A bill passed last year required local school districts to provide school staff with 15 additional days off for pandemic-related absences, but some districts have not done so since October, citing what opponents call a loophole in the original bill.
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 inMaine, News, Politics
Maine could legalize ‘magic mushroom’ drug to treat depression
Early studies have shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy can dramatically reduce severe depression, but some warn that it’s not safe for everyone.
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Posted inMaine, News
Longtime legislator John Tuttle Jr. of Sanford dies at 70
The Democrat served in the state Legislature for nearly 30 years and also served as a Sanford city councilor.
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.
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.