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
February 18, 2016

Research at Bar Harbor lab could be used to reduce nerve pain

The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory has made advances in studies involving zebrafish under a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Published
February 17, 2016

Methadone reimbursement bill meets resistance from Republican lawmakers

Skeptics on the Health and Human Services Committee question the effectiveness of the medication, which is used to treat opioid addiction.
Published
February 16, 2016

Later start times for southern Maine middle and high schools proposed

With an eye toward student health, the CDC recommends the school day start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Published
February 11, 2016

Gov. LePage criticized for joke about Chinese investor before a crowd in Lewiston

Pretending to sneeze while pronouncing the investor’s name is seen as offensive by some in the Chinese-American community.
Published
February 10, 2016

State defends letter pushing food stamp recipients to put photos on EBT cards

But the DHHS policy is under scrutiny after complaints that it appears to say photos are mandatory.
Published
February 9, 2016

Collins cites possible tie between hospital pain control surveys, overprescription of opioids

The Maine Republican leads a group of 26 senators questioning whether hospital patient surveys on pain control should be tied to federal funding.
Published
February 3, 2016

Sen. Angus King urges CVS to make overdose antidote available over the counter

The drug store chain already offers naloxone without a prescription in 14 states, and Maine has a dire need, he says.
Published
February 2, 2016

Maine has big stake in Obama plan to combat heroin addiction

If Congress approves the funding, thousands could get treatment in the state, which has been hit hard by the epidemic.
Published
January 28, 2016

Bill to boost MaineCare payments for methadone clinics receives support from doctors, police

No one speaks against a Republican senator’s proposal, an effort to help more clinics open and improve services to fight addiction.
Published
January 27, 2016

To fight drug crisis, lawmaker would raise reimbursement for Maine methadone clinics

Republican Sen. David Woodsome of North Waterboro says methadone is a proven treatment, but the state’s MaineCare reimbursement rates are too low to support clinics.