By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff Forecasters with the National Weather Service say conditions are right for Maine’s drought to last through the winter.

MILO — Milo Elementary will be joining schools across the state in the new year in a friendly competition designed to help turn winter into a season of movement, learning and community spirit.

DEXTER — Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union recently donated nearly 800 pounds of non-perishable food to six local backpack programs serving students in the communities surrounding its branch locations.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Program grant cuts to 12 organizations in the proposed 2026 Piscataquis County budget have been restored by the Piscataquis County Commissioners, some partially and some in full compared to the current year.

By Rose Lundy, The Maine Monitor Linda Cousins had already picked her Medicare plan when she qualified last year, but then she received a call from a woman claiming to be from the insurance company.

By Daniel O’Connor, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine consistently ranks as one of the most rural states in the nation, with more than 60% of the population living far from a major city.

By Molly Enking, Maine Public The U.

A longstanding tradition in the region’s schools continued earlier this month as the Valley Grange of Guilford provided all area third graders with a dictionary through the Dictionary Project and the Grange’s Words for Thirds program.

By Wendy Watkins, Bangor Daily News Staff A new documentary detailing 50 years of black bear research in Maine was released Nov.

By Kevin Miller, Maine Public Nearly half of Maine’s registered voters participated in this year’s November election, which was much higher turnout than during the past two off-year elections.

By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff Although a deal has been reached to end the government shutdown that jeopardized SNAP benefits for thousands of Mainers, heating aid and other assistance programs are still feeling the impact of a lack of federal funding.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Program grant cuts to six organizations in the proposed 2026 Piscataquis County budget have been restored by the Piscataquis County Commissioners.

By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff Mainers can now renew their Real ID through an online portal.

Early detection is one of the best ways to improve lung cancer survival.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a Point32Health company, and Northern Light Health are working together to bring affordable, high-quality health care coverage for those living in Maine.

Penquis was selected to receive a $1,000 grant by BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s median home price fell in September for only the second time since 2019.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Pine Tree Hospice, a non-medical, non-profit volunteer hospice organization in Dover-Foxcroft, is inviting private duty care providers to be included in its free private duty provider directory.