Only a fraction of an estimated $6.4 million in fraudulent claims received funding, according to an audit.
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
State to begin issuing $850 checks this week, but envelopes in short supply
Maine Revenue Services expects to issue 200,000 refunds a week, meaning most of the 858,000 checks should be issued by the end of June – if the state has enough envelopes.
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Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Independent qualifies for Maine governor’s race
Sam Hunkler, 65-year-old doctor from Beals, said he’s mounting an independent bid for governor to provide voters with a choice outside of the traditional two-party system.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Primaries, special election launch 2022 election season in Maine
Contested primaries for the 2nd Congressional District seat and more than a dozen seats in the Legislature, plus a special state Senate election in Hancock County, will take place on June 14.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Criticism of Gov. Mills mounts in Portland over asylum seekers
A Portland city councilor says the governor has ‘largely ignored’ the crisis, while a state representative and party leader called the administration’s response ‘absolutely abysmal.’
Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
Child safety advocates look to keep heat on state agency throughout the summer
Advocates said Wednesday that they will keep pressuring state officials to reform practices and the culture within the state’s beleaguered child protection services.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Gov. Mills says ‘Maine won’t go back’ to LePage years
At the Democratic State Convention in Bangor, she contrasts her record with that of her Republican challenger.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine Democrats approve platform defending abortion access, LGBTQ rights
The two-day convention began Friday in Bangor and culminates Saturday with a speech by Gov. Janet Mills.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine Democrats push back on state senator’s critique about outreach to rural voters
Sen. Chloe Maxmin’s new book, ‘Dirt Road Revival,’ says Democrats in Maine and nationally have lost touch with rural voters, something party officials here say is not true.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Legislature upholds 5 vetoes by Gov. Mills of wide-ranging bills
Gov. Janet Mills has never had a veto overridden.