Features and Investigations

A judge's gavel suspended above broken white pills on a red background.

A Federal Judge in Amarillo Could Effectively Ban the Abortion Pill.

A mysterious group with a Tennessee mailing address has filed a suit in the Panhandle city—guaranteeing it would be heard by Matthew Kacsmaryk, a longtime religious-right activist.

A person wearing a black coat and hood standing outside on a clear day, surrounded by bags and belongings near a brick building and power lines.

Moved Along: What it’s like to be homeless and repeatedly displaced

Meet 35-year-old Desirae Rowe, one of the many people who have been caught up in the regular sweeps of Portland’s encampments.

A woman with long, wavy hair and a white shirt appears distressed as she looks at an older man with gray hair and glasses, who is leaning in towards her. They are in a public setting with blurred background figures and bright lighting.

Life after Artie: United in grief, shooting victim’s family grapples with unimaginable loss

Artie Strout was 42 when he was killed Oct. 25 at Schemengees Bar & Grille in Lewiston in Maine’s deadliest mass shooting. He left behind both parents, a wife and children.

Group of people holding signs and candles during a protest for gun safety and reform.

Life After Artie: Lewiston shooting victim’s father finds purpose in gun reform

Before his son was killed in the massacre last fall, Arthur Barnard hadn’t voted in decades, flown on a plane or met with U.S. senators. All of that has changed.

View through a doorway showing a person wearing orange waterproof clothing and a hat standing on a dock near boats, with snow on the ground and the scene outdoors.

Dozens of fishermen have left the industry after years of struggling to make a living.

Hospital room with medical examination bed, computer, cabinets, and medical equipment.

OB-GYN Residents Are Required to Receive Clinical Abortion Training. They Can’t Do That in Texas.

Abortion restrictions running in conflict with training requirements are pushing lifelong Texans to leave the state—maybe for good.

A woman with long wavy hair smiling and a man in a peach blazer and orange cap sitting at a table with a dog, in a room decorated with vintage toys, paintings, and model horses, illuminated by pink and blue lights.

Bubba’s Sulky Lounge endures as a beloved Portland institution

The dance club’s owner, Robert ‘Bubba’ Larkin, who was also known for his race horses at Scarborough Downs, has run the joint for nearly 70 years.

Man sitting on the sidewalk near tents and bicycles in a homeless encampment.

Portland promised to store personal items from encampment sweeps. But nothing is in storage.

The city said the few valuable items found during the sweeps were given to police because they were suspected of being stolen.

Large white historic house with columns and a front porch, surrounded by green trees and grass

A long history of building for cold weather may have consequences as the climate warms

The city is more than 7 degrees warmer as a result of its design and layout than rural areas experiencing the same climate conditions.

A medical professional uses an ultrasound probe on a patient's abdomen, which is covered with a drape, during a medical examination.

Health Care for New Mothers in Texas Is Abysmal. Will the Lege Finally Take Action?

Lawmakers from both parties are backing two key bills that would help keep new moms alive and healthy. But similar efforts have fallen short in past sessions.

An elderly man with glasses speaking outdoors, with American flags in the background.

Leahy backs end to silent filibuster but is less clear on other reforms

The Vermont Democrat, the longest sitting member of the Senate, has been reluctant to support some measures limiting debate. But he recently said he is on board with ending the silent filibuster.

A woman operating a boat with two Honda outboard motors on a body of water, holding a rope and wearing sunglasses and dark clothing.

Animal control in Portland is a one-woman show

Ruthann Weist single-handedly runs the division within the Portland Police Department. She sees everything from unleashed dogs to squirrels stuck in chimneys to, occasionally, dolphin recoveries.

Maine’s groundfishing industry is in decline. Saving it is complicated.

Two people, a woman in a red shirt and a man in a patterned shirt, stand together on the ramp outside a bike shop called 'Green Mountain Bikes'. The woman has her arm around the man's shoulder, and both are smiling. The shop has a sign above the entrance, and the building's exterior is wood paneling with some cycling-related banners on the wall.

In Rochester, Tropical Storm Irene helped alert the state to the severity of the opioid crisis

When their town was cut off after Tropical Storm Irene, Anni and Doon Hinderyckx worked to get prescription medication to their neighbors. It soon became clear something was amiss.

A dimly lit bar or pub with customers sitting at the counter and a few people in the background, posters and menus on the wall.

One of the last places for veterans in Portland is for sale. Regulars say leaving would be painful.

AmVets Post 25 has been in the same Washington Avenue building since 1953, but now it’s on the market. Veterans say letting go of the place will be tough, even if the post opens in a new spot.

A used medical syringe lying on the ground next to a broken medicine bottle and other debris on dirt and leaves.

Portland considers changes to needle exchange program after growing complaints

Mayor Mark Dion wants to limit the number of needles the city gives out. But the public health department is exploring less drastic measures, like a potential syringe buy-back program.

Features and Investigations

Grace Benninghoff