The Text Messages That Preceded an Accusation of Going AWOL
The Maine Mirror launches The Pease Accountability Files with an investigation into events at Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire involving then-commander Captain Emily Hanson. Through contemporaneous text messages, medical documentation, and official military records, Ryan Michaels examines the chronology surrounding allegations that he went AWOL and invites readers to compare what was documented in real time with what was later alleged. This is Part One of an ongoing investigative series examining the final months of his military career through primary-source evidence.
The Price of Transparency: How Maine DHHS Turned Public Records into a Paywall
A Maine citizen’s Freedom of Access Act requests began with a promise of $0 and a four-week turnaround, only to grow into invoices totaling $450 and $50,875, months of delays, and ultimately no records produced. This investigative report examines the timeline, escalating costs, procedural hurdles, and broader questions surrounding transparency, public records, and accountability within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
THE PAPER TRAIL
When Ryan Michaels was instructed to stop livestreaming a public Government Oversight Committee meeting, he assumed there must be a policy he didn’t understand. Four months, six emails, and a public discussion later, Maine lawmakers acknowledged that members of the public have the right to record and livestream public proceedings. This installment of The Paper Trail follows the complete documentary record from the initial question to the final clarification.
Nine Communities. Nine Lessons. One Growing Maine Mirror Network.
The Maine Mirror Network has reached an important milestone with the addition of Camden, bringing the total number of active community hubs to nine. In this reflection on the journey so far, we explore the unique character, history, and spirit of each community while sharing the larger vision behind the Maine Mirror: making local information more accessible, understandable, and connected for all Mainers.
The Budget Discussion That Ended Before the Answer Arrived
A Berwick resident asked about virtual participation before a public budget discussion. The answer didn’t arrive until after the discussion had ended and residents had already voted, raising broader questions about accessibility, civic engagement, and government responsiveness.
Matt Dunlap’s Warning: “Often, You Only Know What You Are Told”
In his February 12, 2025 testimony supporting LD 127, Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap used a powerful historical example to demonstrate why independent oversight matters. By contrasting an 1881 report praising the State Reform School with an investigation uncovering troubling conditions experienced by children, Dunlap reminded lawmakers that transparency and accountability are essential because, as he stated, “Often, you only know what you are told.”
Ignored at the Highest Level: A Notarized Complaint, Verified Evidence, and One Year of Silence from Maine Child Welfare Leadership
A notarized, evidence-backed complaint sent to Maine’s governor and child welfare leadership was delivered and signed for—then met with over a year of silence. This case raises urgent questions about accountability, transparency, and what happens when formal reports of misconduct go unanswered.