They point to a report showing that the Department of Health and Human Services is getting worse at preventing repeated abuse and neglect of children.
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
Mainers need a law to protect their digital privacy, advocates say, but businesses object
A legislative committee held a public hearing Tuesday on proposals to restrict the consumer information that technology companies can collect and sell.
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Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State, News
State failing to prevent repeat cases of child abuse, review finds
The recurring rate of child abuse in Maine is twice the national standard and getting worse, and caseworkers fail to adequately identify risks half the time, according to an internal review of the Office of Child and Family Services.
Posted inLocal & State, News
DHHS again facing scrutiny as another child dies despite contact with the agency
The Office of Child and Family Services investigated a report of suspected abuse two months before 3-year-old Makinzlee Hanrahan was allegedly beaten to death.
Posted inLocal & State
Gov. Mills’ post of encampment photos puzzles allies and critics alike
The governor removed a Facebook post that included photos of a Portland homeless encampment juxtaposed with more idyllic scenes of mountains, lakes, the coast and a county fair and words that asked “where in Maine are these spots?”
Posted inLocal & State, News
Wabanaki leaders, advocates rally outside the Maine State House for Question 6
Participants in the Indigenous Peoples Day rally call for expanded sovereignty rights for tribal communities and passage of a ballot question next month to restore treaty language to printed copies of the Maine Constitution.
Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
Spending piles up in Pine Tree Power, right-to-repair referendum campaigns
The owners of Maine’s largest power companies have spent nearly $30 million to oppose Question 3, while backers of Question 4, the right-to-repair proposal, have raised $4 million.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine safety net spending has tripled since start of pandemic
With costs ballooning, state lawmakers are looking at ways to restructure the state’s General Assistance program to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Portland mayoral hopefuls debate homelessness, climate change
Much of the debate between Pious Ali, Justin Costa, Mark Dion, Dylan Pugh and Andrew Zarro focused on the homeless encampments that the city has struggled to manage.
Posted inElection 2023, Local & State, Politics
Question 2: What you need to know about the foreign campaign spending ban
The referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot would prohibit foreign governments and entities they control from spending money on state and local races and referendums. But media outlets warn that the proposal would infringe on constitutional protections for the press.