Susan Sharon

Deputy News Director

Deputy News Director Susan Sharon is an experienced newsroom leader and reporter who has worked in both radio and television.  She's covered a wide range of subjects including politics, environmental policy, the opioid crisis and criminal justice as well as human interest stories.  Her work has been nationally recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, Public Radio News Directors, Inc and by the Society of Environmental Journalists for breaking news, enterprise and beat reporting.

Susan is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She's received additional training in management, newsroom leadership and editing from Central Maine Community College, Poynter and NPR..

Got a story idea? E-mail Susan: ssharon@mainepublic.org. You can also follow her on twitter @susansharon1

Ways to Connect

DOC Says COVID-19 Tests For Long Creek Staff And Residents Have All Been Negative So Far

By • Jul 2, 2020
Maine Public File

The Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) announced Thursday that results of COVID-19 testing for staff and residents of the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland are negative so far. 

Universal Testing Underway At Long Creek After Youth Is Diagnosed With COVID-19

By • Jun 29, 2020
Susan Sharon / Maine Public

The Maine Department of Corrections has undertaken universal testing for COVID-19 at the Long Creek Youth Development Center after one of the youth detained at the facility tested positive for COVID-19.

Deer Isle Residents Protest Racism After Noose Found Hanging From Utility Line

By • Jun 22, 2020
Susan Sharon / Maine Public

More than 120 people of all ages turned out in the tiny town of Deer Isle Sunday for a peaceful, anti-racism gathering, after a noose was found hanging from a utility line and several Black Lives Matter signs were vandalized.

Maine Dept. Of Corrections To Ease Restrictions On Prisoner Visitation, Work Release Programs

By • Jun 19, 2020

The Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) plans to ease restrictions on prisoner visitation beginning in July.

In Letter To Mills, Commission On Racial Equity Recommends Steps To Address Racism In Maine

By • Jun 19, 2020
Maulian Dana / Twitter

A new, independent commission on race equity has sent a letter to Gov. Janet Mills advising her on initial steps to address systemic racism in Maine. Among other things, commission members want to direct state agencies to collect data that illustrate the scope of social, economic and health disparities by race, ethnicity and tribal status. They also support a "Truth and Reconciliation" process to hear personal stories about racial harm and privilege.

African American Lawmakers Call On Maine's Political Leaders To Speak Out Against Systemic Racism

By • Jun 11, 2020
Kevin Bennett / Maine Public

Around the country, governors, mayors and CEOs are responding to the death of George Floyd and the massive outcry from Black Lives Matter by joining protesters, reviewing police policies and pledging to make change. 

Judge Denies Temporary Restraining Order In Maine Activist's Road Closure Case

By & • Jun 5, 2020
Rebecca Conley / Maine Public

A federal  judge has denied a request from a Blue Hill activist to stop the police from closing roads around the town of Guilford, in advance of President Donald Trump's visit there today.

Maine Inmate Sues Governor Over Decision To Withhold Prisoners' Unemployment Benefits

By • Jun 3, 2020
Jennifer Mitchell / Maine Public

A prisoner at the Bolduc Correctional Facility in Warren has filed a federal lawsuit against the Mills administration for withholding unemployment benefits from him and other prisoners in a work release program.

Maine Reports Another 24 Cases Of COVID-19 And 3 New Outbreaks, But No New Deaths

By • Jun 1, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

Maine is tracking three new outbreaks of COVID-19 in Maine, as state health officials report another 24 cases of the disease since Sunday, for a total of 2,349 so far. The death toll remains unchanged at 89.

Justice Department Says Maine's 2-Week Quarantine Rule Discriminates Against Tourists

By • May 29, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / AP File

The U.S. Department of Justice is siding with Maine campground and restaurant owners who have filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Maine over the 14-day self-quarantine for out-of-state residents. The restriction was imposed by Gov. Janet Mills as part of the state's response to the ongoing pandemic. At least 20 other states have imposed similar measures.

Maine Courts Take Steps To Resume Operations

By • May 28, 2020
Tom Porter / Maine Public File

As the state of Maine prepares to open hotels, retail stores and state parks June 1, state courts are also taking steps to resume operations. The process will be gradual and jury trials will not be held for several months.

Maine Brewers' Guild Challenges Maine Reopening Plan

By • May 26, 2020
Maine Public File

The Maine Brewers' Guild, the trade association representing nearly every brewery in the state, is challenging the methodology that will allow restaurants to reopen June 1 but require bars and breweries to wait another month, even if they have ample outdoor seating for customers.

Two More Maine Prisoners Test Positive For COVID-19

By • May 25, 2020

The Maine Department of Corrections is confirming that two more prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham, bringing the number of prisoners who have tested positive at the facility to four.

'I Just Cannot Keep Doing It' — A Bangor Small-Business Owner Considers Her Limited Options

By • May 22, 2020
Kevin Bennett / For Maine Public

Data from the Small Business Administration show that since the start of the pandemic, more than 25,000 loans have been approved for small businesses in Maine, and almost 90 percent of applicants have received the funds. But some are wary of taking on more debt while their businesses are ordered closed.

Windham Prisoners, Correctional Staff Tested For COVID-19 Following A Prisoner's Positive Diagnosis

By • May 21, 2020
BRIAN BECHARD / Maine Public File

Maine's Department of Corrections says it's received the results of 221 COVID-19 tests on prisoners and staff at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham, and all tests so far have been negative. Additional results are expected in the next several days as the state testing lab runs the 484 samples the DOC submitted.

All prisoners, staff and contractors at the prison have submitted for testing, officials say. The tests were in response to the discovery at the facility of the first confirmed case of a prisoner with COVID-19.

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