UMaine hockey coach salary / Maine-made wood insulation / Summer Bangor concerts

Today is Wednesday. Temperatures will be in the high 20s to high 30s from north to south, with mostly sunny skies throughout the state. See what the weather for the rest of the day will be here.

Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.

Maine will be the only state with a hockey coach as its highest-paid public employee

In his third year in Orono, Ben Barr will make $425,000 and receive a $15,000 raise each year after 2024.

Maine House defeats bill to limit Poland Spring water contracts with communities

The bill from Rep. Maggie O’Neil, D-Saco, would cap those contracts between the bottled water industry and local utilities at 10 years.

This Maine-made wood insulation is starting to catch on

Long viewed as a premium sustainability product, cellulose insulation is priced competitively and offers other practical benefits over fiberglass or foam.

Bangor offers incentives for new housing on 10-acre city-owned parcel

The 10-acre site was chosen because it is close to schools and a shopping center, and it is a short drive from downtown Bangor.

Penobscot County is looking to buy land for new jail

County officials say the 1869 Penobscot County Jail is beyond salvation. A controversial plan to replacement it has been years in the making.

Creed, 3 Doors Down, Lamb of God and Mastadon to perform in Bangor

This is Lamb of God’s second concert in Bangor in less than a year. The band performed with Pantera in September at the waterfront.

New BBQ set to open in place of iconic Presque Isle pub

“So a cop, a grocery store owner and a pallet maker walk into a bar,” reads the menu at the Maple Pig Bar & Grill in Presque Isle.

Maine program gives girls a shot at the ‘boy jobs’

“These positions are in high demand and they are high wage. Exposing girls to such trades makes even more sense now than it did 20 years ago.”

A Down East town has questions after world’s tallest flagpole project is scrapped

Land maneuvers done in anticipation of the ambitious patriotic park are being undone and revisited since the plan was abandoned.

Unity Environmental University donates $1M building to charter school

“It just kind of made sense for us to be in the position that we are, to say, ‘Instead of leasing it to you or renting it to you, why don’t we just give it to you, and then you get to breathe some life into it,’” the university’s president, Melik Peter Khoury, said.

Penobscot Pioneers girls hockey team hosting Class A North quarterfinal Wednesday night

The Pioneers are the second seed and will bring a 14-4 record into the game against seventh-seeded Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland.

Orono boys’ basketball buries Old Town in thriller at The Pit

Played at UMaine’s Memorial Gym to accommodate two raucous fanbases, the regular season finale between the rival boys’ basketball teams did not disappoint.