Mayor Kate Snyder’s proposal for a Racial Equity Steering Committee was criticized by members of the public, and councilors narrowed the scope of its work to focus on police policies.
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 inBusiness, Local & State, News
For thousands of unemployed Mainers, the system isn’t working
A historic wave of unemployment claims and a flood of fraudulent filings conspired with technology problems and staffing woes to create delays and headaches for people seeking benefits.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Unemployment snafus leave three lives in limbo
Three personal tales reveal serious flaws in Maine’s system for filing and paying claims.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland ballot question could bring big changes, again, to city government
The move to form a charter commission for the second time in a decade could lead to the elimination of the city manager position and changes aimed at rooting out systemic racism.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Cheverus drops controversial plan to use pesticide despite Portland’s approval
Not long after receiving a waiver to use a synthetic pesticide on its athletic fields, the high school withdrew its appeal Thursday amid criticism from residents.
Posted inLocal & State
Pandemic leads Preble Street to plan new approach to helping the poor and homeless
The social service agency in Portland wants to eliminate some programs and convert its Resource Center into a 40-bed shelter. The Bayside neighborhood may not go for it.
Posted inLocal & State
Police say they intercepted armed counterprotesters in Portland last week
The disclosure comes after a resident questions why officers were stationed on rooftops during last week’s protests and a police official says they were there to protect demonstrators.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland councilors to review police reforms demanded by protesters
Councilor Belinda Ray hopes the council will schedule a hearing on policing after it holds a workshop June 22 to discuss the department’s response to last week’s protests, in which officers fired pepper balls at demonstrators and arrested 33 people.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
Trump praises Guilford workers, jabs at Mills in visit that draws supporters, protesters
The governor fired back in a statement, accusing Trump of stoking divisions and questioning the value of his efforts to help Maine’s fishing industry by lifting restrictions in a conservation area far from the Maine coast.
Posted inLocal & State
Pandemic drives planning to revamp shelter system for Maine’s homeless
The health threat posed by crowded shelters has shown that ‘we simply can’t go back to the way things were,’ says MaineHousing Executive Director Dan Brennan.