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
June 21, 2023

Maine’s childhood vaccination rate goes from one of nation’s lowest to one of the highest

Only medical exemptions to school-required vaccinations are permitted under the law that eliminated religious and philosophical opt-outs 2 years ago.
Published
June 20, 2023

Maine Senate follows House and approves bill protecting coverage of gender-affirming care

The Maine Senate approved the bill on Tuesday, following House approval on Friday.
Published
June 18, 2023

Maine nurses split over whether state mandate of staff ratios would help

Some see the controversial bill in the Legislature as a means of improving working conditions at badly understaffed hospitals; others say the flexibility is what allows them to do their jobs.
Published
June 16, 2023

Activists on both sides of abortion debate fill the halls in Maine’s State House

A proposal backed by Gov. Janet Mills to expand abortion access later in pregnancy is headed for votes next week in the House and Senate.
Published
June 8, 2023

Portland nursing home sees surge in COVID-19 cases

Sixty-six cases of COVID-19 have been reported since May 14 among staff and residents at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Residence.
Published
June 5, 2023

Rainy, cold weather may have silver lining: fewer browntail moths

The weather conditions may have caused the proliferation of a fungus that kills the browntail moth caterpillars.
Published
June 4, 2023

Parents of special needs children place hopes in bill that would pay them as caregivers

The bill, by Rep. Jessica Fay, was voted unanimously out of committee
Published
May 29, 2023

Maine researchers, patients help shed new light on mysteries of long COVID

A new national study tracked 10,000 patients in Maine and across the country.
Published
May 25, 2023

Gov. Mills proposes changes to paid family leave plan

As proponents rally to build support for the bill, the governor recommends tightening eligibility and reducing payouts for the proposal, which is under attack from some business groups that say it would be too burdensome on employers.
Published
May 23, 2023

Business groups come out against paid family leave proposal

But the groups also said they are willing to seek a compromise that could address the business community’s concerns.