During a tragic winter that saw four suicides and prolonged isolation, Baileyville Police Chief Bob Fitzsimmons has served as a guardian, confidant and friend to the people in northeastern Washington County.
Health
What will it take to grow Maine’s local food economy?
Achieving the state’s goal of Maine residents eating 30 percent locally sourced foods by 2030 will require fundamental changes to the food system – and more investments.
Hunger remained high throughout the winter, but federal aid staved off organizers’ worst fears
While Maine food banks distributed more meals since March 2020 than they did the year before the pandemic, demand for heat assistance slightly decreased.
Study recommends re-evaluating most MaineCare rates every five years
Medical providers have long felt the methodology to determine how much they get paid from Maine’s Medicaid program was flawed. Armed with new data, the state must decide if and when to make changes.
Local COVID-19 task forces offer new approach to public health
The rise of community-focused groups likely helped Maine maintain low infection rates. Their success could continue even after the pandemic.
Calls to domestic violence hotlines were more frequent — and dire — during pandemic
COVID-19 increased the stress and isolation that worsens abuse, making Maine survivors feel less safe at home. Violence against women is a “shadow pandemic.”
As more people enroll in MaineCare, they may face fewer options for care
Maine lags behind other states in how much it reimburses health facilities for treating its lowest-income residents. Without change, providers fear they can’t afford to continue.
Chasing Maine: The Lifesaver
As a nurse, Nicole Gibbons often deals with life-saving situations. But in the last year she’s had to deal with two life-or-death situations outside of work.
Two mass vaccination sites open as more doses head to Maine
As sites begin operating in Bangor and Scarborough, the state receives a 16 percent increase in vaccines from the federal government.
Vaccinations ramp up in rural Maine, but limited doses entering state cause uncertainty
At least one county official is frustrated that emergency management agencies haven’t played a larger role in the rollout.
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