Irwin Gratz

Portland

Morning Edition Host and Producer at Maine Public Broadcasting Network

Native New Yorker (Mets fan), Morning Edition host for Maine Public Broadcasting, Past Natiional President, Society of Professional Journalists

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Articles

The high school at St. Dominic Academy may stay open another year

3 weeks ago | mainepublic.org | Irwin Gratz

The high school at St. Dominic Academy in Auburn may remain open for one more year. Last month, Roman Catholic Bishop James Ruggieri announced the high school would close after this school year. He wrote that the high school had been operating at a deficit since 2020 due to a drop in enrollment and fundraising that fell chronically short of what was needed.
Maine's new transportation plan calls for continued funding shift away from gas tax

3 weeks ago | mainepublic.org | Irwin Gratz

Maine Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note said the state's latest three-year work plan should be able to continue making "smart and steady progress" thanks to increased federal funding. Federal sources will make up about half of the $4.8 billion the state plans to spend on transportation projects over the next three years. Van Note said it's too soon to know how President Donald Trump's policies will affect that funding.
'No indication' public money at risk despite controversy

1 month ago | bangordailynews.com | Irwin Gratz

Maine’s annual audit that examines how federal dollars are spent usually generates little controversy. State Auditor Matt Dunlap says to think of it as a “proofreading” exercise. “You don’t know if the writer intended a comma, or a semi-colon, but, if you question it, you should point it out and let them make the decision as to whether that’s something that’s material and needs to be addressed, or not,” he said.
Maine auditor: 'No indication' public money at risk despite controversy over report

1 month ago | mainepublic.org | Irwin Gratz

Maine's annual audit that examines how federal dollars are spent usually generates little controversy. State Auditor Matt Dunlap says to think of it as a "proofreading" exercise. "You don't know if the writer intended a comma, or a semi-colon, but, if you question it, you should point it out and let them make the decision as to whether that's something that's material and needs to be addressed, or not," he says.
Wells train station expansion begins

2 months ago | mainepublic.org | Irwin Gratz

The Downeaster train schedule is fine for commuting to work in Boston, but not for commuting northbound into Portland. A project underway in Wells aims to change that. Work was completed last year on six miles of a second track near the Wells station. Now, crews will build a second platform at the Wells station with a pedestrian bridge over the tracks. When that work is finished in 2026 a sixth round trip will be added between Brunswick and Wells.
Maine Public launches project in collaboration with USM to track statewide grocery prices

2 months ago | mainepublic.org | Irwin Gratz

Many believe inflation was a major reason that voters turned out for Donald Trump in November. The national inflation rate peaked in June 2022 at just above 9%. It has since fallen, but some worry it could accelerate further as a result of the president's tariff policy. Here at Maine Public, we're launching a project to monitor some of the prices Mainers are seeing.
Unemployment rate slips in Maine metro areas

Feb 5, 2025 | mainepublic.org | Irwin Gratz

Unemployment rates fell slightly in Maine's three major metro areas in December. The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said unemployment in Bangor fell a notch from 3.6% to 3.5%. Joblessness in Lewiston-Auburn also fell from 3.6% to 3.5%. In Portland-South Portland, unemployment fell from 3.2% to 3%. The unemployment rates in all three metro areas in December were up a bit from a year earlier, reflecting a trend seen around most of the country.
Offshore earthquake shakes southern Maine and other parts of New England

Jan 27, 2025 | vermontpublic.org | Irwin Gratz

Much of southern Maine was shaken by an earthquake that struck off York Harbor at 10:22 a.m. Monday. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake, which had a magnitude of 3.8, was centered beneath the surface of the ocean 10 miles southeast of York Harbor. That placed York's town hall close enough to receive a good shaking. "We wondered if there was an explosion nearby," said Nicole Pestana, York's emergency management director.
Sen. King questions Trump's nominee to lead Department of Veterans' Affairs

Jan 21, 2025 | mainepublic.org | Nicole Ogrysko |Irwin Gratz

Among the dozens of executive actions that President Donald Trump took on his first day in the White House was a hiring freeze on the federal workforce. Jobs at federal civilian agencies that were vacant as of Monday noon cannot be filled. And agencies are prohibited from creating new positions. Military personnel and those involved in immigration enforcement, national security and public safety are exempt from the hiring freeze.
How Bucksport, highlighted in annual 'Measures of Growth' report, has remained resilient

Dec 4, 2024 | mainepublic.org | Irwin Gratz

The Town of Bucksport is highlighted in the most recent "Measures of Growth" economic report for rebounding from the closure of its major employer a decade ago. Rich Rotella has been the town's economic and community development director since just after Verso Paper shut down its operations. He told Maine Public's Irwin Gratz when he began his tenure, Bucksport's industrial park had 8 vacant lots and there were 11 vacant store fronts on its Main Street.