The ads promoting marijuana as safer than alcohol have upset the people trying to prevent kids from smoking pot.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inNews
Portland buses to carry advertisements that back legalizing marijuana
The ads, which claim the drug is safer than alcohol, draw sharp criticism from anti-drug groups.
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Posted inNews
Hope House developer builds bastion against homelessness
Richard Berman sees the effort to welcome and shelter our immigrants as a spiritual matter.
Posted inNews
Portland restaurant inspections double, but failures decrease
The city has beefed up scrutiny, but the loss of a strict, controversial inspector and a falling non-compliance rate also affect the numbers.
Posted inNews
Marijuana activist sees Maine following in Colorado’s footsteps
Rob Kampia, leader of the Marijuana Policy Project, says a key legalization vote will be in Portland this November.
Posted inNews
Advocates launch drive to make marijuana legal in Portland
Passage of a city ordinance would be the first step toward statewide legalization.
Posted inNews, Politics
LePage pledges to help Sudanese refugees
The governor also criticizes legislators for not doing more to help Mainers who are working toward a better life.
Posted inNews
$38 million Portland project ‘starting to gel’
Planning Board members give favorable reviews to the ambitious Bayside plan for apartments and retail space.
Posted inNews
Dunkin’ Donuts tries new paper cup
The new cups are being tested in communities such as Freeport that have banned polystyrene.
Posted inBusiness, News
Agreement outlines plan to buy Congress Square Plaza
Reactions to the proposal are mixed. Opponents say the $524,000 price for part of the Portland park insults those ‘who know the value of this space.’