Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been covering Portland City Hall for the Press Herald since 2012. His beat touches on a wide range of topics, including immigration, homelessness, education, tourism, real estate development and the economy in Maine’s largest city. He has been a Portland-based journalist since 2005. A life-long Mainer who loves the outdoors, Randy is also a bassist who brews his own beer at his North Yarmouth home, where he lives with his wife and two children.
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PublishedJune 14, 2023
Republicans embrace absentee voting as key to Maine special election win
‘The results in Maine are proof positive that focusing on pre-Election Day voting will be critical to delivering Republican victories in 2024,’ the Republican National Committee said.
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PublishedJune 13, 2023
Maine House rejects 72-hour waiting period for firearm sales
The 73-69 vote shows the difficulty of passing gun legislation in Maine, which has a strong hunting heritage and tradition of gun ownership.
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PublishedJune 13, 2023
State flag referendum survives challenge in the House
The bill’s sponsor says the secretary of state plans to work with a bipartisan group to choose a version of the popular 1901 flag for voters to consider this fall.
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PublishedJune 13, 2023
Legislature backs $15 minimum wage, but Mills opposes it
The proposal to raise the minimum wage won approval from the House and Senate, but likely won’t get the governor’s signature.
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PublishedJune 12, 2023
House votes down proposed rating system for school books
It was one of several bills seeking to restrict books and discussions in schools about controversial topics, including gender identity and sexual orientation.
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PublishedJune 12, 2023
Lawmakers split on response to reports of increased juvenile crimes
The House rejects a bill that would allow police to resume temporary detentions of juveniles for less serious crimes, with Democrats calling for more services to support at-risk youth.
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PublishedJune 12, 2023
House, Senate agree to let voters decide about new state flag
Gov. Janet Mills hasn’t yet weighed in on a bill that would ask voters this fall whether they want to replace the current state flag with one based on the design used until 1909 that is comprised of a pine tree and blue star.
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PublishedJune 9, 2023
Maine’s high court rules lawmakers may still enact citizen referendums
The decision likely only affects one question, which lawmakers say enjoys widespread support in the Legislature and across the state: Banning foreign spending on state referendum campaigns.
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PublishedJune 8, 2023
Senate wants Maine voters to decide whether to change the state flag
The bill would replace the current flag with the state flag used from 1901 to 1909, which features a pine tree in the center of a white field and a blue star in the upper left corner.
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PublishedJune 7, 2023
House narrowly votes to restore Maine’s original flag
The bill’s prospects remain uncertain as a half dozen Democrats joined Republicans to oppose the bill, which passed by a 2-vote margin with 20 members absent.
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