Excitement is building in the Maine Highlands Region for one of the most rare and spectacular sights that nature has to offer.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Two credit rating agencies lowered their scores for Bangor’s largest health care system last week due to its substantial financial losses in recent years.

DEXTER — Students from six schools across the region wanting to make a difference came together to take part in workshops, share what they are doing, and brainstorm ideas all focused on leading positive change in their schools and communities at the Positive Action Team Summit on Friday, March 22 at Dexter Regional High School.

By Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News Staff State evaluators failed to carefully review bids by two local organizations competing against an out-of-state company for a massive contract to arrange transportation for Medicaid patients who have no other ride to medical appointments, the nonprofits’ attorneys argued before an appeal panel last week.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff A bill awaiting the governor’s signature will require two of the state’s departments that deal with fisheries to be responsible for a plan to keep invasive species from taking over waters important to native fish.

PARKMAN – The Parkman Grange has a busy spring planned starting with their Daddy Daughter Dance on Saturday, April 13 from 6-8 p.

By Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine has set a goal to ensure all 4-year-olds can attend public prekindergarten by the fall of 2026, but it may not meet that target unless the state’s school funding formula changes to encourage wider adoption, agreed educators, a policy analyst, state officials and a legislative commission.

By Kevin Miller, Maine Public Maine will add two new public defender offices under a bill that passed the Legislature and was signed by Gov.

By Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News Staff Two organizations are appealing the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to award a potentially $1 billion contract to an out-of-state company, with a history of complaints, to arrange transportation for Medicaid patients who have no other way to get to doctor appointments, dialysis and cancer treatments.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The construction process to move the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center from the cramped conditions of the Piscataquis County Jail in Dover-Foxcroft into the administrative unit of the sheriff’s office on the first floor of the same larger building is underway.

DEXTER — Students from Dexter Regional High School, Ridge View Community School, Piscataquis Community Secondary School, Penquis Valley High School, Foxcroft Academy, and SeDoMoCha Middle School will gather on Friday, March 22 in Dexter for a regional summit focused on leading positive change in their schools and communities.

BREWER — Displaying continued commitment to the health of its patients, colleagues, and community, Northern Light Health has been selected as the newest member of the Health Care Climate Council.

By Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli The weather along the swath of eclipse totality from Mexico to Maine is a big unknown.

By Christopher Bouchard, St.

Grade 12, high honors: Zachariah Demmer; honors: Emma Brasier, Emily Easler, Summer Nesbit, Tim Van Der Heijden.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff A $30 million bond request meant to bolster existing and develop new trails could be used to repair damage that multiple storms inflicted on the state’s trail system, according to a Maine Trails Coalition spokesperson on March 14.

GUILFORD — This spring Greenville High School and Piscataquis Community High School will combine for a cooperative softball team, with players from SAD 4 traveling north on Route 15 for practices and home games in which they will wear the Lakers uniform to compete in Class D South.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available for businesses and nonprofits from the U.