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.
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PublishedFebruary 22, 2022
Gov. Mills barely mentioned opioid crisis in State of the State, and people noticed
Although the governor’s speech drew some criticism, administration officials say they’re focused on the epidemic of fatal overdoses and making systemic changes to improve services and save lives.
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PublishedFebruary 16, 2022
Paul Paul LePage criticizes Gov. Janet Mills on budget surplus while submitting petitions to run for governor
Paul LePage was joined by dozens of supporters when he submitted nomination papers seeking to become the first person to serve a third nonconsecutive term in the Blaine House.
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PublishedFebruary 15, 2022
Gov. Mills unveils budget blueprint for projected $822 million surplus
The release of the supplemental budget proposal will kick off negotiations in the Legislature – a process complicated by election-year politics, with the governor’s office and the entire Legislature up for grabs.
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PublishedFebruary 11, 2022
Gov. Mills’ proposed $500 checks would reach more Mainers than previous relief payment
About 800,000 taxpayers would benefit from the proposal, including 275,000 people who were ineligible last year because they were retirees, self-employed or business owners.
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PublishedFebruary 10, 2022
Gov. Mills calls for $500 checks to Maine residents, investments in education and health care
In her State of the State address Thursday, the governor touted progress the state has made in fighting the pandemic while sounding caution about the uncertainties that lie ahead.
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PublishedFebruary 10, 2022
Gov. Mills unveils $20 million plan for free tuition at Maine community colleges
About 8,000 students would be eligible under the program, funded by a one-time transfer to the Maine Community College System.
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PublishedFebruary 9, 2022
Gov. Mills’ State of the State address to focus on pandemic response, budget surplus
The high-profile speech comes as Mainers grow weary of pandemic restrictions and as Mills and her party hope to retain control of the Blaine House and both chambers of the Legislature in November’s elections.
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PublishedFebruary 8, 2022
Lawmakers say no to bill legalizing psilocybin-assisted therapy in Maine
The Health and Human Services Committee voted 8-3 against legalizing medical use of the psychedelic compound contained in ‘magic mushrooms,’ even after the bill’s sponsor offered to amend it to simply study the issue and possibly offer it as palliative care.
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PublishedFebruary 7, 2022
Gov. Mills unveils $8 million plan to improve child protection in Maine
The plan would strengthen the office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman and add child protection caseworkers to cover weekends, nights and holidays, among other initiatives.
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PublishedFebruary 4, 2022
Bipartisan group of lawmakers asks Mills to raise pensions for retired state workers
People receiving benefits under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System got the maximum 3% cost-of-living adjustment last summer, but it wasn’t enough to cover the 5.4% rate of inflation.
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