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« September 18, 2006 | Today | September 20, 2006 » September 19, 2006Folk singer Tom Paxton at URI colloquium tonightSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Folk singer Tom Paxton is scheduled to appear at the University of Rhode Island tonight, where he will perform and discuss his experience using music to influence social change. Paxton will deliver a performance entitled "A Musical Documentary: 50 Years of History in Song" in the Edwards Auditorium on the Kingston campus at 7:30 p.m. The visit is part of the university's colloquium, Songs of Social Justice: The Rhetoric of Music, which examines how music is used "as a means of expression, persuasion, and mobilization," according to an announcement by URI. Paxton's performance at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival was recorded and released as his first album by Vanguard Records. In 1964, he signed with Elektra Records where he recorded well-known songs such as, “The Last Thing on My Mind,” “Ramblin’ Boy” and “Whose Garden Was This.” Paxton's appearance is free and open to the public. Can't go? Read about his show tomorrow on projo.com and in The Journal. Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:46 PM | Comment Narrowing Derderian jury pool taking longer than plannedPROVIDENCE -- They were told to call the court tomorrow. But the 421 men and women of Kent County that remain in the jury pool for Michael Derderian's high-profile trial won't learn their fate for almost another week. Court spokesman Craig Berke said today that the court and the attorneys involved are not finished going through each potential juror's 32-page questionnaire -- surveys aimed at further narrowing the jury pool by eliminating people with obvious conflicts. The jury pool -- initially a group of 800 -- gathered at Kent County Courthouse earlier in the month to complete the questionnaires and meet the key characters in the looming trial, including Derderian. There will be 16 jurors ultimately chosen for the trial that could span three to four months, according to the judge presiding over the case. If and when they call the court tomorrow as instructed by the judge, the jurors will be told to call back on Monday, Berke said. Derderian faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter for each of the 100 people who died in the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at the West Warwick nightclub he owned with his brother, Jeffrey A. Derderian. Jeffrey Derderian is scheduled to stand trial later.
The potential jurors represent a wide swath of Rhode Island residents, adults of all ages and occupations. According to court filings, they include a restaurant chef, farm worker, environmental consultant, bank loan officer, pharmacy technician, automotive service manager, landscaper, textile mill worker, state and federal prison guards and a Providence Journal pressman, among others.
Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:43 PM | Comment Driver in Super Bowl fatal crash gets 6 to 8 yearsBOSTON -- A motorist who killed a Super Bowl reveler when he drove his SUV into a crowd celebrating the New England Patriots' 2004 championship was sentenced today to six to eight years in prison. Stanley Filoma, 26, of Boston, was convicted of manslaughter in the death of James Grabowski, 21, on Feb. 1, 2004. Prosecutors said Filoma was drunk and trying to get away from police when he plowed his Toyota Land Cruiser into the crowd. Four other people were injured. Filoma testified he feared for his own safety and panicked when two groups of people attacked his car. Grabowski, the son of State Police Capt. Daniel Grabowski, was killed when Filoma's car hit him head-on. On the night of the accident, he was visiting his brother, a student at Northeastern University.
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:14 PM | Comment Update: Waterfront takes to RIC campus / Photo
The crew began erecting sets, assembling lights and preparing for filming in the K-5 Henry Barnard School on the college campus at 6 a.m. today, RIC spokeswoman Jane Fusco said this morning. The series plans to be at the school, located at 600 Mount Pleasant Ave., for just one day of filming – in the gymnasium, hallway, principal’s office and one classroom, Fusco said. One actor in today’s shoot is much more familiar with the college campus and the elementary school than the others. A 1999 RIC graduate who is now RIC’s assistant director of admissions, Jason Anthony plays a Providence police officer in today’s shoot and has also played a city councilman in another episode. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Today, he and other city police officers were scheduled to play basketball against state troopers, he said. Baldwin was to play, too. Anthony answered quickly and affirmatively when asked if he’s a good basketball player. Then, after saying he played in high school and switched over to volleyball in college, he said, “I hope I’m good, actually.” In the earlier Waterfront series he filmed, Anthony worked with Pantoliano, who was in one of Anthony’s favorite childhood movies, The Goonies. “He’s a character,” Anthony said of Pantoliano. “He’s everything you see on TV. He makes everybody on the set laugh.” Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:02 PM | Comment DOT gets $3.5M to expand commuter rail in R.I.PROVIDENCE -- The state Department of Transportation will receive $3.5 million to buy five rail coaches as part of plans to expand commuter rail services in Rhode Island, federal officials announced today. The money will go to the South County Commuter Rail project, which will extend Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's services to communities south of Providence. Two new commuter rail stations -- one near T.F. Green Airport in Warwick and one in North Kingstown -- are being planned. Transportation officials said they expect the $225-million project to connect Boston and South County communities by mid-2009, when the station at T.F. Green is expected to open. -- Associated Press "This funding will improve the quality of life for many and provide an alternative to growing congestion in South County," U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said in a written statement. The money comes from a Federal Transit Administration program that assists transit projects in areas where congestion needs to be reduced and mobility improved. -- Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:32 PM | Comment Update: An angry outburst from CelonaPROVIDENCE -- The lawyer for Frances P. Driscoll had his turn to question John Celona this afternoon, prompting the most emotional outburst yet from the former North Providence senator, who has been on the witness stand for five days. Celona is the key prosecution witness in the federal corruption case against Driscoll and two other defendants with ties to the Roger Williams Medical Center. The center had hired Celona as a consultant while he was in the General Assembly. Kevin J. Bristow questioned Celona about his testimony last week that Driscoll was such a task master that she even paged him several times on Election Day 1998 while he was at a hospital emergency room with his 4-year-old son, whom he feared had spinal meningitis. Under questioning from Bristow, Celona said that he returned one page, from Driscoll’s secretary, but that he never actually spoke to Driscoll. Bristow’s questioning prompted this angry outburst: "It’s very, very serious and important to me,’’ Celona shouted at Bristow. "It shows that a person doesn’t have a heart. Do you have children? I’ve answered that question and I’m not going to answer it again.’’ -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Celona has pleaded guilty to selling his office to Roger Williams Medical Center through a consulting job that he held with a hospital affiliate, the Village at Elmhurst. He is the government’s star witness in the trial of Urciuoli, the former Roger Williams president, as well as former Roger Williams vice president Driscoll and former Village co-owner Peter J. Sangermano. Bristow later introduced a note that Driscoll wrote Celona, after he missed a meeting at the hospital because his son had cut himself, in which Driscoll voiced her concern for the child. Bristow also displayed a series of Celona memos documenting the kind of innocuous work that the defense argues Celona performed as a consultant, including a presentation at a senior center about Roger Williams services, arranging a benefit softball game between hospital employees and state senators, and proposing a sponsorship of the Rhode Island Senior Olympics. Regarding the Senior Olympics, Celona wrote that either the hospital or the Village at Elmhurst should get involved. Bristow pressed that point to question Celona’s previous testimony that he was unaware of the financial relationship between the hospital and the assisted-living center, which was half-owned by Roger Williams. "Were you aware by this point that the Village was part of Roger Williams?’’ asked Bristow. "No, sir,’’ answered Celona. Bristow completed his cross-examination just before court adjourned today. Tomorrow, Sangermano’s lawyer will question Celona and then the government expects to move on to its next witnesses. They are James McGuirk, the lawyer who was involved in seeking an Ethics Commission opinion regarding Celona’s job, and Richard E. Gamache, who was the administrator of Elmhurst Extended Care, the hospital-owned nursing home. Read more about this morning's testimony.
Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:23 PM | Comment Update: Cutting it close at Snow Plow Rhodeo / Photo
Horsepower stars in this 'rhodeo'
He’s hoping to correct mistakes he made last year, like nipping an orange cone with his dump truck or not getting close enough to the curb line for the cleanest plow job possible. He’s ready to rely on the side-view mirrors of his International 7300 dump truck with the sander and a blade out front. A plow driver’s best friend, the side-view mirrors, get plenty of action, says Cipriano, 26, who has worked for the city as a snowplow driver in the public works department for almost eight years. Today, Cipriano will join dozens of other snowplow drivers for the city in the competition. They hail from his department, the city’s parks department and the Providence Water Supply Board. They’ll inspect a snowplow truck as if they were preparing to go out on snowy roads. They’ll drive a slalom course of cones backward and forward – trying not to even nick one of the cones. And, they’ll drive through a timed obstacle course while avoiding the fake mailboxes and cars and working to get as close as possible to the curb lines. The competition in the parking lot for the Roger Williams Park Zoo tends to draw a crowd. Last year, the competition brought snow with it, too. “Believe it or not, the day after the Rhodeo last year, we had a nice snowstorm,” Are you ready for that? We’re not sure we are, but Cipriano is. Even though there’s no snow on the ground yet, he said driving a snowplow truck today isn’t that much different than driving one in snowy weather. “When you have the load of material in your truck, it weighs the truck down and you really don’t slip and slide,” he said. “It’s different in some ways, but in some ways, it’s the same.” Today’s competition is from 9 a.m. until noon. The winner will move on to compete in the statewide 12th Annual Snow Plow Rhodeo, which will be held on Sept. 26, also at Roger Williams Park. Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:03 PM | Comment Cicilline to meet with Silver Lake residents tonightPROVIDENCE -- Continuing his "Mayor's Night Out" program, Mayor David N. Cicilline will meet with residents one-on-one tonight beginning at 5 o'clock in the Silver Lake Community Center. Each person or group will have up to 10 minutes with the mayor to discuss whatever they want. The meetings take place on a first-come, first-serve basis. The "Mayor's Night Out" sessions are held in different neighborhoods each month. The community center is located at 529 Plainfield St. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:43 PM | Comment Brotherhood to return for 2nd seasonPROVIDENCE -- Brotherhood will be staying in the 'hood -- at least for another year. The Showtime drama series, shot entirely in Rhode Island, has been picked up for a second season, a Showtime spokesman said today. There were 11 episodes aired on the cable network this year, with the season finale scheduled for this Sunday. Filming for the next season will probably begin in April, according to Showtime. Ten new episodes will start to be aired next summer. The hour-long drama tells the story of two brothers, politician Tommy Caffee (Jason Clarke) and gangster Michael Caffee (Jason Isaacs), who live in a fictional Irish neighborhood in Providence called The Hill. -- With reports from Journal TV writer Andy Smith Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:26 PM | Comment CRMC to meet tonight -- if it gets a quorumPROVIDENCE -- The state Coastal Resources Management Council is scheduled to meet tonight at 6. But it's yet to be determined if enough members will show up to hold an official meeting. Three times this summer, the agency that regulates all coastal building canceled its meeting due to a lack of quorum. That's essentially brought the process of issuing permits for waterfront development to a standstill, prompting Governor Carcieri to send a letter to each of the council's 11 members last month urging them to fulfill their duties. Tonight's meeting is scheduled to be held at the Narragansett Bay Commission boardroom, 1 Service Road, Providence. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:08 PM | Comment Update: Anti-casino group criticizes ad aimed at college studentsSave Our State, the group opposed to a proposed West Warwick casino, today criticized Harrah’s Entertainment for "preying on’’ college students in a recent online job posting. Harrah’s and its partner, the Narragansett Indian Tribe, are seeking four or five students on each college or university campus to work part time to "educate and register student voters and mobilize them to vote in November.’’ Several ads have been up over the last month on the site craigslist.org. As part of the posting, Harrah’s gives reasons "why many students are supporting the Narragansett Indians.’’ One reason: "The resort casino will be an amazing new place for Rhode Island college students to have fun when they're taking a break from studying.’’ Harrah’s also says the casino would create jobs, including some in marketing, hospitality, communications and business management that "are ideal for college graduates.’’ -- Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz Former Gov. Lincoln C. Almond, chairman of Save Our State, said in a statement: "Harrah’s is preying on our young adults, most of whom are experiencing economic and social freedom for the first time. Parents should be able to send their children off to school with the knowledge they will be safe from predators.” “A quality education should include a diverse course load, and Casino 101 is not one of them,” he continued. “It’s unconscionable that Harrah’s would choose to target college students who should be studying and not focusing on the roll of the dice or the craps table.’’ This is not the first time Harrah’s has sought college students. In May 2005, the company was recruiting on college campuses, seeking "organizers and persuasion operatives’’ in anticipation of its campaign. Narragansett Indian Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas responded in a statement this afternoon to the criticism: "If Mr. Almond believes what he says, then he should have championed closing Newport Grand and Lincoln Park, not taking their money and trying to stop a $1 billion economic development project – one of the largest economic development projects in Rhode Island history," Thomas said. Newport Grand and Lincoln Park are the two existing gambling facilities in Rhode Island. The state receives some of their revenues. This is not the first time Harrah’s has sought college students. In May 2005, the company was recruiting on college campuses, seeking "organizers and persuasion operatives’’ in anticipation of its campaign. -- Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:53 PM | Comment Update: Lawyer wanted for embezzling trusts turns self inA lawyer wanted on charges of embezzling close to $400,000 from the estates of four individuals turned himself in today and pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in Washington County Superior Court. William J. Craven, 67, of 1999 Eagle Mill Rd. in Ashland, Ore., flew in from Oregon this morning, according to Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the state Attorney General’s Ofice. Craven was indicted Aug. 28 by a statewide grand jury on charges that he embezzled money several times between 1999 and 2004. A Superior Court arrest warrant for Craven was issued that day, Healey said. Craven, a trusts and estates lawyer who lived in Westerly at the time, is charged with embezzling the money from four different trust funds, Healey said. Craven handled the legal work of setting up the trusts and estates of the four alleged victims. The victims are as follows: The Maurice J. Longo Sr. Trust, the estate of Anthony Swass, Michael and Linda Trombino and Kevin Haggerty. Craven’s attorney picked him up at the airport this morning and drove him to Washington County Superior Court, Healey said. Superior Court Judge Stephen P. Nugent imposed a $50,000 surety bail, which meant that Craven had to either post $5,000 in cash or post the full amount in the form of property or a cash bond. He did not post bail this morning and is now being processed by state police at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston. The judge also rejected Craven’s request for permission to travel if he does post bail. Craven agreed to surrender his passport and agreed to sign a waiver of extradition if he makes bail, Healey said. Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:31 PM | Comment Brown gets $3.3 million to help women in sciencesPROVIDENCE --National Science Foundationhas given Brown University $3.3 million over five years to boost women in the science and engineering departments. University officials said today that the program, called ADVANCE, will be designed to ensure that existing resources - from money to acquire adequate lab space and equipment to mentoring opportunities - are made accessible to women. "Women need the same things that men need to be superstars in science," said Pamela O'Neil, associate provost for policy and planning at Brown. -- The Associated Press Female scientists are also typically paid less, promoted more slowly and receive less funding than their male colleagues. The report stated these discrepancies are not explained by productivity or other performance measures. The program will establish peer networks for women that could help them obtain grants or positions. In addition, women interested in pursuing an administrative career could take time off from teaching to shadow a high-level administrator. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:30 PM | Comment Rally calls for expanding felons' right to vote / Photo
PROVIDENCE -- Koren Carbuccia was in prison for the first two years of her young son's life. The boy, now 4, started preschool today, and Carbuccia wants to vote in the November election to help influence the city council and school committee that will affect her son's public education for years to come in Pawtucket. But as a convicted felon on probation, she can't. Carbuccia spoke at a rally this morning at the State House rotunda in favor of a November ballot item, Question 2, that would change the state Constitution and give her the ability to vote. "The state of Rhode Island won't allow me to be the best parent I can be," she said. Carbuccia, who is now studying to be a drug counselor at CCRI, was joined at today's rally by a host of state officials including House Majority Leader Gordon Fox, members of the NAACP, the ACLU's Rhode Island chapter, and Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman. Rhode Island law prohibits convicted felons from voting while on parole or probation, which spans several years in some cases. The amendment would restore the right to vote upon discharge from prison. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:00 PM | Comment Police: Motorcyclist found dead in Coventry woodsCOVENTRY -- A body and a motorcycle were discovered by police near Harkney Hill Road early this morning. Investigators believe the motorcyclist careened into the woods after misjudging a sharp curve, according to a statement from police Capt. James Rickard. The police did not release the name of the motorcyclist, pending notification of relatives. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:43 PM | Comment Free nursing and health-care career fair todayWARWICK -- Health-care companies are at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick until 5 p.m. today, conducting interviews for nursing and allied health careers as part of projoJob’s Nursing & Allied Health Career Fair, sponsored by The Providence Journal. For a full list of exhibitors at the Nursing & Allied Health Career Fair, go online to projoJobs.com/careerfair. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:07 PM | Comment Update: Brown poll shows Chafee, Whitehouse neck and neckPROVIDENCE – Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee and his Democratic opponent, Sheldon Whitehouse, are locked in a close race, according to a Brown University poll released this morning. If the November general election were held today, 40 percent of Rhode Islanders polled would vote for Whitehouse, while 39 percent would cast their ballots for Chafee. Twenty-one percent of those polled Sept. 16-18 were still undecided. The poll was conducted by Darrell M. West, director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy and the John Hazen White Sr. Public Opinion Laboratory. It is based on a statewide random sample of 578 likely voters in Rhode Island. Overall, the poll had a margin of error of about plus or minus 4 percentage points. The Brown poll, the second released since last week’s GOP primary, shows a closer race than the Rasmussen Reports poll that became public yesterday. That poll showed Chafee trailing Whitehouse by 8 percentage points, with 51 percent supporting Whitehouse and 43 percent supporting Chafee. On the casino front The Brown poll also asked respondents to weigh in on another key vote on the November ballot -- the casino question. More than half of those polled, or 55 percent, oppose amending the state Constitution to allow a gambling casino in West Warwick operated by Harrah’s in association with the Narragansett Indian Tribe. The Brown poll shows 36 percent favoring a casino and 9 percent undecided. Governor's race The poll also shows Republican Governor Carcieri well ahead of his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty. Carcieri now leads Fogarty with 50 percent of likely voters supporting him to 38 percent supporting Fogarty, up from a 44 percent to 39 percent Carcieri lead in a June poll. How's Bush doing? Only 22 percent of Rhode Island voters believe President Bush is doing an excellent or good job, with just 4 percent of those saying he’s doing an excellent job. Twenty-one percent of those polled said the Republican Bush is doing an “only fair” job, 55 percent said he’s doing a poor job and 2 percent either said they didn’t know or did not answer the question. Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:00 AM | Comment Project Hope students recognizedAbout 150 business leaders, students and their families gathered at the Rhode Island Convention Center this morning to recognize 43 high schoolers who participated in Project Hope, the summer jobs program designed to provide students at Hope High School in Providence with the chance to connect with employers and learn work skills. They heard high school senior Laurenmarie Smith, who worked as an intern at Rhode Island Hospital, explain how she transported patients to testing centers. Karley Carto told the crowd about working at Goodwill Industries, where he learned how to do data entry, break down boxes and cook. About 25 Rhode Island businesses and nonprofit institutions sponsor students for summer jobs. Posted by at 9:17 AM | Comment College tuition and fees expected to rise another 6 percentPROVIDENCE – College students: tuition and fees at the state’s three public colleges are going up, likely by 6 percent but perhaps even more if state support shrinks, as it has in recent years. As expected, the Board of Governors for Higher Education approved an $800 million budget for the 2007-2008 school year last night, which would raise tuition and fees by 6 percent at the state's three public colleges -- The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island. In-state students at URI would pay $460 more next year, for a total of $8,184 in tuition and fees. At RIC, students would pay $298 more, or $5,256 in tuition and fees. At CCRI, students would pay $160 more, or $2,846. -- Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan The Board of Governors said that while they dislike raising tuition and fees because they know paying for college is a burden for many working and low-income students, the 6 percent increase was the best they could do, given the costs of running the institutions and declining support by the state. Three versions of the higher education budget -- the one approved last night, one that reflects a 15 percent cut to the current budget and one that reflects a 3 percent increase -- will now be sent to Governor Carcieri, who will release his version of the state budget in January. However, tuition and fees at the state colleges could in fact be far higher than 6 percent, if state support shrinks, as it has in recent years. Last year, for example, the state took back $3.4 million in the middle of the academic year to cover a budget gap. For the current academic year, tuition and fees at URI and CCRI rose by 6 percent and at RIC by 8.7 percent. A 6-percent increase in tuition and fees assumes that the higher education budget will grow by 9.8 percent, or $44.6 million. The Office of Higher Education estimates that about half would come from the state and about half would come from students. The operational budget proposed for the three public colleges and the Office of Higher Education is about $500 million, including $212 in state money and $285 million in tuition and fees. Another $300 million in capital projects, grant money and financial aid brings the total higher education budget to $800 million for next year. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:33 AM | Comment Mass. voters go to the polls for primaryMassachusetts voters are going to the polls today in a primary election that has three Democratic candidates for governor competing for the chance to face Republican Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey in November's general election. The three Democrats, Deval Patrick, Tom Reilly and Chris Gabrieli, are each taking their own approach to getting their voters to the polls, with Patrick betting on an Internet-based grassroots network, Reilly relying on union help and Gabrieli banking in part on a campaign structure left over from a 2002 lieutenant governor run. Voters in Bristol County will also pick Democratic and Republican contenders for the 4th Bristol District state representative race. And Democrats in Bristol County will choose between incumbent District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr. and challenger Samuel Sutter. The primary election in that race will effectively settle the District Attorney's race since there is no Republican opposition in November. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can see a full list of candidates and check on polling places at the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Web site. Read a full Journal story on state and Bristol County races. Read a full Associated Press story on the governor's race.
Posted by Jack Perry at 7:18 AM | Comment A cold front could bring showers later todayPROVIDENCE – Morning commuters, look out for the patchy, dense fog. The National Weather Service warns it may reduce visibility to one-quarter mile until 9 a.m. today. Expect a high of 78 today, with a chance of showers after 3 p.m. New rainfall could be one-half to three-quarters of an inch. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook because of the fog and rain. A cold front is expected to bring widespread showers to southern New England from west to east late this afternoon and tonight. Meteorologists warn that poor drainage areas may end up with pools of water after the rainfall. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006