Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

On the local front:

One year ago today:
The Turk's Head building buzzes as a swarm of thousands of bees stops traffic and mystifies camera-wielding onlookers, before finally dissipating, two hours after they came. Only one person was stung, a man who brought his camera close to try to get pictures of the bees. The honeybees were first spotted around noon, as they descended on a yellow National Grid truck by the thousands, onlookers said. "The truck was covered. He drove away, and they started flying around," said Iain Thorburn, who came out of the Turk's Head building to watch the sight. They then swarmed around the intersection of Weybosset and Westminster streets, circling in a giant black cloud. Providence Patrolman Tony DaSilva drove by and couldn't believe what he saw. "I'm deathly afraid of bees. I can't believe I'm standing this close," DaSilva said.

5 years ago today:
Calling it "the most egregious case of inside dealing" that he's ever witnessed, Governor Carcieri vetoes legislation that would give $20 million in tax credits to former state Rep. Vincent J. Mesolella Jr. to build a hotel in downtown Providence. The bill passed in the House, 46-23, and the Senate, 21-11. Mesolella has proposed constructing a $52-million hotel on the site of the vacant John E. Fogarty Building. A sky bridge would connect the 250-suite hotel to the Rhode Island Convention Center. Mesolella has had the exclusive rights to develop the city-owned property since 1997.

25 years ago today:
Police and an Amtrak official say that they had to stop a train to remove a van from the tracks at about 9:30 p.m. The Amtrak official said somebody apparently tried to drive the van across one of the blockaded crossings at Waites Corner Road in West Kingston, but it got stuck. The official said he had to delay a train for about 16 minutes while a tow truck removed the van.

On the national front:

On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution saying that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

Read The Associated Press's Today in History.

Watch video highlights from Today in History.

 Tags  Amtrak Continental Congress Rhode Island Convention Center Turk's Head Building

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