By Michael Shepherd and Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — The state flag design that Mainers will decide on this November is similar to the one that flew from 1901-09, featuring a mostly photorealistic pine tree at the center of a buff background alongside a blue star.

By Elizabeth Walztoni, Bangor Daily News Staff Last Saturday night, a rock band performed on the wooden stage of the Trenton Grange, built a century ago to host secret, ritual-based meetings for local farmers.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff BANGOR — For Marilou “LuLu” Ranta, winning a James Beard award wasn’t nearly as exciting as the morning she spent at the federal courthouse.

MONSON — Twelve members of the Piscataquis Region Retired Educators Association and two guests met July 23 at the Lakeshore Pub in Monson for the monthly meeting.

Contributed photoABBOT REUNION — The Abbot annual school reunion was held July 28 at the town hall with about 40 in attendance.

WASHINGTON, D.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wants to hear from anyone who uses Maine’s woods, whether it’s for hunting or recreation.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine saw home sales fall in June, snapping a four-month climb.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff Nearly 1,000 cases across Maine do not have lawyers assigned.

By Kevin Miller, Maine Public More than 350 people submitted proposals for a redesign of the original Maine state flag that will be the subject of a referendum vote this November.

More than $66,000 in Maine Community Foundation grants will help strengthen nonprofit organizations and projects in Piscataquis County.

By Ari Snider, Maine Public Maine saw just over 14,000 business applications last year, about an 8 percent increase from the year before, and the highest on record going back to 2005.

By Elizabeth Walztoni, Bangor Daily News Staff A small Maine volunteer group has big plans to rebuild a regional industry in a way they believe will also benefit the environment, particularly soil, and human health.

PORTLAND — The Mitchell Institute, a Maine-based nonprofit scholarship and research organization founded by Senator George J.

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff Eight years ago, JD Vance was doing frequent interviews in the wake of “Hillbilly Elegy,” a bestselling memoir that was seen by many as essential to understanding the rising political appeal of Donald Trump.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff A nearly $500,000 grant will connect Mainers who are leaving incarceration or who are in recovery from substance use with resources to help them find jobs.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The construction process to move the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center from cramped conditions in the county jail in Dover-Foxcroft into the administrative unit of the sheriff’s office on the first floor of the same building is currently proceeding.

MONSON — Monson’s Summerfest takes place Saturday, July 20, an annual celebration of all things summer.