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.
-
PublishedMay 19, 2013
Accessing, crunching the state’s results ultimately frustrate bid to create database
PORTLAND – Unlike in most other states, there is no easily accessible way for diners in Maine to look up the inspection history of their favorite restaurant. The inspection reports maintained by the state’s Health Inspection Program are accessible only through a time-consuming and costly manual process. Last fall, the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram […]
-
PublishedMay 19, 2013
Why do failure rates vary across the state?
Insiders say a code is applied uniformly to inspect eateries, but using ‘common sense’ can still make results subjective.
-
PublishedMay 19, 2013
Oversight of Maine restaurants diminishes, just as complaints rise
Maine’s guidelines for overseeing restaurant safety were quietly scaled back last year, even as the number of health-related complaints about Maine restaurants has been on the rise. An investigation by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram has found that restaurant kitchens in Maine are subject to fewer inspections and less transparency than restaurants in much […]
-
PublishedApril 28, 2013
Rentals in Portland hard to find, costly
The Portland area rental market is tight these days, and some are finding it difficult to land a good spot to call home.
-
PublishedApril 5, 2013
Maine mayors to unveil $85M bond request Monday
The bond package, which would need legislative approval before going to voters, would fund education, research and development, transportation and environmental initiatives.
-
PublishedMarch 7, 2013
Portland launches effort to ban polystyrene cups, plastic bags
The non-biodegradable, petroleum-based products cannot be recycled in a cost-effective way and pose a serious environmental and public health risk, the city says.
-
PublishedFebruary 2, 2013
Portland mayor: General Assistance cuts would swamp state
Because it provides more aid than most communities, Portland faces a potential catastrophe, Michael Brennan warns.
-
PublishedJanuary 4, 2013
Portland names new deputy city manager
Sheila Hill-Christian of Richmond, Va., will fill a post left vacant by one of two assistant city managers.
-
PublishedDecember 24, 2012
Portland councilor: Let cities make own gun rules
Edward Suslovic says state law doesn’t give cities and towns enough flexibility to regulate guns.
-
PublishedDecember 12, 2012
Bangor student’s ‘Mainah’ Gangnam spoof catching on
Ryan Lovett, 18, of Oakland, produced a spoof of PSY’s video, “Gangnam Style,” and posted it on YouTube.
- ← Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- Next Page →