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
March 16, 2020

Central Maine cities, towns react to widespread closures, restrictions due to coronavirus

A day after widespread school closures were announced, city and town officials are taking steps to halt the spread of the highly-contagious coronavirus.
Published
March 15, 2020

Togus looks to protect patients, staff from COVID-19

Administrators at the VA Maine Healthcare-Togus campus regularly train to deal with different scenarios. They have not seen anything like this before.
Published
March 15, 2020

Central Maine schools announce closures, online classes

Schools across central Maine take steps to limit possible exposure to the highly contagious coronavirus.
Published
March 14, 2020

Greg Zoulamis answers Five Questions

The owner of Zoulamis Fine Woodworking talks about the importance of flexibility and minding the details.
Published
March 13, 2020

Central Maine officials weigh risk of holding annual Town Meetings during coronavirus outbreak

With events canceled across the state and colleges sending students home, town officials are considering whether to postpone annual Town Meetings or continue with business as usual.
Published
March 13, 2020

Central Maine grocers and food sellers brace for COVID-19

Grocers, both independent and chains, are struggling to keep high-demand items on hand throughout central Maine as people prepare to spend more time at home.
Published
March 11, 2020

Richmond police Chief Scott MacMaster leaving post

The Richmond Board of Selectmen voted Monday to accept the resignation of Scott MacMaster, who has been police chief in Richmond for a decade. Sgt. James Donnell will serve as acting police chief after MacMaster leaves.
Published
March 11, 2020

Woman charged with murder in Richmond man’s death to undergo evaluation

Chanda Lilly, 30, is charged with felony murder in the death of Andrew Sherman, who was found dead in his Richmond home in October.
Published
March 10, 2020

Augusta woman charged in Richmond man’s killing, marking case’s second arrest

Chanda Lilly, 30, of Augusta, was arrested Tuesday by Maine State Police on charges of felony murder in connection with the death of Andrew Sherman last September.
Published
March 8, 2020

Gardiner marijuana rules nearly set, raise concerns about cost

While city officials want to be prepared for the launch of the adult-use marijuana market later this year, Dennis Meehan, owner of Nature’s Summit in Gardiner, is trying to determine how to navigate the new regulations and annual licensing requirements.