Jessica Lowell

Kennebec Journal

Jessica Lowell covers business and economic development and general news in the Gardiner area. After short but intense aspirations to be an opera singer (age 4) and a deep-sea diver (age 6) her most enduring passion has been telling stories. A University of Maine graduate, she worked for newspapers in New Hampshire, upstate New York and Wyoming, where she has won awards for investigative and explanatory journalism. She’s a fellow of the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism and the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources. After several years out of journalism, she returned to Maine and to writing, where she spends her free time enjoying both trees and the ocean, two commodities that Wyoming lacks.

Latest

Published
June 24, 2020

Gardiner officials pass $6.12 million city budget

The $6.12 million final budget reflects cuts requested by the City Council over concerns about increasing property taxes to residents in economically uncertain times.
Published
June 24, 2020

Dry conditions shut down fire permits, drain wells across central Maine

With a moisture deficit that stretches back months, many of the state’s rivers are also running low.
Published
June 22, 2020

Final vote expected Wednesday on Gardiner budget

At the same time, the Gardiner City Council is expected to ratify union contracts with the city’s four bargaining units.
Published
June 22, 2020

Florida man dies in I-295 crash day after graduating from Thomas College

State Police: Antonio Martinez, 22, was likely texting while driving Sunday night and lost control of his pickup truck near Exit 43 in Richmond.
Published
June 21, 2020

Central Maine nonprofits grapple with uncertain funding, event planning

Like their for-profit counterparts, nonprofits are struggling with how to continue fulfill their missions when some external funding sources are drying up and their own fundraisers may have restrictions.
Published
June 18, 2020

Richmond RSU 2 withdrawal committee to work on proposed school budget

The withdrawal committee is still working toward a June 30 deadline for a proposed budget for the first year of a standalone Richmond school district, as well as a negotiated withdrawal agreement.
Published
June 18, 2020

Kennebec Savings Bank, Kennebec Federal Savings announce merger

The two central Maine banks made the announcement Thursday, and expect to complete the consolidation by year’s end.
Published
June 16, 2020

Kennebec County Commissioners pass increased budget

To help municipalities with cash flow, commissioners voted to allow them to pay their county tax in two payments for this year only.
Published
June 14, 2020

Richmond’s proposed agreement to leave RSU 2 taking shape

Work on a proposed separation agreement is expected to continue Wednesday, when district representatives and withdrawal committee members are scheduled to meet for the second time.
Published
June 12, 2020

Gardiner-area school district sets voting, public meeting on the proposed budget

Because of limits on public meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic, the School Administrative District 11’s districtwide budget meeting has been replaced this year with a remote public hearing.