The Democrat served in the state Legislature for nearly 30 years and also served as a Sanford city councilor.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
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.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News, Politics
Maine Legislature fails to muster enough support to allow farmworkers to unionize
Lawmakers don’t override Gov. Mills’ veto of a bill to allow workers at farms with 5 or more employees to negotiate wages and working conditions.
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Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Child welfare workers sound alarm, telling lawmakers of heavy workloads and long hours
Nearly 97% of caseworkers who responded to a union survey said they have too many cases to manage, and about 30% said they consider resigning on a daily basis.
Posted inMaine, News
State watchdog’s initial report finds no obvious gaps in child protection oversight
The report from the Legislature’s accountability office provided only an overview of the Office of Child and Family Services, but future reports are expected to have more detailed findings and recommendations.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News, Politics
Committee votes down moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine mandates
The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee votes 7-5 against a bill that originally aimed to prohibit COVID-19 vaccination mandates for five years.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Committee’s party-line endorsement of equal rights amendment makes passage appear doubtful
Unified opposition by the Judiciary Committee’s five Republican members is a bad sign for supporters because the proposal needs votes from two-thirds of the Legislature to advance.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Maine shattered its annual record for overdose deaths in 2021
The 636 deaths, a 23% increase over 2020, are largely the result of fentanyl being added to other drugs. Increased isolation and other pandemic challenges also were factors.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Mills and LePage pile up campaign funds for gubernatorial race
Since July, Gov. Janet Mills and Paul LePage, a former two-term Republican governor, have raised similar amounts at $1 million and $900,000, respectively. But Mills has more money on hand, with $1.28 million to LePage’s $600,000.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News, Politics
‘Inevitable digital intrusion’ into Mainers’ privacy drives new push for constitutional amendment
The proposal would add privacy as a natural right in Maine and protect electronic data and communication from unreasonable seizure by the government.
Posted inElections, Maine, News, Politics
Harsher punishment sought for those who threaten election workers in Maine
Municipal clerks who administer elections say they’ve noticed an increase in anger among voters, and state officials cite at least two threats to election workers since the 2020 presidential election.