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« May 15, 2008 | Today | May 19, 2008 » May 16, 2008Projo.com will be off line early Saturday morningProjo.com will be down for maintenance early Saturday morning. It is expected that we'll be back up and running by 8 a.m., at the latest. We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope you'll come back later in the day. Posted by Peter Phipps at 6:59 PM | Comment Graduation saturation at R.I. colleges this weekend
On Friday, students at the Community College of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University School of Law were receiving their diplomas. Students from Johnson & Wales University, Roger Williams University, Bryant University and Rhode Island College graduate Saturday, as do graduate students from the University of Rhode Island. On Sunday, Providence College and Salve Regina University hold commencements, and URI awards diplomas to its undergraduates. Brown University graduates next weekend. The Rhode Island School of Design holds commencement on May 31. Restaurateurs are eager for the weekend to go well. They’re hoping the surge of thousands of visitors into Rhode Island for graduation exercises will provide a bump to what some say has been a soft business season so far. “Even though the economy is bad, this is such a special weekend that people don’t seem to be cutting back,” said Dale Venturini, president of the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association. More information about the graduations, and lists of graduates, are available on school Web sites. Journal coverage of the ceremonies can also be found on projo.com. Heading to Rhode Island for a graduation? Browse information about the state, activities, tourist hot spots and more, at the state's tourism site, visitrhodeisland.com. -- Journal staff writer Mark Arsenault Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 6:58 PM | Comment R.I. Guard unit to be honored for Iraq missionsA group of Rhode Island National Guardsmen and women who were deployed in Iraq for a year will be honored tomorrow for the nearly 2000 missions they performed overseas. The Rhode Island National Guard 861st Engineer Company will be awarded the Iraqi Freedom Battle Streamer during an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Sun Valley Armory at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich. Between June 2005 and June 2006, the 861st did security and combat engineer support for a security mission in Ar Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad. During its year-long mission, the unit earned nearly 250 commendations, including 74 Combat Action Badges and eight Bronze Stars. “The presentation of yet another battle streamer to a Rhode Island unit only adds to the great legacy of the Rhode Island National Guard,” Major Gen. Robert T. Bray said in a statement. The 861st Engineer Company traces its lineage to 1865. In addition to the streamer presentation, the event will also feature retired soldier awards, unit soldier awards, and a change of command. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 6:07 PM | Comment Update: Boat laid up Narragansett shore rocks / Photo
NARRAGANSETT –– A salvage crew is on site at the water’s edge off Hazard Avenue where a 48-foot wooden schooner smashed up against a wall of rocks this afternoon. But it doesn't look as if it will be able to save the Truant, which has been taking a series of beatings as the wind and waves pick up ahead of a forecast storm. While its owner, Peter Maack of Narragansett, was safely taken off the boat this afternoon by rescuers in inflatables, the salvagers say they can't do the same for the schooner itself. High tide is approaching at 6 p.m., making the situation worse. Rain is spitting, and lightning was spotted earlier. The boat itself is leaning into the rocks -- known for being dangerous -- with a Jolly Roger flag flying at half-mast. The boat’s owner, Maack, is on scene, along with members of the Department of Environmental Management’s Emergency Response Team, Coast Guard investigators, and Bob Cherenzia, from Shellfish Assassin Conglomerate Vessel Services, a Point Judith-based salvage company. Maack and Cherenzia were wearing wet suits as they worked to recover the Truant’s gas tank before high tide. They had managed to remove it by 5 p.m., as other items were being washed off the boat's deck. Although neighbors and city and state officials expressed concern about contamination, Maack said that there was only about 20 gallons of gasoline in the boat. Maack said he was under sail just before noon when a rudder broke on the boat, known as a Newfoundland schooner. He was taken off the schooner by rescue crews from the Coast Guard station in Point Judith and the Narragansett Fire Department. --- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Donita Naylor CORRECTION: The name of boat owner Peter Maack was incorrect in earlier versions of this report. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:33 PM | Comment Traffic Alert: Route 95 South at 146An accident has a lane closed this evening on Route 95. The accident, on the southbound side of the roadway, is at Exit 23/Route 146 north/Charles Street. The right lane is closed. To check on the traffic along your commute, see the Transportation Management Center's Web cameras. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 4:27 PM | Comment Brown student who threw pie at Friedman suspendedPROVIDENCE -- The Brown University student who threw a pie at New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman during his Earth Day speech at the campus was suspended for one semester by the university after an administrative hearing last Wednesday. The student, Margaree Little, 22, said she was notified of the suspension on Wednesday. She said the university considered her actions in violation of Brown’s protest policy by interrupting Friedman’s speech. Just as Friedman took his place behind the podium, Little and an unidentified male, ran onto the stage and threw two green Cool Whip pies at him and then fled the auditorium through a side door. A professor apprehended Little outside the building and turned her over to the campus police. The "Greenwash Guerillas," part of a grassroots network who confront causes of climate change, later claimed credit for the incident. The stunt involving the famous author and columnist garnered copious the media attention––a YouTube video of the incident has received more than 75,000 hits and several national newspapers and popular blogs ran the story––including vicious attacks against Little. Little, an English major, does not face any criminal charges, but her university suspension will delay her. After all the media attention, and her subsequent suspension, Little said she does nor regret what she did. “Fortunately, it did succeed in opening up a lot of debate,” Little said. “I don’t have any regrets.” Little said she has not decided exactly what she will do until she can return to Brown, but she wants to travel and continue to work on social justice issues. The university had no comment about the suspension, saying only that it does not comment on student disciplinary action. -- Journal environmental reporter Natalie Garcia Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:45 PM | Comment Pawtuxet Village, way back whenEver wonder what Pawtuxet Village was like during the American Revolution? A group of student from the area may be able to help. On Sunday, a group of 65 Wyman Elementary School students, with help from other local students, will be giving a walking tour of the area. But they’ll do more than tell participants what happened hundreds of years ago, they’ll show a slice of what life was like, too. Fifteen sites will be highlighted during the tour by actors –– students dressed in period clothes with assumed identities of long-gone Pawtuxet residents. The tours begin at 1 p.m. in Pawtuxet Park in Warwick and take off every 15 minutes until about 3:30 p.m. Take a tour for free if you’re 5 years old or younger. If you’re between the ages 6 and 12, the tour is $3 and its full price -- $5 -- for adults. If it rains, check back on June 1. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:18 PM | Comment Feds award money to keep state preparedThe state’s Emergency Management Agency is getting more than $1 million to help secure public transportation and important buildings from potential disasters or attacks. The Transit Security Grant Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, is providing the state EMA about $830,000 for on protecting buses, trolleys and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority against explosives and, what’s referred to in a statement as “non-conventional attacks.” An additional $200,000 was awarded to the state through the Buffer Zone Protection Program. This money will be put to use protecting sites such as chemical facilities and power plants. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:03 PM | Comment Zombies attack, be there or be squareYou might think that a gathering of zombies isn’t the place to be on a Saturday night, but you’d be wrong. It’s actually a very selective event, with space for only 100 attendees. A get-together at the one-and-only Rhode Island screening of George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead in Providence is set for midnight tomorrow at the Cable Car Cinema, which, come to think of it, seems to have an affinity for Zombies... The event is sponsored by Scars Magazine and Zombie Friends –– a social networking Web site for “Zombies, undead and Horror Freaks to hangout when not out shambling among the living.” -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:48 PM | Comment CVS trial: CFO says he was in the dark about Celona
She testified that no one at CVS ever asked her to "hide or destroy" any documents that detailed former state Sen. John Celona’s employment with the Woonsocket-based drugstore giant. But, during redirect questioning by prosecutor Daniel Petalas, of the Justice Department’s public integrity unit, Bibeault conceded that Ortiz was uncomfortable with the senator’s role as a CVS consultant. "He didn’t like the appearance of it," she said. During her testimony this morning, Bibeault questioned the first invoice submitted by Celona. She said she hadn't been expecting it, and she asked her boss if she should pay it. He told her he should, because Celona was going to be working for CVS as the "eyes and ears of CVS" among the senior population. Ortiz and Kramer are accused of bribing Celona for favorable treatment at the State House. Bibeault's testimony was followed by David Rickard, CVS’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. He spent an hour on the witness stand and answered questions about the company’s budgetary process and chain-of-command. In November 2001, Rickard said that he was charged with an additional responsibility: overseeing governmental relations, which included supervising Kramer and Ortiz. Under questioning by prosecutor Stephen G. Dambruch, Rickard said that neither Kramer nor Ortiz ever told him that Celona was working for CVS as a $1,000-a-month consultant. Scott Corrigan, one of Kramer’s lawyers, elicited testimony from Rickard that Kramer was free to hire paid consultants without his approval. Rickard concluded his testimony and the jurors were released for the weekend. The trial resumes on Monday at 9 a.m. Extra: Continuing coverage of this and other cases involved in Operation Dollar Bill -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:37 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Aunt guilty of 2nd-degree murder / Photos
Katherine Bunnell was also convicted of murder conspiracy early this afternoon by a jury in Superior Court, Providence. The jury in the high-profile trial announced that it had reached a verdict at 12:15 p.m. this afternoon, after deliberating for about 12 hours over three days. Bunnell and her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, were accused of fatally beating a foster child in their care, Thomas “T.J.” Wright, after they returned to their Woonsocket apartment on Oct. 30, 2004, and found a mess the toddler had made on the living room floor. The child had been left in Bunnell's care when his mother, Bunnell's sister, was sent to prison. Bunnell looked stricken as she was led out of the courtroom, but she maintained her composure. Bunnell's sister, Karen Wright, the mother of T.J., wept as the verdict was read. Bunnell had been charged with first-degree murder, but she was found guilty of the "lesser included" charge of second-degree murder. She faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison on the second-degree murder conviction. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 16. Defense attorney Gerard H. Donley says he will appeal the verdict, claiming that jurors weren't allowed to see a portion of a videotaped interview with Delestre that would have helped clear his client. The judge will hear a motion for a new trial on May 22. From its beginning, the case raised questions about the state’s system of screening prospective foster parents, putting the Department of Children, Youth and Families in the spotlight. An independent investigation launched by the Office of the Child Advocate determined that DCYF missed as least five opportunities to rescue Thomas from the couple’s Woonsocket home.
-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci In instructing the jury before its deliberations, Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia told jurors that they could find Bunnell innocent or they could find her guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter. The judge told jurors they could find the defendant guilty of second-degree murder rather than first-degree murder if they found her intention to kill was only momentary, if it wasn't the result of prolonged meditation. If she had been convicted of first-degree murder, Bunnell could have been subject to a sentence of life in prison without eligibility for parole. A first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison, and a defendant is subject to life in prison without parole if prosecutors can prove that the murder involved torture or aggravated battery. The attorney general's office said it would have sought life without parole if the jury returned a first-degree murder verdict. Bunnell's co-defendant, Delestre, is still awaiting trial. Because each accuses the other of inflicting the fatal injuries, Bunnell and Delestre are being tried separately. In 2006, the Office of the Child Advocate issued another report, saying the state had failed to make some of the most important changes that a review panel called for following T.J.’s death. Mostly notably, the state had not held caseloads to recommended levels. Then, last June, Child Advocate Jametta O. Alston filed for class-action status on behalf of the 3,000 children now in state custody, aiming for nothing less than an overhaul of Rhode Island’s child-welfare system, which the suit portrays as overburdened and mismanaged. That suit is still in U.S. District Court. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:35 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury says it has a verdictPROVIDENCE -- The jury in the Katherine Bunnell child-murder case announced that it reached a verdict at 12:15 p.m. The jury had started its third day of deliberations this morning, filing into the courtroom at about 9:45 a.m. Bunnell, 24, is on trial for murder and murder conspiracy. She is accused with her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, of fatally beating 3-year old Thomas "T.J." Wright when they returned to their Woonsocket apartment from a night out 3 1/2 years ago and found a mess on the livingroom floor. "T.J." had been placed in their care when Bunnell's sister went to prison. Read a story on yesterday's deliberations. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Jack Perry at 12:21 PM | Comment Mayor takes the lead on Bike to Work Day / Photo
The mayor, a handful of state officials and bike advocates gathered at the City Center before 8 a.m. amid free coffee, bagels and cycling-related trinkets, and to show support for bike commuting, a choice which makes up only 0.2 percent of all trips to work in Rhode Island, according the Providence Bike Coalition, the event’s organizer. “Obviously, biking to work is a very simple way to decrease congestion, improve the quality of the air we breathe and [it is] a beautiful way to see the city,” Cicilline said to the helmeted and messenger bag-clad crowd. “The city is working hard to make biking a clear and easy option.” Cicilline said the city has completed plans to put up bicycle signs and add bike lane striping on five city streets: Elmwood Avenue, Broadway, Charles Street, Smith Street and Hope Street, which will be completed this fall. More Bike to Work Day activities will be held in the Kennedy Plaza ice rink from 3-6 p.m. today, including vendor booths, raffles, safety demonstrations, music and information of about upcoming bicycle signage and lane striping. -- Journal environmental reporter Natalie Garcia Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:01 PM | Comment Westerly officer OK after being struck by suspectA Westerly police officer was struck by a car allegedly driven by a suspect who was trying to escape the scene of a crime. A statement released by the Westerly Police Department said the police were called yesterday to the Backtrack Bar and Grille, on Industrial Drive, for an assault involving three males. When the police arrived, one of the three took off in a vehicle, hitting Cpl. Larry Silvestri, who fired one round at the suspect, according to the police statement. Silvestri was not able to stop the suspect, who drove off and was later spotted and stopped by police in Pawcatuck, Conn. The suspect was not injured by Silvestri’s shot, the Westerly police say, and he was taken to Stonington police headquarters, where he was charged with driving while intoxicated. The suspect also faces fugitive charges out of Rhode Island. Silvestri was treated for minor injuries at Westerly Hospital and released. The other two males involved in the assault at Backtrack Bar and Grille were treated for serious injuries, according to the police statement. The incident is still under investigation by the Westerly Police and the Rhode Island Attorney General. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:59 AM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury starts its third day of deliberationsProvidence -- The jury in the Katherine Bunnell child-murder case began its third day of deliberations with no sign of progress but also without reporting a deadlock. The jury of five men and seven women filed into the courtroom at 9:45 this morning, none of them giving the defendant, Katherine Bunnell, so much as a glance. The jurors faces looked somber as they took their seats in the jury box. Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia assurred the jurors that if they had questions, the questions would be answered. "With that we'll send you upstairs and wait for your progress," the judge said. Bunnell, 24, is on trial for murder and murder conspiracy. She is accused with her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, of fatally beating 3-year old Thomas "T.J." Wright when they returned to their Woonsocket apartment from a night out 3 1/2 years ago and found a mess on the livingroom floor. "T.J." had been placed in their care when Bunnell's sister went to prison. Read a story on yesterday's deliberations. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Jack Perry at 11:45 AM | Comment CVS trial: Employee questioned Celona invoice
“I asked if I should pay it, because I wasn’t expecting it and it wasn’t budgeted,” testified Betty Bibeault, who was Ortiz’s administrative assistant. Ortiz told her to pay it, she testified, explaining that Celona was going to be working as a consultant, serving as “the eyes and ears of CVS among the senior citizen population.” Ortiz also said that “this was something that Jack (Kramer) wanted to do,” according to Bibeault. Kramer and Ortiz are on trial in U.S. District Court, Providence, on charges of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud, accused of hiring Celona to do their bidding at the Rhode Island State House. Celona is serving a 2 1/2-year prison term after pleading guilty to selling his office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. The trial's key witness, he is now not expected to testify today. When he does, he is expected to spend several days on the stand. The defense maintains that Celona was hired to promote CVS through his network of seniors and his cable access television show. Read yesterday's trial coverage. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Bibeault testified today that Ortiz never mentioned Celona’s television show when explaining Celona’s hiring as a consultant. Nor, she testified, did Ortiz mention that Celona would be acting on legislation. The prosecution also introduced a “Government Affairs” update that Ortiz wrote Kramer during the 2003 legislative session. Ortiz noted that two bills CVS opposed –– allowing pharmacy choice and Canadian drug imports – had passed the House. But “I feel fairly confident that we will be able to kill both pieces of legislation in the Senate.” Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:28 AM | Comment Photo: Serving up a lesson in career choices
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 11:26 AM | Comment Don't be alarmed, it's only a drillDon’t be startled if a group of emergency vehicles races by tomorrow on their way to Mount Pleasant High School. It’s only a drill. The Providence Emergency Management Agency and the state Department of Health are scheduled to conduct an emergency disaster exercise. More than 150 emergency response officials from the city and state will get the chance to practice for a real emergency. Funding for the exercise comes from the Department of Health via the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The drill is scheduled for tomorrow morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mount Pleasant High School, 434 Mount Pleasant Ave. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:48 AM | Comment Red tide algae arrives in Mass.GLOUCESTER, Mass. -- The state has closed shellfish beds on the North Shore of Massachusetts following the expected arrival of red tide. The Division of Marine Fisheries ordered a halt to shellfish harvesting today after tests conducted from Newburyport to Gloucester revealed the presence of the toxin-producing algae in bivalves. The red tide does not affect lobsters, crabs and scallops. Officials had expected the arrival of the red tide, which had been spreading southward from the coast of Maine for the past three weeks. While red tide is an almost annual occurrence, biologists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute are concerned this year's bloom could match the massive outbreak of 2005. The toxin can be potentially deadly to people who eat tainted shellfish. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 10:00 AM | Comment Trade in the car today for Bike to Work DayTwo wheels are better than four –– for your health, for traffic congestion and for air quality, not to mention it makes parking a lot easier. So if it’s within your range, consider taking to the road this morning on a bicycle and celebrate the 52nd annual National Bike to Work Day. Meet with other cyclists in downtown Providence at the Bank of America City Center at 7 a.m. for food, drinks and a host of bike-related activities, including safety tips, demonstrations and a bike raffle. And you'll be in prestigious company; for the sixth year in a row, Mayor David N. Cicilline and members of his staff are also planning on biking it tomorrow. They'll meet at the City Center for a press conference, joined by representatives from the Providence Bicycle Coalition, the Sierra Club and other groups to outline some of the bike-friendly initiatives taking shape, including striping and signage for bike lanes set to be finished by the fall. Bike to Work Day is funded by RIDOT, through a federal grant, with support from the Providence Foundation and the Providence Bicycle Coalition. If you’re not used to riding in the streets of Providence, the coalition has established bike trains with experienced riders to help lead the way. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:34 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story on Sox' slugger Manny Ramirez's pursuit of the 500-home run milestone. There's also full coverage of the bribery trial of two former CVS executives. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment It's going to be a wet oneThe word of the day and the weekend is "rain." And the National Weather Service in Taunton is pretty sure of itself, 100 percent sure. The service puts the chance of rain at 70 percent this afternoon, 100 percent tonight and 40 percent Saturday and Sunday. It looks like a washout. At least it won't be cold. Today's high is forecast to be 63. It could approach 70 tomorrow. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006