Participants in the Indigenous Peoples Day rally call for expanded sovereignty rights for tribal communities and passage of a ballot question next month to restore treaty language to printed copies of the Maine Constitution.
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, Uncategorized
Spending piles up in Pine Tree Power, right-to-repair referendum campaigns
The owners of Maine’s largest power companies have spent nearly $30 million to oppose Question 3, while backers of Question 4, the right-to-repair proposal, have raised $4 million.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine safety net spending has tripled since start of pandemic
With costs ballooning, state lawmakers are looking at ways to restructure the state’s General Assistance program to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Posted inElection 2023, Local & State, Politics
Question 2: What you need to know about the foreign campaign spending ban
The referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot would prohibit foreign governments and entities they control from spending money on state and local races and referendums. But media outlets warn that the proposal would infringe on constitutional protections for the press.
Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
ACLU, Maine officials resume negotiations to improve legal services for poor clients
During a 15-minute hearing in Kennebec County Superior Court, Justice Micheala Murphy granted a request for negotiating assistance and asked the parties to update the court 30 days after their initial meeting.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Federal shutdown threatens food aid for mothers and young children
Maine has enough funding to keep aid flowing for most of October, but a DHHS spokesperson says the state would likely halt new enrollments in the federally funded WIC program.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Shutdown would be disastrous for Maine, top lawmakers warn
The federal government will run out of operating funds this weekend if Congress doesn’t agree to a deal.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Nearly 800 Maine voters left No Labels party after signature-drive confusion
The group, which drew criticism from some voters who said they were misled into changing party affiliations, still has well over the 5,000 signatures needed to qualify for the 2024 ballot.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Federal audit finds widespread deficiencies in Maine’s postal operations
The U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General found more than 150,000 pieces of mail that were delayed for delivery at five postal stations in the Southern Maine on March 14.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Top state Senate Republican to lead DeSantis campaign in Maine
Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, will help lead Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign in Maine, along with former House Republican leader Josh Tardy and state Rep. Reagan Paul, R-Winterport.