About 59,000 working Mainers got a raise this week when the minimum wage increased from $9 an hour to $10 an hour. For someone working 40 hours a week, the dollar will increase pay by about $2,000 a year before payroll taxes. The yearly wage for a full-time worker making the new minimum was just more than $20,000.

A short time after Christmas, Wall Street Journal writer Bob Greene caught up with US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and asked him about a commencement speech he gave in June to his son's ninth-grade graduation ceremony at a boarding school in New Hampshire.

Do you love this winter weather? Are you looking forward to spending some time with family and friends snowmobiling, cooking hot dogs and marshmallows over the open fire, maybe a game of Nerf football while the ice fishing traps lie in wait for that big ole togue? If so, then you need to get your ticket for the 11th annual Moosehead Togue Derby that runs from Jan 26-28. There is no better place to spend a family weekend than the shores of Maine’s largest lake and it’s a great chance to win some spectacular prizes.

The Center Theatre and the Slightly Off-Center Players are hosting a paint ‘n sip event at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Center Theatre. The latest in this series of fun events, attendees will work on a painting by Connie LaGross, titled “Colorful Sunrise.”

The slate is clean as we start another year anew.

The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team joined some of the top teams from across Maine and schools from throughout New England at the Noble Invitational on Dec. 29-30. The Ponies tallied 111 points to place seventh out a field of nearly 40 teams at the competition, the second highest finish for Class B schools and highest among those from Class B North.

Riding an ATV behind an 18-dog team, Ashley Patterson navigated a network of unplowed logging roads on Dec. 20, in Shirley, cruising over a fluffy layer of fresh snow. The team covered more than 20 miles that day, which was just a short distance in the scheme of things. After all, they were practicing for an upcoming 100-mile race, followed by a 70-mile race and 250-mile race later in the season.

Upcoming events across the region

Does Maine's Legislature have a chronic glut of bills wasting time, money, and creativity, keeping elected officials from giving important issues the attention they deserve? Should Maine legislators reduce the number of bills they submit each legislative session?

Mayo Regional Hospital launched its second year of the Antibiotics Stewardship Project on Jan. 2. Since the program’s inception one year ago, Outpatient Medical Director Dr. Elizabeth Dennis has worked with her management team and colleagues at Mayo Regional Hospital to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.