Second ‘radio hour’ covers opioid settlements, dams, child welfare

The Maine Monitor Radio Hour

The Maine Monitor Radio Hour is a monthly program in which reporters and editors from The Maine Monitor join WERU host Amy Browne for a discussion about the newsroom’s recent reporting.

Participants

• Health reporter Emily Bader
• Rural reporter Emmett Gartner
• Government accountability Josh Keefe

Topics Discussed

Opioid Settlement Funds

Emily Bader discussed her reporting on how counties and municipalities are spending their share of opioid settlement funds.

Dam Removals in Yarmouth and Dover-Foxcroft

Emmett Gartner talked about his reporting on dam removals in Yarmouth and Dover-Foxcroft. (Note: This episode aired before Dover-Foxcroft voters chose not to remove their dam.)

Calls for Transparency in Maine’s Child Welfare System

Josh Keefe detailed his in-depth reporting into calls for transparency in Maine’s child welfare system and about a state supreme court case that found a mother’s parental rights were unfairly terminated.

Listen to episode 2 and tune in to WERU 89.9 FM the first Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. to listen live.

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The Maine Monitor is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting. Our team of investigative journalists use data- and document-based reporting to produce stories that have an impact.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

   • SDG 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines.
   • SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • SDG 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

   • Percentage of opioid settlement funds allocated by counties and municipalities towards improving healthcare services and addressing the opioid crisis.
   • Number of dam removals in Yarmouth and Dover-Foxcroft as a measure of progress towards improving water quality and ecosystem health.
   • Level of transparency in Maine’s child welfare system, measured by the availability of information and data on child welfare cases.
   • Outcome of the state supreme court case on unfair termination of parental rights as an indicator of the justice system’s accountability and fairness.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: themainemonitor.org