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
June 28, 2023

Asylum seekers protest conditions at Portland Expo, lack of long-term plan

City officials met with the protesters, who say they have been served expired food and worry about where they will go when the Expo closes in mid-August.
Published
June 5, 2023

Landlords, realtors ramp up spending ahead of rent control referendum

Backers of Question A, which would remove the 5% cap on rent increases when apartments turn over, have raised and spent far more than opponents headed into the June 13 election.
Published
May 18, 2023

Could Maine’s college dorms help solve the homelessness crisis?

A group of advocates and officials said Thursday that they will ask the state to look into opening unused dorms for temporary housing.
Published
May 16, 2023

Federal asylum rule change could affect flow of new immigrants into Maine

Immigrant advocates say they are worried that a new federal rule will broadly block access to asylum at the southern border. The new rule allows border agents to turn away asylum seekers if they haven’t first applied online or sought protection in a country they traveled through to reach the U.S. border. Most asylum seekers […]
Published
May 11, 2023

Lawmakers considering proposals to create statewide database for General Assistance

Tracking information could be an essential part of larger reforms for the program, some lawmakers and state officials say.
Published
May 7, 2023

Landlords pour more money into proposed rent control change

The Committee to Improve Rent Control has raised about 8 times as much cash as its opponents as the June 13 referendum approaches.
Published
May 5, 2023

Municipal leaders ask state to increase General Assistance reimbursements

Lawmakers are considering a handful of bills that would increase the state reimbursement to 90%.
Published
April 24, 2023

Portland will reevaluate decision to have Papi remove antique doors

The move comes after the Press Herald reported that the Puerto Rican restaurant in the Old Port was ordered to remove the doors because they did not meet the standards for alterations in historic districts.
Published
April 23, 2023

Portland orders restaurant to remove antique doors over ‘false sense of history’

Papi imported doors from Puerto Rico, but the city says the doors must come down because they don’t honor the history of the Exchange Street building. Some residents say it’s unfair.
Published
April 21, 2023

Portland tells families it can’t guarantee shelter after Expo reaches capacity

New families, including asylum seekers, will still be able to access General Assistance if they can find housing on their own, but all of the city shelters are full.