The funding will be used to launch a virtual center overseeing a variety of short-term training initiatives aimed at the unemployed, front-line workers and Mainers lacking degrees.
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.
As COVID-19 surge continues, Maine college campuses remain virtually immune
Schools say a combination of vaccine mandates, indoor masking in public spaces and regular testing have kept case numbers low.
Maine reports 738 new cases and 2 deaths as CDC continues to work through backlog
The seven-day average of new cases rose to 593 on Friday, but the state is continuing to work through a backlog of positive test results that date back more than a week.
New COVID cases and outbreaks jump again in Maine schools
The 108 schools with reported outbreaks this week represent 15% of the schools statewide, but Education Commissioner Pender Makin says the department is confident that in-school learning can continue.
Maine author says father died after COVID-19 exposure in Bangor hospital
Christina Baker Kline says the virus was not the ultimate cause of her father’s death, but ‘he died in quarantine with COVID with multiple infections that he got in the hospital as the result of COVID-related delays.’
Old Orchard Beach High condemns photo of white students wearing do-rags, flashing ‘gang signals’
The photo posted on Instagram was deleted after school administrators raised concerns about cultural appropriation.
Students push UMaine System to end its investments in fossil fuels
A policy adopted in 2016 has significantly reduced the university system’s investments in fossil fuels, but students say they want to see full divestment.
Maine schools now have 72 outbreaks and 2,080 cases as COVID surge continues
The state has set hospitalization records repeatedly in recent days, although a recent decline in the rate of positive tests could be a sign that the latest surge is easing.
MaineHealth awarded $1 million to study COVID-19 testing in vulnerable communities
The funding will be used to study ways to make regular testing accessible and to increase testing usage among Maine’s immigrant, low-income and homeless populations.
All Maine schools to begin testing drinking water for lead under new state law
The Maine Drinking Water Program is helping coordinate and pay for schools to test all drinking and cooking water fixtures this year.