Nirav Shah, director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, will be second in command at the U.S. CDC starting next month.
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
Sen. Collins spearheads efforts to fund Alzheimer’s research
A bipartisan group of senators is proposing to boost funding for research and prevention through 2035.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
No, this week’s deep freeze won’t mean fewer ticks this spring
Ticks don’t like cold weather, but the below-zero temperatures expected later this week will not be enough to kill the disease-spreading arachnids.
Posted inPolitics
Gov. Mills to deliver State of the Budget address Feb. 14
The governor will speak to a joint session of the Legislature about her $10.3 billion two-year budget proposal.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Gov. Mills nominates director of new health care agency
Meg Garratt-Reed has been nominated to be executive director of the Office of Affordable Health Care.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, Schools and Education
Cavalier attitudes about vaping, marijuana raise fears about teen health
Smoking and drinking have declined among Maine youths in recent years, but the percentage of high schoolers who said they vaped in the past 30 days rose from 16.8% in 2015 to 30.2% in 2019.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine’s ACA enrollment declines slightly, but more people have health coverage
The percentage of Mainers without health insurance dropped from 8% in 2019 to 5.7% in 2021, the latest year data was available.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Dr. Nirav Shah makes his final rounds in Maine
For perhaps the final time as the state’s CDC director, Shah answered questions about the pandemic and health topics on the ‘MaineCalling’ public radio show.
Posted inLocal & State
Influenza cases decline for 4th week in Maine
There were only 13 new hospitalizations for influenza, compared to 67 the previous week.
Posted inLocal & State
As paid family leave gains momentum in Maine Legislature, advocacy group holds off on referendum
A referendum could have gone before voters in November, but the Maine People’s Alliance is waiting to see if lawmakers pass a bill to create paid family leave.