The federal budget, approved by Congress last week and expected to go to President Joe Biden for his signature this week, includes funding for local projects ranging from the Colonial Theater in Augusta to a fire station in North Anson.
Faculty attended a Maine superintendents' conference in August where administrators expressed a desire for teachers to get more experience before student teaching.
Northern Maine Community College reported a 31.3 percent year-over-year increase in fall enrollment this month, surpassing state and national trends. Nationally, community college enrollment has declined slightly, while other Maine community colleges reported a 12 percent increase.
The Alfond Youth & Community Center is set to host the festival, which is to run over two long weekends and benefit nonprofits that provide aid to those contending with food insecurity and agencies developing workforce readiness programs.