City Manager Jon Jennings says the city is working with the state to secure more hotel rooms, including at a hotel near the jetport, to ensure that anyone seeking shelter has a place to stay this winter.
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
Eleven Portland firefighters exposed to COVID-19
Fire Chief Keith Gautreau says city officials determined that none of the 11 firefighters working at the Bramhall Station on Nov. 30 was following the city mandate that face masks be worn inside firehouses.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
City Council welcomes new members as Portland faces historic challenges
At-large Councilor April Fournier is sworn in as the first indigenous member of the council, along with Andrew Zarro in District 4 and Mark Dion in District 5.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Portland workers: Hazard pay of $18 an hour would be ‘incredible’
Workers in Portland talk about why they deserve a 50 percent bump in pay during the pandemic and what the additional money would mean to them.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Employers grapple with hazard wage: Some pay, others don’t
Amid a legal challenge, large employers take widely different approaches to a hazard pay provision in the Portland’s new minimum wage ordinance.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland to form rental board, enforce rent limits as it carries out citizen initiatives
City officials release part of their plan to implement five ballot measures that were approved by voters Nov. 3 and take effect Sunday.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Activists, business community await Portland’s plans to implement ballot measures
City officials said they will release implementation plans next week just as the voter-approved ordinances take effect.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council continues private meetings with attorney
Monday’s executive session was the third time councilors huddled with their attorney outside of public view to discuss varying interpretations – and the legal risks for each – of five voter-approved ordinances.
Posted inLocal & State
State to demolish part of historic train trestle in Portland
The span, which is visible from Interstate 295, has been eyed by both trail and rail advocates but has fallen into ‘critical’ condition after being damaged by fire in 1984, according to the state.
Posted inElection 2020, Elections, Local & State, Local Elections, News, Uncategorized
Portland to begin hand recount of short-term rental referendum ballots Thursday
A city spokesperson predicted it would take three full days, at an estimated cost of $15,000 to the city, to conduct the recount.