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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PublishedFebruary 10, 2015
Fire officials say charges likely for owner of Portland building where fire killed 6
A deputy fire chief tells city councilors that he expects the District Attorney’s Office ‘will be proceeding with some prosecution’ against Gregory Nisbet.
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PublishedFebruary 9, 2015
License denied by state, Portland bar Sangillo’s to close
The longtime neighborhood tavern, which police said had become a frequent source of problems, will open for the last time Saturday and close after last call Sunday morning.
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PublishedFebruary 6, 2015
Only memories remain after crew tears down Portland house where fire killed 6
Neighbors stop to watch the house at 20-24 Noyes St. come down, and to remember the young adults who died.
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PublishedFebruary 6, 2015
Squatters reign, conditions deteriorate at apartment building in Portland’s sights
City officials have been pressuring landlord Gregory Nisbet to address code violations at 188 Dartmouth St. for weeks.
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PublishedFebruary 5, 2015
Portland halted fire inspections of apartments a year ago
The fire chief cites other safety priorities, even though guidelines call for annual visits. The public was not told about the program’s suspension, but city officials deny concealing it.
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PublishedFebruary 3, 2015
Landlords urge Portland not to impose costly burdens
A task force is considering recommendations to strengthen rental housing inspections in the wake of a deadly fire.
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PublishedFebruary 2, 2015
Task force to unveil fire safety oversight plan
Recommendations include forming a new fire safety division to achieve more and better inspections.
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PublishedJanuary 26, 2015
Noyes Street fire report sparks concern about rooming houses
Many believe that numerous Portland homes are being used as rooming houses without required safety upgrades.
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PublishedJanuary 22, 2015
Portland gives landlord Feb. 2 deadline to fix code violations
City officials say the building at 186-188 Dartmouth St., owned by Gregory Nisbet, has problems similar to those at Nisbet’s building on Noyes Street where a fire killed six people.
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PublishedJanuary 21, 2015
Portland council approves new fees on stormwater runoff
Property owners will start paying in 2016 to help fund $170 million in upgrades to the city’s system for keeping pollution out of waterways.
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