By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff Mainers tired of relying on paid tax preparers will soon have a new free option, with the state saying it will opt in to the Internal Revenue Service’s Direct File system by next year.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff From the effects of development and predation to skewed bull-cow ratios and suggestions about the annual hunt, Mainers recorded their observations about changes in the population of the state’s most iconic animal — the moose — in a management survey.

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — More than five weeks of political turmoil, including the replacement of President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket, is putting presidential politics at the center of the election in Maine’s swing 2nd Congressional District.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff The group that runs Greater Bangor’s meal delivery program for older residents is still facing a six-figure funding gap despite months of fundraising — and the waitlist for the service has only grown.

The Maine Community Foundation is accepting applications for its fall grant programs.

Bob Carey, superintendent of the Maine Bureau of Insurance, cautioned Maine residents to be  aware of salespeople offering “self-funded” health plans to individual consumers.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff You’re driving along the highway, minding your own business, when you whiz past the carcass of a dead deer.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Just over three weeks before the start of classes on Wednesday, Aug.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff Several bills the Maine Legislature passed into law this session related to boats, ATVs, snowmobiling, invasive species and hunting will go into effect on Aug.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — DOVER-FOXCROFT — For four years Piscataquis County and municipal emergency officials have been working to update outdated infrastructure and long-running problems with the county’s radio communications for emergency personnel.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — SeDoMoCha School students recently had the opportunity to catch up on academics from the previous year, keep up on literacy and math skills for when classes resume later in the month, and take part in a number of activities in the 6-week 21st Century Summer Program.

By Michael Shepherd and Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — The state flag design that Mainers will decide on this November is similar to the one that flew from 1901-09, featuring a mostly photorealistic pine tree at the center of a buff background alongside a blue star.

By Elizabeth Walztoni, Bangor Daily News Staff Last Saturday night, a rock band performed on the wooden stage of the Trenton Grange, built a century ago to host secret, ritual-based meetings for local farmers.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff BANGOR — For Marilou “LuLu” Ranta, winning a James Beard award wasn’t nearly as exciting as the morning she spent at the federal courthouse.

MONSON — Twelve members of the Piscataquis Region Retired Educators Association and two guests met July 23 at the Lakeshore Pub in Monson for the monthly meeting.

Contributed photoABBOT REUNION — The Abbot annual school reunion was held July 28 at the town hall with about 40 in attendance.

WASHINGTON, D.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wants to hear from anyone who uses Maine’s woods, whether it’s for hunting or recreation.