Rachel covers state government and politics for the Portland Press Herald. It’s her third beat at the paper after stints covering City Hall and education. Prior to her arrival at the Press Herald in the summer of 2019, Rachel worked at the Morning Sentinel in Waterville, covering Franklin and Somerset counties, and the Knoxville News Sentinel in Knoxville, Tennessee, covering higher education. She has a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and when she’s not writing and reporting enjoys running, cooking and traveling to new places.
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PublishedApril 30, 2025
Electric vehicle owners may have to pay a $250 annual fee in Maine
Maine is among a minority of states that do not charge electric vehicle registration fees, though that could change with a proposal currently before lawmakers.
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PublishedApril 29, 2025
Camden lawmaker proposes increase in state fines for improper pesticide use
The bill, submitted in response to a high-profile case in 2022, would raise fines from $1,500 per violation to $25,000 — and more if the violator is shown to have benefited or committed prior violations.
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PublishedApril 28, 2025
Maine bill would protect personal belongings during homeless encampment sweeps
A bill before lawmakers would require state and local governments to provide notice and hold hearings before removing a homeless person’s belongings from public property.
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PublishedApril 28, 2025
Rep. Laurel Libby asks U.S. Supreme Court to restore her right to vote in Maine Legislature
The Auburn Republican said she has filed an emergency application with the nation’s highest court after 2 lower courts denied a temporary restoration of her voting and speaking privileges as her lawsuit against the House speaker plays out.
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PublishedApril 24, 2025
Gov. Janet Mills got pulled into the national spotlight. Will she use the attention to run for Senate?
The governor spoke with a Press Herald reporter this week and said she has ‘no plans’ to run for higher office, at least right now, despite building herself a national reputation for standing up to President Donald Trump.
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PublishedApril 22, 2025
Gov. Mills signs law to prepare Maine for severe weather fueled by climate change
The bill includes a grant program to help residents safeguard their homes, provides a one-time dose of funding for the Maine Emergency Management Agency and establishes a new state office intended to reduce storm damage and protect infrastructure.
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PublishedApril 21, 2025
Nonprofit owner of Maine newspapers hires new CEO
Tom Wiley, the president and publisher of The Buffalo News, will take over leadership of the National Trust for Local News.
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PublishedApril 18, 2025
Judge denies Laurel Libby’s request to immediately restore her right to vote in Maine House
The Auburn lawmaker, who was censured in February for a social media post about a transgender student, said she was disappointed with the decision but ‘the fight is far from over.’
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PublishedApril 17, 2025
Gov. Mills on transgender athletes lawsuit: ‘I’m happy to go to court’
The governor doubled down Thursday on her position that the federal government can’t pull funding from Maine because the state allows transgender athletes to compete in girls sports.
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PublishedApril 16, 2025
Republican lawmakers want to repeal Maine’s 72-hour waiting period on firearms purchases
Proposals before the Legislature come after the waiting period narrowly passed last year in the wake of the Lewiston mass shooting, and as it faces a challenge in federal court.
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