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December 5, 2006

Ruling delays review of E. Providence mail ballots

PROVIDENCE -- In yet another court hearing related to the East Providence City Council race, Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Fortunato ruled today that the state Board of Elections must photocopy hundreds of East Providence mail ballots.

The board was prepared to go through thousands of mail ballots tomorrow to isolate the East Providence ballots. But the candidate trailing in the race, Mayor Joseph Larisa Jr., requested an emergency hearing today, fearing that he wouldn't have proper access to the ballots.

Fortunato ruled today -- again, over the objection of the Board of Elections -- that the board must photocopy the East Providence mail ballots for public inspection once they've been isolated.

Judge Fortunato described the request as reasonable, and he said that “democracy requires that we slow things down” in the interest of fairness and accuracy in Larisa’s challenge to the vote count, according to court spokesman Craig Berke.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Alisha A. Pina

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:00 PM | Comment

Sox' Lester meets with reporters, says he's cancer-free

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester told reporters on a conference call late this afternoon that he is now cancer-free, has resumed throwing, and fully expects to be ready to pitch at the beginning of spring training in mid-February.

Derderian disciplined for violating work-release rules

Station nightclub co-owner Michael Derderian has been disciplined for violating rules while serving his four-year minimum-security prison term at the Adult Correctional Institutions, according to prison officials.

Derderian will be moved from minimum to medium security for 15 days -- punishment for three violations related to his work-release job at a Warwick autobody shop, ACI Director A.T. Wall said this evening.

Derderian had an unauthorized visit from someone who was not a family member, Wall said, declining to be more specific. Derderian also was given food at his work-release job in violation of prison rules. Inmates on work release are given lunches by the ACI and required to eat only those lunches.

And Derderian "was deceitful" with investigators when questioned about the incidents, according to Wall.

The violations were discussed in a Dec. 1 hearing. Derderian has chosen to appeal the sanctions, which include the temporary move out of minimum security, a temporary loss of privileges such as the telephone, visitors and store orders, and the loss of 25 days of good behavior time from his ultimate sentence.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker

An administrative review of the sanctions is currently under way, Wall said.

On Sept. 29, Michael A. Derderian, 45, was sentenced to serve four years in minimum-security prison after pleading no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the disastrous fire at the club he co-owned with his brother. The fire killed 100 people and injured more than 200.

Earlier in the year, Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele was given the same sentence after pleading guilty. But Jeffrey A. Derderian, 40, was spared jail time and instead ordered to perform 500 hours of community service.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:22 PM | Comment

Laundromat fire reported in Woonsocket

WOONSOCKET -- Firefighters have responded to a fire at 79 Roland St., where the laundromat Wee Wash It is located.

The fire has been put out, according to the fire department dispatcher. More information about the blaze wasn't immediately available.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes

Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:13 PM | Comment

Update: URI students held at ACI after drug bust

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The police arrested eight University of Rhode Island students after raiding their dorm rooms early this morning.

Police allege that each student had sold drugs -- including marijuana, crack cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms and ketamine, better known as Special K -- to undercover officers in recent months.

Six of the eight students appeared in District Court today and were ordered held without bail pending a Dec. 13 hearing. The other two students were 17 at the time of the crime and are being prosecuted by the Family Court.

All but one of the students are freshman. The other is a sophomore.

A university spokesman said the cases would be evaluated separately to determine what disciplinary action would taken by the school.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:23 PM | Comment

Body of missing man found in Blackstone

WOONSOCKET -- The body of a missing local man was discovered in the Blackstone River this afternoon.

Police believe that the man, Joseph A. Baillargeon, 49, of 218 Rathbun St., commited suicide over the weekend. He had been missing since Saturday, when his family contacted police fearing Baillargeon may harm himself.

His body was found by local authorities under the Court Street bridge.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:13 PM | Comment

Red Sox pitcher about to end cancer treatments

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Red Sox manager Terry Francona said moments ago that pitcher Jon Lester's treatments for non-Hodgkins lymphoma will end after Lester's next chemotherapy session, and that Lester plans a conference call with the media in the near future.

Update: Swansea police ID homicide victim and suspect

SWANSEA – A New Bedford man is charged today with the murder of Swansea resident Wayne Mendes, who was stabbed multiple times in his Swansea residence, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

Robert A. Gonsalves will be arraigned today in Fall River District Court, according to a press release issued this afternoon by Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr. Gonsalves was apprehended, according to Walsh’s office, “still wearing bloodied clothing.”

Gonsalves was already in custody by 9 a.m. today, according to Jennifer Ferland in the District Attorney’s Office. She said she doesn’t know when or where he was arrested.

Mendes was stabbed at his residence on Wood Street. More details about the incident have not yet been released. Both Swansea and Massachusetts state police have referred calls about the homicide to Walsh’s office.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:05 PM | Comment

Photo: Passing over the Point Street overpass, finally

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach

The new Point Street overpass, which runs over Route 95, opened to traffic this morning, re-establishing an important link between the eastern part of the city and South Providence. Part of the Route 195 relocation project, the old overpass was demolished in 2002 and was replaced in essentially the same spot with the new overpass at an estimated cost of $17 million, $7 million more than the original bid price.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:01 PM | Comment

Hackers attack Naval War College computers

PROVIDENCE -- Hackers attacked the computer network at the Naval War College in Newport, and the school's network, including its e-mail and Web site, has been down for more than two weeks as investigators work to find out who did it and to stop it from happening again.

The Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command in Norfolk, Va., detected the intrusion around Nov. 16 and took the system offline, spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Doug Gabos said today. Gabos said the network was unclassified and was used by students at the war college.

The school's Web site is down and military spokesmen would not give an estimate on when it will be back up.

-- The Associated Press

The Naval War College bills itself as the nation's leading center of strategic thought and national security policy development for the U.S. Navy. It has 581 students, including officers from the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines, as well as civilian and international students.

Gabos said the Navy's networks are probed thousands of times a day, but intrusions such as this one are rare. He said it was uncommon for the Navy to take a system completely offline.

Investigators are looking for "forensic evidence" to determine the extent of the intrusion, Gabos said. They will also upgrade the firewalls and take a series of other steps he did not specify.

"Once that is complete, the network will be restored," Gabos said.

Tim Madden, a spokesman for the military's Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations, would not comment on why the school's network has been down for more than two weeks.

"These things are done on a case-by-case basis, and we do the things that are necessary," he said. "You want to be thorough."

Neither Gabos or Madden would comment on who is suspected of attacking the network.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:33 PM | Comment

Photo: A first drive down the Avenue of the Arts

artavenue
Journal photo / Kathy Borchers

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director James R. Capaldi drives Mayor David N. Cicilline and Governor Carcieri over a red ribbon for a spin around the plaza at the new Avenue of the Arts in Providence after a ceremony this morning to celebrate the avenue's opening. According to the DOT, the avenue near the State House has undergone extensive improvements and will give "visitors a place to view public art, hold festivals and hear music."

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:56 AM | Comment

Sub builder EB eyes 1,000 job cuts

GROTON, Conn. -- Submarine builder Electric Boat will likely cut about 1,000 positions, or about 10.5 percent of its work force, next year due to a decline in work, company President John Casey said this morning.

The company, a division of General Dynamics Corp., now has 9,500 employees in Groton and at Quonset Point in Rhode Island. It expects to be down to 8,500 by the end of next year.

The company hopes to make the reductions primarily through attrition and furloughs that would allow employees to maintain their benefits while out of work temporarily.

“If we can do that through attrition, I’ll feel good about that,” Casey said at the company’s annual legislative breakfast. “Obviously, I’d like to be hiring 1,000 people.”

-- The Associated Press

Last year, Casey warned that the company could slash as many as 2,400 jobs this year, but the company ended up only cutting 1,442 through attrition and layoffs.

The number dropped because of increased maintenance work, retirements and resignations.

Submarine advocates have been pressing the Navy to boost production from about one to two ships a year. But Casey cautioned today that winning that battle in the short term will be tough because of all the competing military needs, so the company must prepare to be successful even if production is not increased.

“Two per year is important,” Casey said. “It isn’t clear to me what the path is to get there today.”

The company survived a scare when the federal Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted last year not to close the nearby submarine base in Groton, where the company works closely with the Navy.

Electric Boat has seen tough times before. After the end of the Cold War, the company's work force fell to about 8,000 people.

General Dynamics shares rose 41 cents to $75.71 in late morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:56 AM | Comment

Cicilline urges shoppers to 'buy it right here' in Providence

PROVIDENCE -- Fine linens, paintings by Rhode Island and other artists, gift cards for local restaurants, salon and day-spa services and more are all available in the capital city for this year’s holiday shopping season.

As you shop for family and friends, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline is urging you to shop locally. Along with the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and area merchants, Cicilline plans to launch the second annual Buy Providence campaign today at 12:30 p.m. at the corner of Wickenden Street and Governor Street.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Merchants who sell toys, clothing, flowers, wine, art, leather goods and more expect to display their wares – and some will offer samples at the launch today. They’re all working to encourage residents and visitors to take advantage of local goods and services.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:44 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page includes stories on improvements at Hope High School in Providence, a reported assault on the URI team mascot at the URI-PC basketball this weekend and the resignation of U.N. Ambassador John Bolton.

Download today's front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:20 AM | Comment

Hearing today for gay couple seeking divorce in R.I.

PROVIDENCE -- A preliminary hearing is expected today for a lesbian couple who filed for divorce in Rhode Island after getting married in Massachusetts.

Margaret Chambers and Cassandra Ormiston are from Providence. They wed after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court legalized gay marriage.

But the couple filed for divorce in October in Rhode Island family court, citing irreconcilable differences.

The problem is that Rhode Island hasn't taken any action to recognize same-sex unions made in Massachusetts, and the laws here are silent on the legality of gay marriages.

The chief family court judge in Rhode Island says he hasn't decided whether his court has jurisdiction. But he plans to hold a preliminary hearing in his chambers this morning.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:18 AM | Comment

Traffic: A cleaner commute today

PROVIDENCE -- The roads are clear and dry this morning after yesterday's first snow of the season made for a slow Monday commute.

There is, however, a slight chance of snow between 9 a.m. and noon today, according to the National Weather Service.

The state Department of Transportation's Traffic Management Center had not issued any traffic alerts when the site was checked shortly before 7 a.m.

Check their Web site for more and updated information.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment

Clouds early with a chance of snow this morning

PROVIDENCE -- After yesterday's first snow of the season, today's forecast brings another chance of snow, although it's slight, between 9 a.m. and noon, the National Weather Service says.

Otherwise, the forecast calls for clouds early before the skies become mostly sunny with a high of 38 degrees. The chance of snow is 20 percent.

Tonight will be clear, and the temperature should drop to about 18 degrees.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment