The school department agreed to pay $170,000 to Michele Figueira and $67,500 to her lawyers after she alleged the school discriminated against her for being gay.
Lana Cohen
Staff Writer
Lana covers education for the Portland Press Herald. She joins the Press Herald from VTDigger, where she covered Chittenden County, Vermont’s population center. Previously she was a Report for America fellow in Mendocino County, covering environmental news for a digital outlet and a public radio station. She also reported on the environment for digital news outlet, WhoWhatWhy. In her spare time Lana enjoys hiking with her Goldendoodle, Rigby, running, surfing and baking.
Posted inLocal & State
Portland couple says their landlords retaliated after they complained of rent hike
But their landlords say it’s not that simple – they just want to be able to come home. Advocates of the rent control ordinance say it’s an important test case of enforcement over the law.
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Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State
Former Portland property manager pleads guilty to embezzling federal funds
Kay Ballinger, of Glenburn, faces up to 15 years in prison for the scheme to steal funds for low-income renters.
Posted inBusiness, Food, Local & State
USDA to continue classifying potato as a vegetable, not a grain
The decision comes amid updates to U.S. dietary guidelines that generated pushback from Maine lawmakers.
Posted inAnimals, Life & Culture, Local & State
Piping plovers are returning to Maine for the season
Roughly 100 pairs of the small shorebirds have been counted so far this year, and volunteers are starting work to protect the nests.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Local & State
Cumberland singer Julia Gagnon advances to top 7 on ‘American Idol’
Gagnon sang ‘Over the Rainbow,’ the song made famous by Judy Garland in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Local & State
Cumberland singer Julia Gagnon advances to top 8 on ‘American Idol’
Gagnon sang ‘Here I Am’ by Bryan Adams on Sunday night, once again winning praise from the ‘Idol’ judges. She vies for a spot in the top 7 on Monday.
Posted inLocal & State, Schools and Education
University of Maine System seeing early success with new direct admissions program
UMaine schools are part of a national trend where acceptance offers are made to select students who never officially applied. So far, nearly 300 students who received the UMaine offers have enrolled.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Overcrowded Maine schools face looming crisis when voters reject bonds
Districts such as Scarborough and others in southern Maine – where residents have balked at tax hikes – have few alternatives when they need to fund large construction projects.
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State
Portland man charged with drug trafficking after police say $10,000 of fentanyl found
James Ferrar, 30, was arrested Thursday and charged with 3 counts of unlawful trafficking.