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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Mills Extends State Of Emergency, Strengthens Face Mask Requirements

By • 46 minutes ago
Willis Ryder Arnold / Maine Public File

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has issued an executive order extending Maine’s state of civil emergency for another 30 days, and mandating that certain businesses require face masks in coastal counties and populous cities.

Judge Upholds Maine Law Preventing ISPs From Selling Customers' Personal Data

By • 2 hours ago
Keith Shortall / Maine Public file

A U.S. District Court judge has upheld a new Maine law that prohibits internet service providers from selling or sharing consumers’ personal data without permission.

Lewiston's New Mainers Call For More Collaboration From CDC To Fight COVID-19

By • Jun 19, 2020
Patty Wight / Maine Public

Across the country, the novel coronavirus is infecting people of color at higher rates than the rest of the population.

Maine Couples Get Creative To Tie The Knot During The Pandemic

By • Jun 16, 2020
Courtesy Photo

When the coronavirus hit Maine, it was just before prime wedding season. Weddings and related tourism contribute nearly a billion dollars to the state economy, but wedding business this season has largely evaporated as many couples have either canceled or postponed their plans.

District Court Judge Dismisses Maine Family Planning Lawsuit Fighting Abortion "Gag Rule"

By • Jun 10, 2020

A U.S. District Court Judge in Bangor has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Maine Family Planning against the Trump administration's so-called "gag rule."

Bill Would Allow 2 Bankrupt Maine Hospitals To Access Federal PPP Loans

By • Jun 10, 2020

Maine Sen. Susan Collins has introduced legislation that would allow critical access hospitals in bankruptcy proceedings to receive loans under the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

Mills Announces New COVID-19 Guidelines For Tourist Season, And Quadrupling Of Testing Capacity

By • Jun 9, 2020
Nick Woodward / Maine Public

Gov. Janet Mills on Monday unveiled an alternative to her 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state visitors. The change comes as the state also announced that it will soon quadruple its testing capacity for the novel coronavirus.

Maine CDC Reports 28 New Cases Of COVID-19, No New Deaths, As Gov Accelerates Reopening Plans

By & • Jun 4, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

The  Maine Center for Disease Control is reporting 28 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, for a total of 2,446 since the outbreak began.

Judge Dismisses Lawsuits From 2 Bankrupt Maine Hospitals Seeking Federal Relief

By • Jun 4, 2020
Maine Hospital Association

A U.S. Bankruptcy court judge has dismissed lawsuits filed by two rural Maine hospitals that have been barred from receiving coronavirus relief funds through the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

Portland Officials Call For Unity After Night Of Protests, 23 Arrests

By & • Jun 2, 2020
Willis Ryder Arnold / Maine Public

What began as a large but peaceful protest Monday night in Portland gave way to violent confrontations with police and 23 arrests.

LL Bean Flagship, Freeport Stores Cautiously Reopen Doors

By • Jun 1, 2020
Patty Wight / Maine Public

Today, retail stores in the four Maine counties with community transmission of the coronavirus were allowed to join their counterparts in the rest of the state and reopen. That includes the shopping mecca of Freeport in Cumberland County, which attracts 3 million visitors a year.

CDC Reports 3 New Deaths, 52 More Cases Of COVID-19 In Maine

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

The Maine Center for Disease Control Thursday is reporting 52 more cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths, for a total of 84.

CDC Reports 2 More Deaths, 28 More Cases Of COVID-19 In Maine

By • May 27, 2020
Rebecca Conley / Maine Public

Two more people with COVID-19 have died in Maine, bringing the total number of deaths to 81.

Maine To Expand Contact Tracing, Utilize New Reporting Tool

By • May 26, 2020
Willis Ryder Arnold / Maine Public File

The Mills administration has announced its plan to expand contact tracing to identify and isolate individuals who have been exposed to the coronavirus.

Maine's Independent Physicians Saw Steep Revenue Declines When Offices Shut Down

By • May 22, 2020
Keith Srakocic / AP File

Routine appointments for health care came to a halt in March, when Mainers hunkered down at home as the state braced for a possible surge of the coronavirus. The sudden drop in patients hit independent physicians especially hard, who saw steep declines in revenue. Now as the state reopens, some of these doctors say they are starting to emerge, but their future is still tenuous.

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