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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PublishedMay 15, 2023
Effort to restore parole in Maine appears unlikely after committee vote
The bill was rejected 6-5 by the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and faces ongoing opposition from Gov. Janet Mills, a former prosecutor.
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PublishedMay 12, 2023
Efforts to protect gender-affirming care draw impassioned testimony at State House
Two bills elicited more than 4 hours of remarks from members of the public, including one that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to begin taking puberty blockers and hormone therapy without their parents’ consent.
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PublishedMay 11, 2023
Explosion, fire in truck parked outside Blaine House in Augusta not considered suspicious
A loud explosion was reported before flames engulfed the bed of a pickup parked alongside the governor’s mansion.
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PublishedMay 10, 2023
Gov. Mills unveils new spending plan to address housing shortage, homelessness and other needs
The governor said her nearly $900 million change package, which does not propose any tax relief or reform, addresses ‘pressing needs,’ such as homelessness, food insecurity and the lack of affordable housing.
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PublishedMay 9, 2023
State unveils plan to protect kids by strengthening families
The Maine Child Safety and Family Wellbeing report establishes a framework for future policy decisions and proposes $1 million in seed funding to launch a public education campaign and provide technical assistance to help community providers close service gaps.
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PublishedMay 8, 2023
Gun debate returns to Augusta amid rise in mass shootings nationwide
Lawmakers will continue to hear more gun rights and gun control bills in the coming days, and behind-the-scenes discussions are just beginning on a proposal aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of people who are prohibited from having them.
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PublishedMay 8, 2023
Maine lawmaker calls for sweeping review of state constitution
Democratic Sen. Craig Hickman wants to create a 13-member, bipartisan commission to study and recommend changes to state government.
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PublishedMay 4, 2023
House majority leader proposes expanding state child tax credit
Rep. Maureen Terry’s proposal would eliminate minimum income requirements for people to receive tax credits for dependents and increase that credit from $300 to $350 per dependent.
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PublishedMay 4, 2023
Lawmakers move to ask state’s high court for opinion on referendum dispute
Lawmakers from both parties say there is widespread support for a citizen initiative to ban foreign governments from spending money on state referendum campaigns.
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PublishedMay 3, 2023
Some House Republicans join lawsuit over Democrats’ budget maneuver
The plaintiffs, including Republican Reps. Shelley Rudnicki and Randall Greenwood, claim that Gov. Janet Mills and Democratic leaders in the Legislature violated the state constitution by passing a party-line budget in March and then calling a special session to finish other work.
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