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August 10, 2006

Update: Chafee, Laffey civil but not shy in first debate

PROVIDENCE -- The tone was relatively civil, but Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey and U.S.Sen. Lincoln Chafee weren't shy about confronting each other in their first head-to-head debate.

The two Republicans will face each other in the Sept. 12 primary for Chafee's Senate seat. Tonight, they brought their campaigns to live radio.

"If you don't bring up my family, I won't bring up yours, Mayor Laffey," Chafee said to his opponent, who suggested Chafee didn't support school vouchers because he could afford to send his children to private school.

The hour-long debate, moderated by former state attorney general Arlene Violet, ranged from school vouchers to Iraq to leadership style.

The usually unassuming Chafee went on the offensive early and often. When discussing leadership style and the ability to compromise, Chafee brought up Laffey's Web site, in which a picture of a political foe was intentionally distorted last year.

If Laffey has a problem with a U.S. senator, Chafee asked, "Are they going to be pixelated out?"

In his opening and closing statements, Chafee asked voters to focus on which Republican candidate has the best chance of winning in November -- a reference to polls that show Laffey well behind Democratic candidate Sheldon Whitehouse. And Chafee asked listeners to "look at people's character over the long term" in choosing a candidate.

"This is a six-year term, you're electing somebody to serve until January of 2013," he said.

Laffey's message was less focused as he listed a variety of issues -- taxes, government spending, prescription drugs, and energy policy -- as his priorities. In his closing statement, Laffey drew upon his personal hardships and accomplishments, an attempt to differentiate himself from his opponent, whose personal wealth comes largely from his family.

"Growing up, life wasn't always easy," Laffey said, noting that he worked hard to become the head of a company worth about a half-billion dollars.

Tonight's debate was the first in a series of four debates, two of which will be televised.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:04 PM | Comment

Debate over casino plan to be aired tonight

PROVIDENCE -- A 30-minute debate today over the proposed casino in West Warwick, due to go to voters statewide this November, was more rhetoric from both sides than a presentation of detailed facts.

Richard Oster, the former head of a group opposing the proposed West Warwick casino, called the casino a bad deal -- one that voters won’t know the full details of until after they’ve cast their ballots.

"I don’t think the citizens of Rhode Island should be hoodwinked,’’ he said on the PBS show A Lively Experiment, which was taped this afternoon and is scheduled to be aired at 7:30 tonight.

Narragansett Indian Tribe Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas countered that the casino his tribe is proposing with Harrah’s Entertainment will bring jobs and property tax relief to the state.

"We know what it’s like to be screwed,’’ Thomas said. "We’re not going to screw the people of Rhode Island.’’

Oster, who said he is not opposed to casinos, said that the state could get a better deal by opening up a casino license to competitive bidding.

"Let’s not be had,’’ the former Cookson America chief executive officer said. "You can hear the laughter coming form the boardrooms in Las Vegas.’’

Thomas countered: "There are a lot of people who hear laughter. They’re in rubber rooms.’’

Thomas was asked if the tribe would continue to push for a casino if the Nov. 7 ballot question fails. "We’re going to cross that bridge when we come to it,’’ he said.

The show airs at 7:30 tonight and again Sunday at noon on Rhode Island PBS, Channel 36 or cable channel 8.

It was moderated by James G. Hagan, former president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. The chamber now and under Hagan’s leadership came out against the casino.

Thomas said this casino would have upscale amenities allowing it to compete with casinos in Connecticut. He suggested it would be a lot nicer than the state’s two current gambling halls: Lincoln Park and Newport Grand.

"I can’t remember anybody having a wedding reception at Lincoln Park,’’ Thomas said.

Harrah’s spent $2.7 million last month on its effort to win votes. (Some of that money was spent on future advertising, but the casino company won’t say how much.)

"They’re throwing around millions like we throw around dimes,’’ said Oster, who recently resigned as chairman of the casino-opposition group Save Our State.

Thomas countered that the money was being spent in Rhode Island, benefiting the state’s economy.

-- Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:24 PM | Comment

Terror plot: Get used to carry-on limits, R.I. officials say

CRANSTON -- Get used to strict limits on what you can carry on to commercial flights.

A host of state officials told the media this afternoon that the restrictions enacted today that prohibit any kind of fluid -- even hair gel and lotion -- in carry-on bags will continue indefinitely.

The group -- including Governor Carcieri, Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Robert J. Warren and Adjutant General Robert T. Bray -- also indicated that Rhode Island would not call on the National Guard to help with airport security, as Massachusetts officials have done for Boston's Logan Airport.

There are no indications that flights are being affected at T.F. Green Airport or any airport in the nation, according to Mark Brewer, who heads the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:53 PM | Comment

Update: Vegetable oil spill in Newport cleared

NEWPORT -- The eastbound lanes of Route 138 in front of the Newport Grand have have been re-opened following a vegetable oil spill that clogged area traffic this afternoon.

While police have not released any details regarding the spill, the state Department of Transportation issued an alert at about 4:30 p.m. saying that crews had cleared most of the oil and sanded the road.

Traffic, which had been detoured to the Connell Highway, is now flowing through the affected area, directly in front of the Newport Grand to about 100 yards east.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:38 PM | Comment

New early childhood degree program at Johnson & Wales

PROVIDENCE – Johnson & Wales University will offer a new degree program this fall for people who are, or who want to be, administrators of early childhood education programs.

Students can pursue a masters of education degree in early childhood administration and leadership, a program that has been developed over the past year, according to a statement issued by the university today.

The program integrates theory, research and best practices to help early childhood professionals understand children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language, motor and value development, according to the university. It was developed by William Strader, director of the university’s new Institute for Early Childhood Leadership and Professional Development.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:40 PM | Comment

Terror plot: R.I. congressmen urge continued vigilance

WARWICK -- Rhode Island's congressmen praised the work of investigators in Great Britain and the United States in uncovering a terror plot to bomb planes bound for the United States from Britain.

U.S. Rep. James Langevin and U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, both Democrats, also urged continued vigilance.

Langevin, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement, "We stand ready to offer any assistance necessary to our British friends. This morning's developments serve as a reminder of the continuing threat of terrorism faced not only in this country, but around the world. Thanks to the swift and professional work of American and British authorities we have undoubtedly saved thousands of lives.

"I will continue to monitor this situation and have been in contact with authorities at T.F. Green. In the meantime, I urge all Rhode Islanders, especially those traveling, to remain ever vigilant," Langevin said.

Kennedy said the "expertise and swift work" of the intelligence and military in both countries "prevented what could have resulted in the horrific loss of lives.

"I once again urge this [Bush] administration to implement the full recommendations of the non-partisan 9/11 commission to make our country as safe as possible during these ever changing times," Kennedy said, also in a statement. "We need to strengthen our military capabilities and intelligence to intervene in these evil acts while developing and installing explosive detection technologies that can detect lethal materials like those involved in this latest plot."

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:03 PM | Comment

Romney denies tunnel tests caused potential damage

BOSTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney said today he does not believe pull tests used to gauge the safety of ceiling panel connections in the Ted Williams Tunnel caused potential damage to the bolts being tested, a concern raised by project overseer Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff.

In a memo to Romney administration officials, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff warned that the safety load tests may have damaged the tunnel ceiling by putting too much pressure on epoxy bolts that have been a focus of concern since a July 10 accident in which 12 tons of ceiling panels fell and crushed a passing motorist.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:52 PM | Comment

Lieberman kicks off campaign as independent

WATERBURY, Conn. -- Stripped of Democratic Party support and with most of his staff gone, Sen. Joe Lieberman launched a new campaign as an independent today with a pizza party in a city where voters supported him and the mayor understands his unusual position.

The "thank you" stop in Waterbury was Lieberman's first public event since losing Tuesday's primary and his first since dismissing his campaign staff.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:50 PM | Comment

Terror plot: State leaders to discuss R.I. reaction

CRANSTON -- State officials plan to hold a press conference this afternoon to react to news of a major terrorist plot that was apparently thwarted in England.

Governor Carcieri is scheduled to appear at 2:30 p.m. with Lt. Col. Robert T. Bray, adjutant general of the Rhode Island National Guard, at the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Cranston.

The governor held a conference call at noon with representatives from all of Rhode Island's cities and towns to discuss the state's reaction.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:37 PM | Comment

Casino foes square off on PBS tonight

Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas will square off tonight against vocal casino opponent Richard Oster in a special edition of the Rhode Island PBS program "A Lively Experiment."

Oster, the former head of anti-casino group Save Our State, opposes the Narragansett's effort to amend the state Constitution to allow a casino in West Warwick. The question is set to appear on the November ballot.

The PBS program will be taped this afternoon and is scheduled to be aired locally at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 36. Another airing is planned for Sunday.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:32 PM | Comment

Providence fire draws haz-mat team / Photo

Journal photo / Kris Craig
Firefighters gather next to 275 Allens Ave. this afternoon.

PROVIDENCE – Firefighters have responded to a fire of lithium batteries at Northland Environment, at 275 Allens Ave., and the city’s hazardous-materials team is preparing to go, too.

Firefighters cannot use water to battle the fire because of the way the lithium batteries react with water, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the fire department.

Taylor believes the fire is outside the building. More details are not yet available.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:28 PM | Comment

Terror plot: A peek at some bloggers' reactions

Not everyone is going into a panic over the news of the foiled terror plot. In a quick trip around the blogosphere, projo.com producer Sheila Lennon finds these reactions:

- Just another day in the war on terror (from the blog of the managing editor of the Beaumont , Texas, Enterprise)
- Muslims in England shocked but skeptical over terror plot, from irishexaminer.com
- One traveler flying from Logan to L.A. ,who had his choice of first-class upgrades because the lines are moving so slowly that the plane was boarding without many of its passengers.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:53 PM | Comment

S. Kingstown councilman pleads innocent to disorderly conduct

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Town Councilman Paul Tasich pleaded innocent to disorderly conduct today in District Court, Wakefield.

He and his wife, Kimberly, were arrested late Friday after complaints about loud music and obscenities coming from their home at 33 Eagle Nest Terrace.

The police charged Kimberly Tasich, 43, with simple assault against her daughter and a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. She pleaded innocent to all counts. They were released on personal recognizance.

Tasich, 41, said he had no intention of resigning the council post he held for the past two years. ``The whole story will come out. ...I'm innocent until proven guilty,'' he said.

He intends to seek re-election as a Democrat in November.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:47 PM | Comment

`Survivor' winner Richard Hatch says prison life is hard

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Richard Hatch, who won the $1 million prize on the debut season of Survivor, says he's finding it difficult to adjust to life in prison.

Hatch, 45, of Newport, was convicted by a federal jury in January of failing to pay taxes on the prize and other income. He was sentenced in May to 51 months in prison by a judge who said the reality TV star had repeatedly lied on the witness stand.

He arrived at the minimum-security facility in Morgantown on July 25.

Hatch, who became known as the "fat naked guy" for refusing to wear clothes on the CBS show, is now required to wear khaki shirts and pants.

"I'm doing lots of intake stuff, like clothing and getting to know the place ... but I don't think I will adjust to any of this until I can prove I was unethically prosecuted," he told The Dominion Post of Morgantown during a phone interview yesterday.

Hatch said he will be tutoring inmates, helping them to earn their GEDs and hone their job-hunting skills.

-- The Associated Press

"Sure, people know my name ... there are 1,300-plus inmates who think they know me, so it's an interesting experience," he said. "They all have questions - want to know what this experience is like and what `Survivor' was about."

While his lawyer works on his appeal, Hatch said he is using his time to read and write a book about his experiences on "Survivor" and his subsequent legal problems.

"I'm focused on writing what has gone so terribly wrong," he said.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:39 PM | Comment

Terror plot: URI expert says '100s of molecules' are explosive

The British authorities have been vague enough on the type of liquid explosives that were suspected in the bomb plot that a URI chemistry professor and explosives expert says it's difficult to know yet exactly what the ingredients were -- and whether they were something common enough not to be detected.

There are many types of liquid explosives -- Timothy McVeigh used fuel oil and fertilizer to explode a Ryder truck parked outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 -- says URI professor Jimmie Oxley. "Truthfully, there are hundreds of molecules that are explosive, just as there are hundreds of molecules that are sweet," she said today.

The professor has served on committees for the National Research Council in studying airport security. While bottle-screening equipment is being developed and becoming available since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Oxley said the technology still isn't perfect. But she predicts the technology will be pressed to improve soon, because of the thwarted plot in the United Kingdom.

The plot "doesn't surprise me," Oxley said. "It makes me really sad."

The first attack on the World Trade Center, in 1993, broke down the barrier that the United States was invulnerable, she said.

"Mankind can always figure out how to be nasty," Oxley said.

-- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:27 PM | Comment

Terror plot: A list of items restricted from carry-on bags

Airline passengers cannot carry the following items on board with them, although they can check them:

Anything in aerosol cans, beverages, creams, hair and other gels or anything of similar consistency, liquids of any kind, lotion, perfume, shampoo, suntan lotion, toothpaste.

The following can be brought on airplanes:

Baby formula or breast milk in bottles – as long as the passenger is actually traveling with a baby
Prescription medications if the name on the bottle matches the name of the person flying
Prescription inhalers for asthma patients

For more information on the latest restrictions, check the Transportation Security Administration’s website.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:56 AM | Comment

Terror plot: Tossed away at Green / Photo

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers

Trash cans at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick this morning were filled with water bottles, cups, deodorant and shaving cream cans as passengers were prohibited from carrying on many items after a terror threat was foiled in London.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:00 AM | Comment

Terror plot: Romney activates Guard for Logan

BOSTON -- Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on today activated the National Guard to help with security at Logan International Airport for the first time since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, after a terror plot targeting U.S.-bound flights was foiled in London.

The security alert was raised at Logan and airports around the nation early today after officials in Great Britain disrupted a plan to blow up airplanes from Great Britain to the United States.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:31 AM | Comment

Ah summer, hot with a chance of a thunderstorm

PROVIDENCE – There’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. today, which has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a hazardous weather outlook for the region.

As a cold front moves through the region, there’s a chance of thunderstorms that could produce gusty winds and small hail.

Expect the high today to be near 85 degrees.

As we’re heading into a long weekend, looks like a warm and partly cloudy weekend is on tap. Check back with us for weather updates throughout the day.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Terror plot: First flight from Logan to Heathrow canceled

BOSTON -- The terrorist threat to blow up airplanes that was uncovered in Great Britain affected Logan Airport in Boston, prompting at least two flights to be canceled and forcing delays on others because of strict searches of passengers and airline crews.

The first flight to Britain's busy Heathrow Airport - American Airlines Flight 156 that was due to leave Logan at 9 a.m. was cancelled, according to John Hotard, American Airlines spokesman in Ft. Worth, Texas. American Airlines Flight 95 from Heathrow to Logan also was canceled.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment