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.

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.

Penquis is inviting community members to participate in public information sessions to share their input on local transportation needs.

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.

Maine’s only mobile mammography unit is about to achieve another new milestone: walk-in screenings offered to all women, without an appointment.

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.

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

Photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High SchoolCHRISTMAS FOOD BOXES — Early on the morning of Dec.

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.

By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff Here in Maine we’ve come to expect that every business that sells beer — from gourmet markets to grocery stores to corner gas stations — will have at least one type of craft beer.

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.

MILLINOCKET — Organizers of the Millinocket Marathon & Half are pleased to announce over $20,000 in charitable gifts to 16 local groups and organizations.

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.

SKOWHEGAN — Skowhegan Savings Bank announced that David Cyr, president and CEO of the bank, will retire at the end of 2025 and the board of directors have appointed Dan Tilton, executive vice president of sales and customer relations, as the bank’s new president.

By Ethan Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff Iberdrola completed its $2.