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.
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PublishedJuly 31, 2015
Sen. Angus King announces push to ease federal work restrictions on asylum seekers
Maine’s independent U.S. senator comes to Portland to announce the proposal, saying it would reduce the need for the kind of public assistance the city is struggling to provide.
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PublishedJuly 30, 2015
Sen. Angus King coming to Portland to start push for change in asylum work rules
A shorter wait period before getting jobs would ease the city’s immigrant assistance problem, but it will be an uphill battle in Congress.
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PublishedJuly 28, 2015
Portland to unveil 2 more downtown charging stations for electric vehicles
The stations at the city’s Temple and Spring street parking garages were funded by a private grant.
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PublishedJuly 27, 2015
Portland councilors debate ways to provide aid to asylum seekers
But critics say two fundraising efforts, one backed by Mayor Michael Brennan and each targeting a different group of immigrants, may be competing for the same pool of potential donors.
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PublishedJuly 27, 2015
Developers look to convert former Portland church into affordable housing for mentally ill
The former Clark Memorial United Methodist Church would provide 25 housing units near Woodfords Corner.
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PublishedJuly 24, 2015
Special Portland fund won’t cover all needs of asylum seekers
The city manager says Portland’s new aid program for immigrants doesn’t have enough money to provide a full array of emergency aid over the rest of the fiscal year.
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PublishedJuly 24, 2015
Tipped employees in Portland say wage hike could hurt
Many in the city’s small army of waitstaff believe a proposal that would triple their hourly base salary would just eat into their gratuities.
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PublishedJuly 23, 2015
Private poll tests waters in Portland mayor’s race
The partial poll results show a virtual tie between Michael Brennan, who is running for re-election, and Ethan Strimling, who has not yet said whether he will run or not.
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PublishedJuly 22, 2015
Organizers appear to end insistence that Portland didn’t block medical pot fest
The group initially said the Aug. 9 event would go on despite denial of an amended permit amid concerns over an admission fee and public marijuana use.
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PublishedJuly 22, 2015
Minimum wage uncertainty makes Portland business owners fearful
Eighteen months into the debate, business owners tire of the battle as the City Council delays its vote on a $10.10 standard, and a referendum on a $15 minimum looms.
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