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« January 2007 | Today | March 2007 » February 28, 2007Injured Pt. Judith fisherman airlifted to hospitalThe Coast Guard airlifted a lobster fisherman to Rhode Island Hospital this afternoon after the man's hand was badly injured in an accident about 80 miles out at sea. The man, who wasn't identified in a statement released by the Coast Guard tonight, was a crew member aboard the Courtney Elizabeth, an 80-foot boat homeported in Point Judith, in Narragansett. The Coast Guard was notified at about 1:30 p.m. that a crewman aboard the vessel suffered "significant trauma" to his right hand while handling lobster pots. A Coast Guard flight surgeon recommended the fisherman be airlifted to a hospital. An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rushed to the scene -- roughly 80 nautical miles south of Martha's Vineyard -- from Air Station Cape Cod at about 3:15 p.m. and reached the boat by about 4 p.m. The injured man was hoisted aboard the aircraft and flown to Rhode Island Hospital, where they landed at about 4:45 p.m. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:16 PM | Comment Report: Those diesel fumes can be dangerousPROVIDENCE – Exposure to diesel fumes during the daily commute in buses, cars, ferries and trains can be dangerous to your health. That was the conclusion of a report released today by the Clean Air Task Force, an environmental organization based in Boston. The group studied diesel particle levels in commuting vehicles in Boston, New York, Austin and Columbus. Fine particles in diesel pollution can lead to many respiratory infections and other health problems, including asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. In Rhode Island alone, diesel pollution leads to 50 premature deaths, 80 non-fatal heart attacks and 900 asthma attacks each year, according to the Clean Air Task Force. Representatives from the American Lung Association of Rhode Island, Clean Water Action, and Environment Rhode Island seized the report as an opportunity to draw attention to local air problems. They held a press conference this afternoon under the State House rotunda. Molly Clark, the director of environmental health for the American Lung Association, said that air pollution in Rhode Island is a serious concern. “Some people don’t recognize they’re getting pollution,” Clark said. “People who don’t live in congested areas don’t realize how much they’re getting. It’s everybody’s issue.” -- Journal environment writer Michelle J. Lee Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:02 PM | Comment Suspects sought in rural Foster armed robberyFOSTER — The police today are looking for two men who robbed a Citgo gas station on Route 6, or Danielson Pike, last night -- one of the few armed robberies reported in this rural town in recent memory. Last night at about 9 p.m., a man wearing a gold-colored ski mask brandished a knife and demanded money from the store’s cash register, according to the police. Another man wearing jeans and a denim jacket waited outside. A black pickup truck was seen leaving the area. The suspects are both described as white and about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 150 lbs. The police are asking that anyone with information regarding the two’s whereabouts to call (401) 397-3317. -- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:45 PM | Comment June trial date set in teacher's aide murderWARWICK -- A Superior Court judge has set a tentative June trial date for the landscaper accused of murdering his boss’s wife, Margaret R. Duffy-Stephenson, in her Warwick home. Prosecutors say James S. Richardson, 39, killed Duffy-Stephenson in her Blackmore Street home in November 2005. She was found stabbed to death at the foot of a staircase. A safe in her basement was found open and empty. In a status conference held today in Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr.’s chambers, lawyers for both sides agreed on a preliminary trial date of June 4, according to Attorney General spokesman Michael J. Healey. Like all trial dates, this one is subject to change, but Healey said the lawyers are nearing the end of the discovery phase and actively preparing for a trial. Duffy-Stephenson, 37, a teacher’s aide at Archie R. Cole Middle School, in East Greenwich, was found dead on Nov. 18, 2005, while her husband, James O. Stephenson III and the couple’s 3-year-old son were in Florida. Richardson worked as a laborer for Stephenson’s business, Picture Perfect Landscaping. -- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham Richardson, who lived with his parents on Clear View Drive in Cranston, was arrested several weeks after the murder and indicted in March 2006. He has been held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions since his arrest. The defendant was not present in court for today's proceedings. Another pretrial conference is scheduled for March 14. -- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:43 PM | Comment Keep searching, family of missing woman asksSOUTH KINGSTOWN — The husband and children of Adrianne Lynn Matoney – missing since a suspicious fire destroyed their home a week ago – today asked the police and others to continue looking for the 58-year-old Kingston woman. “We would like to thank the authorities, our friends and the community for their efforts to locate our mother and wife. We hope these efforts will continue until she is found,” the family said through a spokesman, former Attorney General Jim O'Neil, adding, “We are confident you understand our need for privacy during this tragic time.” Adrianne, the wife of Joseph P. Matoney, a University of Rhode Island accounting professor, went missing Thursday night after a fire destroyed their home at 19 French Rd. Her car was discovered parked and locked on the Sakonnet River Bridge early Friday morning, sparking a three-day search of the area by police, the state Fire Marshal’s office and the Coast Guard. -- Journal staff writer Paul Davis Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:54 PM | Comment S. Kingstown man gets year in jail for shooting dogSOUTH KINGSTOWN — Blaze Jules Thomas Ferguson, the 9-year-old Rottweiler shot in the head last fall, has a new home. The dog's former owner, meanwhile, was sentenced to a year in prison for shooting his pet after appearing today in Washington County Superior Court. Judge Stephen P. Nugent also sentenced Donald Ferguson, 42, of 590 Rose Hill Rd., to one-year probation and a one-year suspended sentence. Last Sept. 20, a Verizon worker heard a gunshot around noon and saw the Rottweiler walk out of the woods and toward the home at 590 Rose Hill Rd. A man followed the dog, grabbed it by the neck and led it back to the woods, reports show. Officers found a trail of blood leading from the house to a 4-foot-deep hole in the woods. Blaze was sitting inside, with blood coming from the mouth. Ferguson was crouched at the edge of the hole with a 9-mm Ruger handgun, police records show. At the time, Ferguson explained that he was trying to kill the dog because it had bad hips and kidney and bladder problems, police said. Reports quoted him saying, “I was trying to put her down; she’s sick.” South County Veterinary Hospital determined that the dog had Lyme disease, but did not suffer from kidney problems or bad hips, court records show. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Ferguson pleaded no contest to malicious injury to animals, which carries a sentence of up to two years in prison and a $1,000 fine. Nugent ordered that he relinquish his gun and any claim to Blaze. He also must put in 50 hours of community service. Daniel E. Ciora, Ferguson’s public defender, said he client felt remorse about the incident. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:48 PM | Comment 120 new jobs on tap in Johnston, governor saysJOHNSTON -- A regional transportation company plans to open a major distribution center in Johnston, a move that will create 120 "good-paying" jobs in the near future, according to an announcement released this afternoon by the governor's office. Neither the governor's office nor the Johnston mayor's office would disclose the name of the company today. That detail will be disclosed tomorrow during an afternoon press conference at the Town Hall. The press conference will be crowded. Governor Carcieri is expected to attend the event, as is Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena, the Johnston Town Council, members of the state Economic Development Corporation and executives from the unnamed regional transportation company. The transportation company plans to build a distribution center and warehouse in the new industrial park adjacent to Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation off Shun Pike in Johnston. The project will create at least 120 full-time jobs over the next three years, according to the governor's announcement. Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:27 PM | Comment Former Brown president Gee, wife divorcing / Photo
Journal file photoThe Gees appear at a 2000 press conference announcing Gee would leave Brown University for Vanderbilt. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Vanderbilt University Chancellor Gordon Gee, the former president of Brown University, and his wife of 12 years, Constance, are divorcing. Constance Gee, 53, cited irreconcilable differences in the divorce petition she filed yesterday. She made headlines last year when the Wall Street Journal reported that anonymous sources said she had smoked marijuana at the university-owned mansion where the couple lived. "Constance and I have agreed to seek a divorce," Gordon Gee said in a statement released today. "While this is a difficult decision, we remain committed to each other's happiness and success. I ask that you respect our privacy regarding this issue." -- Associated Press She is a tenured associate professor of public policy and education at the university's Peabody College. He has been chancellor at Vanderbilt since 2000. Prior to going to Vanderbilt, Constance Gee was a professor at Brown University, where her husband was president. The couple's political differences have been well known. In 2004, she signed her name to a petition protesting a decision by Vanderbilt's administration to invite then-National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice to speak and honor her for distinguished service. "We expect our university to teach students respect for the truth, yet we offer an honor to a person who repeatedly misrepresented the truth to tragic effect," the petition read. The couple have no children. Constance Gee's attorney, Rose Palermo of Nashville, declined to comment on the case. -- Associated Press Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:07 PM | Comment Update: Suspects in Stop & Shop scheme still heldCRANSTON -- The four men charged in the Stop & Shop pinpad scheme continue to be held at the Adult Correctional Institutions today, according to a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office. Authorities allege that the men are responsible for stealing at least $115,000 from customers at the Tiogue Avenue Stop & Shop in recent weeks in a complicated scheme involving fraudulent pinpads and duplicate ATM cards. A District Court judge set their bail at between $150,000 and $200,000 yesterday, and the men have not posted bail today, attorney general spokesman Michael Healey said this afternoon. Prosecutors previously said the men were from California but only today released what are believed to be their full addresses: -- Mikael Stepanian 28, of 4213 Whitsett Ave. #2, Studio City, Calif. The men were arraigned yesterday in Kent County District Court on three felony charges: computer fraud, theft using a computer and conspiracy, and a misdemeanor charge of computer trespass. The felony charges each carry a penalty of up to five years in prison. State and federal authorities continue to investigate whether the men are responsible for similar pinpad thefts in various other cities across the country. A pinpad is the device used by customers to pay for goods with a debit or credit card that requires entering a PIN, or personal identification number.
Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:47 PM | Comment Lawmakers announce bill to raise dropout age to 17PROVIDENCE -- State lawmakers today announced a bill that would raise the age a student can drop out from 16 to 17 and would require schools to offer extra help to struggling students. The economy demands highly-skilled workers and a high school diploma is essential to enter college or recieve skill and job training, he said. The bill would also require schools pay more attention to struggling students, including those who failed algebra in ninth grade; students in special education; and English language learners. -- Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:31 PM | Comment Pharmacy raided in Fla. implicated in R.I. steroid caseORLANDO, Fla. -- The district attorney in Albany, N.Y., said today that some professional athletes were involved with an illicit steroid distribution network with customers in Rhode Island. The development comes a week after federal prosecutors in Rhode Island charged the owner of a New Jersey pharmaceutical company and two doctors accused in a scheme to illegally distribute steroids. One of the pharmacies raided in Florida yesterday -- Signature Pharmacy in Orlando --is alleged to have delivered human growth hormone and steroids to customers in Rhode Island and elsewhere. The pharmacy is mentioned by name in a federal grand jury indictment returned last week in Rhode Island. Federal and state agents raided two Signature Pharmacy stores in Orlando, arresting four company officials. Customers reportedly include Major League baseball's Gary Matthews Junior and boxing's Evander Holyfield. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:29 PM | Comment Middletown man claims $200,000 PowerBall prizeA Middletown man went to the state lottery office this morning to claim a $200,000 PowerBall prize -- more than two months after learning he won. The unidentified man purchased the ticket from Lazar's Package Store, 554 West Main Road, in Middletown before the Dec. 23 drawing. He learned the value of the winning ticket on Christmas, according to the state lottery, but waited more than two months to claim his prize. Why? He wanted time to seek the counsel of a financial planner, according to the lottery. The winner has decided to invest the money, but set aside enough to take a golfing trip to Arizona. Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:45 PM | Comment Citizens issues new cards to potential fraud victimsCitizens Bank has issued new debit/credit cards to customers possibly victimized by thieves stealing information from key pad machines at Stop & Shop, according to a statement issued by the bank this afternoon. Citizens suffered the bulk of the losses from customers targeted at the Coventry Stop & Shop, according to the police. Using a complicated scheme that involved imitation key pad machines and replicated ATM cards, thieves stole approximately $115,000 in recent weeks from about 1,100 separate bank accounts across the area. Approximately $100,000 was taken from Citizens Bank accounts. Four men were arrested Monday night at the Coventry store. "Immediately after the potential data compromise was identified, we proactively issued new cards to those customers who we determined to be at risk for potential fraud," reads a statement released by company spokeswoman Stacy M. Hart. "As part of policy, Citizens Bank customers are protected from fraud losses." Hart said that bank customers need to notify the bank of any suspected illegal activity, but that the bank would cover any losses. She also encouraged customers to monitor their bank accounts for suspicious activity. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:05 PM | Comment Photo: High court takes its show on the road
The state Supreme Court hears arguments in an official session held today in the mock appellate courtroom at the Ralph R. Papitto School of Law at Roger Williams University in Bristol. The session is part of Chief Justice Frank J. Williams' effort to open up the judicial process to the public. In the days before the automobile, the practice of holding court in different places -- called "riding the circuit" -- was common. The audience today was composed of mostly law school students. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:53 PM | Comment Update: AG offers advice for scam victimsIf you think your debit-card information may have been compromised in the Stop & Shop debit and credit-card scam, go to your bank and change your PIN number. That’s the quickest, easiest option suggested by Atty. Gen. Patrick C. Lynch today in the wake of the arrests of four men charged by the Coventry police with stealing debit and credit-card information from customers at the Stop & Shop on Tiogue Avenue. “Doing so will invalidate the old PIN number, thus thwarting anyone’s effort to withdraw cash or make purchases in your good name,” Lynch said through his spokesman, Michael J. Healey. People should remember that although ATM thefts such as the Stop & Shop ones hurt people very quickly and tangibly, at least initially, the alleged thieves were also after people’s identities, Healey said today. In other words, ATM thefts are “just the entrée to obtaining more information about the customers and, potentially, committing identity thefts,” Healey told projo.com. For customers who may want more peace of mind than a new PIN number can bring, Lynch also offered other tips. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson More tips: Close or suspend any compromised accounts. Contact your credit card company and bank in writing immediately to report that your ATM or credit card has been stolen or your identity compromised. Have your bank stop payment on stolen checks and contact their check-verification companies. File a police report detailing the fraud. Complain to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC maintains a database of ID theft cases for federal investigators. Call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit by calling 274-4400. At the first prompt, press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish. At the second prompt, press 1. Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:28 PM | Comment Celtics announcer to apologize for sexist remarksBOSTON — Boston Celtics radio analyst Cedric Maxwell will offer an on-air apology during tonight's game for saying that a female referee should ''go back to the kitchen” after he disagreed with one of her calls, a station official said. Maxwell made his comments during the Celtics 77-72 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night's broadcast on WEEI Radio, which is owned by Entercom Communications. WEEI-AM is located in Boston, WEEI-FM in Westerly/Providence. Maxwell subsequently said “Go in there and make me some bacon and eggs, would you?” in reference to referee Violet Palmer. “Cedric's comments about Violet Palmer were a poor attempt at humor, and we don't condone what he said,” Jason Wolfe, Entercom's vice president of AM programming and operations in Boston, said in a statement. “Cedric will apologize on air during (Wednesday) night's Celtics broadcast.” Entercom owns WEEI and WRKO-AM. Celtics games are usually broadcast on WRKO, but Monday night's game was on WEEI. Wednesday night's game is also scheduled to air on WEEI. Maxwell is a former Celtics player and the MVP of the 1981 finals, won by Boston 4-2 over the Rockets. The team retired his number in 2003. Entercom fired talk-show host John DePetro from WRKO in November after he called Green Party gubernatorial candidate Grace Ross a “fat lesbian” on the air. DePetro, who apologized, was subsequently rehired by WPRO Radio in Providence. -- Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:22 PM | Comment 6 Wyatt inmates hurt in three-car crash in FosterFOSTER — Six inmates from the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls were brought to the hospital with minor injuries after the van they were traveling in was involved in a three-car accident this morning. Foster Police Chief Robert E. Coyne Jr. said the van was traveling westbound on Route 6, or Danielson Pike, toward Connecticut around 7:30 a.m. The van and another car, an Oldsmobile, had stopped as a child was boarding a school bus on the other side of the road. But the driver of a third car, a Subaru Outback, apparently did not see the cars stopping ahead and slammed into the Oldsmobile, which, in turn, hit the van. Rescue units from Foster, Glocester and Scituate responded. At least seven people were transported to to Miriam Hospital in Providence, including the six inmates and the driver of the Oldsmobile with complaints of neck and back pain. -- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo Wyatt dispatched additional correctional officers to ride along with inmates to the hospital, and state police units escorted the ambulances, Coyne said. No charges have been filed against the Subaru driver, whose name and age were not disclosed by police, though police said the accident is still under investigation. Route 6 was not closed and the accident scene was cleared by 9:30 a.m., Coyne said. He could not say where the inmates were heading when the accident occurred. Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:09 PM | Comment Panels to hear bill against smoking in car with kidsTwo General Assembly committees are scheduled to meet today to discuss legislation that would make it illegal to smoke inside a car with young children. State Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, D-South Kingstown, introduced the bill that prohibits adults from smoking while a child age 6 or younger is a passenger. Sosnowski cited a need to protect " those who can’t speak for themselves,” noting, “They’re strapped in there and there’s nothing they can do to get away from it." A House version of the proposed law is scheduled to be discussed today in the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare. The group plans to meet in State House Room 135 at the rise of the House, which is generally around 4:30 p.m. The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will examine its version at the rise of the Senate in State House Room 212. Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:53 PM | Comment Update: Coventry board backs attendance policyCOVENTRY – Faced with criticism from some parents over a Coventry High School attendance policy that was not waived to allow the midget football team to compete nationally without penalty, the School Committee has upheld the school’s two-year-old policy. The five-member committee upheld the policy in a unanimous vote last night, Supt. Kenneth R. DiPietro said this morning. The policy limits the number of unexcused absences students can have to three per quarter. The issue arose when some of the approximately 22 students who traveled to Florida for a national youth football league championship – and won it – had other unexcused absences as well, pushing them over the school’s limit. Paula Ferdinandi, a mother who asked the School Committee to make an exception for her son, did not attend last night’s meeting and has not immediately returned calls from The Journal today. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Although the football trip lasted five school days, officials made a minor allowance that the trip would only count as three unexcused absences, DiPietro said this morning. Because the high school functions on a rotating schedule, the students missed nearly all of their classes only three times, he said, in explaining why the district made that minor adjustment. Daniel Ferdinandi ran into trouble because he had another unexcused absence before taking the football trip. He had missed school for illness on Nov. 6 – before the December football trip – and his mother forgot to write a note excusing the absence. Thus, when he then chalked up three more unexcused absences with the football trip, he was docked 10 points off each grade in each class he missed, according to the school policy. His mother, Paula Ferdinandi, has told The Journal she would appeal the school policy to the state commissioner of education if the school board continues to support the attendance policy. Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:08 PM | Comment Two arrested in Fall River stabbing murderFALL RIVER, Mass. -- Two men have been arrested in the stabbing death of Jason S. Glover, 28, who police found fatally wounded last night at 788 Dwelly St. Christopher M. Fisher, 21, and Derek Carvalho, 18, both of 820 Dwelly St., were identified by witnesses as the assailants, and both have been charged with murder, police Lt. Jeffrey Cardoza said today. The victim, who sustained multiple stab wounds to the upper body, was still alive when police arrived on the scene, about 8 p.m, Cardoza said. Glover was taken to Anne’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police, using information from witnesses, launched an extensive search for the suspects, whom they arrested later last night. Witnesses at the scene identified Fisher and Carvalho, Cardoza said. The suspects were held overnight for arraignment today. Detectives have learned that the murder occurred in the area of the porch at 820 Dwelly St. They have not identified a motive for the stabbing, Cardoza said. -- Journal staff writer Gina Macris Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:38 AM | Comment Update: 'Crucial' point in Stop & Shop talksPROVIDENCE – As contract talks continue this week, a Stop & Shop union leader said this morning that he expects today, tomorrow and possibly Friday to be “pivotal, crucial days” as both sides seek to hammer out a contract days after 43,000 union members had authorized a strike could begin. Although talks were scheduled on Sunday to last through today, according to the supermarket chain, they’re now likely to go beyond that time frame, said Jim Riley, secretary-treasurer of Local 328, which covers Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts employees. Talks that were expected to re-start this morning are now likely to pick up this afternoon, in the new Hilton Hotel in Providence, Riley said. “We’re going to take as long as it takes,” Riley said. “Right now, the members are warm, they’re working, they’re getting paychecks and we’re still talking.” “We expect to have this taken care of very, very soon,” he said. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson The chain, based in Quincy, Mass., wants union workers to contribute to their health-care premiums and allow it to switch from an employer-paid pension fund to a 401(k) plan for new employees. Riley said last week that the employees would be willing to help pay the premiums if their health-care plan is improved. The unions that have authorized a strike – which could have begun last Friday -- are Local 328, Local 1445 of eastern and central Massachusetts, Local 1459 of western Massachusetts and two unions representing Connecticut workers, Locals 371 and 919. Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:33 AM | Comment A calm before the next stormPROVIDENCE – It looks like we’ll have a pretty nice day today, with a high in the low 40s and some sunshine in the afternoon. We’ve got a high of 32 degrees now. You thought it seemed mild this morning, didn’t you? We should have much of the same tomorrow, but by tomorrow night, expect snow, sleet and freezing rain. That weather should move in ahead of a large storm that’s coming our way from the middle of the country. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:14 AM | Comment Woman arrested after car crashes into houseCOVENTRY – The police arrested a 21-year-old woman motorist last night whom they believe was intoxicated when she crashed her vehicle into a house on Washington Street. The occupants were home, but no one was injured, Lt. Robin Winslow said. Winslow said she did not have details of how the woman crashed a small Chevrolet into the house sometime before 11 p.m., as police were still processing the scene. The house had minimal damage, including some broken windows and dented siding. -- Journal staff writer Lisa Vernon-Sparks Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:06 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features photographs and a story on the arrest of four men who were charged with stealing debit card and credit card information at Stop & Shop. Download a copy of today's front page. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 27, 2007Senate panel endorses judge nominee Carnes / Photo
PROVIDENCE -- A key legislative committee today endorsed the nomination of one of the Senate’s own staff lawyers, William E. Carnes Jr., retired Lincoln police detective and friend since first grade of Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano, to the Superior Court. In a no-questions-asked hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee that felt more like a coronation than a judicial-confirmation hearing, Carnes was described by lawyers, judges – including Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank Williams – and his parish priest as a smart, articulate, compassionate man who is viewed at the State House as “a wonderful listener.’’ Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere, R-Westerly, said Carnes – who serves as chief legal counsel to Democrat Montalbano – said Carnes is “probably one of the hardest working, most honest people I know.’’ The vote was unanimous. The full Senate is expected to vote on the nomination, made by Governor Carcieri, on Thursday. -- Journal staff writer Katherine Gregg Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:06 PM | Comment Williams: Courts won't take part in furlough planPROVIDENCE -- The head of the state Supreme Court told a special joint session of the General Assembly this afternoon that he refused to go along with the governor's cost-cutting plan to shut down state government for several days in the coming months. "We cannot -- and will not -- participate in the seven-day furlough proposed for the executive branch, as we are constitutionally and statutorily precluded from closing our courts," Chief Justice Frank Williams said as part of the prepared text of his annual State of the Judiciary address. "To do so would deny our citizens access to justice, including delays in the release on bail of arrestees held at the Adult Correctional Institutions. Nevertheless, I have informed the governor, as I promise to you now, of our continued commitment to reduce expenses and save costs." Last Friday, Carcieri issued an executive order shutting most of state government down for a total of four days during the final months of the current fiscal year to help avert an “increasingly severe” budget deficit. The deficit has been pegged at $105 million this year alone. Three more days are proposed for the next fiscal year. Carcieri said employees whose work “involves the health, safety and welfare of the public, such as state police, correctional officers and caregivers, will not be affected by the furlough days.” But he did not elaborate on the reach of his order. Carcieri spokesman Jeff Neal said afterward that Williams' refusable was "workable," but that the governor was disappointed the judiciary wouldn't comply with the furlough request. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:38 PM | Comment Mollis' brother charged again with serving a minorPROVIDENCE -- Joseph G. Mollis III, a bartender and brother of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, has been arrested again and charged with serving alcohol to an underaged person. Joseph Mollis, who was fined and sentenced to community service earlier this month for serving an underaged person, was arrested again late Friday night at Bar One, 1 Throop Alley, where he tends bar, the police confirmed today. Police Detective Anthony Hampton, without identifying himself, went into Bar One shortly after 11:30 p.m. Friday and noticed three women sitting at the bar who appeared to be younger than the legal drinking age of 21 but had mixed drinks in front of them. Hampton, using a cell phone, notified Detective Joseph Amoroso, who was outside. Amoroso said in a police report that he identified himself to a doorkeeper and then noticed a member of the bar’s security staff stride past him in the crowd and attempt to take alcoholic drinks from anyone who looked younger than 21. Amoroso said he interceded when the security staffer tried to take an open can of beer from a young-looking woman and that he seized the beer and detained the woman, who was identified as a 17-year-old Somerset, Mass., resident. The teenager was turned over to the police Youth Services Bureau for prosecution. The police also arrested the three women at the bar, who were quoted as saying that Mollis served them although they were not wearing the wristbands that are used to distinguish legal alcohol drinkers from those who are supposed to have only nonalcoholic drinks. Mollis, 36, of 3 Dodge St., North Providence, was charged with serving an underaged person and was given a summons to appear in District Court this Friday. -- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith The three women — Amanda Phillips, 19, Mckayla Moniz, 18, and Amanda Ramos, 18, all of East Providence — were each charged with possession of alcohol by an underaged person and given court summonses for Thursday. In recent months, newly elected Secretary of State Mollis has been dogged by bad publicity about four of his relatives having become enmeshed in the justice system. Besides Joseph Mollis’ troubles, Secretary of State Mollis’ stepson has been charged with attempted murder; a teenaged son has been accused of shoplifting, and his teenaged daughter pleaded guilty in state traffic court to having left the scene of an auto accident without making a police report. She was fined $200. -- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:24 PM | Comment Cranston clerk accused of child neglect firedCRANSTON -- The city has fired David Prata, a data entry clerk in the Building Department, who is facing felony child-neglect charges after allegedly having intercourse in front of a 9-year-old girl to teach her about sex. Prata was dismissed yesterday, Ernest J. Carlucci, chief of staff for Mayor Michael T. Napolitano, said today. Prata and his girlfriend, Rebecca Arnold, 36, of 559 Park Ave., Woonsocket were accused of habitually neglecting the girl in 2004 "by providing an environment that is lewd and depraved in a manner that makes their home unfit for the child to live in," according to court records. They have pleaded not guilty. The allegations came to light on Dec. 14, 2004, when the Child Abuse Hotline received a call from a teacher in North Adams, Mass. The teacher said the girl had recently come to live with her biological father in North Adams after spending the summer with her mother in Woonsocket. The girl, who is now 11, told the teacher that her mother had sex with her boyfriend in front of her and that the mother did not care if the girl was watching, according to a report by Vanessa E. Ciesla, a child-protective investigator with the state Department of Children, Youth and Families. Prata is out on bail, pending a March 19 pretrial conference before Chief Family Court Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. If convicted, he could face one to three years in prison or a fine of up to $1,000, or both. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:56 PM | Comment Update: 4 accused of stealing $115,000 via Stop & Shop
WARWICK -- Authorities said today that four suspects stole about $115,000 from about 1,100 local shoppers who used credit/debit card pin pads in a Coventry Shop & Stop. The four men were arrested last night at the 900 Tiogue Ave. store. The value and scope of the thefts were disclosed this afternoon as prosecutors argued to have the men held without bail at a Kent County District Court hearing. Prosecutors say the thefts fit the pattern of similar schemes in at least five other cities: Atlanta, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Miami and Richmond, Va. One of the men is not a U.S. citizen, while the other three are believed to be from California, prosecutors say. They face various felony charges stemming from allegedly rigging pin pads at checkout counters to steal shoppers' banking data. Prosecutors said that the 1,100 bank accounts affected were primarily at three local banks: Coventry Community Credit Union, Centreville Bank and Citizens Bank. The suspects have been identified as Arutyun Shatarevyan, 20; Mikael Stepanian, 28; Gevork Baltadjian, 20, and Arman Ter-Esayan, 22. The judge set their bails at between $150,000 to $200,000 cash. In court today, prosecutors briefly outlined what they think were the thieves' methods. After somehow rigging the pin pads to record pin numbers, prosecutors said, the suspects would create duplicate ATM cards. Then they allegedly withdrew money from the area banks in $400 increments; the maximum withdrawal is generally $500. Faith Weiner, a spokeswoman for Stop & Shop, said the company had bolted down the pin pads in 385 stores from Massachusetts to New Jersey after a security breach was discovered earlier this month. Prosecutors said that they believed the men were extremely high flight risks given their potential connection to similar crimes and other cities. All four men appeared in handcuffs today wearing the clothing they were arrested in last night -- generally jeans and long-sleeved tee-shirts. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples, with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi and Kate Bramson Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:36 PM | Comment Lincoln man died in tractor-trailer crash in WestportWESTPORT, Mass. — The state police have identified the truck driver killed in a tractor-trailer accident yesterday as a Lincoln man. Rafael C. Guevarez, 45, of Lincoln, died soon after his 1997 Peterbilt tractor-trailer drifted into the breakdown lane of Route 195 at about 11:15 a.m. and hit the back of another tractor-trailer that was stopped with its emergency lights flashing. The driver of the other truck, William E. Dupuis, of Onset, was not injured. Guevarez' trailer went out of control and rolled over into the median, causing hours of traffic delays. Guevarez was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation. -- Journal staff writer Alisha A. Pina Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:51 PM | Comment Update: Voting pace 'steady' in N. Providence / Photo
NORTH PROVIDENCE – About 13 percent of the town’s 24,000 registered voters have cast their ballots thus far in today’s special election that will narrow the mayoral field to one of two Democrats and will fill a spot on the Town Council. By 2 p.m., 983 voters had cast ballots in District 1; 1,345 had voted in District 2; and 821 had voted in District 3, according to Lisabeth M. Marwell-Bussick, the executive director of the town’s Board of Canvassers. That’s a total of 3,149 voters thus far. People have been voting at “a steady pace,” Marwell-Bussick said. She predicted about 30 percent, or about 7,000, of the town’s registered voters will cast ballots by the end of the day. Polls close at 9 p.m. In the mayoral primary, Acting Mayor John Sisto Jr., who gave up his council seat in early January to serve in his new capacity, hopes to beat out former Town Councilman Charles Lombardi. The winner will face Republican opponent Billy Goodman in a special election April 17. Today’s special election takes place because former Mayor A. Ralph Mollis ran for, and ultimately became, the secretary of state. Four candidates are also in the running for the open Town Council seat created when Sisto filled Mollis' vacancy. Projo.com plans to post the results of the primary as soon as they become available tonight. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Polling locations are: 1A: Centredale School, 41 Angell Ave. Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:39 PM | Comment Funeral set for Warren girl killed in Bristol car crashWARREN – Funeral arrangements have been set for the Mount Hope High School student who was killed Friday night when the car she was riding in crashed into a utility pole in Bristol. Kayleigh Raposa, 16, a junior from Warren, was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital shortly after the 11:25 p.m. accident. The wake has been set for Thursday for the daughter of John and Christine Raposa. Calling hours will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wilbur-Romano Funeral Home, 615 Main St., Warren. A Mass of Christian Burial has been set for Friday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary of the Bay Church, Main Street, Warren. In the obituary for Kayleigh, her family has asked that contributions be made to the Mt. Hope High School Boosters Club, in lieu of flowers, for a scholarship that will be established in Kayleigh’s honor. The driver of the car, Julie Alfano, also a Mount Hope High School student from Warren, was a teammate with Kayleigh on the soccer team. Alfano was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening. She is the daughter of Warren Town Council President Frank J. Alfano. Read Kayleigh’s obituary and sign an online guest book. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:59 PM | Comment Stop & Shop contract talks continuePROVIDENCE – Stop & Shop employees and management are in negotiations again today as they seek to reach a contract settlement – and avoid a strike that 43,000 employees have authorized. The unions that represent the employees and company management have agreed to negotiate through tomorrow, Stop & Shop spokeswoman Faith Weiner confirmed this morning. Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:47 AM | Comment Superior Court judge confirmation hearing todayPROVIDENCE -- Lawyer William E. Carnes Jr., who answered questions in today's Journal about his lack of courtroom experience, will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee this afternoon as he seeks to become the state's next Superior Court judge. Carnes, who hopes to replace the recently deceased William A. Dimitri Jr., has never repesented a client in a criminal trial in Superior Court. And he said he has handled seven civil trials lasting more than a day in Superior Court. Carnes was a longtime Lincoln police officer and spent recent years as the legal counsel to state Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano, a childhood friend. The confirmation hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Room 313 of the State House. Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:46 AM | Comment More details to come on Stop & Shop security breachCOVENTRY – More details about overnight arrests related to the recent data-security breach at Stop & Stop should be forthcoming at an 11:30 a.m. press conference at the store's branch here. The local police, the U.S. Secret Service and Stop & Shop employees are expected to attend the press conference at 900 Tiogue Ave A Stop & Shop spokeswoman said earlier today that four people had been arrested. Associates at the Stop & Shop branch in Coventry noticed suspicious activity last night and contacted the police, leading to the arrests, company spokeswoman Faith Weiner said this morning around 8:30 a.m., while driving to the store. The Coventry police have declined to comment, saying only that the matter is under investigation. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:24 AM | Comment Black R.I. family sues Maine town, claiming racismBANGOR, Maine -- A lawsuit is pending in federal court today after a black family sued the town of Dexter, claiming it was forced to leave Maine after being subjected to acts of racism and the police department failed to respond. Charles and Agnes Austin, of West Warwick, R.I., filed the lawsuit this month in Penobscot County Superior Court. The case was moved to U.S. District Court last week at the request of the town's attorney. The complaint claims the Austins and their three children were subjected to repeated acts of racism, including violence and racial name-calling, and that the children were assaulted at Dexter schools. The police department, the suit says, did not address crimes directed against the family and in fact subjected them to motor vehicle stops based on racial profiling. The family's attorney, Brett Baber of Bangor, said the family was subjected to a "modern form of racism" and left the state because of "ongoing racial indifference." "People don't use the 'n' word or burn crosses in their neighbors' front lawns," Baber said. "Instead, officials ignore people of color. Despite numerous requests about neighbors who did use the 'n' word, the police basically sat on the sidelines." The town's attorney, Edward Benjamin Jr. of Portland, said the Austins left Maine not because of discrimination, but because Charles Austin was on probation in Rhode Island and had left that state without permission from his probation officer. Benjamin said he thinks the allegation about racial profiling stems from Austin's arrest in October 2005 for drunken driving. Austin, 47, pleaded guilty last month in Penobscot County Superior Court. "These are a host of vague allegations," Benjamin said. "Obviously, the town denies that they are related to race." Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:58 AM | Comment An ode to snowListen my children and you shall hear There’s our snow poem in honor of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 200th birthday, a la Paul Revere’s Ride. Our nice dusting of good, fluffy snow really has brought a Winter Wonderland, and with temps at 28 degrees, the snow could continue through the morning. Get out and make your snowmen this morning, though, as the precipitation could turn to rain this afternoon. The National Weather Service warns this morning that roads and walkways have accumulated a thin layer of ice -- from yesterday’s melted snowfall – that has refrozen this morning. Exercise caution as you’re walking or driving in the region today. We’ve got another chance for snow tomorrow morning, a break on Thursday during the day and then snow and sleet potentially that night. Then we’ve got chances of rain and snow through the weekend. Now when was it that our local groundhog thought winter would be over? Longfellow bicentennial information. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:13 AM | Comment Chief justice to deliver State of Judiciary addressPROVIDENCE -- The chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court is planning to give his annual State of the Judiciary address late this afternoon. It will be the sixth time Chief Justice Frank Williams will deliver the address to a joint session of the General Assembly. Williams recently said employees of the state judiciary shouldn't have to take forced days off under a plan by the governor to close a budget gap by furloughing state employees for several days this year and next. The governor says only essential state employees like police are exempt, but Williams says the judiciary's 742 employees are all essential. The speech is scheduled to begin at the rise of the House, around 4:30 p.m. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:07 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story reporting how the state has spent the $64 million in fees for an emergency 911 system. Only about one third has gone to building the system. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 26, 2007Union files grievance to block Carcieri shutdownPROVIDENCE – Governor Carcieri’s days-old order to shut state government down for one day every month between now and June 30 prompted the filing today of a class-action complaint by the largest of the state employee unions. In a grievance filed late today on behalf of about one-third of the state’s 15,000-plus employees, Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees accused the Carcieri administration of multiple contract violations, including very specifically a violation of an explicit ban against “lockouts.’’ With the first of the shutdown days scheduled for Friday, March 30, and the next scheduled for the next Friday within the same two-week pay period, Council 94 executive director Dennis Grilli demanded what he called “expedited arbitration’’ in the cover letter he sent the state’s top in-house labor lawyer, John Breguet. The union action was not unexpected. Other locals – including those affiliated with the Laborers International Union of North America – are mulling similar action. And union leaders have not ruled out a fast trip to court as well. Late today, Carcieri spokesman Jeff Neal said key administration officials had not yet seen the one-page grievance but “we are very confident that the governor’s order is perfectly appropriate under union contracts and state law." -- Journal staff writer Katherine Gregg Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:12 PM | Comment Special primary tomorrow for N. Providence mayorNORTH PROVIDENCE -- Local voters will head to the polls tomorrow to weigh in on what has become a high-profile primary election. Acting Mayor John Sisto Jr. hopes to beat out former Town Councilman Charles Lombardi in the race for the Democratic mayoral nomination. The winner will face Republican opponent Billy Goodman in a special election April 17. Tomorrow's special election is happening because former Mayor Ralph Mollis ran for, and ultimately became, the secretary of state. Four candidates are also in the running for the open Town Council seat created when Sisto filled Mollis' vacancy. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:07 PM | Comment Snowfall eclipses total for the season / Photo
"When you've only had an inch of snow for the season, everybody gets excited," joked National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Simpson. Today's official snowfall, 4.2 inches, exceeded Providence's total for the entire winter season so far, which was just 3.8 inches. The normal snowfall level at this point of the season, Simpson said, is 28.9 inches. "Early indications are that we are certainly on track as one of the top 10 least snowiest seasons ever," he said. That distinction belongs to the 1997-98 season in which Providence received a paltry 8.9 inches of the white stuff. "With an inch and a half or two inches, we won't be the least snowiest," Simpson said, noting that there's a "weather event" predicted for the end of the week that will likely produce a mix of rain, sleet and snow. That storm may push Providence over the record, but Simpson couldn't say for sure. And there's always the chance that Mother Nature could get nasty this spring. "A bunch of years ago, we had a huge storm in April, so you never know," Simpson said. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Check the latest weather conditions and forecasts.
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:07 PM | Comment Calling all taxpayers: Don't forget phone tax rebateAbout 30,000 Rhode Islanders have failed to apply for a rebate of their federal phone taxes -- even though they're eligible -- and are therefore missing out on about $809,000 in rebates, the IRS said. Nationwide, about 10 million have failed to apply, according to IRS estimates. In the first release of this year’s weekly filing season statistics, the IRS calculates about 30 percent of all taxpayers did not request the telephone tax refund. The rebates are for the 3-percent federal excise tax that the U.S. Treasury once charged on long-distance telephone service. Some taxpayers have complained that the rebate application process is confusing and time-consuming. But the IRS says people can quickly claim a standard rebate amount right on their tax returns. -- Journal MoneyLine columnist Neil Downing Posted by Neil Downing at 6:02 PM | Comment Truck driver dies in rollover on Rte. 195 in WestportWESTPORT, Mass. -- A tractor-trailer eastbound on Route 195 rolled over onto the median this morning, killing the driver and snarling traffic for the better part of the day. The passing lanes of both the westbound and eastbound lanes remained closed throughout the afternoon as State Police investigated the accident and cleared the roadway. State Police did not identify the driver of the 1997 Peterbilt tractor trailer. It rolled over near Exit 10 at about 11:15 a.m., for an “unknown reason,” according to a press release. -- Journal staff writer Richard Salit Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:16 PM | Comment Woonsocket mother's court action put offA pre-trial conference for one of the Woonsocket mothers accused of fighting alongside her teenage daughter was scheduled to appear in court today. But the matter has been continued for two weeks. Robin L. Sevigny, 36, of 26 Bernice Ave. is now set to appear in 6th District Court on March 12 on a simple assault charge. She is accused of slapping her 14-year-old niece to the ground and then holding her down while her daughter, also 14, allegedly assaulted the girl. Sevigny is married to Paul Sevigny, a retired detective for Woonsocket's juvenile division. She was the third Woonsocket mother arrested for fighting alongside her daughter in less than a month. The Feb. 2 fight, which allegedly stemmed from a conflict between the two girls over a boy that escalated after threats were made on the girls' Myspace pages, occurred at a school bus stop on South Main Street. -- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes Sevigny and her daughter were arrested after the incident. Her daughter's case has been turned over to the department's Juvenile Detective Division, and both girls were suspended from Woonsocket High School for three days. Sevigny told the police that she touched the alleged victim only in an attempt to break up the fight and offered to take a lie-detector test after she was arrested, the police said. She pleaded not guilty to the simple assault charge on Feb. 8. She was released on $1,000 recognizance and ordered to have no contact with her niece. -- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:26 PM | Comment Singer Bobby Brown arrested in AttleboroCANTON, Mass. -- For the second time in a year, Bobby Brown has been arrested while in the Bay State to watch his daughter at a cheerleading competition. Brown was picked up at Attleboro High School last night on a warrant for failing to appear at a child support hearing in October. The 38-year-old singer was scheduled to appear this afternoon in Norfolk Probate and Family Court in Canton, said Adam Loomis of All State Constables in Weymouth. "He was supposed to show up and prove everything was up-to-date," Loomis said. In October, Brown paid $11,000 in delinquent child support after being threatened with arrest if he stepped back into Massachusetts. He owed over two months of payments to Kim Ward, of Stoughton, the mother of two of his children. It wasn't immediately known if Brown still owes child support. Brown was cooperative outside the high school, and borrowed Loomis' cell phone to arrange to get out of jail, the constable said. Brown's attorney, Atlanta-based Phaedra Parks, didn't immediately return a call to comment. A message also was left at the Probate and Family Court. -- Associated Press In June 2004, Brown was sentenced to 90 days in prison for missing three months of payments. That sentence was immediately suspended after Brown paid about $15,000. Last March, Brown was nabbed for minor motor vehicle violations dating back 14 years when he arrived to watch his daughter at a cheering competition at Bartlett High School. Brown was cooperative, and he was allowed to drive to the police station after the competition, police said. Brown, a Boston native who had a hit solo album "Don't Be Cruel," and pop diva Whitney Houston are divorcing after a 14-year marriage. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:23 PM | Comment Car slams into a ledge in Lincoln; four hurtLINCOLN— Four people were seriously hurt, two of them teenagers, in a one-car accident on Route 99 Sunday night, police said. Dep. Police Chief Brian Sullivan said the four people, two females, ages 15 and 16; and two males, ages 21 and 19, were traveling north on Route 99 toward Woonsocket at about 9:30 pm. when their car went off the side of the road and hit a rock ledge just north of the Saylesville Road overpass. All four were hospitalized, Sullivan said. The males were identified as Steven Belanger, 21, of Manville Road, Woonsocket, and Phattakone ‘Pat’ Hedquist, 19, of Bernon Street, Woonsocket. Both were reported to be in Rhode Island Hospital’s trauma intensive care unit Monday afternoon, but hospital officials would not discuss their conditions or describe the injuries.
Sullivan said Lincoln police consider the case an active investigation. He said the department’s accident reconstruction team was working on analyzing the wreckage and other evidence at the scene to try to figure out what happened. Weather did not appear to be a factor, he added. He said police had not been able to interview any of the four people. -- John Hill, Journal staff writer Posted by Peter Phipps at 3:17 PM | Comment Case against Westerly police officer ends in mistrialSOUTH KINGSTOWN – After two days of fruitless deliberations, the four-day trial against a Westerly police officer accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl ended today in a mistrial. “There is absolutely NO movement,” Davis wrote. Nugent declared a hung jury at 2:16 p.m. after reading the note into court. Defense Attorney John D. Lynch moved for a mistrial. The charges stem from an incident on June 15, 2006, when Westerly Police Officer Don M. Thompson Jr., then 38, allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old hostess at Paddy’s Beach, a popular Misquamicut State Beach bar, during a public servants’ appreciation night. -- Journal staff writer Maria Armental Thompson, who has been on the force for approximately six years, has been suspended without pay since his arrest. He remains out on bail. A status conference has been scheduled for March 14. A new trial date will be set some time after that. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:06 PM | Comment Drug bust hooks 21 suspects, cash, cars, cocaine
Journal photo / Kathy Borchers Some of the cash and drugs confiscated in the bust. CRANSTON -- A major undercover drug investigation involving state, federal and a multitude of municipal law enforcement agencies culminated over the weekend with the arrests of 21 people statewide and the seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of luxury cars, cocaine and marijuana. Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch lauded the operation, dubbed “Hook A Crook," as a “great case” and said it will make a dent in drug dealing statewide. Lynch praised Cranston as the lead agency, as well as the Warwick, East Providence, West Warwick, Coventry police departments for the work of their patrol and detective units. Also key, he said, was the involvement of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). According to Lynch, Cranston Police Chief Col. Stephen McGrath and Cranston Detectives Capt. Robert Brown, the investigation was launched about two months ago and quickly expanded as court permission was secured to tap the cell phones of dealers believed to be lynchpins in cocaine trafficking. One of the key suspects is Anthony Crook, 30 of 17 Maxim St., Apt. 3, in Cranston, and officials said it was his name that inspired the “Hook a Crook” tagline given to the operation. -- Journal staff writer Barbara Polichetti Lynch said that hundreds of cell phone conversations were listened to “from the top of the food chain down.” On Friday, the well-choreographed arrests of the suspects began and before the weekend was over 21 people had been arrested in Cranston, Providence, Warwick, Foster, Johnston, East Providence, West Warwick, Coventry and Smithfield. Col. McGrath said that while making the arrests, police from the various departments seized more than 100 pounds of marijuana, a kilo of cocaine, $90,000 in cash and 15 automobiles, most of them luxury models. The cars and the drugs were on display today at a morning press conference at the Cranston Police Department’s training facility on Phenix Avenue. When police officers opened the large cardboard boxes stuffed with marijuana, the pungent smell became so strong that many in the audience sought relief outside where rows of gleaming cars were parked beneath the metal canopy of the firing range. The vehicles included a Mercedes Benz, a BMW, a Hummer, motorcycles, several trucks and sports utility vehicles and a vintage 1963 Buick with fuzzy dice hanging from the rear-view mirror. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:10 PM | Comment New details on 2005 plane crash that killed 6 RI'ersBELLEFONTE, Pa. – A new report by the National Transportation Safety Board details a March 2005 plane crash in Pennsylvania that killed six members of two prominent Rhode Island families. The small plane piloted by Jeffrey Jacober spiraled down while approaching an airport, then pulled up briefly before slamming into the ground, federal investigators said in a new report. Killed in the March 26, 2005, crash were members of two Rhode Island families en route from Naples, Fla., to State College to watch a men's lacrosse game at Penn State University – Jeffrey and Karen Jacober and their son, Eric, 15, and Gregg and Dawn Weingeroff and their 10-year-old son, Leland. Another son of the Jacobers, Michael, was playing for Penn. One witness said the plane banked steeply before spiraling, its wings "almost straight up and down ... before briefly recovering," according to the report. The latest report did not determine a cause, though federal officials did release more details. Phone messages for NTSB officials seeking more information have not been immediately returned. -- The Associated Press Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:05 PM | Comment Sports Tonight: High school hoops playoffs beginThe Interscholastic League girls basketball playoffs get started tonight with two games in Division II. Middletown visits Mount St. Charles in a qualifying round game, while Tiverton visits Central Division champion North Providence. Both games begin at 7. Projo.com's High School Game Day page tomorrow will have a gallery of photos from the Tigers-Cougars matchup, along with a game story by Robert Lee. Both of Boston's winter sports pro teams are in action tonight, although you have to have the Versus Network if you want to see the Bruins' game against the Atlanta Thrashers. The game, at TD Banknorth Garden, begins at 7. For the Celtics, it's another night, another strong opponent on the road. And that means trouble. Boston's hellish road trip comes to an end in Houston tonight against the Rockets; the game starts at 8:30 on Fox Sports New England. The Celtics have lost the first four games of the western trip. The best game of the night could be in the college ranks, where the Syracuse Orangemen, fresh off the weekend's defeat of Providence, host the red-hot Georgetown Hoyas. If you're looking for an early NCAA Tournament favorite, Georgetown could be your team. The game is at 7 on ESPN. Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:37 PM | Comment In reversal, board member to resign after Calif. moveWest Warwick School Committee member Thomas V. Iannitti Jr. has decided to resign, turning from an announcement he made last week that he would stay on the board despite taking a job in San Diego. Iannitti, the committee vice chiarman, said that he enjoyed representing the interests of the people, but felt the strain of bi-coastal travel would be too much for him. "I wanted to make every attempt at fulfilling those duties on their behalf but at this time it is not possible for me to provide the same level of leadership and involvement that they deserve," Iannitti said in a press release. Elected in 2002, Iannitti has been an outspoken member of the board, often garnering headlines for his unorthodox ideas and passionate views. He will resign when he returns to Rhode Island in March. -- Journal staff writer Talia Buford Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:28 PM | Comment Gas prices jump againPROVIDENCE -- Gas prices are up again, to an average $2.32 a gallon for regular gas. That's a jump of about 10 cents a gallon since last week, according to a survey by the state Energy Office. Prices are about 6 percent higher than they were last year at this time. Home heating oil is up to an average $2.47, up 2 cents since last week. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:15 PM | Comment Employee accused of unlawful computer accessA Portsmouth man has been charged with five felonies following a lengthy investigation by local and federal authorities and the State Police Computer Crimes Unit, according to an announcement released today. Marshall Huggins, 37, of 52 General Sullivan Court, Portsmouth, is facing four felony counts of unlawful access into the computer system of Providence-based Strategic Point Investment Advisors and one felony count of computer data theft. The police say that Huggins, a former Strategic Point employee, accessed company e-mails without permission and forwarded certain messages -- including sensitive business documents and confidential attorney/client information -- to the state Department of Business Regulation, while Strategic Point was being reviewed by that regulatory agency. The investigation leading up to Thursday's arrest spanned several months and involved the state police, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Warwick Police Department Computer Crimes Unit, according to the state police. Huggins was arraigned in District Court last week and released on $10,000 personal recognizance bail. Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:11 PM | Comment Update: Probe into fire, missing woman continuesSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The police today are continuing to investigate last week's suspicious fire at the home of a University of Rhode Island professor and the subsequent disappearance of his wife. South Kingtown police collected evidence over the weekend, which is being examined today at the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory on the URI campus, according to South Kingstown police Capt. Jeffrey Allen. The evidence was gathered from in and around Joseph and Adrianne Lynn Matoney's 19 French Road home that was destroyed by fire late last week, as well as other evidence taken from "elswhere in the community," Allen said, declining to be more specific. The state Fire Marshal's Office is also continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, according to Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Michael DiMascolo. He said he doesn't expect a definitive answer today on whether it was set intentionally. The crime lab is testing materials taken from the fire scene for evidence of accelerants. Adrianne Lynn Matoney, 58, hasn't been seen since the fire. Her car was later found on the Sakonnet River Bridge connecting Tiverton and Portsmouth in eastern Rhode Island. While she is officially listed as missing, authorities continue to search the area for signs of a body. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Davis Crews searched through the weekend. This morning, they had not yet decided whether to go back out on the Sakonnet River, Portsmouth Police Lt. Jeffrey Furtado said. No signs of Matoney have been found in the area where her green Toyota Camry was found, Furtado said. Yesterday, Portsmouth police and fire departments, Newport police, the Rhode Island State Police K-9 unit and the state fire marshal helped search the area, Furtado said. The Portsmouth Fire Department sent two boats, and the Newport Police also sent a vessel, he said. On Saturday, the state Department of Environmental Management sent a boat, following an extensive search Friday that included a Coast Guard boat and helicopter. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson CORRECTION: An earlier item incorrectly identified Furtado Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:56 PM | Comment Update: Major setback for paint companiesPROVIDENCE -- In a dramatic setback for three companies found guilty last year of creating a public nuisance in Rhode Island by selling lead paints here two and three generations ago, Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein today at noon rejected numerous motions from the companies to have the case retried or thrown out. Silverstein announced in a 197-page decision that he would go ahead and appoint a special master to implement the cleanup of lead paint on houses throughout Rhode Island, as ordered by the jury in its verdict one year ago. The state has estimated the abatement could cost between $1.37 billion and $3.74 billion. Silverstein gave each side 30 days to nominate people to be considered for the special master position. The companies have been sued dozens of times around the country, but this is the first case they have lost. Shortly after the ruling was announced, the defendants -- Sherwin Williams, Millenium Inorganic and NL Industries -- confirmed they planned to appeal. The appeal goes before the state Supreme Court. "We believe there have been a number of basic legal errors throughout these proceedings. These errors were not corrected in today's ruling," spokeswoman Bonnie J. Campbell said in a brief statement. She did not detail the errors. -- Journal environment writer Peter B. Lord Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:44 PM | Comment Skakel tries to compel witness to testifyNEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel is trying to compel a Florida man to testify about his claim implicating two friends in the 1975 murder that sent Skakel to prison in 2002. Skakel, a nephew of Ethel Kennedy, is seeking a new trial based on a claim by Gitano "Tony" Bryant, who implicated his friends in the killing of 15-year-old Martha Moxley. Skakel, 47, was convicted of bludgeoning Moxley to death with a golf club in 1975 and is serving 20 years to life in prison. Read the full Associated Press story. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:29 PM | Comment Marine charged with murdering Iraqi heads to courtCAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A court hearing for Marine Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III, of Plymouth, Mass., said to have masterminded the kidnapping and killing of an Iraqi man, was postponed today for at least 24 hours because bad weather grounded key attorneys on the East Coast. Four Marines and a Navy corpsman who pleaded guilty to reduced charges in last year's slaying have said that Hutchins planned the killing. Hutchins was the leader of an eight-man squad accused of killing Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, last year. The five that pleaded guilty said Hutchins came up with the plan. Several said he fired the fatal shots. A Marine corporal who initially pleaded guilty to murder withdrew those pleas because he said he was ordered by Hutchins to participate in the kidnapping and killing. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:23 PM | Comment 21 arrested in Cranston drug investigationWorking with other law-enforcement agencies, the Cranston Police Department has arrested 21 people on drug-related charges following a two-month investigation. Details about who has been arrested and what charges they face are expected to be provided at a press conference later this morning, according to a statement issued this morning by Maj. Ronald T. Blackmar. Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:50 AM | Comment Updated: Surprise! Manny in campManny Ramirez unexpectedly reported to camp this morning, arriving early to undergo a physical. Escorted by agent Greg Genske, Ramirez came to camp three days ahead of schedule. Ramirez had informed the club -- first through teammate Julian Tavarez and later to the club directly -- that he would be reporting on March 1. According to the collective bargaining agreement, players can't be forced to report prior to tomorrow, Feb. 27. Ramirez reportedly had been attending to his sick mother, who recently underwent a surgical procedure. Reports later surfaced that Ramirez was scheduled to appear at a classic car auction this past weekend in Atlantic City. It is believed that Ramirez canceled that scheduled apearance. Today, Ramirez joked with a handful of teammates as he sat at his locker. Through a team spokesperson, Ramirez issued word that he did not intend to answer questions from the media. Genske is scheduled to speak to reporters later this morning. We'll have more on this story as the day goes along. --Journal Sports Writer Sean McAdam Posted by Mike McDermott at 9:10 AM | Comment Photo: Chairs in the snow
Posted by Peter Phipps at 8:57 AM | Comment Traffic: Slow, snowy commutePROVIDENCE – There have been a couple accidents here and there, and it’s slow-going on the roads, but it doesn’t appear as if this morning’s snowfall has wreaked any major havoc. Check out how congested your commute may be before you get in the car, thanks to the state Department of Transportation. Then, once on the road, drive slowly and focus on the roads rather than that cell phone or your breakfast. For other traffic needs, check out the state roadways, via the DOT'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 8:25 AM | Comment Photo: A coating of snow in North Kingstown
A few inches of snow has fallen in North Kingstown, but it wasn't enough to cancel school. With the temperature already 32 degrees, the evergreens could soon lose their white coating. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:54 AM | Comment Stop & Shop talks continue todayPROVIDENCE – Negotiations between the union employees and management of the Stop & Shop grocery chain are expected to resume today, after adjourning Saturday. Negotiations are scheduled through Wednesday, and the 43,000 union members who have authorized a strike have “committed to no job action while talks are ongoing,” according to a statement released by company spokeswoman Faith Weiner. “Progress has been made on important issues and some difficult issues remain,” Weiner said in the statement, issued yesterday. “Health care remains a topic of serious ongoing discussion. Stop & Shop continues to seek modest contributions from associates towards the cost of their health care coverage. Last week, a union leader – Jim Riley, secretary-treasurer of Local 328, which covers Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts employees – said the employees would be willing to help pay the premiums for their health insurance if the health-care plan was improved. The unions that have authorized a strike against the Quincy, Mass., grocery chain are Local 328, Local 1445 of eastern and central Massachusetts, Local 1459 of western Massachusetts and two unions representing Connecticut workers, Locals 371 and 919. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:52 AM | Comment The roads are slick and many schools are delayedPROVIDENCE – It’s the nicest-looking snow we’ve had this season, but beware. Those roads are slick, particularly the back roads. The National Weather Service predicts the snow is likely to continue, mainly before noon, and cause travel difficulties this morning. Expect a high of 37 today. Plenty of students got an extra hour to sleep this morning. School delays have increased all morning. Check out school and other closings on our site. Check back with us throughout the day for the latest conditions and forecasts. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:12 AM | Comment Download today's front pageThe Oscars and drinking at Providence College lead today's Journal. Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:00 AM | Comment February 23, 2007One charge tossed in Westerly officer's caseWashington County Superior Court Judge Stephen P. Nugent today dismissed a disorderly conduct charge filed against a Westerly police officer, saying the state cited the wrong subsection of the statute. A Superior Court jury is expected to resume deliberations on two related charges of second-degree sexual harassment Monday. The charges stem from an incident on June 15, 2006, when police Officer Don M. Thompson Jr., 39, allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old hostess at a popular Misquamicut State Beach bar during a public servants’ appreciation night. Thompson has been suspended without pay since his arrest. Nugent said Friday morning the state should have cited subsection 7, which refers to an accused sexually exposing himself, rather than subsection 1, which charges the defendant with engaging “in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior.” “Any other so-called disorderly conduct, if any, arose in connection with the alleged sexual assault,” Nugent said, adding no evidence had been presented to support the charge as filed. -- Journal staff writer Maria Armental Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:15 PM | Comment Bishop expands on his stand on same-sex marriageExpanding on his criticism earlier this week of Attorney General Patrick Lynch’s opinion recognizing same-sex marriages, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin today said that his position as a spiritual leader and head of the Diocese of Providence compels him to take a highly public stand on the issue – and to sway to the Church’s position, if he can, Catholics who agree with what Lynch spelled out. Speaking on the Dan Yorke radio talk show this afternoon, Bishop Tobin said society’s increasing acceptance of same-sex relationships is “a trend that’s very troublesome to me.” He said – as he had in a two-paragraph statement faxed yesterday to media outlets – that 2,000 years of Church teaching and the history of most cultures over the years runs contrary to same-sex relationships, which he termed “immoral.” Nonetheless, the bishop said his criticism is directed at homosexuality, not people who are gay. “I hope [his earlier faxed statement] was not seen as offensive” to individuals, he said. One caller who identified himself as gay asked if he would fail to reach heaven unless he practiced chastity. The bishop said that such matters were God’s judgment, not his. Bishop Tobin also again criticized the timing of Lynch’s opinion, announced on Ash Wednesday, one of the holiest days on the Catholic calendar. The bishop noted that the great majority of Rhode Islanders are Christian – with some 700,000 Catholics in his diocese, making the smallest state in the nation the most heavily Catholic (by percentage). Lynch's opinion advised state college officials that Rhode Island should recognize same-sex marriages validly performed in Massachusetts. It was issued in response to a request from the Board of Governors for Higher Education for advice on how to respond to three state employees who wanted their personnel files changed to reflect their same-sex marriages in Massachusetts.
Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:51 PM | Comment Update: S. Kingstown woman officially missing after fireSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The police said this afternoon that Adrianne Lynn Matoney is officially missing. The wife of University of Rhode Island professor Joseph P. Matoney Jr., she was home alone when a fire erupted last night in the couple's 19 French Rd. home on the edge of campus, according to South Kingstown police Capt. Jeffrey Allen. The fire has been deemed suspicious. Adrianne Matoney's Toyota Camry was found abandoned on the Saknonet River Bridge early this morning. Rescue crews searched the river below for any sign of life, but called off the search at around 10 a.m. Until this afternoon, the police did not say whether the woman was missing or not. A family spokesman issued a statement this afternoon that indicated the professor and his son, 28, were fine and spending the day together. And Joseph Matoney's two daughters are on their way to area, according to the spokesman, lawyer and former Rhode Island attorney general James O'Neill. "Joe and the family are cooperating with the South Kingtown police and praying for the safe return of their wife and mother," O'Neil said. Read more about the fire and search ...
Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:10 PM | Comment Police probe group seeking donations for IraqBURRILLVILLE -- Police are investigating a Pawtucket-based marketing group that officials say is requesting donations on behalf of Burrillville and North Smithfield police and “the Iraq war.” “Whoever is making the calls is representing themselves as a Burrillville police officer,” said Burrillville Lt. Kevin S. San Antonio, who said today that his department has no fundraising efforts at this time. According to police, the marketing group is calling residents throughout the state to solicit donations for a group called the Veterans Charitable Foundation of Rhode Island. Callers identify themselves as police officers with the Burrillville or North Smithfield police department, and tell residents that their donations will be divided among the two departments, with half of the money going toward “the Iraq war,” San Antonio said. Officials were alerted to the fundraising effort yesterday, when a resident came into Burrillville police headquarters to ask if the department is holding a fundraiser. “Whether this group is legitimate or not I don’t really know,” but neither police department is involved with the foundation, he said. San Antonio doesn’t know how much money the group has received through the fundraiser. Police are asking anyone who receives a call asking for donations to the Veterans Charitable Foundation of Rhode Island and mentioning the Burrillville or North Smithfield police to contact Burrillville’s detective division at (401) 568-6255. -- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:04 PM | Comment Connecticut man gets 77 months for bank robberyPROVIDENCE -- A Connecticut man was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison today for robbing three Rhode Island banks last summer. Marcus A. Trimble, 30, of New Haven pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery in December. U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi today imposed the 77-month sentence, according to an announcement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Trimble's first robbery took place July 20 at the Sovereign Bank branch on Atwells Avenue. He handed a note with a strange error to the teller and fled with $916. The note demanded "“$50s, $30s (sic) and $20s,” according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. On Aug. 3, Trimble stole $2,966 from the Washington Trust Bank in Richmond. And on Aug. 28, he went into the Westerly Community Credit Union and handed a teller a note demanding $5,000, “or you will be shot and killed.” He didn't display a weapon during any of the robberies. FBI agents arrested Trimble in New Haven last September after police received information that he had been bragging about the robberies, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:10 PM | Comment Sports This Weekend: H.S. season hits prime timeThe regular season in high school basketball wraps up tonight. There's a very full schedule of action on the boys side, and a few games for the girls. Projo.com's High School Game Day page will have a photo gallery from one of the biggest games of the night, the boys matchup between La Salle (13-4) and Mount Pleasant (12-5). The game starts at 7:30, at Mount Pleasant. Also tonight, the state wrestling championships get under way, at 4 at CCRI Lincoln. They continue tomorrow at 11 a.m.; projo.com will have a photo gallery of the action from Saturday, and you can also post your own photos from the tournament. The three major college hoops teams in the area are all at home this weekend, beginning with Brown, which hosts Columbia at 7 tonight at the Pizzitola Center. Both teams are 4-6 in the Ivy League. The PC Friars (7-6 Big East, 17-9 overal) host Syracuse (8-5, 19-8) at noon tomorrow. You can watch the game on ESPN; we'll have a photo gallery to go along with Kevin McNamara's game story on Sunday. And finally the Rhody Rams (10-4 Atlantic 10, 17-11 overall) will host Fordham (7-6, 14-11), looking to rebound from Wednesday night's loss. The game begins at 2 at the Ryan Center. The Boston Celtics continue their tough road trip with games at 10:30 tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers (30-25) and 9 tomorrow against the Utah Jazz (35-18). Both contests are on Fox Sports New England. The Boston Bruins play two in Florida this weekend. Tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning should be a good one; Boston has won five of six, while Tampa Bay (35-24-3) has been hot for a long time now. That game starts at 8. The Bruins visit the Florida Panthers (23-26-13), a much weaker team, at 7:30 tomorrow night. Both games are on NESN. The Providence Bruins have two on the road this weekend before returning to the Dunkin Donuts Center for a 4 o'clock game Sunday against the Springfield Falcons. And the PC Friars men's hockey team (6-14-3 in Hockey East) is at home on Saturday night at 7 against the number-three team in the nation, New Hampshire (17-4-2); the two teams meet in tonight in Durham. The Saturday night game will be on Cox Sports Television. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:19 PM | Comment Vinny Paz arrested again for drinking and drivingWARWICK -- Boxing icon Vinny Paz has had another brush with the law. Paz was arrested this morning for drunk driving after police found him asleep behind the wheel of his yellow jeep, the police said. Just after 2:45 a.m., Warwick police responded to a call that a man was passed out in the driver's seat of a car with the engine running at the Shell Gas Station at 708 Greenwich Ave. When officers arrived, they roused the driver, whom they identified as the boxing champ, and conducted a field sobriety test, said police Maj. Joseph Tavares. "Based on that initial on-scene investigation, they requested he return to headquarters for an opportunity to take a chemical Breathalyzer test," Tavares said. Paz refused to take the Breathalyzer and was issued a citation. He was also arrested for drunk driving, based on what Tavares called "the observations of the officers." He declined to comment further on Paz's condition, or what those observations entailed. The boxer was told to return to court on March 21, Tavares said. His lawyer reportedly picked him up at the police station. This is the second time Paz, 44, has been arrested on drunk driving charges. In 2004, he was stopped under suspicion of drunk driving when police spotted him driving erratically, also in Warwick. When officers tried to handcuff him, he became combative and was charged with resisting arrest. Paz lost his license for up to one year in 2005 for refusing to take an alcohol test. --- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham Posted by Peter Phipps at 2:37 PM | Comment Update: Stop & Shop talks continue this afternoonPROVIDENCE – Stop & Shop workers and managers continue this afternoon to negotiate – and they’re not talking about a strike at this point, even though 43,000 union members in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut have voted their approval for a strike as early as today. Stop & Shop spokeswoman Faith Weiner said shortly after 2 p.m. that the talks -- which began at 9 a.m. today -- continue, but she declined to speak further at this time. This morning, a union leader said the sides were making progress. He has not immediately returned a phone call made this afternoon. “We’re making movement,” said Jim Riley, secretary-treasurer of Local 328, which covers Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts employees. “We’re having more movement than we have in the past.” This morning’s negotiating session wasn’t planned. The last scheduled session was for yesterday – and it went until about 9 p.m., Riley said. “We gave proposals back and forth, back and forth – several proposals back and forth, mostly having to do with the health insurance,” Riley said. The chain, based in Quincy, Mass., wants union workers to contribute to their health-care premiums and allow it to switch from an employer-paid pension fund to a 401(k) plan for new employees. Riley said earlier this week that the employees would be willing to help pay the premiums if their health-care plan is improved. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:13 PM | Comment Man gets 35 years in jail for killing former stripperA South Kingstown man was sentenced today to 50 years for the shooting and strangulation death of a former stripper. Shea Cook, of 364 Curtis Corner Rd., had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November for his part in the 2005 crime. Superior Court Judge Stephen P. Nugent sentenced Cook, who is in his early 20s, to serve the next 35 years in state prison, with the remaining 15 years to serve on probation. Nugent also sentenced Cook to serve 10 years concurrently for pleading guilty to felony conspiracy. Cook admitted killing Stacy Ann Brissett, of Providence, to avenge another death. He and two accomplicies then dumped her body off a Connecticut bridge. Brissett was shot three times on Narragansett Indian land in Charlestown and then strangled before her body was dropped into the Yantic River on July 26, 2005. An accomplice to the murder, Tawanna Sampson, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder late last month. She has yet to be sentenced. The shooter, Shonda Northup, 26, of Ledyard, Conn., pleaded no contest in May to second-degree murder, conspiracy and two firearms charges in exchange for a 60-year sentence, with 40 to serve. She provided statements against Cook and Sampson. The three had believed that Brissett, a former stripper, had orchestrated the shooting death of Sampson's brother, Dwayne "D.A." Sampson, weeks earlier in Providence. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Brandie Jefferson Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:00 PM | Comment Update: Carcieri orders 4 days off without payPROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri today issued an executive order creating four mandatory days off without pay for state employees for this fiscal year -- a move he says will save the state $9.6 million. The so-called "furlough" days are Friday, March 30; Friday, April 6; Friday, May 25, and Friday, June 8. Three more furlough days -- which would take place in the new fiscal year beginning July 1 -- are being planned for Friday, Nov. 23; Monday, Dec. 24, and Friday, May 23, 2008. The governor's office says those shutdowns will save a total of $7.7 million. All state employees in the executive branch of government – both union and non-union employees – including full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal workers – are subject to the mandatory unpaid days off, the governor's office said. Employees whose work involves the health, safety and welfare of the public, such as state police, correctional officers and caregivers, will not be affected by the furlough days. Directors of state departments and agencies will be submitting the positions within their respective departments that meet this definition. “While I understand that this decision is not a popular one with many state employees, these furlough days are an alternative to deeper personnel cuts,” Carcieri said in a statement. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:12 PM | Comment Police: Abandoned car owner is wife of URI professorSouth Kingstown police said today that the owner of the car found abandoned on the Sakonnet Bridge this morning is indeed the wife of the University of Rhode Island College professor whose home was destroyed by a suspicious fire last night. South Kingstown police Capt. Jeffrey Allen said today that the woman is 58-year-old Adrianne Lynn Matoney, who goes by the name Lynn. Authorities currently do not know where she is, according to state Fire Marshal George Farrell. More to come ... -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples, with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Davis Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:04 PM | Comment Car on Sakonnet bridge owned by S. Kingstown woman
PORTSMOUTH -- A locked-up Toyota Camry found abandoned on the Sakonnet Bridge this morning -- spurring a search of the waters below -- is registered to a woman who, records show, lives at a South Kingstown home destroyed by a suspicious fire last night. The car is registered in the name of Adrianne Matoney, 58, of French Road in South Kingstown, Sgt. William Burns of the Portsmouth police just before noon today. Portsmouth authorities have been in touch with South Kingstown police, who are among the officials investigating the blaze at the 19 French Road home of Joseph P. Matoney Jr., a University of Rhode Island professor. Voter registration records show that Adrianne Lynn Matoney, of the same age, also lives at 19 French Road. The woman's status could not be determined this morning. It was unknown whether she had been driving the car or it was stolen, Burns said. No reports indicated that someone was in the water, but the search was undertaken “as a precaution in the event that somebody attempted suicide,” Burns said earlier this morning. The search by fire departments here and in Tiverton, the U.S. Coast Guard and the police was called off at 10 a.m., according to Burns. The Portsmouth Fire Department sent its 27-foot Maycraft boat, and the U.S. Coast Guard had a 41-foot boat searching the waters and a helicopter from Otis Air Force base on Cape Cod, Portsmouth Fire Capt. Michael Hurley said this morning. Firefighters from both communities also searched the shorelines. Crews had been out since about 4:15 a.m., Hurley said. The police called the fire department around 4:14 a.m., he said. The car was found around 3:30 a.m. Someone called the police to report it, Burns said. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson and Journal staff writer Mike McKinney Armed with the car’s registration information, the police had contacted someone associated with the car, but with “undetermined” results, Burns said. “It could potentially just be a disabled vehicle,” he said. Nothing has been found in the water “that would definitively indicate someone’s in the water,” Hurley said. Nothing has been found floating. The police have the car at their station now, Hurley said. The Sakonnet River Bridge, at maybe 100 feet or less above the Sakonnet River, is not known for suicides, Hurley said. In the past, people have jumped off – on dares – and swum back to shore, he said. Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:32 PM | Comment S. Kingstown home fire deemed suspicious / Photo
SOUTH KINGSTOWN – State and local fire investigators this morning are investigating a house fire at 19 French Rd. that has been deemed suspicious. When firefighters arrived at the home of University of Rhode Island professor Joseph P. Matoney Jr. five minutes after the fire was reported, they found “a heavily involved fire,” Kingston Fire Chief Nathan Barrington said this morning. That volume of fire is what led investigators to believe the fire is suspicious. No one was in the house at the time, Barrington said, despite initial reports people might have been trapped. It could take investigators days to determine the cause of the fire. They’ll need to speak with everyone who lived in the home and “sift through a tremendous amount of debris,” Barrington said. They’ll dig through “piles and piles of stuff” and will take samples of the wood to look for signs of whether an accelerant such as gas or kerosene may have been used to make the fire burn faster and hotter, he said. Barrington’s fire district does not conduct the investigations into fires. The other volunteer district in South Kingstown does, and they are working with the state fire marshal’s office and the local police, he said. Read an earlier story about the fire from today's Journal. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:52 AM | Comment Stop & Shop workers, management talking againPROVIDENCE – Stop & Shop workers and managers are heading back to the negotiating table at 9 this morning – and they’re not talking about a strike at this point, even though 43,000 union members in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut have voted their approval for a strike as early as today. “We’re making movement,” said Jim Riley, secretary-treasurer of Local 328, which covers Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts employees. “We’re having more movement than we have in the past.” This morning’s negotiating session wasn’t planned. The last scheduled session was for yesterday – and it went until about 9 p.m., Riley said. “We gave proposals back and forth, back and forth – several proposals back and forth, mostly having to do with the health insurance,” Riley said. The chain, based in Quincy, Mass., wants union workers to contribute to their health-care premiums and allow it to switch from an employer-paid pension fund to a 401(k) plan for new employees. Riley said earlier this week that the employees would be willing to help pay the premiums if their health-care plan is improved. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson This morning, Riley said he cannot talk specifics about the proposals “because nothing’s been tentatively agreed upon.” Riley said this morning that union leaders haven’t been talking about going on strike since both sides are still “bargaining in good faith.” “We have an enormous responsibility for the membership of this local union – 43,000 people – and we are going to exhaust every avenue we can, and as long as we are still passing proposals and actively negotiating, we’re going to stay with it, but if that breaks down, then we’ll have to make a decision.” Nevertheless, “we’re ready to pull them” if it becomes necessary, Riley said. “We have 43,000 people that have already said we’ll walk, we will strike if we have to, and the company knows that and the company knows at any time we can call our stewards and the stores are empty,” he said. The unions that have authorized a strike are Local 328, Local 1445 of eastern and central Massachusetts, Local 1459 of western Massachusetts and two unions representing Connecticut workers, Locals 371 and 919. Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:58 AM | Comment Photo: Coated branches in North Smithfield
This morning's snowfall on Iron Mine Hill Road in North Smithfield. The National Weather Service is calling for a mostly cloudy day with a high near 29 degrees in North Smithfield and a north wind between 17 and 22 mph. Posted by Jack Perry at 8:57 AM | Comment Pats' Dillon asks for release, may retireINDIANAPOLIS -- New England running back Corey Dillon, 14th on the NFL's career rushing list, intends to ask the Patriots for his release and will likely retire, although he is leaving the door open to joining another team, according to published reports. "There comes a time in your football career when you come to a conclusion and I'm at mine," Dillon told The Boston Globe. "I don't need to play." He called his chances of signing with another team "slim." "Football is the furthest thing on my mind right now," he said. "I may wake up and feel the itch and decide I still want to shake it, but as of now, I doubt that will happen." His agent, however, said Dillon is keeping all options open. -- The Associated Press "He'd love to stick around, if it's the right opportunity," Steve Feldman told the MetroWest Daily News. "Last season proved he's still got the pop and the burst to be a primary back." Dillon will be released March 2, the first day of the NFL's free agency period, Feldman said. Dillon, 32, is the top active runner in the NFL, with 11,241 career yards in seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and three with the Patriots. He still has three years remaining on his current contract and will count $4.4 million against the salary cap in 2007. In his first year with New England in 2004, after he was acquired from the Bengals for a second-round draft pick, Dillon ran for a regular-season franchise record 1,635 yards on 345 carries and helped the team beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in the Super Bowl. His production dropped off the next two years. He had 733 yards on 209 carries in an injury-plagued 2005, and 812 yards on 199 carries last season when he split duties with rookie Laurence Maroney. In three years with the team, he ran for 3,180 yards and scored 39 touchdowns in 43 games. After not playing in a single playoff game in seven season in Cincinnati, he played in eight in three seasons with the Patriots. "I gave them what they wanted, I didn't come in and steal money," he said. "I felt like the money they spent was well earned." Posted by Jack Perry at 8:42 AM | Comment Traffic: Slow-going already on Route 195 westRoute 195 west is pretty jammed up this morning, according to the state Department of Transportation’s congestion mapper. Check that out to see how heavy traffic is on area roadways. Despite the morning’s snowfall, the DOT reports no traffic incidents at this time, and the state police say it has been fairly quiet as far as traffic incidents go. 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 8:02 AM | Comment Carcieri expected to announce furloughs todayPROVIDENCE -- Thousands of state workers are waiting today to hear if they'll lose a week's worth of pay under a furlough plan their union leaders have promised to fight. A spokesman for Governor Carcieri says he's expected to sign an executive order keeping state workers at home for seven days without pay. Essential employees like state police and prison guards will still report for work. A Carcieri spokesman says the furlough days will be spread between this fiscal year ending June 30th and next year. The Republican governor says the furloughs and other cuts are necessary to close an estimated $350 million dollar deficit. But union leaders say the cuts violate provisions in their contracts. They say Carcieri's plan will hurt low-paid workers who can't afford to miss a paycheck. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:18 AM | Comment A dusting of snow makes some roads slipperyPROVIDENCE – A nice little dusting of the white stuff this morning, still falling gently in some parts but no longer in others. The National Weather Service reports snow showers could continue until about 9 a.m. Our cloudy morning skies are expected to turn sunny, and we should have a high near 31. That’s just one degree warmer than it is now. A Hazardous Weather Outlook and a Special Weather Statement issued by the National Weather Service tell us some higher elevation areas in Rhode Island may have gotten 2 to 5 inches. Morning commuters should be cautious in less traveled and untreated areas, where surfaces will be slippery because of lowering temperatures and a continued snow accumulation. Check back with us for the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:06 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about a Providence woman and her son who have spent the winter without heat. There's also a photograph and story about North Providence Acting Mayor John Sisto Jr. leading reporters on a tour of his house to prove that his grandson lives with him and isn't unlawfully attending school in North Providence. Download a copy of today's front page. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 22, 2007An eye on the oceans, from Smithfield school / Photo
SMITHFIELD — “This is actually a historic moment, one that we will look back upon years from now,” ocean explorer Robert Ballard predicted today while manipulating the controls of a cluster of plasma screens set up in the media center of Smithfield High School. “What we are talking about is the classroom of tomorrow.” What Ballard was talking about was the focus of every eye in a roomful of state and town officials and educators who were witnessing the first run-through of a control center that will enable teachers and students to interact directly with scientists actively engaged in ocean exploration anywhere on the planet. The development makes Smithfield High School the first in the world to be connected with the Inner Space Center at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography. -- Journal Staff Writer Thomas J. Morgan Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic and the Bismarck, and of black smoker chimneys that spew a violently hot brew of minerals and water from the frigid floor of the Atlantic, held the room in thrall as he spoke of a vision of the future. “When Kennedy said ‘I want a man on the moon before the end of the decade,’ they didn't even have a plan,” he said. “They had never been challenged before. That's what we're doing now, this crazy plunge into electronic travel.” The first venture by students at Smithfield High will come next month, when Ballard, a professor of oceanography at URI and president of the Institute for Exploration at Mystic Aquarium, sails to the Gulf of Mexico for a look at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, about 115 miles from the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. In the course of a week's work geologists, biologists and marine archaeologists will explore coral reefs, brine seeps, mud volcanoes and ancient shorelines. And the students will be able to follow the exploration in real time through the console, identical to the one at the Inner Space Center. Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:33 PM | Comment Weather update: Rain, then snow, to equal icy roads
PROVIDENCE – Snow tonight, guaranteed, reports the National Weather Service. Given the forecast, the state Department of Transportation is advising motorists to use caution during their drive home this evening. Rain and snow are likely to produce icy road conditions after 5 p.m., the DOT says. The DOT, which fended off criticism last week about how it handled the roads during the Valentine’s Day snow and ice storm, plans to monitor road conditions throughout the state during tonight’s storm and to spread sand and salt as temperatures drop, according to a statement issued this afternoon. “We will be working with our Transportation Management Center to keep motorists posted via the highway message boards, the Highway Advisory Radio at 1630 AM, and 511,” said Jerome F. Williams, RIDOT’s Director. There’s a 100 percent chance of precipitation –in the form of snow, the National Weather Service says – mainly before 3 a.m. tonight. It’s already raining, and that’s expected to change over to snow this evening near the coast, with a total accumulation of 2 to 4 inches. The weather service has issued a hazardous weather outlook, a snow advisory and a special weather statement at this time. The DOT advises motorists to reduce speed and use caution on the roads tonight to ensure that they get to their destination safely. RIDOT always recommends that drivers and their passengers wear their seatbelts. At least one community -- Coventry -- has already issued a parking ban for tonight. Check for more bans, delays and closings at: http://projo.com/weather/closings/
Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:17 PM | Comment Update: 3 accused of running steroid drug ringPROVIDENCE – Two New York doctors and the owner of a pharmaceutical company in New Jersey have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Providence of running a scheme to illegally prescribe anabolic steroids and human-growth hormones for body builders and others in Rhode Island. The tale involves a company that marketed the drugs to body builders, two doctors who wrote prescriptions without ever bothering to see the customers and a twisted scheme that involved all three in sharing the profits. About 30 percent of their customers came from Rhode Island and had prescriptions filled by pharmacies in this state, according to a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente. These drugs are not federally approved for use in body building, weight loss or anti-aging techniques, although that’s how Daniel McGlone, 54, of North Brunswick, N.J., used his American Pharmaceutical Group to make money off the customers who saw his ads in body building magazines and on Web sites, according to the federal indictment. -- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Although McGlone wasn’t licensed to practice medicine and wasn’t registered as a pharmacist, that didn’t stop him from advising his customers about the types of drugs they should purchase to benefit their body building and even asking them for blood tests. Those tests were irrelevant; according to the indictment, no matter what the results were, the customers got their drugs. The FDA has approved these drugs for use in only certain medical instances, including adults with a wasting disease associated with AIDS and children with short stature caused by renal insufficiency and growth hormone deficiency. McGlone wasn’t the only one lacking a medical license. Ana Maria Santi, 68, had her medical license revoked by New York state in 1999. But Santi opened her own company, Omni Health Care, which existed to provide prescriptions for these medications to McGlone’s customers and others. Instead of using her own name, Santi allegedly forged the signature of another physician – who was retired and living in a nursing home in California, according to the federal indictment. The federal indictment alleges that Santi was joined in the scheme by Victor Mariani, a doctor in Queens and Manhattan, who used his license to obtain prescriptions for the drugs. All three benefited from the customers: As the orders were paid, McGlone set aside some of the profits for the doctors. The federal investigators said that McGlone’s company netted a profit of at least $800,000. The three face various charges, including money laundering, health care fraud and conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and human-growth hormones. -- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:09 PM | Comment Warwick fire crews respond to house fireWARWICK – Firefighters this evening have responded to a house fire at 51 Pettaconsett Ave. More details are not yet available from the Fire Department. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:02 PM | Comment Update: Stop & Shop negotiators keep on talkingPROVIDENCE – The unions that represent 43,000 Stop & Shop employees remain in talks this evening with the company as both sides work to avert a strike on what is the final scheduled day of negotiations. “We are frustrated, but hopeful,” said Jim Riley, secretary-treasurer of Local 328 (which covers Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts employees), shortly before 5 p.m. today. “We will exhaust every avenue before we strike,” he said. “We’re prepared to go as long as it takes.” The groups negotiated yesterday until about 9 p.m., after a full day of talks on Tuesday, according to Riley. The first day the workers might go on strike is tomorrow. -- projo.com staff writers Kate Bramson and Steve Peoples, with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi The unions that have authorized a strike are Local 328, Local 1445 of eastern and central Massachusetts, Local 1459 of western Massachusetts and two unions representing Connecticut workers, Locals 371 and 919. Yesterday, Riley said that if talks break down, all five unions would go on strike. As for whether that would happen tomorrow, the first day the strike authorization votes allow it, he said yesterday, “that’s a possibility.” "We made some headway yesterday," he said this morning as the heads of the five regional unions prepared to enter the negotiating room at the Westin Providence hotel. "I feel more confident than I ever have. The only problem is that we’re running out of time." He continued: "If we can piggy back on that today and move expeditiously today, I think we can avert a strike." Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:19 PM | Comment Update: Hole forces closing of Route 6 ramp / Photo
PROVIDENCE -- A large hole in the road surface has forced the state Department of Transportation to close the Tobey Street/Harris Avenue ramp to Route 6 west immediately. Route 6 is safe for travel, according to a statement issued early this afternoon by the DOT. The DOT expects the ramp will remain closed for about 24 hours, but the closure could take longer if there’s significant rain or snow tonight. The DOT reports that it will post signs for a detour along its suggested alternate route. The police will be posted at the ramp closure. The state department reports that Route 6 – at over 50 – is an aging infrastructure. Plans exist to replace the entire Route 6 and Route 10 interchange in the future, according to the DOT. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:53 PM | Comment AG sues N. Kingstown school board over meetingNORTH KINGSTOWN -- In a rare move, Atty. Gen. Patrick C. Lynch is suing the School Committee for violating the state Open Meetings Law last August. Lynch has asked a Washington County Superior Court judge to fine the committee for willfully and knowingly violating the law. Under the Open Meetings Act, a judge may impose a fine of up to $5,000. In a statement released today, Lynch said the committee has ignored earlier warnings from his office. The suit, filed yesterday, is only the third Lynch has filed against a public body. -- Journal staff writer Paul Davis “The School Committee has, unfortunately, amassed a substantial history of indifference toward the laws of our state governing open meetings,” Lynch said. “We have warned them three times before that they must comply” with the state law, he said. “They did not.” School Committee member Melvoid Benson in September asked Lynch to investigate the committee. According to Lynch, the School Committee failed to file an electronic notice of an Aug. 23 meeting 48 hours in advance, as required by state law. The notice must be filed with the Secretary of State's Office. The committee then “went ahead with its meeting on the following day,” Lynch said. "Our involvement would be unnecessary had the School Committee taken the proper action and re-scheduled the August 23 meeting,” Lynch said. “I am seeking a civil fine to rectify the School Committee's violation in this case and to encourage the North Kingstown School Committee and other public bodies to comply with our open-government laws in the future.” -- Journal staff writer Paul Davis Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:34 PM | Comment Update: Police probe N. Providence woman's murderNORTH PROVIDENCE – As the police continue to investigate the murder of a 49-year-old local woman found dead in her apartment yesterday, they have not yet said how Cynthia L. McKenna died. She was not stabbed or shot, Deputy Chief Paul Marino said this afternoon. Someone who periodically checks in on McKenna found her body in her one-bedroom apartment at 242 Waterman Ave. The police were summoned to investigate what was called a suspicious death at around 4:30 p.m. yesterday. McKenna’s body was inside her second-floor apartment, No. 9. "Officers immediately determined that the victim was murdered," reads the statement released earlier today by the North Providence Police Department. The statement does not provide any details about the condition of the body. The scene was preserved, and detectives and the medical examiner were called to the scene, according to the police. "Numerous pieces of evidence" were collected, and witnesses are being interviewed, reads the statement. Late this afternoon, Marino said the police are still interviewing people about the homicide. -- projo.com staff writers Kate Bramson and Steve Peoples, with reports from Journal staff writer Richard Dujardin Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:30 PM | Comment Update: E. Providence officer not guilty of assaultPROVIDENCE -- A jury today found an East Providence police officer not guilty of assaulting a handcuffed suspect in a back hallway of the East Providence police headquarters two years ago. Patrolman Jason Francis was acquitted in Providence County Superior Court of felony assault with a dangerous weapon, that is, a shod foot, with serious bodily injury resulting. He was also acquitted of misdemeanor simple assault and writing a false police report. Closing arguments were yesterday, and the jury reached a verdict after deliberating that afternoon and this morning. “What we think the jury had a chance to see was that the person accusing my client had absolutely no credibility,” Len O’Brien, one of Francis’s defense lawyers, said in an interview after the verdict. “And also it became very clear as the trial went along that some of the strongest evidence in the state’s case was evidence that favored my client.” Francis, 29, has been suspended without pay for most of the last two years. He’s been with the department since 2000. --Journal staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Alisha A. Pina Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:28 PM | Comment A quiet Sports TonightAfter a couple of busy nights, the local sports scene is pretty quiet tonight. In high school sports, the La Salle girls basketball team will look to finish a perfect 18-0 in RIIL Division I when it finishes its season at home tonight against St. Raphael (10-7). Click here to read Carolyn Thornton's story about La Salle's dominant season. The game begins at 7. There are a number of not-too-exciting college hoops games on ESPN; best TV bet appears to be the NBA matchup between LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls. The game starts at 7 on TNT from Cleveland. Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:19 PM | Comment Former Celtic great Dennis Johnson dies at age 52Dennis Johnson, a key member of the Boston Celtics' 1984 and 1986 championship, died today at age 52. NBA.com said Johnson, who was coaching the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League, suffered a fatal heart attack during a pickup basketball game. Follow this story as it develops on projo.com's Sports Blog. Posted by Art Martone at 4:13 PM | Comment Cranston apartment fire prompts evacuationCRANSTON -- Four residents of a Park Avenue apartment building were evacuated when an apartment on the third floor caught fire this afternoon. The Fire Department responded to the blaze at around 12:53 p.m., dispatching 15 firefighters and three engines, a ladder truck and an ambulance, Assistant Fire Chief James Gumbley said. The fire was extinguished by 1:30 p.m., and there were no injuries reported, Gumbley said. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:11 PM | Comment Photo: Sea gull siesta
Posted by Jack Perry at 1:15 PM | Comment Update: Pawtucket fire displaces 7 / Photo
Journal photo/ Bill Murphy
An overnight fire at 269 West Avenue in Pawtucket left three families homeless
PAWTUCKET – A fast-moving fire of electrical origin left seven residents homeless early today, tearing through the second-floor living room of a three-story house. The fire at 267-269 West Ave. in the Woodlawn section was caused by electrical cords that overheated, setting fire to combustible materials in the living room, according to Lt. William Sisson of the Pawtucket Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau, who investigated the fire with Lt. Leonard Vine. When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting out of the living room windows, Sisson said. Firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Richard Meerbott knocked down the blaze quickly, according to Sisson. Most of the fire damage was confined to the second-floor living room, Sisson said. There were no injuries, although the third-floor tenant, 46-year-old Jose Dosreis, had to be evacuated from a flat-roofed part of the building by firefighters using a ladder truck. The second-floor tenants, Angel Bracetty, 24, and Ada Abelino, 31, managed to escape with their two small boys, one three years old, the other 20 months. The fire was reported at 1:50 a.m. The second-floor tenants were awakened by smoke detectors, according to Sisson. They alerted the owner of the building, 36-year-old DeoLinda DePina, and her friend, Angelo DaLomba, 43, who were downstairs. The first and third floors suffered only smoke and water damage. Nevertheless, the house had to be evacuated. Sisson said the second-floor tenants are staying with relatives. The first and third floor tenants are being provided with temporary housing by the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Red Cross. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Jack Perry at 12:58 PM | Comment Acting mayor Sisto: Grandson lives with me/ Photo
An investigation by WLNE-TV contends that Sisto's grandson is attending North Providence schools, even though his mother, Cheryl Sisto, lives in Providence. The TV station videotaped Sisto picking up his grandson in a town-owned vehicle at 7:15 a.m. last week at the boy's mother's house, then driving him to Marieville Elementary in North Providence. The media contingent met Sisto at a morning groundbreaking ceremony for a new public works garage. Following repeated questioning about his grandson, Sisto invited the group to his Atlantic Avenue home to provide evidence that the boy lived with him. Aside from allowing various television and newspaper cameras into a bedroom he said was his grandsons, Sisto also pulled a box of cereal from a kitchen closet and said it was the boy's. Sisto says the boy and his mother moved in with him last summer -- although WLNE observed the boy coming out of the Providence house before school every day last week. A spokesman for the state Department of Education says it doesn't matter if the boy lives with his grandfather. What matters is whoever has custody -- and that's Cheryl Sisto. Records show Cheryl Sisto owns a house in Providence, uses a Providence address for her driver's license and is registered to vote in Providence. In general, state law requires that a child attend the school system where he resides, which is determined by the residence of the parents. However, the law provides for exceptions by agreement and according to the status of the parents or other special circumstances. Sisto faces a special Democratic mayoral primary next Tuesday against former Town Councilman Charles Lombardi. The winner will face Republican Billy Goodman in a special election April 17. Former Mayor A. Ralph Mollis won election in November as secretary of state. -- With Associated Press reports Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:13 PM | Comment Update: No one trapped in Cranston house fireCRANSTON -- Reports of residents trapped in a fire on Cornell Street have proved inaccurate, Deputy Fire Chief James Gumbley said. Twenty firefighters responded to the call this morning, searching a single-family house. They found no one inside, he said, and the fire was extinguished within 20 minutes. The house, at 80 Cornell Street, is owned by the city's fire marshal, Thomas Dettore, according to a city database. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:51 AM | Comment Bomb squad checks briefcase in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- The bomb squad, the fire department and city police have responded to a downtown building this morning to investigate a suspicious package. The Providence Police Department bomb squad is checking out a briefcase left on a city bench outside 56 Exchange Terrace, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the fire department. Check back on projo.com for updates. Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:09 AM | Comment State of the Judiciary speech set for next week
PROVIDENCE -- The head of the Rhode Island Supreme Court will deliver the annual State of the Judiciary address to a special joint session of the General Assembly next week. The legislative press bureau this morning released the date and time of Chief Justice Frank J. Williams' speech. It is set for Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the rise of the House, which is usually around 4:30 p.m. Williams made news in last year's address when he called for a 20-percent increase in state spending for courts and criticized Governor Carcieri's budget proposal as an unconstitutional attempt to "turn the judiciary into a collection agency." Capitol TV plans to broadcast the address live Channel 15 for both Cox Communications and Full Channel cable subscribers. Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:57 AM | Comment War protest moves to Langevin's officeWARWICK -- An anti-war protest comes to Congressman Jim Langevin's office in Warwick. Langevin's office says protesters told them they'll begin showing up today at 4 p.m. The planned protest follows a demonstration this week at Congressman Patrick Kennedy's Pawtucket office. The protesters have included military families opposed to the Iraq war, college students and other activists. They want both legislators to back a proposal to defund the Iraq war. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:45 AM | Comment Stop & Shop strike looms on last day of talksPROVIDENCE – The unions that represent 43,000 Stop & Shop employees resumed talks with the company this morning as both sides work to avert a strike on what is the final scheduled day of negotiations. After a full day of talks on Tuesday, the groups negotiated yesterday until about 9 p.m., according to Jim Riley, secretary-treasurer of Local 328, which covers Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts employees. "We made some headway yesterday," he said this morning as the heads of the five regional unions prepared to enter the negotiating room at the Westin Providence hotel. "I feel more confident than I ever have. The only problem is that we’re running out of time." He continued: "If we can piggy back on that today and move expeditiously today, I think we can avert a strike." The unions that have authorized a strike are Local 328, Local 1445 of eastern and central Massachusetts, Local 1459 of western Massachusetts and two unions representing Connecticut workers, Locals 371 and 919. If talks break down, Riley said all five unions would go on strike. As for whether that would happen Friday, the first day the strike authorization votes allow it, he said yesterday, “that’s a possibility.” -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 9:29 AM | Comment No contract offer for Schilling / Photo
AP Photo
Curt Schilling delivers a throw as GM Theo Epstein watches Sunday in Fort Myers.
Curt Schilling, speaking as he often does on Dennis and Callahan's morning show on WEEI, said that the Red Sox would not offer him a new contract until this season is complete. At that point, the 40-year-old right-hander plans on testing the free-agent market. Schilling announced on the same radio program last month that he had changed his plans to retire at the end of the 2007 season. He later said that he hoped the Red Sox would offer him a new contract before the season started. Schilling will make $13 million this year. He indicated that he would be willing to return to Boston next year for the same amount. Posted by Mike McDermott at 9:12 AM | Comment Group to fight cuts to child care, work programsPROVIDENCE -- An advocacy group plans to fight a series of proposed cuts to social programs at a rally this morning on Federal Hill. One Rhode Island, a coalition of groups organized by Rhode Island College's Poverty Institute, will unveil its 2007 legislative priorities at the Federal Hill House on Courtland Street in reaction to Governor Carcieri's recent budget proposal. Carcieri's spending plan includes cuts to state-subsidized child care. He hopes to reduce the rolls by a third by lowering the income-eligibility ceiling. Carcieri also proposes to delay scheduled pay hikes to the child-care providers and payment increases for nursing homes. At the 11 a.m. press conference, One Rhode Island will "highlight proposed budget cuts to child care, child support, and child welfare that are 'anti-family and anti-work,'" reads an announcement released by the coalition. Posted by Steve Peoples at 8:28 AM | Comment Flower show kicks off in Providence / Photo
PROVIDENCE -- It is a horticulturist's dream. And it begins this morning at the Rhode Island Convention Center as the 14th Annual Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show kicks off. The highlights include 30 showcase gardens woven "with masterful designs," the "wise words" of popular gardening celebrities like Roger Cook, the landscape contractor for the TV series, "This Old House," and a host of lectures, workshops, and demonstrations by horticultural experts, according to an announcement released by show organizers. The show is expected to draw more than 30,000 people to downtown Providence before it's all over on Sunday night. The doors open each day at 10 a.m. and don't close until 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Things close down a bit earlier Sunday, 6 p.m. Daily tickets cost $16 for adults, $7 for children ages 6 to 12, and $14 for seniors and students. Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:48 AM | Comment Boston police ban pellet guns used in Sox fan's deathBOSTON -- The Boston Police Department is getting rid of the pepper-pellet guns blamed for the death of a college student during Red Sox celebrations more than two years ago. "Never. They'll never again be used in the city of Boston," police Commissioner Edward Davis told the Boston Herald for today's editions. The department's 13 FN303 pellet guns, which haven't been used since Oct. 21, 2004 when Emerson College student Victoria Snelgrove died hours after being struck in the left eye with a pellet fired by police, will be melted down and recycled into sewer caps. Davis suggested dumping them in Boston Harbor. Read the full Associated Press story. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:20 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features local stories on Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch's opinion that Rhode Island should recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts and a former Rhode Island congressional candidate being cleared of war profiteering charges. Download today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:03 AM | Comment Forecast calls for mess later todayPROVIDENCE -- It's going to be wet. And at some point, the rain will freeze, turning to snow. But the National Weather Service isn't sure exactly when the switch will take place today. The rain is expected to start this afternoon after 3 p.m. The temperature should fall from the mid 40s to below freezing between 9 p.m. and midnight as rain mixes with snow, according to the weather service. And the mix is expected to turn to all snow from midnight to 3 a.m. as steady north winds blow around 20 mph and the temperature drops into the mid 20s. Rain or slush on the roads should freeze overnight, the weather service says, which could complicate the morning commute. The weather service is calling for a total new snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches by morning. For more weather and updates, see projo.com/weather. Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:00 AM | Comment February 21, 2007Questions in school choice of mayor's grandsonQuestions are being raised about the school attendance of the grandson of the acting mayor of North Providence. Acting Mayor John Sisto's grandson is attending North Providence schools, even though his mother Cheryl Sisto lives in Providence, according to the Associated Press. A television station videotaped Sisto picking up his grandson in a town-owned vehicle at 7:15 a.m. last week at the boy's mother's house, then driving him to Marieville Elementary in North Providence. Sisto says the boy and his mother moved in with him last summer -- although the boy was observed the boy coming out of the Providence house before school every day last week. A spokesman for the state Department of Education says it doesn't matter if the boy lives with his grandfather. What matters is whoever has custody -- and that's Cheryl Sisto. Records show Cheryl Sisto owns a house in Providence, uses a Providence address for her driver's license and is registered to vote in Providence. -- By the Associated Press Posted by Pam Cotter at 6:58 PM | Comment Stop & Shop still talking as strike deadline loomsUnion negotiators and Stop & Shop executives are "still talking" this afternoon over a new contract for the supermarket chain's 43,000 unionized employees, confirmed representatives of both sides. Talks between the United Food and Commercial Workers union and Stop & Shop are expected to continue into the evening, with a "flexible" start time for negotiations to resume Thursday morning, if needed. Five UFCW locals, which represent Stop & Shop workers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, already have voted to strike if no settlement is reached this week. The locals' contract with Stop & Shop expired over the weekend. Stop & Shop is seeking people to replace its unionized workers should the union decide to strike. That's left some shoppers wary of crossing picket lines, according to a projo.com survey. -- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:27 PM | Comment Man killed by Amtrak trainSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- South Kingstown and Amtrak police are investigating the death of a young man found on the train tracks just west of the University of Rhode Island this afternoon. Amtrak police were notified by the train’s conductor that he had hit someone a few miles north of the train station a little after 1 p.m., according to Cliff Cole, spokesman for Amtrak. None of the 94 passengers, nor the conductor, was hurt. The Acela train, which makes a stop in South Kingstown on its busy Washington to Boston route, should be restricted to 130 mph on the curved stretch of track, Cole said. Train service was suspended for less than an hour, Cole said, and the schedule was back to normal by 3:35 p.m. Trains rolled by slowly at 2:30 p.m. as officials continued their investigation of the crime scene. The medical examiners office has not yet identified the man. Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:17 PM | Comment Update: Same sex marriages in Mass. valid in RIAttorney General Patrick Lynch said today that the state will recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts, a move that clears the way for gay and lesbian couples to receive the same employer benefits as non-gay couples. The decision, which was released by Lynch's office this afternoon, comes more than four months after a Massachusetts' judge ruled that Rhode Island same-sex couples could marry in Massachusetts because Rhode Island law does not expressly prohibit gay marriage. Lynch said his office took "great pains" to review state law before determining that legal out-of-state marriages don't contradict the state's public policy. "I’m saying there is no legal reason that a couple validly married in Massachusetts should be denied any basic rights in Rhode Island," he said. "That would be wrong." Lynch's opinion was issued in response to a recent request from the Board of Governor's for Higher Education. Three state employees had asked their personnel files to be changed to reflect their same-sex marriage status, according to board spokesman Steve Maurano. While in the past Lynch suggested that the courts would ultimately settle the issue, he said today that he was forced to intervene to protect the employees. "The Board of Education was threatening to deny people basic rights. I wasn’t going to wait," Lynch said. "You cannot deny these people basic rights when the marriage is valid." Lynch acknowledged that today's opinion may end up in the courts because of the broad precedent it sets. "It’s a big deal for the couples that have been denied rights," he said. "How big it is for Rhode Island, frankly I’m not certain. To me it’s a basic civil rights issue." Jenn Steinfeld, director of Marriage Equality RI, praised today's opinion. "I’m feeling really excited," she said. "We certainly applaud [Lynch's] stance here. We applaud him going through Rhode Island law and...recognizing that there is no strong public policy against recognizing same-sex marriages." -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:12 PM | Comment Jury gets East Providence police brutality casePROVIDENCE — It’s clear East Providence resident Edward Vieira fractured his nose in two places on February 4, 2005. -- Journal staff writer Alisha A. Pina Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:52 PM | Comment Spontaneous combustion cited in Portmsouth firePORTSMOUTH — The Fire Department is blaming a fire late last night at Vanguard Sailboats on “spontaneous combustion.” Fire Chief Jeff Lynch said today that the fire at the boatbuilding facility started in a bucket of used rags just before midnight and was likely ignited by chemicals in the dirty rags. “In boatbuilding, workers use catalysts and other chemicals,” Lynch said. “Catalysts generate heat.” Nobody was in the building at 200 High Point Ave. at the time, and Lynch said there was no other possible cause of the fire. A sprinkler system in the industrial building contained the fire until firefighters arrived. After forcing their way into the building, they were able to rapidly extinguish the fire. No boats were damaged in the fire, but it did cause an estimated $30,000 in damage to the building, mainly to several partition walls. None of the damage was structural. One firefighter suffered minor injuries when he fell off a loading dock while trying to get into the building. He was taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital for treatment and was released early yesterday morning. -- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:50 PM | Comment Lynch: same sex marriages in Mass. valid in RIPROVIDENCE -- Attorney General Patrick Lynch said today that the state will recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts, a move that clears the way for gay and lesbian couples to receive the same employer benefits as non-gay couples. The decision, which was released by Lynch's office this afternoon, comes more than four months after a Massachusetts' judge ruled that Rhode Island same-sex couples could marry in Massachusetts because Rhode Island law does not expressly prohibit gay marriage. Lynch said his office took "great pains" to review state law before determining that legal out-of-state marriages don't contradict the state's public policy. "I’m saying there is no legal reason that a couple validly married in Massachusetts should be denied any basic rights in Rhode Island," he said. "That would be wrong." -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:42 PM | Comment Brown recruits accused former Duke lacrosse playerThe Brown University lacrosse team is recruiting Reade Seligmann, one of the three former Duke lacrosse players accused of sexual offense and kidnapping, according to reports in today's Brown Daily Herald and on Bloomberg. A rape charge against Seligmann, David Evans and Collin Finnerty was dropped in December when the accuser, an exotic dancer, changed elements of her story. Seligmann is a graduate of the Delbarton School, in New Jersey, the same prep school that produced three current members of the Brown lacrosse team, the Daily Herald reports. Click here to read the full Daily Herald report. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:35 PM | Comment Feinstein to match Station Family Fund donationsAlan Shawn Feinstein, the Cranston philanthropist, will match all donations made to the Station Family Fund within the next 30 days up to $100,000, he told The Journal today. The Station Family Fund began months after the fire ripped through the Station nightclub in Feb. 2003 to help the families of the 100 who died there adjust to life without their loved ones. Through the organizations, survivors and family members could recieve assistance paying bills, buying groceries or paying for funeral costs. But in recent years, fundraising has declined, leaving the fund with around $3,000 in their account and support seemed to be waning. Feinstein said he was moved to start the campaign after reading of the fund's harships in The Journal on Tuesday, the fourth anniversary of the Station nightclub fire. "My aim is just to get more money available to families impacted by that catastrophe," Feinstein said. "To see the fund dwindle to $3,000 when there are good people that are still interested in manning the board and helping families that need continuing aid; I'm all for seeing that continue." Donations can be made payable to The Station Family Fund and sent to the Alan Shawn Feinstein Foundation, at 37 Alhambra Circle, Cranston, RI 02905 . The campaign will last from Feb. 22 through March 23. -- Journal staff writer Talia Buford Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:18 PM | Comment Sports Tonight: Proving time for URIThe Rhode Island Rams certainly face a stiff test tonight if they want to remain in first place in the Atlantic 10. URI (10-3 in conference, 17-10 overall) will try to do something they have only done twice in 14 tries: beat the Xavier Musketeers (9-3, 19-7). And they'll have to do it in Cincinnati, on Xavier's home court. The game begins at 7 on Cox Sports Television. In high school sports, the North Smithfield boys hockey team looks to win the Burrillville Hall of Fame Tournament for the second straight year. The Northmen face Ponaganset at 4, at Levy Rink. Check projo.com's High School Game Day page tomorrow for a gallery of game photos and Carolyn Thornton's game story. In Providence, the P-Bruins will be at The Dunk for a game at 7 against the Portland Pirates. The Celtics visit the NBA's second-best team, the now healthy Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns (39-13) tonight at 9. You can see the carnage on Fox Sports New England. Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:56 PM | Comment 2d crewman recovered from sunken N.B. boatNEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- Divers searching a sunken fishing vessel in Nantucket Sound today found the second of four crewmen presumed killed in the accident, in what state police said was their last search of the vessel because of hazardous debris. The New Bedford-based Lady of Grace went down in an icy storm on Jan. 26 about 12 miles off Barnstable on Cape Cod. Three days later, the body of the vessel's captain, Antonio Barroqueiro, 50, of Fairhaven, Mass., was found. This morning, a state police dive team and one commercial diver found an unidentified second body in one of the vessel's bunk rooms, the state police said. The other fishermen presumed dead are Rogerio Ventura, Mario Farinhas and Joao Silva. The state police said divers searched the entire vessel today, except for the boat's engine room, which they couldn't get to because they were blocked by hazardous debris. That debris presents an "unmanageable risk to divers" and will prevent a return to the Lady of Grace to try to find the two missing fisherman, the state police said in a press release. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 1:33 PM | Comment Moura, Ajello propose election reformsPROVIDENCE -- State Sen. Paul E. Moura, D-East Providence, and Rep. Edith H. Ajello, D-Providence, today unveiled a series of election reforms to prevent a repeat of the confusion and legal controversy that bedeviled several elections last November. The legislation would grant public access to paper ballots and compel the Board of Elections to attempt to discern voter intent on ballots that cannot be read by optical scanning machines. It would also allow for the recounting of mail ballots and provisional ballots. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin Gedan Posted by Jack Perry at 1:11 PM | Comment Update: Major named interim head of state police
Journal file photo
Maj. Steven O'Donnell
Pare, 46, has served with the state police for 26 years, and he has been the agency's superintendent since October 2001. O’Donnell, a 20-year department veteran, has served as second in command of the state police since 2004. Governor Carcieri issued a statement, saying, “I am confident that Major O’Donnell will lead the state police as we continue our work to identify a new superintendent. Major O’Donnell is an experienced and skilled leader who has risen through the ranks, working in virtually every division within the state police.” “We are continuing our search for a superintendent who will build on the work of Col. Pare,” Carcieri said. “The professionalism and excellence of the Rhode Island State Police is unmatched, and we will select a new Superintendent who will carry on this proud tradition.” O’Donnell joined the Rhode Island State Police in 1987 after serving as a North Kingstown police officer for two years and a correctional officer for one year, according to Carcieri's office. He was named “Trooper of the Year” for the North Atlantic Region in 1996. He and nine other police officers throughout the country were named “Top Cop” by President Clinton in 1995. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:35 PM | Comment TJX says their security breach was more seriousFRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- TJX Cos., operators of Marshall's and T.J. Maxx discount retail stores, said today a security breach into its computer systems was more extensive than previously reported. TJX had thought the intrusion into its customer data files took place between May 2006 and January 2007, but has since learned its computer system also was hacked into in July 2005 and other periods during that year. Credit and debit card data from transactions at its U.S. and Puerto Rican stores and credit card-only transactions at Canadian stores from January 2003 through June 2004 were stolen. Also believed stolen are some drivers' license numbers together with related names and addresses associated with un-receipted merchandise returns at TJX's T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico for the last four months of May 2003, as well as for May and June 2004. TJX said it will notify those customers it can identify whose drivers' license numbers, names and addresses were taken. -- The Associated Press Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:01 PM | Comment Police looking for suspects in double stabbingPROVIDENCE -- The police are looking for suspects in last night's double stabbing that sent two men to the hospital. The victims, identified as 21-year-old Shawn Steele, of Central Falls, and 18-year-old Same Gnib, of Providence, were taken to Rhode Island Hospital last night after the police found them on the street "holding their abdomens." The police said each man had been stabbed in the back several times on the corner of Broad Street and Potters Avenue at about 6 p.m. The victims told the police that at least three men jumped out of a small gray four-door car and attacked them. The attackers -- all described as being between 18 and 21 years old wearing black puffy jackets -- jumped back in the car and fled down Broad Street, leaving Steele and Gnib bleeding on the street. Providence Police Maj. Stephen Campbell said there are two witnesses who said they did not know the attackers but could possibly identify them. The victims last night were listed in stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital. But a hospital spokeswoman today couldn't provide their condition. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:55 AM | Comment Lottery announces $50,000 winnerThe state lottery announced today that an East Greenwich woman is $50,000 richer. The woman cashed in a winning scratch ticket this morning at the lottery's Cranston headquarters, according to the announcement. The ticket was purchased from Standard Liquor on Eddy Street, in Providence. The woman told the lottery that she rarely buys scratch tickets. Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:40 AM | Comment Local kids compete for cutest title on Regis and KellyCheck out some cute toddlers – including two local babies – on NBC’s Live With Regis and Kelly on Channels 7 and 10 this morning. As Regis and Kelly have been talking about JetBlue flight troubles and other news at the start of their 10 a.m. show, they’ve been flashing photos of babies who entered the “Beautiful Baby Search” on three large screens behind them. Two local toddlers are among the five finalists who will appear on the show today. Tune in to the show to catch the appearances of: Griffin Jones, 20 months, of Narragansett, son of Courtney and Howard Jones; and Kaysie Lynn Teixeira, 13 months, of Fall River, daughter of Kerri and Chad Teixeira. Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:24 AM | Comment Fatal crash in Rehoboth on Route 195 WestREHOBOTH – The Massachusetts State Police are investigating a fatal crash on Route 195 West this morning at the Mason Street overpass. The driver of a 2006 Honda Sedan left the road and struck a tree around 8:15 a.m., but more details about what caused the crash are unknown at this time, Lt. Eric Anderson said. Anderson has no details about the driver's identity. He does not believe anyone else was in the sedan at the time of the crash, which was originally thought to be a two-car accident but has been determined to be a single-car crash. Both the left and center lanes at the accident location remain closed. The right and breakdown lanes are open, Anderson said. The Rehoboth and Swansea fire departments and the Massachusetts highway department also responded. The state police collision analysis and reconstruction section are investigating, Anderson said. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:17 AM | Comment Update: Stop & Shop negotiations re-start todayPROVIDENCE – Five regional unions that represent 43,000 Stop & Shop employees, who have authorized a strike against the supermarket chain, went back into negotiations with the company this morning at 9 a.m. after talks ended last night with no movement. “Talks ended last night the way they’ve ended the last 11 sesssions,” said Jim Riley, secretary-treasurer of Local 328, which covers Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts employees. “Nothing has been agreed to.” Riley said he’s hopeful about the negotiating session set today at the Westin Providence hotel. “I’ve got a feeling there’s going to be some movement today,” he said. Why? “Because there’s only two more days,” he said, referring to Friday, the day the unions have authorized that a strike could begin. “We’ve got to have some movement today, or we’re going to have a real problem tomorrow,” Riley said. A Stop & Shop spokeswoman who confirmed that negotiations started up again today declined to characterize yesterday’s negotiations, other than to say, “We’re negotiating.” She confirmed that another session is planned for tomorrow. Spokeswoman Faith Weiner declined to discuss any plans the company may be making in case the employees go on strike. “Right now, we’re focused on today and tomorrow for negotiations,” she said. “And we’re hopeful that we will have a new collective bargaining agreement for the union to ratify, and if we have to make other plans we’ll announce them at an appropriate time.” -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Tomorrow’s session is also set for 9 a.m., said Riley, who estimated both today and tomorrow’s sessions will go “all day.” The unions that have authorized a strike are Local 328, Local 1445 of eastern and central Massachusetts, Local 1459 of western Massachusetts and two unions representing Connecticut workers, Locals 371 and 919. If talks break down, Riley said all five unions would go on strike. As for whether that would happen Friday, the first day the strike authorization votes allow it, he said, “that’s a possibility.” “I’m really hoping we get some movement in negotiations so that doesn’t happen,” he said. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:46 AM | Comment Update: Fire destroys part of Cranston plant / Photo
CRANSTON – An early morning fire at Rihani Plastics Inc. that sent flames roaring 30 feet in the air and caused the evacuation of nearby homes destroyed the older, one-story section of the building at 14 Suez St. The newer, two-story addition to the plastics company suffered smoke and water damage, but no fire damage, Asst. Fire Chief James Gumbley said this morning. The fire remains under investigation, and a skeleton crew continues dousing hot spots, Gumbley said. Two employees were in the building working at the time of the fire, which was reported at 12:10 a.m. One suffered a minor burn injury to his hand but did not go to a hospital, Gumbley said. A 93-year-old woman in a neighboring dwelling was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for observation, Gumbley said. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson When firefighters arrived at the fire, they faced heavy smoke conditions and some visible fire. Shortly after they arrived, the building’s roof collapsed, adding oxygen to the blaze and sending flames roaring into the night sky, Gumbley said. Firefighters battled for a couple hours to get the fire under control, which Gumbley said happened around 2 a.m. By that point, they were no longer worried that it would endanger other structures or spread further within the building. Gumbley is uncertain how many people left their homes when the fire department called for a precautionary – but not a mandatory – evacuation out of concern that burning plastics produce hydrogen cyanide gas. The fire department monitored the cyanide levels in the business, and they were at “acceptable levels,” Gumbley said. Recently, firefighters have been more aware of the dangers of cyanide poisoning at fires. Nearby residents who were evacuated stayed in a police command vehicle and the Red Cross vehicle that responded to the fire until around 3:30 a.m., Gumbley said. The fire also melted the vinyl siding on three houses to the rear of the plastics complex. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:33 AM | Comment Foggy, icy morning should turn into sunny dayPROVIDENCE – It’s quite balmy out today, with a high of 34 already expected to climb to 45 later today. Expect patchy fog before 9 a.m. and then mostly sunny skies. The biggest thing to look out for today is areas of black ice across interior southern New England this morning. The National Weather Service reports slippery conditions. Tomorrow, although the high is expected to be 40 degrees, the National Weather Service is calling for an 80 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 3 p.m. Temps should drop back into the high 20s for Friday and should creep into the low- to mid-30s for the weekend, with another chance of snow on Sunday. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:03 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story on Rhode Island-born artist Gilbert Stuart's masterpiece of George Washington and a story on former state Sen. John Celona's sentencing in state court after entering a no-contest plea to charges of selling his office. Download today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 20, 2007Two men stabbed in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- Authorities this evening are investigating a double stabbing on the corner of Broad Street and Potters Avenue. Two male victims, ages 18 and 21, have been transported to Rhode Island Hospital and are listed in stable condition, according to James Taylor, the Fire Department's chief of communications. Both men were stabbed in the back, Taylor said, noting that he didn't know whether the men had stabbed each other or if the police were searching for a suspect. No more details were immediately available. Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:03 PM | Comment Update: Stop & Shop contract talks may go latePROVIDENCE -- Union representatives and Stop & Shop executives continue to talk this afternoon at the Rhode Island Convention Center as they negotiate a new contract for 43,000 people who work for the Quincy, Mass., supermarket chain. At around 5 p.m., officials said that negotiations were expected to go deep into the night. The contract with the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents Stop & Shop workers in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, expired over the weekend. Five UFCW locals, including Local 328 in Rhode Island, already have authorized a strike if contract talks break down. Meanwhile, Stop & Shop is recruiting replacement workers this week at job fairs its holding in the three states. -- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:13 PM | Comment Carcieri: Those who defy the law will pay the priceGovernor Carcieri this afternoon praised the 4-year prison sentence given to former North Providence lawmaker John Celona. “This shameful episode of an elected official who betrayed the trust of the voters has been properly handled in the state court,” Carcieri said. “It is important to see that public corruption will not be tolerated and those who defy the law will pay the price.” Celona will serve the four-year state sentence concurrently with a 2 1/2 year federal sentence, meaning that he could serve another 1 1/2 years in state prison after doing his federal time. “I will continue to press for reforms to the ethics code in order to eliminate loopholes and establish greater accountability among public officials," he said. "The people of Rhode Island deserve to feel confident that elected officials are serving the public good.” Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:50 PM | Comment School censors high school musical ' Fame'NORTH KINGSTOWN -- Students in North Kingstown High School’s musical will be singing a slightly different tune next month. The school’s production of “Fame,” a musical about students at a performing arts high school, has been cut. A cheeky song about masturbation sung by a class clown is out. And a porno shop in one scene has been replaced by Times Square. “I think it's adults trying to protect their kids, which is understandable,” said 16-year-old Devon Morin, who plays one of the lead roles. But, he said today, he didn't think it was the right decision. “I feel that the entirety of the play is created so that people can understand what it is like to be a performing major in high school. Or what Carmen has to deal with with drugs, or Joe” – the character that would sing "Can’t Keep it Down,' the song that was cut. “The point of his song is about seeing pretty girls. Everything in that play is there for a reason,” Morin said. Norma Caiazza, the musical’s director, reacted similarily two weeks ago after she received a letter from an East Greenwich pastor asking her to change the content of the play. “All of the characters in this show are dealing with struggles that every high school kid deals with,” she said, adding that she thought the message, about a student who blew off school and didn’t graduate, was appropriate for her students. -- Journal staff writer Brandie Jefferson The letter, from Rob LaRocco, a pastor at XL Ministries in East Greenwich, said some students said they tried to approach Caiazza, but were afraid of being singled out. He suggested making the script more “family friendly.” Caiazza said the play had been approved by the administration with a mature rating. Students got a chance to read it before auditioning and then, she said, “I told the kids that they had to show the script to their parents.” Steve Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union said he also heard from parents with several concerns. “One, was the whole issue of censoring the play,” he said, “Second was censoring the play based on a complaint from a pastor in another community. Third was just a concern about the process by which it appeared the initial decision was made.” Earlier this month, Morin said Principal Foley came to meet with the cast after school. "Foley said that he was doing what's best for the community," Morin said. But, the student said, he had already made a choice. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:40 PM | Comment Illegal alien gets 30 months for reentering countryPROVIDENCE -- A Dominican national has been ordered to spend 2 1/2 years in prison for illegally reentering the Unites States after being deported, the U.S. Attorney's Office said today. Francis Manuel Pena, formerly of 38 Tweed St., Pawtucket, was initially deported to the Dominican Republican after being convicted of drug trafficking. Federal investigators learned that Pena had reentered the country -- which is a felony -- after he was arrested last September for a drug-related charge. U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi sentenced Pena to 30 months in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said today, noting that Pena pleaded guilty to the charge in November. Pena will be subject to deportation after the prison term. Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:45 PM | Comment Sports Tonight: A mountain for PC to climbThe Providence College Friars welcome the 22nd-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers and former Hendricken star Joe Mazzulla to the Dunkin' Donuts Center tonight. The game starts at 7:30 and can be seen on Cox Sports Television. West Virginia is one of the surprise teams in the Big East; despite losing some of their mainstays from last year to graduation, they have compiled an 8-5 conference record and a mark of 20-6 overall. The Friars come in at 6-6 and 16-9. We'll have a gallery of photos online tomorrow, as well as Kevin McNamara's game story. On the high school scene, the Barrington Eagles (16-0) put the only undefeated record in girls Division II on the line tonight against Portsmouth (15-1). The game, at Barrington, begins at 7. Check projo.com's High School Game Day page tomorrow for a game story by Robert Lee and a gallery of game photos. The Boston Bruins, fresh off their fourth win in five games, are right back at it tonight. They'll take on the Maple Leafs in Toronto; the game begins at 7 on NESN. If the Bruins are going to make the playoffs, the Leafs are one of the teams they have to pass in the standings, so this one is pretty big. And finally, the NBA All-Star break is now over. The Boston Celtics take their 13-38 record and their 1-game winning streak on the road for a brutal Western road trip. It all begins tonight at 10 p.m. against the Sacramento Kings. I'm not staying up myself, but if you want to, you can see the game on Fox Sports New England. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:35 PM | Comment Updated: Man convicted of murdering wife, loverPROVIDENCE -- A Providence man who admitted killing his estranged common-law wife and her lover because they "disrespected" and "humiliated" him could be sentenced to life in prison without parole after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated assault. Roberto Diaz, a 50-year-old Cuban emigre, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder earlier this afternoon for the April 2005 killings of Barbara Reigosa, 29, and Dirmas Rodezno, 28, on Smith Hill. The jury later found that Diaz also committed aggravated assault, which is defined as causing malicious bodily harm to the victim before death or seriously disfiguring the body. The prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson, argued that Diaz should also be convicted of aggravated assault because the victims were paralyzed by gunshot wounds and conscious when Diaz repeatedly stabbed them. No date has been set for sentencing. The defense is requesting a new trial. Taking the witness stand in his own defense yesterday, Diaz said, “They disrespected me and humiliated me at my own home." “They forced me to do that," Diaz said through a Spanish translator. "They have no respect for me.” After the trial, Diaz's attorney, Christopher T. Millea, said his client was at peace with his decision to testify. He said Diaz felt a need to speak to the jury. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said the "shocking and offensive" facts of the case justify Diaz's receiving the severest penalty allowable under Rhode Island law. Lynch said, "Today we think of the families whose loss will continue forever." -- With reports from Journal staff writer Linda Borg Posted by Jack Perry at 3:07 PM | Comment In statement, Brady says he's excited about fatherhoodNEW YORK (AP) - Tom Brady is happy about becoming a father. "Tom and his family are excited about the pregnancy, and want to thank everyone who has shown support, and particularly for their consideration of Tom's privacy," Brady's agent, Don Yee, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. It was the first comment from Brady's camp since it was disclosed that actress Bridget Moynahan, the former girlfriend of New England's three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, is three months pregnant. Her publicist, Christina Papadopoulous, disclosed the pregnancy Monday and said Brady is the father. Brady and Moynahan split up late last year after a three-year relationship. Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, has since been seen with lingerie model Gisele Bundchen, and media outlets have reported the two are dating. Moynahan, 35, has appeared in films such as Coyote Ugly, I, Robot and the ABC television series Six Degrees. Brady, 29, led the Patriots to three NFL titles, and twice was the Super Bowl MVP. He was named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2002. Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:38 PM | Comment Military families to hold vigil at Kennedy's officePAWTUCKET -- Military families and others opposed to the war in Iraq plan to meet at Rep. Patrick Kennedy's Roosevelt Avenue office this afternoon to make sure their opposition is heard. The protesters, led by the local chapter of Military Families Speak Out, plan to stand on the sidewalk outside the office from 4 to 6 p.m., reading the names of the more than 3,000 American soldiers who have died. A handful of people will also wait inside the office lobby to request a meeting with the congressman. The vigil is planned for the same time Wednesday and Thursday as well. The protesters hope to persuade Kennedy to publicly commit to voting for defunding the conflict in Iraq. "As Bush continues to proceed with this disastrous war, Congress has the duty as well as the power to ensure that the funds it authorizes are used responsibly," said Jacque Amoureux, of Military Families Speak Out, in a statement. Amoureux's brother served in Iraq for most of 2005. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:48 PM | Comment Update: Driver who struck Cranston officer arrestedCRANSTON -- The state police have scheduled an afternoon press conference to discuss details related to the arrest of the North Providence man accused of hitting a uniformed patrolman during a traffic stop and later ramming an occupied state police vehicle. David V. Barry, 28, of 630 Smithfield Road, Apt. 706, North Providence, was ordered held on $2,500 bail this morning by District Court Judge Michael A. Higgins at Barry's first court appearance since turning himself in last night to the state police. Barry turned himself in last night at state police headquarters, Maj. Steven G. O’Donnell, the state police spokesman, said this morning. The press conference is set for 2:30 p.m. at state police headquarters in North Scituate. Read more about the incident in today's Journal story. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:58 PM | Comment Stop & Shop contract talks going on in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- Union representatives and Stop & Shop executives are meeting at the Rhode Island Convention Center this morning as they negotiate a new contract for 43,000 people who work for the Quincy, Mass., supermarket chain. The contract with the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents Stop & Shop workers in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, expired over the weekend. Five UFCW locals, including Local 328 in Rhode Island, already have authorized a strike if contract talks break down. Meanwhile, Stop & Shop is recruiting replacement workers this week at job fairs its holding in the three states. -- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:14 PM | Comment Man shot outside Cape Cod courthouseBARNSTABLE, Mass. -- A suspect in a series of break-ins was shot and seriously injured outside Barnstable District Court today after he bolted from officers who were leading him into the court, stole a car and crashed it into several vehicles, his lawyer said. The man was taken by helicopter to a Boston hospital after being shot in the chest at about 8:30 a.m., Barnstable Fire Chief Robert Crosby said. The man was identified as Anthony Roberts, 22, of Cambridge, by his attorney J. Drew Segadelli. Read the full Associated Press story. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:37 AM | Comment Mistrial declared in Charlie Weis malpractice caseBOSTON (AP) — A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the trial of a medical malpractice case brought by Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis after a juror collapsed and several doctors — including the two defendants — rushed to his aid. The juror, an unidentified older man, began moaning as he listened to an expert testifying in defense of Massachusetts General Hospital surgeons Charles Ferguson and Richard Hodin. Weis claims they botched his care after gastric bypass surgery in June 2002. Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:29 AM | Comment Update: Celona gets 7 years, another 1 1/2 to serve
Journal photo / Bill MurphyJohn Celona faces the court at his sentencing on state corruption charges today.
The sentence significantly exceeded state guidelines for the crime. However, Celona was allowed to serve his state time concurrently with a 30-month federal sentence. In handing down the sentence today, Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini said in a statement it was justified by "the unique and unfortunate circumstances" of the case. "Though elected by the voters of one senatorial district, the defendant owed a duty of loyalty and trust to each and every man, woman and child in this state -- 1,076,189 to be exact," Procaccini said. Assistant Attorney General J. Patrick Youngs III said, "He brought shame to the Senate of Rhode Island." Celona admitted that as chairman of the Senate Corporations Committee he was paid by three companies to take legislative action favorable to them. Celona, 53, was charged with one felony and four misdemeanors in an April 2005 state indictment. He pleaded no contest today to one felony of obtaining more than $500 under false pretenses and one misdemeanor for failing to disclose his relationship with Roger Williams hospital to the ethics commission. The other counts were dismissed. He faced up to 14 years in prison on the state charges. Unlike his federal sentencing, at which he expressed his regrets, Celona did not address the court today. The former senator from North Providence has already pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges of selling his office to Roger Williams Medical Center, the CVS drugstore chain and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Celona must report to federal prison by noon Friday, March 2 to begin serving the 30 month-sentence handed him by Senior U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres late last month. Under state law and sentencing guidelines, he would be eligible for parole from state prison after serving a third of his concurrent four-year state sentence – or 16 months. So under the best of circumstances for him, he could leave federal prison after two-and-a-half years and never have to serve another day in prison. Celona has been cooperating with investigators, and the case against him has turned into a large-scale federal investigation.
In arguing for a stiff sentence, the prosecutors cited Celona’s oath of office pledge to “faithfully and impartially discharge the duties’’ of his office and said: “That oath and the power and prestige that accompanied it resulted in Mr. Celona receiving a salary as a state Senator as well as enjoying the influence and responsibility commensurate with the position.’’ “Even a casual observer of the news of the day would recognize the disrespect and suspicion of the legislature that Mr. Celona’s actions have visited on the State House…The betrayal of trust and the besmirching of a branch of government will linger over the state long after the relatively small amount of money Mr.Celona received from large corporations is forgotten or written off the book.’’ As to why the state charges justify so much more time in jail than Celona’s 30-month federal sentence for his role in the Roger Williams scheme, the state prosecutors wrote: “The state has a particular interest in a sentence that singularly vindicates the state of Rhode Island. It is imperative that a message goes out to all public officials that the people of the state of Rhode Island do not and will not tolerate corrupt representatives.’’ Posted by Peter Phipps at 11:16 AM | Comment Man who struck Cranston officer turns himself inCRANSTON -- The state police have arrested David V. Barry, the man charged with backing his Nissan into a uniformed patrolman during a traffic stop Saturday night on Pleasant Street, and later ramming an occupied state police vehicle to elude arrest. Barry turned himself in last night at state police headquarters, Maj. Posted by Peter Phipps at 10:33 AM | Comment Watchdog asks for stronger conflict-of-interest rulesOperation Clean Government has asked Rhode Island Ethics Commission to consider regulations to forbid a legislator from introducing, speaking to or voting on legislation that affects his or her employer, business partner or clients. Chuck Barton, OCG president, stated, “Such actions on the part of some legislators clearly are a conflict of interest and are not promoting the common good.” “An elected official should not place the interest of his/her employer ahead of concern for the citizens of Rhode Island. By placing themselves in the position of advocating for their employers, legislators can delude themselves into thinking they are serving the public when they really are serving themselves.” Posted by Peter Phipps at 9:52 AM | Comment Today is the 4th anniversary of The Station fireFour years ago today, a band's pyrotechnics ignited one of the worst nightclub fires in the country's history. The Station fire sparked Feb. 20, 2003, ultimately killing 100 people, injuring scores more and leaving emotional scars in every corner of this small state. About 200 people gathered Sunday at a memorial at the West Warwick fire site. There are no major events planned to mark the anniversary today. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples The impact of the fire lingers. The Attorney General's Office this year released thousands of documents, grand jury transcripts, videos and photos gathered to prosecute club co-owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian and Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele. The latest evidence release, on Feb. 1, revealed that West Warwick fire marshal Denis Larocque was shielded by prosecutors during the grand jury investigation. And a Journal investigation published Sunday revealed that tough fire codes passed in the wake of the fire have created new challenges for businesses across the state. Look back at the fire, its victims and its aftermath, at: http://projo.com/stationfire Posted by Jack Perry at 7:07 AM | Comment Warmer todayPROVIDENCE -- The temperature in the Providence area should climb to 45 degrees today, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight brings a chance of rain and snow showers as the temperature drops to about 32 degrees. For more weather and regular updates, see projo.com/weather. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features stories on The Station Fund on the fourth anniversary of the tragic fire that killed 100 people, the impact of new travel regulations at T.F. Green Airport and the trial of a Providence man who testified that he killed his wife and her lover to defend his honor. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 19, 2007Station nightclub fire: Four years ago tomorrowFour years ago tomorrow, a band's pyrotechnics ignited one of the worst nightclub fires in the country's history. The Station fire sparked Feb. 20, 2003, ultimately killing 100 people, injuring scores more and leaving emotional scars in every corner of this small state. Yesterday, about 200 people gathered at a memorial at the West Warwick fire site. There are no major events planned to mark the anniversary tomorrow. The impact of the fire still lingers, however. The Attorney General's Office this year released thousands of documents, grand jury transcripts, videos and photos gathered to prosecute club co-owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian and Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele. The latest evidence release, on Feb. 1, revealed that West Warwick fire marshal Denis Larocque was shielded by prosecutors during the grand jury investigation. And a Journal investigation published yesterday revealed that tough fire codes passed in the wake of the fire have created new challenges for businesses across the state. Look back at the fire, its victims and its aftermath, at: http://projo.com/stationfire Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:59 PM | Comment State pulls chiropractor's license for 2nd timeThe state has pulled the license of Anthony Donatelli, a Providence chiropractor, accusing him of illegally ordering drugs. This is the second time the health director has summarily suspended Donatelli’s license because his practice was deemed a danger to the public. According to an order signed today by Health Director David R. Gifford, Donatelli used false pretenses to obtain hydrocodone, a narcotic pain-reliever best known by its brand name, Vicodin, and depo-testosterone, an anabolic steroid abused by body-builders. The order said that Donatelli altered a certificate from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency that had been issued to a physician who once worked with Donatelli. Donatelli changed the address on the certificate to that of the chiropractor’s own office, 125 Atwells Ave., and also asked a medical-supply company to ship the drugs to his office. Instead, the supply company shipped it to the physician’s home. Donatelli went to the physician’s home to pick up the drugs, the order said. The physician, who was not named, notified the state Board of Examiners in Chiropractic. Donatelli had been suspended in 2004 because he billed insurance companies for services purportedly rendered on dates when he was in the hospital undergoing open-heart surgery and because his documentation of his services was poor, according to Bruce W. McIntyre, the board's lawyer. -- Journal staff writer Felice J. Freyer In 2005, he was allowed to resume practicing provided that he submit to a two-year monitoring program. But recently Donatelli had stopped paying the monitors and stopped cooperating with them, McIntyre said. The order also states that Donatelli’s “pattern of illegal and unprofessional conduct dates back to his original licensure in Virginia where he was arrested, convicted of and served time for dealing in anabolic steroids. He has demonstrated that he is unfit for the practice of chiropractic medicine.” Donatelli is entitled to a hearing on the summary suspension, which McIntyre said has been scheduled for Friday. -- Journal staff writer Felice J. Freyer Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:26 PM | Comment Judicial nominating panel regains a black memberPROVIDENCE — The Judicial Nominating Commission lost its only nonwhite member when Jametta O. Alston stepped down to become the state’s child advocate, but now Governor Carcieri has appointed a black lawyer, Dennis M. Coleman, to the panel. Coleman, 53, a Brown University graduate who lives in East Greenwich, is a partner in the Boston law firm of Ropes & Gray. He represents 30 basketball and football coaches, including Tony Dungy of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, Al Skinner of Boston College basketball and Lute Olson of University of Arizona basketball, according to the Ropes & Gray Web site. The nine-member commission interviews candidates for state judgeships and submits a list of up to five names to the governor, who must choose a nominee from that list. Coleman is president of the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame and an incorporator of Kent Memorial Hospital. He is a registered Republican, according to a state database. Coleman replaces lawyer Matthew T. Oliverio, whose term on the Judicial Nominating Commission expired in June. -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:03 PM | Comment Police: Smash-and-grab at Woonsocket drugstoreWOONSOCKET — A 35-year-old Woonsocket man was arrested after police said he drove a stolen car through the front doors of a CVS drugstore and stole over $1,000 in cigarettes and other items. Alfonso Paolercio, of 182 Cumberland St., Apt. 39, was charged with breaking and entering with criminal intent and possession of a stolen vehicle. Police allege that around 12:20 a.m. Sunday Paolercio drove a stolen 2000 red Pontiac Sunfire into the Cass Avenue store, backed out, and then ran in and stole 19 cartons of cigarettes worth over $1,000. Other stolen items include two compact DVD players, according to police reports. Footage from the store’s security camera showed the car smash through the store’s front doors and then back out of view. -- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes
Unable to chase Paolercio due to the icy terrain, the officer spotted several cigarette cartons in front of one of the apartments. An out-of-breath Paolercio was found in the apartment bathroom, where he told police he had been all night. But the man living there, who is friends with the suspect, said that Paolercio had arrived just moments before. The suspect’s sister, who lives a few doors away, also told police she hadn’t seen the man all day. Paolercio was placed under arrest. -- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:43 PM | Comment Stop & Shop advertising for replacement workersThe Stop & Shop supermarket chain went shopping today for people willing to replace its unionized employees if contract talks under way this month break down. The Quincy-Mass.-based chain held recruitment sessions in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut as it looks for people willing to work temporarily as cashiers and clerks at its stores in the event of a work stoppage. The company advertised the recruitment sessions, which will continue through the week, in The Providence Journal. Negotiations between company executives and five locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers union are set to resume tomorrow. The union represents 43,000 Stop & Shop employees in New England -- including 22,000 in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The current contract expired over the weekend. -- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:43 PM | Comment Murder suspect to jury: 'They disrespected me' / Photo
PROVIDENCE -- Roberto Diaz took the witness stand in his own defense today, telling the jury that he shot and stabbed his estranged common-law wife and her new boyfriend because they disrespected him. “They disrespected me and humiliated me at my own home,” said Diaz, who faces two counts of murder and various other felonies for the September 2005 Smith Hill killings. Diaz is the only defense witness. The prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson, asked Diaz why he killed the victims, Barbara Reigosa, 29, and Dirmas Rodezno, 28. Diaz, a Cuban national, said through a translator that he couldn't stand it when he learned that Rodezno planned to move in with his estranged common-law wife. Diaz said he wouldn't have minded if they got together in Honduras, or another state -- just not in the home that he had shared with Reigosa. “They forced me to do that," Diaz said. "They have no respect for me.” The jury is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow. They will have the option of convicting Diaz on first- or second-degree murder, or involuntary manslaughter. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:17 PM | Comment Police find 80 lbs. of pot in car trunkA New York man has been charged with possession of 80 pounds of marijuana following a traffic stop in Warwick yesterday. The state police plan to hold a press briefing later today to talk about the bust. Milton Allen, 31, of Queens Village, N.Y., was pulled over on Interstate 95 yesterday afternoon for speeding, according to a statement released today by the state police. The trooper smelled "a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle" and noticed that Allen was "nervous, sweating, and avoiding eye contact," reads the statement. The police later discovered several laundry bags in Allen's trunk containing approximately 80 pounds of marijuana. Allen has been charged with possession of marijuana, over 5 kilos; possession with intent to deliver; and driving while in possession of a controlled substance. The press briefing is scheduled for 5 p.m. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:46 PM | Comment Sports Tonight: Rhody vs. Mass. hockeyIt's school vacation week, and Mount St. Charles is hosting an intra-state girls hockey tournament at Adelard Arena in Woonsocket. Projo.com's High School Game Day page will have a photo gallery from the first game of the MSC President's Challenge Tournament, which features the Lincoln School/PCD co-op team taking on Austin Prep of Reading, Mass. The game begins at 6:30. In the later game, beginning at 8, the host Mounties will face St. Mary's of Lynn, Mass., the team ranked number one in the Bay State by The Boston Globe. Robert Lee will have a story tomorrow about the meetings this winter between some of the best that Rhode Island and Massachusetts have to offer. The Boston Bruins are in Philly tonight to take on the Flyers. Philadelphia, saddled with the NHL's worst record (and it isn't close) just recently traded its most recognizable player, Peter Forsberg. You can catch the game on the Versus Network -- if you have the Versus Network -- beginning at 7. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:30 PM | Comment Heating oil spill in Bristol harborBRISTOL — As much as 50 gallons of heating oil have leaked from Colt/Andrews School into a storm drain that empties into the harbor. The school district hired a private contractor yesterday to clean up some of the oil, which had already spilled into the harbor. A boom is still in place around the storm drain to prevent the rest of the oil from spreading into the harbor. The leak was discovered early Sunday morning when the Fire and Rescue Department received a report of an oil sheen on the waters around Stone Harbour Condominiums off Thames Street. A quarter-inch copper pipe between the building’s fuel tank and boiler sprung a leak and leaked for one or two days, he said. Although the leak was not large, oil steadily dripped out of the pipe and into a nearby sump pump that connects to a storm drain underneath the school, which has been closed this school year for renovations. Posted by Peter Phipps at 2:49 PM | Comment Winning PowerBall ticket sold in W. WarwickSomewhere out there is a lucky lottery ticket that was bought at Louise’s Liquor on Main Street in West Warwick. The PowerBall ticket is worth $10,000 – nowhere close to what would have been the $57 million overall PowerBall prize if someone had picked all the right numbers for Saturday’s drawing, according to the Rhode Island Lottery. The ticket has yet to be claimed. The estimated jackpot for the PowerBall drawing on Wednesday is $67 million. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:39 PM | Comment Stop&Shop lauded for security-breach alertsThe Massachusetts-based Stop&Shop chain "really did a great job reaching out" when it learned customer account information was stolen last week, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office said. The chain contacted municipal and state law enforcement agencies Saturday, within days of learning a data-security breach may have occurred at its stores, according to Michael J. Healey, Atty. Gen. Patrick C. Lynch's spokesman. The company issued a public notice over the weekend alerting its customers that someone had tampered with pin pads _ those electronic payment processing machines found at store checkout counters _ at its stores in Cranston and Coventry. "It definitely contrasts with the TJX experience," Healey said. Read Stop & Stop's answers to frequently asked questions about the breach. TJX Cos., the parent of T.J. Maxx, Marshall's and other retail chains, has been roundly lambasted for the way company executives handled a computer-hacking that compromised as many as 100,000 customer accounts. The company waited until last month, weeks after it uncovered the data breach, before alerting customers, banks and the police. TJX also failed to comply with a new Rhode Island law that requires companies to notify their customers of such incidents "in the most reasonable time possible." -- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:36 PM | Comment Update: Police seeking driver accused of hitting copCRANSTON -- City and state police are searching for the man accused of hitting a patrolman on Saturday night with his Nissan during a traffic stop on Pleasant Street. The suspect was identified by Cranston police today as David V. Barry, 28, of North Providence. Police said Barry fled across the Providence line on Saturday night after the collision. Last night, state police troopers accompanied the Cranston police to Barry's apartment, where the black Nissan was parked. As police detectives inspected the vehicle, police allege Barry fled the building in a yellow Mustang, hitting two unmarked state police vehicles. Cranston police Cmdr. Kevin M. Lynch said Barry has been charged with one felony count of assault, one felony count of assault with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor charges of vandalism and eluding a police officer. The state police say they are joining local police in filing charges against Barry. The state police are charging Barry with two felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident that caused property damage, according to state police Capt. Stephen J. Lynch. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:00 PM | Comment Airline blues for Barrington coupleAbout 81 hours after Barrington residents Helen and Jack Arruda arrived back in Boston from a trip to China, via a much-delayed JetBlue flight out of New York’s JFK Airport on Thursday, their luggage met up with them today. Jack called his wife, who is a Journal news assistant, shortly after 10 a.m. at work to let her know the luggage had arrived on the doorstep of their home at 9:15 a.m. today. When the Arrudas arrived at JFK from Beijing at 2 p.m. Thursday, the television cameraman in the JetBlue terminal should have been a tip that something was amiss, Helen said this morning. Who could blame the travelers for being blissfully unaware of JetBlue’s troubles caused by the Valentine’s Day snowstorm? As it turns out, the Arrudas arrived on the first day the airline chose to selectively cancel flights in hopes of bringing itself back into normal operations. “I walked in, and it was just total, total chaos,” Helen said of the terminal. “And you couldn’t even see what line you were in.” -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Their flight was supposed to take off at 5:20 p.m. Thursday. At 4 p.m., they were told the flight would take off at 12:45 a.m. Friday. They later learned the flight was canceled. Just off the 14-hour flight from Beijing to JFK, the couple jockeyed through lines in New York for hours, moving between the check-in lines and the customer service lines. Helen said coordination was sorely lacking, and the people waiting in lines “wanted to kill each other.” Through hard work and some luck, they worked their way onto another delayed flight, which had been scheduled to depart for Boston at 1:40 p.m. It actually took off hours later, at 11:11 p.m. It was just a 41-minute flight, Helen noted. In so late, they missed the last bus back to Providence, where their car sat waiting to take them the final leg of their trip. After calling eight hotels in Boston, they found one with a room available – with a shuttle that picked them up at the airport. They collapsed in the room at 2 a.m. Friday and took an afternoon bus back to Providence, arriving home around 5 p.m. The whole ordeal didn't dampen the trip itself. "It was fantastic," Helen said. Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:31 AM | Comment Gas prices up 6 centsRhode Island gasoline prices increased an average of six cents since last week, according to AAA Southern New England. The average price for regular, unleaded gasoline is $2.239 per gallon at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey. It's the same price as it was this time last year but still 18 cents less than the beginning of this year. Gas prices had dropped for six straight weeks before remaining unchanged last week, according to AAA's survey. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:14 AM | Comment Update: Fire out at Providence apartments/ Photo
PROVIDENCE – Firefighters have brought a basement fire under control at the Moshassuck Court apartment building at 432 N. Main St. A city electrical inspector is on scene investigating, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department. The fire was reported at 7:31 a.m. today and was under control by 7:55 a.m. The fire was reported as a second-alarm fire because it was in a high-rise building, Taylor said. For a second-alarm, the fire department sends two engines, one ladder truck, a chief’s truck and a rescue, in addition to the first complement of rescue equipment, which includes three engines, two ladder trucks, a special hazards truck, a chief’s truck and a rescue. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson CORRECTION: An earlier item incorrectly listed the address for Moshassuck Court. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:21 AM | Comment Red Sox teammate says Ramirez will report lateManny Ramirez won't report to spring training until March 1, according to friend and teammate Julian Tavarez, who spoke today to Journal reporter Steve Krasner. The mandatory reporting date for all players is Feb. 27. Tavarez, who has been a friend since Ramirez was a teenager, said that the slugging left-fielder's mother had had a health scare. There has been much speculation about what Ramirez's attitude will be when he does arrive in camp. Ramirez missed most of the final month of last season, then reportedly asked yet again to be traded in the offseason. The club tried to accommodate him, but but never received a suitable offer. Tavarez says that, whenever Ramirez reports, he will still be an offensive machine once the season gets started. Ramirez needs 30 home runs this year to reach 500 for his career. Posted by Mike McDermott at 9:11 AM | Comment Download today's front pageA bombing in Iraq, the race for president, and the Vagina Monologues lead today's journal. Posted by Peter Phipps at 9:07 AM | Comment Traffic: Not much action on area roads todayTraffic’s a little light this morning – seems many of you are staying home for Presidents’ Day and school vacation. No major delays or traffic incidents at this point. Our advice? Just stay home and enjoy the non-commute, if you can. 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. Also, check out congestion mapping -- i.e., how heavy the traffic is -- here. To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:08 AM | Comment Bitter cold but warmer weather on the wayDespite sunny skies, today will be bitterly cold, but warmer weather is on the way. Expect a high near 21 degrees in the Providence area, but a northwest wind between 17 and 24 mph will make it feel much colder, according to the National Weather Service. A wind chill advisory continues this morning for parts of western and north-central Massachusetts, where strong winds will make it feel like 15 to 20 degrees below zero. There's also a wind advisory today for the Cape and islands with winds of 29 to 31 mph expected and gusts of 46 mph. The temperature tonight will drop to about 15 degrees, but it should get into the 40s over the next three days, the weather service says. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 16, 2007R.I. murder suspect dies in N.Y. jailA man facing murder charges following a violent stabbing in the Rumford section of East Providence last fall is dead. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office reported tdoay that Joel Noonan died in New York City’s Bellevue Hospital at 1:53 p.m., according to Michael Healey, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. Noonan, a former union roofer from Avon, Mass., was in New York state custody awaiting sentencing for two violent crimes in New York City when he died, Healey said, adding that the cause of death was cardio-pulmonary failure. Healey couldn’t provide any details surrounding the death, except to say that Noonan had been being held in Riker’s Island Prison Complex before being moved to the hospital. Noonan was charged with stabbing Steven Dowgiala to death after forcing his way into Dowgiala’s home in Rumford last September. Dowgiala’s wife, Susan, is Noonan’s cousin. The police say Noonan fled to New York City where, the next day, he was shot by police as Noonan came at them with a knife. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples A Providence County grand jury had indicted Noonan on one count of murder, one count of entering a dwelling house with the intent to commit murder, and two counts of simple assault. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office was planning to extradite Noonan to Rhode Island after his New York sentencing, Healey said. "Once we get a copy of his death certificate in Rhode Island, that will likely close our case," Healey said. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:41 PM | Comment Beagle-training club penalized for 'altering nature'PROVIDENCE — A federal magistrate judge today fined The Little Rhody Beagle Club and its former president a total of $28,144 for illegally using pesticide, guns and steel leghold traps to kill birds and other animals that were preying on a stock of rabbits, which the club uses to train beagles. The club, at 832 Cowesett Road in Warwick, and its former president, William Forward, pleaded guilty to illegally killing migratory birds and illegally using a pesticide to kill birds and other wildlife. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond accepted the terms of a plea agreement, placing both the club and Forward on probation for one year. He fined the club $18,144. He fined Forward $10,000. And he ordered to club to pay $1,855 in veterinary bills that a neighbor rang up after his dogs became ill because of the club’s pesticide. The government contended that the Cowesett Road club, which trains beagles to flush rabbits out of cover, and hosts field trials, killed the birds using guns, steel leg-hold traps, and by setting out as bait, eggs and animal carcasses seeded with the insecticide carbofuran. As a result, red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, great-horned owls, northern flickers, northern mockingbirds, turkey vultures and mourning doves died. Almond said the club also created a potential hazard for children in the area by putting a highly toxic pesticide and illegal traps on a site that was only partially surrounded by a waist-high wire fence. He noted a “thickly settled neighborhood is within a bike ride” of the 90-acre parcel. -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick “The actions taken to address the problem appear somewhat amateurish and lacking in forethought and a desire to find out how to do it the right way,” Almond told the defendants this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Providence. Almond said the club was “altering nature to suit its own needs,” and he said the birds and other animals killed by the poison and the traps were “innocent victims.” Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:52 PM | Comment Tall Ships to dock again in NewportNEWPORT — While most Rhode Islanders are keeping their eyes peeled to the ice beneath their feet and tires, a Newport group has its gaze fixed on the sea, with visions of summer and a flotilla of mighty sailing vessels majestically gliding into port. This week, Amica Insurance Tall Ships Rhode Island 2007 announced the final line-up of vessels that will be coming to Newport from June 27 to July 1. It will be the only Tall Ships gathering in New England this summer, and organizers have been promising it would be among the best and biggest of Newport’s seven festivals. After the inaugural event, which celebrated the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, “It’s as big as any event we’ve ever had,” said retired Navy Adm. Thomas Weschler, co-chair of this year’s festival and a long-time Tall Ships organizer. This week’s announcement touted the participation of 22 Tall Ships, including a handful of the grandest. These have the distinction of being recognized as Class A vessels, which means they are either impressive square-rigged vessels or more than 131 feet long, or both. The headliners include a trio of three-masted, square-rigged ships: the 293-foot Gorch Fock II, from Germany; the 249-foot Gloria, from Colombia; and the 254-foot, Cisne Branco, from Brazil. -- Journal staff writer Richard Salit During the last festival, in 2004, most of the ships tied up at wharves on Goat Island, where a security checkpoint and metal detectors were set up. Admission was $5 and long lines formed. It was organized at the last moment after a private promoter withdrew from the event. This year will be similar to festivals of the past, with Tall Ships tying up at docks from downtown to Fort Adams and no general admission fee. There will be no ships at Goat Island. The festival headquarters officially opened today at an office at 71 Long Wharf. -- Journal staff writer Richard Salit Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:40 PM | Comment Update: Celona to plead to state corruption chargesPROVIDENCE — Former State Sen. John A. Celona is expected to plea guilty Tuesday morning to some of the five state criminal charges he faces related to using his power and influence for personal gain. A court spokesman said that a judge was notified of the former senator’s intentions this afternoon. It is likely that the plea will be in exchange for a reduced sentence. Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch would not comment on the terms of the plea or any of the pre-trial discussions. “What I will say, however, is that my office has long looked forward to holding Mr. Celona accountable for having violated the public trust and betrayed the faith of the people of Rhode Island,” Lynch said in a statement. Lynch said that Celona is expected to enter a plea and be sentenced on Tuesday. Celona's attorney, William Dimitri, declined to comment this afternoon. The plan was disclosed this afternoon by Superior Court Associate Justice Daniel A. Procaccini. Celona will appear before Procaccini at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 3 on the third floor of the Licht Judicial Complex. Celona, 53, has already pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges of selling his office to Rhode Williams Medical Center, the CVS drugstore chain and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. The North Providence Democrat was sentenced two weeks ago to 2 ½ years in prison. He was instructed to report to prison by noon on March 2. What started as a case against Celona has turned into a large-scale federal investigation — dubbed Operation Dollar Bill — which is looking into ties between payoffs and legislation in the Rhode Island State House. Celona has been cooperating with authorities which led him to receive a lesser federal sentence. He has also been fined $130,000 by the state Ethics Commission after entering a plea there. Celona’s lawyer has argued that the state charges would be “double jeopardy” — essentially punishing him twice for the same misconduct. But Procaccini refused to throw out the charges, saying that the Ethics Commission acted on a civil complaint while the charges in state court against Celona are criminal. Procaccini wrote that the $130,000 ethics fine against Celona, for the 10 ethics violations that he admitted to last July 25, “does not seem out of proportion or excessive when considering the legislative view that an essential way to prevent and remedy unethical practices is through an assessment of civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation.” -- Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz An April 2005 state criminal indictment charged Celona with one felony and four misdemeanor offenses. The first charge, the sole felony, alleges that Celona obtained his senator’s salary under false pretenses by failing to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of his office in accordance with his oath. It carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Celona also faces three criminal charges of violating the state Code of Ethics by accepting employment that impaired his independence of judgment regarding his official duties. Each violation is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison. One count relates to Roger Williams Medical Center, another to CVS and the third to Blue Cross. The final count alleges that the yearly financial statements submitted to the Ethics Commission for 2000, 2001, and 2002 were false. -- Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:24 PM | Comment R.I. Democrats join House rejection of Bush's Iraq planWASHINGTON - Rhode Island's two congressmen were among the majority of the Democratic-controlled House who issued a symbolic rejection of President Bush's plan to deploy more troops to Iraq this afternoon. The move opened what could be an epic confrontation between Congress and commander in chief over an unpopular war that has taken the lives of more than 3,100 U.S. troops. The vote on the nonbinding measure was 246-182. Democratic Reps. Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin were among those disapproving of Bush's plan. See the full roll call vote here. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:42 PM | Comment Sports this weekend: Big doings on College HillIt's a big night for Providence's Ivy League school. The Brown men's basketball team (2-6 Ivy League, 7-16 overall) is at the Pizzitola Center tonight to take on Harvard (3-5, 10-12) at 7; Paul Kenyon will have a game story tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Bears' men's ice hockey team (3-4-1, 8-11-5) is also at home, at 7, against Dartmouth (3-3-1, 12-10-3). Robert Lee will have a story on that contest. Over at The Dunk, the P-Bruins skate against the Springfield Falcons at 7. The P-Bruins are back at home on Sunday at 4:05 against the Hartford Wolf Pack. And in high school sports, there's a big girls basketball showdown at 7:30 in North Providence between the Cougars (13-1 in division games) and rival Division II power Pilgrim (13-2); check projo.com's High School Game Day page tomorrow for a gallery of game photos. The NBA kicks off its All-Star festivities tonight. There should be plenty of flash on the court in Las Vegas tonight for the All-Star Celebrity Game at 7 (on ESPN) and the Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam at 9 (on TNT). The slam dunk competition, the three-point shooting shootout, and the skills competition are Saturday on TNT beginning at 8:30. And the game itself is Sunday at 8 on TNT. There's no truth to the rumor that the over-under has been set at 300 points. Providence College's men's basketball team (5-6 Big East, 15-9 overall) is back at home, where the Friars are hard to beat, to take on St. John's (6-7, 15-11) at noon tomorrow. The Rhody Rams (9-3 Atlantic 10, 16-10 overall) look to stay on top in the Atlantic 10 tomorrow when they welcome Charlotte (5-6, 11-13) to the Ryan Center at 2. Both the Rams and the Friars are on Cox Sports Television. Projo.com's College Hoops Blog will also have a postgame note on each contest soon after it has ended. The Boston Bruins visit the mighty Buffalo Sabres (at 39-15, the best team in the NHL) on Saturday night at 7; you can see the game on NESN. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:35 PM | Comment Reed to appear on NBC's Meet the Press SundayU.S. Sen. Jack Reed is scheduled to appear on NBC's Meet the Press this Sunday, according to Reed's office. Rhode Island's senior senator has become a leader in the Democratic response to President Bush's strategy in Iraq. Reed is scheduled to appear on the show after host Tim Russert interviews White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. The show airs in Rhode Island at 10 a.m. Sunday on Channel 10 WJAR. Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:34 PM | Comment 25-year-old gets 15 years on gun chargeSenior U.S. District Court Judge Ernest C. Torres today sentenced Kendall Rose, 25, of Providence, to 15 years in prison as an armed career criminal. He was arrested Rose in October 2005 after he tossed away a revolver on June Street. Rose, 25, has three prior felony convictions. At the plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha said that on October 18, 2005, Providence Police officers Jonathan Primiano and Curt Desautels saw Rose take a chrome revolver out of his sweatshirt pocket, drop it, and kick it under a car. They arrested him. Rose has prior a prior felony conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon, and two for drug trafficking. Those three offenses made him an armed career criminal, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Ordinarily, being a felon in possession of a firearm has a maximum sentence of ten years in prison Posted by Peter Phipps at 3:15 PM | Comment Fire crews prevent car fire from spreading to houseNORTH PROVIDENCE – Around lunchtime today, a man started his car to warm it up, went back inside his home and then discovered the car engulfed in flames when he came back outside about five minutes later. At that point, 12:06 p.m., the man called 911 and reported the fire was close to a 1.5-story garage and not far from a three-story dwelling, North Providence Fire Battalion Chief Gerald Capaldi said. When firefighters arrived at 18 Lyman Ave. at 12:09 p.m., they discovered a car “fully involved” and a fire that had spread to a wood-frame garage. The house itself, also a wood-frame building, stands about 10 feet away, Capaldi said. The first two engines that arrived quickly extinguished the blaze, which totaled the car and damaged the wood shingles of the garage. The fire never reached the house, Capaldi said. It was under control by 12:23 p.m. No one was injured. The fire remains under investigation, but it does not appear suspicious, Capaldi said. The car owner told crews that he had had some mechanical issues with the auto, according to Capaldi. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Strong winds increased the risk of the house catching fire, according to Capaldi. “Fortunately for us, we were there at the right time and able to put water on quickly and confine damage to the auto and the 1.5-story garage,” the battalion chief said. Capaldi is not sure how many families live in the three-story tenement. Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:40 PM | Comment Lincoln Woods death is still a mysteryLINCOLN -- State officials still aren't sure exactly what happened to Mark Cardozo, the 50-year-old man whose body was found in Olney Pond. The regional manager of Lincoln Woods, Ken Rogers, said that it's unclear if Cardozo, who was known to frequent the frozen pond with his dogs, had fallen through thin ice or, for some reason, walked into open water. If he fell through the ice near where his body was found, Cardozo was hundreds of yards away from the designated skating area – the only spot on the large pond where ice thickness is regularly monitored and deemed safe for people. The Providence man's body was found yesterday in a small spot of open water across the pond from where his van was parked. Rogers said that people commonly ignore the signs and four small buoys in the skating area that designate the safe area. "It's kind of difficult to regulate human behavior," Rogers said. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:09 PM | Comment Mass. woman dies in truck-rollover in SwanseaSWANSEA, Mass. -- A Massachusetts woman was killed early this morning when the truck she was driving on Route 195 East through Swansea went off the road and rolled over in a wooded area. Sarah A. Coggeshall, 30, of Marion sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was declared dead at the scene, the state police said in a statement. Coggeshall lost control of the 1997 Toyota Tacoma as she headed east on Route 195, the police said. The vehicle went off the left shoulder, into a median and continued through a wooded area, rolled over and came to rest on its roof. The police located the truck on the highway before Exit 2 in Massachusetts. Coggeshall was wearing a seat belt when the crash happened, the police said. The investigation is continuing with assistance from the state police collision analysis and reconstruction section, the Bristol County District Attorney's state police unit and the state police crime scene services section. Swansea police, fire and emergency services personnel and state troopers helped at the scene. -- Journal staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:27 PM | Comment Will Celona plead or go to trial? Answer due todayPROVIDENCE -- A judge said today he expects to know by the end of the day whether former state Sen. John Celona will reach a plea deal on state corruption charges or go to trial. Celona has already pleaded guilty to similar charges in federal court and was sentenced Jan. 31 to two and a half years in prison. He has admitted in federal court to selling his office to Roger Williams Medical Center, CVS Corp. and Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini said Celona's attorney and prosecutors have been working on a deal, and he gave the two sides until the end of the day to tell him whether the case would conclude with a plea or continue to a trial. "I've been told that there have been discussions, and we have been trying to resolve it short of a trial," Procaccini told The Associated Press. The judge declined to reveal any terms being discussed. A spokesman for the Attorney General's Office confirmed to The Providence Journal early this afternoon that a decision would be made today. Celona's attorney, William Dimitri, declined to comment. If Celona decides to enter a plea, he would do so Tuesday morning in Providence Superior Court, Procaccini said. Otherwise, the judge would set a trial date. -- The Associated Press, with reports from Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz Celona has assisted federal investigators in a massive probe of State House corruption and was the star witness last year in a trial that resulted in the convictions of two former Roger Williams executives. Two former CVS vice presidents were indicted last month on federal fraud, conspiracy and bribery charges. They have pleaded not guilty. Federal prosecutors say they are investigating seven politicians and seven corporations as a result of Celona's help. A state grand jury issued a five-count indictment against Celona in April 2005, before he was charged in federal court. Several months later, he pleaded guilty to three counts of federal mail fraud, but the state charges have never been resolved. Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:23 PM | Comment Man recovered in Olney Pond was wearing bootsLINCOLN – The Providence man whose body was recovered yesterday in a pond at Lincoln Woods State Park was wearing rubber boots when he was found. The family of Mark Cardozo, 50, of Nisbet Street, initially said he went to Olney Pond Wednesday to skate. Searchers also found an empty skate box in his van. But divers found no skates on his body or in the water, DEM spokeswoman Gail Mastrati said yesterday. Early this afternoon, crews who helped recover Cardozo’s body confirmed for Mastrati that the man was wearing Muck Boots when he was found. Cardoza's van was found yesterday morning in a parking lot at the state park, prompting the state Department of Transportation to call the Lime Rock police. A diver from the Cumberland Police Department found Cardozo’s body shortly after 3 p.m. yesterday in an area of the pond where there were stretches of open water. Much of the pond is iced over. The pond is marked in different places with signs indicating safe or not safe for skating. Cardozo’s two golden retrievers had stayed in the area overnight, running back and forth from his van to the place where he apparently fell through the ice. The dogs have been taken in by Cardozo’s brother, Mastrati said this afternoon. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:16 PM | Comment Pats' Brady testifies at Weis' malpractice trialBOSTON -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady testified today that he watched his mentor Charlie Weis move in and out of consciousness after the Notre Dame coach's gastric bypass surgery. "At that moment I wasn't sure what was happening, if that was normal or not normal," Brady said in Suffolk Superior Court during Weis' medical malpractice lawsuit against two Massachusetts General surgeons. "As it developed, I realized this was a very serious issue we were dealing with," he said.
Posted by Jack Perry at 12:32 PM | Comment Firefighter injured in Burrillville blazeBURRILLVILLE -- A firefighter was injured this morning when his foot went through a floor while he fought a fire that badly damaged a two-story home in Wallum Lake, a fire official said. Firefighters saw smoke pouring from both floors of the unoccupied home at the corner of Wallum Lake Road and Buck Hill Road when they arrived, said Arthur Houle, Pascoag Fire Marshal. The firefighter, from Harrisville, was not seriously injured, Houle said. The fire was reported at the old barn-style home around 9:30 a.m., and firefighters were still pouring water on the smoldering fire at about 11:45 a.m. Emergency crews from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts responded to the rural area to help control the fire, according to Burrillville firefighter Joe St. Pierre. -- With reports from projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples and photographer Bill Murphy. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:00 PM | Comment Baby it's cold outsidePROVIDENCE – The ice remains on many side streets, and sidewalks are still pretty treacherous after our Valentine’s Day storm. With a temp of just 10 degrees now and the high expected to reach just 28 today, there may not be much more melting today either. Saturday may bring warm enough temps to melt some of the ice before the potential for more snow moves in Saturday night. Tomorrow, we should have a high of 37. The National Weather Service predicts a 30 percent chance of snow showers for Saturday night and Sunday, with a high of 34 on Sunday. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:06 AM | Comment Judge to rule today on CVS bid to buy CaremarkWOONSOCKET -- A development could come today in CVS's attempt to acquire pharmacy benefits manager Caremark R-x. A Delaware judge is expected to rule on whether he should stop the acquisition, which is worth billions of dollars. Missouri-based Express Scripts is trying to stop the deal and buy Caremark itself for $26 billion in stock, a proposal that forced Woonsocket-based CVS to raise its original offer. Lawyers for Express Scripts object to a $675 million dollar break-up fee that they say unlawfully locks Caremark into the CVS deal. The rival bidder also says Caremark executives and directors would get lucrative positions at the combined company. Officials from Caremark and CVS call the charges in that lawsuit and another like it unfounded. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a photograph of men breaking up ice on Broad Street in Cranston and a story about the problems drivers encountered when roads turned icy after Wednesday's storm. There's also a story about the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe on Cape Cod receiving federal recognition and the possibility of the tribe opening a gambling facility near Rhode Island. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 15, 2007R.I. looking to advance primaryPROVIDENCE -- General Assembly leaders are moving to try to make the nation’s smallest state a player in choosing the next U.S. president by holding the state’s 2008 presidential primary a month earlier than its usual March date. Under legislation filed today by state Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis, D-Coventry, Rhode Island’s presidential primary would shift from March 4 to Feb. 5, the earliest date the state can choose under national Democratic Party rules. "I think it would attract more candidates to the state and increase interest with voters in Rhode Island,’’ Raptakis said. That would position Rhode Island nearer the beginning of the presidential election season, right after the four states that have so far locked up the earliest dates for Democratic primaries or caucuses -- Iowa (Jan. 14), Nevada (Jan. 19), New Hampshire (Jan. 22) and South Carolina (Jan. 29). The Republican schedule has Iowa and New Hampshire leading off, with the rest of the schedule in flux. General Assembly leaders -- including House Speaker William Murphy, D-West Warwick; Senate Majority Leader Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport; and Rep. Robert Watson, R-East Greenwich, House Minority leader -- all said today that they favor the change in date. ``I am very supportive of moving the presidential primary date forward,’’ Murphy said. ``It will be a great way to bring more national attention to Rhode Island.’’ Murphy said the House will file legislation similar to Raptakis’ bill in early March, after next week’s legislative recess. -- Journal staff writer Scott MacKay Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:59 PM | Comment Boston teachers charged with assault at a campGLOCESTER -- Five Boston-area educators, three of whom were affiliated with the Boston Public School system, have been arrested and charged in the past month with assault and disorderly conduct after they were accused of beating Boston middle schoolers on a June field trip to Camp Aldersgate. The last of the educators, Michael Huber, 23, was arraigned in Sixth District Court in Providence this morning on one count of simple assault. Huber, of Brighton, Mass., is a behavior specialist for Alliance for Inclusion, a Roslindale, Mass.-based nonprofit that offers after-school tutoring programs for struggling middle schoolers, according to a police report. Like four of the five program leaders, Huber pleaded no contest and received a one-year filing for the misdemeanor charge. The counselors and teachers were leaders of Rites of Passage, a mentoring group run out of Harbor Middle School. In Rites of Passage, a single-sex group of 10 to 15 students and their adult sponsors meet after school throughout the year to address “boundaries in relationships, showing courage, responding to anger and loss, responsibilities to family and community, and cultural and self knowledge,” according to the group’s Web site. -- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo The counselors and teachers were leaders of Rites of Passage, a mentoring group run out of Harbor Middle School. In Rites of Passage, a single-sex group of 10 to 15 students and their adult sponsors meet after school throughout the year to address “boundaries in relationships, showing courage, responding to anger and loss, responsibilities to family and community, and cultural and self knowledge,” according to the group’s Web site. About a dozen boys from Harbor Middle School in Dorchester, Mass., and Washington Irving Middle School in Roslindale, Mass., spent June 2- 4, 2006, at Camp Aldersgate, a camp and retreat center located at 1043 Snake Hill Road affiliated with the United Methodist Church, for the program’s “leadership” retreat, according to a police report. The charges stem from three complaints the police received from parents and the testimony their children gave in the days immediately after the weekend trip, according to Police Chief Jaime Hainsworth. -- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:54 PM | Comment Update: Body pulled from Lincoln Woods pond ID'dLINCOLN -- The police have identified the man whose body was pulled from the frigid waters of a pond at Lincoln Woods State Park this afternoon, after what officials are theorizing may have been a skating accident yesterday. The man was Mark Cardozo, 50, of Nisbet Street in Providence. No specific address was available. Lime Rock Fire Chief Frank M. Sylvester said searchers were led to the right spot by Cardozo’s two golden retrievers, who had stayed at the park through last night, running back and forth from the van to the place where he fell through the ice, possibly during a skating accident yesterday afternoon on Olney Pond. “We saw their tracks leading to this spot in the ice,” Sylvester said. “They kept barking.” The body was found shortly after 3 p.m. by a diver from the Cumberland police department who is part of the Blackstone Valley Dive Team, Sylvester said. It was located in the vicinity of Sunset Point, across from the park’s beach, state Department of Environmental Management spokeswoman Gail Mastrati said. The location is not among the designated skating areas on the pond. Those areas are safe for skating and so marked, Mastrati said. "I understand there was a lot of open water in this area," she said. -- Journal staff writer John Hill, with reports from Journal staff photographer Andrew Dickerman and projo.com Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:10 PM | Comment Mashpee Wampanoags federally recognized as tribeMASHPEE, Mass. -- The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe finally received federal government recognition as a sovereign American Indian nation today after 32 years of legal wrangling. Their ancestors were at Plymouth long before the Pilgrims arrived, and they shared a first historic Thanksgiving before their numbers were nearly destroyed by bloody war and disease. Now, four centuries later, the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs has made them the state's second officially recognized tribe, a designation that could help bring casino gambling to Massachusetts. The approval had been expected since the tribe got preliminary approval last year and no challenges arose. The tribe's elders and members gathered today at their tribal seat in expectation of a phone call that came from the Bureau of Indian Affairs at 5:10 p.m. -- The Associated Press Workers erected a heated tent large enough for 500 people next to a stand of trees for a dinner to celebrate the announcement. The roughly 1,500 members of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learned last March that the Bureau of Indian Affairs had given their bid preliminary approval. In September, Mashpee town officials endorsed the recognition request after the tribe agreed not to build a casino on Cape Cod or try to use the courts to take possession of privately owned land. The tribe has been open about its desire to build a casino outside its tribal lands, if Massachusetts alters its laws to permit it. Gov. Deval Patrick said today he supported the tribe's bid for federal recognition. Asked about the potential implications for gambling and casinos in Massachusetts, Patrick said representatives of the tribe have already been in to see him and "they know that we are committed to working closely with them on all matters of shared concern."
Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:53 PM | Comment Cranston snow-removal budget socked by stormCRANSTON -- Less than half an inch of snow landed during the storm yesterday, but that was enough to deplete nearly one-quarter of the city’s snow removal budget for the current year, according to a preliminary analysis by city officials. During an unseasonably mild stretch of winter earlier this year, Mayor Michael T. Napolitano warned of a potential shortfall in the Department of Public Works budget, criticizing his predecessor and the City Council for irresponsibly reducing the snow removal account. This week’s storm validated those concerns, Napolitano’s chief of staff, Ernest J. Carlucci, said. “It’s an awful thing,” he said today. “There’s not much left.” Heavy rain caused sporadic flooding throughout the day. In the evening, the rain and frigid temperatures conspired to spread an icy film over roadways throughout the city, prompting a costly response from the Department of Public Works. City workers spread 600 tons of salt and 400 tons of sand in a 24-hour period, exhausting the remainder of a $50,000 stockpile that had been largely untouched this winter. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:48 PM | Comment Cicilline won't second-guess school closing / Photo
PROVIDENCE — Mayor David N. Cicilline told a group of parents and staff today that he would not second-guess the superintendent’s decision to close the West Broadway Elementary School. About 20 school supporters arrived by bus at City Hall this afternoon and obtained an impromptu meeting with the mayor, who invited them into his office and spoke with them for about 20 minutes. The group, called Save Our Schools, presented Cicilline with a letter that questions the wisdom of shutting down the West End school and busing those children across town to the Carnevale Elementary School. Parents say it makes no sense to tear apart a neighborhood school that is safe, nurturing and improving student performance. Schools Supt. Donnie Evans, however, says that his hands are tied because the school building violates the fire code, adding that it would be too costly to bring the building up to safety standards. -- Journal education writer Linda Borg Cicilline said he understands the neighborhood’s deep emotional attachment to this historic building, but he asked parents and staff to look at the larger picture, specifically the need to build school facilities that are safe and modern. “This is about the future of more than one building,” the mayor told the gathering. “This is about giving every child in this city a high quality education.” Cicilline said he allows his department heads to make decisions like the one about West Broadway because they are the ones with expertise in these areas. He said he wouldn’t tell the police chief where to locate a substation any more than he would advise the superintendent where to locate a school. “I fully support Dr. Evans,” he said. “And I have great confidence in the Providence School Board. I have to rely on Dr. Evans. He has enormous experience, and that’s why we brought him here.” The group asked the mayor to attend the last public meeting on the issue, to be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the West Broadway school. The Providence School Board will vote on Feb. 26 on Evans’ recommendation to close the school. Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:44 PM | Comment Update: Oil spill seeps into Seekonk streamSEEKONK, Mass. -- The spill of an estimated 2,000 gallons of home heating oil this morning contaminated a stream feeding into the Ten Mile River, prompting a clean-up effort that involved two private companies and local, state and federal officials. Fire Chief Alan Jack said it is too early to determine the extent of the contamination, which occurred when an oil truck hit a patch of ice on Gregory Drive and tipped over on its side about 10:20 a.m. The driver of the oil truck, owned by William H. Riley & Co. of North Attleboro, told fire officials that he was driving south on Gregory Drive at Sunset Drive, a residential area off Route 152, when the truck slid sideways on a stretch of ice and then hit a dry patch, jerking around abruptly and tipping over on its side. Jack did not identify the driver, who he said complained of bumps and bruises and was treated at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management are on the river this afternoon, trying to stretch booms across the water to ensure that the contamination does not spread, Jack said. He expects they’ll be there until dark. The Ten Mile River feeds into a number of streams and tributaries in Seekonk, Pawtucket and East Providence, Jack said. -- Journal staff writer Gina Macris In addition to environmental officials from two states, the Coast Guard, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Pawtucket fire department sent representatives to the scene, he said. The fire chief said the oil seeped into the river through a storm drain before firefighters arrived. Sand and hundreds of absorbent pads were used to soak up the standing oil in a day-long effort which involved firefighters and two private companies, one dispatched by Riley & Co., the oil dealer, and the other called by the Massachusetts environmental agency, Jack said. Earlier today, the state police closed the streets to traffic for several hours while work crews cleaned the oil spill, according to police Sgt. Michelle Hines. Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:54 PM | Comment Library could put downtown library up for salePROVIDENCE — The Providence Public Library is considering selling its 107-year-old Central Library downtown, both to shore up its troubled finances and to move to a more user-friendly location. In recent years, the library has struggled with financial problems that have forced it to reduce hours, lay off workers, and consider closing branches. The private, non-profit library is trying to work out an agreement with the city to improve its financial situation, but it is also looking at its properties to generate cash. Without question, the most valuable of the library’s holdings is the 115,000 square foot Central Library at Washington and Empire Streets — valued by the city at $16 million in the late 1990s, before the downtown building boom. “We may be sitting on $16 million that could be put to different use,” said Lisa Churchville, chairwoman of the Library’s board of trustees. “This central library is in a neighborhood that’s not particularly easy to access and [lacks] parking. There may be another way to serve the public and to serve the neighborhoods,” Churchville said. The central library was built in 1900 and expanded in 1953. There has been at least one inquiry about the property. Library Executive Director Dale Thompson said: "With the various developments in this neighborhood, we know that there has been developer interest in this building.” The library plans to hire an outside assessment firm to figure out the value of its 9 branches. --- Daniel Barbarisi, Journal Staff Writer The Providence Public Library is a private, nonprofit organization that has provided library services for the city for more than 100 years without a contract. The city contributes $3 million annually to the library budget. The Public Library system includes the Central Library downtown, 9 branches and the Rhode Island Statewide Reference Resource Center in the Central Library. Among the branches is Washington Park, which has been closed because of a leaky roof and other structural problems. The library’s branches are operating under a one-year agreement with the city that allows the library to operate at a deficit so long as it maintains services and works with a group of mayoral appointees and library trustees to identify options for the future. That operating agreement ends June 30. Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:21 PM | Comment State reprimands doctor with anger issuesThe state has given a stern public warning to Dr. Joseph F. Grillo, an internist who engaged in “unacceptable disruptive behavior.” Grillo’s medical license has been placed on probation for five years, with the understanding that it could be quickly revoked if he does not stick to a treatment and monitoring program. Bruce W. McIntyre, lawyer for the state Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, said that Grillo’s problems center on “anger management” issues. Grillo came to Rhode Island from Connecticut in 2002, and voluntarily entered into treatment and monitoring with the Physicians Health Committee of the Rhode Island Medical Society, because he had been in a similar program in Connecticut, McIntyre said. --- Felice J. Freyer, Journal Medical Writer Recently, according to McIntyre, Grillo had “some incidents” with his own therapists, involving “threats and outbursts,” which prompted the Physicians Health Committee to take the unusual step of asking the board to intervene. “Our discussions with him were blunt and direct,” McIntyre said. “If his behavior repeats itself, he’s going to be brought before a hearing panel and there might be a move to revoke his license.” Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:15 PM | Comment Ice might have caused head-on crash in CranstonCRANSTON -- A 33-year-old Coventry woman is being treated for serious injuries after a motorist crossed the median on New London Avenue and collided head-on with her Jeep Grand Cherokee, the police say. Nina Read was driving southbound around 6 p.m. Wednesday night near the on-ramp to Route 37 when a van in the northbound lane careened across the low concrete median and collided with Read’s car, according to police Sergeant Dennis Neri. She was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries, including multiple fractures, Neri said. When she was admitted, Neri said Read was in critical condition. This afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said Read was still receiving treatment. The driver of the van, Arthur Dipaola, was transported to Kent Hospital, where he was treated and released Wednesday night, Neri said. Dipaola, 53, of Barrington, has not been charged in connection with the accident. The police say the van may have skidded on ice, causing the collision. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Peter Phipps at 3:34 PM | Comment Sports tonight: Friars in South BendBy tomorrow, we should have a better idea whether or not the Providence College Friars will be heading to the NCAA Tournament next month. Sure, they could always win the Big East Tournament, but barring that, they need to win games like tonight's, on the road against Notre Dame. It won't be easy; the Irish have yet to lose a game in South Bend. You can watch at 7 tonight on ESPN; Kevin McNamara's game story will be online tomorrow. On the high school scene, the final rounds of the Haig Varadian dual meet wrestling championships are tonight at Cranston West. The home-standing Falcons face East Providence while Cumberland takes on Hendricken at 6; the winning teams will then meet for the state title at 7:30. Check projo.com's High School Game Day page tomorrow for Carolyn Thornton's story and a gallery of photos. The Boston Bruins, riding a mini-hot streak, are on Long Island tonight to play the New York Islanders. The game starts at 7:30 and will be televised on NESN. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:22 PM | Comment Trial delayed for woman charged with killing toddlerPROVIDENCE -- The trial of a woman charged with murder in her three-year-old nephew's death is delayed again. Katherine S. Bunnell's trial was scheduled to start this week, after being set last October to start in December. The attorney general's office now says the trial will begin in April. Bunnell and her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, are charged with beating Thomas J. "TJ" Wright in their Woonsocket home in 2004. The boy was in the couple's foster care. The couple was reportedly angry over a mess and blamed the child. -- The Associated Press, with Journal archival reports Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:05 PM | Comment Bad peanut butter recalled across nationThe state Health Department issued a warning this morning urging people not to eat certain jars of peanut butter for fear that the sticky treat is contaminated with a dangerous bacteria. Only certain jars of Peter Pan and Great Value Peanut Butter with the number 2111 on the lids are believed to be affected, according to the Food and Drug Administration, which said today that at least 288 people are believed to have been sickened across 39 states by the bad peanut butter. The brands -- both of which stemmed from a plant in Georgia -- are believed to be tainted with Salmonella Tennessee, a bacteria that can be deadly for those with weakened immune systems. People are urged to throw out the jars if purchased since May of last year. Those who think they have eaten the bad peanut butter and are experiencing symptoms such as fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps should contact state health officials immediately, according to the FDA. Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:49 AM | Comment Firefighters battle stubborn Providence blaze / Photo
Journal photo / Mary MurphyProvidence firefighters work to extinguish a stubborn fire at R. Teto Motors, a garage on Chafee Street off of Manton Avenue in Olneyville this morning. (Click on the photo to see a larger version.) PROVIDENCE -- Neighbors were temporarily evacuated as firefighters spent more than an hour battling a blaze in a local auto body shop this morning. The fire -- the third significant blaze reported this morning in Rhode Island -- was at the corner of Chaffee Street and Sykes Place off Manton Avenue. The building was a two-story wood and brick structure that houses R. Teto Motors, an auto body shop. It was "fully involved" by about 8 a.m., according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the fire department. Firefighters entered the 23 Chaffee Ave. building but were forced out soon after for fear that the roof would collapse, Taylor said. They battled the blaze from the outside for about an hour as firefighters moved into defensive mode. The two-alarm fire was under control at about 9:20 a.m. The business owner said one of his employees discovered the fire when he got to work. "As soon as he opened the door he saw smoke," owner Edien Ibanez, 28, of North Providence, said. He said the building has an office on the second floor. One firefighter was taken to Roger Williams Medical Center with an elbow injury. The firefighter, who was the officer of Engine 14, was hit by a stream of water from a hydrant and fell. The icy conditions made the firefighters' job difficult, according to Battalion Chief Kenneth Bock. He said that at least 15 firefighters slipped and fell on ice that was created by the streaming water from the hoses. There's no word on the cause of the fire. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Greg Smith Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:15 AM | Comment Photo: More than a sprinkling of ice
Posted by Jack Perry at 10:39 AM | Comment Update: Chalkstone Ave. fire displaces sevenPROVIDENCE -- The Red Cross is helping at least seven people, including three children, find shelter today after an early morning fire on Chalkstone Ave. The blaze was reported at 4:32 a.m., according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department. The fire was confined to the second-floor of the three-family building at 668 Chalkstone Ave. It was under control just minutes later, Taylor said, but not before four adults and three children were forced from their home in the bitter overnight cold. The Red Cross provided food and lodging for two adults from the second floor and two adults and their three children from the third floor, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Marisa Albanese. There are no reported injuries. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 9:58 AM | Comment Ice doesn't cause major problems on roads, airportPROVIDENCE -- The state police says there were a host of accidents reported during last night's "flash freeze," but nothing significant this morning. Traffic may be running a bit slow because of the icy conditions on back roads. But that was the only concern for state highways as of about 8:30 a.m. "There were several accidents overnight," said state police Cpl. Michael Rosa. "But now we’re OK. Nothing unusual at this time." What about flights? TF Green is reporting just one flight cancellation or delay this morning. Delta's 9:35 a.m. flight 6205 to New York's JFK is canceled, according to the flight information board posted on the airport's Web site. But all other flights appear to be on time and running smoothly. Posted by Steve Peoples at 8:48 AM | Comment Businesses, residents affected by overnight blazeCENTRAL FALLS -- An early morning blaze at a three-story Central Falls building could have been a lot worse, Fire Chief Rene Coutu says. The fire department got to 438 Dexter St. just after 4 a.m. as a garage attached to the mixed-use building -- which houses several businesses and residents -- was fully engulfed in smoke and fire. Fire crews worked quickly to contain the flames to the garage as they evacuated residents from the apartments on the second and third floors. Firefighters had to carry one elderly woman outside, Coutu said, and help another down the stairs. Coutu wasn't sure exactly how many residents were evacuated, but said there likely weren't more than three or four apartments. As for the businesses, there was a travel agency, a check cashing store and a tax preparation business, he said. They didn't suffer substantial damage, Coutu said, although the phone and electrical wiring for the building was melted. The electric company was on the scene this morning working on the wiring. The residents will be allowed to return to their apartments once cleared by the electric company, Coutu said. The garage was gutted by the fire, Coutu said, noting that it could have been worse. "They did a great job knocking it down," Coutu said of his firefighters, adding that the weather conditions complicated the effort. "As soon as you spray the water out, you’re slipping and falling. It took us a while to thaw out our hands and feet – it was just brutal." -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 8:08 AM | Comment Nor'easter gone, ice and wind remainsPROVIDENCE -- The storm is gone. But it'll be tough to forget it for a while. The snow totals initially predicted didn't materialize, but heavy precipitation and a "flash freeze" last night left many back roads covered with a thick sheet of ice this morning. There are a host of school delays this morning as a result. And based on the expected temperatures over the next few days, Mother Nature won't help much with melting the ice. Today's highs will reach only the mid 20s, according to the National Weather Service. And it's supposed to be blustery, with gusty winds up to 40 mph. Tomorrow isn't expected to be much different, with highs in the upper 20s and similar gusty winds. And for the weekend? The temperatures will shoot up ... into the 30s. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:00 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about an 8-year-old Fall River Boy's arrest after he allegedly threatened fellow students with a toy gun at school. Download a copy of today's front page. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 14, 2007Boy, 8, accused of brandishing toy gunFALL RIVER, Mass. — An 8-year-old Fall River boy has been accused of threatening students on a school bus and in a school bathroom with what turned out to be a toy gun, the police said today. He has been charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, disturbing a school assembly and with threat to commit a crime, the police said in a press release. The boy was not named because he is a juvenile. The matter is handled is being handled in Juvenile Court. Officer William A. Martel and Sgt. Michael Duarte went to Frank Silvia School at 8:37 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a gun complaint and learned that the boy “allegedly brandished” the toy gun while on a school bus “and made threatening statements to at least two other students,” according to the police statement. Once the boy arrived at school, police allege, he went into a bathroom with other students, “exhibited” the toy gun and made threatening statements “while claiming the gun’s authenticity” as a real firearm. Lt. Jeff Cardoza said the police report described the toy gun as made of The boy has been suspended from the school and the matter is under investigation, said Schools Supt. Nick Fisher. Fisher said that the district’s “zero-tolerance” policy pertains to cases involving a real firearm. He said that for this sort of case “we judge each situation individually.” -- Journal staff writer Michael McKinney Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:52 PM | Comment Police: Ice causes 'several multi-car accidents'The state police are reporting tonight that the roads are treacherous. The National Weather Service had warned of a "flash freeze" this evening, and apparently, that's what's happening. Water that collected on roads and sidewalks throughout the day is starting to freeze as the temperature dips from the mid-30s to the 20s. A state police dispatcher said this evening that authorities are responding to "several multi-car accidents," including one on Interstate 295 North in Smithfield. She was too busy to provide details. The state Department of Transportation issued a warning this afternoon urging motorists to drive carefully. "Snowy rain-soaked roads, and the freezing conditions that are expected after 5 p.m., have the potential to become a dangerous mix when not driven with caution," reads the warning. Drivers are advised to leave plenty of room between other cars to have plenty of braking room. Icy patches can occur where drivers least expect them, according to the warning. Check current traffic conditions, including incident alerts, at the state DOT's Transportation Management Center Web site. Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:42 PM | Comment Update: Storm quiets State House, except for rally
PROVIDENCE -- Today's messy weather has shut down the House of Representatives, according to an announcement this afternoon by the Legislative Press Bureau. The House session, all hearings and a news conference on legislation to curb the state's school dropout rate have been cancelled. And as previously planned, there won't be a House session tomorrow either. The state Senate decided yesterday to cancel today's business in light of the looming winter storm. But at least one State House event did go on. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a St. Valentine's Day rally at the State House late this afternoon. Today's rally was sponsored by Marriage Equality Rhode Island. Lawmakers have promised to file same-sex marriage bills this year, but previous efforts have met with opposition. Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:21 PM | Comment Boy, 16, accused of punching teen with brass knucklesJOHNSTON -- A 16-year-old boy was charged with felony assault after he was accused of punching a high-school student in the face with brass knuckles, the police said today. Deputy Police Chief Gary W. Maddocks Jr. said the suspect attacked another 16-year-old boy in the high school parking lot yesterday after school. The boy’s facial injuries, requiring seven stitches, are consistent with the type of trauma inflicted by brass knuckles, added Maddocks. The injured teen told police that he and the suspect had exchanged some ugly comments with each other months ago on the Internet after the suspect bothered his girlfriend -- an exchange that continued. -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds The suspect is not a high school student, Maddocks said, and was in the parking lot to pick up his sister. The suspect was held overnight at the Rhode Island State Training School for Youth in Cranston and arraigned today in Family Court, Providence. -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:51 PM | Comment Tomorrow a skier's dream -- finallyMany ski resorts across northern New England are expected to get more snow in this storm than they have had for the entire winter season so far. Sunday River in Bethel, Maine, for example had received about 16 inches of natural snow as of this past weekend. The ski resort, however, is expected to get up to 2 feet of snow by tomorrow morning. The New Hampshire and Vermont mountains are also expected to get up to 2 feet. Blizzard warnings have been issued for the mountains of all three states. Closer to home, even Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Mass. is getting a heavy dose of snow. The National Weather Service is calling for between 8 and 14 inches by tomorrow morning. Powder days on the East Coast don't come around too often. Tomorrow should be a skier's and snowboarder's dream. But don't even think about skiing Mount Washington in New Hampshire, home to some of New England's worst weather. At 4:30, the summit observatory was reporting a blizzard of snow, with an east wind of 73 mph, temp of 5 degrees and a wind chill of below 28 degrees. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:40 PM | Comment Sports tonight: It's warm insideThe URI Rams (8-3 Atlantic 10, 15-10 overall) return to the Ryan Center after a three-game road trip, no doubt hoping that a good percentage of their fans brave the weather to see a first-place team in action. The Rams' opponents are the Saint Louis Billikens (5-5, 15-9), who handed URI its first conference defeat of the season back in January. The game will be on Cox Sports Television beginning at 7. Projo.com will have a gallery of game photos tomorrow, along with Paul Kenyon's game story. In Boston, the Celtics get their last chance at home to stop their losing streak (it now stands at 18) before it gets any closer to the all-time NBA record of 23 straight defeats. This will be their best chance to get a win for a while: tonight's opponents, the Milwaukee Bucks, are just 19-33 and have dropped 7 of their last 8 games. After tonight it's the All-Star break and then a tough, tough Western road trip. You can see the game at 7:30 on Fox Sports New England. All high school sports action in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League has been postponed due to the winter storm. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:20 PM | Comment Tales of lost love, broken promises -- in ProvidencePROVIDENCE – If you’re just getting over a nasty breakup on this Valentine’s Day and feeling sorry that you’re unable to celebrate with a partner, we may have just the thing for you to do tonight. Head to the Stairwell Gallery for the premiere of the audio documentary “The Breakup Project: Tales of Woe, Wonder and Other Psycho Pop.” The project is the culmination of two months of interviews with more than 20 people who have broken up with a significant other in Providence and lived to tell about the experience. It began as two friends – now producers of the documentary – commiserated over a winter dinner about their own recent break-ups. Sue Ellen Kroll and Megan Hall laughed about the difficulty of navigating social circles and small-town rumor mills. “What we realized is that breaking up in Providence is such a shared experience,” Kroll said. “Mentioning to complete strangers that you recently survived your own breakup was a way to find instant common ground. The people who were brave enough to talk to us were very open – perhaps they had already burned those bridges talking about their ex-es with friends.” Tonight’s gallery reception begins at 8 p.m. at the Stairwell, at 504 Broadway, and the documentary will be shown at 9:30 p.m. In the documentary, people offer advice on how to survive in this city with your ex. The audio collection features stories and anecdotes from both the heartbroken and the heartbreakers. For more on the project, visit its MySpace page. The producers say they think tonight is the perfect time for people to gather and share stories about lost love and ruined romance. “Maybe single people will find someone else who’s nursing a wounded heart,” Hall said. And for those who are part of a couple, she said, “Hopefully, our stories will help them remember how delicate love is. And if not, maybe they need to break up!” Find more ways to mark Valentine's Day, at home, in front of a computer or elsewhere. Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:36 PM | Comment Traffic accidents starting to pile upPROVIDENCE -- The state police had responded to between 40 and 50 accidents by around 2 p.m., as heavy rain over a layer of snow and sleet has made for treacherous travel. State Police Capt. James Swanberg said the calls started coming in at about 4:30 a.m. and haven't stopped. As of midmorning there were no serious injuries reported, Swanberg said, just a lot of fender benders. But a single-car crash on Route 95 North at around 1:45 p.m. temporarily closed the right two lanes of the highway and sent at least one person to the hospital, according to state police Sgt. Ernest Quarry. The extent of the injuries are unclear, Quarry said. "All my guys are out there," he said this afternoon with a sigh, referring to how busy the day has been for the police. The weather isn't supposed to improve in time for the evening commute. In fact, temperatures are supposed to quickly fall into the 20s between 5 and 8 p.m., causing a "flash freeze" and turning wet roads to icy roads, according to the National Weather Service. Traveling later today? Check the state Department of Transportation traffic cams for a look at highways around the state, and view "jam factor" reports. Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:29 PM | Comment 2 men thrown from car in Swansea crashSWANSEA, Mass. -- Two men were thrown from a car when it struck a tree early this morning on Swansom Road in eastern Swansea, according to the police. The police have not yet released the men's names, but both were described as being in their 20s. Their injuries are believed to be serious. At least one was taken to Rhode Island Hospital. The crash happened shortly before 1 a.m. near where Swansom Road meets Stevens Road. Sgt. Richard Roussel is investigating through an accident reconstruction. -- Journal staff writer Michael P. McKinney CORRECTION: The name of Swansom Road was incorrect in an earlier post. Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:23 PM | Comment Storm whitewashes high school sports scheduleThe full complement of Interscholastic League events has been postponed tonight, including the Divisions II and III boys swimming championships. The swimming will be held tomorrow at Roger Williams University, with a 6 p.m. warmup and a 7 p.m. start time. Click below to read the full list of events, with the reschedule date in parentheses where it is known. Boys Basketball Girls Basketball Wrestling Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:23 PM | Comment State extends United Healthcare pact for 2 yearsPROVIDENCE -- The state has extended its contract with UnitedHealthcare for two additional years, a move the governor's office says is expected to save taxpayers millions in state employee benefit costs. United was selected to replace Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island as the state's health insurer in 2004. The state initially signed a three-year contract with United, which took effect in May 2005. That contract included two one-year extension options, which the state recently agreed to after negotiating approximately $5.5 million in additional rebates, according to the governor's office, which announced the contract today. Most of those savings come in the form of increased pharmaceutical rebates, it said. The contract is also structured to allow individual cities and towns to contract with United for the same administrative rates as the state -- a change the governor's office says has the potential to save millions of dollars for local communities. The contract extension expires June 30, 2010. Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:20 PM | Comment Accidents keep police busy in southeastern Mass.In southeastern Massachusetts, state police at the Dartmouth barracks reported perhaps 20 accidents during the morning on the highways they cover, and although some damaged vehicles, it did not appear that any caused life-threatening injuries. The state police also reported another 15 or so cars sliding off roads but not resulting in contact with any vehicles, guardrails or other objects. On Route 140 in New Bedford, a southbound car slid across the road this morning and went into a tree on the northbound side, according to the state police. A person in the car was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. On Route 24 in Fall River, a two-car accident around 10:15 a.m. resulted in at least one person being taken to St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. In Rhode Island’s East Bay, no major accidents have been reported but some typical trouble spots are seeing slippery conditions. In Portsmouth, that includes the Wapping Road area. In Middletown, the police reported a wintry mix accumulating on Valley Road toward Jonnycake Hill Road — where officers have been keeping an eye on road drainage issues — but said state personnel have already been on scene to keep the drainage clear. --Journal Staff Writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:55 PM | Comment Kennedy promises hearings on gambling amendmentWASHINGTON -- Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy has promised the Narragansett Indians that he will hold congressional hearings this year on whether federal law has unfairly impeded the tribe’s efforts to build a gambling establishment on its land. Kennedy said this morning that he told members of the tribe that he hoped to examine the issue of whether federal law gives them sufficient recognition of their sovereignty as it relates to gambling issues. He made the promise to Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and other members of the tribe, who visited the congressman yesterday. The Rhode Island Democrat's office said he would lead the hearings in the House Resources Committee, of which he is a new member. Kennedy said it is not yet clear whether he and other allies of the tribe would attempt an outright repeal of the so-called Chafee amendment. But U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a fellow Rhode Island Democrat, said this morning that while he reiterated to tribe members his support for tribal economic development, he remains flatly opposed to repealing the Chafee amendment. Reed said he told Thomas and other members of the tribe that their concerns are “entirely legitimate.” But he said, "There remains a huge issue and that is casino gambling." “And I continue to be opposed to that,” Reed said. -- Journal staff writer John E. Mulligan, with reports from Journal archives The Chafee amendment refers to a 1996 law put forward by the late Sen. John H. Chafee, a Rhode Island Republican, that requires the Narragansett Indians to seek voter approval of casino gambling proposals -- like other state entities. The amendment was viewed as closing a gambling loophole that Congress mistakenly opened in the Rhode Island Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1978. That was the law that won back for the Narragansetts about 3,600 acres of their tribal land in Charlestown. Kennedy has long criticized the amendment.
Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:51 PM | Comment Crews rescue driver trapped by power wires / Photo
The pole, which held an electrical transformer, snapped and partially pinned the woman in her vehicle, Police Capt. Robert Ryan said this morning. Emergency crews ordered the woman to stay in her vehicle until National Grid could reach the scene because there were live power lines on the vehicle, according to Ryan and Asst. Fire Chief James Gumbley. The power company first had to de-energize those lines, Gumbley said. The was extricated from her vehicle about 30 to 40 minutes after the accident, and she was to be transported to an area hospital for what appeared to be minor injuries, Ryan said. Oaklawn Avenue was closed for about a mile, between Dean Parkway and Merit Drive, as crews rescued the woman and cleared the accident. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writer Barbara Polichetti Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:24 PM | Comment Update: Fire guts W. Greenwich business / Photos
WEST GREENWICH – Fire late last night gutted a specialty wood product company’s building on Hopkins Hill Road. The fire at Packard Wood Products, 689B Hopkins Hill Rd., was still burning this morning – “with some pretty decent fire,” according to a police dispatcher. It has drawn the local police and fire chiefs and the state fire marshal. Crews from multiple fire departments responded when the fire was reported at 11:06 p.m., including West Greenwich, Coventry, Carolina, South Kingstown, Hope Valley, Exeter, Jamestown and Foster. The Lake Mishnock Fire Station in West Greenwich was the leading agency to respond, according to the dispatcher. Crews are expected to be on scene all day, the dispatcher said. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Jack Perry at 12:10 PM | Comment CANCELED is the word today at GreenIf you had plans to leave town on a jet plane today or if you had a loved one expecting to drop in for Valentine's Day from somewhere far-flung, chances are good your plans have been foiled. Plenty of flights into and out of T.F. Green Airport have been canceled today because of this morning’s snowy, freezing weather. Check the airport's site before heading to the airport. Flights set to arrive this morning from Toronto, Albany, Columbus, Newark, Philadelphia, Orlando and elsewhere were canceled, but flights from Chicago, New York’s JFK Airport and Cincinnati are reported as arriving on time on the airport’s Web site. As for departures, morning flights to Toronto, Newark, Cincinnati, New York’s JFK, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago and elsewhere have been canceled. Afternoon and evening flights range from being posted as on time at this hour to already being canceled. Even one flight as late as 7:05 p.m. to Tampa has been canceled. Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:05 AM | Comment Weather update: Winter storm changing characterThe wintry weather that moved in overnight will continue to morph into different forms as the day goes on. A winter weather advisory remains in effect until midnight tonight, the National Weather Service said at mid-morning. A mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected to make travel hazardous this morning. Warmer air, however, will move into the region this afternoon, spurring a change to all rain. But wait. Colder air will rush into the area this evening as low pressure passes to the northeast. That may cause a "flash freeze" to take place, causing "very hazardous travel" this evening and overnight. Total snow and sleet accumulations are expected to be around 1 to 2 inches, with little or no accumulation along the immediate coast. Out for a walk? Watch your step on untreated roadways or sidewalks, the weather service says. Driving? Be especially careful when crossing bridges and overpasses. Get the latest weather conditions and forecasts for our area, including live radar and a Providence Webcam view, at: http://projo.com/weather Posted by Andrea Panciera at 11:00 AM | Comment Kennedy promises hearings on gambling amendmentWASHINGTON -- Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy has promised the Narragansett Indians that he will hold congressional hearings this year on repeal of a federal law that has impeded the tribe’s efforts to build a gambling establishment on its land. Kennedy press secretary Robin Costello said this morning that Kennedy made the promise to Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and other members of the tribe, who visited the congressman yesterday. Costello said the Rhode Island Democrat would lead the hearings in the House Resources Committee, of which he is a new member. But U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a fellow Rhode Island Democrat, said this morning that while he reiterated to tribe members his support for tribal economic development, he remains flatly opposed to repealing the so-called Chafee amendment. Reed said he told Thomas and other members of the tribe that their concerns are “entirely legitimate.” But he said there remains a huge issue and that is casino gambling. “And I continue to be opposed to that,” Reed said. -- Journal staff writer John E. Mulligan, with reports from Journal archives The Chafee amendment refers to a 1996 law put forward by the late Sen. John H. Chafee, a Rhode Island Republican, that requires the Narragansett Indians to seek voter approval of casino gambling proposals. The amendment was viewed as closing a gambling loophole that Congress mistakenly opened in the Rhode Island Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1978. That was the law that won back for the Narragansetts about 3,600 acres of their tribal land in Charlestown. Kennedy has long criticized the amendment. Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:47 AM | Comment Cranston accident on Oaklawn Ave. closes roadsCRANSTON – The police have responded to a car accident in the vicinity of 433 Oaklawn Ave. Roadways in the area have been closed off, according to the police, but more details about the crash are not yet available. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:34 AM | Comment Photo: Plowing in Providence
A plow tries to clear the road on Admiral Street in Providence this morning. The National Weather Service is forecasting more sleet, snow and freezing rain and warning of slippery roads. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:04 AM | Comment Update: DePetro returns to R.I. airwavesThe self-proclaimed Independent Man is back on Rhode Island’s airwaves, and he promised listeners on WPRO that he’s going to have fun, entertain listeners, cover people and expose people. “The program, I guarantee you, will not be dull,” talk show host John DePetro said this morning when he kicked off his new show on WPRO-AM (630) at 9:08 a.m. DePetro, whose return to Rhode Island booted talk show host Dave Barber, who was fired last Monday, began by thanking supporters and friends and the 1,000 e-mailers who have written to him recently. “I am very, very fortunate, and I want to thank all of you,” DePetro said. “And I want to talk to you.” DePetro talked about putting a special focus on Operation Dollar Bill, the State House influence-peddling probe that seeks to connect the dots between dollars, as in payoffs, and bills, as in legislation. Of U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente, who is leading the federal probe, DePetro said, "I am offering him my services." DePetro left WHJJ-AM (920) in Rhode Island in the summer of 2004 to go to Boston station WRKO-AM. He lost his Boston job last November after referring to Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Grace Ross as “a fat lesbian” on the air. Before that, DePetro had been briefly suspended for referring to Massachusetts Turnpike Authority chairman Matthew J. Amorello as “fag Matt.” The brash talk show host will be on WPRO-AM (630) and will be heard weekdays from 9 to 11:45 a.m. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:47 AM | Comment Providence veterans office is open, contrary to reportPROVIDENCE – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in downtown Providence is open today, despite a report on a list of area closings that it is not. “We’re the benefits office of the VA,” human resources liaison Margherita Paolucci said. “We are open.” The office is located at 380 Westminster St. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:15 AM | Comment Suspicious Cranston fire sparks investigationCRANSTON – A late-night fire that destroyed a vacant office trailer and damaged the two buildings next to it has been deemed suspicious and remains under investigation this morning. The trailer’s owner, Emanuel Torti, is working with the fire prevention bureau to clean up the remains of the fire, which was reported around 11:30 last night, Assistant Fire Chief James Gumbley said. Torti also owns the building to the right of trailer, at 26 W. Russe St., but not the business inside, which is Fernco. About five feet from the trailer, that building sustained damage to its roof and smoke damage throughout the building, Gumbley said. Fernco works on sewer systems. Aluminum siding melted on the building on the other side of the trailer, which houses AL Construction at 35 W. Russe St. That building sat about 25 feet from the trailer, Gumbley said. One firefighter suffered a cut to his nose when a fire hose struck him in the face, Gumbley said. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:14 AM | Comment Photo: A slippery, slow commute
Commuters find slow going on Route 146 south heading into Providence this morning. The Rhode Island State Police say they've responded to a lot of accidents in the Providence and Pawtucket area since early this morning. In many cases, cars slid out of control and struck barriers. Posted by Jack Perry at 8:52 AM | Comment Photo: Dark and icy in North Kingstown
Residents of North Kingstown may have heard icy pellets falling over night and are awakening to a light coating of ice and snow. Despite the light coating of the white stuff, there is no school for students at the North Kingstown schools. Snowfalls in the Quidnessett area were light overnight, due to the sleet and ice that fell instead. The temperature is well below freezing, though, at 25 degrees. -- Pam Cotter Posted by Jack Perry at 7:23 AM | Comment How they deal with winter in Minnesota and ChicagoThe best advice I ever got about scraping snow off my car came from an old college friend. The advice has carried me through college in Chicago and four winters in northern Minnesota. First step: turn on the car, crank up the defrost and don’t forget that rear defrost button. Clear the hood of the car first, allowing your engine to start warming up without snow on it. Make sure to clear the headlights, the rear-view mirrors and all side windows. Don’t – as so many people do – leave accumulation on the roof of the car. It only causes trouble for other motorists once you’re on the roads. Leave the back window for last because your rear defrost will have done most of your work for you by that point. Five to 10 minutes later, you’re getting into a toasty warm car with good visibility all around. Now watch your speed, and start braking a good 20 to 30 feet before you need to stop on a day like today. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:23 AM | Comment Lots of minor accidents on congested roadwaysPROVIDENCE – The state police have responded to about 15 accidents in the Providence and Pawtucket area since 4:40 a.m. today. Despite very light ice fall from 10 p.m. on, they had no accidents until 4:40 a.m., when the morning commute was just getting going, Lt. Eric LaRiviere said this morning. Elsewhere in Rhode Island, the state police haven’t handled too many accidents down south. The police in western Rhode Island – including the portion with Route 295 – have had their share of accidents, but not nearly as many as in the capital area, LaRiviere said. None of the accidents have caused serious injuries. Many occurred as cars slid out of control and hit the barriers dividing highways or along the shoulders, LaRiviere said. For other traffic needs, check out the state roadways, via the Department of Transportation's online traffic offerings. The roads are packed and slow this morning. On the Department of Transportation’s 10-point traffic congestion scale – with 10 being the worst – Route 195 West is ranking 8.2, with an average speed of 15 miles per hour and the slowest speed at 10 miles per hour. You can find traffic alerts describing some of the morning’s 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 7:15 AM | Comment Update: Messy, snowy morning / Photo
PROVIDENCE – Snow, sleet or freezing rain? Sometimes it was tough to tell this morning exactly what was coming down. At least here in the capital city, accumulation on this Valentine’s Day morning was scant – a dusting to a half inch at most. But the roads are slick. It began sometime after 2 a.m. and before 5. A number of schools are closed, and another good number have one-hour delays. Check the local closing list before heading out unnecessarily this morning. The National Weather Service is still predicting snow, freezing rain and rain this morning and then rain in the afternoon, with a total accumulation of 2 to 4 inches. It’s 20 degrees now, and we should see a high of about 39 degrees. A high wind watch from the Weather Service cautions that winds may gust as high as 50 to 60 miles per hour this afternoon and early evening. This morning’s commute is already shaping up to be nasty. A typical number of cars -- maybe a little less -- were battling Route 195 west and other roadways this morning, and it is slick out there. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:12 AM | Comment Want winter? Go to New HampshireHow about this forecast from the National Weather Service: "Snow. Near blizzard conditions with areas of blowing and drifting snow. A chance of thunderstorms and sleet in the afternoon. Additional snow and sleet accumulation of 12 to 18 inches. Brisk with highs in the lower 20s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph...Increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent. Wind chill values as low as 13 below in the morning." That would be your day if you lived in Concord, N.H. And then tonight in New Hampshire, the Weather Service is forecasting: "Snow with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening ... Additional accumulation of 6 to 10 inches. Blustery with lows 9 to 14 above. North winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Wind chill values as low as 11 below." Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:06 AM | Comment Gay marriage rally planned for StatehousePROVIDENCE -- Supporters of same-sex marriage are planning a Saint Valentine's Day rally at the State House. Rhode Island law is silent on gay marriage, neither explicitly allowing or prohibiting it. Complicating the debate is the fact that gay couples in Rhode Island can drive across the Massachusetts border and get married there. Today's rally is sponsored by Marriage Equality Rhode Island. Lawmakers have promised to file same-sex marriage bills this year, but previous efforts have met with opposition. Rhode Island's top court has been asked to weigh in on part of the gay marriage debate. The state Supreme Court is trying to decide whether a Rhode Island judge can grant a divorce to a lesbian couple from Rhode Island who got married in Massachusetts. So far, no decision. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features features stories on the state's first statewide school curriculum and a judge's ordering the deportation of an Indian national whose behavior at a Smithfield trucking school spawned a nationwide antiterrorism investigation. Download today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 13, 2007We won't get the worst of winter storm/Photo
The storm, according to the National Weather Service, will be in full force for the morning rush hour. About 3 inches are expected in the Providence area before the powerful system changes to a messy wintry mix by mid-morning, according to meteorologist Charlie Foley. “This is going to be the most significant storm we’ve had this season,” he said, noting that just 2.2 inches of snow has fallen this year in the Providence area. “Certainly, it’s going to be a significant weather event.” But it’s clear, Foley said, that this northeaster won’t bring huge snowfall totals to southern New England. There will be “a blockbuster snowstorm” in the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine, which could get up to 3 feet before it’s all over, Foley said. Providence should see a total of 3 to 5 inches, but that’s not how much will be on the ground tomorrow morning. Foley said that midday sleet and rain could wipe out much of the overnight totals. The snow will pick up again tomorrow night, however, and could bring another couple inches. Strong winds, with gusts close to 50 mph, will persist into tomorrow night. All precipitation is expected to end by around midnight.
--Journal staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Andrea Panciera at 7:00 PM | Comment Cranston mayor gives building official the bootCRANSTON -- The political fallout continues. Mayor Michael T. Napolitano today fired Building Official Kerry Anderson, five days after the mayor lambasted the Building Department as an impediment to economic development. The commission Napolitano created last week to scrutinize the Building Department and recommend reforms will help select Anderson’s replacement, Napolitano’s chief of staff, Ernest J. Carlucci, said. “We feel it needs new leadership,” Carlucci said. “The overall perception is that people who don’t do business in Cranston aren’t willing to come here. That stunts our potential for economic development.” Napolitano has been consistently removing city personnel who served under his predecessor, Stephen Laffey, since taking office in January. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin Gedan Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:38 PM | Comment Dive teams board Lady of Grace, but come up emptyDive teams found no evidence of three missing fisherman this morning when they battled 32-degree water, 6-foot waves and strong currents to search a portion of the Lady of Grace, the New Bedford fishing boat that sank in late January. Two weeks ago, authorities recovered the body of the captain, Antonio Barroqueiro, from the wheelhouse of the 75-foot fishing vessel. Lost at sea were Barroqueiro's crew - Rogerio Ventura, Mario Farinha and João Silva. The crew had cut in half their eight-day trip for ground fish and were headed back toward New Bedford late last month, heeding warnings from the Coast Guard about single-digit temperatures, winds of 45 knots and 22-foot seas. The boat was apparently dragged down by ice. The Coast Guard said today that dive teams from the Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Unit and a private salvage company successfully entered the boat this morning, before being forced away by deteriorating weather conditions. The dive location is 12 miles south of Cape Cod. Visibility in the water was reported to be approximately 5 to 10 feet, according to the Coast Guard. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:28 PM | Comment Wintry predictions postpone 'Love in Bloom' galaPROVIDENCE – Guests planning to attend the Love in Bloom benefit gala at Roger Williams Park Botanical Center will have to put aside their party outfits for three weeks. The event was postponed from tomorrow to Wednesday, March 7, at 6 p.m. due to the impending snowstorm. Click here for more closings, postponements and delays stemming from the anticipated storm. Invited guests have been encouraged to wear something red as they get a sneak preview of the largest indoor public display garden in New England and enjoy a tropical evening during the winter. Proceeds from the Love in Bloom will benefit the Botanical Center’s education programs and support the construction of the outdoor gardens. The event is sponsored by Rhode Island Monthly, Fidelity Investments, Fleet Construction Co., Inc., and Fine Catering by Russell Morin. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:21 PM | Comment At this grocery store, storm of shoppers yet to arrivePROVIDENCE -- At the Stop & Shop on Branch Avenue, some people were buying the traditional bread and milk and stocking up on other food as the first real winter storm of the season looms. But just as many told a reporter they were out shopping today simply because they needed certain items and not because they were motivated by weather reports of an impending storm. Assistant grocery manager Thomas Bianco, who has been at this location for two years but with the company for 27, said tonight will be a busy one at the store. Once people get off work, they’ll be there, he said. “It always happens,” he said. Snow and storm predictions just drive people to grocery stores, he said. He thinks even if a big storm like the Blizzard of ’78 hit that it would be cleared much faster now since equipment is much better than it used to be. As for Bianco, he’s off work at “5 o’clock – and not a minute later,” he said, glad he’ll miss the rush of shoppers stocking up. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:53 PM | Comment Will snow put a chill on Valentine's Day dining?PROVIDENCE -- For Valentine’s Day dinner tomorrow, Mediterraneo Caffe on Federal Hill already has 350 reservations for tables of two – called “two tops” in the business. Last year, the restaurant served 458 tables on Valentine’s Day, according to Manny Arruda, one of the restaurant’s managers. But patronage – particularly by walk-ins -- could easily change depending on how fierce the snowstorm predicted for tomorrow becomes, Marrocco knows. However, given the almost complete lack of winter weather this season, he said the restaurant has been doing better than usual the last couple months. “The 350 on the books, that’s guaranteed,” owner Gianfranco Marrocco said at lunchtime today. “The other 100 would be walk-ins … We would never book at 100 percent. This is Rhode Island. You always need a table for a VIP. We always block out 20 percent for VIPs, walk-ins.” He conceded, with a laugh, though, “I don’t think Buddy’s coming.” The Italian restaurant was one of former Providence Mayor Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci Jr.’s favorite haunts. Cianci is now doing time on a federal corruption charge.
For dinner tomorrow night, Mediterraneo hadn’t had cancellations to speak of by lunch today, but Marrocco said two patrons had canceled their rooms at his nearby hotel, the 15-room Dolce Villa that had been fully booked for Valentine’s Night. One man is stuck in Chicago, he said. Marrocco thinks the hype about the potential storm is worse than what will really arrive. Forecasters are wrong “90 percent of the time,” he said, predicting it could all pass us right by. If the forecasters are right, though, “this being the first storm, it will have twice the effect,” he said. And in that case, Marrocco said it’s a good thing that Valentine’s Day is falling on a weeknight. Come Friday, Saturday and Sunday, those who were prevented from celebrating tomorrow are likely to come out and try to make up the evening, he said. “If we look forward, we’ll maybe have a chance of recouping some of it,” he said of the losses that snow could bring. “There’s no way to make it up in this business.” Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:31 PM | Comment Stop & Shop strike looming this weekendA contract is set to expire this weekend as talks continue between Stop & Shop and union locals representing about 43,000 workers in southern New England. Three of the union locals representing the supermarket chain's workers in Connecticut and western Massachusetts have already voted to authorize leaders to call a strike if no agreement is reached by Saturday night. Locals representing United Food and Commercial Workers members in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island are due to take strike authorization votes on Sunday if no settlement is reached. Quincy-based Stop & Shop is recruiting potential replacement workers who could be called to work in case of a strike. Both sides, however, say they hope to reach a settlement before the current three-year contract expires Saturday night. Key issues include employee health care contributions and retirement benefits. -- Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:17 PM | Comment Weis accuses doctors of malpractice in 2002 surgeryBOSTON -- Doctors failed to recognize life-threatening complications after Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis' gastric bypass surgery, allowing him to bleed internally for more than a day, the coach's lawyer said today at the start of his malpractice trial. Weis had the surgery in June 2002 while he was offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots after battling obesity for years. He weighed about 350 pounds at the time. Weis alleges in the lawsuit that Massachusetts General Hospital physicians Charles Ferguson and Richard Hodin acted negligently and left Weis so close to death that he received the Roman Catholic sacrament of last rites. He was in a coma for two weeks. The doctors maintain they did nothing wrong. Weis reported complications, including difficulty breathing, in the early morning a day after his surgery, his lawyer, Michael Mone, said in an opening statement in Suffolk Superior Court. The following day, doctors performed another surgery to fix problems caused by the initial procedure. "For more than 30 hours, Mr. Weis continued to bleed," Mone said. William J. Dailey Jr., an attorney for the doctors, told jurors the doctors acted appropriately and that Weis was believed to be in good condition the morning of the second procedure. "There was no carelessness," Dailey said. "Unfortunately, Mr. Weis experienced one of the complications that is known to exist." Ferguson performed the surgery, then left for the weekend. Hodin was charged with caring for Ferguson's patients while the doctor was gone, and performed the follow-up surgery. Weis, who was expected to testify later today, was seeking unspecified damages. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:02 PM | Comment Brand-new BruinsThe new-look Boston Bruins are on the ice tonight for the first time since the weekend's trade with Calgary. They'll take on the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. The game starts at 7; you can catch it on NESN. Click projo.com's Game Day High School Sports page for Robert Lee's story on tonight's boys basketball game between Classical (12-1 in Division II) and Pilgrim (2-10), along with a gallery of game photos. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:55 PM | Comment Update: Vote delayed on CVS acquiring CaremarkNASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Delaware judge ordered Caremark Rx Inc. to delay a shareholder vote on a proposed acquisition by CVS Corp. just hours after the drugstore operator heated up the bidding today by tripling the special cash dividend it proposes to pay. Caremark shareholders were initially scheduled to meet Feb. 20, but the vote was delayed until March 9 in an order signed by Chancellor William B. Chandler III. CVS, of Woonsocket, R.I., is competing with a hostile offer from pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc. to buy Caremark, though the Caremark board favors the CVS bid. Chandler is hearing a shareholder lawsuit challenging the Caremark-CVS deal filed by Louisiana Municipal Police Employees' Retirement System. Lawyers for the pension fund asked the judge to postpone the shareholder vote because it needs more time to consider the latest offer from CVS. CVS said it would raise the dividend payment to Caremark shareholders from $2 per share to $6 after several shareholders and proxy advisers called the CVS offer too low. Analysts said the move likely is aimed at trying to win over Caremark shareholders before they vote next Tuesday. Read the full Associated Press story. Posted by Jack Perry at 3:48 PM | Comment Providence fire victim's organs donatedPROVIDENCE -- Organs from the body of the teenage girl who died Sunday after a fire last week in Providence have been donated for transplants, it was announced today at a press conference. Eight major organs, including the heart and liver, from the body of Kitaiya Phenglee, 14, were donated after she was taken off life support and died Sunday morning at Shriners Hospital in Boston, according to Sonn Sam, principal of the Met School in Providence. Kitaiya, known as Amy to her friends, was a ninth grader at the school. Sam spoke during a press conference at the Providence Public Safety Complex, during which public safety officials also discussed fire safety. The Feb. 6 fire at 687 Chalkstone Ave. also claimed the life of the girl's father, Chaiya Phenglee, 43, who died trying to rescue his daughter. Firefighters found Kitaiya without a pulse in the burning building and were able to rescue her. Sam and another faculty member at the school lauded both Amy and her mother as inspirational figures and great examples for classmates. Officials noted that free smoke detectors are available to certain Providence households. For more information, call 243-6034. The apartment had no working smoke detectors. The fire was blamed on an overburdened and worn extension cord. -- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Jack Perry at 2:18 PM | Comment Some R.I. communities posting parking bansSeveral Rhode Island communities are already beginning to post parking bans for tonight and tomorrow as a severe winter storm heads our way. Most parking bans so far are across northern Rhode Island. With a messy commute predicted, some pre-schools and day-care centers are also posting delays for tomorrow morning. Get the latest parking bans, cancellations and delays around our area, courtesy of wpri.com, at: http://projo.com/weather/closings/ Check the latest forecasts, view live radar and more at: http://projo.com/weather Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:12 PM | Comment Warwick man, 75, struck, killed walking homeWARWICK - A 75-year-old man was killed last night while crossing Warwick Avenue on his way home with a bag of groceries. Joseph Marsella, of 2220 Warwick Avenue, was walking in the crosswalk in front of the Meadowbrook Terrace Apartments, where he lived, when he was struck by a car, the police said. The police say Marsella hit the car's windshield and suffered serious injuries. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he died several hours later. The driver of the car, who has not been identified, told the police that he or she did not see Marsella in the road, Lt. Mark Brandreth said this morning. No charges have been filed against the driver, although the police are investigating the cause of the accident. They do not believe excessive speed played a role. But area residents say it is the timing of the "walk" sign that's the problem. It doesn't last long enough for walkers to make it across the multi-lane street, they say. Brandreth said the police have heard these complaints and are looking into the matter, but added that the state Department of Transportation is responsible for crosswalk signs. DOT Spokesman Charles St. Martin said the agency "will work with the police department in reviewing the timing of the light," once it receives the accident report. The Warwick Police Department asks anyone who witnessed the accident to call the Warwick Police Traffic Division at 468-4345. --Cynthia Needham Posted by Jack Perry at 12:13 PM | Comment Woman pleads guilty to stealing millionsA former Cumberland woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling $6.9 million from her employer, a Rehoboth, Mass., construction materials supplier. Angela Buckborough Platt, 43, of 44 Atherholt Drive, Wyoming, Penn., and formerly of 44 Sun Valley Drive, Cumberland, was a staff accountant for J&J Materials for several years. In federal court in Boston yesterday, Platt admitted that from June 2000 to June 2006, she wrote checks from company accounts to herself. The amounts initially ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, but over time, the check amounts neared $50,000. Her theft was discovered by a newly hired bookkeeper as Platt was planning a million-dollar wedding for her brother on her 104-acre Vermont estate that would have included performances by singer Burt Bacharach and the Irish folk dance troupe River Dance, according to U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan’s Office But for years, Platt used the stolen money to live a lavish lifestyle that included the purchase of the Vermont property, a Colonial home in Foster, 30 acres of woods in Maine, timeshares in Walt Disney World and the Bahamas and 35 automobiles, including a 1920s-style beer truck that she had custom-made for more than $100,000. When asked how she came into her money, Platt claimed she was the “CEO of seven corporations” or that she and her husband had won the lottery, according to U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan’s Office. Platt was charged on Jan. 22 with one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. She is scheduled for sentencing May 8 at 2 p.m. and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. -- Journal Staff Writer Philip Marcelo Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:06 PM | Comment Healthcare career fair opens at Crowne PlazaWARWICK, R.I. — Healthcare companies are at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, today, from noon until 5 p.m. The exhibitors will be conducting interviews for nursing and allied health job openings as part of projoJob’s Nursing & Allied Healthcare Career Fair, sponsored by The Providence Journal. See the full list of exhibitors at the Nursing & Allied Health Healthcare Career Fair. Posted by Peter Phipps at 12:01 PM | Comment Carcieri chief of staff to leave postPROVIDENCE – Gov. Carcieri’s chief of staff Jeffrey M. Grybowski is leaving at the end of the month to return to private law practice. He will be replaced on March 1, as chief of staff, by Brian Stern, a top deputy in the Department of Administration. One of Carcieri’s first top-level hires, Grybowksi signed on as the governor’s policy director in 2003, moved over to deputy chief of staff in 2004 and then took over as chief of staff when his immediate predecessor in that job, Kenneth McKay, left in May 2006 to run Carcieri’s reelection campaign. In a brief interview this morning, Grybowski said he told the governor shortly after the election that he wanted to return to private practice, but “he asked that I stay around through the crunch time,’’ which included the introduction early in this year’s legislative session of the governor’s state of the state address and proposed 2007-08 budget. “Now that that is over, it is time to transition,’’ he said. While “it has been a great experience working for the governor,’’ and “it will likely be the best job I ever had in my life,’’ Grybowski said “I never intended to make state government a career.’’ Grybowski said he is going to Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP as a partner in the law firm’s corporate and business group. Last week, Carcieri announced the hiring of former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee’s state director, John R. Pagliarini, as his new deputy chief of staff. -- Journal staff writer Katherine Gregg Posted by Jack Perry at 11:43 AM | Comment Flower shop preps for stormy Valentine's Day / Photo
Carefully but very quickly they situated long-stemmed red rose after long-stemmed red rose into clear glass vases or long white boxes. The hands artfully placed baby's breath and red ribbons on each display inside the flower shop on the corner of Broadway and Dean Street. Despite the weather, co-owner Roger Lambert expects 300 to 400 flower deliveries tomorrow, not to mention the well over 100 already called in for today and all the walk-ins. On a normal day, the shop makes around 20 deliveries, he said. The florists are doing their best to brace for the looming winter storm expected to be in full force tomorrow. As Lambert talked about how the florists are asking every caller if it's OK to bring the flowers today, another owner’s sister – in from Washington, D.C., to help with the holiday – gently asks a caller, “Now, is it OK for us to deliver today because we’re anticipating a big storm?” A lot of people have been OK with that, Lambert says. Today or tomorrow works. But at 10:30 a.m. today, 50 to 60 orders are up on the back board with the delivery date of Feb. 14. “These people specifically wanted them on Valentine’s Day,” he says. Roses are still the best seller on Valentine’s Day. But Gerbera daisies and stargazer lilies are gaining in popularity, the florists at LiRog said. A dozen long-stemmed red roses – or any color rose for that matter – arranged in a vase with baby's breath and a ribbon, goes for $95. In a box? $80. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:22 AM | Comment Romney formally announces presidential bidDEARBORN, Mich. -- Mitt Romney officially entered the 2008 presidential race today, a former one-term Republican governor of Massachusetts suggesting that his record of leadership inside and outside government uniquely positions him to tackle the country's challenges. "I declare my intention to run for president of the United States," Romney said in remarks prepared for delivery as he formally opened a candidacy that, if fruitful, would make him the first Mormon president. Read the full Associated Press story. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:01 AM | Comment Indian terror suspect denied request to leave U.S.BOSTON – A federal immigration judge this morning denied a request by Indian national Mohammed Yousuf Mullawala to leave the country voluntarily and ordered him held until Homeland Security completes its investigation. Mullawala gained attention after his behavior at a Smithfield trucking school in November triggered concerns and sparked a nationwide investigation that involves the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and multiple state police fusion centers tasked with homeland security concerns. Judge Matthew J. D'Angelo said in the immigration court this morning that Mullawala is not the person he says he is. The judge said his decision "mirrors the grave concern" that Homeland Security and the Rhode Island State Police had about Mullawala. Mullawala's lawyer, June Beack, said the judge's decision effectively orders Mullawalla deported. However, Mullawala will remain in the custody of Homeland Security until the investigation into his actions in the United States is completed. Mullawala has 30 days to appeal the decision, but Beack said he doesn't plan to appeal. She said he just wants to go home. If Homeland Security holds Mullawala for more than 90 days, the department must bring him back to court and prove why it needs to keep him in custody. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writer Tom Mooney Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:21 AM | Comment Update: Storm of the season expected to slam usPROVIDENCE – Here it comes. The storm of the season is on its way and expected to hit hard. Snow is expected to begin falling across the region late this evening. By tomorrow morning’s commute, snow could be falling at 1 to 2 inches per hour, limiting visibility to a quarter mile at times, according to the National Weather Service. However, meteorologist Charles Foley said this morning that the National Weather Service won’t have a definite handle on how the storm will affect us until this afternoon. The storm itself that’s expected to hit here has yet to develop, Foley said. It’s coming from the Midwest – from the St. Louis, Mo., area – and it’s expected to jump to the East Coast and re-form. Where exactly the storm will re-form depends on a number of factors, Foley said. For now, the best thinking is that it will land here with a mix of snow, sleet and perhaps rain, he said. If it does in fact land here, it would probably be the most significant storm we’ve had this season, Foley said. Keep in mind that we’ve only had 2.2 inches of snow thus far this season. The Weather Service is predicting now that snow will gradually turn to sleet and perhaps rain, with some icing possible, and then back to snow by tomorrow evening. Any areas where the temps rise above freezing during the day tomorrow could experience a flash freeze tomorrow evening as much colder air moves in rapidly. The commute tomorrow morning and evening is expected to be treacherous, according to the National Weather Service, which has issued a hazardous weather outlook and a winter weather advisory. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:54 AM | Comment Governor to announce statewide curriculumWOONSOCKET -- Governor Carcieri is set to release the first Rhode Island statewide curriculum today. Officials say the curriculum will be a Web-based tool providing students and educators with lesson plans, video clips and other material. The announcement is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. at the library at Woonsocket High School. Carcieri has identified education as one of his top priorities for his second term. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features photographs and a story on the history behind some rare maps recently rediscovered at Brown. Grammy winner Bill Harley, of Seekonk, is also featured. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 12, 2007URI unveils new dorm todaySOUTH KINGSTOWN — About 300 students are settling into new digs at the University of Rhode Island. URI officials met today to tout the new five-story building, which features an atrium lounge, a big screen TV and meeting rooms. The new dorm, known as West Side Suites, offers a view of the Ryan Center and Meade Stadium. It is one of three new dorms planned for the West Kingston campus. The first opened in the fall and a third will open in late spring. When finished, the $74 million project will add 800 new beds to the campus – the first new dorms in 36 years. URI will also spend another $22 million on a 43,000-square-foot-dining hall, Hope Commons, scheduled to open in April. The students moved into the West Side Suites last month, a few days before spring classes started. -- Journal staff writer Paul Davis Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:39 PM | Comment Opposition mounts to CVS mergerMore opposition to CVS's proposed merger with Caremark surfaced today. Two more investment advisory firms recommended today that Caremark shareholders reject a buyout offer from CVS when it comes up for a vote next week. CtW Investment Group and Institutional Shareholder Services joined two other advisers who say Caremark's board and managers have not tried to get the best deal for shareholders. Woonsocket-based CVS announced in November that it planned to acquire Caremark for CVS stock. Rival Express Scripts then launched a hostile bid to buy Caremark. Caremark shareholders are scheduled to meet Feb. 20 to consider the CVS deal. CVS shareholders are to meet three days later. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:34 PM | Comment Coming tomorrow: 'A developing coastal bomb'PROVIDENCE -- It's going to be ugly. The National Weather Service is calling for the most powerful winter storm of the season so far to move into southern New England Tuesday night. There's going to be wind, snow, rain, sleet, the possiblity of "flash freezing," more snow, and even snow drifts before it's all over, according to the weather service, which referred to the nor'easter as "a developing coastal bomb" on its Web site. It all starts Tuesday near midnight. The winds will reach around 20 mph soon after the snow starts. It could be heavy at times, with 1 to 2 inches falling per hour along the Boston-Providence corridor. The weather service says that accumulations could reach between 3 and 6 inches. Then it gets nasty. A mix of rain, snow and sleet will take over between noon and 3 p.m. And the rain could be heavy at times, before it all starts to freeze later in the evening. The Wednesday evening forecast is the least certain at this point, the weather service acknowledges, but cold air is expected to "rush back" to the area, resulting in a "flash freeze" in which any rain will change to freezing rain or sleet as temperatures fall into the 20s. And then it could all turn to snow again. The winds will only strengthen as the day progresses, with gusts as high as 34 mph. This could generate snow drifts across the region, the weather service says. As for the mariners, the Coast Guard today released a warning that the storm could generate 50-knot winds and dangerous seas more than 20 feet high. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:02 PM | Comment Sox mates thrilled to see Lester throwing againFORT MYERS, Fla. -- Jonathan Papelbon dropped off his stuff yesterday, looked around the clubhouse at the Boston Red Sox' minor league complex and did a double take. The Red Sox right-hander thought he recognized the teammate he was looking at, but Jon Lester didn't exactly look as Papelbon had pictured he might. And that was a good thing. "I didn't expect him to look that good,'' said Papelbon. "It's amazing, man, after all he went through. He looked like the same old Jonny.'' In some ways, though, Lester has changed. For one thing, he's just happy to be out on the field, in Red Sox gear, throwing off a mound, determined to be less hard on himself and to enjoy the game more. And while players often say they are "just happy to be here,'' in Lester's case, the phrase has significant meaning.
How could it not? Lester persevered through agonizing physical and mental trauma after being diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma last August, a diagnosis that not only shut down the left-hander after a promising rookie season in the big leagues, but also cast doubt as to how the lymphoma would affect his career. But after six courses of chemotherapy, the last of which was given to him at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle on Dec. 21, Lester is in camp with the Sox, cancer-free and trying to prove to the Red Sox and their medical staff that he is strong enough to just pick up where he left off on the mound. Yesterday Lester, only a month removed from his 23rd birthday, threw off the mound in the batting tunnels, the Sox' unofficial workouts having moved indoors because of rain that pelted the area during the morning. Lester has been here 10 days, trying to fine tune his mechanics in advance of the first official workout, which will come Sunday. Along the way, he has been eating whatever he wants to as he builds up his weight. He was down to 190 pounds after the chemo, but he weighed in at 212 pounds yesterday, he said, only three pounds short of his playing-weight goal. "I'm feeling good,'' said Lester. "Just getting out of the house was good. I was in kind of a bubble for a while. I mean, I went out (between chemo courses) but I had to be careful, make sure I washed my hands, make sure I wasn't around sick people,'' said Lester, who was susceptible to such things as colds, which would have set back his chemo schedule. His goal after the diagnosis, all along, had been to make it back to training camp on time this spring, and he has achieved that goal. Another goal has been to prove to the Red Sox that he doesn't need special treatment, that he is ready to compete for a spot in Boston's season-opening rotation. Certainly, if he had completed the 2006 season in good health, he might have been guaranteed a spot in the rotation. After going 3-4 with a 2.70 earned-run average in 11 starts for Pawtucket, Lester won his first five starts after being promoted to Boston on June 10 and wound up 7-2 with a 4.76 earned-run average in 15 starts before back pain, and testing that discovered the anaplastic large cell lymphoma ended his season after an Aug. 23 start in Anaheim. This spring, though, isn't so much about being judged on his ability to get out hitters as it is about his health and his long-term career. And Lester knows that the Sox already have said they would prefer to go slowly with Lester, the team's first pick in the 2002 draft, especially since Boston already has Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Papelbon, Tim Wakefield and the expensive Japanese import, Daisuke Matsuzaka, penciled in for the rotation. Lester, who has handled the illness and treatment with amazing maturity for such a youngster, said he understands the Sox' position. "I think it's because they haven't seen me yet,'' said Lester. "Maybe once they see I'm in shape, I feel good, I'm running (they'll change their minds), but I think everybody just wants to do what's in my best interests. They're just being cautious, so if they say I have to back off a little, I have to listen to what they say.'' Lester has been listening to doctors for about six months now. After receiving his first round of chemo at the Dana Farber center last September, he went home to the state of Washington to be with his family and doctors in Seattle, about an hour's drive from his home in Puyallup. The outpatient chemo sessions would last for between two and two-and-a-half hours, with Lester sleeping, or working on crossword puzzles, or watching TV or playing video games. He took the anti-nausea medicine for each round, but was bothered by nausea after one of the rounds. He had a CT scan, and on Dec. 1, the day of his fifth round of chemo, he was told the test had come back clean. That's when he knew he'd be at spring training on time. "The doctors said, 'Go get 'em,'.'' said Lester. "They told me to listen to my body, trust myself and just go about getting myself stronger.'' And that is what Lester has done. His hair, which had fallen out in clumps because of the chemo, is growing back in slowly. His legs are getting stronger. His weight is creeping up. His pitching mechanics are improving daily. Lester will have checkups every three months, hoping to reach the five-year, cancer-free mark that will consider him cured. Four Boston-area college students, meanwhile, have begun selling silicone wristbands featuring the slogan #62 Striking Out Cancer" on a Web site (www.thelesterproject.com) for $6, with the proceeds going to The Jimmy Fund. "Lying in bed at night, or when I'm not doing anything, I think of it a bit,'' said Lester. "As long as I keep busy, I'm all right. I try not to think about it too much. I'm happy to be here. I'm enjoying life.'' -Projo Sports Writer Steve Krasner Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:43 PM | Comment Sports tonight: A high school smorgasbordAt 3:30, Moses Brown and the Lincoln School will get together for a friendly game of squash at Brown University's Pizzitola Center. Robert Lee is there to do a game story, which we'll have tomorrow along with a gallery of photos on our High School GameDay page. Also, John Gillooly will have a feature on Barrington High multi-sport star Julie Ruggieri, while Bill Reynolds introduces you to prep school basketball phenom Eric Murphy of South Kingstown. The men's hockey Beanpot championship game featuring -- as always -- Boston University and Boston College is tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden. The game starts at 8 on NESN. In college hoops, Cox Sports Television has a matchup of top Big East teams, as West Virginia visits Georgetown at 8. And you can get your Kevin Durant fix on ESPN at 9 when his Texas Longhorns take on Oklahoma State. Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:29 PM | Comment Police looking for driver in early morning hit-and-runEAST GREENWICH — State Police are looking for the driver involved in an early morning hit-and-run car accident that injured five people -- four from Newport and one from Providence -- as they traveled south on Route 4 in a green 1995 Nissan Maxima. The Maxima, carrying three adults and two female teenagers, ages, 15 and 17, was struck from behind by another vehicle at about 1:25 a.m., today, according to State Police Sgt. Paul Olszewski. Paramedics transported the victims to Kent County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Olszewski declined to release names of the driver or the passengers while the investigation continues. The State Police believe the other vehicle, which was not identified, continued to travel south after the collision, which forced the Maxima to jet across Route 4’s grassy median and over to the northbound lanes, Olszewski said. The Maxima was not hit a second time. -- Journal staff writer Lisa Vernon-Sparks Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:13 PM | Comment Judge orders Cranston council to enact ordinanceCRANSTON -- The Zoning Board of Review may hear the hotly contested appeal of a building permit issued last March for a concrete-batching plant off Pontiac Avenue, a Superior Court judge ruled today. The company that hopes to build the plant, Cullion Concrete Corp., had asked the court to disqualify the Zoning Board, arguing that improper meddling by the City Council and a variety of conflicts of interest among board members had made an impartial hearing impossible. Instead, the company argued, the appeal should be decided in court. Following oral arguments, Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia denied that request, and he ordered extraordinary measures to enable the Zoning Board to decide the issue. Indeglia ordered the City Council to pass an ordinance adding a third alternate member to the seven-member Zoning Board, a change that would require the approval of the General Assembly. He also instructed city lawyers to ask the state Ethics Commission to invoke the so-called rule of necessity and select one of three Zoning Board members who have identified conflicts of interest to participate in the hearing. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:06 PM | Comment The Police coming to FenwayThe Police, who recently reunited for the Grammy Awards telecast, yesterday announced a summer concert tour and will perform at Fenway Park, in Boston, on Saturday, July 28. Tickets are $225, $95 and $55 and will go on sale Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. They will be available at the Orpheum Theatre box office in Boston, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling (401) 331-2211 or by going to livenation.com. -- Journal staff writer Rick Massimo Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:29 PM | Comment Chafee takes stage at Brown todayPROVIDENCE -- Former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee will speak out against American policy in the Middle East in a lecture today at Brown University. The speech, titled "Mideast Roadmaps: An Unkept Promise," begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be among Chafee's first public statements on foreign policy since being ousted from the Senate by Democratic candidate Sheldon Whitehouse. Chafee, a Republican who previously served on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, was an early critic of President Bush's Iraq policy. Since leaving office in January, he has served as a distinguished visiting fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. This evening's address will take place in Sayles Hall, on The College Green, and is free and open to the public. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions after Chafee's remarks. Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:18 PM | Comment Grammy winner Harley celebrates like a 'rock star'The morning after winning his first Grammy award, children’s entertainer Bill Harley, of Seekonk, celebrated in true rock-star style: Doing a show for second-graders in Utah. “This is the glamour,” Harley said. “I said I want the [brown] M&Ms out or I’m not performing. And the kids aren’t allowed to have any candy while I’m eating it.” Harley won the award last night for best Spoken Word Album for Children, for "Blah Blah Blah: Stories About Clams, Swamp Monsters, Pirates and Dogs.” Last night? Actually, it was yesterday afternoon. Harley won the award in pre-televised ceremonies at about 2:30 in the afternoon in the Los Angeles Convention Center. His speech was short and sweet. “I said I wanted to thank four people: my manager, Debbie Block; the president of my record label, Debbie Block; my friend, Debbie Block; and my wife, Debbie Block.” -- Journal pop music writer Rick Massimo Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:38 PM | Comment Photo: Sox pitchers arrive in Fort Myers
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:37 PM | Comment Students see document that freed R.I. slavesPROVIDENCE -- As part of his office's observance of Black History Month, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis this morning brought the original document that freed Rhode Island's slaves to a gathering of more than 100 social studies students at Central High School. Mollis spoke about the history of the document, which was protected in a plastic sleeve and displayed on an easel, and also about the responsibilities of his office, which he assumed last month. The 1784 Negro Emancipation Act emancipated children of slaves born after March 1 of that year. ``To know where we're going, we must know from where we came,'' Mollis said. He noted the coincidence of his visit to Central, which was planned some while ago, with the weekend presidential announcement by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, an African-American like many of the students in today's session. Mollis urged the students to visit the state archives on Westminster Street, where the 1784 act and many other Rhode Island historical documents are preserved. ``It's a rich history. It's an amazing history,'' Mollis said. Mollis plans to bring the 1784 document to other schools later this month. Among his goals, he said, ``is to get the next generation involved.'' Despite progress, Mollis said, ``no matter what our heritage, there's still a long way to go.'' Information about the 1784 document, other items in the state archives, and Mollis's further plans for Black History Month, visit http://www.state.ri.us/ -- Journal staff writer G. Wayne Miller Posted by Jack Perry at 12:03 PM | Comment 2nd victim, teenage girl, dies after Providence firePROVIDENCE -- Last week's Chalkstone Avenue fire has claimed its second victim. Kitaiya Phenglee died Sunday morning at Shriners Hospital in Boston from complications after suffering severe burns, according to an announcement this morning from the Providence Fire Department. The 14-year-old girl was found without a pulse inside her burning home last Tuesday. The girl's father, Chaiya Phenglee, died trying to rescue her. Firefighters revived the girl, but she had been listed in critical condition at Shriners since the fire at her family's 687 Chalkstone Ave. home. She suffered second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of her body. The girl's mother and 10-year-old brother escaped the blaze without serious injuries. A memorial fund has been established to help the Phenglee family, according to the fire department. Donations should be sent to the Memorial Fund for the Phenglee Family, care of Citizens Bank. Donations will be accepted at any Citizens Bank location. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:58 AM | Comment Police ID Cumberland accident victimCUMBERLAND — The police this morning identified the 59-year-old Woonsocket woman who died in a head-on collision Saturday night as Doreen Bramley, of Diamond Hill Road. Bramley was killed when her vehicle, a late model Honda, crossed over the center line on Route 122, or Mendon Road, striking a car heading in the opposite direction. The police identified the driver of the other vehicle, which was a Hyundai, as Ruby McGuirk, 19, of Saunders Street in Pawtucket. McGuirk was traveling with three other passengers, including a six-month-old infant.
The crash happened at 10:21 p.m., at the intersection of Mendon Rd. and View Ave., which is south of Route 99. The police said Bramley was heading north on Mendon Road when her car entered the southbound lane, colliding with McGuirk’s. An accident reconstruction team is still trying to determine why Bramley crossed the center line, and the police are awaiting the results of an autopsy from the state medical Examiner’s Office, but excessive speed did not appear to be a factor, the police said. Bramley, McGuirk and her three passengers were taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence where Bramley was pronounced dead. Injuries to McGuirk and her three passengers, Michael McGuirk, 52, Richard Lally, 21 and the six-month-old female infant were “non-threatening,” according to police. Both McGuirks remain at the hospital’s cooperative care unit; Lally was treated and released Saturday night, according to a hospital spokesperson. Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:47 AM | Comment Gas prices unchangedGas prices in Rhode Island are unchanged this week after falling for six straight weeks, according to AAA Southern New England. The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $2.179 per gallon at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey. That's an average of 24 cents per gallon less than the price was at the beginning of the year. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:28 AM | Comment 3rd time's a charm for Seekonk Grammy winnerThey say the third time’s a charm, and for local singer/songwriter and storyteller Bill Harley, his third Grammy nomination was just that. Harley lost to Elmo the first time around. Now, the Seekonk entertainer has won the best Spoken Word Album for Children, for “Blah Blah Blah: Stories About Clams, Swamp Monsters, Pirates and Dogs.” Harley and his wife, Debbie Block, were in Los Angeles last night for the Grammy awards celebration, said Michele Eaton, the officer manager for Harley’s record label, Round River Records. “We’re very excited,” she said. “I can only speak for me. Bill is in California.” -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson She hasn’t spoken to Harley yet this morning but knows he and his wife learned of the award at a pre-telecast event before the 8 p.m. Grammy telecast even began last night. The majority of the awards are given out at that pre-show, Eaton said. Harley was one of many children’s recording artists whose work was recognized for a Grammy for the Best Musical Album for Children, “cELLAbration! A Tribute to Ella Jenkins,” but Eaton said that doesn’t really count as Harley winning a Grammy since the album and not the individual artists won for that album in 2004. His other two works that were nominated were “Weezie and the Moonpies” in 1998 and “The Battle of the Mad Scientists and Other Tales of Survival” in 1999, Eaton said. Harley has been performing since the mid-1980s. Back in 2004, Harley spoke with Journal pop music writer Rick Massimo about losing to Sesame Street’s Elmo that first time he was nominated for a Grammy. He wasn’t quite dismissive about the two nominations, but pretty close. "I was doing a lot of NPR stuff at the time, so I think I had some more cachet back then. The thing about the Grammys is, it's just a beauty contest when you get down to it. Who listens to everything? . . . I lost to Elmo the first year. "It'd be nice if it happened, but at this point I'm more interested in doing good work." Harley has an adult concert scheduled for next Saturday, where he’ll sing songs and tell stories from an adult perspective. He’s playing at 8 p.m. at The Vanilla Bean Café in Pomfret, Conn. He’ll be playing with fellow musicians Keith Munslow and Marty Ballou. Last Friday, he was in Utah performing in the winter version of a very popular summer storytelling festival, Eaton said. Listen to a story about the album that won on National Public Radio. More on Bill Harley's Grammy win Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:20 AM | Comment Traffic update: Morning accidents on 10 N and 95 SAn accident shortly before 8:30 a.m. has affected the right shoulder of Route 95 South, near Exit 22C to the Providence Place Mall, according to the state Department of Transportation. An accident about an hour earlier on Route 10 north in Providence, near the Dean Street exit, was affecting the right shoulder, the DOT reported. Travel on Route 195 west near downtown Providence has only gotten more sluggish in the last 20 minutes. And it’s only likely to get worse as the morning commute progresses, according to the DOT. 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. Also, check out congestion mapping -- i.e., how heavy the traffic is -- here. To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2. Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:41 AM | Comment Partly cloudy today, storm on the wayPROVIDENCE – Red sky at night, sailors’ delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. With the brilliant red in the eastern sky this morning, we turned to the National Weather Service to see if there might be some truth to that old statement. Meteorologist Alan Dunham said he’s not too familiar with old sailors’ phrases, but there’s nothing for the next two days that ought to cause sailors concern. Today and tomorrow should be dry. Expect partly cloudy skies with a high of 39 today and mostly sunny skies tomorrow with a high of 29. Snow is on the horizon for Tuesday night and into Wednesday, perhaps with a mix of sleet. However, Dunham said this morning that it’s really too early to know exactly what to expect. The weather service has issued a special weather statement, saying “a powerful coastal storm” will impact southern New England Tuesday night and into early Thursday. Dunham said, however, that it’s too early to pin down which locations will be struck by the storm. Check back with us over the next few days for the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:07 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page includes a local photograph and story about Rhode Island birders searching for pink-footed geese, which are normally found in Great Britain but have visited Aquidneck Island in recent weeks. There's also an international story about U.S. military experts alleging that Iran has smuggled weapons into Iraq used to kill U.S. and coalition troops. Download a copy of today's front page. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 9, 2007Carcieri names Montalbano counsel to Superior CourtGovernor Carcieri today nominated a former police officer to replace the late William A. Dimitri as a Superior Court judge. The nominee, William E. Carnes Jr., 53, of Pawtucket, currently serves as legal counsel to Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano. Carnes will need Senate confirmation to become a judge. Although Carnes said he and Montalbano have been friends since first grade at the former St. Edward’s School in Pawtucket, the nominee said he is not taking confirmation for granted. “I honestly don’t want to be presumptuous,” he said yesterday in a telephone interview from the Senate president’s office. “While I know the senators well, I also know that they will be performing their due diligence during the advice and consent process, and I look forward to talking with them about my experience in criminal justice and as an attorney, and my goals as a member of the Superior Court.'' While serving as a police officer in Lincoln from 1976 to 2001, Carnes attended Suffolk University Law School. After graduating cum laude in 1986 and being admitted to the bar that year, Carnes said he handled occasional civil matters while working as a police officer. Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:37 PM | Comment Providence police investigate homicide / Photo
The police believe the two men had been lying in wait for the victim, a 41-year-old Hispanic man whose identity has not been released. The victim had just pulled into his own driveway at 85 Petteys Ave. when the men jumped out of their vehicle and rushed at him, said Maj. Stephen Campbell. They beat the victim and then fired shots at him as they ran off, Campbell said. The man was fatally shot, and he died later at Rhode Island Hospital. This is the second homicide in Providence this year, and the third shooting in two days. One person was shot and wounded in South Providence on Wednesday, and another person was shot at, but not hit, Mount Hope on Thursday. -- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits
Posted by Jack Perry at 5:10 PM | Comment Norovirus is widespread, health department warnsA surveillance system at the Rhode Island Department of Health has signaled an increase in norovirus infection in the state. Widespread absenteeism from schools, clusters in nursing homes, hospital outbreaks and alerts from emergency departments, combined with confirmation by testing at the state health laboratory, indicate widespread norovirus gastroenteritis in Rhode Island. Symptoms include sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The virus is highly communicable, spread when people do not wash their hands well after using the bathroom or vomiting. Even a small dose of the virus can lead to illness within a day or two of exposure. The health department recommends people who come down with norovirus stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. To prevent the further spread of the virus: -- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water often, especially after using the restroom, changing diapers, assisting someone in using the restroom, caring for a sick person, cleaning up vomit, and before preparing food or eating. -- Disinfect hard surfaces exposed to vomit (toilets and floors) with a bleach solution of one part bleach to 50 parts water. -- If you are ill, do not prepare food or provide medical or child care for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside. -- Food service workers who are sick should stay home for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside. -- Do not make bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods in commercial eating establishments. The spike in norovirus infection occurs annually but is more severe this year, according to the health department. The gastro-intestinal illness is sometimes referred to as the "stomach flu" but is not the same infection as influenza. For more information, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. Posted by maria caporizzo at 4:58 PM | Comment Sports this weekend: Win tonight or elseOK, here's the deal. The Boston Celtics have a winnable game at home tonight, against the 23-27 New Jersey Nets. Good chance they lose in Minnesota on Sunday, then they have a winnable game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. If they haven't won by then, you're looking at a brutal five-game Western trip and a very sporting chance that the Celts break the NBA record 23-game losing streak. OK, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm not picking them to win like I sort of did earlier this week against the Heat. Celts-Nets starts at 7:30 on Fox Sports New England. Here in Providence, the PC men's hockey team hosts 15th-ranked Boston College at 7, while the P-Bruins welcome the Worcester Sharks to The Dunk at 7. On the high school scene, Carolyn Thornton is covering the girls indoor track finals, which are going on now at the Lincoln campus of CCRI. Check projo.com's High School GameDay page tomorrow for her stories and a gallery of photos. Cox Sports Television will show two games tonight from the National Prep Invitational at URI's Keaney Gym. Winchenden and Patterson play at 6:30, Bridgton Academy and Stoneridge are scheduled to take the floor at 8:15. And at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Narragansett's Jamie Clampitt faces Mia St. John with the International Women's Boxing Federation lightweight championship on the line. The tape of the event will be on Cox Sports Television from 10 p.m. to midnight tomorrow. Tomorrow, the PC Friars (5-4 Big East, 15-7 overall) have the toughest date on their Big East calendar, when they play the seventh-ranked Pitt Panthers (9-1, 21-3) in the Steel City. The game is on ESPN at 6. Coincidentally, the Rhody Rams (7-3 Atlantic 10, 14-10 overall) are also heading for Pittsburgh this weekend. They'll take on Duquesne (that's Doo-KANE, and they're 6-4 and 10-11), an assignment that isn't quite the joke that it used to be. The game is Sunday at 2; it won't be on TV. The Boston Bruins return to the ice on Saturday. They're at home against the New York Islanders, a team that was really good like a quarter-century ago. The game is at 7 on NESN. Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:29 PM | Comment Driver of fatal truck may have been on road too longPROVIDENCE _ The tractor-trailer that tipped and killed a Fall River motorist Tuesday night on the ramp to Route 195 was properly loaded, but its driver may have been driving too long behind the wheel for one day, say the state police. Federal law prohibits truckers from being on the road for more than 14 hours in a single day, said State Police District Commander Capt. James Swanberg, and ``it appears he may have been over his limit by about an hour.’’ The driver, Raymond Green, 59, of Gettysburg, Pa., told police another motorist ``had cut him off, forcing him to do some maneuvers leading into the crash,’’ said Swanberg. ``We’re trying to check into that.’’ Police are also investigating Green’s log book, which by law truckers must keep, to learn if ``it’s factural or fabricated,’’ said Swanberg. Green’s truck, carrying scrap aluminum, and a Mercury Sable driven by Joyce St. Laurent, 56, of Fall River, were traveling south on Route 95 Tuesday night when both veered onto the eastern ramp of Route 195. Green’s truck tipped over, burying St. Laurent’s car with aluminum.
Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:14 PM | Comment Judge clears the way for Newport Grand expansionNEWPORT_ A Superior Court judge today ruled that the city had no right to block Newport Grand from enlarging its building to add another 800 video slot machines authorized by the state. Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg granted Newport Grand's request for declaratory judgment, ordering the city to issue a building permit for the project. Assistant solicitor Christopher Behan said no decision has been made yet on an appeal. Thunberg made it clear the state, not the city, has the sole authority to regulate gaming at Newport Grand. Newport's refusal last year to permit the expansion, she said, "constitutes an oblique attempt by the city to invade regulatory territory it has no legal right to occupy…The city is powerless to make such an intrusion." --- By Rich Salit Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:12 PM | Comment Will R.I.'s Duke Robillard bring home the Grammy?
Duke Robillard
Will local favorite Duke Robillard take home the Grammy this Sunday? In nearly 40 years in the studio and on the road, Journal music writer Rick Massimo reminds us, Rhode Island guitar great Duke Robillard has played on several albums nominated for Grammy Awards, including Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind, Ruth Brown’s R+B and the Grammy-winning Go Tell It on the Mountain by The Blind Boys of Alabama. But this is the first year he’s been nominated as a solo act. And he’s going to be there Sunday night, for the Grammy awards, (televised 8 p.m., Channels 4 and 12), to find out whether he wins. Robillard is waiting to see Guitar Groove-A-Rama, his sprawling tour de force of rock and blues styles, takes the prize for Best Traditional Blues Album. “I’m very excited about it because this particular album has been very well received by critics and fans alike,” Robillard says, “and I’m also not up against B.B. King or Eric Clapton or Buddy Guy, so I actually stand a chance.” The other nominees are Tab Benoit with Louisiana’s Leroux, for Brother to the Blues; Dion, for Bronx in Blue; James Hunter, for People Gonna Talk; and Ike Turner, for Risin’ With the Blues. Extra: See a video of Robillard performing live at Bryant University, April 6, 2006. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:59 PM | Comment Photo: Fishing for results on a cold winter's day
We may not have had snow, but we are getting ice. The recent cold snap has hardened many area ponds, to the delight of local anglers and others eager to test their skates outside a rink. But before you head out onto what may be thin ice, keep in mind this advice from the state Division of Parks & Recreation: - Never assume the ice is safe. The state also maintains an ice-safety hotline, for information on three areas it checks on state property: Lincoln Woods in Lincoln, Goddard Park in Warwick and Meshanticut Lake in Cranston. As of this afternoon, all three are safe for skating, a spokeswoman said. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:28 PM | Comment Former inmate indicted for murder by stranglingA former prison inmate was indicted for first-degree murder today in the strangling death of a man he had met in prison. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office and the Providence police, Joe Gray, 47, of 58 Camp Street, Providence, was also charged with first-degree robbery. The Providence police allege that on or about Aug. 26, 2006, Gray strangled Daniel Ross, 63, in the basement of a cottage in the Hartford neighborhood after Ross had invited him inside, the police said last year. Ross and Gray had served time together at the Adult Correctional Institutions, according to the police. The police allege that Gray also robbed Domenic "Chubby" Baldini, the man in whose basement Ross had been living. In August of last year, the Providence police alleged that Gray killed Ross and later jumped Baldini in the basement apartment, slashed Baldini's throat with a knife and stole his car as well as cash, checks and credit cards. He then tied up Baldini with duct tape and wire and drove away in his car. The police said they found Gray driving Baldini's car on Park Street downtown, a half-hour after an alert was broadcast on the police radio. Gray is scheduled for arraignment Feb. 28 in District Court, Providence. Posted by Jack Perry at 3:00 PM | Comment Cranston gets first check from landfill settlementCRANSTON -- The city has received a $600,000 check from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, the result of a settlement between the independent state agency that runs the Central Landfill, in Johnston, and the municipal government. In all, the Resource Recovery Corporation will pay nearly $2 million it owes for the processing of landfill run-off and leachate at the city's wastewater treatment plant. How the city will use the money is undetermined. Cranston is facing a projected $2 million shortfall in tax revenue. The Resource Recovery Corporation stopped paying its wastewater treatment bills in 2001, when the city declined to provide it a written assurance that it could handle the quantity of waste being pumped to the plant. After completing infrastructure upgrades to a sewer line, the city provided that document earlier this month. Mayor Michael T. Napolitano, who was inaugurated on Jan. 1, announced the resoultion on Tuesday. The next payment is expected in May.
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:22 PM | Comment State gets $357,000 in Medicaid fraud settlementThe state Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has recovered more than $357,000 as part of a $255 million global settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering-Plough Corporation. The $357,384.74 settlement goes to the state’s Department of Human Services, which administers Medicaid, the joint state-federal health insurance program for low-income Americans, the Attorney General’s Office announced today. In a federal case involving Medicaid fraud, a Schering-Plough subsidiary, Schering Sales Corporation, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for making false statements to the government and paid a total of $435 million to settle federal civil and criminal charges. Schering’s activities included reporting fraudulent “best prices” for its drugs Claritin RediTabs and K-Dur to avoid paying Medicaid rebates, illegally promoting Schering drugs for “off-label” uses not approved by the Federal Drug Administration, providing free drugs to a health maintenance organization in order to secure future purchases and making illegal payments to doctors to induce them to prescribe Schering-Plough drugs, according to a statement issued by the Attorney General’s Office. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:24 AM | Comment Update: Fishing boat still afloat after rescue/Photo
Two Coast Guardsmen aboard a rescue cutter were injured as they attempted to pass a towline to the 74-foot Creole Belle around 4 p.m. yesterday, prompting the Coast Guard to send an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Cape Cod to complete the rescue. "The most important thing here is that these fishermen made it back," Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Scott Carr said this morning. Two fishing vessels have sunk in New England waters since the last Friday in January, claiming the lives of four aboard the New Bedford fishing vessel Lady of Grace, which sank in Nantucket Sound, and two crewmen aboard Lady Luck, a Newburyport, Mass., vessel that sank off the coast of Maine. The Coast Guard is now working with the owner of the Creole Belle to determine the best course of action for the now stranded vessel, Carr said. The Coast Guard's rescue cutter, Campbell, remains with the 74-foot Creole Belle, monitoring the situation, Carr said. The boat's most recent position was recorded last night as about 45 miles southeast of Nantucket. It's probably in the same general area, Carr said. Ocean conditions continue to be bad this morning - "kind of a standard, snotty New England day," Carr said. Air temperatures are about 22 degrees, seas are 8 to 12 feet high and winds are 30 to 40 knots. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson "If you're on a 74-foot boat, 8 to 12 foot seas are going to throw you around a good bit," he said. Those conditions not only make work for commercial fishermen difficult but also rescue work, he said. With this latest boat in distress, Carr said the Coast Guard got an early notification that the boat was disabled and adrift. The crew placed a distress call to the Coast Guard at 5:19 p.m. Wednesday, prompting the Coast Guard first to seek help from any mariners in the area since they didn't have a vessel in the immediate vicinity. When none of the fishing vessels in the area were able to help, the Coast Guard sent the cutter Campbell, which would have been capable of towing the Creole Belle despite the rough weather, but the two Coast Guard crew members were injured attempting to pass the towline to the fishing boat. At that point, it was late last night and the vessel was in danger of sinking, so the Coast Guard sent the helicopter in to rescue the crew and the injured Guardsmen, who were treated and released from Cape Cod Hospital, Carr said. Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:50 AM | Comment Hasbro's 4th-quarter profit climbsPAWTUCKET -- Hasbro Inc., the nation's second-largest toy maker, said today its fourth-quarter profit climbed 15 percent on growth in core brands such as Star Wars, Playskool and Littlest Pet Shop. Net income rose to $108.3 million, or 62 cents per share, for the three months ended Dec. 31 versus $94.3 million, or 48 cents per share, a year ago. Excluding a 12-cent per share adjustment related to a licensing deal with movie director George Lucas, earnings for the current quarter totaled 74 cents per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were looking for net income of 67 cents per share. Those estimates typically exclude one-time items. Revenue rose 5 percent to $1.12 billion from $1.07 billion, topping Wall Street's estimate of $1.1 billion. Star Wars sales climbed 4.1 percent in the quarter. Hasbro is second to Mattel Inc. in the U.S. toy business. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 8:49 AM | Comment Traffic: Smooth commute so farThis morning’s commute looks like it’s moving along as usual, with some delays here and there but nothing major. There’s a disabled vehicle on Route 95 north in West Warwick, near Exit 10 (Route 117), but it’s just affecting the right shoulder, according to the state Department of Transportation. Coming into Providence on Route 10, the merge onto Route 95 north seems a little backed up. 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. Also, check out congestion mapping -- i.e., how heavy the traffic is -- here. To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:38 AM | Comment Warmer weather and snow moving inPROVIDENCE – It’s warming up for the weekend, and we could have a little snow on the horizon. Today will still be chilly – like we’ve seen all week – with a high of 27 expected. But then we’re moving into the 30s, with a high of 32 tomorrow, 31 on Sunday and a whole 35 degrees on Monday. Those temps just may feel toasty warm after this week. As for the snow, there’s a chance of flurries between 4 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow. Sunday should be mostly sunny. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a photograph showing the remnants of the old Sakonnet River Railroad Bridge being blown up and a story on what might have motivated astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak to drive 900 miles in a diaper to confront a perceived romantic rival. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 8, 2007Update: 2 shootings may be linked, say Providence policePROVIDENCE – Police are investigating whether a shooting this afternoon on Woodbine Street in the Mount Hope neighborhood may be linked to the shooting last night of an 18-year-old man in front of 23 Somerset St. Det. Capt. Hugh Clements said Andrew Ortiz, 18, was walking along Somerset Street in South Providence with his younger brother around 8:10 p.m. yesterday when a dark-colored vehicle approached them from behind and fired several shots. One bullet hit Ortiz in the right side of his lower back. He was still listed in serious condition today at Rhode Island Hospital, Clements said. The second incident, about 1:30 p.m. today, occurred when two people emerged from a light-colored Jeep Cherokee and fired shots at Daniel Lassiter, 31, who was sitting in front of a building at 89 Woodbine St. All of the shots missed. The police are keeping open “the distinct possibility” that the two shootings are linked, Clements said. “We are following several leads and are investigating more as we speak,” he said. -- Journal staff writer Richard Dujardin Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:17 PM | Comment Central Falls students will be back on orange busesCENTRAL FALLS – The school department has contracted with additional bus drivers and school buses following several days of bus-driver absences that left students out in the cold waiting for buses that never showed up. To get students to school today, Central Falls school administrators hired four extra bus drivers who drove students on commercial buses to and from school. Central Falls Police followed the commercial buses to make sure children were picked up and dropped off safely. However, the police department put Central Falls School administrators on notice that state law forbids the use of commercial buses because they are not marked as school buses with the proper signals. The police said they would stop any commercial bus transporting children, cite the bus driver and make the bus wait until a school bus is called in to pick up the children, Chief Joseph Moran said.
Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:25 PM | Comment Pawtucket's probate judge held in contemptPROVIDENCE – Pawtucket’s Probate Court judge was held in contempt today for violating a court order directing that part of the proceeds from a personal injury case involving her ex-husband be placed in an irrevocable trust for their children. The ruling, which Judge Daniel A. Procaccini delivered from the bench in Superior Court here, came the day after Cristine L. McBurney was reappointed to the Probate Court judgeship, a part-time position she has held for 15 years. McBurney, 52, left Judge Procaccini’s courtroom yesterday without commenting on his ruling, which followed what Procaccini described as a “contentious and sometimes confusing” hearing that pitted her against her ex-husband, former State Democratic Party Chairman Richard H. James. But McBurney’s lawyer, Robert D. Goldberg, said, “Clearly, there’s no finding by the court of any misappropriation of these funds or any conversion to any improper purpose.” “She never took the money and used it for anything whatsoever without court permission, and court permission was granted by the judge when requested,” Goldberg said. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci The money in question, some $150,000, was part of a $1.3 million settlement that the City of Pawtucket and two co-defendants paid James for the brain injury he claimed to have suffered in 1997, when a spotlight at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena fell on his head. By court order, the $150,000 was supposed to have been placed in an irrevocable family trust established to benefit the couple’s three daughters, who are 15, 17 and 18 years old. Instead, the money went into three tax-free college tuition accounts that McBurney set up for the girls through Citizens Bank. Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:54 PM | Comment Senator wants lawmakers to share health costsPROVIDENCE – Virtually every person on the state’s payroll now pays part of the cost for their heath care insurance -- except the state’s 113 lawmakers and five general officers. One state senator wants that to change. Sen. Paul W. Fogarty, D-Glocester, has proposed that he, his colleagues in the Senate and House as well as the governor, lieutenant governor, general treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general pay 10 percent of their premiums. Not all of those officeholders receive state-paid health insurance, but those who do would have to start contributing. “This is going to be a year when we have to face painful budget cuts to really important social programs like the ones that provide health care to the poor. How can we do that while we get health care for free?” Fogarty said in a statement. But don’t expect Fogarty’s bill to go anywhere. House Speaker William J. Murphy essentially dismissed the concept in a statement today. Murphy, D-West Warwick, said that the free health insurance is part of the compensation package for the part-time lawmakers, who “work all year and have many responsibilities.” Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano, D-North Providence, did not respond to repeated requests through his spokesman for comment. -- Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:47 PM | Comment Georgia murder suspect nabbed in WarwickA man accused of murder and armed robbery in Georgia is being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions after his arrest by the state police and the U.S. marshals. State Police Capt. Stephen J. Lynch said the marshals in Georgia yesterday alerted the marshals here that Warren W. Smith, 24, was in Rhode Island. Smith was arrested about 10 last night at 14 Rutherford Court in Warwick. Smith, from Marietta, Ga., is at the ACI pending extradition procedures. In Rhode Island, the state police have charged Smith with one count as a fugitive from justice out of Georgia. The armed robbery and murder charges stem from a Jan. 5 incident in Georgia, Lynch said. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:15 PM | Comment Coast Guard on the way to rescue New Bedford vesselBOSTON - The Coast Guard is assisting a 74-foot New Bedford fishing vessel with three people aboard that was disabled approximately 35 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket. The Coast Guard Cutter Campbell, a 270-foot ship based in Kittery, Maine, was expected to reach the Creole Belle this afternoon. This evening's offshore forecast calls for 30-knot winds and 6 to 10-foot seas. Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:37 PM | Comment Update: Seal moves, bridge blast goes forward / Photo
The explosion had been set to go off at 12:30 p.m., but was postponed when the seal made its appearance. The blast, which sent up rubble, dust and smoke, went off about 1:24 p.m. Spectators heard a boom, and the ripple effect was just that, as waves churned toward the Tiverton shore. The bridge had featured a span that could swing in and out along a central axis to allow boats to pass up and down the river. The Coast Guard had deemed the remnants of the structure, which lay to the north and underneath the Sakonnet River Bridge next to Route 24, a hazard. The DOT established a 500-foot safety zone around the bridge, temporarily blocking traffic on Route 24 along the Sakonnet River Bridge for a short time during the blast. Portions of Evans Avenue and Riverside Drive in Tiverton were closed temporarily. Boats were also prohibited from traversing the Sakonnet River in the area. The bridge was taken out of commission in 1980, after an overweight train chugged along its tracks and caused damage, according to DOT records, spokesman Charles St. Martin said. Then in 1988, a barge struck the old swing bridge. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner The DOT planned to use a controlled explosive demolition similar to the 11 underwater demolition events that removed the old Jamestown Bridge last summer and fall. Ho |
