Newly released data show that omicron went from less than 1% of COVID-19 cases in the state to 10% in 1 week this month, and it already may be causing the majority of new cases statewide.
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, Maine, News
COVID-19 home test maker with site in Westbrook plans to boost production
Abbott Laboratories, which makes the BinaxNOW rapid test, says it now produces more than 50 million tests per month and plans to raise that number to 70 million in January.
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Posted inMaine
Community support leads to preservation of undeveloped Casco Bay islands
The islands of Little Whaleboat West, Nate and Tuck are now protected under the Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools and Education, Sports, Varsity Maine
Maine schools navigate COVID-19 protocols for sports and extracurriculars
With winter coming and COVID-19 case rates high, some Maine schools are requiring vaccination or pooled testing in order for students to participate in sports and activities.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Sen. Collins says she’d support legislation to codify protections in Roe v. Wade
Sen. Susan Collins’ stance gains attention after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a Mississippi case that advocates worry could put new constraints on abortion rights.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News, Schools and Education
UMaine System providing paid leave for COVID-19 vaccination boosters
The announcement comes two days after Gov. Janet Mills said all Maine residents 18 and older who have been fully vaccinated are now eligible for a free booster.
Posted inMaine, Schools and Education
Maine college enrollments drop as pandemic, job market pull students from classrooms
The decline in higher education enrollment has been particularly felt by community colleges, which are seeing a 5.9 percent drop in student numbers this fall.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools and Education
USM faculty raise concerns with chancellor about university’s independence
The faculty and staff fear that unified accreditation may lead to less independence for USM, though Chancellor Dannel Malloy says it will allow for collaboration and let the UMaine System’s campuses retain control of budgets and other decisions.
Posted inNews, Schools and Education
UMaine reports record enrollment driven by graduate and out-of-state students
The flagship campus in Orono has 11,989 students this fall, an increase of 2.1% that stands in contrast to national trends.
Posted inElections, Maine, News, Politics
More than 400,000 Mainers voted in statewide referendums and local races
While official results are not yet available, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said Maine had strong voter turnout, and absentee ballot use, for an off-year, referendum-only election.