Rachel Ohm

Press Herald

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.

Latest

Published
March 13, 2020

As other states shut schools, Maine educators prepare for prospect of remote learning

While several districts announce 1-day closures, the Wells-Ogunquit and Mount Desert Island districts are closing for 1 week and 2 weeks, respectively, to prepare for the possibility of a longer-term shutdown.
Published
March 12, 2020

Baxter Academy will close, transition to remote learning amid coronavirus spread

As K-12 schools around Maine announced plans to cancel or postpone large events and activities, the charter school said Thursday it will transition to distance learning by Monday.
Published
March 11, 2020

UMaine System, Bowdoin join move to get students off campuses

Fearing that students who travel for spring break could bring the coronavirus back to Maine, the schools announce plans to transition to distance learning for the rest of this semester.
Published
March 9, 2020

Portland schools chief wouldn’t back USM program co-led by former Kennebunk superintendent

The university is reviewing decisions related to the Southern Maine Partnership and co-director Katie Hawes, who came under fire for Regional School Unit 21’s handling of racist incidents.
Published
March 9, 2020

Coronavirus forces Maine schools to think about contingency plans

With guidance from the Department of Education and Maine CDC, they are preparing for a possible pandemic by reviewing emergency plans, stepping up cleaning and considering distance learning.
Published
March 5, 2020

Pros and cons of school policing are debated at Portland forum

Police stress the relationship building and safety aspects of their role in schools, while others question whether money could be better spent on other ways of helping students, such as counseling.
Published
March 4, 2020

Critics of Sen. Collins’ Kavanaugh vote watching Supreme Court abortion case from Louisiana

The first major abortion case to come before the court since Brett Kavanaugh was seated has renewed criticism of Sen. Susan Collins’ vote to confirm him.
Published
March 3, 2020

Gideon casts vote for Biden in Maine primary

The Maine speaker of the House had faced pressure to answer on how she would vote, while Democrats have questioned whether U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will support Trump in November.
Published
March 3, 2020

LaJeunesse calls for debates among Sen. Collins’ Democratic challengers

Ross LaJeunesse, who is among four Democratic challengers seeking to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, has called for debates in all 16 counties before the June 9 primary.
Published
March 2, 2020

Portland school board to revisit proposal for police use of body cameras

The draft agreement, to be considered by the school board Tuesday, would allow the police department to have custody of video recordings but restrict their release.