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« May 30, 2006 | Today | June 1, 2006 » May 31, 2006Assembly passes dam safety billPROVIDENCE -- Spurred by the near-failure of a Massachusetts dam last fall, the General Assembly approved legislation today to speed up repairs to dams in Rhode Island. Governor Carcieri asked Republican members of the General Assembly to introduce the legislation, and he is expected to sign it. The bill authorizes the director of the Department of Environmental Management to declare a dam unsafe, have water in the reservoir drawn off as a temporary safety measure and order the dam's owner to make repairs. If the dam owner doesn't complete repairs in a timely fashion, the DEM's director can have them done and bill the owner for the cost. The House passed the bill 65-0 without discussion. The Senate previously approved it. The legislation strengthens the DEM's power to compel repairs to Rhode Island's 622 dams - 70 percent of which are privately owned. The department has had to go to court to get repairs done in the past, and its records show that even with a court order, the work often took years. The legislation also requires cities and towns to prepare emergency plans for dams that are likely to cause significant property damage or a loss of life if they fail. The DEM can order owners to prepare emergency plans for less hazardous dams if needed. The DEM has declared five of the state's most hazardous dams unsafe, said David Chopy, who oversees dam inspections and repairs for the Department of Environmental Management. They are the Slack Reservoir Dam in Smithfield, Yorker Mill Pond Dam in Exeter, Limerock Dam in Lincoln, Stone Pond Dam in Cranston and Coventry Reservoir Dam. Repairs are under way at Slack and Coventry reservoirs, and the dams will be removed from the list when the work is complete, Chopy said. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:56 PM | Comment Another audit finds 'questionable' nursing home paymentsFor the second time this year, federal auditors have identified more than a million dollars in “questionable” payments that a financially strapped nursing home made to a web of companies tied to nursing home owner Antonio L. Giordano. And this time, the financial mess has cost taxpayers nearly $6.3 million, auditors say. An audit by the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that the owner and/or management agent for the former Coventry Health Center made $1.85 million in “questionable” payments between January 1998 and February 2001. Coventry Health Center’s general partners included Giordano, who also was a general partner in Mount St. Francis Health Center, a Woonsocket nursing home which auditors have accused of making $4.4 million in “questionable” payments. The latest audit heightens the scrutiny of Giordano, a Providence developer who owned the defunct Hillside Health Center, an East Side nursing home that closed in 2004 after chronic problems with finances and patient care. Giordano, 62, of North Kingstown, also was a major delinquent borrower in Rhode Island’s credit union crisis of 1991. More to come in tomorrow's Journal and on projo.com ... -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:50 PM | Comment Update: R.I. homeland security funds drop sharplyJudged to be a low risk state, Rhode Island received much less than last year in the new round of federal grants for homeland security announced today. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the recipients of the $1.7 billion in grants for fiscal year 2006. Rhode Island is getting $7.8 million -- about half of what it received in 2005 and far less than the state requested from the federal government. The grants are being awarded based on the calculated risk and vulnerability of each state and 50 major urban areas. See the state-by-state breakdown. Rhode Island ranked 47th of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Compared with other New England states, Rhode Island is getting less than Connecticut ($13.5 million), Massachusetts ($41.2 million), New Hampshire ($7.88 million), and Vermont ($10.9 million). Only Maine, at $7.7 million, is receiving less grant money in New England. The states receiving the most money are California, at $231.9 million, New York, at $183.6 million, Florida, $100.1 million, and Texas, with $89.8 million. Rhode Island had requested $60 million for various projects, such as completing detailed plans to handle catastrophes, finishing a project that will allow first-responders throughout the state to communicate during a disaster, and purchasing portal radiological detection equipment to screen transportation. -- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Previous grants had been used to buy millions of dollars of emergency equipment, begin a statewide project that'll allow all first-responders to communicate with each other during a disaster, and outfit and train the state's six hazardous-material teams, seven decontamination teams, and an urban search-and-rescue team. "I am disappointed that state officials will be forced to become more creative with our state's homeland security efforts due to decreased funding levels for this fiscal year," said Rep. James R. Langevin, D-R.I., a member of the Homeland Security Committee. "Despite Rhode Island's cut in funding, I am confident that our Emergency Management Agency will remain dedicated to keeping us all safe in the face of natural disaster or terrorist attack." Governor Carciieri also expressed his disappointment with the decision. “While I’m pleased that federal officials don’t believe the Ocean State is a target, Rhode Island deserves to receive the federal funding necessary to protect our citizens from terrorist threats and natural disasters,” he said in a statement. This time, each state received a baseline amount calculated according to population and then had to bid for more money based on risk, need and vulnerability. More money was also shifted to 50 most at-risk cities in the nation -- the Boston area was the only city in New England to make the list. -- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:36 PM | Comment Boil water advisory lifted at Navy housing sitePORTSMOUTH -- Authorities at Naval Station Newport today lifted a boil water advisory for families living in a base housing area. Families in the Melville Navy housing area, along with a Portsmouth elementary school and the Melville Campground, had been advised yesterday to boil drinking water for at least one minute. Authorities said low water pressure in the Melville section of the base's water distribution system was affecting water quality. They said testing today showed the water is safe for drinking. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:29 PM | Comment DEM warns of gypsy-moth infestations
PROVIDENCE -- The Department of Environmental Management issued a warning today that gypsy moth caterpillar outbreaks have been reported in central Rhode Island and across the East Bay. "It is likely the caterpillars will spread further," reads today's announcement. Now is the ideal time to ward off such infestations, said DEM, noting that the state has no plan to deal with the pests, leaving it up to individual residents to arrange for pesticide spraying. "We are seeing heavy populations of gypsy moths in localized areas, and recommending that residents who want to protect their trees, particularly oaks, from damage, do so now," Catherine Sparks, the acting chief of DEM's Division of Forest Environment, said in a statement. Although gypsy moth caterpillars prefer oaks, they will attack other trees such as apples, willows, poplars, hawthorns, pines, hemlocks and spruce. Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:25 PM | Comment Hendricken's Sampson nails high school golf title / Photo
CRANSTON -- To say that golfing is a Sampson family tradition is an understatement. Bishop Hendricken senior David Sampson's father John picked up the game from his father. And like his father did, John passed the game down to his children. Sampson's older brother Greg is a former state champion (2000, St. Raphael Academy), and Sampson, who finished tied for second place at the state tournament last season, has been one of the better golfers in the Interscholastic League over the last four years. Sampson felt a lot of pressure heading into the two-day Rhode Island state tournament played at the Cranston Country Club, and he more than lived up to expectations. He overcame a two-shot deficit to win the 2006 boys' golf individual state title by shooting an even par 73-69-142 to edge Tiverton's Matt Sterling (71-72-143) by one stroke. Bishop Hendricken's Dan Mollicone (76-71-147) took home the bronze medal. -- Journal sportswriter Robert Lee Individual scores: Brian Jorge, Mount St. Charles 77-75-152; Ben Conway, Tiverton 74-80-154; Matt Osman, Barrington 78-76-154; Tom Kirinsky, Cranston West 77-77-154; Matt Broome, Barrington 78-77-155; Alex Jestings, La Salle 76-79-155; Katherine Murphy, Portsmouth 74-82-156; Derek Jensen, Cumberland 75-82-157; Mike Boyd, Burrillville 79-79-158; Pete Taylor, Hendricken 81-78-159; Andy Coughlin, La Salle 76-83-159; Devin Beck, Tiverton 77-83-160; Jame Green, North Kingstown 81-80-161; Pete Weatherby, Portsmouth 78-83-161; Ethan Bonas, Tiverton 79-83-162; Tyler Fay, Barrington 79-83-162; Greg Morris, East Greenwich 78-84-162; Matt Fattore, Mount St. Charles 81-82-163; Mike Kollett, Cranston West 78-87-165; Sean O'Brien Middletown 81-86-167; Steve Savitt, East Greenwich 78-90-168; Alex Tutsch, Toll Gate 80-88-168; Alex Zegarzewski, Chariho 80-93-173. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:55 PM | Comment Update: Written test does in R.I. speller\WASHINGTON -- He called out the letters of "swaraj'' flawlessly in today's first public round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He was sponsored by The Providence Journal, with Amtrak covering his journey by rail with his mother and grandmother, Deborah and Helen Danielewicz, and two representatives of St. Philip's. The modern rules of the spelling bee call for an opening elimination round that tests all the entrants on a list of 25 words – including, this year, such oddities as "oeillade,'' "lycanthropy'' and "scopolamine.`` Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:45 PM | Comment Red Sox' Wily Mo Pena to undergo surgeryThe Red Sox issued a statement this afternoon in which they announced outfielder Wily Mo Pena will have surgery on his ailing left wrist tomorrow. The entire statement: --- Wily Mo will immediately begin rehabilitation on the wrist. He will be able to continue his throwing and conditioning programs throughout the entire post-operative period. NOTE: Pena was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 28 (retroactive to May 27). He is batting .321 with four homers and 18 RBI in 36 games with Boston in 2006.'' ---- Posted by Art at 4:05 PM | Comment Hearing tonight on traffic islands by Blackstone ParkPROVIDENCE -- The Blackstone Park Improvement Association is expected tonight to discuss a controversial city plan to construct two traffic islands at the southern end of Blackstone Boulevard, which Councilwoman Rita Williams says will improve traffic flow. While Williams says that community groups and city officials have been working to slow traffic on the boulevard and believe traffic islands could help, some neighbors believe the islands may result in more accidents. The boulevard runs along a popular walking path and play area. At tonight’s meeting, city officials will make a presentation on their plans for the intersection and will be available to hear from residents. The issue is on the association’s agenda for tonight’s meeting, at 7 p.m. at School One, 220 University Ave. Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:46 PM | Comment Forecasters agree: Busy hurricane season for East CoastYet another group has concluded that this year's hurricane season -- which begins tomorrow -- will be unusually active along the East Coast. Researchers at Colorado State University announced today there is a 69 percent chance that a major hurricane will make landfall along the East Coast, a high probability attributed in large part to abnormally warm temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean. Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration made a similar finding, predicting 13 to 16 named storms for the North Atlantic, with 8 to 10 becoming hurricanes. Of those, 4 to 6 could become major hurricanes -- Category 3 or greater. AccuWeather also predicts Southern New England has a "very high" risk of being struck by a hurricane this season. Governor Carcieri recently approved Rhode Island's hurricane preparedness plan. Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:05 PM | Comment New Bruins GM wants 'fresh culture'BOSTON -- Peter Chiarelli, introduced today as the new general manager of the Boston Bruins, said he wants to introduce "a new fresh culture" to the struggling organization. "I want players to want to play here," Chiarelli said at his first news conference since being hired Friday. "I want players to want to stay here." Chiarelli, who spent the past two years as assistant general manager of the Ottawa Senators, succeeds Mike O'Connell, who was fired March 25 with the Bruins on their way to their third nonplayoff season in the past six years. Read the full Associated Press story. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:20 PM | Comment Senate to vote on Carcieri's choice for Mental Health postPROVIDENCE -- The Senate is scheduled to vote this afternoon on Governor Carcieri's choice to head the state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals, Ellen R. Nelson. Nelson, a former associate director of public health in Massachusetts, easily won the approval of the Senate's Health and Services Committee last week, earning a unanimous recommendation. Today's vote is not expected to be controversial. Nelson began as acting director of the department last month. If confirmed when the full Senate meets today at 4 p.m., she would be the department's first permanent director in nearly three years. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Elizabeth Gudrais Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:04 PM | Comment Amgen to move into GTECH buildingWEST GREENWICH -- Amgen, the world's largest biopharmaceutical company, announced this afternoon that it will lease GTECH's West Greenwich corporate headquarters to accommodate plans to add 450 jobs this year. Amgen will enter into a 7-year lease with an option to buy the building, according to company officials and Governor Carcieri, who announced the plan today at a West Greenwich press conference. The lease is made possible largely because GTECH has plans to move its operation to Providence this fall. Even without the staffing increases, Amgen was suffering from a lack of space. While the company already occupies a building adjacent to the West Greenwich GTECH facility, some employees had been working in temporary trailers for the past four years. Amgen currently employs 1,700 people in West Greenwich. Amgen employees are expected to begin moving into GTECH's building by the second quarter of 2007. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Andrea L. Stape Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:00 PM | Comment Kerry to speak at Fogarty eventFormer presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts is coming to Rhode Island to boost Democratic Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty's candidacy for governor. Kerry is speaking June 19 at the opening of Fogarty's new campaign headquarters on Atwells Avenue in Providence and at a meeting the same night of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO Executive Board. The labor organization is expected to endorse Fogarty's campaign against Republican Governor Carcieri. Kerry was the Democratic candidate for president in 2004. -- Journal staff writer Scott MacKay Posted by Jack Perry at 12:37 PM | Comment Update: Astros win Clemens, Sox lose out / VideoHOUSTON --The Red Sox have lost out on the Roger Clemens sweepstakes. Clemens has agreed to a $22 million contract to pitch for the Houston Astros for the rest of 2006. The 43-year-old Clemens, who will be entering his 23rd major league season, is agreeing first to a minor league contract that pays $322,000 over the five-month minor league season, and his first start is likely to be at Lexington, Ky., the Class A team where his oldest son, Koby, plays. Clemens announced his return today at a news conference. The Sox had hoped to sign Clemens, a former Red Sox star, to strengthen their struggling pitching staff.
Read a full report from sister site khou.com in Houston Watch a live Webcast from the press conference Posted by Jack Perry at 12:35 PM | Comment Woman sentenced to 3 years for attacking aunt with bleachNEWPORT -- Evangeline "Lea" Henry, a Middletown mother of three, was sentenced this morning to serve three years in prison for attacking her elderly aunt with Chlorox bleach in an assault that almost killed her. Superior Court Judge Edwin J. Gale ordered Henry to perform 200 hours of community service when she is released from prison and also ordered Henry to make restitution to her aunt, Mary S. Goulios, for money she stole while acting as her guardian. - Journal staff writer Tracy Breton Henry, 45, of 64 Beagle Drive, Middletown, pleaded no contest to the felony assault and battery charge April 3 during a jury trial in which prosecutors presented evidence that she nearly killed her 70-year-old aunt by stuffing a rag soaked with Clorox into her mouth and pouring bleach over her. The attack was in Goulios's Newport apartment on Dec. 15, 2004. In court today, Henry pleaded no contest to a charge of embezzling more than $100 from her aunt, a felony for which she received a 10-year suspended sentence to run concurrently with the sentence imposed for the bleach attack. Prosecutors allege that Henry stole tens of thousands of dollars from Goulios while acting as her guardian. She has already repaid her aunt almost $20,000, but prosecutors are looking for much more in restitution. The amount of restitution will be determined at a later date by a Superior Court magistrate. Henry apologized to her aunt for the first time in court today. "I am very sincerely sorry for all the bad judgment and everything that I have done to hurt my aunt, and I'd like to really apologize to her," she said. Goulios asked Gale to sentence Henry to the maximum term he could have imposed under a plea agreement with prosecutors last month -- six years imprisonment. "This was premeditated attempted murder to cover up embezzlement and greed of monumental proportions," the victim told the judge. Henry became Goulios's guardian in 2002 after she suffered a diabetic coma. "When I went into a diabetic coma, I had a two-apartment house, a car, clothes, furniture, jewelry and over $123,000 in bonds in the bank, everything I needed. In a year, almost everything was gone. Fifty years of work went down the drain. "Mrs. Henry from day one conspired behind my back to make me look incompetent in order to control my finances and my life," Goulios said. - Journal staff writer Tracy Breton Posted by Jack Perry at 12:33 PM | Comment Flu panel examines effect on R.I. businessesWARWICK -- The Health Department this morning held the first meeting of its newly convened Pandemic Flu Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from businesses, energy companies, banks, grocery stores, health care, social services, community-based organizations, education and government. Dr. David R. Gifford, director of health, told the gathering at Sheraton Airport Hotel that he's used to working with health-care organizations, but "the Department of Health doesn't work with banking too much, or grocery stores too much." Yet these businesses will be hampered if 20 percent to 30 percent of their workforce is sick with the flu. Their ability to function, he said, is essential to the rest of society. As head of the state's effort to prepare for a flu pandemic, Gifford said he needed advice from all sectors. Click here to see the Department of Health's bird flu information page. -- Staff report by Felice Freyer -- Journal staff writer Felice J. Freyer Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:57 AM | Comment Updated: Missing kayaker OK, was at friend's housePORTSMOUTH - A missing kayaker has been found safe at a friend's house, the Coast Guard said late this morning. The Coast Guard had been searching for Portsmouth resident Michael Lunt, 18, of Cherokee Drive, since about 8 a.m. today. He had left yesterday morning for a solo ride in his kayak and told family he would return in the evening. Lunt was located this morning at a friend's house in Portsmouth. He hadn't told his family he was going there. -- Staff report by Alisha Pina Posted by Jack Perry at 11:56 AM | Comment High court to mull Carcieri bid for Beacon stayPROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Supreme Court will consider Governor Carcieri’s request for a stay of a Superior Court order that prevented the governor from dismissing the two gubernatorial appointees to the Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. board of directors, it was announced today. The governor’s motion for a stay pending appeal and motion to expedite the matter have been placed on the Supreme Court’s June 7 conference calendar for consideration by the full court, according to court documents. Vowing to overhaul the leadership of the embattled Beacon board, Carcieri moved earlier this year to remove George H. Nee and Henry R. Boeniger from the board. The two labor-backed Democrats have charged the Republican governor with discriminating against them because of their union affiliations. Last Monday, Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Fortunato Jr. delivered a stinging critique of the governor's attempt to remove, "for cause," the two appointees, saying that Carcieri had displayed his "obvious hostility" and "bias" toward Nee and Boeniger. Fortunato called the governor's invitation to the two men to discuss their termination with him in his State House office "a sham" and a "kangaroo court." Fortunato concluded his remarks and had stood to leave the bench when Carcieri's co-counsel, Robert G. Flanders Jr., asked for a "stay" of the ruling because the governor might want to appeal to the Supreme Court. Fortunato denied the request, saying that based on the evidence presented thus far, the Supreme Court is unlikely to rule in the governor's favor. Carcieri filed an appeal of the Superior Court order last Thursday. Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:51 AM | Comment Is it vandalism, or respect for the dead?PROVIDENCE -- It has become quite common when people die in car accidents for friends and relatives to post messages of condolence on the web. But a fatal car crash Sunday night has prompted quite a different outpouring of emotion. After three young men died when a car driven by a friend crashed into the Ferguson Perforating and Wire Co. on Ernest St., the first posting to the blog came not from a mourner, but from a writer wondering who would pay to repaint the building. Of the nearly three dozen messages posted in the first 12 hours that the blog item ran, more than a dozen concerned the graffiti, which some writers called vandalism. “If the car had crashed into your house, would you be ok with all the spray paint, and would you tell people it’s not the time to discuss it?” Steph posted. “Respect the deceased, but while you are at it, respect the living.” About two dozen people, some who also were upset about the spray-painted messages, expressed sorrow for the loss of life. "RIP Marco, Chris and Carlos,” wrote Ashley. “You will forever be missed and please watch over us as we will do the same for your kids. Love Ashley. Sweet dreams, guys.” Nine people lashed out at those who complained about the spray painting. “I don’t think that this post was meant for you idiots to comment about the graffiti art on the abandoned building,” wrote someone who just signed “K.” “People died here," that writer continued. "Someone lost a son, a brother, nephew, father maybe. Really, people! This was meant for people to post condolences and memories of the deceased! Where is the empathy? Where is the respect?” Alternatively, another area on the projo.com web site where people were asked to share their memories/thoughts/reactions to the accident drew just half a dozen comments. While people shared similar sentiments there as on the blog, there’s much less back-and-forth discussion and debate about the accident and the impromptu memorial. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:24 AM | Comment Communities to get $8 million for open space, recreationWEST GREENWICH -- Governor Carcieri is scheduled to announce $8 million in community grants for recreational playing fields and open space during a morning press conference. A total of 65 grants will be spread among 31 communities across the state for construction and renovation of playgrounds, ballfields, walking paths, boat launches and picnic areas. U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee and state Department of Environmental Management Director W. Michael Sullivan will join the governor for the 10 a.m. ceremony to be held at the Exeter/West Greenwich Regional Track and Field Facility. Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:11 AM | Comment Chilly and foggy now, but temps should rise to 80PROVIDENCE -- It’s a tad chilly out there this morning, so you might want to wear a jacket when leaving the house. Plus, if you’re driving along Cape Cod or portions of south coastal Massachusetts and southern Rhode Island, use caution in the patchy fog, which should hang low until about 9 a.m. However, as the morning’s clouds gradually clear, temps are expected to rise to a high around 80, and you shouldn’t need that jacket anymore. Enjoy today’s partly cloudy skies as rain is in the forecast tomorrow through Saturday. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006