The legislation comes as the state is in the midst of a drug overdose crisis, but a physician representative says legislators shouldn’t be practicing medicine.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Student’s project turned up elevated lead levels in Boothbay schools
The district has warned students and staff not to drink or cook with the water, first found to have high lead levels in testing March 30.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Advocates call for state to replenish the ranks of public health nurses
A bill with bipartisan support would require Maine to have at least 50 public health nurses, whose numbers have been cut in half by the current administration.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Pertussis cases spike in Maine, hit schools in Cumberland, Yarmouth
The state’s relatively low vaccination rates are a factor in the occurrence of the infectious disease, which is marked by a chronic cough and can be fatal for non-immunized infants.
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics
Speakers at hearing support limiting drug company gifts to Maine doctors
A bill seeking an annual cap of $50 seeks to end any influences on the prescribing of opioids, painkillers that are often a precursor to heroin use.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Like much of the nation, Maine experiencing late-surging flu season
The 4,188 cases that have been reported in the state are nearly double the number reported at this time last year.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Lyme cases in Maine rose to another record in 2016
Infection reports totaled 1,464, and the ticks that transmit the disease are re-emerging now, sparking calls for people to take precautions.
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics
Proposal could stabilize Affordable Care Act’s individual marketplace
A bill before the Legislature would allow the state Bureau of Insurance to facilitate the creation of re-insurance programs, a crucial safety net.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Second instance of anti-Muslim graffiti at USM prompts investigation
The graffiti discovered Tuesday evening is condemned by USM President Glenn Cummings.
Posted inLocal & State, Lost, News
Waking up: As state response lags, communities step up to fight addiction
Police departments, churches, health care institutions and municipalities recognize the need to invest in a remedy to the opioid crisis. Slowly, even the government is coming around.