Lawmakers will hold public hearings Wednesday afternoon on proposals to grant tribes exclusive access to all Internet gambling and to open the door for a tribal casino.
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 inLocal & State, News
Fire marshal’s office committed ‘flagrant violation’ of union contract, labor board finds
The Maine Labor Relations Board concluded that an unnamed lieutenant in the Fire Marshal’s Office made changes to mileage reimbursements and the way employees swap shifts without going through the collective bargaining process.
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Posted inLocal & State
State police determine that Bar Harbor death was not suspicious
Police provide few details but say there is no danger to the public.
Posted inLocal & State
Maine welcomes 1st babies of 2024
A Bangor hospital appears to have delivered the state’s first baby of the new year.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine foster families say pressures are overwhelming
Problems in the state’s child welfare system are spilling over into the foster care network, leading to a decline in licensed homes and adding more strain to other front-line workers trying to keep Maine children safe.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Lopsided spending lines up with lopsided results in Maine referendums
Committees funded almost entirely by the state’s 2 largest electricity providers spent more than $136 per vote to defeat a nonprofit power company proposal, while proponents spent less than $10 per vote on their losing campaign.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine nonprofit says child caseworkers need more support, parents need to be held accountable
The group, called Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, wants the state to stop prioritizing family reunification when parents are not following plans to keep their children safe from neglect or abuse.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Gov. Mills has yet to meet with child caseworkers sounding alarms about protection system
Caseworker voices have become a focal point in lawmakers’ review of the state’s child protection agency. The governor said in January that she wanted to hear from them, but hasn’t ‘had the opportunity’ to meet with them, a spokesperson said.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine delegation presses Army to explain how it handled reservist responsible for Lewiston shootings
The request for a comprehensive investigation comes a day after Sens. Collins and King, and Reps. Pingree and Golden met with grieving relatives of victims killed in Lewiston.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine DHHS commissioner questioned about child deaths, caseworker complaints
Jeanne Lambrew acknowledges problems within the child protection office during testimony before the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee.