The move to form a charter commission for the second time in a decade could lead to the elimination of the city manager position and changes aimed at rooting out systemic racism.
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 inMaine, News, Schools and Education
Cheverus drops controversial plan to use pesticide despite Portland’s approval
Not long after receiving a waiver to use a synthetic pesticide on its athletic fields, the high school withdrew its appeal Thursday amid criticism from residents.
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Posted inMaine
Pandemic leads Preble Street to plan new approach to helping the poor and homeless
The social service agency in Portland wants to eliminate some programs and convert its Resource Center into a 40-bed shelter. The Bayside neighborhood may not go for it.
Posted inMaine
Police say they intercepted armed counterprotesters in Portland last week
The disclosure comes after a resident questions why officers were stationed on rooftops during last week’s protests and a police official says they were there to protect demonstrators.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland councilors to review police reforms demanded by protesters
Councilor Belinda Ray hopes the council will schedule a hearing on policing after it holds a workshop June 22 to discuss the department’s response to last week’s protests, in which officers fired pepper balls at demonstrators and arrested 33 people.
Posted inMaine, Nation & World, News, Politics
Trump praises Guilford workers, jabs at Mills in visit that draws supporters, protesters
The governor fired back in a statement, accusing Trump of stoking divisions and questioning the value of his efforts to help Maine’s fishing industry by lifting restrictions in a conservation area far from the Maine coast.
Posted inMaine
Pandemic drives planning to revamp shelter system for Maine’s homeless
The health threat posed by crowded shelters has shown that ‘we simply can’t go back to the way things were,’ says MaineHousing Executive Director Dan Brennan.
Posted inMaine
Milestone shelter in Portland reports 5 cases of COVID-19
Milestone Recovery, which serves people who are using alcohol and drugs, appears to be the site of Cumberland County’s latest COVID-19 outbreak.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Guard’s mask-fitting mission helps in battle against coronavirus
The Maine National Guard is helping long-term care facilities prepare for possible outbreaks by fitting workers with medical-grade masks normally used in hospital settings.
Posted inBusiness, Food, Health, Maine
Maine fails to deliver online inspections as restaurants reopen in pandemic
Officials planned to update the state’s inspections database five years ago, but it still hasn’t happened.