Mal Leary
Maine Public Political CorrespondentJournalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.
A lifelong journalist and Maine native, Mal has worked as both a reporter and editor in broadcast and in print, in both Washington, D.C. and in Maine. He has won numerous awards for his reporting on state government issues and politics.
For several years he owned and operated Capitol News Service, which was located in the State House complex providing news coverage to radio stations as well as newspapers.
Mal is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters & Editors and has long been an advocate for open government. He is the SPJ Sunshine Chair in Maine and is currently the president of the National Freedom of Information Coalition based at the University of Missouri Journalism School and is a Vice President of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition.
Mal is married with three grown children, several grandchildren and lives in Augusta, within sight of the Capitol dome.
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Maine's Legislative Council has unanimously voted to start using the State House once again for meetings and sessions of the legislature starting next week. But Republicans and Democrats sparred over mask requirements. -
As part of its response to the pandemic, the federal government is providing free school meals to all students, not just those that meet low-income standards. But Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would have the state pick up that cost when the federal funding ends next year. -
The Maine House of Representatives has approved a measure requiring that all public school workers, from teacher aides to kitchen staff, be paid a minimum wage of $16-an-hour. Under current law, the minimum salary for teachers is $40,000 a year. -
Maine owns a number rail corridors across the state, but only a few are in use. Lawmakers are considering several bills that would expand rail service from Portland to Lewiston, and up to Bangor. -
Republican leaders and members of the Appropriations committee told reporters outside the State House Monday that both parties should have a say in the two huge spending bills coming before the Maine Legislature. -
Legislation that would ban the use of seclusion and restraints in Maine's public schools is drawing opposition from some parents of special education students.
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Democratic state Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross of Portland says despite laws passed in 1977 and 2001, there are still offensive place names in use across state government. Ross is sponsoring a resolve that would require the to state try again. -
Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would decriminalize prostitution. The legislation makes a distinction between those who sell sexual services and those who pay for them. -
King argues that the public has the right to know who is contributing to groups that seek to influence elections, but McConnell says such a disclosure would stifle the free speech of donors. -
Residents over 18 who get their first shot between now and Memorial Day are eligible for a free fishing or hunting license, an L.L. Bean gift card or a ticket to a Portland Sea Dogs game.
