By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff While Mainers pull the final elements together for total solar eclipse festivities next month, for some folks, this is not their first go-round with such a rare celestial event.

DEXTER — Students from six schools across the region wanting to make a difference came together to take part in workshops, share what they are doing, and brainstorm ideas all focused on leading positive change in their schools and communities at the Positive Action Team Summit on Friday, March 22 at Dexter Regional High School.

By Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News Staff State evaluators failed to carefully review bids by two local organizations competing against an out-of-state company for a massive contract to arrange transportation for Medicaid patients who have no other ride to medical appointments, the nonprofits’ attorneys argued before an appeal panel last week.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff A bill awaiting the governor’s signature will require two of the state’s departments that deal with fisheries to be responsible for a plan to keep invasive species from taking over waters important to native fish.

Grade 8, high honors: Raelynn Anderson, Adam Brown, Ava Brown, Kaitlyn Cookson, Callie Cox, Keegan Cromwell, Hannah Derosier, Aubrey Ladd, Allaynah Rolfe, Sherisa Williams, Lily Wintle; honors: Jackson Clark, Jerimiah Cobb.

By Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine has set a goal to ensure all 4-year-olds can attend public prekindergarten by the fall of 2026, but it may not meet that target unless the state’s school funding formula changes to encourage wider adoption, agreed educators, a policy analyst, state officials and a legislative commission.

By Kevin Miller, Maine Public Maine will add two new public defender offices under a bill that passed the Legislature and was signed by Gov.

By Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News Staff Two organizations are appealing the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to award a potentially $1 billion contract to an out-of-state company, with a history of complaints, to arrange transportation for Medicaid patients who have no other way to get to doctor appointments, dialysis and cancer treatments.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily New Staff Two Bangor city councilors and one former councilor are running for a seat on the Penobscot County Commission in the June primary election.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff Unionized workers in the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office are guaranteed larger raises for the next two years under new union contracts.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High School PEOPLE’S CHOICE — The Dexter Regional High School photography class held an exhibition recently at the Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter.

DEXTER — Students from Dexter Regional High School, Ridge View Community School, Piscataquis Community Secondary School, Penquis Valley High School, Foxcroft Academy, and SeDoMoCha Middle School will gather on Friday, March 22 in Dexter for a regional summit focused on leading positive change in their schools and communities.

DEXTER — Before 2023 Dexter and other Maine communities had been able to keep net proceeds from sales of tax-acquired properties that exceeded the amount of taxes owed by the property owner.

BREWER — Displaying continued commitment to the health of its patients, colleagues, and community, Northern Light Health has been selected as the newest member of the Health Care Climate Council.

By Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli The weather along the swath of eclipse totality from Mexico to Maine is a big unknown.

Northern Light CA Dean and Mayo Hospitals will hold naloxone education and distribution events in Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville, and Milo: Tuesday, March 26 6:30 p.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff A $30 million bond request meant to bolster existing and develop new trails could be used to repair damage that multiple storms inflicted on the state’s trail system, according to a Maine Trails Coalition spokesperson on March 14.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available for businesses and nonprofits from the U.