Colin Woodard

Press Herald

Colin Woodard is the Press Herald’s State and National Affairs Writer, and is often at work on large investigative projects. Born in Waterville and raised in western Maine, he was a foreign correspondent for two decades, reported from more than fifty countries on all seven continents, and witnessed the collapse of communism and its bloody aftermath in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He’s written five books, including histories of Maine (The Lobster Coast), North America’s rival regional cultures (American Nations) and the Golden Age Pirates (Republic of Pirates), which was turned into a quickly forgotten NBC mini-series starring John Malkovich as Blackbeard. Since joining the Press Herald in 2012, he’s won a George Polk Award and was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting. He used to be an avid sailor and SCUBA diver, but with small kids at home, his hobbies now include sleeping and picking up toys.

Local & State, Nation & World, News

In address, Gov. Mills vows Maine will be carbon neutral by 2045, and challenges others

by Colin Woodard September 23, 2019December 27, 2019

The only U.S. elected official to address the climate summit, Janet Mills announced an executive order aimed at making Maine’s economy carbon neutral.

Local & State, News

Watch: Gov. Mills addresses U.N. on Maine’s climate change plans

by Colin Woodard September 20, 2019December 27, 2019

She will be Maine’s first sitting governor to speak before the international body’s General Assembly.

Local & State

Maine finally addressing climate change in the gulf

by Colin Woodard September 16, 2019December 27, 2019

For eight years, state government did little to deal with the impacts of a warming Gulf of Maine. That’s starting to change.

Local & State

Waters off the coast of Maine vulnerable to changing climate

by Colin Woodard September 15, 2019September 15, 2019

Warming within the swirling ocean depths of the Gulf of Maine has implications for all life and livelihoods within the ecosystem. Scientists, fishermen and aquaculturists brace for challenges.

Business, Local & State, News, Uncategorized

Cruise ship passengers spending less than first reported

by Colin Woodard August 26, 2019August 26, 2019

A new study finds each spends under $62 in Maine, down from a previous estimate of $110.

Business, Local & State, News, Politics

WGME, other Sinclair stations run stories touting new Trump campaign hat

by Colin Woodard August 19, 2019September 14, 2020

Some stations published online stories with direct links to the Trump campaign store’s purchasing page for the new red hats.

Local & State, News, Politics, Uncategorized

Why did Trump’s ‘judge whisperer’ buy a house on the Maine coast?

by Colin Woodard August 18, 2019July 20, 2023

Leonard Leo, a central figure in the Brett Kavanaugh nomination, bought the Northeast Harbor mansion last fall. This month, it hosted a fundraiser for Sen. Susan Collins that drew protesters.