Kaitlyn Budion

Kaitlyn Budion

[email protected]

Kaitlyn Budion is a reporter based in central Maine, where she focuses on energy and environment. She comes to Maine Morning Star from Maine Public Radio, where she was the northern Maine reporter, and covered a variety of issues in Maine's northern counties. Prior to that she worked at the Morning Sentinel in Waterville, covering local government and PFAS contamination in the region. Her work has appeared in the Massachusetts State House News Service, News@Northeastern, the GroundTruth Project and more.

LePage, Dunlap race for Maine’s 2nd District still too close to call, likely headed to runoff
Maine

LePage, Dunlap race for Maine’s 2nd District still too close to call, likely headed to runoff

12:38am ET
Kaitlyn Budion
The race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District is still too close to call, and appears likely to end up in a ranked-choice runoff later this week. As of 12:37 a.m., former Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democrat Matt Dunlap were...
Pingree defeats Russell in 1st District rematch
Maine

Pingree sails to victory in Maine’s 1st District

Nov 03, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
This story has been updated. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree will keep her seat representing Maine’s 1st Congressional District in Congress, after another strong finish in Tuesday’s election. Pingree won with 64.9% of votes with 31% counted, according to The...
With key races up and down the ballot, Maine voters turn out for Election Day
Maine

With key races up and down the ballot, Maine voters turn out for Election Day

Nov 03, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
This Election Day, Maine residents are considering a lot on their ballots, from local initiatives to statewide elections, including several races with national stakes. More than 290,000 Mainers have already cast a ballot, surpassing early voting numbers during the last...
Heating oil now 82% more expensive than this time last year
Maine

Heating oil now 82% more expensive than this time last year

Oct 30, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
The average price for heating oil reached a new high this week at $6.05 a gallon, according to the Maine Department of Energy Resources. “Heating oil prices in Maine are now breaking records week after week, putting growing pressure on...
Portland, Bangor, Augusta courts to stay open late Tuesday in case of emergency election filings
Maine

Portland, Bangor, Augusta courts to stay open late Tuesday in case of emergency election filings

Oct 30, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
Maine courthouses in Portland, Bangor and Augusta will stay open until 9 p.m. Tuesday to accept emergency filings related to the election, according to a release from the Maine Judicial Branch. The announcement comes as several Maine cities expect federal...
Pingree and Russell hold steady in first and only CD1 debate
Maine

Pingree and Russell hold steady in first and only CD1 debate

Oct 29, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
2026 Voter Guide How to register, key dates, who’s on the ballot and where the candidates stand on the top issues facing Maine. Read more Just days before the midterm elections, candidates for Maine’s 1st Congressional District met for their...
Outside groups spending millions to oust state lawmakers up for reelection
Maine

Outside groups spending millions to oust state lawmakers up for reelection

Oct 29, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
2026 Voter Guide How to register, key dates, who’s on the ballot and where the candidates stand on the top issues facing Maine. Read more With Maine’s entire state Legislature up for election in November, even incumbent lawmakers aren’t safe...
Golden built a reputation as an outlier, but his potential successors are taking a different tack
Maine

Golden built a reputation as an outlier, but his potential successors are taking a different tack

Oct 26, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
2026 Voter Guide How to register, key dates, who’s on the ballot and where the candidates stand on the top issues facing Maine. Read more Maine’s 2nd Congressional District was always expected to be a competitive and closely watched race...
Weighing state’s ambiguous environmental justice standard, judge gives go-ahead to Juniper Ridge
Maine

Weighing state’s ambiguous environmental justice standard, judge gives go-ahead to Juniper Ridge

Oct 22, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
With no clear definition from the state for ‘environmental justice,’ a Penobscot County Superior Court justice said he can only consider state lawmakers’ intentions for the standard. And under that narrow interpretation, he has ruled that the state’s initial approval...
Feds announce release of reserve heating oil, after letter from Maine’s senators
Maine

Feds announce release of reserve heating oil, after letter from Maine’s senators

Oct 21, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
The U.S. Department of Energy will release 315,000 barrels of reserve heating oil amid high prices, after U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King called for action last month. According to a press release from the senators Wednesday, the Northeast...
Maine judge greenlights state’s initial approval of Juniper Ridge landfill expansion
Maine

Maine judge greenlights state’s initial approval of Juniper Ridge Landfill expansion

Oct 20, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
A Penobscot County Superior Court justice has backed the state’s finding that expanding Juniper Ridge Landfill is in the public interest, according to a release from the challengers, clearing the way for the project to move forward. “This ruling is...
Despite recent rain, drought has reached all areas of Maine
Maine

Despite recent rain, drought has reached all areas of Maine

Oct 16, 2026
Kaitlyn Budion
The latest precipitation across the state still was not enough to alleviate Maine’s statewide drought, according to the Maine Drought Task Force. The task force convenes when abnormally dry conditions in the state compound with the aim of increasing communication...