A Canadian Pacific Kansas City freight train derailed around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, but officials said hazardous materials on board the train were not involved in a fire that started.
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
Portland leaders hear calls for a tougher response to recent neo-Nazi rally
Interim City Manager Danielle West said she will be working with Interim Chief F. Heath Gorham to consider recommendations from the district attorney.
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Posted inLocal & State
Portland once again opens Expo as temporary shelter as asylum seekers flow into city
The Expo will house nearly 300 asylum seekers through the summer as Portland continues to try to absorb an influx of new arrivals.
Posted inLocal & State, News
District attorney: Police mishandled neo-Nazi rally that led to fight
In a memo to the council Friday, the chief said officers were unable to take enforcement action due to the circumstances surrounding a fight that broke out. But the district attorney said charges were possible and the response fell short.
Posted inLocal & State
Portland asks for donations to support asylum seekers as city prepares to open Expo
The Expo is slated to open Monday as a temporary emergency shelter for up to 300 asylum-seeking individuals and families.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools & Education
First lady Jill Biden visits Southern Maine Community College
She was joined by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona as part of the Biden administration’s ‘Investing in America’ tour and to highlight career-connected learning and workforce training programs.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Lawmakers consider proposals to stop changing clocks twice a year
The Legislature is weighing 3 bills: One would have the state make Eastern Standard Time permanent, a second would do the same for Eastern Daylight Time, and a third would study the impacts of no longer changing the clocks.
Posted inLocal & State
City plans to reopen Portland Expo as temporary shelter for asylum seekers
Staff plan to open the Expo as a temporary shelter as soon as April 10 and operate it until a private effort to open a new shelter on Blueberry Road is complete.
Posted inLocal & State
New homeless services center opens, expanding shelter capacity in Portland
The 208-bed Homeless Services Center in Riverton will replace the city’s Oxford Street Shelter and comes as the city is seeing crisis levels of homelessness.
Posted inLocal & State
Portland police searching for discarded handgun on Warren Avenue
Police said they were called to a report of a disturbance around 2:40 a.m. Friday. There was no shooting, but police believe a gun was discarded somewhere in the area.