Five years after protests sparked calls for change, local activists and officials say some efforts have been stalled, while city leaders say progress has been made.
Grace Benninghoff
Staff Writer
Grace covers city hall and Greater Portland for the Press Herald. She previously covered reproductive health for Texas Monthly and served as the local host of All Things Considered at Vermont Public. Before moving to Maine, Grace attended Columbia Journalism School in New York City and spent many years in Colorado and Oregon working in the non-profit sector. When she isn't reporting you can find her trail-running with her dog Loma, practicing her Spanish, surfing, or making pottery.
Posted inMaine
What’s up with those new athletic complexes on the Back Cove trail?
Facilities have been reinstalled after a stormwater retention project required them to be razed 4 years ago.
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Posted inBusiness, Maine
Vote postponed again on moratorium that would stop Live Nation venue
A series of technical issues that made it difficult for people in overflow rooms, online and in the hallway to hear prompted the Portland City Council to postpone most of the items on their meeting agenda on Monday night.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland neighbors organize to make West End safer with traffic calming projects
A spike in pedestrian deaths motivated some neighborhood residents to take matters into their own hands while urging the city to consider further improvements.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland rent board recommends its largest fine yet, accusing landlord of illegal rent hikes
The rent board is seeking to fine Geoffrey Rice more than $170,000 for repeated rent control violations at 2 of his properties, but whether the punishment will be enforced remains unclear.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Portland City Council weighs options on ICE-contracted airline flying out of jetport
Despite growing concerns over Avelo Airlines’ role in the Trump administration’s deportation flights, councilors say they see very few, if any, legal ways for the city to intervene.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Maine immigrant advocates, leaders decry Supreme Court ruling on injunctions, birthright citizenship
A group filed a new class action lawsuit Friday in response to the ruling, which they say opens the door for partial enforcement of President Donald Trump’s order to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of people in the country illegally.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News, Politics
Portland Jetport incentives for airline with ICE contract prompt concern from city officials, residents
Though Avelo Airlines says it has not carried out any deportations from Maine, some city leaders are also concerned that they would be unable to track or prevent such flights.
Posted inCops & Courts, Maine, News
Portland unveils plans to revitalize Congress Street amid growing safety concerns
Residents and businesses have been calling for changes to the busy downtown corridor amid reports of drug use and public disturbances. The city is responding with several new projects.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland City Council approves $286M general fund budget, despite General Assistance uncertainty
The budget will raise the overall tax rate by 7.4%, the city says, and pull about $9 million from the rainy day fund to account for federal and state funding cuts.