Some Maine families have opened their homes to recently arrived asylum seekers, who have spent months in temporary shelters and, in some cases, government detention centers.
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, Uncategorized
Narrow Gauge Railroad staying in Portland
The nonprofit considered moving to Gray after the Portland Co. was sold for redevelopment, but it now plans to remain on the Portland waterfront, where it has operated since 1993.
advertisement
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland begins final push as it transitions migrants out of Expo
City and immigrant leaders will move asylum seekers to the Family Shelter and a Salvation Army overflow shelter by Aug. 15.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Migrant in Portland ‘shocked’ by fake Twitter account used to smear fellow asylum seekers
Someone posed as Prince Pombo Mafumba in an attempt to stoke xenophobia and anger among Mainers.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation / World, News, Politics
Sen. Collins co-sponsors bill requiring presidential campaigns to report foreign contacts
She is the first Republican senator to support the measure, but Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has so far blocked the bill from coming to a vote.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Immigrant leaders in Portland say migrants will accept available housing
That appears to be a shift since Tuesday, when city staffers said housing offers outside Portland had been repeatedly turned down.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland intensifies effort to find housing for asylum seekers who remain at Expo
As a political battle over mixed messaging continues, city leaders try to clear up confusion that may have caused some migrant families to turn down housing offers outside Portland.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Uncategorized
Several councilors say mayor misinformed asylum seekers about housing options
Mayor Ethan Strimling denies that he has given migrant families a mixed message about refusing housing outside Portland, as the deadline to close the shelter at the Portland Expo approaches.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Uncategorized
Portland will debate spending $800,000 in donations for asylum seekers
City staff recommends using some of the money to help pay for costs of running the temporary emergency shelter at the Expo, but immigrant advocates warn that such a use would be contrary to the intent of donors.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Migrant influx to Portland prompts emergency declaration, flood of generosity
City officials and others are now focusing on the difficult next phase of the relief effort: moving the families out of the temporary shelter at the Expo into more stable housing.