Sulan Chau was ordered to pay over $500,000 to the city for years of unaddressed housing and code violations at 112 Woodford St.
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 inLocal & State, News
Saturday’s warmth sets high-temperature record in Portland
Mainers were making the most of the warm weather, and the Eastern Promenade Trail was buzzing with activity.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland officials highlight potential uses of face-scanning technology
Four city department heads downplay flaws and potential misuse ahead of a scheduled City Council vote on a proposed ban.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland has plans to smooth Old Port streets’ rough edges
Wharf and Dana streets in the Old Port could be facing a makeover to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and local businesses.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Developer’s request would lay groundwork for Portland’s tallest building
Tim Soley wants city planners to double the heights allowed for new building projects in the Old Port that create and preserve publicly accessible open space.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Influx of asylum seekers has Portland scrambling to find daytime shelter
The City Council is seeking a place where asylum seekers can get out of the cold, and City Manager Jon Jennings hopes Gov. Janet Mills’ administration will take the lead in what he says is a regional issue.
Posted inLocal & State, News
This year’s Christmas tree has surprisingly deep roots
The Norway spruce that graces Portland’s Monument Square for the holiday season was planted three decades ago by a young city arborist in his first year on the job.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Susan Collins introduces bill to let asylum seekers work sooner, bucking Donald Trump’s plan
The bipartisan measure runs counter to a White House proposal to double the waiting period, and is similar to one proposed by Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree and supported by independent Sen. Angus King.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Influx of asylum seekers fills Portland’s overflow shelters
Nearly 170 people, most from sub-Saharan Africa, have arrived in Portland in the past three weeks and city officials say they’ve run out of space to shelter them.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Inauguration of Portland mayor reflects historic shift in local, national politics
Portland has had eight women serve as mayor in its 233-year history, but none had been elected mayor in a citywide vote until Kate Snyder’s victory last month.