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
October 16, 2016

Back injuries most common type of injuries for workers

Maine Department of Labor data show injuries to a person’s lumbar region represented 14.3 percent of all injuries reported in 2014.
Published
October 13, 2016

Tenacious Medicaid supporters ready for 2018 Maine ballot battle

If the Legislature doesn’t approve Medicaid expansion, advocates devise a backup plan.
Published
October 12, 2016

Group will launch signature drive for Medicaid expansion in Maine

Attempts to expand the Medicaid program for low-income residents have been thwarted five times by LePage vetoes.
Published
October 12, 2016

Polls busy across Maine on first day of in-person absentee voting

Town clerks report strong turnouts, as motivated voters take advantage of the opportunity to choose their candidates early in a highly polarized presidential election.
Published
October 7, 2016

Maine still has one of nation’s highest rates of unvaccinated kindergarteners

The latest national figures show Maine has the eighth highest rate of kindergarteners whose parents have opted out of vaccinations for non-medical reasons.
Published
October 4, 2016

New president named at Mercy Hospital

Charlie Therrien comes to the job from the top post at Ellsworth hospital.
Published
October 4, 2016

Chickenpox cases prompt exclusion of 5 unvaccinated students from Yarmouth school

Two children at Rowe School have come down with the highly contagious disease, which can be prevented with a vaccine.
Published
October 3, 2016

Advocates demand answers for why state ended Healthy Maine Partnerships

The Department of Health and Human Services says there’s a better way to promote public health than having 27 local agencies, but it’s unclear how it plans to proceed.
Published
September 30, 2016

Portland police officers begin carrying Narcan in response to opioid epidemic

Police Chief Michael Sauschuck says the overdose antidote isn’t a long-term solution to the problem, but ‘ it is a miracle drug that saves lives.’
Published
September 30, 2016

Small Westbrook lab in race to help speed up testing for Zika

ViroStat hopes its antibodies will be chosen by diagnostic companies and lead to results in minutes rather than weeks, and benefit people in Third World countries.