A Department of Environmental Protection report says Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were 25% lower than levels measured in 1990, surpassing the medium-term goal of a 10% reduction by 2020.
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, Politics
Gov. Mills says Maine Constitution may already protect abortion access
The governor says her administration is debating whether an amendment is needed to protect abortion access in Maine, or whether that right is already enshrined.
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Posted inLocal & State
Cape Elizabeth native plays key role in Congress’ Jan. 6 investigation
Kristin Amerling, who graduated from Cape Elizabeth high in 1983, is the chief counsel for the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine Republicans target state Senate leader using fake – and false – campaign signs
The Maine Republican Party is putting up signs in Aroostook County to fool people into believing Senate President Troy Jackson, a Democrat, wants to defund police, but provided no evidence that he does.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics, Uncategorized
Group using fake name to survey Mainers on culture war issues
The American Principles Project conducted the ‘Maine Today & Public Insight’ poll and said it soon could launch anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant and anti-critical race theory ads attacking Gov. Janet Mills. LePage’s campaign strategist said his team was not behind the poll.
Posted inLocal & State
COVID-19 now the 3rd leading cause of death in Maine
The 2022 Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment also highlights concerns about mental health, access to health care and rising rates of substance use.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree tests positive for COVID-19
In a written statement Monday, Pingree said she is fully vaccinated and boosted and was experiencing mild symptoms.
Posted inPolitics
LePage takes new tack in old quest to eliminate income taxes
The former Republican governor now says he would eliminate them from the bottom up, and may not need to increase increase sales taxes to pay for it – a claim some experts question.
Posted inHealth
Individuals could see 15 percent rate increase for ACA insurance
A variety of factors are driving Affordable Care Act rate increases in Maine and across the country, including COVID-19, the expiration of tax credits, inflation, and health care workforce shortages.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
LePage would seek to cut state support for asylum seekers
In an interview after a Republican rally in Lewiston on Friday, the former governor said that if re-elected, he would once again try to take away their eligibility for assistance to pay for food, shelter and other needs while awaiting federal authorization to work.