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.
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PublishedDecember 16, 2019
Influx of asylum seekers has Portland scrambling to find daytime shelter
The City Council is seeking a place where asylum seekers can get out of the cold, and City Manager Jon Jennings hopes Gov. Janet Mills’ administration will take the lead in what he says is a regional issue.
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PublishedDecember 15, 2019
This year’s Christmas tree has surprisingly deep roots
The Norway spruce that graces Portland’s Monument Square for the holiday season was planted three decades ago by a young city arborist in his first year on the job.
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PublishedDecember 13, 2019
Sen. Collins introduces bill to let asylum seekers work sooner, bucking Trump plan
The bipartisan measure runs counter to a White House proposal to double the waiting period, and is similar to one proposed by Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree and supported by independent Sen. Angus King.
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PublishedDecember 12, 2019
Influx of asylum seekers fills Portland’s overflow shelters
Nearly 170 people, most from sub-Saharan Africa, have arrived in Portland in the past three weeks and city officials say they’ve run out of space to shelter them.
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PublishedDecember 11, 2019
Housing, tax relief among top goals for new Portland mayor and council
The City Council vows to focus on affordable housing, homelessness, easing the property tax burden and improving public transportation over the next year.
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PublishedDecember 10, 2019
Portland moves forward with plans to build temporary waterfront park
The proposal scales back an ambitious plan to create a $16 million destination waterfront park, originally called Portland Landing, that has drawn criticism from some in the city.
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PublishedDecember 5, 2019
Most ethics complaints from Portland’s bruising mayoral race are dropped
Unite Portland, a political action committee that opposed Ethan Strimling’s re-election as mayor, is still expecting to pay fines for being late to file independent expenditure reports.
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PublishedDecember 2, 2019
New mayor, councilor take office in Portland, marking a couple of firsts
Newly elected Mayor Kate Snyder and City Councilors Tae Chong and Pious Ali are sworn in at City Hall during a ceremony highlighting diversity.
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PublishedDecember 2, 2019
Inauguration of Portland mayor reflects historic shift in local, national politics
Portland has had eight women serve as mayor in its 233-year history, but none had been elected mayor in a citywide vote until Kate Snyder’s victory last month.
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PublishedNovember 30, 2019
In fundraising appeal, Strimling takes swipes at Collins
As he pursues a complaint over his failed Portland mayoral re-election bid, his ties to a liberal group and the implications for the U.S. senator aren’t clear.
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