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September 26, 2006

First mosquito in R.I. tests positive for EEE

WESTERLY -- Town and school officials are reviewing safety procedures after a mosquito tested positive this week for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, most commonly referred as EEE, in the Chapmans Swamp area.

The Westerly EEE case, the first mosquito to test positive in the state this year, was from a species that feeds mostly on birds and rarely bites humans, said Alan Gettman, mosquito abatement coordinator with the state Department of Environmental Management.

Still, officials are urging caution, encouraging people to cover up, use mosquito repellent and checking screens. Mosquito repellent should contain no more than 30 percent DEET and should not be used on infants..

EEE is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can be fatal. There have been five positive EEE human cases in Massachusetts so far this year. Two of those cases have been fatal.

In addition, 10 mosquito pools in Rhode Island have tested positive for the West Nile virus. None of those cases have been fatal.

-- Journal staff writer Maria Armental

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:04 PM | Comment

Update: Ex-Blue Cross chief details Celona meeting

PROVIDENCE -- Ronald Battista, the controversial former head of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, testified in federal court today regarding a State House meeting with Roger Williams Medical Center president Robert Urciuoli that was arranged by John Celona.

His testimony came in the third week of the federal corruption trial against Urciuoli and two other hospital executives.

One of the charges against Urciuoli is that he stole the honest services of Celona, who was on the payroll at Roger Williams, by having the North Providence senator arrange a State House meeting in 2002 between Urciuoli and Battista.

At the time, prior testimony has indicated, Roger Williams believed that Blue Cross had short-changed the hospital millions of dollars in reimbursements, and Urciuoli was frustrated that he couldn’t get a meeting with Battista.

Battista resigned under pressure two years ago, following controversy over Blue Cross’s soaring rates and disclosures regarding his lavish lifestyle. Meanwhile, federal investigators who worked on the Roger Williams case have also investigated Blue Cross for financing a Celona cable-television show on health issues. Celona has pleaded guilty to charges that he sold his office to Roger Williams, Blue Cross and CVS.

In court today, Battista testified that although Celona opened the meeting and it was held in the senator’s office, Battista was unaware of any pressure that the senator had brought to bear. Battista also said that he didn’t know at the time that Celona was on the hospital’s payroll, or that he was a consultant at its affiliated assisted-living center, the Village at Elmhurst.

But, Battista told jurors: "I assumed (Celona) was there on Roger Williams’s behalf. There were only two parties in the room, and I know he wasn’t there because of me. By default, it had to be Roger Williams.’’

-- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton

The participants in the meeting were Urciuoli, Battista, Celona and Thomas Lynch, then Blue Cross’s vice president for government affairs and a former state senator who had had prior contact with Celona regarding the reimbursement issue, according to evidence in the case.

According to Battista, Celona "opened the meeting by saying that he understood the hospital had a serious financial problem, and he was hopeful that the parties in the room could address the problem fairly.’’

Battista said that Urciuoli then detailed his concerns, and the Blue Cross chief laid out a solution whereby an independent audit would examine the hospital’s claim.

Asst. U.S. Atty. Luis Matos asked Battista what consideration he gave to Celona’s role in agreeing to attend the meeting.

"To the best of my recollection – none,’’ said Battista. "The hospital had a problem, and as the CEO of Blue Cross, I had to address it.’’

Battista said that he didn’t know how the meeting came to be arranged, only that he learned from somebody on his staff – possibly Lynch or another executive or his secretary. Battista also testified that he was unaware at the time that there was any financial relationship, direct or indirect, between Blue Cross and Celona.

Battista will be back on the stand tomorrow. The government indicated that it has two more witnesses to call, both executives from United Healthcare about their dealings with Celona and Urciuoli on reimbursement issues. Then, the prosecution will rest and it will be the defense’s turn to call witnesses.

Lawyer advised Urciuoli be 'careful' in use of Celona
Posted 1:23 p.m.

The lawyer for Roger Williams Medical Center testified today that she questioned Robert Urciuoli’s plan to use John Celona to arrange a State House meeting with leaders of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

Kimberly O’Connell, Roger Williams’ general counsel and vice president, testified that she went to hospital president Urciuoli in 2002, after receiving a phone call from James McGuirk, the hospital’s outside lawyer, who relayed a conversation he had just had with Urciuoli.

McGuirk thought it "looked strange’’ for Celona, who was on the hospital’s payroll as a consultant, to be setting up a meeting in his capacity as a state senator.

"Jim asked me to talk Bob about it,’’ testified O’Connell.

O’Connell told jurors that she met with Urciuoli, and he was critical of Blue Cross head Ronald A. Battista because Blue Cross owed Roger Williams $3 million in past reimbursements and Battista was "dragging his feet’’ on paying up, refusing to even return Urciuoli’s calls.

Urciuoli assured her that Celona would only be "facilitating’’ a meeting and not negotiating with Blue Cross on the hospital’s behalf. O’Connell said that she concluded that that would be okay, and told Urciuoli to "be careful.’’

Among the charges against Urciuoli is that he stole Celona’s honest services as a state senator by using him for political missions, including pressuring Blue Cross – which had legislation pending before Celona’s Senate committee – to meet with Roger Williams.

Under cross-examination by the defense, O’Connell acknowledged that she did not advise Urciuoli that it would be illegal or unethical for Celona to arrange the meeting.

Celona later resigned from the Senate, was indicted on federal corruption charges, pleaded guilty and has emerged as the government’s central witness in a trial charging Urciuol and two other hospital executives with stealing his honest services.

For more background, read today's Journal story.

-- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:00 PM | Comment

RIC to host debate tonight on interpreting debates

PROVIDENCE -- A group of politicians, journalists and political scholars will meet at Rhode Island College this evening to debate -- debates.

This evening's meeting, "Media, Message and Meaning: How to Interpret the 2006 Rhode Island Debates," will feature television reporter Jim Taricani, radio personality and former state attorney general Arlene Violet, and political scientists from RIC and Northeastern University.

The group will discuss the debating styles and strategies in American politics, reasons for debating, preparing for a debate, and techniques debaters use to reach voters. The panelists will focus on Rhode Island's upcoming senatorial race debates.

The event, which begins at 7 p.m. in Alger Hall, is free and open to the public.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:41 PM | Comment

WaterFire, the abbreviated version, on tonight

PROVIDENCE -- There will be a partial lighting of WaterFire along the canals of downtown Providence tonight.

The fires are scheduled to be lit at sunset, 6:37 p.m.

The partial lighting includes the canals from Waterplace Park to the Steeple Street Bridge.

After tonight, there are just two more scheduled WaterFire nights this year -- on Saturdays, Oct. 7 and Oct. 21.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:28 PM | Comment

Update: Providence man gets 33 years for killing teen / Photo

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Eddie Gonzalez listens as Superior Court Judge Mark A. Pfeiffer spells out the terms of his sentence today.

PROVIDENCE -- A 22-year-old Providence man was sentenced to serve 33 years in prison today after pleading no contest to second-degree murder for last year's shooting death of 16-year-old Errol Clinton.

Eddie Gonzalez shot Clinton from behind as he was running away in the city's Elmwood section the night of July 31, 2005. Clinton bled to death after the bullet ripped through Clinton's buttocks and exited his stomach, according to the prosecutor's graphic description of the crime during the sentencing hearing today in Superior Court.

Superior Court Judge Mark A. Pfeiffer sentenced Gonzalez to 50 years in prison, 33 to serve, for admitting guilt in the second-degree murder charge. The judge dismissed the charge of discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence, but sentenced Gonzalez to an additional 10 years -- to be served concurrently -- for one count of assault with a dangerous weapon (Gonzalez's hands and feet).

Clinton's mother and father appeared at the hearing today, but the mother was too upset to read her impact statement, which was read instead by the prosecutor, Stephen Regine.

Her teenage son was "a gift from God," said Regine, reading Cherisee Clinton's statement, which went on to say he was "harmless, loving and innocent." She also said she forgave the killer.

Julius Clinton said that Gonzalez had destroyed not only the lives of the Clintons, but those of his family's and his own.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:15 PM | Comment

Chafee rolls out first TV ad since primary battle

PROVIDENCE -- With just six weeks to go before the November election, U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee is rolling out his first television ad today for a race that polls show is extremely close.

The Rhode Island Republican's Democratic opponent, Sheldon Whitehouse, began airing ads the day after the primary, which was two weeks ago.

The ads for both candidates strike a mostly positive tone, with Chafee painting himself as a centrist and Whitehouse's ads saying a vote for him is a vote for change in Washington.

"For months I was attacked by the right for being too liberal, now I'm being attacked by the left for being to conservative," Chafee says in the new ad. "That puts me in the middle, where I've always been."

Brown University political scientist Darrell West says he's surprised it took so long for Chafee's campaign to run its first ad for the general election.

Chafee spokesman Ian Lang says the campaign felt now was the right time to run the ads.

Chafee is coming off an expensive and vicious primary against Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey.

-- Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:53 PM | Comment

Update: Trial to start for man accused of killing 2 year old

PROVIDENCE -- A trial is set to begin for a Providence man accused with another man of murdering a 2-year-old boy they had been babysitting last year in Providence.

Akeem King, 21, is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder on or about July 31, 2005.

Lawyers are scheduled to argue pre-trial motions in Superior Court this afternoon and then a jury is expected to be picked at 10 a.m. tomorrow, according to Michael J. Healey, spokesman with the Attorney General's Office.

The trial was assigned today to Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause, Healey said.

Depending on how long jury selection takes, opening statements could begin tomorrow morning, Healey said. Otherwise, they are expected to begin tomorrow afternoon.

King and Troy Figgs, also 21, are accused of beating to death Marquel Davis, whose mother left the toddler in the men's care.

The boy's body was found the next morning in the third-floor apartment at 9 Erastus St. where King and Figgs lived.

-- projo.com staff writers Jack Perry and Kate Bramson

Marquel's mother, Michelle Thurmon, then 19, had left the child in their care July 31, 2005, according to the police.

About 7 a.m. on Aug. 1, 2005, Figgs and King went downstairs and told the residents on the first floor that the boy was choking and needed help, according to a police affidavit filed in court. The men took off, as a resident went to help the boy and called for a rescue.

Marquel was dead and his body stiff when firefighters arrived to save him, a fire official said previously in an interview with The Journal.

King and Figgs will be tried separately to protect each defendant's constitutional right to a fair trial, Healey said. Both defendants have given statements that implicate the other, he said. The state does not know yet when Figgs' trial will begin, Healey said.

Both men are being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:28 PM | Comment

Lawyer advised Urciuoli be 'careful' in use of Celona

PROVIDENCE -- The lawyer for Roger Williams Medical Center testified today that she questioned Robert Urciuoli’s plan to use John Celona to arrange a State House meeting with leaders of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

Kimberly O’Connell, Roger Williams’ general counsel and vice president, testified that she went to hospital president Urciuoli in 2002, after receiving a phone call from James McGuirk, the hospital’s outside lawyer, who relayed a conversation he had just had with Urciuoli.

McGuirk thought it "looked strange’’ for Celona, who was on the hospital’s payroll as a consultant, to be setting up a meeting in his capacity as a state senator.

"Jim asked me to talk Bob about it,’’ testified O’Connell.

O’Connell told jurors that she met with Urciuoli, and he was critical of Blue Cross head Ronald A. Battista because Blue Cross owed Roger Williams $3 million in past reimbursements and Battista was "dragging his feet’’ on paying up, refusing to even return Urciuoli’s calls.

Urciuoli assured her that Celona would only be "facilitating’’ a meeting and not negotiating with Blue Cross on the hospital’s behalf. O’Connell said that she concluded that that would be okay, and told Urciuoli to "be careful.’’

Among the charges against Urciuoli is that he stole Celona’s honest services as a state senator by using him for political missions, including pressuring Blue Cross – which had legislation pending before Celona’s Senate committee – to meet with Roger Williams.

Under cross-examination by the defense, O’Connell acknowledged that she did not advise Urciuoli that it would be illegal or unethical for Celona to arrange the meeting.

-- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton

Celona later resigned from the Senate, was indicted on federal corruption charges, pleaded guilty and has emerged as the government’s central witness in a trial charging Urciuol and two other hospital executives with stealing his honest services.

The trial entered its third week yesterday. For more background, read today's Journal story.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:23 PM | Comment

Woonsocket students back in school after evacuation

WOONSOCKET – About 1,500 students at Woonsocket Middle School began returning to the school around 10:30 a.m. today after being evacuated because of a gas smell.

Turns out, the smell of gas in the school, located at 357 Park Place, was because a pilot light in the kitchen was knocked out, Police Lt. Steven Nowak said this morning.

The gas company, National Grid, responded to the scene along with local fire and police units and lit the pilot light, Nowak said.

The school was evacuated shortly after 9:30 a.m., after school officials called to report the smell of gas, Nowak said.

No one was injured or taken to any hospitals, Nowak said.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:58 AM | Comment

Police investigate shooting death in Fall River

FALL RIVER – The police today are investigating as a homicide the death last night of a 23-year-old city man.

The man was found lying on the ground with at least one gunshot wound in the vicinity of Building 277 of the Sunset Hill Housing development, according to a release issued today by the Fall River Police Department.

The police have not released the victim's name, pending notification of his family.

Last night, police officers were dispatched at about 9:30 p.m. to investigate reports of gunshots in the area. Rescue crews from the Fall River Fire Department also responded, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers found several spent shell casings on the ground.

Anyone with information should call the police department's major crimes division at (508) 324-2796.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:34 AM | Comment

N.Y. papers cover dramatic capture of R.I. slay suspect

Four New York papers focus this morning on the dramatic crash yesterday morning on the Upper East Side of Manhattan by East Providence murder suspect Joel Noonan, who was shot by the police after crashing his getaway car.

Noonan is expected to survive and be brought back to Rhode Island, where he faces charges in the stabbing death of Steven Dowgiala of 15 Kenton Ave.

“The upper beast side: Bullets fly, lady flies as nutty ex-con is nabbed,” reads the lead headline on the New York Daily News Web site this morning. The paper describes Noonan as a “knife-wielding murder suspect” who was screaming, “You are not going to take me alive!” after crashing his Jeep Cherokee at 63rd St. and Lexington. The crash sent a 59-year-old pedestrian flying headfirst into a trash can, which then “acted as a lifesaving helmet when an SUV plowed the bin into a building,” the paper reports.

That woman is identified with various spellings in four New York papers. The New York Times reports that Eve Marie Boisbel, 59, was pinned between a Nissan Pathfinder and a storefront, lying partway in an overturned trash can. The Times reports that Noonan “began swinging a knife at two Metropolitan Transportation Authority police officers, who shot him twice after he ignored their orders to drop it.”

Newsday reports that Noonan came out of his Jeep “like a wild man,” after a crash that began “ as a case of aggressive driving, when Noonan cut off a Yellow Cab at Lexington and East 69th St.”

The New York papers report that Noonan was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital, where the New York Post says he was treated for “gunshot wounds to his leg and torso.”

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:40 AM | Comment

Mosquito tests positive for EEE; state urges precautions

The state Department of Environmental Management is warning Rhode Islanders to continue protecting themselves against mosquito bites after a mosquito trapped in Westerly tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

It was the first mosquito from Rhode Island to test positive for EEE this year, but the DEM believes Rhode Island has a higher risk than usual for EEE, because it has been found here in previous years, and southeastern Massachusetts has had an unusually high number of mosquitoes with EEE.

Five people in Massachusetts have contracted EEE, and two of them have died.

In Rhode Island, the mosquito carrying EEE was taken Sept. 19 from a trap in Chapmans Swamp in Westerly. It was a type of mosquito that prefers biting birds and rarely bites humans, the DEM said.

The DEM urges people to use mosquito repellent and cover their skin when mosquito activity is greatest. They also advise Rhode Islanders to ensure their screens are in good shape. Mosquito netting should be placed on carriages and playpens outside. Mosquito repellent should contain more than 30 percent DEET, and it should not be used on infants, the DEM says.

DEM's EEE and West Nile virus page.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:34 AM | Comment

Nigerian Independence Day celebrated at City Hall

PROVIDENCE – Mayor David N. Cicilline and members of Rhode Island's Nigerian community will celebrate 46 years of Nigerian independence at 5 p.m. today at City Hall.

The celebration will include a flag raising ceremony, traditional Nigerian music and a brief speaking program, according to the mayor's office.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:50 AM | Comment

Sunny today with a high near 73

PROVIDENCE – Not to worry. This morning’s chill isn’t here to stay – yet.

But it sure is a harbinger of what’s to come. We’re sorry to remind you that despite these pleasant days we’re having this week, summer really is over.

Once you get past the cool brisk air of morning, it should become mostly sunny, with a high near 73 today.

But tonight, it will feel more like fall, as it should. Expect a low around 49.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:07 AM | Comment