The Trump administration is proposing a 40% cut in the NIH for 2026, and Sen. Susan Collins said federal cutbacks are disrupting research into Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
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.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, Schools and Education
Maine’s K-12 schools report record high immunization levels
Vaccine coverage has reached ‘more than 97%’ in Maine’s K-12 schools, achieving ‘herd immunity.’
advertisement
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Care workers gather at Maine State House to join call for wage increases
Advocates say the state needs to support raises for direct care workers so nursing homes, group homes and other agencies can compete for staff with fast food restaurants and retailers.
Posted inLocal & State
Free Alzheimer’s educational conference to be held in Portland next week
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is hosting the conference on June 11 at the Portland Regency.
Posted inBusiness, Health, Local & State
Stalled contract talks with Anthem may cost Northern Light patients
Northern Light says the contract will expire Sept. 30 if it and the health insurer can’t come to an agreement, resulting in thousands of patients paying out-of-network fees for care.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News, Schools and Education
Maine’s only medical school to expand in new home
The University of New England medical school will be moving from Biddeford into a new, $90 million building in Portland.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
New law lets Maine prescribers keep their names off abortion pill labels
The bill allows health care providers to not have their name on prescribing labels over concerns about threats and harassment for prescribing abortion medication.
Posted inHealth, Local & State
Maine health experts still recommend children, pregnant women get COVID-19 vaccine
This conflicts with guidance from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine advocate, who is recommending that healthy children and pregnant women not get COVID-19 shots.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, Politics
Rep. Pingree decries cuts to Planned Parenthood, Medicaid
During a roundtable discussion in Portland, Planned Parenthood officials said ‘everything is on the table’ for cutbacks if the Republican budget bill becomes law.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Collapse of Maine’s browntail moth population brings a less itchy spring
The forest pest — which causes an itchy rash that can last for weeks — may be entering the bust phase of its boom and bust cycle.