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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The Dixmont Man Shot In A Police Standoff Will Not Serve Jail Time

By • 9 hours ago
Patty Wight / Maine Public

A Dixmont man facing criminal charges stemming from a mental health crisis that led to a 20-hour standoff with Maine State Police is free on probation.

Dixmont Man's Case Raises Questions About Use Of Force When Responding To A Mental Health Crisis

By • 14 hours ago
Patty Wight / Maine Public

On Friday, Mike Grendell of Dixmont will appear before a judge to ask for a suspended sentence in an unusual case.

Republican Eric Brakey Courts Trump Supporters, Libertarians In Attempt To Unseat Angus King

By • Oct 10, 2018
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine is facing two challengers this November, and one of them is Republican Eric Brakey.

Eastern Maine Healthcare System Is Now 'Northern Light Health'

By • Oct 1, 2018

Eastern Maine Healthcare System has officially changed its name to Northern Light Health.

DHHS Warns Mainers About Dangers of Accidental Marijuana Ingestion

By • Oct 1, 2018
Chris Carlson / AP Photo

Maine's Department of Health and Human Services is urging the public to remember the dangers of accidental marijuana ingestion.

Maine’s Medicaid Expansion Battle Will Stretch Into October

By • Sep 29, 2018
Patty Wight / Maine Public

Originally posted 12:53p.m. September 28, 2018.

The group suing the LePage administration to force it to expand Medicaid has withdrawn its motion seeking a third party receiver to take over the process of implementation. The development came at the end of two days of hearings in Superior Court in Portland.

Medicaid Expansion Issue Goes Before Maine Judge

By • Sep 27, 2018
Patty Wight / Maine Public

The question of whether Medicaid expansion can take effect in Maine without any dedicated funding went before Superior Court in Portland Thursday.

Medicaid Expansion Legal Battle To Continue In Portland Thursday

By • Sep 27, 2018
courts.maine.gov

The legal battle over Medicaid expansion picks up again in Superior Court in Portland Thursday and Friday.

Report Finds That Many Maine Children With Young Parents Live In Low-Income Families

By • Sep 26, 2018

A new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds that about 12,000 children in Maine have young parents, ages 18 to 24.

House Passes Susan Collins' Bills To Lift 'Gag Clauses' On Pharmacists

By • Sep 25, 2018

The U.S. House has passed two bills that could help some consumers pay less for prescription drugs.

The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, was approved by the U.S. Senate last week.

Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems To Become Northern Light Health

By • Sep 25, 2018

Starting Oct. 1, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems will change its name to Northern Light Health.

EMHS senior vice president Matt Weed says the health care system decided to change its name to better reflect its statewide presence, which has grown from one hospital to nine.

Report: Most Maine Kids With Young Parents Live In Low-Income Households

By • Sep 25, 2018

A new report finds that 85 percent of children in Maine with young parents live in low-income households.

Report: Opioid Deaths Down Slightly In Maine

By • Sep 21, 2018

Maine has seen a slight decrease in the number of drug deaths in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same time last year, according to a new report released by the attorney general’s office. But overdose deaths are still high, and the report finds that the primary driver continues to be the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Report: 27K Mainers Would Benefit If Voters Approve Home Care Initiative

By • Sep 20, 2018

A new report estimates that 27,000 Mainers would be eligible for services if voters approve a ballot question this November to establish universal home care.

Maine Insurance Bureau Releases Rate Calculator Ahead Of ACA Enrollment

By • Sep 14, 2018

The Maine Bureau of Insurance is urging consumers who buy insurance on the individual market to start comparing options ahead of open enrollment.

Anthem has returned to the Affordable Care Act marketplace in Maine for 2019. Average premiums across insurers range from a 4 percent decrease to a 2 percent increase.

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