Graduates in Maine already have average debt of $26,000, and they’ll owe even more unless Congress acts.
Eric Russell
Staff Writer
Eric Russell has been a general assignment reporter at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram since 2012 and has been a journalist in Maine since 2004. Because he doesn’t have a specific geographic or topical area to cover, Eric often is free to roam the state in pursuit of the most interesting stories, whether it’s tackling the big topic of the day or chasing ideas that fall just outside the boundaries of everyday news. His favorite assignments are ones where he can leave the office and meet with people in their homes or their workplaces to talk about their struggles and challenges – and sometimes their triumphs. Or to try and answer complicated questions.
Eric grew up in Southern Maine, went to college at the University of Maine and worked in Bangor for eight years before joining the Press Herald. He lives in Brunswick with his wife, a school teacher, and two daughters.
Posted inNews
Number of deficient bridges in Maine ranks high nationally
Maine reduced its number of structurally deficient bridges by 8.5 percent from 2011 to 2012, but the state still ranks among the top 10 in the nation for the highest percentage of deficient bridges, according to a recent study.
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Posted inNews, Politics
Attempt to strengthen Maine mining laws likely fails
The Senate’s rejection of further safeguards to existing legislation likely dooms the effort.
Posted inNews, Politics
Maine bill would raise snowmobile registration fees
The measure, which would help fund the maintenance of trails, likely would be vetoed by Gov. LePage.
Posted inNews
Michaud’s possible jump sets off the sounds of musical chairs
Now that U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud is considering a run for governor in 2014, the Maine political community has started buzzing with talk of who would run for his seat in Congress.
Posted inNews
Bill granting additional appeal on rejected school-district transfers OKd by House
A bill that would create one more layer of appeal on decisions about whether students can be placed in schools outside their districts got final passage unanimously Tuesday in the Senate.
Posted inNews
Maine Senate agrees to allow more appeals in school-choice decisions
A bill that would create one more layer of appeal on decisions about whether students can be placed in schools outside their districts got final passage unanimously in the Senate on Tuesday.
Posted inNews, Politics
Maine Senate approves charter school bill
Senate Democrats on Monday passed a bill designed to give communities more input and control over whether charter schools should be approved, but the measure still faces hurdles.
Posted inNews, Politics
King says he didn’t know full scope of NSA Internet, phone snooping
U.S. Sen. Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Friday that he was aware of the government’s collection of Internet data and phone records in a broad sense, but did not know the specifics of the two programs that were revealed this week.
Posted inNews
State House politics turn nasty and personal
Gov. Paul LePage’s May 23 press event to veto MaineCare expansion, and trump Democrats’ similar event to trumpet its passage, shows how the opposing sides in Augusta would rather talk past each other than sit in a room away from the cameras and find compromise.