Nicholas McCrea
Reporter
Nick McCrea covers Orono and Old Town from the Bangor bureau.
Nichole Cable’s friends, family attend accused killer’s emotionally charged court appearance
BANGOR, Maine — Friends packed a Bangor courtroom Wednesday to support the family of Nichole Cable during a tense first court appearance by the 15-year-old girl’s accused killer. Some friends wore yellow T-shirts in honor of Cable. Yellow was Cable’s favorite color, according to her family. Ashley Pattershall, a sophomore ...
Family remembers Nichole “CoCo” Cable, warns of social media dangers
GLENBURN, Maine — Clutching a panda bear pillow close to her chest because it smelled like her daughter, Kristine Wiley said parents need to be vigilant about their children’s online activity. “If this saves somebody else’s child, then this won’t have happened for nothing,” Wiley said through her tears Tuesday ...
Synthetic drugs — whether Skunk, spice, or Scooby Snax — are now banned in Bangor
BANGOR, Maine — The City Council officially approved Mark Hathaway as Bangor’s 29th police chief on Monday night. Hathaway will take his new post effective Tuesday morning. The 25-year police veteran said he would be a “low-key” leader, but would always be available when called on. He said the department ...
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Bangor officer who pulled suicidal man from bridge: “I’m not a hero. I’m just a guy doing my job.”
BANGOR, Maine — When Bangor police Officer Derek Laflin arrived on the Valley Avenue bridge Sunday night, he found a distraught man standing on the edge, staring down into the dark, shallow waters of the Kenduskeag Stream. Laflin’s first thought was “Oh, crap,” he said Monday night during an interview ...
Panhandler suspended from general assistance for failing to report income
BANGOR, Maine — A Bangor panhandler has been removed from general assistance for 120 days for failing to reveal the income, a consequence that could slow the spread of panhandling, according to the community’s public services director. During a meeting of city staff, Bangor police officials and shelter personnel earlier ...
$117 dancing license has some Maine businesses scratching heads
BANGOR, Maine — Bars, clubs and similar businesses should double-check the license collection on their walls or tell patrons to leave their dancing shoes at home, according to the state fire marshal’s office. The litany of local and state licenses have some business owners and managers confused about whether required ...
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UMaine swimmer set to graduate after defiant battle with breast cancer
ORONO, Maine — Nicole Langlois was 20 years old when she first felt the lump in her right breast. Doctors told Langlois, then a University of Maine sophomore, the lump was just a swollen duct and sent her home. They told her it would go away. It didn’t. Two months ...
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UMaine unveils unique base for floating wind turbine that could provide glimpse into future
ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine unveiled the floating platform of VolturnUS, a one-of-a-kind offshore wind turbine that officials hope will shape the future of energy in Maine, during a ceremony Wednesday. Later this month, the unit will be disassembled, trucked to Cianbro in Brewer, and put back together ...
Bangor councilors back citywide synthetic drug ban
BANGOR, Maine — The city’s Government Operations Committee supported a citywide ban on synthetic drugs, including synthetic marijuana, bath salts and related substances, during a Monday night meeting. City staff crafted an ordinance that would ban a list of more than 100 substances by street name — ranging from “Scooby ...
Bangor, Portland officials reaching out to offer aid to Lewiston in wake of trio of fires
BANGOR, Maine — Maine communities are reaching out to Lewiston officials after a trio of major fires in the past week displaced nearly 200 residents. Over the weekend, after the second fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage to three downtown buildings, Bangor City Councilor Joe Baldacci suggested that ...
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UMaine new media students break in new creativity, innovation space by showing off their work
ORONO, Maine — A new world for new media was on display at the new Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center, or IMRC (pronounced Immerse), at the University of Maine on Thursday night. UMaine new media students broke in the campus’ $9.3 million renovation of the former Stewart Dining Commons, ...
Bangor High grad, Bowdoin student wins prestigious scholarship for health care efforts overseas
BANGOR, Maine — When Lonnie Hackett graduated from Bangor High School in 2010, his mind was focused on football. When he arrived at Bowdoin College later that year, his mind was still centered on football. Now, three years later, his mind is on bigger things — and he has a ...
Federal order for American Airlines to cut flights would hurt Bangor International Airport, say city officials
BANGOR, Maine — Bangor International Airport could lose successful Washington D.C. flights if the federal government decides the merger of US Airways and American Airlines violates antitrust laws, city and airport officials said. In April 2012, US Airways announced plans to take over American Airlines, which was in the midst ...
Volunteer dogs help UMaine students relax, relieve stress of final exams
ORONO, Maine — On a day that traditionally serves as the last chance for University of Maine students to blow off steam before a tough week of finals, canine volunteers helped students relax and smile inside Fogler Library on Wednesday. May 1 was Maine Day at UMaine — a day ...
Maine needs to catch up, take advantage of natural gas, officials say
BANGOR, Maine — It’s cheap, it’s proven, it’s under U.S. soil and there’s a lot of it, but Maine has fallen well behind in the natural gas business, state and industry officials said Tuesday. “We are literally a baby in the natural gas businesses,” Jerry Livengood, general manager of Bangor ...
UMaine breaks ground on $5.2 million planetarium and observatory
ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine broke ground Monday on a $5.2 million project that will give its students a better view of the heavens. Officials celebrated at the future site of the Emera Astronomy Center, which will serve as the new home of the Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium ...
Old Town police officer uses Taser to stop fight at Riverfront Park
OLD TOWN, Maine — An Old Town police officer used his Taser to subdue a man who charged at him Sunday night when the officer tried to stop an assault on a teenager, according to police Capt. Kyle Smart. Mark Loring, 31, of Indian Island was arrested and charged with ...
One person arrested in connection with Chickenfest; police break up large parties at The Grove apartments in Orono
OLD TOWN, Maine — Chickenfest 2013 drew a large police presence to Bennoch Road on Friday night, but with the exception of a warrant arrest, one noise complaint and a few summonses, resulted in few problems, according to police and the property owner who hosted the annual impromptu music festival. ...
University of Maine System ‘rainy day’ money well short of $177 million, most already assigned to campus projects, officials say
BANGOR, Maine — University of Maine System campuses have plans for their shares of the system’s $177 million in reserves that include upgrading aging infrastructure to lay the groundwork for the future of higher education, according to system officials. Pulling money away from those projects to close current budget shortfalls ...
Bangor school superintendent presents budget proposal with 2.26 percent increase
BANGOR, Maine — The School Department’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2014, which Superintendent Betsy Webb characterized as an “incredibly difficult budget year,” is $932,000 higher than the current budget, a 2.26 percent increase. Webb, joined by members of the school committee, presented the budget proposal to the City Council ...
Man accused of killing Glenburn teen denied bail, has received death threats, attorney says
Family remembers Nichole “CoCo” Cable, warns of social media dangers
Kyle Dube arrest, murder charge surprising to some who know him
Glenburn woman gets 18 months for embezzling $100,000 from beagle rescue group
Man linked to Boston bombing suspect killed by FBI in Florida
Nichole Cable: In our minds, hearts
Guest Post: “I’m about ready to name my daughter Revolution.”
How to humble a wing nut
Help Maine charter schools succeed before adding more
Bucksport’s Wood enjoying the professional cage in MMA bouts
Unity Raceway heading in new direction when track opens for season Sunday
Former Dexter, Nokomis coach Pratt takes Mount View football post
UMaine’s Fransoso overcomes injuries, turns passion for baseball into stellar career
Houlton makes plans for new hockey boards at Millar Civic Center
Bangor veteran of World War II exemplifies the way life should be
Microsoft unveils new Xbox One game console