A report released Thursday by the Attorney General’s Office indicated 716 individuals died from overdoses last year, 85 more than in 2021.
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 inLocal & State
Publisher of Maine Magazine pausing print publication
An executive with Advocate Printing and Publishing of Nova Scotia, which purchased the magazine last year, said at least four local staff members are being laid off.
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Posted inArts & Entertainment, Life & Culture, Local & State
Artist says Rockland museum’s placement of her Lunar New Year work was racially insensitive
The Center for Maine Contemporary Art initially offered Evelyn Wong a wall near public bathrooms for her installation. When she objected, they said they had no ill intent and offered her another spot.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Life & Culture
State’s only biennial to showcase 35 established and emerging artists
The exhibit at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland opens Saturday and runs through May 7.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Books, Life & Culture, Local & State, Maine Authors
‘Night of the Living Rez’ a finalist for national prize
Levant author Morgan Talty’s collection is one of three up for The Story Prize.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Life & Culture
Poet Richard Blanco pulls from his own Miami-to-Maine story for first play
Blanco, best known as the poet for Barack Obama’s second inauguration, teamed up with fellow Cuban American writer Vanessa Garcia on ‘Sweet Goats and Blueberry Senoritas,’ a play commissioned by Portland Stage, where it premieres this month.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Life & Culture, Local & State
West Coast design firm chosen for Portland Museum of Art expansion
Lever Architecture, based in Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, was chosen ahead of three other finalists to design a new building on the site of the former Children’s Museum that will be integrated into the museum’s existing campus overlooking Congress Square.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland Diocese challenging 2021 Maine law lifting statute of limitations on childhood abuse claims
Attorneys for the diocese and the 13 plaintiffs suing the church will argue the case before Superior Court Justice Thomas McKeon later this month.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Storm batters Maine’s coastal communities, causes widespread flooding and outages
There were roughly 255,000 power outages statewide Friday night following a storm that forced water rescues in flooded communities and damaged one of the state’s iconic lighthouses.
Posted inLocal & State, News
John McDonald, author, longtime Portland-area radio host, dies at 78
McDonald hosted a weekend call-in show on WGAN and was the author of several books that showcased his Down East humor.