Kathleen O'Brien

New Jersey

Journalist at Freelance

Putting the "semi" in semi-retired. Journalist, freelancer

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Articles

Bangor’s federal homelessness advisor placed on leave by Trump administration

1 week ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

A federal worker who advised Bangor on how to address its homelessness crisis was placed on administrative leave on Monday, alongside every other employee in their agency. Nichele Carver, who represented New England, New York and New Jersey for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, was placed on administrative leave on Monday.
Downtown Bangor restaurant operated unlicensed and uninspected before closing

1 week ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

An Italian restaurant that was open in downtown Bangor for two months before closing indefinitely last year never received a health inspection or the license from the state it needed to operate. Briar Jipson did not obtain a state license or health inspection before opening Lavano’s on July 12, 2024. She bought the restaurant, which was previously Tesoro Italian Restaurant at 118 Harlow St., but the eatery closed in mid September after a turbulent few months in business.
1st transgender woman to compete in Miss Maine USA

1 week ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

A transgender woman from Monson will compete in the Miss Maine USA pageant next month, marking the first time an openly transgender woman will vie for the title. Isabelle St. Cyr, 24, will compete in her first pageant next month at Miss Maine USA in Portland. Originally from Howland, St. Cyr said she loved watching the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants and dreamed of competing one day. Now, she feels comfortable and confident enough with her transition to sign up.
This is where everyone from Bangor’s largest homeless camp went

1 week ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

More than one-third of the people who lived in Bangor’s largest homeless encampment scattered to unknown locations after the city closed the site at the end of February. Of the 96 people who were living in the wooded area behind the Hope House Health and Living Center, 28 people entered housing, but three have since left those arrangements, according to Jena Jones, Bangor’s homelessness response manager.
St. Joseph won’t cut services despite ‘choppy waters’ for health care, new president says

1 week ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

At a time when hospitals statewide are cutting services, the new president of St. Joseph Healthcare doesn’t believe the Bangor hospital will need to scale back services to weather the “choppy water” providers are enduring. Gregory LaFrancois started his new role as president of St. Joseph Healthcare on April 1 after resigning from his previous position as president of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center last October.
Brewer baby who inspired millions on TikTok dies of rare skin disease

2 weeks ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

A Brewer family is mourning the death of their 10-month-old baby, Elliana, who died on Monday of a rare skin disease that causes painful wounds from the slightest touch. Elliana Campbell was born on May 23, 2024, with a severe form of epidermolysis bullosa, a genetic skin disease in which even the gentlest touch can cause painful blisters and wounds. Children with the condition are often called “butterfly children” because their skin is as fragile as a butterfly’s wing.
Bangor schools approve $62M budget

2 weeks ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

Increases to staff salaries and benefits, new teaching positions, and other improvements are driving up the Bangor School Department’s budget nearly $3 million for the next school year. The Bangor School Committee gave final approval to a $62.3 million budget during a meeting on Wednesday. The spending plan is $2.8 million — or 4.7 percent — higher than last year and will support Bangor’s schools from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026.
Hawaiian shave ice food truck opening a permanent Bangor shop

2 weeks ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

A local shave ice food truck will open its first brick and mortar location in downtown Bangor next month. Sawyer’s Shave Ice will open at 173 Park St. in Bangor on May 17, less than a year after owners Julianne and Andrew Sawyer launched the business as a seasonal food truck last June. After a busy first season, Julianne Sawyer said it became apparent the business needed a permanent location.
Brewer schools consider new $29M budget

2 weeks ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

The Brewer School Department’s new $29.1 million budget is just $495,000, or 1.7 percent, more than last year’s, mostly due to increases to staff salaries and benefits. The Brewer School Committee preliminarily approved the new spending plan, which will support Brewer’s schools from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026, on Monday. Personnel costs, which went up 3.9 percent from last year, make more than $19.7 million of the $29.1 million budget.
$61M in federal funding to Maine at risk over Donald Trump's latest DEI mandate

2 weeks ago | bangordailynews.com | Kathleen O'Brien

The Bangor School Department doesn’t yet know if it will have to cut programs that aim to ensure all students, families and staff feel supported in order to keep the more than $1 million it receives in federal Title I funding. The Department of Education sent a notice to states last Thursday ordering them to do away with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in K-12 public schools or risk losing federal funding, specifically Title I.