
By Lauren McCauley | Editor
“This isn’t a hospital, it’s a morgue.” - Save Miles Labor and Delivery Facebook group wrote after MaineHealth announced it was closing the Damariscotta hospital birthing center.

Roughly 100 union members and local leaders attended an Aug. 5 demonstration in Portland in support of Debora Kapisha, a nurse at Maine Medical Center who was detained by federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Lauren McCauley/ Maine Morning Star)
IMMIGRATION
By Lauren McCauley
One day after nurses and union members rallied in support of detained Maine Medical Center nurse Debora Kapisha, the union announced Thursday that she was released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is back home.
HEALTH CARE
By Eesha Pendharkar
Following months of accusations from national and state Republicans that Gov. Janet Mills’ administration had not done enough to combat fraud in the Medicaid program, the state on Wednesday announced it had suspended payments to five providers based on allegations of fraud.
PUBLIC HEALTH
By Lauren McCauley
The closure of a birthing center at a Damariscotta hospital is moving forward, the MaineHealth Board of Trustees announced Thursday, despite months of community opposition and concern about worsening health access for rural Mainers.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Trump again tries to curb birthright citizenship, following Supreme Court loss | Ariana Figueroa, States Newsroom
As federal protections fade, disabled Americans fear a return to institutions | Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline
Mitch McConnell says he has been discharged from rehab | McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern
US Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt for declining to answer COVID questions | Jacob Fischler, States Newsroom
Farm bill proposal fails in US Senate ag committee over SNAP error rate issue | Cami Koons, Iowa Post Dispatch
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