AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Education announced the return of “Hot Lunch Summer,” the state’s summer food service program which provides free meals to children beyond the school year.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High School STUDENTS OF THE YEAR — Dexter Regional High School honors students monthly throughout the school year to recognize their outstanding effort and achievements day in and day out in the classroom.

By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff Long before he made his name as a saxophone player in both his own projects and as a member of the Dave Matthews Band, Jeff Coffin was a 9-year-old kid in Dexter, Maine, trying to pick out which instrument he was going to play in elementary school band.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff The question of whether to build an entirely new Penobscot County Jail has been on the minds of the county officials pushing for it and the activists fighting it for years.

By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — The fight over changes to Maine’s generous solar incentives is coming down to two rival bills and moneyed interests making their cases either by targeting Democratic lawmakers or invoking the era of former Gov.

AUGUSTA – The Maine Connectivity Authority has earned a new $30 million federal grant to improve broadband infrastructure in Maine.

By Lori Valigra, Bangor Daily News Staff Are you confused about the various rate hikes that will be in your electric bill on July 1? You are not alone.

DEXTER — The Dexter Town Council approved another piece of funding for a project to replace the terminal building and improve the site at the Dexter Regional Airport.

JMG, a leading organization in Maine committed to empowering Maine students, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a $10,000 State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grant.

By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — Maine could restore the original state flag after lawmakers took their first favorable vote on the idea late on June 6.

Jobs for Maine’s Graduates is pleased to announce that the organization and scholarship partners have awarded scholarships to 10 exceptional individuals.

Credit unions across the state are coming together to support the fourth annual $100,000 Ending Hunger Challenge.

By Valerie Royzman, Staff Writer Piscataquis County’s only theater will expand its drama camp offerings this summer to reach more children in an area with limited resources.

RIPLEY — Two years ago Connecticut native Jeffrey Daigle and his wife moved to Ripley to come back to the Dexter area where she is originally from.

DEXTER — A proposed 2023-24 SAD 46 budget totaling $16,025,870 was approved during the annual district meeting at the Ridge View Community School on June 1.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High School STUDENTS OF THE MONTH — Dexter Regional High School is pleased to announce the May Students of the Month as selected by the faculty and staff for being exemplary students.

AUGUSTA – During a press briefing on Tuesday, Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives unveiled an amendment to LD 1347, a bill sponsored by Rep.