Portland officials are awaiting details, but expect additional state funding for those who had been cut from an assistance program.
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, News, Politics
Portland mayoral race down to three candidates
Firefighter Chris Vail is disqualified after the City Clerk’s office determines he needed four more valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
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Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State, News
Portland real estate firm to donate $45,000 to fight graffiti
The money will allow Graffiti Busters to double up its efforts, an official says.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Real Estate
Portland allows work to resume on Newbury Street condos
Work had been halted after neighbors reported damage to their properties that an engineering report attributes to construction activity.
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State, News
Police look for possible pattern in string of thefts from Maine veterans groups
About $15,000 was stolen from an American Legion post in Gray over the weekend, and there are similarities to other crimes targeting the state’s nonprofits.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council weighs tax break for affordable housing project in West End
A nonprofit would save $728,000 on the project over 22 years, but foes say it may not be a good fit for the area and parking would be lost.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Sen. Angus King announces push to ease federal work restrictions on asylum seekers
Maine’s independent U.S. senator comes to Portland to announce the proposal, saying it would reduce the need for the kind of public assistance the city is struggling to provide.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Sen. Angus King coming to Portland to start push for change in asylum work rules
A shorter wait period before getting jobs would ease the city’s immigrant assistance problem, but it will be an uphill battle in Congress.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland to unveil 2 more downtown charging stations for electric vehicles
The stations at the city’s Temple and Spring street parking garages were funded by a private grant.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland councilors debate ways to provide aid to asylum seekers
But critics say two fundraising efforts, one backed by Mayor Michael Brennan and each targeting a different group of immigrants, may be competing for the same pool of potential donors.