The Lewiston shooter who killed 18 people in October had been exposed to thousands of low-level blasts during years of grenade training.
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 inHealth, Local & State, Outdoors
Lyme cases set another record as ticks spread across Maine
Ten years of data by the Maine CDC show that the tick-borne illness continues to spread and intensify, especially in the midcoast and Down East regions.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, Politics
Maine finalizes rules for new paid family leave program
The state will begin collecting a 1% payroll tax in January, and benefits will be paid out starting in 2026.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, Politics
Sen. Collins proposes reimbursement reforms for EMS services
The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Joe Manchin, I-West Virginia, would require payment for EMS services even when a Medicare patient is not transported to a hospital. Maine passed a similar bill in 2023 for patients with private insurance.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Q&A: U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree on what she expects during a second Trump administration
Pingree said she is worried about deep cuts to education, health care, the environment and many other areas.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, Politics
Public health advocates rail against Trump’s nomination of RFK Jr. for Cabinet post
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has made false claims about vaccines, has been tapped to become health and human services secretary in the Trump administration.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Advocates say aggressive marketing toward youth highlights need for a flavored tobacco ban in Maine
Video games and cartoon images are among marketing techniques to get kids to try vaping. Maine has tried twice in recent years to ban sales, but there hasn’t been enough legislative support.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Planned Parenthood says requests for birth control spiked in Maine after Trump election
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England said appointment requests for long-acting contraceptives like IUDs nearly doubled in the week after the Nov. 5 election.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine sees 9% drop in tourists compared to last summer
While the number of visitors declined, the per-person spending increased.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Maine’s nursing workforce has increased, but not enough to meet demand
The number of licensed nurses has increased by 8.7% during the past three years, according to a report by the Cypress Research Group.