Penelope Overton

Staff Writer

Penny is excited to be the Portland Press Herald’s first climate reporter. Since joining the paper in 2016, she has written about Maine’s lobster and cannabis industries, covered state politics and spent a fellowship year exploring the impact of climate change on the lobster fishery with the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. Before moving to Maine, she covered politics, environment, casino gambling and tribal issues in Florida, Connecticut and Arizona. Her favorite assignments allow her to introduce readers to unusual people, cultures, or subjects. When off the clock, Penny is usually getting lost in a new book at a local coffeehouse, watching foreign crime shows or planning her family’s next adventure.

Business, Local & State, Maine Cannabis Report

CBD foods sold in Maine must be made with locally grown hemp

by Penelope Overton August 2, 2019August 2, 2019

A state law that took effect Thursday was created as a workaround to a federal ban.

Cops & Courts, Local & State, News

Sanford police seize cocaine, crack worth $16,000

by Penelope Overton July 26, 2019July 26, 2019

Three Massachusetts men arrested during the vehicle stop are facing drug trafficking charges.

Business

Customer outrage dominates final CMP rate hike hearing

by Penelope Overton July 22, 2019July 22, 2019

Ratepayers urge public utilities commissioners to delay a rate hike until the utility lives up to its pledge to deal with customers’ overbilling complaints.

Business, Local & State, News

Extra pogy catch could ease bait worries for lobster industry

by Penelope Overton July 15, 2019July 16, 2019

Maine gets approval to fish for another 4.7 million pounds of pogy, or menhaden, but will likely need more bait fish as the lobster season hits its stride.

Business, Local & State, Politics

Mills comes out against ‘foolish’ federal regulations to protect right whales

by Penelope Overton July 11, 2019July 15, 2019

The governor is directing the Department of Marine Resources to come up with an alternative to a federal plan to reduce the Maine lobster industry’s impact on endangered right whales.

Business, Local & State

For lobster industry, a boatload of stresses

by Penelope Overton July 7, 2019July 7, 2019

A cold, wet spring delays the season’s start, bait prices are high and whale protections loom on a ‘stormy’ horizon.

Business, Local & State

CMP’s president and owner are named as defendants in lawsuit claiming fraud

by Penelope Overton June 27, 2019June 28, 2019

Law firms accuse Douglas Herling and Iberdrola of fraud and racketeering, opening the door to higher damages for ratepayers who were overcharged or victims of abusive collection practices.