anniversary artwork compiling 12 previous journal covers, including Senator Margaret Chase Smith, an eagle, large apple on a desk, the American flag with a crane removing the stars, and a fist holding a pen and paper.

Maine Policy Review Covered by Maine Public

Maine Public ran a story on Maine Policy Review’s publication “Medicaid Expansion in Maine Significantly Reduced Uncompensated Care Costs during the COVID-19 Pandemic” in Volume 33, Issue 1. The study authored by Jordan H. Rhodes examines the impact of Maine’s 2019 Medicaid expansion through the Affordable Care Act on hospitals’ uncompensated care costs. Rhodes is […]

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2024 Maine Government Internship Progran interns in the Senate chamber of the State House.

Maine Government Summer Internship Program Education Day

This year’s Maine Government Summer Internship Program cohort of 51 summer interns gathered in Augusta on June 26th for an education day. At the Maine State House, the group was hosted by legislators and legislative staff to learn about state government offices and a variety of career paths. At the Maine Municipal Association, interns learned […]

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Maine Government Summer Internship Students standing on the floor of the Maine State Senate at the State House.

Maine Government Internship Program Kickoff

On May 28th, 2024, Program Director Peggy McKee and Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center Director Jonathan Rubin kicked off the Center’s internship program in Augusta. 51 student interns have been placed in paid internships with state agencies and other organizations. To learn more about this program, visit our Maine Government Summer Internship Program page.

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