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

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Maine Foster Kids Are Being Given Psychotropic Drugs Without Proper Safeguards, Lawsuit Claims

By • Jan 7, 2021
Elise Amendola / Associated Press file

A federal class action lawsuit filed against the state of Maine alleging that hundreds of children in foster care are being given potentially harmful psychotropic drugs without adequate safeguards. The suit is asking the state to take several immediate steps to protect kids’ constitutional rights.

Dr. Mark Publicker, Pioneering Addiction Specialist, Retiring After 40-Year Career

By • Dec 31, 2020
Troy R. Bennett / Bangor Daily News

After 40 years in practice, one of Maine’s best-known addiction treatment specialists is retiring.

Penobscot Nation Lauds Nomination Of First Native American To Presidential Cabinet

By • Dec 18, 2020
J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press file

Around the country, native people, including leaders of the Penobscot Nation in Maine, are rejoicing at the nomination of U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico to lead the Department of Interior.

Maine CDC Reports Record 551 COVID-19 Cases, 2 Deaths

By • Dec 16, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

The Maine CDC is reporting 551 additional cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Three Maine Nonprofits Share In MacKenzie Scott's Philanthropic Money

By • Dec 16, 2020
Evan Agostini / Invision/AP

Three Maine nonprofits are among a group of 384 around that country that have been selected to share more than $4 billion worth of charitable investments.

Preparing To Vaccinate, Maine Nursing Homes Decide Who Gets Priority

By • Dec 14, 2020
David Goldman / Associated Press

Vaccine preparations are underway at long-term care facilities across the country, where workers and the most at-risk residents are supposed to be the first to get the shots as early as next week.

11 Lewiston Police Department Employees Test Positive For COVID-19

By • Dec 2, 2020

The Lewiston Police Department has confirmed that 11 employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

Maine Supreme Court Sides With Prisoner Held In Solitary Confinement Nearly 2 Years

By • Nov 12, 2020
Susan Sharon / Maine Public

The state Supreme Court has sided with a Maine State Prison inmate who says his constitutional due process rights were violated when he spent nearly two years in solitary confinement on a baseless charge.

Jared Golden Wins Another Term In Congress In Comparatively Low-Key 2nd District Contest

By • Nov 4, 2020
Kris Bridges / For Maine Public

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden once again has been elected to represent Maine’s 2nd District, which is mostly rural and has been fickle when it comes to party favorites.

Golden Leads In The 2nd District But Doesn't Declare Victory — And Crafts Says He Won't Concede

By & • Nov 4, 2020
Robbie Feinberg / Maine Public

In the race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, Democrat incumbent Jared Golden is leading Republican challenger Dale Crafts by a solid 6 percent margin. But Golden was reluctant to declare victory before all of the votes were counted.

Corrections Department: 72 COVID-19 Positives Among Windham Inmates

By • Nov 3, 2020

The Maine Department of Corrections announced on Tuesday that 72 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham.

Elliotsville Foundation Returns 735 Acres To Penobscots

By • Oct 30, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press file

The Penobscot Nation is celebrating the historic return of 735 acres by the Elliotsville Foundation.

WATCH: Jared Golden, Dale Crafts Diverge On Health Care, Supreme Court In Maine Public's Debate

By • Oct 22, 2020
Kris Bridges / For Maine Public

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden and his Republican challenger Dale Crafts agreed on some broad themes during an hourlong 2nd District debate on Maine Public Thursday night.

Another Maine State Prison Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19

By • Oct 22, 2020

The Maine Department of Corrections says another employee has tested positive for COVID-19 at the Maine State Prison in Warren. This follows a positive case of an employee that was confirmed on Monday. Since then, more than 1,000 people associated with the prison have been tested and further results are pending.

WATCH: Senate Candidates Spar On Health Care, Pandemic Aid In Maine Public’s Debate

By • Oct 15, 2020
Nick Woodward / Maine Public

With less than a month until the election, the four candidates in the race for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat sharply diverged on health care, economic assistance during the pandemic, the Supreme Court confirmation process and other topics during a live debate aired on Maine Public Thursday night from the Augusta Civic Center.

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