Joe Lawlor

Press Herald

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.

Latest

Published
July 21, 2021

Maine hospitals giving wage increases to address pandemic workforce shortages

MaineHealth is investing $61 million in raises for 18,000 employees, the health care network announced Wednesday. Other major health care networks have done the same.
Published
July 21, 2021

Climb continues as Maine reports 47 new cases of COVID-19 and 5 more deaths

Maine’s increases are lower than some parts of the country, such as Florida and Missouri, where the delta variant has taken hold.
Published
July 19, 2021

More than half of Mainers age 12-19 have had COVID-19 shots

Nationwide, only about 14% of the population that is younger than 18 has had even a first dose of coronavirus vaccine, according to data from Mayo Clinic.
Published
July 15, 2021

Maine expanding opioid treatment during wave of overdose deaths

Gov. Janet Mills says at Maine’s third Opioid Response Summit that isolation caused by the pandemic and resulting mental health challenges contributed to more substance use.
Published
July 14, 2021

Lawmakers commission probe of Maine’s child protective services

The deaths of several Maine children are a ‘call to action,’ said the state’s director of the Office of Child and Family Services.
Published
July 13, 2021

Maine reports 65 new cases of COVID-19 over 3 days

The state announced the opening of a new vaccination clinic at the Portland International Jetport, as it strives to add more people to the list of those protected against the virus.
Published
July 9, 2021

Lawmaker cites ‘appalling’ death of 3-year-old in call for probe of Maine’s child welfare system

The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee will meet Wednesday with state officials in child protective services.
Published
July 9, 2021

Maine reports 9 new cases of COVID-19, 1 more death

Fifty-nine percent of Maine residents are fully vaccinated, the third-best rate in the nation.
Published
July 8, 2021

Maine reports 36 new cases of COVID-19

There were no additional deaths, and the seven-day average of new cases continues to decline.
Published
July 7, 2021

Maine reports its lowest COVID-19 test positivity rate on record

The rate is a key indicator of how widely the virus is circulating in the community.