By Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News Staff Two Maine nonprofits will continue to fight the state’s decision to award a potentially $1 billion contract to an out-of-state company to arrange transportation for Medicaid patients with no other way to get to appointments.

By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — Lawmakers approved a plan in April to ensure Maine begins providing defendants with clear start dates for criminal trials, but the proposal will not take effect unless it receives the necessary funding.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The SeDoMocha School held its April Student in the Spotlight assembly on Monday, April 29.

Grade 12, highest honors: Lily Brown, Shelby Dyson, Brianna Packard, Graci Scott, Gabrielle Shorey-Coy, William Spratt, Mckenzie Trafton; high honors: Elizabeth Bernard Whittaker, Hannah Dean, Macey Deering, Mickayla Fogg, Miles Grant, Cally Gudroe, Holdyn Guenthner, Lillian Harris; honors: Lily Bagley, Evelyn Clukey, Emily Cox, Micheal Cox, Blaine Gould, Kial Hunter, Mazie Peach, Kellen Peavey, Jacob Ponte, Garrett Tibbetts.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The price of protein-rich food has increased in recent months, putting this essential component of a healthy diet out of reach for a growing number of families in our communities.

Grade 12, high honors: Cassandra Boislard, Destiny Sibert, Hannah Legere, Layla Chai; honors: Addison Conklin, Ashley Willis, Christopher (Kip) Crockett, Damion Drake, Dylan McKenzie, Jacob Higgins, Jasmine MacGregor-Gray, Jayden Sprague, Logan Pomeroy, Terrance MacGregor, Tyler Grant.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff Visits to some of Maine’s popular state parks and historic sites may not be what you remember, thanks to damage from the major storms in December and January that devastated the state’s landscape.

WASHINGTON, D.

Grade 12, highest honors: Scott Chadbourne, Benjamin Higgins; high honors: Lily Carr, Emily Easler, Sophia Kopf; honors: Zachariah Demmer, Kandice Nadeau, Tim Van Der Heijden.

Grade 12, high honors: Ashton Ade, Ruth-Ann Arnold, Chryshal Atwater, Bao Ngoc Gia Bach, Huyen Khai Khloe Bui, Noah Cavanagh, Eliza Chambers, Dylan Coy, Cassandra Crockett, Jackson Day, Olivia Gage, Hilary Howard, Niksa Jasovic, Ella Rose Kazmierczak, Aleksander Krause, Richard Liu, Jasmine Lockwood, Kailey McLaughlin, Jose Mieres Legido, Aubry Paradis, Zachary Peirce, Anh Phuong Pham, Wyatt Rayfield, Gabriel Saunders, Jackson Smith, Aleksa Sviloskos; honors: Simon Beeaker, Jackson Caruso, Marceli Cerek, Kristalyn Defries, Hieu Do, Devin Henderson, Annabelle Holman, Jacob Johnson, Conner Johnston, Ming Fou Lao, Loc Nguyen Max Mai, Kemsley Marsters, Laney McGary, Huong Lan Kathy Nguyen, Danea Obratov, Halle Page, Amara Perfect, Jadon Richard, Olivia Richardson, Dominick Scuderi, Owen Sherman, Izetta Story, Ngoc Thi Bich Tang, Noah Viitala, Logan Joshua Walton, Paige Weidman, Peyton Wellman, Ateon Whitney.

DEXTER — A proposed 2024-25 SAD 46 budget totaling $16,532,495 was approved by the school board during a May 1 meeting at the Ridge View Community School.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff The top federal prosecutor in Maine has vowed to keep up the crackdown on illegal marijuana operations in the state.

SANGERVILLE — The Piscataquis County Democrats filled the East Sangerville Grange on Sunday, April 28 for their annual spring brunch.

In honor of Screen Free Week this May 6-12, UScellular is encouraging everyone to take the “Phones Down for 5 Challenge”, a UScellular “Built for US” initiative meant to inspire people to take a break from technology for 5 days, 5 hours, or even just 5 minutes.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff One of the two roads in Baxter State Park will remain closed for now because of winter damage.

By Valerie Royzman, Staff Writer MONSON — A Piscataquis County town is trying to determine the future of its fire department after its chief and four firefighters resigned last week.

PARKMAN — The Parkman Grange is announcing plans to award 2024 Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarships to one or more deserving SAD 4 graduates continuing their education beyond high school.

GUILFORD — Friends of Community Fitness has been granted $2,000 from Mount Kineo Masonic Lodge and Abner Wade Lodge to support the Healthy4Life fitness program.