While case numbers continue to rise, the demand for appointments at some vaccination clinics has eased.
Kevin Miller
Kevin Miller joined the staff of the Portland Press Herald in 2012 and has worked as a journalist in Maine since 2005. He currently covers state politics, the Maine Legislature and environmental/natural resources issues. A policy wonk, Kevin previously wrote about Congress and federal issues as the Press Herald’s Washington, DC correspondent. Before settling in Maine, he covered state government, higher education and environmental issues for newspapers in Virginia and Maryland. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, cross-country skiing or doing pretty much anything else outdoors. He lives in Newcastle with his wife, Carissa, and their dog.
Maine close to giving 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine
New cases of COVID-19 remain elevated, although on Sunday the state passed the 50% mark for eligible residents who have received at least 1 dose of vaccine.
Young people driving case counts higher in Maine, other New England states
A ‘constellation of factors’ is likely at play: more virulent variants, increasing activity and ‘pandemic fatigue.’
Committee votes to give DEP more power to clean up ‘forever chemicals’
Maine’s 2 U.S. senators, meanwhile, are asking the Biden administration to allow states to use federal stimulus money to address PFAS contamination.
Federal toxicologist, health advocates push for tougher limits on ‘forever chemicals’
The debate in Augusta over health standards for PFAS is occurring against a backdrop of a growing contamination hotspot in central Maine.
As vaccinations increase in Maine, so do new cases and hospital patients
The number of new cases reported daily remains elevated, even as more than one-third of Maine’s population has received at least one shot of vaccine.
After months of waiting, homebound Mainers starting to get vaccines
But it’s going to take time to inoculate everyone, given the logistics of door-to-door vaccination in such a large, rural state.
Finance commissioner details breakdowns, rising cost of state’s payroll software system
The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee is considering whether to open an investigation into a technology upgrade that has cost the state more than $34 million to date and is years behind schedule.
Vaccine supplies trickling down to small Maine medical practices
The Maine CDC distributed 400 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to 4 independent primary care practices around the state this week but won’t be able to ship any next week because of reduced supply.
Maine to launch mobile units with FEMA to boost rural access to COVID-19 vaccine
The federal partnership is part of a broader effort to reduce gaps in vaccination rates among Maine counties and provide more vaccination sites in smaller communities.