Emily Allen

Press Herald

Emily covers courts for the Press Herald. Before moving to Maine in March 2022, she spent nearly three years in West Virginia, reporting on the southern coalfields, local and state government for West Virginia Public Broadcasting and Mountain State Spotlight, a nonprofit newsroom. Hailing from the upper Midwest, Emily cut her teeth covering city government for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus. When she's not working, Emily's usually reading (and is always on the hunt for good book recommendations).

Latest

Published
May 12, 2023

Former Portland teacher met with student while under investigation for child pornography

Travis McCutcheon, 53, has been a teacher in several Maine districts since 1992. He was most recently working in a special education program at Portland schools until February.
Published
May 4, 2023

Eliot Cutler returns to court, pleads guilty to child porn charges

More than a year after the former gubernatorial candidate was charged with 4 counts of possessing sexually explicit images and videos of children, he entered a guilty plea Thursday and will spend 9 months in jail.
Published
May 2, 2023

Eliot Cutler to serve 9 months in prison on child porn charges

The former gubernatorial candidate is expected to plead guilty on Thursday and begin serving his prison term on June 1.
Published
May 1, 2023

Maine’s chief U.S. District judge announces retirement

Jon Levy, who has presided over Maine’s federal courts since 2014, will retire next year.
Published
April 24, 2023

Maine agency for indigent legal defense announces new leader

Jim Billings will take over as executive director of the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services. Toby Jandreau will become the state’s new lead public defender.
Published
April 20, 2023

Maine lawmakers reject expanded legal support for families in child protection system

The pilot sought to connect 30 families in central Maine with attorneys who could help them navigate the child protective system before losing custody of their children.
Published
April 19, 2023

Tennessee hospital’s website drops name of former Maine priest working there as a chaplain

Anthony Cipolle, who has been a resident chaplain at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was removed from the program’s website this week after the Press Herald reported on a woman’s allegation that he coerced her into a sexual relationship.
Published
April 18, 2023

Maine’s commission on indigent defense to make job offer to executive director candidate

The commission’s current director, Justin Andrus, announced this year that he will leave the position by June 30.
Published
April 16, 2023

The priest broke his vows, she says. She’s breaking the silence.

Melissa Kearns says a Maine Catholic priest – newly ordained in 2017 – took advantage of her and abused her when she was vulnerable. She believes he could be a danger to others.
Published
April 14, 2023

State leaders denounce white supremacist letters sent to lawmakers

At least 8 Democratic legislators received the letters Wednesday, leaders said. A former Portland City Council candidate read the same letter aloud at Monday’s council meeting.