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January 31, 2007

Celona case: Governor pleased 'nobody above the law'

Governor Carcieri issued a statement after the corruption sentencings today of former state Sen. John A. Celona and former Roger Williams Medical Center executives Robert A. Urciuoli and Frances P. Driscoll that said in part:

“It is certainly a sad day when a public official is sentenced for violating the laws that he was sworn to uphold. It is equally disheartening when two executives from one of our state’s respected medical centers are sentenced for their roles in attempting to buy influence in the General Assembly.

“But I am pleased that our system also holds people accountable for their actions, that nobody is above the law, and that these instances of corruption are being pursued vigorously,” he continued.

“We all know that there is much more work to be done to close loopholes that have led to these types of abuses in government,” Carcieri said, pledging to continue to bring about reforms to the ethics code to establish greater accountability.

Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts said that the convictions further tarnish citizen's faith in their elected officals.

"Another sad account of corruption comes to a conclusion today. These criminal acts continue to undermine public trust in government," she said in a statement, noting that she had some hope for the future.

"Good government, led by honorable and decent people, can do great things for Rhode Island and I am hopeful that this sentencing will allow us to concentrate fully on restoring the public's faith through our continued dedication," she said.

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:49 PM | Comment

More Station fire evidence to be released tomorrow

PROVIDENCE -- The Attorney General's Office plans tomorrow morning to release thousands of pages of previously secret grand jury testimony, witness statements and videos associated with The Station nightclub fire criminal investigation.

The release, which is expected at 9 a.m., follows a public records' request by The Providence Journal, The Associated Press and the Boston Globe.

Among the materials will be the nearly unprecedented release of 4,878 pages of grand jury testimony, 609 witness statements totalling 5,207 pages and seven videos -- including three shot by amateurs the night of the February 2003 blaze, three videos of bands that played in The Station before the night of the fire, and one police crime scene video.

The blaze, one of the worst in the state's history, killed 100 people and injured more than 200.

All of the materials will be edited for privacy and sensitivity, according to the Attorney General's Office, which will release the evidence to the media on computer hard drives. The grand jury testimony will also be posted on the attorney general's Web site.

The attorney general will not release a video shot by a Channel 12 camera operator at the West Warwick club that night, even though Lynch had planned to do so.

"We were prepared to release the Channel 12 video, but we had a conversation with a lawyer for the [TV] station's parent company, and he specifically asserted the copyright privilege, and we thought it wise to respect that privilege," Lynch spokesman Michael J. Healey said last week.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker

Late last year, Lynch released dozens of other videos that had been copyrighted by professional broadcast media. Those included NBC's Dateline, a Discovery Channel documentary about the fire, CNN's Larry King Live, Channel 6 coverage of the fire and news stories that one of the nightclub's owners had done when he worked as a reporter at a Boston television station.

The Attorney General's Office plans to release another batch of evidence following tomorrow's release, though no date has been set.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:19 PM | Comment

Celona case: Driscoll gets 8 months / Photo

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Frances Driscoll, right, arrives at U.S. District Court in Providence this morning with a family member for her sentencing.

PROVIDENCE -- Former Roger Williams Medical Center vice president Frances Driscoll was sentenced this afternoon to eight months in prison.

Driscoll, a 67-year-old grandmother, was the third person sentenced today in the wake of former state Sen. John A. Celona's admitting that he sold his services to Roger Williams and two other businesses.

Driscoll was convicted by a jury in October on one count of mail fraud, but acquitted of conspiracy in Celona's hiring.

She is a former public relations executive. Her defense argued for leniency because of age and health concerns.

"I think those needs can be met just as easily in prison," said Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ernest C. Torres.

Driscoll must start serving her sentence on April 2. After completing her sentence, Driscoll must spend eight months on home confinement and another 16 months of supervised release. She was also fined $10,000.

Full coverage ...

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

According to evidence presented by prosecutors at trial, Celona was hired as a consultant to an affiliate of Roger Williams Medical Center, The Village at Elmhurst, ostensibly to promote the assisted-living center among his extensive network of senior citizens.

But in reality, Celona was paid to promote the hospital's political agenda through his position as a senator from North Providence - influencing legislation, lobbying municipalities to increase ambulance runs to the hospital and pressuring health insurers with bills before his committee to increase their reimbursements to Roger Williams.

In August 2005, Celona pleaded guilty to three counts of mail fraud. He admitted selling his honest services to Roger Williams Medical Center, CVS and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island. He was paid $319,000.

He has been cooperating with investigators in an ongoing probe.

In October of this year, Urciuoli was convicted after the same trial as Driscoll of one count of conspiracy and 35 counts of mail fraud. Today in U.S. District Court, Urciuoli was sentenced to 3 years on each of the counts and all are to be served concurrently.

Celona also today was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for each of the three counts, but they are to be served concurrently.

Posted by Jack Perry at 3:38 PM | Comment

Sports tonight: Celtics almost without parallel

The Boston Celtics tonight will try to avoid matching the 60-year-old franchise's longest-ever losing streak when they host the Los Angeles Lakers at the TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics last night lost their 12th straight contest, and one more will match the 13 straight losses posted by the horrendous 1996-97 squad, which finished 15-67 and still missed out on getting Tim Duncan in the draft. (They did end up landing Rick Pitino to coach.)

The Lakers (27-18) welcome back their star Kobe Bryant, who just served a one-game suspension for clocking Manu Ginobili -- unintentionally it appeared. The game starts at 7:30 on Fox Sports New England. Oh the humanity.

On the high school scene, Rhode Island ice hockey power Mount St. Charles welcomes undefeated Catholic Memorial (get a load of their fight song), ranked number-one in Eastern Massachusetts by The Boston Globe, to Woonsocket's Adelard Arena. The game starts at 4:30. You'll find a story by Carolyn Thornton and a gallery of game photos tomorrow on our High School GameDay page.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:37 PM | Comment

Body of Lady of Grace's captain ID'd

The body located in the wheelhouse of the sunken New Bedford fishing vessel has been identified as the captain of the Lady of Grace, Antonio Barroqueiro.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office notified the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s office around midday today that it had completed the autopsy and identification of the fishermen’s body, First Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau said this afternoon.

Divers recovered Barroqueiro’s body around 2:30 p.m. Monday, after diving for nearly nine hours.

The boat’s captain and three-member crew had cut their eight-day trip for groundfish in half and headed back toward New Bedford Friday afternoon, heeding warnings from the Coast Guard about single-digit temperatures, lashing winds of 45 knots and 22-foot seas. The 75-foot dragger was apparently overcome with ice.

Late Saturday, Coast Guard search crews using sonar and underwater cameras discovered the boat in 36 feet of water on the bottom of Nantucket Sound. They were drawn to the area by an oil slick about 11 nautical miles north of Nantucket.

Lost at sea were Barroqueiro’s crew -- Rogerio Vendura, Mario Farinha and João Silva.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:29 PM | Comment

O'Connell Street, Providence, reopens

The state Department of Transportation announced today that it has reopened O’Connell Street in Providence.

The road, connecting Eddy Street and Allens Avenue, had been partially closed since late October with access to businesses only.

It was closed for the construction of piers and abutments to support new roadway segments for the Route 195 relocation project.

The DOT says it might have to temporarily close other roads in the area of Allens Avenue in the next few months.

Posted by Jack Perry at 3:08 PM | Comment

Who's laughing now about Theo's wedding?

It was all a joke and the Globe fell for it.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein quietly got married this month.

The Boston Globe reported today that Epstein's father, Leslie Epstein, confirmed his son married Marie Whitney in New York at the original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand, built in 1916.

"We're very happy for them, of course, but we can't say much more other than Marie has some strong childhood memories of Coney Island, and that's why we all went down to watch the orthodox rabbi who married them at Nathan's Famous. It's amazing the grip that nostalgia has on people," the elder Epstein, head of the creative writing department at Boston University, told the Globe in an e-mail.

However, that wasn't true.

The Globe later posted a correction on its Web site to say the wedding did not take place at Coney Island. It did not give any other details.

“Leslie Epstein meant it as a joke and we took it as being straightforward,” said Globe Sports Editor Joe Sullivan.

WFNX-FM reported today that Theo Epstein, 33, and Whitney, 28, got married earlier this month on the yacht of John Henry, the Red Sox team owner.

The couple reportedly became engaged last May, but did not make a formal announcement.

Whitney, who did graduate study in health care policies at Harvard, has been a volunteer at Horizons for Homeless Children, a group that focuses on the needs of homeless children.

The Associated Press

Posted by Peter Phipps at 2:16 PM | Comment

Governor unveils proposed $7 billion state budget

PROVIDENCE -- Calling it a time for “sacrifices,” Governor Carcieri this afternoon unveiled a $7 billion state budget that would shut most of state government down periodically to save money, lay off several hundred state workers and knock thousands off the state subsidized child care and health insurance rolls.

While there are no major increases in taxes, SUV owners and the scores of others who do business at the registry of motor vehicles would pay higher fees.

Carcieri relies on several accounting tricks, one-time sources of revenue and other gimmicks to balance his tax and spending plan.

They include raiding the state’s rainy-day fund for the first time in memory, selling the state’s future payments from a settlement with major cigarette manufacturers and selling state-owned land from Providence to Charlestown to Woonsocket.

Carcieri also ignores a projected $7.3 million deficit at the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority in his budget, essentially saying he will leave it up to RIPTA to figure out how to keep the buses running.

Overall, the proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 raises spending by 5.3 percent. The budget draws on $3.2 billion in state revenues.

Examine the governor’s executive summary of the budget.

-- Journal State House Bureau reporters Scott Mayerowitz and Katherine Gregg

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:00 PM | Comment

Israeli police officials visit Providence

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Major General Mickey Levy (left) and Brigadier General Simon Perry
(right) of the Israeli National Police, are greeted by Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline (far left) and State Police Col. Steven Pare (far right), before the start of a session on terrorism at the Providence Public Safety Complex this morning. The two generals are international experts on terrorism, and are in town for two days of training for members of the Providence Police and the statewide law-enforcement community.

Posted by Pam Cotter at 1:34 PM | Comment

Fire at Friendly's in Pawtucket

PAWTUCKET – A fire at the Friendly’s restaurant at 45 Newport Ave. is under control.

Crews were dispatched at 12:49 p.m. and arrived at the scene two minutes later, according to a Pawtucket Fire Department dispatcher.

There are no known injuries. More details are not yet available.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:21 PM | Comment

Celona case: Urciuoli gets 3 years / Photo

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Robert A. Urciuoli, center, gives a statement to the press after his sentencing today about how he will appeal his conviction in Boston.

PROVIDENCE -- Former Roger Williams Medical Center president Robert A. Urciuoli was sentenced to three years in prison today for stealing the honest services of former state Sen. John A. Celona.

Standing before Senior U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres, Urciuoli took responsibility for Celona's hiring and requested leniency for co-defendant Frances Driscoll, a former vice president at Roger Williams.

"It was my decision and my decision alone to hire John Celona," Urciuoli said.

Driscoll was convicted by a jury on one count of mail fraud, but acquitted of conspiracy in Celona's hiring. She is scheduled for sentencing at 2 p.m. today.

Urciuoli was convicted after the same trial of one count of conspiracy and 35 counts of mail fraud. He was sentenced today to 3 years on each of the counts and all are to be served concurrently.

Urciuoli has until noon April 2 to turn himself in to prison officials. Torres denied a request to stay Urciuoli's sentence until his appeal can be heard.

projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

According to evidence presented by prosecutors at trial, Celona was hired as a consultant to an affiliate of Roger Williams Medical Center, The Village at Elmhurst, ostensibly to promote the assisted-living center among his extensive network of senior citizens.

But in reality, Celona was paid to promote the hospital's political agenda through his position as a senator from North Providence - influencing legislation, lobbying municipalities to increase ambulance runs to the hospital and pressuring health insurers with bills before his committee to increase their reimbursements to Roger Williams.

Urciuoli asked Torres for leniency. He said his father had been a machinist, his mother a homemaker. He said he has worked hard all his life. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1969 and started working at Roger Williams in 1972 as a budget director.

He said he has lost almost everything, including his job, his reputation and has been "devastated financially."

"This has been a very painful and humiliating experience," he said.

Urciuoli had faced 6 1/2 to 8 years in prison, but Torres found that personal greed was not Urciuoli's motivation.

"Almost everything you did was designed to benefit Roger Williams, not you personally," he said to Urciuoli before issuing his sentence.

That's a distinction Torres made between Urciuoli and Celona, who was paid more than $300,000 for selling his services to Roger Williams, CVS and Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Celona was sentenced to serve 2 1/2 years in prison earlier today. He pleaded guilty to charges in August 2005 and has been cooperating with investigators.

In addressing an argument brought by Urciuoli's defense, Torres also expressed some concern that Urciuoli would get more jail time than Celona, who was a public official charged with maintaining the public trust.

But he noted that "an individual who pleads and cooperates justifiably gets a lesser sentence than one who doesn't."

After his release from prison, Urciuoli will also serve two years of supervised release.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:51 PM | Comment

A peek at the city's new Botanical Center

Journal photo / Andy Dickerman
Landscape architect Mary Ellen Flanagan, Providence Mayor David Cicilline and city Parks Superintendent Alix Ogden welcome members of the media during a tour of the new Roger Williams Park Botanical Center today.

With plants still arriving, the press got a peek today at the new Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. Like all gardens, its beginnings are modest, but by the time the greenhouses open to the public March 2, the 40-foot tall conservatory should be teeming.

Displays in the main conservatory will change constantly, maintained with the help of local garden organizations. The first, with a red and purple Valentine's Day theme, will pair red anthuriums with purple glory trees.

You'll be able to get married in the adjoining Mediterranean room, framed by a stucco and terra cotta moongate against the backdrop of a modest waterfall. A 68-foot linear pool runs the length of this greenhouse, which will house collections, including camellias and carnivorous plants, and a fish pond. Teak benches are arriving soon from Smith & Hawken nurseries, according to Mary Ellen Flanagan, landscape architect for the center.

Just a single carnivore, a nepenthes, hangs in a white pot there now, its bladders hanging down about eight inches. Priscilla Purinton of West Kingston, vice president of the New England Carnivorous Plant Society, said that in the wild these bladders grow to three-liter size and can catch rats and lizards. Feeding time at the greenhouses could be a must-see show for kids who have seen the movie Little Shop of Horrors.

-- projo.com Sheila Lennon

Two other greenhouses, milling with workers today, will serve as educational spaces and can host small flower shows.

There's no wi-fi in the plans, but Parks Superintendent Alix Ogden said it has been discussed for the future.

If the original, crowded greenhouses, with narrow aisles and the ambience of well-stocked potting sheds, had a nostalgic charm, these airy buildings of light and glass are more obviously public spaces, with wide areas of cement walkways to accommodate lots of visitors. These aren't anywhere as artificial as those at the flower show, and once the plants get growing, they'll introduce their own wildness.

The new facility is scaled way down from the original vision Journal reporter Karen Davis wrote about in May 2003:

A seven-story, glass-encased replica of a landscape in Papua New Guinea, a conservatory with artwork by the late actor Anthony Quinn, and a replica of the 12th hole of the Augusta National Golf Course will be focal points of the new $15-million botanical gardens at Roger Williams Park, scheduled to be completed next year.

None of that came to pass. Mayor David Cicilline, who came along on the tour, scaled back the project to make maintaining it more manageable with the money actually available, rather than depend on private fundraising. The $7.7-million facility was constructed by Gilbane Building Company with federal, state and city money and and major support from the Champlin Foundations.

Among the partners, who'll collaborate on the rotating displays, are:

University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners

Rhode Island Orchid Society

Rhode Island Rose Society

Rhode Island Wild Plant Society

Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association

New England Carnivorous Plant Society

The American Hosta Society

Gardening for Good

Rhode Island Bonsai Society

Posted by Sheila Lennon at 12:05 PM | Comment

Celona prosecutor: 14 more criminal cases possible

PROVIDENCE -- Former state Sen. John A. Celona's cooperation with investigators has already led to the indictments this month of two former CVS executives and the convictions in October of two former executives for Roger Williams Medical Center.

During Celona's sentencing this morning in U.S. District Court, a prosecutor said that Celona's cooperation in an ongoing investigation could lead to 14 more criminal cases, involving seven politicians and seven corporations.

The federal government’s lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan, characterized the information Celona has provided to federal prosecutors as unparalleled.

Sullivan said there’s a possibility of 14 more cases, which include seven politicians and seven corporations. He didn’t go into any details about who or what is involved. Sullivan said it’s not clear how many prosecutions will come from those 14 separate investigations.

-- projo.com staff

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:02 PM | Comment

Update: Celona gets 2 1/2 years in prison / Photo

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Former State Sen. John Celona, center, gives a statement to the press outside U.S. District Court after his sentencing on corruption charges. He was accompanied by his lawyer, William Dimitri, right, and his wife.

PROVIDENCE -- Former state Sen. John A. Celona, once one of the most powerful lawmakers at the Rhode Island State House, was sentenced to 30 months in prison today for selling his office for personal gain.

Celona, a North Providence Democrat who had served as chairman of the powerful Senate Corporations Committee, two years ago admitted selling his office to Roger Williams Medical Center, the drugstore chain CVS and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island. He gained $319,000

He pleaded guilty to three counts of mail fraud in August 2005. This morning in U.S. District Court, Celona was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for each of the three counts, but they are to be served concurrently.

He was ordered into federal custody March 2.

Celona's cooperation with investigators has already led to the indictments this month of two former CVS executives and the convictions in October of two former executives for Roger Williams Medical Center.

An emotional Celona spoke for six minutes, telling Senior U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres, that he will continue cooperating.

“I would like to express my remorse, apologize and take full responsibility for my past actions. I am truly sorry,” Celona said. “I am in some ways glad all of this has happened.”

That’s because, Celona said, in the past three years he has become “a better husband, better father and in some respects just a regular person living in the real world.”

“I was living in a superficial world in the State House,” he said.

At that moment, through tears and with his voice cracking, Celona professed his faith in Jesus Christ.

The last three years have affirmed that “family and honor are the most important aspects of life, not power, not politics, not glory,” he said.

Up next today for sentencing are Robert A. Urciuoli, the former president of Roger Williams Medical Center, and Frances P. Driscoll, a former hospital vice president, who were convicted in October of stealing Celona's honest services.

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Judge Torres told Celona, “I have a feeling that you are genuinely remorseful for what you’ve done."

Referring to future prosecutions, he said, “You’ve testified and apparently will be testifying in future cases.”

Torres spoke of the culture of corruption and said he hopes this sentence will send a message to other office-holders.

“The message doesn’t seem to have sunk in,” he said, referring to other cases in Rhode Island.

“I hope, but I’m not sure I can say I’m optimistic, that what’s happened in this case” will deter further corruption, Torres said.

Celona must also serve two years of supervised release. As conditions of that supervised release, he must commit to eight hours of community service each week for two years.

He also must pay the cost of the supervised release, the cost of which is $3,450.

During this morning's sentencing in U.S. District Court, a prosecutor said that Celona's cooperation in an ongoing investigation could lead to 14 more criminal cases, involving seven politicians and seven corporations.

The federal government’s lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan, characterized the information Celona has provided to federal prosecutors as unparalleled.

Sullivan said there’s a possibility of 14 more cases, which include seven politicians and seven corporations. He didn’t go into any details about who or what is involved. Sullivan said it’s not clear how many prosecutions will come from those 14 separate investigations.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:21 AM | Comment

3rd suspect in gang murder arraigned / Photo

Journal photo/John Freidah
Sarith Chith, 19, at his arraignment this morning on a murder charge.

PROVIDENCE – A third suspect in the gang fight early Sunday morning that led to the city’s first homicide this year was arraigned this morning on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Sarith Chith, 19, of 140 Bridgham St., Providence, was arraigned before District Court Judge Albert J. ReRobbio and was assigned a public defender, George Muksian.

Chith is believed to have hit the victim in the head with a pipe, according to Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office.

He is being held without bail.

Chith walked into court this morning handcuffed to another defendant. He said very little, with his public defender doing most of the talking.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal photographer John Freidah

Two other suspects – ages 20 and 17 – from the West End were arrested Sunday.

They are accused of murder in the slaying of Vicheth Klakratok, 23, of 11 Atlantic Ave., Elmwood. He was struck in the head multiple times with a club or pipe and fell in the middle of Cranston Street in the West End, dead from blunt-force trauma, according to Baum.

Veasna F. Pich, 20, of 172 Whitmarsh St., was arraigned Monday before District Court Judge Michael A. Higgins, who ordered him held without bail pending a bail hearing Feb. 12.

The 17-year-old, whose name was withheld because he is a juvenile, was brought to Family Court and ordered held at the Rhode Island Training School. The Attorney General’s Office will seek to have him waived out of Family Court and charged as an adult in Superior Court, according to Assistant Attorney General J. Patrick Youngs III.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:31 AM | Comment

Update: West End fire sends 2 to hospital / Photo

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Broken windows can be seen at this house at 103 Hanover Street, Providence, after a fire early this morning.

PROVIDENCE – An early morning fire in the West End sent two residents of a 3 ½-story wood-frame dwelling to Rhode Island Hospital with smoke inhalation.

The fire was reported at about 4 a.m. on the second floor of the building at 103 Hanover St. and was under control by 4:30 a.m., according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Taylor said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:19 AM | Comment

E. Providence police officer tried in suspect assault

Jury selection continues today in the Superior Court trial of an East Providence police officer accused of kicking a handcuffed suspect in the face nearly two years ago, as the suspect sat in a back hallway at the police station.

About 50 potential jurors were whittled down to 16 yesterday. Final selection is expected this morning, with opening statements to follow. Lawyers expect the trial to last four to six weeks.

Jason Francis, 29, of 884 Putnam Pike in Glocester, has been suspended without pay since he was indicted in May 2005 on one count of felony assault with a dangerous weapon, his foot, with serious bodily injury resulting, and with two misdemeanors.

Read today’s Journal story for more details.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:17 AM | Comment

Did you leave your car on the side of Route 95?

Looks like that car that was abandoned Sunday on Route 95 South in Cranston, near Exit 13 for T.F. Green Airport, still remains on the side of the road, in the right breakdown lane, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The DOT has posted a traffic alert about the car since Sunday.

Route 195 West is slightly congested at this hour in Providence, but it’s just getting worse each time we check, according to the DOT’s congestion mapping program, which shows how heavy traffic is on the area’s roadways.

For other traffic needs, check out the state roadways, via the Department of Transportation's online traffic offerings.

You can find any traffic alerts describing accidents here, browse traffic cams to see real-time photos of the highways and check out the DOT’s road construction schedule here.

To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:27 AM | Comment

Snow mostly misses

PROVIDENCE – Just a few flakes on cars this morning. So much for the predictions yesterday of a possible one to three inches overnight.

But wait, the National Weather Service reports there’s still a slight chance of more snow before 9 a.m.

It’s just 18 degrees now, but that will improve.

Today’s clouds in the southern sky should gradually turn, and we should have mostly sunny skies with a high near 33.

We’ve got more snow on the horizon predicted on and off through Friday night, and then the sun should join us in time for the weekend. Saturday will be partly sunny with a high of 32 and Sunday should be mostly sunny with a high of 26.

For more weather and updates, see projo.com/weather.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:12 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a story on Governor Carcieri's State of the State speech and a report on Rhode Island students' improving test scores.

Download today's front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment