Keith Shortall

Senior Editor

Keith grew up in Thomaston, Maine, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1982, majoring in philosophy. He began his career in commercial broadcasting in Portland, before moving to Maine Public in 1989. Keith has taken on a number of roles at Maine Public and is the primary editor of Maine news and feature stories aired on Maine Public Radio, and TV news specials including election debates and the annual live State of the State address. Keith is the host and producer of the weekly political roundtable Across the Aisle and on occasion takes the host chair for the daily call-in news program Maine Calling.

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Portland Police Chief: Vigilantes 'Not Needed Or Welcome' At Weekend Black Lives Matter Protest

By & Caroline Losneck • Sep 4, 2020
Willis Ryder Arnold / Maine Public

Portland Police Chief Frank Clark and other city leaders are asking those expected to take part in a planned protest Saturday to do so peacefully.

Cumberland County DA Won't Pursue Charges Against BLM Protesters Who Were Arrested In June

By • Aug 28, 2020
Willis Ryder Arnold / Maine Public

Cumberland County District Attorney Jonathan Sahrbeck says his office will not file any further criminal charges against 32 protesters arrested in June for failure to disperse.

3 UMaine Students Test Positive For COVID-19

By • Aug 21, 2020

Three University of Maine students have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation.

Collins Under Fire After Kavanaugh Dissents In Ruling Striking Down Louisiana Abortion Restrictions

By • Jun 29, 2020

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is under renewed political scrutiny Monday for supporting the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in the wake of the Court’s divided decision that struck down a Louisiana law restricting abortion.

No COVID-19 Positives In New Round Of Testing At Windham Corrections Facility

By • Jun 4, 2020

A second round of testing of inmates and employees at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham has found no additional cases of COVID-19.

Maine Restaurants Begin Seating Customers, But Some Are Taking Their Time

By • May 18, 2020
Robbie Feinberg / Maine Public

Restaurants in 12 of Maine’s 16 counties may reopen to dine-in service Monday, but must take certain health precautions to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Secretary Of State: Maine Among Worst States In Nation For Census Respondents

By • Apr 20, 2020

While Maine is known for its high voter turnouts in general elections, it’s nearly last in the nation in responding to the 2020 Census.

'Almost, Maine' Returns To The Stage In Portland

By • Jan 16, 2020
Mical Hutson

When "Almost, Maine" opened in Portland in 2004, the play was well-received and would go on to receive mixed reviews in New York a few years later. Today, it's one of the most frequently produced plays in the United States, particularly in high school and community theaters. “Almost, Maine” playwright John Cariani, who grew up in Presque Isle, joins the cast of the latest production at Portland Stage Company in celebration of Maine's bicentennial.

Maine Composer Aaron Robinson on Glenn Jenks And The Legacy Of Ragtime

By • Oct 5, 2019
via Aaron Robinson

Maine composer Aaron Robinson says he was 16 or 17 when started playing the piano and taught himself the "Maple Leaf Rag."

MaineHealth Offering 4 Weeks Paid Parental Leave

By • Sep 24, 2019

Maine’s largest private employer says it will offer eligible full- and part-time workers four weeks of paid parental leave starting Oct. 1.

South Portland Police Lieutenant Will Become Portland's New Police Chief

By Ed Morin & • Jul 25, 2019
City of South Portland

The city of Portland is getting a new police chief, and he comes from right next door. 

Rockland Theater, Local Radio Station To Host Live 'Strand On The Air' Variety Show

By • Dec 17, 2018
Keith Shortall / Maine Public

Given immense popularity of the radio variety show back in the so-called Golden Age of Radio, you might wonder why the appeal faded. It might be because these shows are really hard to produce, or maybe it’s because media consumers today can tap a seemingly endless universe of entertainment sources.

Across the Aisle: Did A 'Blue Wave' Just Crash On Maine's Shores?

By • Nov 7, 2018

In this edition of our monthly political roundtable "Across the Aisle" Keith Shortall talks with former Republican lawmaker Meredith Strang Burgess, of Burgess Advertising and Marketing, economist Dick Woodbury, who served in Augusta as an independent, and Cynthia Dill, an attorney who served in the Legislature as a Democrat.

Across the Aisle: Fundraising In The Race For Governor

By • Sep 26, 2018

It's time again for Across the Aisle, Maine Public's monthly roundtable on state politics.

This week, Cynthia Dill, an attorney who served in the legislature as a Democrat; former Republican lawmaker Meredith Strang Burgess of Burgess Advertising and Marketing; and Dick Woodbury, an economist who served in the legislature as an independent joined Keith Shortall.

Across the Aisle: Political Advertising Season In The Age Of Fake News

By • Aug 30, 2018

It’s Thursday and time again for Across the Aisle, Maine Public’s regular roundtable on Maine Politics. This week, Cynthia Dill, an attorney and columnist who served in Augusta as a Democrat; former GOP state lawmaker Meredith Strang Burgess of Burgess Advertising and Marketing; and Dick Woodbury, an economist who served in Augusta as an Independent  spoke with Keith Shortall.

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