By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff Before a flock of sheep was stolen from — and then returned to —  a central Maine farm recently, Kathryn Piper never would have given the parked van a second thought.

By Valerie Royzman, Staff Writer COVID-19 booster shots were approved by the U.

WASHINGTON, D.

By Caitlin Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff The Maine Legislature on Wednesday breezed through approval of newly drawn legislative and congressional maps, shifting thousands of people from one congressional district to another and laying new political lines for the next decade.

By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — The Maine Legislature is poised to vote today on new legislative and congressional maps that will account for the recent population shifts and shape the state’s politics for the next decade.

Too many Mainers miss medical appointments because they lack transportation or go hungry because they are too proud to seek help.

By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff Earlier this month, Susan Watson’s entire flock of sheep were stolen directly from her barn.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Donations doubled! Pine Tree Hospice is elated to announce Pleasant River Lumber will be matching every Annual Appeal donation up to $20,000.

Katahdin Trust, a community bank serving northern Maine and the greater Bangor and Portland regions, is pleased to announce a $2,500 donation to Penquis’ “We’ve Got Your Back” campaign.

Observer photo/Keri Foster FIND THE WHOOPIE PIE CONTEST WINNER — Darlene Burgess of Dover-Foxcroft, center, is the Piscataquis Observer’s 2021 Find the Whoopie Pie Contest winner.

By Lia Russell, Bangor Daily News Staff Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center set another record for the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations last weekend before the number of patients dropped by about a fifth in the subsequent five days.

By Lori Valigra, Bangor Daily News Staff Sales of existing single-family homes in Maine were down almost 5 percent in August compared to the previous year, a sign that the hot real estate market may be leveling off, according to a state real estate group.

By Sam Schipani, Bangor Daily News Staff If you are a Mainer with a family recipe that has been passed down for generations, here is the perfect opportunity to share it.

By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrats and Republicans struck their first major redistricting deal on Tuesday, when a bipartisan panel released an agreement to redraw the state’s 151 House districts.

DEXTER — Volunteers are needed to help build 280 simple wood window inserts every day from Oct.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff DOVER-FOXCROFT — A Dexter man was sentenced Monday at the Piscataquis County Courthouse for taking money for home repairs he did not complete and writing bad checks, according to the district attorney’s office.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — The state’s longest-serving District Court judge now on the bench will retire Sept.

DOVER-FOXCROFT – Pine Tree Hospice staff and direct care volunteers gathered at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church on Sept.