Randy Billings

Press Herald

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.

Latest

Published
May 31, 2016

Portland forum to tackle public’s battles with developers

As new projects surge, GrowSmart Maine seeks to improve residents’ role in the early planning process to head off conflicts and lawsuits later.
Published
May 16, 2016

Portland council votes 8-1 to pass $236 million budget, close city-run health clinic

Activists aren’t placated by an amendment that will slow the transition of services from the India Street clinic to a nonprofit, showering chants of ‘Shame!’ on the councilors as they storm out of City Hall.
Published
May 16, 2016

Portland council to decide fate of India Street clinic, city budget

Closure of the India Street Public Health Center has been the focus of debate since City Manager Jon Jennings released his budget plan at the beginning of April.
Published
May 12, 2016

Congress Square redesign effort gets $25,000 grant

The city of Portland is in the process of selecting design and art consultants to redesign the busy intersection and improve the small, hard-scaped park at High and Congress streets.
Published
May 10, 2016

Lawmakers call for investigation of Maine wardens’ undercover raid in Allagash

Gov. Paul LePage says his office is working to verify the Maine Sunday Telegram’s report of a dramatic raid in which agents may have padded evidence, provided alcohol to people being investigated and flouted public records laws.
Published
May 9, 2016

Activists gather as Portland council quizzes staff on plan to close India Street clinic

The India Street Public Health Center serves 1,600 patients who have HIV, STDs or drug addiction.
Published
May 9, 2016

More issues emerge for long-delayed ‘midtown’ project in Portland

City councilors will discuss sales deal modifications sought by the developer for the housing venture that failed to break ground in 2015.
Published
May 5, 2016

Portland mayor calls for reforms in arena leadership

Frustrated that ‘we had no warning, no voice at the table,’ Ethan Strimling says he wants more accountability to taxpayers.
Published
May 3, 2016

Meet Veto: LePage employs biting humor to name his new dog

The governor adopts a rescue Jack Russell Terrier just a month after the family lost its previous dog to cancer.
Published
May 2, 2016

Residents pressure Portland council to keep city health clinic open

Advocates for the India Street Public Health Center pack a budget hearing, urging councilors to take more time to study the transfer of services to a nonprofit that City Manager Jon Jennings has proposed in his budget.

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