By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff BANGOR — Andre Cushing was reelected chair of the Penobscot County Commissioners with a 2-1 vote at the commissioners meeting on Jan.

By Daniel O’Connor, Bangor Daily News Staff It’s the first week of the new legislative session, but the clock is already ticking on a bill that would allow Maine counties and municipalities to declare bankruptcy if they default on their debts — something that could happen within weeks in Washington County.

WASHINGTON, D.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff A man accused of assisting in a Bangor homicide is back in jail, roughly six months after his bail was drastically lowered.

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County commissioners and officials should take additional steps to solve the county’s current budget problems, former County Administrator Scott Adkins said.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff BARNARD TOWNSHIP — A Bradford man allegedly stole two tractors in Barnard Township late last week.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s largest city approved more than 1,300 new units of housing in 2025 — but only 159 homes were actually built in the last year.

By Pete McGuire, Maine Public Timberland owners and state officials hope to capitalize on a successful pesticide campaign against a spruce budworm outbreak by resuming aerial treatment next spring.

By Paul Koenig, Bangor Daily News Staff This year had it all in Maine.

By Daniel O’Connor, Bangor Daily News Staff As Maine rings in the new year, many laws passed by the Legislature are set to go into effect.

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County Commissioners approved the county’s 2026 budget with a unanimous vote on Dec.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff The state’s system that manages legal representation for low-income defendants is awaiting two big decisions that will shape its future.

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor A fake announcement about changes to northern pike regulations claiming to be from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife circulated among Maine’s fishing community Dec.

AUGUSTA — New Ventures Maine Executive Director Janet Smith has announced a call for applications for the Gilda E.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine saw more houses change hands this year than last, with the state’s most populated counties seeing the highest number of sales — part of a years-long pattern.

By Carol Bousquet, Maine Public The government says the Rural Health Transformation Program is intended to help residents in rural Maine have better access to preventive, primary, maternal and behavioral health services.

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.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — SeDoMoCha Elementary and Middle School hosted a special schoolwide assembly on Dec.