The late William B. Troubh, a former mayor and councilor, made the Portland Ice Arena a reality when others thought it was a crazy idea.
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
Portland council gives library staffers power to expel unruly patrons
In a decision that alarms some advocates for the homeless, the City Council grants constable powers to security guards hired by the library.
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Posted inLocal & State
Portland property owners ask councilors to ease impact of stormwater fees
Fees that could take effect in 2016 would fund projects to reduce the runoff that enters waterways such as Back Cove and Casco Bay.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland apartment building where blaze killed six is in foreclosure, records show
Inspection reports reveal the city had been called to the property 16 times over the last 11 years to investigate complaints including storage of combustible material on the porch.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland freezes hiring, non-emergency overtime because of immigrant-aid dispute with state
Gov. Paul LePage’s plans to withhold funding to communities that provide aid to undocumented immigrants could cost the city $3.2 million a year.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland councilors call for city to expand fire safety oversight
They say more inspections of rental units are needed to find violations and get them fixed, but differ on adding staff to the fire department.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Many in Portland live in rentals with code violations
After a fire on Noyes Street kills six, the Telegram’s renewed investigation of citywide code problems shows that inspection data is difficult to track.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland got complaints about possible illegal unit in building where fire killed 6
Records show 16 complaint-based inspections at 20 Noyes St. since 2003, where a fire killed six young adults last week.
Posted inElections, Maine Governor's race, News, Politics
Republicans gear up to govern Maine after resounding victories
Triumphs by LePage, Poliquin and state senate candidates mirror a Republican surge that swept the nation
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland’s fire safety program faces scrutiny after loss of five young lives
A 2013 consultant’s report found a lack of regular, periodic safety inspections and called for more staffing in the city’s fire prevention bureau, among other improvements.