While official results are not yet available, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said Maine had strong voter turnout, and absentee ballot use, for an off-year, referendum-only election.
Rachel Ohm
Staff Writer
Rachel covers state government and politics for the Portland Press Herald. It’s her third beat at the paper after stints covering City Hall and education. Prior to her arrival at the Press Herald in the summer of 2019, Rachel worked at the Morning Sentinel in Waterville, covering Franklin and Somerset counties, and the Knoxville News Sentinel in Knoxville, Tennessee, covering higher education. She has a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and when she’s not writing and reporting enjoys running, cooking and traveling to new places.
Posted inLocal & State, Schools and Education
Lack of permits leads to extra costs and delays for Portland school renovation projects
The projects at Reiche, Presumpscot and Longfellow elementary schools are facing an additional $1.4 million in costs due to permitting delays.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine reports another 572 cases of COVID-19 and 6 additional deaths
Hospitalizations also remain high, with 206 people across the state hospitalized with COVID-19 on Thursday.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
UMaine System trustees accept USM president’s resignation despite faculty’s concerns
The board of trustees is moving ahead with a search for a new president at the University of Southern Maine after accepting Glenn Cummings’ request to return to the faculty.
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State, News, Schools and Education
Portland school employee now faces federal sex crime charges
The latest charges against Benjamin Conroy are related to the same incident in the classroom at Ocean Avenue Elementary School where he worked as an education technician.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
USM Faculty Senate urges UMaine System to retain Cummings as president
Glenn Cummings says the faculty resolution is ‘very heartwarming,’ but he is comfortable with his decision to step down from the presidency into a teaching position.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Portland warns parents it may cancel some school bus runs because of driver shortage
The district is telling families of elementary and middle school students to prepare for the possibility that one or more daily runs could be canceled this fall, while it offers incentives to try to hire more people.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Portland school board approves policy defining role of police in schools
The policy, approved unanimously Tuesday, offers clarity for when police should and shouldn’t be in schools and on what grounds they’re allowed to interview students.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Portland school principal apologizes for email criticizing women of color on charter commission
Robyn Bailey apologizes to the school community in a letter, and Superintendent Xavier Botana, while rejecting her claims, says he has addressed them with her and stands by the decision to appoint her interim principal of Lincoln Middle School.
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State, News
Portland education technician accused of sex crimes has past criminal background
Benjamin Conroy’s past convictions include two counts of operating under the influence in 2018, though it was unclear Friday whether that should have excluded him from working in a school.