General News

Jonathan Rubin in front of a gray background.

MCSPC Director Jonathan Rubin on Maine’s High Heating Oil Prices

Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center Director Jonathan Rubin was recently interviewed by News Center Maine on the upcoming high heating oil prices coming to Maine. The real issue is refining capacity. Refining capacity in the United States is at all-time highs. There really is not any more capacity to refine significantly more quantities of oil, […]

Read more

Happy Labor Day. Public federal holiday, celebrate annual in United States. American labor movement. Patriotic american elements. Poster, card, banner and background. Vector illustration

Labor Day 2026

Happy Labor Day! Today we celebrate the hard work, dedication, and achievements of workers everywhere! Whether you’re grilling with family, enjoying a well-deserved break, or reflecting on your journey, let’s honor our collective efforts. In the spirit of the day, enjoy a Maine Policy Matters episode during your downtime about Maine’s working waterfront!

Read more

Marcella Sorg, Dominic Piacenti, Eric Miller, and Alex Rezk collaged side-by-side across the top, and a table displaying informational brochures and Narcan nasal spray boxes across the bottom.

2026 Governor’s 8th Annual Opioid Response Summit

Dr. Marcella Sorg recently presented at the 2026 Governor’s 8th Annual Opioid Response Summit, an annual summary of data reviewing 2025 and 2026 drug overdose trends, including overdose responses and reversals by members of the law enforcement community. Research Associate Dominic Piacentini was on the ‘Aging and Addiction: Bringing Older Adults into the SUD Conversation’ panel. The […]

Read more

Marci Sorg Headshot.

Marci Sorg Interviewed for WABI5

In an interview featured in WABI TV5’s coverage, Dr. Marcella “Marci” Sorg, a research professor at the University of Maine’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, provided expert insight into the factors driving regional drug overdose statistics. As director of the Rural Drug and Alcohol Research Program and lead author of Maine’s monthly overdose reports, Dr. […]

Read more

Close-up Business Hands money pocket and counting money in American dollars.

Why Financial Literacy Matters: National Financial Awareness Day

August 14th is National Financial Awareness Day, an annual reminder of the importance of personal financial health and money management. While taking control of your finances starts with individual action, long-term stability relies heavily on having access to clear, accessible financial education early on. In a commentary for Maine Policy Review, David M. Leach addresses […]

Read more

MPM logo with sunset autumn colors at Quill Hill - Rangeley Lakes overlook in western Maine.

S9E4 Connecting Maine: The Future of Rural Transit & Community Resilience

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Grant, Lisa Smith, and Katherine Freund to discuss the critical challenges and innovative, community-driven solutions shaping transportation resilience, volunteer driver programs, and the future of mobility in rural Maine. Also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. Guest Bios Resources Support Us Donate to Maine Policy Review: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/donate-to-maine-policy-review/ Visit […]

Read more

Rusty water supply lid on the ground.

Maine Policy Review Infrastructure Special Issue Call for Papers

The editors of Maine Policy Review announce a call for submissions for a special issue that willexplore the important topic of infrastructure. The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2026. Infrastructure encompasses the facilities and systems that provide basic and critical services on which communities depend and is central to Maine’s future in ways that […]

Read more

Lobster Boats Anchored in a Maine Harbor

Maine’s Population Shift: Penobscot Bay Press Features Maine Policy Review Research

An article in Maine Policy Review, “Migrationland: Social and Economic Impacts of Demographic Churn in Maine and Cumberland County Post-Pandemic“, was cited in Penobscot Bay Press’s recent article “Blue Hill at forefront of Maine’s population shift.” The article discusses how more than 126,000 people have moved to Maine since the pandemic, driven largely by remote work […]

Read more