Bashar al-Assad’s regime was reportedly responsible for the deaths of more than 200,000 Syrian civilians from the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in March 2011 to June 2024.
Rachel Ohm
Staff Writer
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.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, Politics
Despite progress, Maine women still earn less and are more likely to live in poverty
A report released Thursday calls for more equity in the labor market to close the gender pay gap and improve women’s access to higher paying jobs.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, Politics
Feds announce permanent extension of asylum seeker work permits
Sen. Angus King, Rep. Chellie Pingree and Gov. Janet Mills recently asked federal officials to extend the maximum amount of time eligible immigrants and asylum seekers have for extensions on work permit renewals, from 180 days to 540.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, Politics
Mills, Pingree, King push to extend asylum seeker work permits
Rep. Chellie Pingree, Sen. Angus King and Gov. Janet Mills are asking federal authorities to permanently extend automatic work permit renewals for up to 540 days because of a backlog in asylum cases.
Posted inElection 2024, Local & State, Politics
Collins, Golden could give Maine delegation outsized influence during Trump administration
Neither Susan Collins nor Jared Golden are seen as predictable votes for their parties, and narrow margins in Congress mean it’s more likely they will be looked to as key votes.
Posted inHealth
Maine seeks developer for psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth
The plan has been criticized by advocates who say it would increase the risk of harm to Maine children, though one provider said it would fill a critical gap for those with severe behavioral health needs.
Posted inElection 2024, Local & State, Politics
Jared Golden confirmed as winner in 2nd District after Theriault ends recount
Republican challenger Austin Theriault’s campaign ended the recount, which began Monday, after questions about certain towns’ results were answered, leaving the outcome of the race unchanged.
Posted inElection 2024, Local & State, News, Politics
Record number of Maine voters cast ballots in 2024 election
More than 840,000 voters cast ballots in this November’s election, which Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said was the most in state history.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine’s state revenues projected to climb, but Gov. Mills warns of ‘tight’ budget
The Mills administration said the increased revenue projections shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity for significant additional spending and warned that revenues are flattening after pandemic growth.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
After post-pandemic boom, Maine’s tourism industry seeks path back to growth
A 9% drop in visitors this summer isn’t cause for too much concern among industry leaders, who say after-effects of the pandemic and economic challenges this year make it difficult to discern a trend.