Gov. Paul LePage’s blunt, straight-talking style and occasional ideological stubbornness have earned him both praise and disappointment among Mainers.
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 inPolitics
Seeing the LePage Effect: Republican candidates aren’t campaigning with governor
Polls showing LePage has tenuous support from voters may keep legislative hopefuls from asking for his help.
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Posted inNews
Maine beneficiaries of food stamp error won’t have to repay Feds
Food stamp recipients in Maine who received extra benefits last year will not have to repay the government after all, federal officials say, meaning the mistake could cost the state nearly $3 million.
Posted inNews
U.S. census data report reveals grim picture of Maine
Most Mainers don’t need a fresh set of statistics to tell them that the economy has languished for years.
Posted inNews, Politics
LePage cartoon confounds Maine high school principals
Administrators receive a message from the governor’s office, but they aren’t sure what he was trying to say.
Posted inNews
UMaine’s party school reputation surprises many in Orono
ORONO — At 10 o’clock on a Friday night, Josh Gastonguay, Chris Burns and Nicholas Murphy are sitting on the deck of the Bear Brew, a popular bar, drinking Grateful Deads, cocktails made with five types of alcohol.
Posted inNews
Rockland nonprofit nets $1M anonymous donation
The money will allow the Hurricane Island Foundation to “further develop its research, teaching and leadership programs.”
Posted inNews
Turnpike’s E-ZPass users upset with looming changes
About 23,000 E-ZPass holders who use the commuter program will see it replaced by a volume discount system on Nov. 1, and many are reacting with outrage.
Posted inNews
Winners, losers seen from new Maine health insurance law
Lisa Burton, who owns Reel Pizza Cinerama in Bar Harbor with her husband, saw her health insurance rate jump 67 percent this year. That’s on top of a 35 percent increase last year. In two years, premiums to cover her three full-time employees have doubled.
Posted inNation & World, News, Politics
Federal court rejects Maine’s Medicaid complaint
Gov. LePage would like to remove 24,000 low-income parents, as well as some elderly and 19- and 20-year-olds in order to balance the budget.