Patty Wight

News Producer
  • Maine Public

Patty is a graduate of the University of Vermont and a multiple award-winning reporter for Maine Public Radio. Her specialty is health coverage: from policy stories to patient stories, physical health to mental health and anything in between. Patty joined Maine Public Radio in 2012 after producing stories as a freelancer for NPR programs such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She got hooked on radio at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine, and hasn’t looked back ever since.

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As COVID-19 Deaths And Cases Rise, Maine Opens 2 New Outbreak Investigations In York County

By & • 5 hours ago
Nick Woodward / Maine Public

Another Mainer with COVID-19 has died, as the number of cases the state has logged since the pandemic's onset grew by 37 overnight, to 5,337.  The death tally now stands at 141.

Oakland Police Consider Action Against Church After Reports Of Large Gatherings

By • Sep 29, 2020

Oakland police say they're discussing with state officials whether to take action against the Kingdom Life Church for potentially violating COVID-19 safety guidelines. 

CDC: Out-Of-State Visitors Not Bringing High Levels Of Coronavirus To Maine

By & • Sep 28, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

The director of the state CDC says out-of-state visitors have not transmitted high levels of the new coronavirus in Maine.

Plan To Allow States To Import Drugs From Canada Doesn't Go Far Enough, Says Maine Senate Leader

By • Sep 25, 2020

The Trump administration's announcement this week that it will allow states to import drugs from Canada is getting a tepid reception in Maine from Senate President Troy Jackson.

Schools In Oxford County Moved To 'Yellow' Designation After Mill Outbreak

By • Sep 25, 2020
Oxford County Middle School / via Facebook

Oxford County has joined York County in its yellow designation under the Maine Department of Education's COVID-19 color-coded risk system. That means schools are advised to take additional precautions to prevent transmission of the virus.

Maine Lifts Travel Restrictions For Massachusetts Residents

By • Sep 23, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / AP Images

Visitors from Massachusetts can now come to Maine without having to get a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for 14 days.

Central Maine Medical Center Lifts Lockdown After Threat

By • Sep 22, 2020

Central Maine Medical Center has lifted its lockdown over a potential threat.

According to Lewiston police, the hospital received a call from a third party Tuesday morning that a person was planning to go to Central Maine Medical Center to harm themselves or others.

After an investigation, a spokesperson for the hospital said in an email Tuesday afternoon that the threat is no longer considered credible and all normal services will resume Wednesday.

Lewiston police say they are following up on several leads.

Rumford Paper Mill Worker With COVID-19 Dies

By • Sep 22, 2020

An employee at the ND Paper mill in Rumford with COVID-19 has died.

CDC: York County Jail Inmate Did Not Die From COVID-19

By • Sep 22, 2020
York County Sheriffs Office

State officials say the recent death of an inmate at the York County Jail was not caused by COVID-19.

The man has been identified as 47-year old Jason Daigle of Berwick.

During a news briefing on Tuesday, Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said that the inmate had already been considered recovered from the disease.

“That’s the primary factor, the one that weighs most heavily. But in addition to that, the clinical features around that individuals passing were not related to COVID-19,” he said.

Passenger With COVID-19 Stopped Before Boarding Plane In Portland

By • Sep 22, 2020
Maine Public file

A person who attempted to board a flight — despite knowing they had COVID-19 — was intercepted at the Portland Jetport on Sunday.

Sanford High School, Technical Center Go Remote After Three COVID-19 Positives

By • Sep 21, 2020

Sanford High School and the Regional Technical Center have switched to remote learning for at least two weeks, following three cases of COVID-19 at the integrated schools. Reopening will be contingent on how the schools, and the greater community, fare with the virus.

Maine CDC: 27 More COVID-19 Cases, 1 New Death

By • Sep 21, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

The Maine Center for Disease Control is reporting 27 additional cases of COVID-19 on Monday.

Maine College Uncovers COVID-19 Outbreak Through Wastewater Testing

By • Sep 14, 2020
Rick Bowmer / Associated Press

Usually the first sign of COVID-19 is a fever, cough or maybe a sore throat and shortness of breath. But at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, the first sign of a recent outbreak of the disease appeared in the school’s wastewater — surveillance wastewater testing tipped off school officials to all nine cases before students developed symptoms.

Lewiston-Auburn Grassroots Org Goes Door-To-Door To Get New Mainers Tested For COVID-19

By • Sep 13, 2020
Patty Wight / Maine Public

While Maine has maintained one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 in the country, it made national headlines earlier this year for having one of the highest positivity rates for Black and African American people.

Sanford City Council To Consider Mask Ordinance

By • Sep 10, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / AP Images

The Sanford City Council will consider a mask ordinance Thursday night.

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