Mills was included in Phase 1A as a ‘person critical to Maine’s COVID-19 response,’ her office said.
Eric Russell
Staff Writer
Eric Russell has been a general assignment reporter at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram since 2012 and has been a journalist in Maine since 2004. Because he doesnโt have a specific geographic or topical area to cover, Eric often is free to roam the state in pursuit of the most interesting stories, whether itโs tackling the big topic of the day or chasing ideas that fall just outside the boundaries of everyday news. His favorite assignments are ones where he can leave the office and meet with people in their homes or their workplaces to talk about their struggles and challenges โ and sometimes their triumphs. Or to try and answer complicated questions.
Eric grew up in Southern Maine, went to college at the University of Maine and worked in Bangor for eight years before joining the Press Herald. He lives in Brunswick with his wife, a school teacher, and two daughters.
Maine shifts vaccine strategy to focus on older residents, high-risk patients, emergency workers
The virus continues to spread rapidly even as Maine works to vaccinate as many health care workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities as it can.
State may change hospitals’ vaccine guidelines to prioritize workers who face most risk
Maine’s CDC director says the state wants to be more explicit with hospitals about which health care workers should get priority for vaccination.
2020 will likely set new record for most drug overdose deaths in Maine
The 380 drug-related deaths in the first nine months of last year matches the total for all of 2019 and puts Maine on pace to surpass the previous high of 417, in 2017.
Maine reports grim new records: 41 more deaths and 782 cases
Six of the deaths occurred in the previous 48 hours, while the rest happened in December and were linked to COVID-19 by the Maine CDC in follow-up investigations.
Maine historians see unprecedented event in storming of U.S. Capitol
The breach of the Capitol building by pro-Trump extremists is more in line with coups that have occurred in other, less stable countries.
Lawsuit faults Maine DHHS for use of powerful medications on foster children
The federal government raised concerns about the use of psychotropic medications on Maine foster children in 2018.
Maine shatters another COVID-19 record, reports 748 new cases
The Maine CDC recorded 8 more deaths, but noted that many of the new cases were from a test results backlog that the agency has begun to process and enter into the case reporting system.
State employees union files complaint over COVID-19 information sharing
The Maine Service Employees Union, which represents thousands of state government workers, says it has been requesting the information from the Mills administration since the summer.
Unparalleled volume near holiday adds long delays to shipping
U.S. Postal Service officials say carriers are working well into the night on most days to deliver an unprecedented volume of packages before Christmas.