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.
-
PublishedFebruary 27, 2024
Nikki Haley announces Maine campaign team a week before presidential primary
The Republican candidate continues to campaign for the party’s nomination despite losing soundly to former President Donald Trump in all the early primary states.
-
PublishedFebruary 23, 2024
Maine’s new pine tree license plate to be unveiled next week
The new standard-issue plates will replace the familiar chickadee plates starting next year.
-
PublishedFebruary 23, 2024
Maine fails to meet federal standards when returning at-risk children to their families, watchdog report says
OPEGA’s report highlights another symptom of a child welfare system that suffers from high vacancies, heavy caseloads and a lack of community services for families struggling with mental health and substance use issues.
-
PublishedFebruary 22, 2024
Tensions rise as Legislature prepares to debate gun safety in wake of Lewiston shooting
A partisan fight over the hearing process for Gov. Janet Mills’ proposal to expand background checks on firearm sales and increase access to crisis mental health care suggests a bipartisan compromise may be elusive even after the mass shooting.
-
PublishedFebruary 21, 2024
Critics blast Republican bill targeting foreign nationals as ‘blatantly racist’
Rep. John Andrews, R-Paris, is proposing a state-level anti-racketeering law and a prohibition against certain foreign nationals purchasing property in Maine in response to illegal marijuana growing operations.
-
PublishedFebruary 21, 2024
Ban on paramilitary training camps barely clears first hurdle in Maine House vote
The bill passed the Democratic-controlled House 66-60 with 6 Democrats joining unified opposition from Republicans and 24 lawmakers absent.
-
PublishedFebruary 18, 2024
Special funds let Maine lawmakers raise and spend with few limits
While restrictions remain for campaign contributions to a legislative candidate, businesses and individuals can donate unlimited amounts to political action committees run by candidates after they’re elected. And some of their expenditures might surprise you.
-
PublishedFebruary 16, 2024
Golden joins effort to break impasse on border security, Ukraine aid
Rep. Jared Golden of Maine is part of bipartisan coalition of 10 lawmakers in the U.S. House who have launched a long-shot bid to break a stalemate over providing military assistance to Ukraine and taking steps to secure the southern border.
-
PublishedFebruary 13, 2024
Border politics spill into Maine State House as Republicans attack spending on asylum seekers
Legislative Republicans say spending on asylum seekers is leaving behind ‘our homeless’ and veterans, but steer clear of talking about failed federal efforts to reform the immigration process.
-
PublishedFebruary 8, 2024
Legislature approves subpoena power for Lewiston mass shooting commission
The emergency measure cleared the House of Representatives and the Senate Thursday morning, and now faces procedural votes before going to the governor for signature.
- ← Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- …
- 129
- Next Page →