By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff Mainers can vote early by absentee ballot at all municipal offices starting Monday through June 4 ahead of the state’s June 9 primary election.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Foxcroft Academy is pleased to announce the hiring of Taylor Dow-Smith ’09, via a May 8 post on the school Facebook page, as the new events coordinator at the Jim Robinson Field House.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Spring is typically when Maine’s real estate market explodes with new inventory and home sales.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A proposed $15,274,931 2026-27 budget for the Dover-Foxcroft-area school district was approved by the school board during a meeting at the SeDoMoCha School Tuesday evening.

Observer photo/Stuart HedstromPOSITIVE ACTION — SeDoMocha Middle School Positive Action Team members Audrina Rideout, left, and Brynn Gaudet speak to the RSU 68 School Board during a May 5 meeting at the school in Dover-Foxcroft.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County has applied for a $1 million federal grant that if awarded would provide funding for a jail nurse and benefit three other regional organizations.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — How much polyurethane should be on a basketball court in order to ensure the surface has enough grip for players’ sneakers as they run back and forth, but not too much grip which could cause an ankle injury? SeDoMoCha Middle School eighth grader Sariah Martin wanted to look into this for her project in the annual grade 8 science fair held on the evening of April 29.

By Christopher Burns and Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff Gov.

By Ethan Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff Isabelle St.

HALLOWELL – As warmer weather brings a surge in outdoor projects across the state, the Maine Public Utilities Commission is reminding homeowners, contractors and anyone planning to use a mechanical device to dig that they are required by law to call 811, Maine’s “Call Before You Dig” number, at least three business days before beginning any excavation.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Land Use Planning Commission has begun work on updating the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

By Benjamin Kail, Bangor Daily News Staff Secretary of State Shenna Bellows argued that a referendum aiming to ban transgender girls from girls’ school sports has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, but the margin is tight with more challenges pending.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Recently the Piscataquis County Democrats sponsored “Together in Community, United in Song” at the Commons in Dover-Foxcroft.

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — New restrictions on high-priced moose hunts are moving forward despite a bitter clash between guides and an unexpected fight in the Maine Legislature.

AUGUSTA — Gov.

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine counties will get more money for jails in 2027 after years of asking the state to increase funding.

By CBS 13 The debate over transgender student athletes in school sports is once again in the spotlight in Augusta, and soon, it will be up to Maine voters to decide.

By Ethan Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff Along with $300 relief checks, a millionaire tax and free community college gaining permanent status, the state budget signed by Gov.