Maine’s 1st District congresswoman has submitted an amendment to shorten the waiting period for work permits, and Maine’s senior senator is pressing for a similar provision in the Senate.
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
Maine’s embattled child welfare director resigns
Todd Landry, whose leadership had been questioned by lawmakers, cited “personal reasons” for his resignation, which is effective immediately.
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Posted inLocal & State
Gov. Mills, tribal leaders hold three-hour summit on sovereignty issues
While no breakthroughs were reported, both sides agreed to work together during the upcoming legislative session.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Top state officials see a long road to recovery after Lewiston shooting
The Governor’s Children’s Cabinet convened a special meeting Tuesday to discuss efforts to provide resources to students and teachers coping with the state’s worst mass shooting.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Former Gov. Paul LePage hopes to raise $500,000 for families of Lewiston shooting victims
The former Republican governor and Lewiston native hopes to distribute the money to the families of the 18 people killed and 13 survivors before Christmas.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Lawmakers will take up bills to increase shelter funding, but won’t ban encampment sweeps
Legislative leaders decided Thursday to allow lawmakers to move forward with bills to shore up the state’s emergency shelters amid rising numbers of homeless people.
Posted inLocal & State
Watchdog finds ‘errors on top of errors’ in death of 6-week-old Jaden Harding
A state watchdog agency submitted the critical report to a legislative committee Wednesday.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Support for federal workers affected by government shutdowns makes list of new bills going before lawmakers
Nearly 60 new bills have so far been teed up for the upcoming legislative session, and more are expected to come forward in the wake of the Oct. 25 mass shootings in Lewiston.
Posted inLocal & State, Schools and Education
State workers vote no confidence in director of child development services
The union representing agency workers called on the Maine Department of Education to replace Director Roberta Lucas, citing a ‘toxic work environment’ and her ‘apparent support’ for dissolving the agency.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine’s child protection staff: ‘We work within a broken system’
Lawmakers reviewing the state’s child protective agency hear testimony from front-line workers for the first time Wednesday, and their message is sobering.