Supporters are pressing for a law to establish a statewide benefit that would typically be used for the birth of a child, to care for a sick or elderly relative, or when a worker falls ill and needs time to recover.
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 inMaine, Politics
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.
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Posted inMaine
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.
Posted inMaine
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.
Posted inMaine, 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 inBusiness, Maine
Maine Med raises $179 million for expansion, renovations and other projects
The fundraising campaign that began in 2016 is now complete.
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, Maine, 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 inMaine, Schools & 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, Maine, 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.