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October 4, 2007

Sen. Moura to propose 24-hour gambling bill

State Sen. Paul E. Moura said today he will introduce legislation to allow 24-hour gambling when a special session of the General Assembly convenes, possibly later this month.

Moura used Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's recent announcement that he wants to bring three resort casinos to the Bay State to emphasize that Rhode Island should take action right away.

"Massachusetts is moving along very steadily with plans to develop gaming facilities that will provide thousands of jobs and contribute to much-needed property tax relief. As their plans come to fruition, the threat to Rhode Island becomes greater and greater," the East Providence Democrat said in the statement.

His bill would apply to the Twin River and Newport Grand gaming facilities.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:53 PM | Comment

Senate leader Montalbano standing by Alves

Senate President Joseph Montalbano said today that he stands by Sen. Stephen D. Alves, D-West Warwick, and will not push him out as Senate Finance Committee chairman.

Alves, a stockbroker, denies allegations he killed tax-incentive legislation last June as payback for not receiving pension fund business from Johnston. The matter is under FBI investigation.

Republican Governor Carcieri has called on Alves to step aside as chairman.

But Alves rejects the idea, and Montalbano said he is “100 percent’’ behind Alves’ staying on the job. Montalbano, a North Providence Democrat who recently settled a case with the state Ethics Commission, said, “I don’t make leadership decisions based on newspaper articles.’’

He said he based his decision on Alves’ service in the chairmanship. “He’s got a record of accomplishment. He’s a person of compassion.’’

-- Journal political columnist M. Charles Bakst

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:52 PM | Comment

At RIC, diversity ranges from powwow to origami / Photo

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Students from Rhode Island College join Native Americans from several tribes this afternoon in forming a "circle of life" for the grand entrance to a powwow, at the school in Providence. The powwow was part of the college's Diversity Week. Click here for information on more events, including this evening's A Night in Japan, featuring origami, a tea ceremony, floral arranging and more.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:03 PM | Comment

Judge to reluctant debtor: Pay up or go to jail

PROVIDENCE -- A Barrington man, who cracked a Warwick man’s skull in a 1988 brawl, now has 60 days to make payments to the victim and his lawyer or he’ll wind up behind bars.

Since a 1992 civil judgment, Paul D. Grieder has paid about $21,000 toward the $1.5 million he owes Michael P. Trainor for an assault outside a Providence nightclub. With interest, the debt totals nearly $5 million.

Trainor’s years-long legal battle reached the state Supreme Court earlier this year before bouncing back to Superior Court. Today’s sanctions stem from Grieder’s failure to pay $400 per month during a portion of 2002, when he was found in willful contempt of court.

Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini told Grieder he will send him to the Adult Correctional Institutions for 30 days unless he pays $3,000 to Trainor and $1,000 to Trainor’s lawyer within the next 60 days.

“In the words of our Supreme Court, Mr. Grieder now carries the key to his prison cell in his own pocket,” Procaccini said.

Grieder, 42, lives with his parents on Linden Road in Barrington. At 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, he lifts weights and works three nights a week as a “floor host” at a Providence strip club.

Procaccini described Grieder’s testimony during a previous hearing as “selective, evasive and disturbing,” saying Grieder “offered no explanation, excuse or justification for his total noncompliance with this court order. This court finds his failure to pay is self-imposed.”

Procaccini said people pay fines and judgments every day. “Most of these individuals are far more disadvantaged than Mr. Grieder, yet they respect the orders of this Superior Court regarding their payments,” he said. “These sanctions imposed upon defendant Grieder are designed to do nothing more than to command that same respect.”

The judge noted Grieder’s lawyer had described him as someone “who muddled along and did not have a great work ethic.”

“In this court’s view, that is a gross understatement,” Procaccini said. “This court will not condone defendant Grieder’s callous disregard and disrespect of an order of the Superior Court.”

After today’s court hearing, Grieder said, “It just seems that it’s a matter of time before I’m put in jail. I’m without the privilege of wealth. I just can’t satisfy the judgment.”

He said he has already borrowed money from family members and friends, so he doesn’t know how he’ll make the payments. “I’ll go to the casino and see what I can do,” he said with a laugh. He added, “I’m not making light of it. My freedom is at stake.”

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Grieder said he stopped paying Trainor in the middle of the Supreme Court case because he had to pay attorney’s fees for the successful appeal, and he said, “That case should never have happened.”

Grieder’s lawyer, J. Ronald Fishbein, said it was too soon to decide whether Grieder will appeal the ruling.

“I can understand the judge’s take on the proceedings of Tuesday,” Fishbein said. But he said Grieder was mistaken when he testified that he was making $300 a week in 2002 and not paying Trainor anything. He said Grieder was not working regularly during that period.

“As wacky as he is, I don’t think he lies,” Fishbein said. “He’s a truth teller.”

Trainor’s lawyer, Robert M. Brady, called the judge’s ruling appropriate. But, he said, “It’ll be interesting to see if (Grieder) complies with the order or does what he has typically done in the past — take an appeal to delay the process.”

Grieder and Trainor had never met before an altercation near the Living Room nightclub on July 22, 1988. Trainor received a fractured skull and a loss of hearing, and after being convicted of felony assault, Grieder received three years’ probation and a suspended prison sentence.

Trainor, now a 44-year-old carpenter, did not attend today’s hearing because he would not have been able to hear the proceedings, and a closed-captioning device was unavailable, Brady said.

He said Trainor did not want to discuss the ruling with The Journal, but he said Trainor “would see some sense of justice because the court recognizes this guy’s behavior is antisocial, nonconformist.”

During closing arguments on Tuesday, Fishbein said Grieder has “exceedingly limited income” and “is not as bad a person as has been portrayed.”

“He was a person of no great expectations, no great work ethic,” Fishbein said. “He just bumbled along.”

While Grieder has not worked as much as others do, he is now working more than he has in past, Fishbein said. “He has improved his lot in life in his perspective, though hardly by our perspective,” he said.

Fishbein said collecting civil judgments can be difficult, and he noted Joseph Mollicone, the state’s most notorious embezzler, has been paying restitution of just $75 per month toward the $12 million looted from the Heritage Loan & Investment Company.

By comparison, Grieder has been ordered to pay $400 per month, and Procaccini attempted to double that amount before the Supreme Court overruled him because proper procedures had not been followed for revisiting how much Grieder could pay.

In his closing arguments, Brady called the Mollicone reference “offensive,” saying Mollicone “merely stole money” while Grieder “pummeled someone” to the point that it has been difficult for Trainor to do his job and earn money.

“In my 30 years of practicing law, I’ve never met a more recalcitrant debtor than Mr. Grieder,” Brady said. “He has no sense of obligation to pay off his debt to society, or to pay off his debt to Mr. Trainor.”

Brady said Grieder “tried to beat the system to avoid paying a dime.” While Grieder was found in contempt in 2002, sanctions have been delayed while Grieder unsuccessfully tried to declare bankruptcy and successfully appealed Procaccini’s ruling to the Supreme Court, he said.

“He doesn’t like to work,” Brady told the judge. “I’d send him to the ACI. His lifestyle will fit in nicely. They don’t like working either.”

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:51 PM | Comment

Narragansett motorist died from multiple injuries

The cause of death for a Narragansett woman who was killed in a one-car crash in North Kingstown yesterday was multiple traumatic injuries, the Office of the Medical Examiners said this afternoon.

Police said 41-year-old Liisa Daniels suffered traumatic injury to her head and torso when her car struck a heavy gauge, steel signpost, northbound on Tower Hill Road, near the entrance to Wickford Lumber.

Earlier today, Capt. Charles Brennan said witnesses reported seeing the woman driving erratically before the accident: passing in no passing zones, speeding and cutting off traffic.

Daniels apparently lost control and struck the pole on Tower Hill Road, just south of Ten Rod Road, at about 2 p.m.

She was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where, two hours later, she was pronounced dead.

-- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandie Jefferson

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:43 PM | Comment

Update: Motorcycle crash victim critical

PROVIDENCE -- A West Greenwich man who lost control of the motorcycle he was riding on Route 95 this morning is in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.

Mario Baptista, 44, was heading north in the high-speed lane when, for a reason that is still unknown, he lost control of the vehicle just north of Exit 18 Thurbers Avenue at about 8:50 a.m., according to state police Cpl. John Bearegard.

Baptista was not wearing a helmet, the police said.

The accident occurred during peak commuting time, and slowed traffic on the curved stretch of highway.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:29 PM | Comment

4 Providence firefighters suffer minor injuries

PROVIDENCE -- A fire that started in a third-floor apartment at 29 Blaine St. this afternoon caused minor injuries to four firefighters and two residents of the three-floor wood-frame house.

One firefighter had a back injury and three had heat exhaustion, according to Battalion Chief Peter Celani.

At least one firefighter was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, another to Miriam Hospital in Providence and a resident was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department.

Preliminary indications are the cause of the fire was electrical in nature.

Seventeen adults and three children live in the building, though not all were home at the time of the fire.

The Red Cross, which often assists people displaced by fire, was called to offer help to people, said Taylor. The building contains six apartments.

Firefighters responded to the 1:08 p.m. call and the fire was brought under control at 1:30 p.m. Seven rescue trucks went to the scene -- five from Providence, one from North Providence and another from Pawtucket.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:35 PM | Comment

Photo: Invasion of the Big Blue Bug?

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
The Big Blue Bug, a familiar image for drivers on Route 95 in Providence, hasn't escaped from its perch on top of New England Pest Control. The ongoing construction of new ramps that will link Routes 95 and 195 only make it look like the bug is emerging from a dirt mound.

Posted by Jack Perry at 3:07 PM | Comment

Lifespan chief joins Sci-Tech Council

PROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council today announced the appointment of Arthur Klein, the chief physician officer for Lifespan, as its newest member.

"His breadth of experience and record of achievements make him an ideal candidate to serve on STAC," Clyde Briant, a council co-chairman and the vice president for research at Brown University, said in a statement today.

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Klein, who was named Lifespan's chief physician officer and senior vice president in May 2006, replaces Daniel E. Martin, a vice president at Raytheon.

The council has 13 members. They include Saul Kaplan, executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation; Kimball Hall, the general manager of Rhode Island operations for Amgen; Paul Choquette Jr., chairman of Gilbane, the construction management firm; and Thomas Ryan, chief executive officer of CVS.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:49 PM | Comment

Providence fire injures 2 firefighters, 1 resident

PROVIDENCE -- A third-floor fire at 29 Blaine St. this afternoon has sent two firefighters and a resident of the building to Providence hospitals.

Their injuries were not yet known. Another resident and firefighter were being evaluated at the scene.

And the Red Cross, which often assists people displaced by fires, was called to offer help to more than a dozen people.

Firefighters responded to the 1:08 p.m. call at a three-story wood-frame house containing six apartments, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department. The fire was brought under control at 1:30 p.m.

Six ambulances were on scene, Taylor said.

One of the firefighters and one of the residents were taken to Rhode Island Hospital. The other firefighter was taken to Miriam Hospital.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:45 PM | Comment

Photo: This mushroom takes up lots of room

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Mickey Mercadante, of Providence, shows off one of the giant mushrooms he found on an oak tree stump in a secret place he goes every fall. This one, he says, weighs at least 25 pounds.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:34 PM | Comment

Federal Hill will be painted red, white and green

PROVIDENCE -- You pretty much can't miss Federal Hill's true colors. But after tonight, you'll never miss them. They're painting it red, white and green.

Crews will start painting permanant stripes in the Italian flag's colors down the center of Atwells Avenue starting at 11:30 p.m, in time for the Columbus Day parade and festival, which starts Saturday, Mayor David N. Cicilline's office announced today.

“I am proud to return this important symbol of Italian-American pride back to its rightful place on Atwells Avenue,” Cicilline said in a statement. “Federal Hill is known throughout the northeast for its rich Italian history and culture, and these green, white and red stripes will stand as a lasting reminder of the significant contributions Italian-Americans have made to our city and our nation.”

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

The stripes will go along Atwells Avenue from Harris Avenue to the arch -- the gateway to Federal Hill.

Cicilline and other officials will kick off the Columbus Day Parade and Festival Saturday with opening ceremonies at noon in DesPasquale Square, 265 Atwells Avenue.

The parade is Sunday at noon, heading east on Atwells Avenue to Bradford Street.

Federal Hill won't be the only Rhode Island spot with special stripes. Hope Street in Bristol bears red, white and blue center stripes in homage to its famed Fourth of July parade.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:12 PM | Comment

NIH children's research program coming to Brown

Citing the lofty goals of treating and possibly preventing devastating medical conditions such as autism, heart disease and obesity, the National Institutes of Health today announced the creation of more than 20 research centers.

The centers will be located across the country, including Brown University in Providence, and manage enrollment and data collection for a study of 100,000 participants from birth until their 21st birthdays for the National Children’s Study.

“Study researchers will examine not only what children are eating and drinking,” Duane Alexander, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said in a statement, “but what’s in the air they breathe, what’s in the dust in their homes, and their possible exposures to chemicals from materials used to construct their homes and schools.”

Brown, with partner hospital Women & Infants, was awarded a five-year, $14.1 million contract to enroll 1,000 Providence-area children. It is the university's largest NIH research award in a decade. Other state and private health partners will also be involved.

Sen. Jack Reed co-authored a letter last year with fellow members of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, which oversees funding for the project when they learned funding was set to be cut. They were successful in getting funding reinstated.

“I commend Brown University and the Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island for their partnership in the program,” he said in a press release.

Twenty-two centers are planned in 20 states; they include centers affiliated with Yale University in Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts. The first part of funding comes from a $69 million congressional appropriation.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:34 PM | Comment

Update: Victim in yesterday's accident from Narragansett

A Narragansett woman is dead after a one-car accident in North Kingstown yesterday.

Police say 41-year-old Liisa Daniels suffered traumatic injury to her head and torso when her car struck a heavy gauge, steel signpost, northbound on Tower Hill Road, near the entrance to Wickford Lumber.

Capt. Charles Brennan said witnesses reported seeing the woman driving erratically before the accident: passing in no passing zones, speeding and cutting off traffic.

Daniels apparently lost control and struck the pole on Tower Hill Road, just south of Ten Rod Road, at about 2 p.m.

She was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where, two hours later, she was pronounced dead.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:25 PM | Comment

Tonight: Child soldier turned author at RWU

Former child soldier and best-selling author Ishmael Beah is scheduled to discuss his memoir “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier” at Roger Williams University.

Beah was born in Sierra Leone in 1980. In 1992, one year after an attack that eventually turned into a civil war, Beah’s family had been killed and he was alone, surrounded by war. Soon after, he was recruited as a soldier in the government army.

By 2002, when the war ended, as many as 50,000 people had been killed.

UNICEF officials rescued Beah from the front lines when he was 18. He now serves on the Human Rights Watch Children’s Rights Division Advisory Committee. The advocacy group estimates as many as 300,000 children currently are serving as soldiers for rebel and government armies.

Beah will talk about his book, which also explores the difficulty of reentry to civilized society, at the Recreation Center gymnasium at Roger Williams University today at 7 p.m. The discussion is free and open to the public.

Come back to projo.com and tomorrow's Journal for a report on his talk.

Video: Beah speaks about his reasons for writing the book in this excerpt:

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:11 AM | Comment

Senate panel hearing testimony on port security / Video

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Senate Commerce Committee this morning will tackle the topic of port and cargo security and its implementation.

Officials from The Department of Homeland Security and others will be witnesses at the hearing, which starts at 10 a.m. Port security continues to be a hot button topic in the post-Sept. 11 world, internationally as well as here in the Ocean State.

Witnesses include Coast Guard Rear Adm. David Pekoske, assistant commandant for operations; Maurine Shields Fanguy, director, Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program, TSA; Thomas Winkowski, assistant commissioner for field operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Stephen Caldwell, GAO; and Anthony Coscia, chairman, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners.

Watch the proceedings via live streaming video.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 10:00 AM | Comment

R.I. store sells $200,000 Powerball ticket

CRANSTON -- The big winner -- $15 million -- in yesterday's Powerball drawing was sold next door in Connecticut, but a Rhode Islander may have won an impressive consolation prize, according to the Rhode Island Lottery.

A $200,000 winning ticket was purchased from the Cumberland Farms at 302 North Main St. in Slatersville.

And a $10,000 ticket was sold by Sunshine Market at 181 Washington St. in Central Falls. Neither of the prizes has been claimed.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:44 AM | Comment

Whitehouse speaks about Bush veto on Senate floor

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse was scheduled to speak on the Senate floor this morning about President Bush's veto of legislation that would have expanded children's health insurance, according to Whitehouse's office.

Go to C-SPAN.org to see it.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:34 AM | Comment

Drugs hidden in Mr. Potato Head toy

SYDNEY, Australia -- Customs officers discovered nearly 10.5 ounces of ecstasy tablets hidden inside a Mr. Potato Head toy sent to Australia from Ireland, the agency said today.

Upon opening the parcel, the officers were greeted with the smiling face of the popular children's toy, which is made by Pawtucket-based Hasbro Inc. and features a potato-like head and removable facial features. But when they removed a panel from the back of the toy, the officers found 10.34 ounces of ecstasy in a plastic bag.

The Australian Customs Service referred the matter to federal police, but no arrests were immediately made, the agency said. The maximum penalty for importing drugs to Australia is life imprisonment.

"Whilst this is one of the more unusual concealments that we have seen in recent times, people need to be aware that Customs officers are alert to unusual and often outlandish methods of concealment," Customs Director Post Karen Williams said.

-- The Associated Press with projo.com reports.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:55 AM | Comment

Still no contract for Tiverton teachers

Tiverton teachers and the school committee have yet to reach a contract agreement.

According to Patrick Crowley, spokesman for the teachers' union, the union's offer last night was not accepted by the committee at a meeting that lasted until 11 p.m.

Crowley said an outside arbitrator may come in to set the terms of a new contract.

The teachers union held a one-day strike in early September, and voted two weeks ago to perform only duties officially in their current contract.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:03 AM | Comment

Mrs. Carcieri to host breast-cancer awareness event

PROVIDENCE -- First Lady Sue Carcieri is participating in an event this afternoon to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Carcieri will join the Rhode Island Breast Cancer Coalition in hosting the tenth annual Pink Ribbon Tea.

The event, to be held in the State Room of the Statehouse, honors women who have been diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer.

The event is part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A reception is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. A program will begin at 4.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Sunny skies and a high in the 80s

The morning fog should clear by 9 and the National Weather Service is predicting sunny skies and a high of 84 degrees.

The temperature should come close to the record high for the day of 85 set in 1959.

Clouds should roll in tonight and the temperature will drop to 61 degrees overnight.

Tomorrow should be another summer-like day with a high in the mid 80s.

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

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a photograph and story on the Red Sox win in the first game of the playoffs and a story about Governor Carcieri's proposing $100 million in cuts from the state budget.

Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment