Kelley Bouchard

Portland Press Herald

Kelley Bouchard writes about what’s happening in Maine and beyond, with a focus on South Portland, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and other communities in Cumberland County. Her interests include housing, immigration, human rights, history, aging issues, sustainability, the environment and the untold story. A Maine native and University of Maine graduate, she was a college intern for two summers at the former Lewiston Evening Journal. Before joining the staff of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram in 1998, she was a reporter for the Ipswich Chronicle, Beverly Times and Salem Evening News in Massachusetts. Favorite pastimes include gardening, cooking for family and friends, streaming foreign TV series and kayaking at camp.

Latest

Published
March 24, 2018

Heavy recruiting shows Toys R Us workers won’t wait for new jobs

The South Portland store will likely stay open three more months, but Maine’s labor market is so tight that other retailers are already poaching its employees.
Published
March 23, 2018

Scarborough superintendent says she didn’t intend to infringe on students’ rights

Julie Kukenberger defends halting a student voter registration drive by saying she wanted to protect students who were feeling pressured to join an effort to unseat school board members.
Published
March 23, 2018

Scarborough superintendent tries to halt student voter registration drive

Senior class officers complete their effort to register 18-year-old students and sign petitions to recall 3 school board members.
Published
March 20, 2018

South Portland sets date to reconsider short-term rental rules

Residents continue the argument over Airbnb-style home rentals as the City Council takes action on a successful referendum petition.
Published
March 19, 2018

Budgets plowed under as municipalities deal with season heavy on the ice and snow

Whether paying for wages, sand or salt, costs exceed spending expectations as the wicked winter fades – and a new storm looms.
Published
March 19, 2018

Seeing the signs: Renowned USM professor reflects on life-changing language discovery

Decades after documenting sign language created ‘out of nothing’ in Nicaragua, Judy Shepard-Kegl firmly believes she was right not to influence it.
Published
March 12, 2018

Scarborough High School teachers cast no-confidence vote against superintendent

The 83-1 vote against Julie Kukenberger preceded a heated school board workshop where one member walked out after speakers questioned the handling of a principal’s recent resignation.
Published
March 11, 2018

South Portland residents clash over short-term rental petition

Police issue a cease harassment notice to one petition opponent after confrontations occur in front of Scratch Bakery, at the post office and during neighborhood canvassing.
Published
March 8, 2018

South Portland seeks pier expansion ideas from fishermen, aquaculture operators

City officials looking to invest in the Portland Street Pier hope to tap growth in shellfish farming in Casco Bay.
Published
March 8, 2018

Scarborough school board chair says public doesn’t know whole story of principal’s resignation

Facing a recall threat from a group that wants David Creech to keep his job, Donna Beeley says confidentiality is keeping the other side of the departure story from being told.