By Elizabeth Walztoni, Bangor Daily News Staff Reports of common tick-borne diseases in Maine broke records again in 2025 as tick populations have expanded in the state.

By Cameron Levasseur, The County Staff Twice in recent memory, groups of school districts in southern and northern Aroostook County have looked to consolidate into one regional high school under mounting budget pressure, declining enrollment and staffing shortages.

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor Maine lakes and ponds are beginning to freeze as winter sets in, but ice conditions remain variable across the state.

By Lori Valigra, Bangor Daily News Staff Consumers likely noticed smaller apples and potatoes and pricier blueberries lining grocery shelves this fall after one of the driest summers in 30 years triggered drought alerts throughout Maine, with the National Weather Service predicting that the parched conditions will likely continue into next spring.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff During Maine’s pandemic-era housing crunch when high demand and limited inventory caused property costs to skyrocket, many buyers chose to forego a home inspection before closing.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff Northern Light Health lost $15 million last year, a year after a $156 million loss left the health care system reeling.

By Daniel O’Connor Just five people entered the basement of the Belfast courthouse for an August meeting.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff As temperatures continue to drop, Mainers are reminded that winter is on the way, bringing with it all the beauty and challenges of the season.

Photo courtesy of Town of SangervilleHALF CENTURY OF SERVICE — On Saturday, Dec.

By Annie Rupertus, Bangor Daily News Staff A $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor will help about 285 Maine families with emergency heating support this winter.

Nominations are now open for the Maine Teacher of the Year program, which celebrates excellence in teaching and elevates the importance of the teaching profession.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Two weeks after program cuts to a dozen organizations in an earlier version of the 2026 Piscataquis County budget were restored, some partially and some in full compared to the current year, both the county budget and 2026-27 Unorganized Territory budget were approved by the county commissioners during a meeting on Tuesday morning.

SANGERVILLE — A vacancy on the Sangerville Select Board created by the resignation of Josh Tracy last month will remain through the annual town meeting on the last Saturday of March.

Grade 12, highest honors: Bella Buehne, Audrey Chadbourne, Arianna Crosby, Brady Gaw, Molly Goodwin, Ava Goulette, Noah Kain, Elizabeth Libby-Gilbert, Zoe McInnis, Landon McKenney, Tyler Willey; high honors: Brady Ball, Brookelynn Hunt, Sadie-Mae Kelley, Chase Kilian, Ryan Mitchell, Kiah Nick, Isabellah Tetreault, Bear Yelverton; honors: Tristan Billington, Dawson Draper, Hannah Firth, Alexander Hall, Grant Higgins, Brandon Reed.

By Daniel O’Connor, Bangor Daily News Staff Property taxes have been the subject of some of Maine’s biggest local political battles of the last year, but they hit people far differently across the state.

By Kevin Miller, Maine Public A new referendum campaign aims to once again make it illegal to sell recreational marijuana in Maine.

GUILFORD — SAD 4 and neighboring SAD 46 of Dexter have applied for state funding for a comprehensive high school that will combine traditional academics, career and technical education, and access to college courses.

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor With winter setting in, snowmobile enthusiasts across Maine are gearing up for another season on the trails.