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
April 19, 2023

Victims in Bowdoin shooting remembered as good friends, caring people

‘She would do anything for anyone,’ Linda Walker said of good friend Patti Eger, 1 of 4 people killed Tuesday in Bowdoin.
Published
April 18, 2023

Suspect arrested after shootings leave 4 dead in Bowdoin, 3 wounded on I-295

State police say 34-year-old Joseph Eaton of Bowdoin has been charged with murder. Investigators are still processing multiple crime scenes in southern Maine.
Published
April 15, 2023

Officials report no threat to public health or safety after train derails near Rockwood

A Canadian Pacific Kansas City freight train derailed around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, but officials said hazardous materials on board the train were not involved in a fire that started.
Published
April 5, 2023

First lady Jill Biden visits Southern Maine Community College

She was joined by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona as part of the Biden administration’s ‘Investing in America’ tour and to highlight career-connected learning and workforce training programs.
Published
March 31, 2023

Lawmakers consider proposals to stop changing clocks twice a year

The Legislature is weighing 3 bills: One would have the state make Eastern Standard Time permanent, a second would do the same for Eastern Daylight Time, and a third would study the impacts of no longer changing the clocks.
Published
March 24, 2023

City plans to reopen Portland Expo as temporary shelter for asylum seekers

Staff plan to open the Expo as a temporary shelter as soon as April 10 and operate it until a private effort to open a new shelter on Blueberry Road is complete.
Published
March 23, 2023

State awards $4 million for proposed 280-bed emergency shelter in Portland

The nonprofit Center for Regional Prosperity is collaborating with developers to convert a Blueberry Road site into a 280-bed facility.
Published
March 3, 2023

Union representing state employees files complaint alleging labor law violations

The Maine Service Employees Association says the state has refused to negotiate unless the union agrees to limits on the size of its bargaining team and on whether other members can observe negotiations.
Published
February 15, 2023

Department of Public Safety names new state fire marshal and MDEA director

Richard McCarthy has been nominated to serve as the next state fire marshal and Richard Desjardins has been appointed as the new director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Published
January 26, 2023

One month after Edgecomb toddler killed, neighbor remembers ‘perfect kid’

Maine State Police have not released a cause of death for Makinzlee Handrahan, 3, who was found unresponsive Christmas morning, or filed any criminal charges despite ruling her death a homicide.