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Michael Kelley has been professionally working in the newspaper industry since 2006 writing about municipal news, education news, environmental news, sports and other human interest topics. He has covered the communities of Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Portland, South Portland and Westbrook for several weekly newspapers. His work has appeared in magazines, daily newspapers and weekly newspapers throughout Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Latest
  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Wastewater testing to aid in coronavirus response

    The test can detect the presence of the virus in an area up to a week before individual clinical testing points to it.

  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Council’s finance committee continues FY21 budget review

    PORTLAND — After months of delay due to the coronavirus, the fiscal year 2021 budget review process will pick back up this week. The City Council’s Finance Committee will begin its review of the municipal budget at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.  Meetings will also be held Thursday, Aug. 6, and Wednesday, Aug. 12. A […]

  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Portland high schools delay in-person sports activities to Aug. 24

    PORTLAND — Portland Public Schools has delayed in-person conditioning for fall sports to Aug. 24. The move came after the Maine Principals Association delayed the start of fall athletics until September “This would give Portland Public Schools’ fall sports teams two weeks of acclimatization and in-person conditioning from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7 before the […]

  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Port City Music Hall closes permanently due to pandemic

    PORTLAND — Port City Music Hall on Congress Street will permanently close due to loss revenue during the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closure of Port City Music Hall, one of Portland’s great live music venues. For the last eight years, we’ve nurtured national and local bands, we’ve […]

  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Portland firefighters get grant for training, PPE

    PORTLAND — The Portland Fire Department has received more than $215,000 in federal funding to improve safety within the department. The department was awarded $216,600 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which helps provide funding for training, emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment and emergency vehicles. Departments in Old Orchard […]

  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Thompson’s Point film series focuses on racial inequity

    PORTLAND — Thompson’s Point is launching a film series it says is designed to inspire conversation about the social inequities that Black, Indigenous and people of color experience. The free outdoor Moonlight Cinema film series will kick off Saturday, Aug. 8 with a 7 p.m. showing of “Akeelah & The Bee.” The series will continue […]

  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Maine Bicentennial: Portland

    In commemoration of Maine’s bicentennial this year, The Forecaster is featuring historical highlights from our communities’ past 200 years, in print and online every other week.

  • Published
    July 28, 2020

    Portland weighs how long homeless encampment can stay

    Organizers said the effort, which has helped to provide food, clothing and medical care for 200 people, will continue until their demands are met.

  • Published
    July 28, 2020

    New public health director for city hopes for wider impact

    Milestone Recovery’s Bob Fowler will lead the city’s public health division, which oversees substance abuse treatment and prevention services, chronic and infectious disease response, as well as health equity and family health.

  • Published
    July 28, 2020

    Fundraiser seeks mobile shower unit for homeless

    The unit could be moved from place to place and serve as a hub to offer meals and other services.