By Elizabeth Walztoni, Bangor Daily News Staff A number of agriculture-related laws passed this year were geared toward farmers, such as new rules for salmonella prevention, and monitoring at commercial egg farms; support for well-drilling to respond to droughts; and a new task force finding ways to support the state’s dairy industry.

The Maine Department of Education and Educate Maine are excited to announce that nominations are officially open for the 2025 County Teachers of the Year and the 2026 State Teacher of the Year.

ATKINSON — The homeowners of an Atkinson home escaped harm after three teenaged boys responded to the scene early Wednesday morning, Jan.

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff Working Mainers will notice lighter paychecks starting Wednesday, when a tax funding the state’s new paid family and medical leave program goes into effect with the new year.

By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine has a small population and a part-time Legislature, but state leaders and lawmakers have plenty of big problems to tackle in 2025.

By Nicole Ogrysko, Maine Public In its first year of operation, Maine’s state-sponsored Roth IRA savings plan has enrolled nearly 12,000 workers.

By Ethan Andrew, Bangor Daily News Staff ATKINSON — A barn was destroyed and an attached house is likely to be a total loss after a fire early Wednesday morning, Jan.

Health, money, personal relationships and work top the list of New Year’s resolutions according to a 2024 Pew Research study.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff More than a year after a leaked federal government memo connected illegal marijuana grow houses in Maine to Chinese organized crime, “well below” 100 such properties are believed to be left in the state, according to the U.

BREWER – Jennifer Goodrich, FACMPE, FACHE, has been elected to serve a three-year term as Maine Regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Jane Stitham of Dover-Foxcroft, Maria Wooten of Bowerbank, and Thomas Watt of Greenville have joined the Maine Community Foundation’s Piscataquis County Committee.

By Kaitlyn Budion, Maine Public Maine state parks had another near-record year for visitation, said Andy Cutko, director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands.

BANGOR — Husson University Online is pleased to celebrate the academic achievements of students recently named to the president’s and dean’s lists for term 5 of the 2023-2024 academic year.

By Zara Norman, Bangor Daily News Staff Mainers consider the housing crisis to be a bigger problem than any of the others facing our state.

By Zara Norman, Bangor Daily News Staff Much of Maine is already lagging behind the goals set in two state-sponsored housing studies largely due to a hostile construction climate, planners warn.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff Money for trail systems, airboat noise limits and a push to fight aquatic invasive species are among the Maine Legislature’s 2024 decisions that will affect your outdoor experience in 2025.

BANGOR — Ashley Buttice of Dover-Foxcroft has been named to Husson University Online president’s list for term 4 of the 2023-24 academic year.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — SeDoMoCha Stageworks, Jr.