|
|
« September 1, 2006 | Today | September 6, 2006 » September 5, 2006Update: Marine from East Providence dies in IraqEAST PROVIDENCE – A Marine from East Providence has died in Iraq. Lance Cpl. Eric Valdepenas was killed Sunday while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq, according to an announcement posted early this evening on the Department of Defense Web site. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Ayer, Mass., the Defense Department notice said. Valdepenas graduated in 2003 from Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, where he was an honors student and a co-captain in his senior year of the Hawks boys lacrosse team, according to the school's president, who confirmed his death earlier today. “Eric was a bright young man, always upbeat and positive,” Hendricken President Brother Thomas R. Leto said. The school received word today that Valdepenas died in Iraq, Leto said. Early this evening, the Department of Defense posted a notice announced his death on its Web site. It listed his home as Seekonk, Mass., but Leto said Valdepenas was from East Providence. Valdepenas is the second Hendricken gradudate to die in Iraq, Leto said. Army Capt. Matthew August, of North Kingstown, was killed in Iraq on Jan. 27, 2004. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Administrators interrupted classes this afternoon, the second day back at the private Catholic boys' school, to announce the graduate’s death and to pray for Valdepenas and his family, Leto said. “There was silence in the hallways after the announcement, and the fellows feel it,” Leto said. Leto tried to call the family as well, he said, but the outgoing message on their answering machine said the father’s medical practice was closed due to a death in the family. An outgoing message only said “memory full” when projo.com called the number at 5:30 p.m. today. Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:59 PM | Comment Station trial: New courthouse on stage / Photo
WARWICK -- It's no secret that court officials delayed the start of Michael Derderian's trial to feature the new Kent County Courthouse. So today, as media from across the region converged on Warwick for the first day of jury selection in the landmark trial, court employees weren't shy about their strong feelings about their 197,000-square-foot new home. While addressing the jury this morning, Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. referred to the $60-million building an "outstanding architectural feat." The outer shell of the modern structure features glass panels arranged to form distinct shapes with angled faces. There is a small reflecting pool on one side of the building and a small pond on the other. The landscaped lawn is so lush that court officials wouldn't allow television crews to set up there, forcing them to use the top of the adjacent 536-space parking garage for live shots. The inside of the buiding also distinguishes itself from other Rhode Island courthouses, with high ceilings and very long hallways with lots of natural light (thanks to the glass wall panelling). The walk from the elevators on the fourth floor to Courtroom 4F -- where Derderian's jury selection is taking place today -- spans nearly 300 feet, according to a court spokesman. That's nearly the same distance as the path from home plate to the Green Monster in Fenway Park. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:05 PM | Comment Langevin calls on states to promote stem cell researchCRANSTON -- Congressman James R. Langevin today called on Rhode Island and other states to do what they can to promote embryonic stem cell research. Langevin joined two state representatives at the Hope Alzheimer’s Center today to announce plans for a task force to study what other states -- most notably California -- have done to fund and promote stem cell research. The task force will make recommendations to the state House of Representatives. “As the federal government sits on the sideline, states like Rhode Island must step up to the plate and become involved in promoting and encouraging all types of stem cell research within their own states,” Langevin said. The announcement came one week before Langevin faces Jennifer Lawless in a Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District race. Lawless issued a news release today, saying, “In Congress, I’ll be every bit the fighter on stem cell research that Representative Langevin has been, and work much harder on behalf of Rhode Island families.” Lawless said she would be an “unwavering” supporter of stem cell research, referring to Langevin’s votes in 2001 and 2003 to ban reproductive and therapeutic cloning of embryonic stem cells. Langevin has said that in 2001 he didn’t fully understand therapeutic cloning and in 2003 he voted for an amendment that would have allowed it. When the amendment failed, he voted for a bill banning both reproductive and therapeutic cloning. -- Journal Staff Writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:51 PM | Comment Richmond tax collector arrested for embezzling $262,000RICHMOND -- The state police have arrested the former Richmond-Carolina Fire District tax collector on one count of unlawful appropriation from the fire district totaling approximately $262,000. The state police financial crimes unit arrested Jerilyn J. Majeika, 45, of 2081 South County Trail in South Kingstown, on Friday, the state police announced today. The financial crimes unit began investigating in July 2006 after receiving a complaint from the fire district, which serves the eastern two-thirds of the town of Richmond. According to the state police, the investigation revealed that Majeika misappropriated and converted fire district funds for her own use and concealed the theft from fire district officials. She was employed as the district’s tax collector from 1999 to 2006. The embezzlement took place between 2004 and 2006, the police said. The money was primarily spent at gaming facilities and for other personal expenses, the police said. Brad Philbrick, chairman of the fire district's board, said Majeika was arraigned at state police headquarters by Justice of the Peace Richard Finnigan and was released on $1,000 personal recognizance. A pre-arraignment conference has been set for Nov. 3. -- Maria Armental The fire district’s Board of Directors commissioned an independent audit, which is ongoing, after realizing last December that tax receipts were substantially lower than normal at that time of year. The board commissioned the audit after discussing tax receipts with Majeika, according to a statement issued by board chairman Brad Philbrick. The board contacted the state police on July 19 with results of its internal investigation, which indicated that $262,000 had been misappropriated. That night, the board terminated Majeika, according to Philbrick. The fire district says that the crime affects tax collections from the 2004 and 2005 billings, but not the 2006 billings, which were mailed in late July. Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:30 PM | Comment High school sports season begins in Rhode IslandThe Rhode Island Interscholastic League fall season begins in earnest today, as young athletes take to the fields for games this afternoon and evening across the state. Projo.com will be posting scores online tonight, and every night for the rest of the season. To see the latest scores from your school's teams, go to projo.com/highschool, and click on your school from the list under the "Our School" heading. Click below to see a full schedule of today's games. FIELD HOCKEY Cranston East at Rocky Hill, 3:45 BOYS SOCCER GIRLS SOCCER GIRLS TENNIS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:03 PM | Comment Poll: Fogarty takes lead from CarcieriLt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty is leading Governor Carcieri in the battle for the state's top elected office, according to a poll released today by the independent pollster Rasmussen Reports. Forty-six percent of likely voters supported Fogarty, a Democrat, while 41 percent supported the Republican Carcieri, in the telephone survey of 500 likely voters conducted Aug. 23. The margin of error is 4.5 points. Today's poll is the first to show the incumbent Carcieri behind. In a similar poll conducted last month, Fogarty and Carcieri were neck-in-neck, 42 percent to 43 percent respectively. The Rasmussen poll also found the numbers in the battle for U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee's seat largely unchanged. Chafee slightly trails Democratic challenger Sheldon Whitehouse 44 percent to 42 percent -- a statistical tie because the lead is within the margin of error. Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey continues to fare poorly against Whitehouse, trailing 58 percent to 31 percent. Rasmussen did not match Laffey against Chafee. The pair will face off in the Republican primary a week from today. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:55 PM | Comment Sox' Ortiz cleared to return tonightBOSTON -- The Red Sox announced today that David Ortiz, sidelined since last week as doctors checked him for potential heart problems, has been given medical clearance to return to action tonight. He is expected to be in the lineup when Boston hosts the Chicago White Sox at 7:05 p.m. The team's statement: "BOSTON, MA—The ongoing monitoring of David Ortiz has not identified any further problem. As a result, the team of consultants caring for David has met and decided to allow him to return to play today. The Red Sox medical staff will continue to monitor David on a daily basis."
Posted by Art at 2:43 PM | Comment Gas prices drop for 5th straight weekGasoline prices in Rhode Island are the lowest they’ve been since mid-April. They’ve dropped another 11 cents per gallon over the last week, the fifth consecutive week they’ve gone down, according to AAA Southern New England. Regular unleaded gasoline at the self-serve pump averages $2.85 today, according to AAA’s weekly survey of prices in Rhode Island. A year ago at this time, just following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the average price of gasoline in Rhode Island was $3.23. Over the last five weeks, gas prices across the state have dropped a total of 25 cents per gallon. As motorists who shop around are well aware, prices vary throughout the state. The lowest self-serve price that AAA found for regular unleaded gasoline in its survey was $2.75. The highest was $2.96. Premium unleaded gasoline is as low as $2.99 and as high as $3.23, according to the AAA survey. Search AAA’s fuel finder to find the best gasoline prices in your area. Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:46 PM | Comment Photo: Casting a wireless web over crime
Posted by Jack Perry at 11:19 AM | Comment Station trial: Derderian to get police escort / Photo
Michael Derderian follows his wife, Kristina, through the doorway of a parking garage at the Kent County Courhouse. Members of the media followed Derderian from the courthouse to the parking garage, prompting a complaint to the judge by Derderian's lawyer, Kathleen Hagerty, seen holding the door.
When Derderian left Kent County Court House this morning after the first session of jury selection, he was mobbed by reporters and television camera operators. A short while later, his lawyer, Kathleen Hagerty, went up to the courthouse's fourth floor, where Judge Francis Darigan was standing in the hallway outside the courtroom. She complained that reporters were pushing and shoving Derderian, his wife and his daughter, and she said, "We're not coming back if you can't guarantee our safety. I mean it." It was decided that the Capitol Police would escort them to and from their car in future. -- Reported by Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker Station trial likely to last 3 to 4 months WARWICK -- The judge for the trial of Station nightclub co-owner Michael Derderian told potential jurors this morning that the case is likely to last 12 to 16 weeks. But Judge Francis Darigan told the 109 potential jurors that the length of the trial would not be enough to excuse them from service. Darigan also introduced Derderian to the jurors. After listening to Darigan explain the process of jury selection, the jurors began filling out forms, which was expected to take them up to two hours. An earlier report said 112 jurors potential jurors showed up this morning, but that number was later amended by a court spokesman. More potential jurors are expected this afternoon. -- Reported by projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples
WARWICK -- Station nightclub fire trial defendant Michael A. Derderian arrived at the courthouse at about 8:30 a.m. for the first day of jury selection. Derderian rushed into the courthouse without comment. He was accompanied by his wife and his attorney. A large group of videographers and still photographers surrounded and followed him. -- Reported by projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples
WARWICK -- The news media are waiting for jurors walking into the new Kent County Court House for the trial of Station nightclub owner Michael A. Derderian this morning. Three television videographers and at least two still photographers are standing by the courthouse entrance as the jurors trickle in this morning. Another television camera and reporter are stationed a little farther from the door. The jurors, who were told to report by 8:30 a.m., range from younger citizens in T shirts and jeans to older men in suits and ties. -- Reported by projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples
Derderian faces 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 2 for each of the 100 people who died in the February 2003 fire at the West Warwick nightclub. Jury selection is expected to take a long time. The first witnesses will not take the stand until next month. Little will happen in the public eye this week. Potential jurors will report to the courthouse in four separate groups today and tomorrow. One group will report in the morning and one in the afternoon each day. The jury commissioner sent summonses to 800 potential jurors. Many of those have been excused because they are unable to serve. About 500 remain in the pool that is expected this week. Jurors will gather in a room in a secure part of the courthouse, where they will watch a 16-minute video titled "Called to Jury Service: Why Me?" The video outlines what jury service entails. After watching the videos, jurors will be brought to a courtroom on the fourth floor, where Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. will greet them and they will be sworn in. Then, everyone but the jury commissioner and the potential jurors will leave the room. Jurors will fill out a 32-page questionnaire and leave. Read more about the upcoming trial and look back at the fire and its aftermath. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples
Posted by Jack Perry at 10:53 AM | Comment Update: Accident snarls traffic on Route 95 in ProvidenceThe Department of Transportation reports southbound traffic remains heavy on Route 95 in Providence this morning. A serious accident at Exit 24, Branch Avenue, closed three southbound lanes of Route 95 from 10 to 11 this morning. Down to one lane for a time, the DOT says traffic remained congested after the accident was cleared. Posted by Peter Phipps at 10:30 AM | Comment URI opens renovated Independence HallSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- As classes begin this week, the University of Rhode Island reopens its largest academic building -- Independence Hall. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the building is scheduled for this morning. Renovations on the building cost nearly $9 million. Independence Hall is home to several of the institution's most popular majors, including English and communications. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:17 AM | Comment Dry start, wet finishPROVIDENCE -- Don't get used to this morning's pleasant weather. Clear skies are expected to give way to periods of rain this evening with heavy rain possible late tonight. The wet weather will continue into tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service, before clearing up for Thursday and Friday. The high today should reach 73. For more weather and updates, see projo.com/weather. |
|
ADVERTISING |
|
|
|
|
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006