Articles by Noah Hurowitz
USM FREE PRESS (blog)
Jonah Lehrer’s scandal sparks debate on how journalists should deal with plagiarizers
on Feb. 20, 2013, at 2:48 p.m.
“Purposeful plagiarism is one of the cardinal sins of journalism from which reporters can never recover their credibility,” wrote Al Hunt, then the Wall Street Journal D.C. bureau chief, in a 1991 editorial. “There is no statute of limitations on that judgement.” The issue of how to deal with plagiarizers ...
USM FREE PRESS (blog)
Former Free Press News Editor reflects on his time abroad
on Dec. 04, 2012, at 1:31 p.m.
It’s 2 a.m. as I write this, procrastinating from writing a 40-page research paper due in 48 hours. This predicament is all too familiar, but the context in which I’m currently disrupting my already disrupted sleep schedule is totally foreign –– like, actually. Usually, I’d go eat some late night ...
Maine college grads face high student loan debt in a slow economy
PORTLAND, Maine — Katherine Hulit graduated from the University of Southern Maine in May with a degree in philosophy and women and gender studies and $19,564 in student loan debt. Hulit, 28, said she has no idea when she will be able to fully pay off what she owes for ...
Volunteer pilots shuttle sick patients to medical treatment
A few times a month, Gene Richardson fuels up his Cessna 182 airplane and takes it up into the skies over Maine. But he doesn’t just fly for his own pleasure. Richardson, of Hampden, is one of many volunteer pilots who, through Angel Flight Northeast, provide free transportation for patients ...
Man accused of setting fire to nuclear sub in Kittery denied bail
PORTLAND, Maine — A federal judge denied bail Wednesday to Casey James Fury, the man accused of setting a fire to the USS Miami in May, causing over $400 million in damage. Despite a recommendation for bail conditions from the probation office, U.S. Magistrate Judge John H. Rich denied bail ...
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Traveling pianist takes to the streets on a rainy day in Portland
PORTLAND, Maine — A sporadic drizzle Friday didn’t keep Dotan Negrin from adding Portland to the list of cities he has entertained with tunes played on his upright piano. Passers-by stopped Friday to watch Negrin, a New York City-based performer, who travels around the country in a van with his ...
Man charged with arson in $400M submarine fire appears in federal court
PORTLAND, Maine — A civilian employee at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery accused of intentionally setting a fire on May 23 that caused $400 million in damage to the nuclear attack submarine USS Miami was in U.S. District Court on Monday for an initial appearance. Casey James Fury, 24, ...
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Portland rejects plan to limit panhandling
PORTLAND, Maine — The City Council voted 6-3 against an ordinance banning people from standing on median strips except as necessary to cross the street, a ban that homeless advocates say unfairly targeted homeless people who panhandle on median strips throughout Portland. City Councilor Ed Suslovic said the ordinance was ...
Portland sets rules for food trucks in the city
PORTLAND, Maine — The City Council unanimously passed a number of amendments to city code Monday designed to allow and regulate food trucks in the city. The amendments add food truck vendors to the definition of street vendors and would require each vendor on the peninsula — any area south ...
Portland intersection with high rate of accidents may be changed to roundabout
PORTLAND, Maine — Residents attending a public meeting Thursday evening at the University of Southern Maine had no shortage of complaints regarding the six-way intersection of Deering Avenue, Brighton Avenue and Falmouth Street. The intersection has been the subject of a number of meetings seeking public comment on five proposed ...
Man killed in Portland shooting was involved in fatal car accident last month, family of survivor says
PORTLAND, Maine — Matthew Blanchard, 24, of South Portland was the man killed in an early Wednesday morning triple shooting in Portland, according to reports. The uncle of one of the survivors, 20-year-old John Howard, told WGME-TV that his nephew, Blanchard and the third victim, 24-year-old Josh Hersom, were out ...
Police identify body found in Portland over the weekend
PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police have identified the body found Sunday morning as being that of Mitchell Abadie, a 47-year old transient who apparently had been in the area for several months. An autopsy performed Monday found that Abadie died of natural causes. Abadie’s body was found in a grassy ...
Fireworks stores banking on parties and other special occasions for year-round success
SCARBOROUGH, Maine — The Independence Day crowds were gone Friday morning from Phantom Fireworks in Scarborough, along with about half of the store’s work force, many of whom were hired temporarily to manage the Fourth of July rush. Fireworks have been legal in Maine since Jan. 1, and Gov. Paul ...
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Rotary Club donation funds new K-9 unit for Portland Police Department
PORTLAND, Maine — When Mako sinks his teeth into a trainer’s protected arm, he won’t let go until his partner, Portland police Officer Zack Finley, gives him the command. Mako, a 15-month-old German shepherd born in Slovakia, showed off his abilities Friday afternoon in front of members of the Rotary ...
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LePage, fire marshal tout fireworks safety while visiting new Scarborough store
SCARBOROUGH, Maine — In the runup to the first Fourth of July in decades in which consumer fireworks are widely legal in Maine, Gov. Paul LePage and State Fire Marshal Joe Thomas used the recent opening of a new fireworks store in Scarborough to stress the importance of fireworks safety. ...
Children playing with sparklers blamed for apartment house fire in Portland
PORTLAND, Maine — Two children playing with sparklers caused a two-alarm fire Monday morning that led to the evacuation of a 22-unit apartment building and the blocking off of a section of Congress Street. There were no reported serious injuries as a result of the fire, although one firefighter was ...
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New Maine Veterans Memorial Bridge opens between Portland and South Portland
PORTLAND, Maine — Three blasts from a Howitzer cannon marked the opening of the new Maine Veterans Memorial Bridge connecting Portland and South Portland in a ceremony that featured speeches from local and national dignitaries and members of the military. The bridge opens today to all traffic, however final construction ...
Dale McCormick speaks to Portland Dyke March participants
PORTLAND, Maine — Speaking at the seventh annual Portland Dyke March on Friday, Dale McCormick steered clear of the controversy that led to her resignation as executive director of the Maine State Housing Authority. In her address, McCormick voiced support for President Barack Obama’s track record on gay rights and ...
USM FREE PRESS (blog)
University system chancellor visits Portland campus in wake of no-confidence vote
on May 10, 2012, at 12:13 p.m.
University of Maine System Chancellor James Page pledged his support Thursday in helping the University of Southern Maine move on from the recent controversy surrounding a no-confidence vote in USM President Selma Botman. “Everyone I’ve talked to is driven by a desire to see a better University of Southern Maine and ...
USM FREE PRESS (blog)
Over half of faculty voted no confidence in President Botman
on May 02, 2012, at 9:31 p.m.
Over half of all faculty at the University of Southern Maine cast votes saying they don’t have confidence in USM President Selma Botman. The vote needed a two-thirds majority to pass and be considered the will of the faculty. But with a voter turnout of about 75 percent, over 68 ...
LePage vetoes Medicaid expansion, says ‘Maine can do better’
Report: University of Maine System teacher-training programs rank among worst in nation
Caribou High School graduate among newest NASA astronauts
Attorney seeks psychiatric evaluation of Orono man charged with killing Nichole Cable
In support of Bangor library, schools budget
We don’t understand female politicians
Maine Sports Hall of Fame revokes Dana Wilson’s 2012 induction
Pellerin enthusiastic about job as new Lawrence High School boys varsity basketball coach
Rask gives Bruins 2-1 series lead
Retiring Hermon High School athletic administrator Soucy maintains love of sports
25 things to do this summer — boats, barbecue, the Bard and everything else
UMPI solar system model expanding into Canada
Saying goodbye to our Pakistani daughter