Such a fun quiz. It’s Easy to Start a Private School. Take Our Quiz to Find Out Where You Can Open Yours. @zisiga.bsky.social @jsmithrichards.bsky.social @jodiscohen.bsky.social @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social

It’s Easy to Start a Private School. Take Our Quiz to Find Out Where You Can Open Yours. — ProPublica

Private school requirements vary wildly across states. Take our quiz to find out just how easy starting one can be.

projects.propublica.org

BREAKING: The Trump administration is using a grant program from the 1980s to force cities around the US to funnel their ongoing collection of Flock, Axon, and other ALPR data into large federal surveillance centers that fall under the White House’s jurisdiction, 404 Media has learned

How Cities Are Forced to Funnel License Plate Data to a Massive Federal Surveillance Program

How the federal government built a massive database of license plate reader data through an anti-drug trafficking program.

404media.co

Lost time. Lost jobs. Lost friends. Lost family. Lost lives. Checkpoints are suffocating Palestinian life in the occupied West Bank. Over 18 months, WIRED and our reporting partners investigated the full scope of the system that has carved the West Bank up. www.wired.com/story/how-is...

How Israeli Checkpoints Choke Palestinian Life in the Occupied West Bank

Lost time. Lost jobs. Lost friends. Lost family. Lost lives. Our joint investigation reveals the system that has divided the West Bank and measures what it cost people to move through it.

wired.com

Sen. Susan Collins helped steer millions in federal defense contracts to Navatek, whose CEO illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign. The FBI sought to launch a probe and was eyeing Collins and other lawmakers. Then Trump gutted the unit in charge. THREAD 🧵

In 2024 the former CEO of a defense contractor made a stunning confession to two FBI agents. He alleged that was the ringleader of a massive pay-to-play operation, bribing senators with campaign contributions in exchange for govt contracts. www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...

The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way

After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...

propublica.org

“A decade ago, I made a decision about my daughter’s education that I hoped would challenge New York City’s separate and unequal school system,” Nikole Hannah-Jones writes. “Now 16, she thinks I made the wrong choice.”

In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own?

A decade ago, I made a decision about my daughter’s education that I hoped would challenge New York City’s separate and unequal school system. Now 16, she thinks I made the wrong choice.

nyti.ms

Data retention limits reduce abuse, Thaxter says, but they are "just Band-Aids." The surveillance network still exists. sunjournal Read the full Sun Journal report co-authored by @salomecloteaux.com 👇

Not just Flock: AI-powered surveillance is becoming more common in Maine

Law enforcement agencies and private entities are increasingly deploying new surveillance technologies across the state, sometimes without the knowledge of the communities they're monitoring.

sunjournal.com

On the highway. At the grocery store. By school. AI-powered surveillance technology is creeping into Maine. And it’s not just Flock cameras. Read my deep dive w/ @salomecloteaux.com for the @pressherald.com www.pressherald.com/2026/09/13/n...

Not just Flock: AI-powered surveillance is becoming more common in Maine

Law enforcement agencies and private entities are increasingly deploying new surveillance technologies across the state, sometimes without the knowledge of the communities they're monitoring.

pressherald.com

“I believed in the United States,” Manywa said. “I considered it a country that respects human rights.” But now, he sits and worries that his children will always remember him in handcuffs. “It is not the country I thought it was,” he said. Devastating story by @salomecloteaux.com

Salomé Cloteaux@salomecloteaux.com · last mo.

ICE arrested a Maine man twice in 2 years. His 6-year-old daughter now has nightmares about agents coming for the rest of their family too. “(We) were being separated into different jails like the one where Daddy is,” she said. www.pressherald.com?p=7709666&uu...

ICE arrested a Maine man twice in 2 years. His 6-year-old daughter now has nightmares about agents coming for the rest of their family too. “(We) were being separated into different jails like the one where Daddy is,” she said. www.pressherald.com?p=7709666&uu...

Scarborough family devastated after ICE detains father for the 2nd time

Jonas Manywa doesn't know if he'll be coming home — or deported to a potentially unsafe country.

pressherald.com

Six-year-old Ivana has back-to-school jitters. Even though she loves math, she’s nervous about learning how to add and subtract digits in the thousands in second grade. And she keeps having nightmares about immigration agents coming to arrest her. Gift link: www.pressherald.com?p=7709666&uu...

Scarborough family devastated after ICE detains father for the 2nd time

Jonas Manywa doesn't know if he'll be coming home — or deported to a potentially unsafe country.

pressherald.com

“The new administration thinks, We’re going to just deport everybody and get everybody out of here. But there’s not an understanding of how our communities have been here for so many generations, that we are the American community already.”

Indiana, ICE, and the destruction of immigrant families

At the “Crossroads of America,” Trump's detention policies have found one of their strongest allies.

motherjones.com

The eyes of the country are on Scarborough — home to Maine's only ICE processing facility — residents warned town councilors Wednesday night. After an ICE agent killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, Mainers turned their anger toward Scarborough's ICE facility. www.pressherald.com/2026/07/29/a...

After Biddeford shooting, Mainers turn anger toward ICE facility in Scarborough

The Town Council passed a proclamation calling on Maine's congressional delegation to evaluate the necessity of having the ICE facility in town.

pressherald.com

Despite protests and pleas, Biddeford waits on ICE to investigate itself after shooting

Despite protests and pleas, Biddeford waits on ICE to investigate itself after shooting

The sense that an opaque federal agency can kill with impunity has gripped residents and local officials now debating whether they're doing enough to prevent another tragedy — or if they can do anything at all.

pressherald.com

A U.S. district court judge has reversed his earlier orders in a case against a Westbrook man after it was revealed that police had been watching him for years through his neighbor’s security camera: www.pressherald.com/2026/07/06/j...

Salomé Cloteaux@salomecloteaux.com · 5mo ago

For over 3 years, a police officer watched a Westbrook man's home through a neighbor's security camera installed to surveil him without a warrant. In 2024, the camera — undisclosed until this month — was used to incriminate him in connection with a shooting: www.pressherald.com/2026/05/18/p...

Highly recommend getting a job that pays you to bike @pressherald.com : www.pressherald.com?p=7671679&uu...

Inside Maine’s epic bike ride, Trek Across Maine

Reporter Salomé Cloteaux took part in a portion of the 3-day bike ride and tells the stories of some of the 600 cyclists who raised over $700,000 for the American Lung Association.

pressherald.com

Eight cameras have been removed from Idexx Laboratories properties in Westbrook and Scarborough after the Press Herald reported that they appeared to be AI-enabled models capable of reading license plates, which private entities are prohibited from using in Maine: www.pressherald.com/2026/06/15/i...

Idexx removes suspected plate-reading cameras from properties in Westbrook, Scarborough

Maine is one of 3 states that prohibits private entities from using these kinds of cameras, which can capture and analyze images of license plates and share that data with other entities.

pressherald.com

Salomé Cloteaux@salomecloteaux.com · 4mo ago

Idexx Laboratories appears to have two cameras equipped with automatic license plate readers on its properties in Scarborough and Westbrook — a violation of state law if they’re in use. My latest for @pressherald.com: www.pressherald.com/2026/06/09/i...

Idexx Laboratories appears to have two cameras equipped with automatic license plate readers on its properties in Scarborough and Westbrook — a violation of state law if they’re in use. My latest for @pressherald.com: www.pressherald.com/2026/06/09/i...

Idexx appears to have plate-reading cameras monitoring Maine properties

Private entities are prohibited from using automatic license plate reading technology in Maine.

pressherald.com

For over 3 years, a police officer watched a Westbrook man's home through a neighbor's security camera installed to surveil him without a warrant. In 2024, the camera — undisclosed until this month — was used to incriminate him in connection with a shooting: www.pressherald.com/2026/05/18/p...

Police arrest man after watching him through neighbor’s camera for 3 years

Willie Banks’ attorney argues the undisclosed warrantless surveillance violates the 4th Amendment.

pressherald.com

Maine man accused of murder in 1987 cold case pleads not guilty

Maine man accused of murder in 1987 cold case pleads not guilty

Stephen Bouchard, now 63 and living in Winslow, was arrested Friday and charged with killing Alice Hawkes, who was found dead in the Westbrook apartment they shared in 1987.

pressherald.com

Maine wants to standardize and encourage the construction of ADUs. Many view ADUs as a solution to the state’s housing crisis, a gentler increase in density marketed with a cheaper price tag. But cities and towns are seeing mixed results. For the @pressherald.com: www.pressherald.com/2026/05/07/t...

The state wants ADUs. Cities and towns are seeing mixed results.

Maine's many municipalities are taking different approaches to accessory dwelling units.

pressherald.com

“There’s only so many times that you can bet against the odds of safety,” Westbrook Fire Capt. Joe Carroll said. Firefighters worry the department's minimum daily staffing is unsafe as it hasn't changed since 2001, while the number of calls have nearly doubled. www.pressherald.com/2026/04/29/w...

Westbrook firefighters concerned staffing levels are unsafe

The department’s minimum daily staffing has been 9 firefighters on duty at a given time since 2001. The number of calls have nearly doubled in that time.

pressherald.com

Iranian activist Parivash Rohani learned from the radio that 10 of her friends were dead. The 10 women had been given a choice by the Iranian government: Recant their Baha'i faith or die. “I could have very well been the 11th person,” Rohani said. My latest: www.pressherald.com/2026/04/11/d...

Decades after fleeing persecution, Iranian activist continues call for unity

Parivash Rohani, of Portland, is an artist and activist advocating for the Baha’i community and the rights of women in Iran.

pressherald.com

Accusations of elder abuse, harassment, theft and staging a hostile takeover... The Westbrook Historical Society and the Westbrook Bucket Brigade — who share a similar mission and, until recently, a space in the Westbrook Community Center — are now threatening each other with legal action.

Portland Press Herald@pressherald.com · 7mo ago

Two Westbrook historical groups embroiled in dispute

Years later, Scarborough continues to grapple with short-term rentals

Years later, Scarborough continues to grapple with short-term rentals

The town is discussing creating a registration and inspection process for short-term rentals.

pressherald.com

Highly recommend getting a job that pays you to eat croissants

Portland Press Herald@pressherald.com · 7mo ago

The best croissants in Portland? Our resident French person tests 4 bakeries

I'm a Press Herald reporter looking to connect with the communities I cover! The @pressherald.com is looking for new ways to engage with readers online, so I will be posting stories and listening to what you'd like to see covered here and on Nextdoor. Follow me here: nextdoor.com/profile/01xh...

Maine volunteers form human wall to protect immigrant workers * Free to access

Maine volunteers form human wall to protect immigrant workers

Immigrant workers at American Roots in Westbrook remain fearful of federal immigration enforcement, despite reports that ICE has scaled down its operations in Maine.

pressherald.com

Some US citizens in Maine are carrying passports, fearing ICE detention * Free to access

Some US citizens in Maine are carrying passports, fearing ICE detention

Some Mainers of color say they're afraid to leave their homes and worry about their children. One man says he was racially profiled.

pressherald.com

Great example of the power and value of #LocalJournalism #Maine h/t @salomecloteaux.com at @pressherald.com

Kim Lane Scheppele@kimlanelaw.bsky.social · 8mo ago

ICE is changing tactics in Maine: "Now, the volunteers in Maine say federal agents have started showing up at their homes and intimidating them or threatening arrest. Some of them, masked and wearing tactical gear, have issued stark warnings not to follow them." www.pressherald.com/2026/01/23/i...