Joe Lawlor

Staff Writer

Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people. He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.

Latest

Published
July 19, 2017

Child care advocates criticize plan to ease rules for in-home facilities

The state argues that streamlining regulations for training and staff-to-child ratios will increase access in rural Maine, but kids’ advocates say weakening oversight would erode quality and safety.
Published
July 18, 2017

Operation Hope stops sending clients out of New England for opioid addiction treatment

The Scarborough police chief, who oversees the program, cites media reports of fraudulent practices at clinics in Florida.
Published
July 16, 2017

In alarming trend, more Maine kids lacking vaccinations

The number of parents opting out for philosophical or religious reasons has climbed, raising the risks of disease transmission.
Published
July 14, 2017

Maine doctors prescribing far fewer opioids, analysis at county level shows

A report says the number fell 21.5% from 2013 to 2016, but it may be a long time before the trend reduces addiction rates and deaths.
Published
July 11, 2017

Sen. King, 15 colleagues urge DEA to lower cap on opioid production

The legal painkillers, which have a high potential for abuse because of their addictive properties, have been blamed for deadly drug epidemics in Maine and other states.
Published
July 11, 2017

LePage spokeswoman leaving administration to take job with bank

Adrienne Bennett has been the chief spokeswoman for the governor since he took office in 2011, often challenging the press as she defended the sometimes controversial statements made by LePage.
Published
July 3, 2017

Budget battle risks depleting services for those with cognitive disabilities

About 5,000 Maine adults rely on group homes, and waiting lists have been growing.
Published
June 28, 2017

Rally in Portland celebrates setback for Senate health care bill

Protesters thank Sen. Susan Collins for opposing the Republican proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act.
Published
June 26, 2017

Older, rural Mainers would be hit hard by Senate bill

A new Kaiser Foundation analysis finds that older Mainers with moderate incomes could see monthly premiums jump from $373 to $1,757.
Published
June 26, 2017

Anthem predicts thousands will drop ACA coverage in Maine

The insurer expects nearly 11 percent of the 80,000 people who are insured on the ACA market will leave, forcing insurers to raise rates.