Joe Lawlor
Kennebec Journal
Portland, ME, United States
Contact Joe
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Joe:
Some high schools embrace later start times as Legislature considers statewide mandate
A bill by Sen. Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, would mandate an 8:30 a.m. start time for high schools. → Read More
Maine launches campaign to ensure MaineCare recipients don’t lose health insurance
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, people no longer eligible for MaineCare were kept on the MaineCare rolls, but now must obtain other insurance. → Read More
Right to Repair ballot initiative petitions approved by Maine secretary of state
The issue will go before voters in November unless the Maine Legislature approves it this session. → Read More
Recovery community welcomes Mills’ focus on opioid crisis but fears it’s not enough
The governor announced several new initiatives to combat the deadly opioid crisis during her annual speech to the Legislature on Tuesday. → Read More
Maine businesses form group to lobby for statewide ban on flavored-tobacco
The coalition – called Tobacco Free Maine Works – is an offshoot of the Flavors Hook Kids Maine lobbying effort to ban flavored tobacco products. → Read More
Military leaders defend response to Chinese spy balloon when pressed by Collins
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, questioned military leaders as vice chair of the Senate's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. → Read More
Maine could become 12th state to enact paid family leave
Advocates will descend on the State House on Tuesday to lobby for the benefit as the Legislature takes up the proposal. → Read More
Dr. Shah to attend State of the Union as he prepares for new federal role
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. → Read More
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 → Read More
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. → Read More
Maine Med raises $179 million for expansion, renovations and other projects
The fundraising campaign that began in 2016 is now complete. → Read More
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. → Read More
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. → Read More
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. → Read More
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. → Read More
Dr. Nirav Shah makes one of his final public appearances 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. → Read More
Influenza cases decline for 4th week in Maine
There were only 13 new hospitalizations for influenza, compared to 67 the previous week. → Read More
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. → Read More
Maine CDC director Shah leaving state for high-level federal post
Dr. Nirav Shah, who led the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention through the COVID pandemic, has been appointed Principal Deputy Director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. → Read More
Northern Light Health to shift 1,400 employees to health services company
No employees will be laid off, and all will retain pay and similar benefits, according to the hospital network, which hopes to save $1 billion over 10 years → Read More