By Samantha Hogan, The Maine Monitor The availability of criminal defense attorneys is at an all-time low in Maine for defendants who cannot afford to hire their own attorney.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County’s sheriff plans to hire a person with medical training to distribute medications to jail inmates — a first for a department that has used corrections officers to perform the task until now.

FALMOUTH — Did you know that loon chicks can swim right away but need parental care for their first three months? That the shape of a loon’s forehead or length of its neck can change to indicate stress? And that Maine is fortunate to be home to the largest Common Loon population in the Northeast? For nearly four decades, Maine Audubon has been studying loon behavior and engaging volunteers across Maine in conservation efforts to bolster the loon population.

By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff Members of Maine’s congressional delegation submitted roughly 500 earmark requests at more than $900 million for the next year, with the potential to fund projects from Kittery to the Allagash.

For the second year the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts in Dover-Foxcroft has recruited a troop of talented high school students to perform around the region for the summer.

Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District serves as a resource hub for Maine Lake’s LakeSmart — a free program offered state-wide, which helps waterfront property owners protect the beloved lakes and ponds they live on.

AUGUSTA – This Independence Day, law enforcement agencies in Maine will be working hard to reduce impaired driving.

By Lori Valigra, Bangor Daily News Staff More tourists headed away from cities and into Maine’s less explored areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, bumping up host earnings to $13,000 on average in 2021, the online booking service said.

The Department also encourages all boaters to always Clean, Drain and Dry their boat to prevent the spread of invasive species.

BREWER – Kathy Corey has been re-elected as the chair of the Northern Light Health Board of Directors for a third one-year term.

By Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News Staff The municipal group set to become the new owner of a shuttered Hampden trash plant wants to sell a majority stake in the facility once it takes over to fund its restart.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — All children 18 and under can enjoy free breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday at the SeDoMoCha School, 63 Harrison Ave.

The Eastern Maine Development Corp.

By Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News Staff A Penobscot County judge has delayed the sale of the shuttered Hampden trash plant to the group of towns signed up to use it, derailing plans to finalize the transaction by the end of June.

By Troy R.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District works hard to promote stewardship and provide resources to community members, arming the public with information and solutions to protect, promote and conserve natural resources.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension has named Sumon Datta an assistant Extension professor and Extension agricultural engineer.

MONSON – Monson Arts has been awarded a $5,000 grant from KeyBank to support scholarships for 16 students from University of Maine colleges and the Maine College of Art and Design to attend workshops at  Monson Arts this summer.