Susan Sharon

Deputy News Director

Deputy News Director Susan Sharon is a reporter and editor whose on-air career in public radio began as a student at the University of Montana. Early on, she also worked in commercial television doing a variety of jobs. Susan first came to Maine Public Radio as a State House reporter whose reporting focused on politics, labor and the environment. More recently she's been covering corrections, social justice and human interest stories. Her work, which has been recognized by SPJ, SEJ, PRNDI and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, has taken her all around the state — deep into the woods, to remote lakes and ponds, to farms and factories and to the Maine State Prison. Over the past two decades, she's contributed more than 100 stories to NPR.

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

Ways to Connect

Pingree Opposes Appointment Of Climate Denier To Top NOAA Post

By • Sep 25, 2020
Willis Ryder Arnold / Maine Public File 2019

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat representing Maine’s 1st District, has joined 84 U.S. House members in opposing the appointment of a longtime climate denier to a top post at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Autopsy To Determine Cause Of York County Jail Inmate's Death

By • Sep 22, 2020

An inmate at the York County Jail has died and it's unclear whether the death is related to an outbreak of COVID-19 there.

Gardiner Attorney Suspended For Multiple Violations, Including Sexual Harassment

By • Sep 11, 2020

The Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar has taken the unusual step of suspending a Gardiner attorney for what it says are "multiple violations " of the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct, including sexual harassment and conflict of interest.

York County Launches Inquiry Into Outbreak At Jail That's Sickened Dozens

By • Sep 3, 2020
Troy R. Bennett / Bangor Daily News

Beginning Thursday, York County is undertaking "a comprehensive, independent inquiry" into the COVID-19 outbreak at the county jail. The outbreak has been linked to a wedding in Millinocket last month.

Maine CDC: COVID-19 Case Tally Grows By 14, No New Deaths

By & • Aug 31, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

Maine health officials say the state's net tally of COVID-19 cases has now reached 4,526, an increase of 14 since Sunday. The death tally remained unchanged at 132.

Maine AG Files Civil Rights Complaint Against Portland Man Accused Of Assault, Using Homophobic Slur

By • Jul 31, 2020

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has filed a civil rights complaint against a Portland man for allegedly threatening and using violence against a lesbian woman in the Northgate Shopping Center in Portland July 3.

Blind, Visually Impaired Voters File Suit Over Inability To Independently Vote Absentee In Maine

By • Jul 16, 2020
David Sharp / AP Images

Several blind and visually impaired voters have filed a federal lawsuit over their inability to independently mark paper absentee ballots in Maine.

Despite Coronavirus, Some Hikers Go The Distance On The Appalachian Trail

By • Jul 15, 2020

Every year, several thousand adventurous souls set out to hike all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. But in March, thru-hikers were kindly asked to put their dreams on hold because of the pandemic.

"We asked people that hadn't started their hike to postpone it and we asked people who were on the trail to please leave," says Sandi Marra, president and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which manages and protects the trail.

They Were Asked To Stay Home. But Some Thru-Hikers Insisted On Finishing The Appalachian Trail

By • Jul 10, 2020
Susan Sharon / Maine Public

Every year, several thousand adventurous souls set out to hike all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail. But this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, thru-hikers have been advised to put their dreams on hold.

Some have refused.

That refusal has created tension between those who want to push personal boundaries and those who say there should be limits on public safety.

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. 

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