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June 30, 2008

Rescue operation under way in Jamestown waters

The Coast Guard, police officers and a helicopter are on the scene of a rescue situation involving a person in the water off Fort Wetherill in Jamestown this evening, the Jamestown police said.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Davis

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:34 PM | Comment

Query: Have your unemployment benefits run out?

Jobless in R.I.: Are you a Rhode Island resident who has run out of unemployment benefits but still can’t find a job? A federal program signed by President Bush today could extend the benefits of jobless residents whose unemployment ran out as of May 2007 or later. If your benefits have run out and you are willing to talk to a reporter about what it’s like trying to make ends meet, please contact Lynn Arditi at larditi@projo.com or call (401)277-7335.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:32 PM | Comment

Forklift driver in Pawtucket injured when floor gives way

PAWTUCKET -- A forklift operator who was part of an work crew cleaning out a building on Roosevelt Avenue was injured when the floor gave way beneath him, causing him and the forklift to crash down into the basement.

The accident occurred at 3:20 p.m. today on the first floor of the building that the Red Farm Studio greeting card company at 1135 Roosevelt Ave. Pawtucket Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Mercer said the crew had been brought in to clean out the building after the greeting card company closed.

The forklift operator wasn’t immediately identified. Mercer said he was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence to be treated for injuries he suffered in the collapse.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:31 PM | Comment

Accused killer waives right to extradition hearing

PROVIDENCE -- Juan L. Diaz, who fled to Albany, N.Y., after being accused of murdering a woman in Pawtucket last week, has waived his right to an extradition proceeding, expediting his return to the state.

Diaz is expected to be picked up by Rhode Island sheriffs on Thursday and held over the July 4th weekend at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston, said Michael J. Healey, a spokesman for the state Attorney General’s office.

He is expected to be arraigned in the murder case in District Court, Providence, on Monday, July 7.

Diaz, 24, is accused of shooting Mayra A. Cruz Wednesday in the basement apartment he occupied at 14 Reservoir Ave. The Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Thursday that Cruz, 26, of Galego Court, died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

According to Pawtucket police records, Diaz phoned the police and said he had shot Cruz accidentally during a struggle over a gun.

But Diaz fled before the police arrived at the basement apartment, setting off a manhunt that led to Albany, where he has family. He was picked up on the street in Albany after Pawtucket detectives traced a cell phone call he made to a girlfriend in the Prospect Heights housing project in Pawtucket.

Diaz is being held at the Albany County Correctional Facility. By waiving extradition, he gave up his right to have a court in New York determine whether the murder charge warranted handing him over to authorities in Rhode Island.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:30 PM | Comment

Brown team discovers material to absorb mercury gases

PROVIDENCE -- The swirly-shaped compact fluorescent light bulbs have become the darlings of those who care about saving energy and combating climate change, except for one nagging problem. When they break, they release tiny quantities of highly toxic mercury.

Now, a team from Brown University believes it has developed a solution. It has discovered a material that rapidly absorbs mercury gases and could be used as the packaging for mercury bulbs or as a tool for cleaning up broken bulbs.

The researchers have applied for federal patents and expect to soon enter into discussions with companies that could manufacture the packaging.

The packaging was developed after Robert Hurt, a professor of engineering, and engineering student Natalie Johnson, discovered that a variant of a substance called nanoselenium, a trace element used in diet supplements, absorbed virtually all the mercury released by a broken bulb.

Working with Steven Hamburg, associate professor for environmental studies, and other students, the team used the substance to develop a mercury-capturing lining that could be used inside store-bought compact fluorescent packages.

-- Journal environment writer Peter B. Lord

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:30 PM | Comment

Smith Hill house fire displaces 7 people

PROVIDENCE -- Six adults and one child are temporarily homeless after an early morning fire damaged their Smith Hill home, according to the Fire Department.

The blaze began in the basement of a triple-decker at 87 Lydia St., and was reported to the Fire Department at 2:15 a.m., according to Assistant Fire Chief Michael J. Dillon. When firefighters arrived, all the occupants were out of the building and nobody was injured.

The Rhode Island chapter of the American Red Cross was on hand to help the displaced occupants with temporary lodging and other assistance.

The flames extended into the walls and traveled up to the first and second floors, according to Dillon. There was moderate fire damage to the basement and the first and second floors, and damage from smoke and water throughout, which together with the fact that electrical service was disconnected, left the house uninhabitable.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within 20 minutes.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Karen Bordeleau at 5:25 PM | Comment

5 R.I. companies awarded workforce expansion grants

The Governor's Workforce Board and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp. have awarded workforce expansion grants for new employee training to five Rhode Island companies. The grants total $387,348.

Companies receiving the grants are: Albion Special Care, LLC of Lincoln for $45,990; Duralectra-CHN of Woonsocket for $125,000; Hope Global of Cumberland for $50,809; Infusion Resouce of Providence for $62,497; Senesco Marine of North Kingstown for $103,052.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:25 PM | Comment

RIC dedicates new 'green' dorm

State education officials today are expected to celebrate a special “green” certification for a new 367-bed residence hall at Rhode Island College.

The Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education will take part in the celebration at 5 p.m. on the college campus with outgoing RIC president John Nazarian and incoming president Nancy Carriuolo.

The new residence hall is the largest building in Rhode Island to receive the so-called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is also the first residence hall in Rhode Island to earn the designation.

The 127,500-square-foot building was designed by RGB, a Providence-based architecture, engineering and interior design firm.

Energy efficient design is expected to save more than $115,000 annually in heat and air conditioning costs. The building was sited to minimize the clearing of natural vegetation and more than 750,000 tons of trash from the construction work was recycled.

-- Journal environment writer Peter B. Lord

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:22 PM | Comment

Cincinnati is not interested in Donnie Evans

PROVIDENCE -- City schools Supt. Donnie Evans is no longer a finalist for the Cincinnati school district now that the Cincinnati School Board has decided to keep looking.

Evans said he was disappointed but not surprised that the school board decided to launch a new search, adding that the board had told him that it was unhappy with the search firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates. Evans did say, however, that he was talking with another search firm about applying for three other superintendent openings, which he declined to name because of the confidential nature of the searches.

According to The Cincinatti Enquirer, the board decided to re-open recruitment because its members felt that neither finalist would receive a 5-2 majority. The other finalist, Diana Bourisaw of St. Louis, withdrew her candidacy late last month, citing personal reasons, which left Evans as the sole candidate.

“We don’t want our new superintendent to start with a factionalized board,” school board president Eve Bolton told The Enquirer. “We’ve done that before.”

The Cincinatti board is expected to name an interim superintendent July 14.

Meanwhile, Providence’s new superintendent, Thomas Brady, is scheduled to arrive here on July 14. Brady, the interim superintendent of Philadelphia, was hired this winter approximately a week after Evans announced that he would not be seeking a second three-year term in Providence.

Brady spent 25 years in the military before entering the educational field and he has held top administrative positions in Fairfax, Va., and Washington, D.C.

-- Journal staff writer Linda Borg

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:18 PM | Comment

Henderson Bridge closed to walkers during repairs

Repair work is under way on the Henderson Bridge and that means those who wish to cross the bridge on bicycle or on foot must use a sidewalk on the westbound side of the bridge.

The first phase of construction is on the bridge’s eastbound lanes. Cars headed east are limited to one narrow lane, according to a Department of Transportation news release today.

Bicycles and pedestrians are banned from the east side of the bridge during construction. On the westbound side, bicyclists must walk their bikes along the sidewalk and across the span.

The bridge connects Waterman and Angell streets on Providence's East Side to Massasoit Avenue in East Providence.

A detour for bicyclists and pedestrians headed to East Providence is in place from Waterman Street up Butler Avenue to a right on Angell Street, where they can access the sidewalk next to the bridge's westbound lanes.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:15 PM | Comment

Pawtucket's Division Street Bridge is 2-way again

PAWTUCKET -- The Division Street Bridge is being reopened to two-way traffic, seven months after it became one-way, and an elaborate set of detours was put in place, when a weight limit was imposed on part of Route 95.

The bridge, now one-way eastbound, is expected to reopen to two-way traffic Wednesday morning, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m.

State Department of Transportation maintenance crews are busy painting stripes, working on traffic signals and repaving the roadway, Kazem Farhoumand, DOT’s acting chief engineer, said today in an interview.

The work, necessary before two-way traffic is restored to Division Street, has taken longer than expected, Farhoumand said, because of delays by private utility companies relocating wires from utility poles on the city-owned bridge.

The Division Street Bridge has been one-way between George and Prospect streets since Nov. 28, when the state transportation department imposed a 22-ton weight limit -- later lowered to 18 tons -- on the bridges that carry Route 95 over the Pawtucket River.

The weight limit was intended to prolong the life of the bridges, built half a century ago as part of the interstate highway system. The detours imposed as a result of weight limit involved diverting traffic through Pawtucket’s labyrinthine network of streets.

There were concerns, when the detours took effect, that they would cause traffic jams in the city and wear and tear on Division Street Bridge, which was built 130 years ago and rehabilitated in 1985.

But the traffic jams didn’t develop. Most trucks too heavily loaded to cross the Route 95 Pawtucket River Bridges legally detoured onto Route 146 or Route 295.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:14 PM | Comment

Brown may have solved light-bulb problem

PROVIDENCE -- The swirly-shaped compact fluorescent light bulbs have become the darlings of those who care about saving energy and combating climate change, except for one nagging problem.

When they break, they release tiny quantities of highly toxic mercury.

Now, a team from Brown University believes it has developed a solution. It has discovered a material that rapidly absorbs mercury gases and could be used as the packaging for mercury bulbs or as a tool for cleaning up broken bulbs.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:12 PM | Comment

June 27, 2008

Carcieri vetoes bill to build Blackstone Valley courthouse

Governor Carcieri has vetoed a measure to build an $88-million Blackstone Valley courthouse, saying that "never, not even once, has any Rhode Islander -- save a legislator or a judge -- ever spoke to me of the pressing need to build a courthouse in the Blackstone Valley."

During his six years as governor, Carcieri's veto message says, "Rhode Islanders from all walks of life have approached me to discuss important issues, including: taxes, health care, roads, open space, budget deficits, renewable energy, education ... ."

But, Carcieri adds, building a courthouse has not been one they approached him about.

Carcieri acknowledged it's true sometimes people are "forced to deal with cramped spaces, inadequate parking, peeling paint and other difficult conditions."

But given that the executive and legislative branches succeeded in closing a $425-million deficit -- and the legislature "could only find $2.5 million in open space bond money" -- Carcieri asks how an $88-million courthouse gets "the imprimatur of the people's representatives."

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:09 PM | Comment

Tonight: Tribute bands and the blues

Tonight, there are a couple of tributes to rock bands known to represent their eras.

First up, the '60s and '70s. Classic Albums Live - The Who: Who's Next, is a tribute to The Who at Mohegan Sun, Wolf Den, Mohegan Sun Boulevard (exit 79A off Route 395), Uncasville, Conn. (888) 226-7711, www.mohegansun.com. 8 p.m. No cover.

Next up, the '80s. Jovi, as the name suggests, is a tribute to the band Bon Jovi, playing at Twin River, Lighthouse Bar, 100 Twin River Rd., Lincoln. Call 723-3200, (877) 827-4837, www.twinriver.com. 8:30 pm. No cover. 18+.

There are also some blues acts tonight.

Roger Ceresi, Gary "Guitar" Gramolini and Richard Ribb play rock and rhythm and blues at Duffy's Tavern, 235 Tower Hill Rd., North Kingstown. Call 295-0073. 5 to 9 p.m.

The James Montgomery Blues Band plays at Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St., Woonsocket. Call 765-1900. 8, 10 p.m. $15 early show; $10 late show; $18 both shows.

Vieux Farka Toure plays blues at Waterplace Park, exit 22 off Route 95, Providence. Call 751-1177, www.providenceri.com/ArtCultureTourism. 7:30 pm. Free.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment

Brown's Haffenreffer Museum in Bristol to close Aug. 30

Brown University announced it will close its Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology in Bristol on Aug. 30 because of fire code and environmental issues.

But Brown intends to move the "Haffenreffer collections closer to its main campus and is seeking a suitable location in or near Providence," according to a news release.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:10 PM | Comment

January assault preceded fatal shooting, police say

PAWTUCKET -- The man accused of murdering Mayra Cruz Wednesday night was arrested in January on charges he broke into her Pawtucket apartment, struck and choked her, and ripped the telephone off the wall.

After the incident, Juan L. Diaz, 24, was charged with breaking and entering, felony assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, vandalism and preventing Cruz from using the phone.

He was released on personal recognizance after being arrested by Pawtucket police after a traffic accident unrelated to the Jan. 18 break-in at the Galego Court housing project, on Weeden Street in Pawtucket, where Cruz, 26, lived with her 6-year-old daughter in apartment 1D.

Diaz was scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court last week on charges stemming from the assault and beak-in. A warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to appear.

Diaz is now being held in a jail in Albany County, N.Y., where he was picked up on a warrant charging him with Cruz’s murder. The Pawtucket police said he fled to Albany after shooting Cruz in the basement apartment at 14 Reservior Ave., where he had been living since the end of March.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

In an interview yesterday, Diaz’s landlady, Jacinta Fernandes, said Cruz was a frequent visitor to the apartment. Diaz introduced her as his girlfriend, Fernandes said, and she usually dropped by at night.

The police were called to the apartment at 9:46 p.m. Wednesday, after Diaz called and said he had accidentally shot Cruz during a struggle over a gun.

When they arrived, Diaz was gone, Cruz was lying dead in the apartment. The state Medical, Examiner’s Office ruled yesterday that she died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

The police found Diaz in Albany after learning he had family there and tracing a cell phone call he had placed to a girlfriend in the Prospect Heights housing project.

Michael J. Healey, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, said it is unclear when Diaz will be returned to the state.

“We’re waiting to hear whether he waives extradition,” Healey said. “We won’t know anything until Monday, at which time, if he waives, Rhode Island state marshals will be going to Albany to bring him back.”

It was unclear today what has happened to Cruz's 6-year-old daughter. In a written statement she gave police after the Jan. 18 break-in, she said she awoke at approximately 1:40 a.m. to find Diaz trying to remove the girl from the room.

Diaz struck Cruz several times, Cruz said in the statement, then choked her, holding her against the bedroom mirror. When she was finally able to leave the bedroom, she told the police, she noticed that Cruz had ripped the telephone from the wall.

She sent the girl to her sister’s apartment to get help, but Cruz’s sister, who is not identified by name in the police report, wasn’t home.

Diaz finally left the apartment at 4:30 a.m.

Diaz is described in the police report as Cruz’s ex-boyfriend. Cautioning that he was not commenting on this case in particular, Healey said, “Unfortunately it is fairly common” for a domestic assault victim to continue to associate with the victimizer.

“Oftentimes these relationships are controlled by one person,” Healey said. “It’s very difficult for a whole host of reasons for the person being abused to withdraw.”

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:01 PM | Comment

Update: Jamestown lifeguards accused of drinking, fired

JAMESTOWN –– Three lifeguards who police said were drinking alcohol while on the job Thursday were fired yesterday, according to William Piva, Jamestown’s recreation director.

Kristy Lebelle, 19, of 100 Asquah Drive, North Kingstown, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, first offense, a misdemeanor.

She was arraigned yesterday in district court, where she entered a not guilty plea, and released on $1,000 personal recognizance.

Lebelle is next due in court on July 11.

No charges have been filed so far against the other two lifeguards, whom police would identify only as a 17-year old man and a 17-year-old woman, both from Jamestown.

The matter remains under investigation, Police Chief Thomas P. Tighe said.

Jamestown police received a call at about 3:19 p.m. Thursday about an erratic driver on Beavertail Road headed toward Mackerel Cove Beach.

Tighe said Lebelle and the 17-year-old female, riding as her passenger, had gone to the Cumberland Farms on North Main Street and were driving back to the beach.

Lebelle’s car was swerving on the road and at one point driving on a flat tire “from an apparent impact with a curb,” the police said.

The police had to close Mackerel Cove Beach briefly as the three lifeguards were the only ones on duty at the time of the incident.

The town later recalled an off-dute lifeguard, reopening the beach until 5 p.m., the regular closing time, said Piva, the recreation director.

Piva said there were less than a dozen people on the beach at the time, and that there was no one in the water.

The three lifeguards had been suspended as of Thursday afternoon. Termination letters were mailed yesterday morning, Piva said.

Mackerel Cove Beach re-opened at its regular time this morning, but Piva said the town plans to post signs reducing the guarded beach area until more lifeguards are hired.

The town plans to readvertise the positions and raise the salary to $12 an hour from the current $10 an hour, Piva said.

Paiva said in his two years as recreation director, and 20 years as a police officer, he can’t remember any similar incidents.

“We hold them in high regard,” he said of the lifeguards, noting the training and certification they have to complete. “We expect these kids to be more mature.”

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Maria Armental

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 5:05 PM | Comment

West Nile virus, EEE not found in R.I. sampling

Test results from mosquito samples around Rhode Island found no West Nile virus or eastern equine encephalitis, the state Department of Environmental Management announced today.

The results are for 48 mosquito pools, or samples, from 22 traps set statewide during the week of June 16.

But the DEM cautioned that mosquito samples in Connecticut, near the Rhode Island border, recently turned up positive, indicating a "high probability that West Nile virus and possibly eastern equine encephalitis is present in certain areas of the state, though test results to date in Rhode Island are negative."

The DEM encouraged residents to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and avoid getting bitten:

* Remove anything that holds standing water -- old tires, buckets, junk and debris.

* Clean gutters so they drain properly.

* Maintain swimming pools correctly.

* Use screens on windows and doors and cover up at dawn and dusk.

* Put mosquito netting over playpens and baby carriages if outside.

* Use mosquito repellant with no more than 30 percent DEET -- but don't use repellant on infants.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:53 PM | Comment

Fisherman struck by lightning has died

PROVIDENCE -- A man who Bristol authorities said was struck by lightning earlier this week died yesterday at Rhode Island Hospital.

Edgardo Torres died at 5:40 p.m., according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The Journal reported on Wednesday that a 42-year-old man had been struck by lightning Tuesday as he was fishing off the rocks near Roger Williams University, in Bristol.

About 20 volunteer firefighters worked their way down the shore to the unconscious man, who had collapsed and become stuck in the rocks, Bristol Fire Chief Robert J. Martin said Tuesday. The firefighters lifted him into a Stokes basket and carried him off the rain-slicked rocks, he said.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Associated Press and Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:49 PM | Comment

Senator takes aim at his party's majority leader

In the state Senate where debate is rare – and dissent even rarer – Sen. Leonidas “Lou’’ Raptakis, D-Coventry, has done the unusual.

He has launched a political grenade aimed at taking out Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport.

In a statement that he began circulating on Thursday, Raptakis said he “can no longer support’’ Paiva Weed as majority leader because she “failed to live up to her word in terms of promoting’’ several of his pieces of legislation, including a bill to increase the penalties for drunken drivers who drive with suspended and revoked licenses.

Raptakis also blamed her for the end-of-session pileup that he said forced Senate votes on “150 bills in the final two days of the session.’’

“To me that’s a sign of ineffective leadership and a willingness to push through bills with little or no public input,’’ Raptakis said. “I had hoped for much better from Sen. Paiva Weed and I think the time has come to give someone else a chance to run the Senate floor in a manner more consistent with the public interest.

He didn’t say who he felt would do a better job.

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau

Raptakis was the sponsor of a number of high-profile bills, included a failed bill to raise the state’s $7.40-an-hour minimum wage. But the only one he cited in his call for Paiva Weed’s replacement was a measure that would have made it a felony – punishable by up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine – to drive with a license that has been suspended for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or refusing a Breathalyzer test. It stalled in the House Judiciary Committee, after clearing the Senate in May.

In a brief interview before the State House swearing-in of a new state judge, Paiva Weed said: “Many pieces of legislation are introduced, pass one chamber, don’t pass the other ... It appears that this year, I am being held responsible for every piece of legislation, pass or fail, which is just not true.’’

With respect to Raptakis’ drunk-drivers’ bill, she said she “absolutely, very strongly supported this legislation,’’ but “the House leadership conveyed to me that the committee had concerns about it.’’

Raptakis said her didn’t in any way hold Senate President Joseph Montalbano, D-North Providence, responsible for any of his legislative frustrations, including the Senate’s refusal to pass a House bill requiring all legislators to pay 10 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums. (Raptakis joined those voluntarily contributing late last week).

Why give Montalbano a pass? “Because she’s the one who runs the Senate floor,’’ said Raptakis of Paiva Weed, who is being challenged for reelection by Donna Perry, who is the executive director of the state GOP, and sister of WPRO radio talkshow host John DePetro. Raptakis acknowledged yesterday that he sent his statement to WPRO a day before he distributed to other media. Why? He said that was the only email address he had handy.

Posted by maria caporizzo at 3:40 PM | Comment

High court upholds September 2005 murder conviction

PROVIDENCE -- The state Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction of Jacques Gautier, who 10 years ago stabbed his estranged wife's boyfriend multiple times in Providence.

A jury in September 2005 convicted Gautier, who lived in Providence, of second-degree murder in the death of Geoffrey Indellicati, who was 17. The verdict was a lesser charge than the first-degree murder in the indictment before trial, and the judge had granted a defense motion to dismiss several indictment counts.

In the early morning of Oct. 6, 1998, according to the prosecution, Gautier entered the first-floor Barbara Street apartment of his wife, Minerva Gautier. The Gautiers were separated at the time and a District Court “no-contact” order was in effect because of a charge pending against Jacques Gautier for allegedly assaulting her.

Indellicati was awakened in the apartment and the two men began fighting. Gautier chased Indellicati, attacking him again and again, according to testimony, and eventually forced Indellicati to a bathroom floor and stabbed him repeatedly. Indellicati had more than 60 wounds and was stabbed with two knives, according to the Supreme Court opinion.

Gautier grabbed Minerva Gautier and the Gautiers' 21-month-old son, Eros, and forced them into his car at knifepoint and fled, according to testimony.

Gautier took them to his sister's apartment, and a police officer eventually caught Gautier.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports

Gautier's appeal to the state's highest court asserted the judge erred by:

* Allowing his wife’s prior recorded testimony from the defendant’s probation-violation hearing to be read into evidence.

* Excluding an affidavit made by Gautier's wife in which she refuted testimony she gave at his probation-violation hearing.

* Admitting evidence of a domestic assault incident and evidence the defendant had used cocaine shortly after Indellicati was killed.

* Allowing the state to bolster the credibility of its own witness.

* Failing to give the jury an instruction on voluntary manslaughter.

* Commenting on the evidence while giving the a jury instruction on burglary.

* Denying the defendant’s motion to “pass the case after a witness for the state misspoke.”

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:23 PM | Comment

Feds uphold Mass. denial of Fall River LNG terminal

The U.S. Department of Commerce today upheld a decision by Massachusetts regulators to deny approval for the liquefied natural gas terminal planned by Weaver's Cove Energy LLC in Fall River.

The decision is another blow for company, which has been battling widespread public opposition to the LNG plan, as well as series of unfavorable decisions by state regulators and federal agencies.

Today's decision was issued by the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admistration.

Weaver's Cove had asked the department to overturn a decision by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management that determined that the project was not consistent with the state's coastal management plan.

But the department upheld that determination.

"Based on information submitted during the appeal, the [Commerce] Department determined that adverse coastal effects – particularly navigational safety concerns associated with delivering LNG to the terminal by tanker vessel up the Taunton River – outweigh the national interest."

"Navigational safety concerns were articulated in a U.S. Coast Guard report that concluded the Taunton River is unsuitable for LNG tanker traffic of the size and frequency proposed by Weaver’s Cove."

Weaver's Cove has proposed building a $550-million LNG import terminal in Fall River. In 2005, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave its conditional approval of the project. That approval was contigent on Weaver's Cove obtaining approvals from several state and federal agencies, including Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.

James Grasso, a consultant and spokesman for Weaver's Cove Energy, said the company was "disappointed" in the ruling, but he said it would continue pursuing the project.

"We continue to pursue the project, and we will continue to investigate and examine the documents to decide our next steps," he said.

"For some reason, people do not realize that we need this energy and Fall River and Somerset need all the benefits associated with this project," Grasso said. "Most importantly, LNG has a 60-year exemplary safety record that I would say compares to none other."

Jeff Donald, a spokesman for NOAA, said department decisions can be appealed by filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court.

In a separate decision issued today, federal regulators approved a request by Weaver's Cove to extend by five years the company's conditional permit to build an LNG facility in Fall River.

The permit issued by FERC to Weaver's Cove in 2005 was to expire in July 2010. The company was required to have the facility built and operating by then. The company now has until November 2015 to construct the facility and put it into operation.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 2:54 PM | Comment

Photo essay: A big day for a small N.H. town

Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton have come to the small rural town of Unity hoping to unify the party. Providence Journal photos by Gretchen Ertl

Obama, Clinton appeal together for party unity

UNITY, N.H. (AP) -- Rivals turned allies, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton made a display of unity Friday in a hamlet named for it, their first joint public appearance since the divisive Democratic primary race ended. "Unity is not only a beautiful place as we can see, it's a wonderful feeling, isn't it? And I know when we start here in this field in Unity, we'll end on the steps of the Capitol when Barack Obama takes the oath of office as our next president," Clinton said just after she and Obama took the stage together.

A crowd is gathers in Unity, N.H., to hear Obama and Clinton.

Security amid the tractor parts.

Some 6,000 are in attendance the event in the town of 1,700 people.

Posted by maria caporizzo at 2:29 PM | Comment

Hotels, restaurants step up to fund July WaterFire

PROVIDENCE — When organizers announced plans for WaterFire’s 2008 season last month, there was one glaring omission: no WaterFire lightings were scheduled in July, typically one of the slowest months on the city’s arts and entertainment calendar.

Consider the problem solved. Thanks to an influx of donations from local hotels and restaurants, a full WaterFire lighting will be held on Saturday, July 19. The lighting, which will begin at sunset (8:16 p.m.) and continue through midnight, will also serve as the official kickoff for the United Way of Rhode Island’s annual “Live United” fundraising campaign.

At a press conference today, WaterFire creator Barnaby Evans thanked the dozens of hotels and restaurants who had helped make the extra lighting possible, among them: the Hotel Providence, the Renaissance Providence Hotel, The Capital Grille and Pot au Feu.

“We are delighted to be joined by so many of the superb restaurants and hotels of our city as we welcome people from far and wide to enjoy Providence,” Evans said.

After the July lighting, the next WaterFire is scheduled for Saturday, August 2.

-- Journal staff writer Bill Van Siclen

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:21 PM | Comment

Reporter's query: Looking into fights at middle school

Are there any Bridgham Middle School teachers who want to talk about the rash of fights in front of the school? If so, call reporter Linda Borg at 277-7823.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:02 PM | Comment

Citing higher cost of diesel, RIPTA raises ferry rates $3

A one-way ticket on the Providence-to-Newport ferry will cost an additional $3 because of increased costs of diesel fuel, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority announced today.

RIPTA said a fuel surcharge has been added this week to the cost "due to unprecedented increase" in diesel fuel costs.

While the fuel surcharge helps with the cost of fuel, it does not allow the company to break even,"
RIPTA stated in a letter to passengers and on its Web site.

Check the fares for using the ferry here.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:22 PM | Comment

Governor to sign 'reverse' mortgage legislation

Governor Carcieri is scheduled to hold a ceremonial signing at the State House at 3 p.m. today for legislation designed to improve consumer protections against the risks of "reverse" mortgages.

Reverse mortgages allow cash-strapped homeowners age 62 or older who have paid off their houses to borrow against the equity. The loans do not come due until the homeonwer sells the house or dies.

The legislation passed by the General Assembly mandates greater disclosures of fees charged by the lender, and requires that borrowers receive financial counseling prior to obtaining a reverse mortgage that is not government-insured. (Federally insured reverse mortgages already require additional protections.)

The legislation approved by state lawmakers stops short of banning pre-payment penalties, which allow lenders to charge additional fees to borrowers who pay off the mortgage early. The AARP Rhode Island, a lobbying group for the elderly, had opposed any pre-payment penalties, the group's associate director of advocacy, Stephen Jennings,said.

"Our position is that pre-payment penalties trap people in loans that they may have decided weren’t a good thing for them,'' Jennings said, "but we supported the bill because we think other things in it are important.''

The legislation requires, among other things, that borrowers receive financial counseling from a government approved agency prior to entering the loan agreement, creates a three-day waiting period before the closing is finalized, and prohibits lenders from offering or requiring that borrowers also purchase an annuity until after the closing.

The House version of the legislation (H-7723 Sub A), which was signed by the governor on June 6, was sponsored by state Rep. Richard Singleton; state Sen. David Bates sponsored the Senate version (S-2598 Sub A).

-- Journal staff writer Lynn Arditi

Posted by maria caporizzo at 12:59 PM | Comment

Woman claims murder defendant assaulted her

WARWICK -- The prosecution rested this morning in the murder trial of a West Warwick man charged with murder, and the defense will have the opportunity to present witnesses this afternoon.

Before resting, the prosecution presented a witness who testified that in 2001, she had been assaulted by Brian Mlyniec, 45, who is on trial before a Kent County Superior Court jury on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of a former girlfriend.

Mlyniec is accused of killing Kelly Ann Andersen in June 2006. She had been strangled, according to previous testimony.

A witness testified this morning that in February of 2001, Mlyniec forced her to drink vodka and take pills in a North Kingstown hotel room. She said she lost consciousness and realized she'd been assaulted when she woke up.

The trial is to continue after a lunch break this afternoon.

Read more from yesterday's testimony.

-- Journal staff writer Nandini Jayakrishna

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:41 PM | Comment

Tribe member appeals conviction in smoke shop case

PROVIDENCE -- A Narragansett tribe member has appealed his conviction for assaulting state police who raided a tribal smoke shop in 2003.

A defense attorney for Hiawatha Brown says he filed notice this week that Brown will appeal his conviction on misdemeanor disorderly conduct and simple assault to Rhode Island's Supreme Court.

Attorney William Devereaux says Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and tribe member Randy Noka may also appeal their convictions.

The three men were arrested for scuffling with state police who raided a tribal smoke shop in Charlestown that was not collecting state taxes. A federal appeals court later ruled the shop was operating illegally.

Brown received a one-year suspended sentence and probation and was ordered to take anger management counseling.

Read a special report on the smoke shop case.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:10 PM | Comment

Obama, Clinton almost in Unity, small N.H. town / Photo

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., wave as they step off the plane in Manchester, N.H., on their way to a joint appearance in Unity, N.H. AP photo/Alex Brandon

UNITY, N.H. -- More than 1,000 people are lined up today in the tiny New Hampshire village of Unity in anticipation of this afternoon’s joint rally, when Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama –– the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee –– will hold a joint public appearance for the first time since the end of their combative primary battle.

A forest of satellite trucks are lined up outside the small elementary school in Unity, a town with no stop lights, and lots of dirt roads, wood stoves and deer hunters.

Unity was picked for obvious reasons; first, the name of the town will be the theme for today’s event. Secondly, in New Hampshire’s Democratic presidential primary in January, Obama and Clinton tied. Each received 107 votes in this town of 1,600 people.

It's not easy to find Unity on map, and the town roads have no numbered route signs. It’s about as far in the woods of New England as you can get.

And the locals here are proud of it.

The town’s unofficial souvenir sold at the one store, Will’s Place, is a screen printed T-shirt with an emblem of a moose sleeping in a hammock and the logo: “Unity; life in the slow lane.”

-- Journal staff writer Scott MacKay

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:01 PM | Comment

U.S. Attorney: Celona won't testify at execs' retrial

PROVIDENCE -- Federal prosecutors say they don't plan to call disgraced former state Sen. John Celona as a witness in the retrial of two former hospital executives accused of corruption.

Prosecutors in new court papers say they don't intend to involve Celona provided they can use the same documents as in the first trial.

Celona testified against the former executives of the Roger Williams Medical Center convicted of paying him for legislative favors. Those convictions have since been overturned.

Celona was accused of lying on the stand in a separate federal corruption trial of two former CVS executives who were acquitted last month of bribing Celona. Prosecutors have admitted they couldn't be sure what his testimony was going to be.

Read more about the federal investigation dubbed Operation Dollar Bill.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:54 AM | Comment

Foxwoods Resort Casino lays off 200 workers

The tribe that owns the Foxwoods Resort Casino says nearly 200 employees have been laid off.

A spokeswoman for the Mashantucket Pequots says the layoffs of middle managers and some hourly employees are part of what she calls a strategic organizational review process begun in January.

"[Layoffs] are scattered across departments," said Lori Potter, the Mashantucket spokeswoman.

The job cuts are believed to be the first in the casino's 16-year history and follow a similar layoff last month in the tribal government's workforce.

The workers let go yesterday will get two weeks severance pay for each year they were employed up to 13 years as well as health benefits, she said.

Foxwoods employs about 10,000 people at its casinos, including 1,747 at the newly opened MGM Grand.

This week's job cuts do not affect MGM Grand, the $700-million hotel and casino wing opened last month, Potter said.

The addition helped Foxwoods reverse an eight-month decline in slot machine revenues. Foxwoods saw a nearly 8-percent increase in its slot win compared with May of last year. Nearby rival Mohegan Sun also eked out an increase as slot win crept up two-tenths of a percent. Slot win is the money left after the machines pay out any winnings to bettors.

The casino industry, like many other employment sectors, is being hurt by a shaky national economy. Spiking fuel prices and plummeting home values are making many Americans cautious about spending.

Figures from the 12 states where commercial casinos are legal show revenue at gambling halls in those states dropped 1.3 percent, combined, in the three months ending Jan. 31, compared with the same period a year ago, according to the American Gaming Association.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:38 AM | Comment

AIDS Project RI, Family Service announce merger

In a move designed to achieve bureaucratic efficiencies and improve HIV/AIDS advocacy and prevention efforts, two major social-service groups -- AIDS Project Rhode Island and Family Service of Rhode Island -- this morning announced that they have merged.

AIDS Project Rhode Island will now be known as “AIDS Project Rhode Island, a division of Family Service of Rhode Island,” leaders of both groups said at a news conference in the City Hall office of Providence Mayor David Cicilline.

“This is a win-win situation for both of us,” said Sue Johnson, a board member of AIDS Project Rhode Island. Cicilline, a former chairman of the APRI board, joined discussions that led to the merger.

Family Service CEO Margaret Holland McDuff said the merger will provide a “platform” on which to improve HIV/AIDs prevention and advocacy efforts. Although treatments developed in the last decade extend the life of people with the disease, McDuff reminded those at the conference that the disease has not gone away.

“It’s still, unfortunately, alive and ‘well’ in Rhode Island,” McDuff said.

-- Journal staff writer G. Wayne Miller

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:59 AM | Comment

Police go to N.Y. to get Pawtucket murder suspect

Pawtucket police detectives are going to Albany, N.Y., this morning, where the suspect in one of three fatal shootings in three different Rhode Island cities Wednesday night was taken into custody.

On Wednesday night, 26-year-old Mayra Cruz was found dead in an apartment where Juan L. Diaz had been living.

According to a statement released by Pawtucket Police Maj. John J. Whiting, Pawtucket police were informed early into their investigation that Diaz, a suspect in Cruz’s death, had fled to Albany.

Pawtucket police worked with officials in Albany and members of the U.S. Marshals Service to find Diaz. He was arrested on the streets of Albany without incident and is being held on a fugitive from justice warrant and a warrant for murder.

Two 17-year-old boys were also shot and killed Wednesday night; one in Woonsocket and one in Providence. Police are still looking for suspects in both cases.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:45 AM | Comment

Governor vetoes key renewable energy bill

Governor Carcieri has vetoed a key renewable energy bill passed by the General Assembly that was designed to foster private investment in major renewable energy projects and shift the state away from its reliance on traditional fossil fuels.

The bill would require National Grid to enter into "commercially reasonable" long-term contracts with renewable-energy developers to purchase their electricity. That requirement would give assurance to prospective developers that there would be a buyer for the electricity produced by the project.

"It is with much regret that I find it necessary to veto this legislation," the governor said in a veto statement issued this morning. "Unfortunately, I believe the legislation before me today fails to balance our desire to invest in renewable energy with the realities that ratepayers currently endure."

The governor gave three reasons for his veto. He said he took issue with a provision in the bill that would give National Grid a bonus payment of 3 percent of the renewable energy contracts it entered into, once the project began operations. Electricity customers would have paid for the bonus.

National Grid has said that if it enters into these long-term renewable energy contracts, the cost to borrow money throughout the company would have been more expensive. The payment would have offset those additional costs.

According to calculations by The Providence Journal, National Grid would receive at least $2.8 million a year if it could purchase the required amount of power at a rate of 11.5 cents per kilowatt hour. (That is the rate National Grid is seeking to charge for electricity as of July 1.)

But the governor, echoing arguments made by some legislators, said that any bonus to enter into long-term contracts was "unnecessary and unearned."

Secondly, the governor said another flaw in the bill was that it did not require National Grid to enter into renewable energy contracts from developers who are building a project within Rhode Island. The bill required that the project provide some economic benefit to Rhode Island, but did not require it to be located here.

While it may be true that a renewable energy project located in Massachusetts, Maine or Canada could provide some economic benefit to Rhode Island, projects based here "deserve greater weight."

Lastly, the governor said the most troubling provision was a requirement that 5 megawatts of the renewable energy contracts must come from a Rhode Island-bases solar energy project.

"While it's encouraging to see a Rhode Island project get priority, it's unfortunate that the General Assembly picked perhaps the costliest renewable technology and decided to give it, and only it, preferential treatment."

He said that a recent study by the University of Rhode Island Partnership for Energy report found that the state is not well-positioned for large-scale solar power.

"I'm confident that working with legislative leaders, environmentalists, energy producers and ratepayers we can come up with a better way to support investment in renewable energy projects in Rhode Island," Carcieri said.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 10:35 AM | Comment

Performing arts in a neighborhood near you

This summer, the best seat in the house may be your front lawn.

The Department of Art, Culture and Tourism, the Parks Department and Mayor David Cicilline are set to announce the summer line-up for the 2008 Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative.

The program brings singers, dancers, theater and other performing arts events to neighborhoods across the city.

At the 10:30 a.m. line-up announcement, the dance company JUMP! will perform live on stage at Dexter Training Grounds in the West End.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:09 AM | Comment

Projo blogs will get an upgrade Saturday

Saturday morning we’ll be upgrading the active projo blogs to a new version of the Movable Type software. All blogs will remain available during this process. Afterwards you’ll see a new look and some new features, and we’ll welcome your comments about them.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:41 AM | Comment

Alert: Unhealthy Air Quality; the buses are free

Temperatures are supposed to rise just a few degrees above average, but the Department of Environmental Management says today we’re going to have to deal with unhealthy air today.

The DEM is forecasting “unhealthy” air today in the eastern part of the state, and in the southern and coastal areas, because of high levels of ozone.

Providence, however, gets a “moderate” rating for today.

All buses and trolleys will be free for the day.

During “unhealthy” days, people may suffer from a host of health problems, including coughing, eye, nose and throat irritation and other respiratory problems.

Ozone, which forms near the surface when pollutants –– such as car exhaust and industrial emissions –– react with sunlight and sufficient heat.

DEM recommends limiting strenuous activity during the afternoon and early evening. And children, people with respiratory diseases –– such as asthma –– and people who work outside need to pay particular attention to their health because they may be more sensitive to ozone that the general population.

Check the air quality forecast on the DEM Web site.

Click below learn ways to stay healthy during high ozone days.

Limit driving. Avoid unnecessary car trips. Carpool, walk or ride the bus or a bicycle whenever possible.

Minimize starts and avoid unnecessary acceleration. Vehicle emissions are highest during starting and acceleration.

Reduce idling. Avoid congested traffic and lines at drive-through windows.

Drive your lowest emission vehicle. Use the most fuel-efficient, usually the newest, car you have whenever possible.

Refuel at stations, which have vapor recovery. Fill your tank at a station which is equipped with a Stage II vapor recovery system. Don't top off.

Maintain your vehicle. Get a tune-up at the beginning of each summer.

Minimize lawn mower emissions. Tune-up your lawn mower and use electric or hand powered equipment if possible.

Limit use of solvent-based household products. Use water-based or low solvent paints, varnishes, cleaners, and personal care products.

Limit barbecue emissions. Use an electric starter instead of lighter fluid to start charcoal fires, or use an electric, natural gas, or propane grill.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:20 AM | Comment

Reporter seeks tales of first haircut, last day at home

Staff Writer G. Wayne Miller is looking for candidates for two stories:

FIRST HAIRCUT. Miller seeks a toddler, girl or boy, who’s never had her or his hair cut. Miller and a staff photographer would join the child and parents on the day of the first cut.

LAST DAY AT HOME for a high school graduate who is heading off to college. A student leaving for a distant school is preferable, but not required; the only requirement is that the student will be living away from home. Miller and a staff photographer would be at the student’s home on the last day

If interested, please contact Miller at gwmiller@projo.com

Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:17 AM | Comment

Today in history: Nazi saboteurs arrive by submarine

On this day in 1942, the FBI announced the capture of eight Nazi saboteurs who had been put ashore from a submarine on New York's Long Island.

Watch video about today in history.

Read more from today in history.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Guess what? Rain in the forecast

Will it ever end? Take a look at the abbreviated forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today we've got: a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Tonight we've got: a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Saturday we've got: a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Saturday night we've got: a chance of showers and thunderstorms
Sunday we've got: a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Sunday night we've got: likely showers and thunderstorms.
Monday we've got: a chance of showers and thunderstorms.

All with the possibility of hail, lightning strikes and gusty winds.

In any event, aside from the possible rain -- late this afternoon -- we'll see cloudy skies today with mild west winds and warm temperatures, headed toward 87 degrees.

Tonight, aside from the possible rain, expect to see some fog late tonight/early tomorrow morning. Temperatures should drop to about 67 degrees and we'll have calm, southwest winds.

Fog may continue into Saturday morning, and give way to cloudy skies. We'll have very calm east winds with temperatures reaching 85 degrees.

Saturday night may bring more storms and dense fog. Temperatures are expected to drop to 68 degrees with east winds.

Expect more fog and clouds Sunday, and add to that, south winds gusting up to 23 mph. Temperatures should hit the low 80s.

Sunday night looks cloudy, with temperatures dropping to about 68 degrees.

Back to Monday and we've got, of course, a chance of rain, and cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 80s.

If you really want to, you can take another look on projo.com's weather page at the weekend forecast.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page: A violent night in the Ocean State

Today's front page features coverage of a violent night in the Ocean State. Within a few hours late Wednesay night, three people were shot and killed in three different cities.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment

Projo blogs upgrade set for Saturday

Saturday morning we plan to upgrade the active projo blogs to a new version of the Movable Type software. All blogs will remain available during this process. Afterwards you’ll see a new look and some new features, and we’ll welcome your comments about them.

Posted by Sheila Lennon at 7:00 AM | Comment

June 26, 2008

Tonight: Author tells of pictorial journey in South County

South County has plenty of picturesque places. Tonight you can hear from an author who's captured some of them in a book.

Eric Wertheimer will present and talk about his new book, Only in South County: A Pictorial Journey, from 7 to 9 tonight at Peace Dale Library, 1057 Kingstown Rd., South Kingstown.

For information, call (401) 789-1555.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:54 PM | Comment

Update: Suspect sought in Pawtucket fatal shooting

A gunshot wound to the head caused the death of a 26-year-old Pawtucket woman found dead at 14 Reservoir Ave., Pawtucket, last night, and a suspect is being sought.

The woman was identified as Mayra Cruz in a news release from the state Office of Medical Examiners this afternoon giving the cause of death. She was one of three people shot to death in three Rhode Island cities last night.

Pawtucket police are looking for Juan Diaz, 24, who is being sought on a charge of murder, according to Detective Sgt. Cory Jackson, the case's lead detective. He said Diaz may have left the state.

A gun has not been recovered, the police said, and Diaz should be considered armed and dangerous. Police described Diaz as white, with brown hair, 6 feet tall, weighing about 200 pounds, unshaven, and not wearing glasses. Diaz "was known to the victim," police said.

The police asked that any information be forwarded to the Pawtucket police criminal investigative division at 727-9100: Detective Michael Kane at ext. 759 or Detective Sgt. Jackson at ext. 722. If there is no answer, the police said to call 727-9100, ext. 712.

Jackson said police are proceeding on the theory that the shooting was a murder, although the police dispatch log indicates a 9-1-1 call from a distressed male at the site of the shooting -- 14 Reservoir Ave. -- that came in at 9:56 last night.

The caller reported he had accidentally shot his girlfriend in the face about two hours earlier during a struggle over a gun.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports

Earlier today, building owner Jacinta Fernandes said that about 9:50 last night, while at a baseball game with her son, she got a call from neighbors telling her she might want to come home, because there were police cars all over the place.

When she returned to her house, Fernandes said, the body was in the basement apartment and she wasn’t allowed in.

Fernandes said the man who lived there had been staying in the basement apartment since the end of March. Jackson confirmed later today that Diaz, the suspect the police are looking for, lived in the basement apartment Fernandes had referred to.

When the police arrived at the address, they found a woman with a gunshot wound to the head. She was declared dead at the scene, according to Jackson.

The police were told that a possible armed suspect was inside the house; the building was secured by the Pawtucket Police Special Response Team. No one else was found in the house, according to Jackson’s statement.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:43 PM | Comment

Reporter's query: Are you a cash-strapped student?

Are you a cash-strapped student at Rhode Island College or the Community College of Rhode Island who can barely make ends meet and are worried about how you will cover all your college bills this fall?

Contact education reporter Jennifer D. Jordan with your story: e-mail her at jjordan@projo.com or call (401) 277-7254

Posted by maria caporizzo at 5:26 PM | Comment

Update: Special master to oversee Landmark operations

PROVIDENCE -- Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein approved a petition today from the Landmark Medical Center and appointed an attorney as temporary special master to oversee the financially troubled hospital's operations and consider a potential merger or sale.

Jonathan N. Savage, with the firm Shechtman, Halperin and Savage of Pawtucket, will assume control of the hospital's assets and day to day operations. He also will "seek and evaluate potential acquisitions, partnerships and other financial solutions," said Richard Charest, president of Landmark.

Charest said, "Although the hospital is in a negative net asset position, based upon current operations, Landmark has sufficient cash on hand to continue operations through the first quarter of 2009."

He said, "Landmark will continue to deliver high quality health care to the residents of northern Rhode Island."

Savage's appointment is temporary, and the court will reconvene in 21 days to decide if the special master shall be a permanent designation.

In statements late this afternoon, Governor Carcieri and Health Department Director David Gifford said they supported the appointment of a special master. Attorngey General Patrick C. Lynch said he appreciated the judge's "quick intercession to try to preserve Landmark as a community asset."

The chief executive officer of Landmark petitioned the court earlier today to have a special master to take charge of the financial affairs of the Woonsocket hospital.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi and Journal archival reports

In the petition, Gary Gaube, chief executive officer and trustee of Landmark, cited the facility's providing of more than $8.5 million annually in uncompensated care to the uninsured and the underinsured.

In addition to threatening a facility that is the third busiest emergency room in the state, the brief filing asserts, at risk are about 1,100 jobs at Landmark.

The medical center made a plea in the late innings of the recently-ended General Assembly session for relief from a merger-approval procedure so it could more quickly merge with the financially stronger Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket -- before Landmark is forced to shut down. However, time ran out in that legislative proposal, The Journal reported.

Before the session ended, lawmakers asked questions of Landmark executives about how the finances turned so dire.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:12 PM | Comment

Gunshot wound to torso killed Woonsocket youth, 17

A gunshot wound to the torso with injuries to aorta and liver caused the death of a 17-year-old Woonsocket male last night -- one of three victims of fatal shootings in three Rhode Island cities overnight.

The male was identified as Brandon Smith in a news release from the state Office of Medical Examiners this afternoon.

At about 10 last night, the police went to 45 Robinson St. in Woonsocket. A 17-year-old male had been shot and was taken to Landmark Meidcal Center, where he was pronounced dead, Chief Eric Croce said earlier today.

Croce said police have not ruled out drugs as a motive for the shooting; no arrests have been made, and police have no suspects.

This afternoon, Jason Horne, who said he lived in the first floor of the two-apartment house at 45 Robinson St., told a reporter that the teen had moved into the second floor apartment about six months ago to help the woman who lived there.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:52 PM | Comment

Update: Police probe fatal shootings in 3 R.I. cities

Journal photos / Sandor Bodo, left and center; Bob Thayer, right
Victims of the separate shootings were found near these homes, from left, 45 Robinson St., Woonsocket; 14 Reservoir Ave., Pawtucket; and 124 Eastwood Ave., Providence.

In a spate of violence touching three Rhode Island cities within hours late last night, the police in Providence, Pawtucket and Woonsocket are investigating three fatal shootings.

It all happened in a little more than two hours, leaving dead two 17-year-old males -- one in Providence and one in Woonsocket -- and a woman in Pawtucket.

At about 9:45 p.m., a report of a shooting came into the Pawtucket Police Department, according to a statement from Sgt. Cory Jackson.

When the police arrived at 14 Reservoir Ave., they found a woman with a gunshot wound to the head. She was declared dead at the scene, according to Jackson.

The police were told that a possible armed suspect was inside the house; the building was secured by the Pawtucket Police Special Response Team. No one else was found in the house, according to Jackson’s statement.

The shooting is being considered suspicious. The police have not released the name of the victim.

The victim was a frequent visitor and had been introduced as the girlfriend of the man who lived there, the owner of the building said today.

Building owner Jacinta Fernandes said that about 9:50 last night, while at a baseball game with her son, she got a call from neighbors telling her she might want to come home, because there were police cars all over the place.

When she returned to her house, Fernandes said, the body was in the basement apartment and she wasn’t allowed in.

Fernandes said the man who lived there had been staying in the basement apartment since the end of March.

At about 10 p.m. last night, the police went to 45 Robinson Street in Woonsocket. A 17-year-old male had been shot and was taken to Landmark Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to Chief Eric Croce.

Croce said police have not ruled out drugs as a motive for the shooting; no arrests have been made and police have no suspects.

This afternoon, Jason Horne, who said he lived in the first floor of the two-apartment house at 45 Robinson St., told a reporter that the teen had moved into the second floor apartment about six months ago to help the woman who lived there.

The woman refused to talk to a Journal reporter at the scene. No yellow crime scene tape was at the house, a two-story with wraparound porch, tan with burgundy shutters, and well kept. Police had also left the scene.

Just before midnight last night, the Providence police were alerted to an injured man at 124 Eastwood Ave., according to a statement released by Capt. Hugh Clements. When officers arrived, they found a “young man” with a gunshot wound in the street.

The victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and pronounced dead soon after his arrival, according to Clements.

Police identified him this afternoon as Virgilio Rojo, 17, of 470 Manton Ave., Providence. No arrests have been made.

Clements said this is the city's seventh homicide of the year.

This afternoon, a small group of memorial candles had been put in place in front of a small church across the street from the house at 124 Eastwood.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writers W. Zachary Malinowski and Mark Reynolds

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 4:27 PM | Comment

Health department reopens 7 beaches for swimming

The state Department of Health today reopened seven Rhode Island beaches to swimming.

They are Third Beach and Atlantic Beach Club in Middletown, Camp Grosvenor in North Kingstown, Fort Adams State Park Beach in Newport, and Gorton Pond Beach, Oakland Beach and Conimicut Point Beach, all in Warwick.

The health department recommended reopening these beaches based on water samples that yielded bacteria levels within acceptable limits.

But it wasn't all good news for swimmers. The health department closed to swimming Bristol Town Beach and Warren Town Beach because of high bacteria counts.

Remaining closed is City Park Beach, in Warwick.

For updates on swimming at beaches, go to www.health.ri.gov or for recorded information call (401) 222-2751.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:22 PM | Comment

Photo / Video: It's good to be home from Iraq

Journal photo/ Bill Murphy
NORTH KINGSTOWN -- Spc. Kurt Sprengel, right, of North Kingstown, a member of the Army National Guard's 169th Military Police Unit, is welcomed home by his girlfriend, Kate Dunagan, left, of Barrington, at the Guard headquarters in Quonset this morning. This morning, 135 members of the unit flew in by cargo plane as they returned from an 11-month deployment in Iraq.

Video: Watch scenes of the soldiers being welcomed home.

Posted by Jack Perry at 4:18 PM | Comment

Foam firm makes $6.3 M settlement offer in Station suit

A Johnston foam company and the salesman who suggested The Station nightclub owners use foam soundproofing have agreed “in principle” to pay $6.3 million to settle lawsuits stemming from the 2003 nightclub blaze that left 100 people dead.

The latest in a series of tentative settlements comes from the American Foam Corp., the executors of the estate of the company’s late president, and former company salesman Barry Warner, who lived next to the West Warwick nightclub and told the club owners they could buy foam as soundproofing.

The notice of settlement was filed in U.S. District Court in Providence today, saying that a “settlement in principle has been reached” with American Foam Corp., Warner and the three co-executors of Aram DerManouelian’s estate -- Jo-Ann DerManouelian, Everett Marabian and Paul Plourde.

The new settlement offer brings the pool of money offered to victims to about $155 million. But it will be months before victims see any of that money because the deals hinge on the approval of the court, the approval of all the plaintiffs, and court approval of the plan for divvying up the money.

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Extra: The Journal's continuing report on the Station fire and its aftermath.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:47 PM | Comment

Shooting victim had been introduced as tenant's girlfriend

PAWTUCKET -- A woman found dead in a Pawtucket apartment last night was a frequent visitor and had been introduced as the girlfriend of the man who lived there, the owner of the building said today.

At about 9:50 last night, building owner Jacinta Fernandes was at a baseball game with her son, she said, when she got a call from neighbors telling her she might want to come home, because there were police cars all over the place.

When she returned to her house at 14 Reservoir Ave., Fernandes said, the body was still in the basement apartment and she wasn’t allowed in.

The police say she was shot to death.

Fernandes said the woman, in her 20s, did not live there, but was a frequent visitor and had been introduced as the boyfriend of the man who lived there. Fernandes gave his name only as “Johnny.”

Fernandes said he was friendly and had been staying in the basement apartment since the end of March.

She asked her neighbors what had happened, but they said they didn’t hear anything. “Everybody’s in shock,” Fernandes said.

Tonight, members of her church are going to spend the night with her.

No one has been arrested in the shooting, police are still investigating.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:18 PM | Comment

Governor Carcieri signs $6.9 billion state budget / Photo

Journal photo / Connie Grosch
Governor Carcieri signs the state budget at a State House ceremony where he was joined by the General Assembly's leadership.

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri today signed Rhode Island's budget for the year that begins July 1 -- a budget designed to close a massive deficit.

The governor, a Republican, was flanked by legislative leaders of the Democrat-dominated General Assembly.

The state was projected to face a $425 million gap in its finances, something the $6.9 billion spending package is set to close, in part through cuts to programs for the elderly, the poor and the disabled.

Carcieri and lawmakers are taking reporters' questions at this hour in the State House State Room, where the signing happened. The room is packed with legislators, state department directors and others.

-- With reports from Cynthia Needham of the Journal State House Bureau and Journal archival reports

Your turn: What do you think of this year's budget?

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:07 PM | Comment

Victim of Providence shooting ID'd as city youth, 17

Police have now identified the person killed in a Providence shooting last night as Virgilio Rojo, 17, of 470 Manton Ave., Providence, in one of a spate of deadly overnight shootings in three Rhode Island cities.

Just before midnight, the Providence police were alerted to an injured man at 124 Eastwood Ave., according to a statement earlier today released by Capt. Hugh Clements that did not identify the victim.

When officers arrived, they found a “young man” with a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and pronounced dead soon after his arrival, according to Clements.

It is the city's seventh homicide of the year.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski and projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:16 PM | Comment

Defendant: Strangling victim not coerced into sex

WARWICK -- A West Warwick man accused of strangling a woman to death said that the victim was not coerced into having violent sex.

“She knew what she was doing,” Brian Mlyniec said on a recording made during a police investigation in 2006. The recording was made shortly after the state’s Medical Examiners Office ruled the cause of death of Kelly Ann Andersen, 41, was strangulation.

Jurors watched the interview in Kent County Superior Court before they broke for lunch today. Mlyniec, now 45, is facing murder charges in Andersen’s death. She was found dead in Mlyniec’s apartment two years ago.

Earlier in the day, assistant medical examiner Peter A. Gillespie, who also testified yesterday, answered questions posed by defense lawyer Andrew A. Bucci about the toxicity of methadone and alcohol that Anderson had consumed.

Although it was possible that Anderson survived strangulation and instead died from the drugs and alcohol, Gillespie said, “In my opinion, that’s not what happened.”

After responding similar questions in several ways, Gillespie offered: “If you’re asking hypothetically, anything is possible.”

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports form Journal staff writer Nandini Jayakrishna

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:56 PM | Comment

Woonsocket gets $502,000 drug-abuse prevention grant

The day after a 17-year-old was shot and killed in what police say may be a drug-related crime, Woonsocket officials announced the city had received a grant to help prevent substance abuse and the problems stemming form drug use.

The Woonsocket Prevention Coalition, formerly the Woonsocket Task Force on Substance Abuse, and the Woonsocket police department are receiving $502,000 from the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, and Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

In a statement released by Lisa Carcifero, the coalition's executive director, she says the grant “is about making our community safer … educating the community … taking drugs out of our community … decreasing access and availability on the streets, at home and in our schools … and most importantly keeping drugs out of the hands of our youth.”

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:50 PM | Comment

High court: Stiffer penalties apply to breath-test refusals

PROVIDENCE — The state Supreme Court today ruled that harsher penalties approved in 2006 do apply to motorists who refuse to take Breathalyzer tests.

In making the ruling, the high court rejected the argument that the new penalties were wiped out when Governor Carcieri signed a budget bill containing the law’s old language.

Justice Paul A. Suttell began the court’s 13-page opinion with a quote: “If you like laws and sausage, you should never watch either one being made.”

Suttell said, “Otto von Bismark’s laconic observation is apropos to this appeal in which we are asked to consider two legislative acts passed in the waning days of the 2005-2006 session of the General Assembly.”

Before the penalties changed, nearly 85 percent of motorists suspected of drunken driving in Rhode Island were refusing to submit to Breathalyzer tests, while the national average was 25 percent.

So in 2006, the General Assembly passed a law aimed at cracking down on those who refused to take the tests. For first offenses, the law doubled the minimum license suspension to six months, and it made subsequent offenses criminal rather than civil. For second offenses, the law provided penalties of up to six months in prison, fines of up to $1,000 and up to 100 hours of community service.

Governor Carcieri signed the bill on June 28, 2006. And two days later, he signed the annual budget bill, which added a $200 assessment for refusing a Breathalyzer test but did not include the stiffer penalties contained in the other legislation.

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Three men charged with Breathalyzer refusal — Theodore H. Such Jr., Eric Ahlborg and Robert MacDonald — asked then-Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Fortunato Jr. to declare “which of these amendments would control in penal actions brought by prosecutors against them.” And in January 2007, Fortunato, who has since retired, ruled that the budget bill was the “controlling statute.”

The Supreme Court put that ruling on hold, pending an appeal. And during oral arguments in May, Pawtucket lawyer and former House Speaker John B. Harwood argued that the budget bill amended the penalties back to their prior level — except for adding the $200 assessment. Harwood told the court, “A law doesn’t become a law until it reaches the governor’s desk.”

But in today’s ruling, the Supreme Court noted that while the governor signed the refusal bill first, the Assembly passed the budget bill one day before it passed the refusal bill.

“Thus, at the point in the legislative process when both the House and the Senate passed the budget bill, said bill contained the correct language of the refusal statute as it then existed,” Suttell wrote. “The timing of the governor’s signature is irrelevant under the specific set of facts before us. As plaintiffs point out, the ‘Rhode Island Constitution vests legislative authority exclusively in the General Assembly.’ ”

The court said the governor does not have the power to repeal one of two bills simply by signing one before the other. Plus, Suttell wrote, “Our task in construing statutes is to give effect to legislative intent, not gubernatorial intent.”

The Supreme Court concluded that the Assembly never intended for the budget bill to negate the refusal bill.

“The budget bill and the refusal bill were passed in the same legislative session — indeed, one day apart by the General Assembly — and they address the same subject matter,” Suttell wrote. “This court presumes they were actuated by the same policy and that the General Assembly intended them to have effect together.”

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:10 PM | Comment

Carny charged with failing to register as sex offender

PROVIDENCE -- A federal grand jury indictment charges a man who was working for a carnival and concessions company in Rhode Island with failing to register as a sex offender here after he was convicted in Georgia 10 years ago of child molestation.

Leonard F. Roupe is charged under a 2006 federal law that requires a person to register as such in the state to which he or she moves, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente and U.S. Marshal Burton Stallwood. Since late April, Roupe had been living at a Johnston motel and working in Rhode Island for a carnival concessions and game company.

Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested Roupe on June 6 on a federal complaint, the news release says. According to an affidavit, Roupe, 51, was convicted in Georgia in 1998 of child molestation and was subsequently required under Georgia Law to register as a sex offender. He did register in Georgia initially, but as of June 5, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Sex Offender Registry Web site listed him as having “absconded,” the statement says.

Roupe is charged with two counts of failure to register after traveling interstate: one count with respect to living in Rhode Island and one in connection with working in the state.

If there is a conviction, the maximum penalty for each count is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Roupe has been in federal custody since his arrest and will be brought into U.S. District Court, Providence, for arraignment, the release says. It does not provide a time for the arraignment and does not say which company employed Roupe.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:04 PM | Comment

Tonight: HSGameTime All-State boys outdoor track

Tonight at 6, we continue our coverage of spring All-States by unveiling the 2008 Providence Journal HSGameTime All-State boys outdoor track team. You can find the first-team and second-team All-State listings as well as All-Division and All-Class teams, at HSGameTime.

Here is the online schedule for spring All-States. The new teams will be announced at 6 p.m. each day.

Online now: Boys tennis, golf, boys volleyball, softball, girls lacrosse, boys lacrosse, girls outdoor track
Tonight: Boys outdoor track
Tomorrow: Independent stars
Saturday: Baseball

Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:34 AM | Comment

Entwistle gets life in prison for killing wife, baby

WOBURN, Mass. -- A British man convicted of shooting to death his 9-month-old baby and wife as they cuddled together in bed showed no reaction today as he was sentenced to two life prison terms without the opportunity for parole.

Neil Entwistle was found guilty yesterday of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2006 deaths of his wife Rachel and their baby, Lillian Rose, in their rented home in Hopkinton. He fled to his native England afterward.

He claims his wife killed the baby and then committed suicide as they cuddled in bed.

Prosecutors said he was despondent over mounting debt and dissatisfied over his sex life.

During the brief sentencing hearing, Rachel's mother, Priscilla Matterazzo, called Entwistle's theory of a murder-suicide "low and despicable."

"Suffering does not begin to describe what we have been enduring without our beloved Rachel and Lillian," said Matterazzo, who wore a pink rose on her lapel in memory of her granddaughter. "I have lost two generations of my family."

Matterazzo asked that the life sentences be consecutive, to represent the two generations. But Middlesex District Court Judge Diane Kottmeyer said that would be only symbolic since there is no chance he'll be released, and imposed two concurrent life sentences.

Entwistle's family continued to support him.

"There is no way our innocent son Neil is guilty," his father, Clifford Entwistle, said before the sentencing. He refused comment afterward.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:49 AM | Comment

Governor to sign budget today

Governor Carcieri is scheduled to sign the state’s $6.9 billion budget this afternoon.

The plan, which was approved by the General Assembly last week, outlines virtually all state spending for the budget year that begins July 1.

The House Finance Committee estimates that the budget will lead to a $97-million deficit for the coming fiscal year, which is down considerably from previous projections.

Among other things, the budget increases local education assistance for cities and towns, but freezes non-education aid at reduced levels. It includes $90 million in cuts to the state’s work force (which have yet to be detailed) and another $67 million in savings by reducing Medicaid programs that serve the state's poor, elderly and disabled.

See where else cuts have been made in spending.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:08 AM | Comment

Photo: Falcon comes down to downtown

Journal photo/ Bill Murphy
A young peregrine falcon at the doorway of the Federal Reserve restaurant on Dorrance Street drew some curious looks this morning. Three young falcons nest atop the nearby Bank of America Building in downtown Providence. Read more about the falcons.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:53 AM | Comment

National Guard company set to return today

After an 11-month deployment, more than 130 members of the Rhode Island National Guard are scheduled to return from Iraq.

The 169th Military Police Company worked as transition teams responsible for educating and training Iraqi police forces.

"The importance of having a professional, well-trained police force is necessary for the government of Iraq's ability to provide security and stability for its people," Maj. Robert T. Bray, adjutant general of the RI National Guard, said in a statement.

The 135 members of the company certified that the Iraqi officers were trained properly, accompanying them on joint patrols to watch and instruct.

The group is scheduled to fly into Quonset Air National Guard Base today between 9 and 10 a.m.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:56 AM | Comment

Funeral today for Desiree Mesolella

A funeral is scheduled this morning for the daughter of former state representative Vincent Mesolella.

Desiree Mesolella, 19, was killed Sunday in a car crash in Port Washington, N.Y. Mesolella was the passenger.

Police say the driver, Ansaf G. Imbrahim, crossed the center line and drove head on into another car. Imbrahim is facing charges including driving while intoxicated.

Mesolella was an art student at Adelphi University.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, Cathedral Square, Providence. Mesolella will be buried in St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston.

Her parents are asking that donations be made to the Desiree Mesolella Memorial Art Scholarship fund, 235 Promenade St., Suite 140, Providence.

Friends and family can read Mesolella's obituary and sign her guestbook online.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:48 AM | Comment

Today in history: American troops enter WWI

On this day in 1917, the first troops of the American Expeditionary Force arrived in France during World War I.

For more from today in history.

Watch a video report from today in history.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

It's nice out, for now

Did we do something wrong?

After a brief respite from dreary weather, it's back. The National Weather Service is forecasting more showers, more thunderstorms, more hail and more gusty winds this afternoon. Temperatures should reach about 81 degrees, with winds from the southwest gusting as high as 22 mph.

We can look forward to more of the same tonight, with the added bonus of fog. Temperatures should drop to about 66 degrees and we'll have mild, west winds.

Tomorrow's looking good, with clear, sunny skies and temperatures reaching 88 degrees.

See projo.com's weather page to watch the storms on live radar.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page: Life without parole for child killer

Today's front page features a story about a Woonsocket man being sentenced to life in prison without parole for the kidnapping, rape and murder of his 8-year-old neighbor.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment

June 25, 2008

Tonight: Local acts hit stages around the state

Plenty of local acts playing around Rhode Island tonight.

Citizens Patrol and Life Trap play rock at AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence. Call 831-9327. 10 p.m. $6. All ages.

Rudy D'Agostino play acoustic rock at Ri-Ra, 50 Exchange Terrace, Providence. 272-1953. 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

East Side Horns play rhythm and blues at 20 Water Street in East Greenwich. 885-3700. 8 p.m. to midnight.

Chris Gauthier plays rock at One Pelham East, 270 Thames St., Newport. Call 847-9460. 10 p.m.

Dick Lupino, Yvonne Monnett and Jeff Fountain play jazz at Sardella's Restaurant, 30 Memorial Blvd., Newport. 849-6312. 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:50 PM | Comment

Block Island ferry resumes trips today

The Block Island ferry resumed summer trips today after being unable to leave a Connecticut dock because of delays in Amtrak's Thames River railroad bridge project.

Interstate Navigation Company -- which operates the Block Island ferry -- said in a news release that its high-speed vessel and all passenger/car ferries are running as scheduled.

The ferry Manitou will start trips between Newport and Block Island on Saturday.

For information and schedules, go to www.blockislandferry.com, or call the Point Judith office at (866) 783-7996.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:15 PM | Comment

American Airlines to stop regional service at T.F. Green

American Airlines will stop its regional jet service at T.F. Green Airport on Nov. 1, airport officials confirmed, pulling out of the airport it has served since 1984.

American Airlines and its American Eagle regional unit will end service to Green and seven other airports and drop flights at other airports as the airline grounds planes and lays off workers because of rising fuel prices. AMR Corp., the airline’s parent company, this week provided details of the cutbacks it had previously announced in May.

American, the world’s largest airline, and Eagle, will cut 62 departures from Chicago, 43 from St. Louis and 42 each from Dallas-Forth Worth and New York’s La Guardia airport, the company said yesterday in a statement. The reductions amount to 12 percent of service at American and 11 percent at Eagle.

Green will lose three daily departures to Chicago when Eagle leaves in the fall for the last time. Capacity on the regional jets is 44 seats.

At one point, Eagle had five daily flights from Green to Chicago and one daily flight to Dallas, according to Patti Doyle, an airport spokeswoman.

“They have been reducing capacity for quite some time,” she said.
Travelers still will be able to fly to Chicago from the Warwick airport, said Kevin Dillon, president of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, which runs T.F. Green.

“We have good service into Chicago both from Southwest and United” airlines, he said. “There’s capacity . . . to pick up those passengers.”

-- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi

The cutbacks are another result of the rising fuel costs pinching the airline industry and the country as a whole, driving up costs and keeping Americans closer to home.

Rising oil prices have drained profits from the airline industry, forcing carriers to cut jobs, ground less efficient planes and slash the number of flights in hopes of boosting air fares.

Airline fuel prices are up 91.5 percent from a year ago, according to the International Air Transport Association.

The airlines recently began charging for a number of previously free services and added ticket surcharges to offset higher fuel prices.

American Airlines started the movement when it decided to charge passengers $15 to check their first bag. United Airlines said it would add a $15 fee for passengers flying on leisure fares booked in advance and a $25 fee for checking a second suitcase.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:13 PM | Comment

Police identify man struck by lightning in Bristol

BRISTOL -- Bristol police have identified a fisherman who was apparently struck by lightning during an intense storm Tuesday afternoon.

Edgardo Torres, 42, was injured while fishing off the rocks near Roger Williams University, in Bristol..

Authorities say his friend heard thunder, turned around and saw Torres on the ground. He was unconscious and needed CPR.

Rescue crews brought Torres to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

A hospital spokeswoman did not know his condition this afternoon.

-- The Associated Press

Photo gallery: Send in your storm photos, see others

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:06 PM | Comment

2 Democrats, 1 Republican file to run against Reed

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, will face several challengers for his congressional seat heading into election season, according to candidate filings.

Christopher Young, of 184 Angell St., Providence, has filed a declaration to run as a Democrat, according to the Secretary of State's office.

Vernon D. Craig, of Newport, also filed a declaration of candidacy to run as a Democrat.

Republican Robert Tingle, of Westerly, filed as a Republican to run against Reed.

Today was the deadline to file declarations of candidacy with the Secretary of State's office.

-- with reports from Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau

Posted by maria caporizzo at 5:52 PM | Comment

Report: Ex-URI education dean under investigation in Ky.

Robert Felner, former dean of the University of Rhode Island’s School of Education, is under investigation by federal officials looking into the possible misappropriation of $500,000 in federal grants, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Felner, who left URI five years ago to become dean of the University of Louisville College of Education and Human Development, was to have become chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside July 1. But yesterday, the Kentucky paper reports, Felner notified officials there he would resign his appointment, because of the ongoing investigation.

“Dr. Felner is concerned that this is going to create a problem, even if it’s just a perception problem at the University of Wisconsin,” Felner’s lawyer, Scott C. Cox, told the Courier-Journal. Cox also said his client had not mishandled any funds.

The U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case jointly with the U.S. Attorney’s office, Cox said.

“As part of that investigation, the agencies seized documents and a computer from Felner’s university office Friday,” reported the Courier-Journal. “Felner also answered questions from investigators while they were on campus…”

While in Rhode Island, Felner created the SALT surveys used to assess Rhode Island public schools and was considered a national education figure.

A spokeswoman for the University of Rhode Island said the university is now reviewing the records related to Felner’s grant expenditures while he was an employee here at the university.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan

Felner came to URI in 1996 and left in 2003, although he continued to serve on URI’s National Center on Public Education and Social Policy until 2006. In addition, the state Department of Education has for several years hired Felner and the center to develop state report cards, information and data for the department’s Web site and conduct an annual review of the federal Reading First program.

Currently, URI’s National Center on Public Education and Social Policy is in charge of a three year, $2.1 million grant to conduct this work. Education Department spokesman Elliot Krieger said the department is satisfied “we have gotten what we paid for,” and that all payments are in order, but said the department will review all billing associated with the grant.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:23 PM | Comment

Update: Woonsocket girl's killer gets life without parole

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Lisa Smith, in light green skirt, and other family members listen today as Peter Gillespie, medical examiner, describes the details of Savannah Smith's murder.

PROVIDENCE -- A man who kidnapped, raped and killed an 8-year-old girl in Woonsocket two years ago was sentenced this afternoon to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The family of victim Savannah Smith clapped when Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia announced the sentence for Joshua Davis, who had pleaded guilty in April to first-degree murder, first-degree child molestation and kidnapping a minor.

This morning, Indeglia listened as Savannah's mother requested that he impose a life sentence with no possibility of parole.

Lisa Smith today told Indeglia she "loathes" Davis.

"He is the lowest piece of scum on the earth," Smith said in her victim impact statement in Providence Superior Court.

The sentence makes Davis the 27th person in the state to receive life without parole, and the first one in a case involving a child as a victim.

Of those cases, Indeglia said, "None was more cruel, heartless, savage or vicious than the one that was done to this child."

The prosecution said Savannah helped her neighbor Davis wash his red convertible in May 2006. She and her sister asked to go for a ride in his car, but her father, David Smith, told them no. The girls went to the Globe Street playground, near Savannah’s home. About a half hour later, one of Savannah’s younger sisters and her cousin returned home and told David Smith that Savannah had left the park with Davis, in his car.

The police found her body the following day in woods off Parkview Boulevard in Cranston.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo

The prosecution said it had evidence Davis carried Savannah into the woods, which was strewn with trash and glass, because she was not wearing shoes and sexually molested her.

Davis' lawyer, public defender John J. Hardiman, had earlier argued for a life sentence with possibility for parole, saying that Davis has suffered in his life with bouts of depression, was abused as a child and has had alcohol and drug problems. The public defender also said Davis pleaded guilty rather than put Smith's family through the ordeal of a trial.

Like Samantha's mother, the state Attorney General's Office also asked that Davis receive life imprisonment without parole possibility.

Davis was also sentenced today to life in prison on the molestation and kidnapping charges, with all three to be served consecutively.

“As I reflect upon all the murders my office has prosecuted during my time as attorney general, I can think of none as brutal, offensive, and despicable as this one," Attorney General Patrick Lynch said in a statement after the sentencing. "If ever there was an individual who warranted Rhode Island’s most severe penalty, it is this depraved and monstrous defendant."

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:34 PM | Comment

Central Falls 19-year-old indicted for murder

PROVIDENCE -- The Providence County Grand Jury has indicted a man on murder and other charges in a slaying that took place in Central Falls on April 26.

Anthony Strobert, 19, of 24 Mary St., Central Falls, was alleged to have shot dead Helder G. Tomar, 19, of Harvey Street, Pawtucket. Strobert was wounded in the incident by the same weapon allegedly used to kill Tomar. The next day, Edelmiro Roman, 16, a Central Falls High School student, was shot fatally while he was walking on Dexter Street.

The police said they believed Roman’s slaying was related, but no one has been charged with that crime.

The incidents brought a state of panic in Central Falls. Mayor Charles Moreau imposed a nighttime curfew on anyone under the age of 18, and two street workers from the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence were brought in work with young people in an attempt to keep the peace.

Witnesses told the police that Tomar and Strobert got into a fight in Jenks Park, and Tomar pulled out a gun. He shot Strobert, who was able to take the gun from Tomar and shot and killed him, the police said. Strobert was treated in Rhode Island Hospital.
Besides murder, Strobert also was indicted on charges of discharging a firearm, death resulting, carrying a pistol without a license, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

He is to be arraigned July 9 in Providence County Superior Court.

-- Journal staff writer Thomas J. Morgan

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:33 PM | Comment

Three beaches closed today by health department

The state Department of Health today closed to swimming the City Park Beach in Warwick, Fort Adams State Park Beach in Newport, and Third Beach in Middletown because of high bacteria counts.

Locations that remain closed are Atlantic Beach club's beach, Camp Grosvenor, Conimicut Point Beach, Gorton Pond Beach, and Oakland Beach.

For updates on swimming status at Rhode Island beaches, go to the Department of Health Web site.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:20 PM | Comment

Alert: Entwistle convicted of fatally shooting wife, child

WOBURN, Mass. -- A British man was convicted today of shooting to death his wife and infant daughter after jurors rejected his claim the woman had killed their baby then committed suicide while snuggled together in bed.

Neil Entwistle, 29, closed his eyes and shook his head slightly upon being found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his wife, Rachel, 27, and their 9-month-old baby, Lillian Rose.

Prosecutors maintained he was in debt and dissatisfied with his sex life when he fatally shot his family in their rented Hopkinton home in 2006. After the shootings, he fled to his native England.

The defense did not put on any witnesses. Instead, Entwistle’s attorney claimed Rachel Entwistle shot Lillian Rose and then killed herself while the two snuggled in bed.

Entwistle acknowledged he did not call police when he found the bodies. He claimed he returned the gun to his father-in-law’s home 50 miles away because he wanted to preserve his wife’s honor.

Jurors deliberated just a day and a half before reaching their verdicts. He also was convicted on two weapons charges.

Sentencing was scheduled for Thursday morning. In Massachusetts, the sentence for first-degree murder is automatically life in prison without the possibility of parole.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:11 PM | Comment

Tonight: HSGameTime All-State girls outdoor track

Tonight at 6, we continue our coverage of spring All-States by unveiling the 2008 Providence Journal HSGameTime All-State girls outdoor track team. You can find the first-team and second-team All-State listings as well as All-Division and All-Class teams, at HSGameTime. Right now, you can get watch and listen to a multimedia interview with Classical track stars Victoria Flowers and Patrick Onye.

Here is the online schedule for spring All-States. The new teams will be announced at 6 p.m. each day.

Online now: Boys tennis, golf, boys volleyball, softball, girls lacrosse, boys lacrosse
Tonight: Girls outdoor track
Tomorrow: Boys outdoor track
Friday: Independent stars
Saturday: Baseball

Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:03 PM | Comment

Friend urged murder defendant to call 9-1-1

WARWICK -- During a 1 a.m. phone conversation on the day police would later find Kelly Ann Anderson dead in Brian Mlyniec's house, a childhood friend told Mlyniec to make another phone call: 9-1-1.

Bill Healey testified in Mlyniec's murder trial today that Mlyniec said he did not want the police to come over to his house.

Mlyniec, 45, had called, in a conversation lasting about 25 minutes, to say he had picked up a woman in Providence and that she was going in and out of it, unresponsive, Healey said in Kent County Superior Court. Mlyniec told him he had already put the woman into a bathtub where, according to previous testimony, he put cold water on her.

The prosecutor asked Healey how the call ended, and Healey said he told Mlyniec again to call 9-1-1.

Mlyniec, of West Warwick, is charged with first-degree murder, accused of killing the 41-year-old Andersen at his home two years ago. At about 1:30 p.m. on June 23, 2006, an emergency medical technician has said he went to Mlyniec's 95 Harris Ave. address in response to a report of an unresponsive woman and said he found Anderson lying on her back on couch cushions in a disheveled living room with Mlyniec hovering over her.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Nandini Jayakrishna

In court today, another witness, Mark Townsend, who is a neighbor of Mlyniec's and has known him from 25 years, testified that later the morning of June 26, about 7:15 a.m., he saw Mlyniec in the area between their homes. Mlyniec told him he had picked up a woman that night and that she was out of it, Townsend said, and that Mlyniec looked concerned about her.

Townsend said there was no blood on Mlyniec's face or shirt. Another neighbor, Michael Rothermel, in testimony yesterday said he saw blood on Mlyniec's face and right arm. Rothermal said it was 5:30 a.m. when he saw Mlyniec.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:53 PM | Comment

Ex-Lincoln official Picerno accused of arranging beating

A corrupt former town official in Lincoln has been arrested by the Rhode Island State Police on charges that he arranged the beating of a Lincoln town councilman.

Robert Picerno, who figured prominently in the Lincoln bribery scandal involving former town administrator Jonathan Oster, was charged this morning with conspiracy and threatening a public official for allegedly arranging for two men to assault and threaten then-councilman Dean L. Lees Jr. in 2001.

Lees, who told the state police at the time that the assault was related to his political stands, said that he was leaving a carpet and tile store on Branch Avenue in Providence when a man attacked him from behind as he got into his car.

Lees said at the time that the man punched him in the back of the head eight to 10 times, and that the other man threatened him, saying, ``If you keep doing what you’re doing in town, we’ll be back.’ ‘’

State Police Maj. Joseph R. Miech says that Picerno, 61, was arrested this morning at his home at 105 Woodside Drive, North Providence, and has already been arraigned in court and released on bail.

Picerno, a former Lincoln Planning Commission member whose son once ran against Lees for Town Council, was sentenced to eight years, with three to serve, after pleading no contest in 2004 to four counts of taking or trying to solicit, bribes, and three counts of conspiracy to solicit bribes.

In a trial earlier this year, the state charged that Oster, with Picerno, conspired to solicit bribes from two potential buyers of a piece of town-controlled land on Route 116 in Lincoln.

Oster was convicted and subsequently committed suicide. Because Oster had not been sentenced before his death, the conviction was set aside.

According to Miech, the state police developed information this year that Picerno had hired one of the men who accosted Lees. Both men were subsequently convicted and sentenced to more than three years in state prison. One was denied parole during his sentence because of his refusal to cooperate with the authorities regarding who put them up to it.

According to an affidavit, Picerno paid $12,500 to have Lees beaten up.

Extra: Read the affidavit in support of Picerno's arrest

-- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:56 PM | Comment

Governor to sign $6.9B state budget tomorrow

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri plans to sign the state budget tomorrow at 1 p.m., the final step in finalizing the $6.9 billion tax-and-spend approved by the General Assembly last week.

The plan will become law after it is signed, and outlines virtually all state spending for the budget year that begins July 1.

The governor's office issued a statement this afternoon announcing the signing ceremony, which will take place in the ornate State Room on the second floor of the State House.

"This signing will mark the resolution of the budget crisis while avoiding any broad based tax increases, an accomplishment that is a credit to the House Speaker Murphy, Senate President Montalbano, and all legislators,” Governor Carcieri said. “It also marks the introduction of structural reforms that will reduce projected deficits in future years.”

The House Finance Committee estimates that the budget will lead to a $97-million deficit for the coming fiscal year, which is down considerably from previous projections.

Murphy and Montalbano are expected to attend the ceremony.

Among other things, the budget increases local education assistance for cities and towns, but freezes non-education aid at reduced levels. It includes $90 million in cuts to the state’s work force (which have yet to be detailed) and another $67 million in savings by reducing Medicaid programs that serve the state's poor, elderly and disabled.

After the budget was passed by the Democrat-led House, the Republican Carcieri said, “This budget represents a watershed moment in the recent history of Rhode Island state government. In the face of a severe fiscal crisis, we have worked together to reduce spending and balance the budget without raising taxes.”

-- Steve Peoples, Journal's State House Bureau

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:30 PM | Comment

Board votes to revoke former chief Prignano's pension

The Providence Retirement Board this morning voted to revoke the pension of retired police chief Urbano Prignano Jr.

The revocation was based on Prignano's assumed "dishonorable service," because Prignano has admitted helping officers cheat on their promotional exams.

Prignano is collecting $66,560 a year. His pension has been an issue for the board for six years.

Lawyer Vincent A. Ragosta, Jr., who was hired to gather evidence against Prignano, advised the Board at a meeting at City Hall that they had the power to make the final decision, but that "out of an abundance of caution" the board should petition the Rhode Island Superior Court to implement the revokation.

The board then voted to accept Ragosta's recommendation and sue in Superior Court.

Prignano will continue to collect payments while the Superior Court considers the lawsuit.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Prignano, who was police chief under former Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr., retired under pressure on Jan. 31, 2001, wrapping up a 34-year career.

Prignano implicated himself in some of the cheating in his testimony during the Operation Plunder Dome trial of Cianci and others in 2002. His testimony was among the evidence previously presented to the Board.

Prignano's pension has been an issue for years. In June of 2002, a month after Prignano's Plunder Dome testimony, a Retirement Board member began a move on the Board to revoke Prignano's pension.

A city ordinance says honorable service is a prerequisite to receiving a pension and, according to the interpretation of city officials, a lack of such service calls for the reduction or revocation of a pension.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:55 AM | Comment

Driver changes plea in crash that killed 16-year-old

The woman accused of causing the fiery crash that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Samantha Marie Beaudette on Route 95 in Pawtucket three years ago changed her plea from not guilty to no contest this morning.

Kellie Woodbine, who was disfigured in the crash, entered the plea before Judge Mark A. Pfeiffer in Superior Court.

Woodbine, 29, of Cumberland, pleaded no contest to driving while intoxicated, death resulting and reckless driving, death resulting.

The charges carry a maximum possible sentence of 25 years in prison. But as a result of a plea agreement between Woodbine's attorney, Steven D. DiLibero, and Assistant Attorney General Stephen Regine, the sentence will be capped at eight years in prison, and Judge Pfeiffer will have the option of imposing less prison time at sentencing on Sept. 10.

In court, Regine said the state would have proven that Woodbine, with Beaudette as a passenger, was traveling 96 mph. in a borrowed 2003 Chevy Avalanche when she lost control on the Pawtucket S curve, struck a barrier in the low-speed lane, skidded 75 feet and struck the Broadway overpass bridge abutment, causing the SUV to burst into flames.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:59 AM | Comment

Deadline near for declaring candidacy for R.I. offices

As today's 4 p.m. deadline nears for filing declarations of candidacy, you can see some of those who are running for Rhode Island's local, state and federal offices on the Secretary of State's Web site.

The information is being posted on the secretary of state's "Election 2008"page. at the "2008 Candidate Status" link: www.sec.state.ri.us/candidates/, according to Chris Barnett, spokesman for the Secretary of State's office.

But a heads up: The declarations will not show up online immediately. The site's database does not refresh until 4 a.m. the next day. So, today, all filings are available online that were entered before then yesterday.

According to Barnett, the Secretary of State's office posts filings for the candidates for federal offices. For state and city/town candidates, the office is networked with each board of canvassers in Rhode Island's communities. So when a board of canvassers enters candidates' filings, the Secretary of State site gets the information.

Projo.com plans to obtain all the filings shortly after today's 4 p.m. deadline and post them as soon as possible after that.

All forms and a calendar with every key date leading up to Rhode Island’s primary and general election are posted at http://www.sec.state.ri.us/elections/election08.html.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 10:46 AM | Comment

Funding available for local cleanups

Do you own property that's sitting on top of toxic soil?

The state Department of Environmental Management is preparing to distribute money to assess the level of contamination at Brownfield sites..

The agency plans to allocate $200,000 to assess sites contaminated with hazardous substances and $200,000 for sites contaminated with petroleum.

An informational meeting is scheduled for today at 3:00 p.m. at DEM's Providence headquarters. Officials will be on hand to answer questions and give out applications.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:42 AM | Comment

Amtrak's N.Y. to Boston service canceled until Friday

Amtrak service between New York and Boston is canceled until Friday, while the Thames River Bridge in Connecticut gets a touch-up. Limited alternate train and bus service is being offered in the region until the bridge work is done.

The moveable span of the bridge is being replaced on the 90-year-old drawbridge, which connects Groton and New London, Conn.

Three Boston-New Haven-New York trains via Hartford and Springfield, as well as limited bus services, will offer service, bypassing the bridge .

For detailed information on train routes, visit Amtrak’s Web site or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:36 AM | Comment

Storm snapshots: Projo.com readers share their photos

Some of our projo.com readers have shared photos they took during the dramatic thunderstorms that passed through the area yesterday.

And we'd like to make sure you see them, too.

Above, Maria T. Medeiros of Cranston captured a streak of lightning after 6 p.m. in Cranston

See more snapshots of the storm, and submit your own, here.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 9:30 AM | Comment

Woman facing charges after fatal crash in court today

A Cumberland woman facing possible jail time after a fatal car accident is scheduled to be in court today.

Kellie Woodbine, 29, has been on home confinement since Feb. 12. Before that, she had been free on personal recognizance and recovering from the injuries she sustained in the Dec. 30, 2005 accident.

The crash was on Route 95, at the Pawtucket S-curve, between Exits 20 and 30. Woodbine was driving her pickup truck, when it struck a highway barrier, flew across the road, crashed into a bridge abutment and came to a rest on the shoulder of the highway where it burst into flames.

Woodbine’s passenger, Samantha Marie Beaudette, 16, of Pawtucket, was severely burned. She died two days after the crash. Woodbine has also been receiving treatment for severe burns.

Woodbine faces drunken and reckless driving charges in Superior Court, Providence.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:12 AM | Comment

Woonsocket man to be sentenced for strangling girl

PROVIDENCE -- A Woonsocket man soon learns whether he'll spend the rest of his life in prison for strangling his 8-year-old neighbor after abducting and molesting her.

Joshua Davis will be sentenced this morning in Providence Superior Court for killing Savannah Smith two years ago. He pleaded guilty in April to first-degree murder, kidnapping a minor and child molestation.

Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of life in prison without parole. It's the toughest punishment allowed under Rhode Island law.

Davis was a neighbor to the Smith family, and his girlfriend sometimes baby-sat for them.

Investigators say Davis lured the young girl into his red convertible on May 7, 2006. He drove to Cranston and killed her in a wooded area.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:10 AM | Comment

New sidewalks on Block Island

Ten thousand feet of sidewalk has been rebuilt along Block Island’s waterfront and at the island’s busiest intersection.

Today, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation will hold a dedication ceremony for the Bridge Gate Square project in New Shoreham.

Bridge Gate Square –– the intersection of Dodge Street, Old Town Road, Ocean Avenue and Corn Neck Road –– was the focal point of the project. The dedication will take place today at 11 a.m. in front of the Block Island Historical Society.

The $2.4-million project reconstructed an intersection in the Old Harbor district, where most of the ferries land. Improvements were also made to the sidewalks along the waterfront, bringing them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:07 AM | Comment

Entwistle jury to resume deliberations

WOBURN, Mass. — The jury in the double murder trial of Neil Entwistle is set to begin a second day of deliberations today.

The Middlesex Superior Court jury deliberated yesterday for about six hours.

Yesterday, the jury asked to see records from Entwistle’s laptop from Jan. 20, 2006, the day prosecutors say the Briton shot his wife, Rachel, and baby daughter, Lillian.

A computer forensics expert testified that Entwistle checked his e-mail about 90 minutes after reporting to police that he’d found the bodies.

Entwistle’s defense team said he used his computer to look for jobs before he found his wife and daughter.

Prosecutors say Entwistle was dissatisfied with his sex life and frustrated about his debt when he killed his family.

The defense says his wife shot her baby, then herself.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:01 AM | Comment

Today in history: The Battle of Little Big Horn

On June 25, 1876, Lt. Col. George A. Custer and his 7th Cavalry were wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana.

Watch a video report about today in history.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Weather: Enjoy it while it lasts...

What a day!

After days of rain and hail and thunder and lightning, we've got only two things to worry about today -- sun and warm temperatures. The National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature near 84 degrees and west winds between 5 and 10 mph.

Clouds should roll in tonight, when the temperature drops to about 62 degrees. Expect mild, southwest winds.

But tomorrow. Oh, tomorrow. This may sound familiar: A chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Some storms may come with hail and gusty winds. Temperatures should reach about 83 degrees.

If you just want to enjoy today's weather, don't check projo.com's weather page. There's not much to look forward to.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page: Ready to build 50 years later

Today's front page features a story about Anthony Palozza, 87, who fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court for the right to build 74 cottages on 18 acres of saltmarsh in Misquamicut. Now, 50 years after he bought his property, he's ready to build -- just one house.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment

June 24, 2008

Update: Latest thunderstorm warning lifted, sun coming

A slice of sun is visible in downtown Providence, while a brick church spire stands tall against a gray-blue sky to the east.

It's a sign of what the National Weather Service said shortly after 7 p.m.:

...The Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northeastern Kent...extreme southeastern Providence...extreme northeastern Washington and southern Bristol counties in Rhode Island is cancelled...

The notice followed a severe thunderstorm warning for the regions below, the latest in a band that swept through the area this afternoon, bringing heavy rain, pelting hail, and lightning.

A fisherman was struck by lightning in Bristol, and the rain delayed the CVS Caremark Charity Classic final in Barrington four hours.

Tonight, the weather service predicts mostly cloudy with scattered showers with a chance of thunderstorms this evening, then mostly clear after midnight.

Low temperatures will be around 60, with northwest winds 5 to 10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph this evening. Chance of rain is 50 percent.

But tomorrow -- it sounds like a beach day:.

Sunny. Highs in the mid-80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts at projo.com/weather

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:30 PM | Comment

Tonight: Rock in Providence and Newport

In Providence tonight, the Walrus and the Carpenter, Cuddle Magic and American Hornets play rock at AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence. 831-9327. 10 p.m. $6. All ages.

The Hi-Hat Trio with Debra Mann, jazz, The Hi-Hat, 3 Davol Square, Providence. 453-6500, www.thehihat.com. 7 to 11 p.m.

The Guest Bartenders play rock at One Pelham East, 270 Thames St., Newport. 847-9460. 10 p.m.

See more of projo.com's listings.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:19 PM | Comment

Man struck by lightning while fishing in Bristol

BRISTOL -- A 42-year-old man was struck by lightning as he was fishing off the rocks near Roger Williams University this afternoon.

Rescuing him was a tricky situation.

As rain pelted down and lightning flashed overhead, about 20 volunteer firefighters worked their way down the shore to the unconscious man on the rocks along the shoreline, said Fire Chief Robert Martin.

They lifted him into a Stokes basket and carefully carried him off the rain-slicked rocks, Martin said. However, they couldn’t bring the ambulance to him because of the location, so one of the volunteer firefighters drove his pick-up truck down to the scene, and the firefighters loaded the man and basket into the back of the truck.

The firefighters were performing CPR on the man as they rushed him to Rhode Island Hospital trauma care unit, Martin said. He estimated it had taken the firefighters 10 minutes to reach the man and rescue him.

“You call for a rescue in Bristol, we come,” Martin said.

--Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:56 PM | Comment

Iraqi refugee brings her story to Providence City Hall

Journal photo / Kris Craig
Iraqi refugee Ghaydaa Ghalum tells her personal story today to the audience during the International Institute of Rhode Island program at Providence City Hall.

PROVIDENCE -- Two years ago, a U.S. jetfighter dropped a bomb into Ghaydaa Ghalum’s kitchen in Baghdad.

“I covered up my children and saw my house fall apart,” Ghalum said. “My daughter was shaking all night and my son kept crying and wouldn’t open his eyes. All night we saw dust coming down from the ceiling. The next morning my entire family came to our house to see if we were dead or alive.”

That was the last in a series of cataclysmic events that pushed the family into exile, said Ghalum at a World Refugee Day ceremony today at Providence City Hall that was hosted by the International Institute of Rhode Island. The day was established in 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly.

In 2003, her husband, Adel, then working for the U.S. Army as a carpenter, “was kidnapped and tortured by the terrorists and almost died,” she said. “… Like many other Iraqis, we left Iraq because we didn’t feel safe there anymore. Everybody lives in fear; there were gunfights in the streets. My children saw dead bodies on the streets.”

Last December, Ghalum, her husband and their children, Miriam and Ahmed, were resettled by the International Institute of Rhode Island. The children attend school, Adel works, and Ghalum said she hopes to earn a nursing degree.

Today, Ghalum told an audience that she feels “like a newborn,” and thanked both the Rhode Island community and the Institute “for helping us make Providence our new home.”

-- Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:33 PM | Comment

The day ice fell from the sky -- in June

PAWTUCKET -- If it's late June, it must mean patches of hail all over downtown.

Not what you were expecting?

Pawtucket appeared to have been hit pretty hard by the severe thunderstorm that passed through the region this afternoon, delivering rain and hail, from one reporter's observations.

The surge of water from a storm drain was powerful enough to cause buckling on part of Armistice Boulevard, in the area of the Department of Public Works building, near George R. Bennet Industrial Highway. Mayor James Doyle said he expected the asphalt would need replacing.

Doyle said he was told the water level on School Street was so high that cars slid into each other.

Tree leaves are strewn all over roads.

A city Department of Public Works worker said there was flooding on the Roosevelt Avenue Extension, near the Pawtucket River. A couple of cars got stuck on the road where it becomes Pleasant Street.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:48 PM | Comment

Watson-Villegas clinch rain-delayed CVS golf tourney

BARRINGTON -- Bubba Watson and Camilo Villegas birdied all three holes of a four-team playoff to win the rain-delayed CVS Caremark Charity Classic today at Rhode Island Country Club.

The event was delayed almost four hours by a heavy and at times violent thunderstorm. At the time, the 10 two-player teams all had completed at least 10 holes and had at least five holes to play.

Because the course became so wet, it was decided to make it a 28, rather than 36-hole, competition. And, after 28 holes, the teams of Villegas-Watson, Paul Goydos-Tim Herron, Billy Andrade-Davis Love and Rocco Mediate-Brandt Snedeker all were at 15-under-par.

Officials opted to have those four teams go out in a three-hole playoff, playing the final three holes on the RICC layout. Villegas birdied both 16 and 17, then Watson clinched it with a five-footer for still another bird on the final hole. The three other teams had only one birdie in the wet conditions, that by Mediate on the 16th hole.

First place was worth $150,000 each for Watson and Villegas.

--Journal sportswriter Paul Kenyon

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:42 PM | Comment

Providence, Local 1033 reach pact covering 4 years

PROVIDENCE -- The city’s unionized municipal workers have reached contracts with the city covering a four-year period that protects them from rumored layoffs, provides roughly 2 percent wage increases annually, and doubles the amount they pay towards their health care over the life of the contract.

A well-known city benefit allowing outside workers to go home with pay on hot days, known as the “90 degree rule,” has also been negotiated out of the deal.

The roughly 900 municipal employees represented by Local 1033 of the Laborers International Union of North America have been working under the terms of their old contract since it expired last June 30. This deal covers that period with one contract, and the next three years with another.

The contract was ratified by employees by a vote of 811-0 over the last two days, said Local 1033 business manager Donald S. Iannazzi. The City Council must still ratify the deal.

Local 1033 represents approximately 900 employees, or the bulk of the city's workforce other than teachers, police officers and firefighters. The employees do a variety of jobs, from issuing licenses, to operating the water system, to helping schoolchildren cross the street, to assessing and collecting taxes.

The contract offers employees a 1 percent wage increase on June 1 of this year, and a 1 percent increase on July 1. It then builds in 1 percent increases in January and 2 percent increases in July in both 2009 and 2010, which over the four years covered by the deal works out to roughly a 2 percent increase per year.

-- Journal staff writer Daniel Barbarisi

The contract offers little retroactive pay -- retroactive payments only date to June 1 of this year, and continue until the contract is approved by the City Council.

The contract will also double the amount that employees pay for their health care over the life of the deal. At the moment, employees on an individual plan pay $400 per year, and employees on a family plan pay $1,000 annually. After several gradual increases over the course of the contract, they will pay $900 for an individual plan and $1,900 for a family plan by the time the contract expires in June of 2011.

Those increases will mean a savings of $1.2 million over the course of the deal, city officials said.

Cicilline’s Chief of Administration, Richard I. Kerbel, said that thanks to the health care savings and the savings from eliminating the 90 degree rule, the cost increases to the city should be negligible over the next four years.

The previous Laborers contract was ratified in the fall of 2004. In that three-year deal, the Laborers agreed to pay a portion of their health benefits for the first time -- 10 percent -- and received a 7.5 percent raise over the life of the contract.

The Laborers are now the only major city union with even a tentative contract agreement. The city’s contract with the Providence Teachers Union expired last summer, and negotiations are ongoing. Roughly 1,000 school department employees, most represented by Local 1033, are also still operating under the expired contract.

The city is also still in arbitration with the city’s police and firefighters.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:36 PM | Comment

Man, 23, who hit police car while driving drunk, pleads

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Roman Dodd, left, listens as he is sentenced by Superior Court Judge Stephen Nugent in Washington County Court. He is accompanied by his lawyer, Richard Humphrey.

A 23-year-old South Kingstown man will serve two years in state prison after pleading guilty today to driving drunk when his car plowed into a police cruiser that in turn hit an officer working a drunken-driving patrol.

Roman A. Dodd, of 61 Inkberry Drive, was driving drunk July 14, 2007, when the car he was driving north on Route 1 swerved and hit a police cruiser that had just pulled over another vehicle for speeding. The patrol car spun around, striking Lt. Gerald Richard, who had left his car for the traffic stop.

The impact hurled Richard 33 feet into a ditch, where he lay with leg, shoulder and arm injuries.

Dodd, who had just graduated from the University of Michigan, had been drinking beers and rum and Cokes at Amalfi’s restaurant in Narragansett before the collision, according to court records.

Richard, 43, told today of lingering pain in his left shoulder and arm that awakens him four times a night, but worse he said is the realization that he might not work as a police officer again.

“The fact that there’s a good chance I won’t go back to work as a police officer is emotionally crippling,” Richard said as his girlfriend wept.

Dodd, too, once a high school track star who was debilitated in 2002 after being struck in the head by a hammer thrown by another student, addressed the court.

“I know I can’t take it back,” he said. He vowed to do his time, come out and be a productive member of society.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Under the plea agreement reached by Dodd’s lawyer, Richard Humphrey, and Special Assistant Attorney General Mark Trovato, Dodd received 10 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions, with two to serve and eight years suspended with probation for driving under the influence, serious bodily injury resulting. He got five years at the ACI, all to be suspended with probation, for driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury.

His license will be suspended for three years beginning the day of his release. He must undergo substance abuse counseling and pay all Richard’s medical expenses that are not covered by insurance.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:12 PM | Comment

Storm left 1,900 customers without power at peak

The afternoon's heavy rains, lightning and hail left about 1,900 National Grid customers without electricity at the height of the storm-related power failures.

The peak came around 3:15 p.m., with the largest number of reported failures in Richmond, at 515 customers, according to David Graves, a National Grid spokesman.

Graves cautioned that the number of power failures may fluctuate as some customers arrive home this evening to find power out and report it. "They could bump up slightly after 5 and 5:30," he said.

"We are down to about 1,600 customers [without power] at this point," he said shortly before 4 p.m.

Power failures peaked at the following number of customers in these communities:

* South Kingstown, 305
* Pawtucket, 240
* Coventry, 226
* Exeter, 146
* Warwick, 136
* West Greenwich: 80
* West Warwick, 80

Around 3 p.m., Tiverton had 88 power failures, Graves said.

The storm, which dumped rain and even hail in some areas, led to some reports of flash flooding in Pawtucket.

It also delayed the second and final day of play of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic golf tournament, chasing players and spectators off the course in Barrington.

"It was hailing on the 18th fairway,'' said Darren Lee, who was in the Edwards & Angell suite on the 18th. "It looked like golf balls were falling from the sky.''

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:25 PM | Comment

Playoff today will determine CVS Classic champions

BARRINGTON -- The patience of CVS Classic organizers apparently is going to pay off with more golf.

It has just been announced that the four teams tied at 15-under-par through 28 holes will hold a three-hole playoff, beginning at 4:05 p.m., for the title. It will be telecast live by The Golf Channel.

Play has been delayed since 12:10 p.m. because of a major electrical storm. The Rhode Island Country Club course is still waterlogged, but what apparently is the last of the rain is now falling, thus the playoff has been set.

It was determined to use 28 holes as the measuring stick for each team's finish since all teams played at least 28 holes. That means the teams of Billy Andrade-Davis Love, Rocco Mediate-Brandt Snedeker, Paul Goydos-TIm Herron and Bubba Watson-Camilo Villegas will be in the playoff.

Two other teams also were at 15-under when play was halted, the duos of Dana and Brett Quigley and Nick Price-Charles Howell. However, those teams had played more than 28 holes to get to 15-under. Howell and Price were 14-under through 28 holes and the Quigleys at 13-under.

Check a live scoreboard on the CVS Caremark Charity Classic Web site.

-Sports Writer Paul Kenyon

Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:59 PM | Comment

Secretary of State's site tracking candidate filings

As tomorrow's 4 p.m. deadline nears for filing declarations of candidacy, you can see some of those who are running for Rhode Island's local, state and federal offices on the Secretary of State's Web site.

The information is being posted on the secretary of state's "Election 2008"page. at the "2008 Candidate Status" link: www.sec.state.ri.us/candidates/, according to Chris Barnett, spokesman for the Secretary of State's office.

But a heads up: The declarations will not show up online immediately. The site's database does not refresh until 4 a.m. the next day. So, today, all filings are available online that were entered before then yesterday. Tomorrow around 4 a.m., all filings entered today will be available.

According to Barnett, the Secretary of State's office posts filings for the candidates for federal offices. For state and city/town candidates, the office is networked with each board of canvassers in Rhode Island's communities. So when a board of canvassers enters candidates' filings, the Secretary of State site gets the information.

Projo.com plans to obtain all the filings shortly after tomorrow's 4 p.m. and post them as soon as possible after that.

All forms and a calendar with every key date leading up to Rhode Island’s primary and general election are posted at http://www.sec.state.ri.us/elections/election08.html.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:59 PM | Comment

Two more beaches closed due to bacteria

Not that you were planning a trip to the beach today, but the state has recommended closing three beaches today because of high levels of bacteria.

Today, the state’s Department of Health recommended closing the Atlantic Beach Club Beach in Middletown; Conimicut Point Beach in Warwick; and Oakland Beach, also in Warwick.

And two beaches that were closed in the past two weeks because of high bacteria levels –– Camp Grosvenor in North Kingstown and Gorton Pond Beach in Warwick –– are still closed.

Check the Health Department’s Web site or call 222-2751 to find out when these beaches re-open and what beaches are closed around the state.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:41 PM | Comment

Flooding closes lanes on Route 95 in Pawtucket

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
At the CVS Caremark Charity Classic golf tournament oday at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, spectators run toward the buses as the rain forces a delay in play.

Thunderstorms this afternoon are already taking a toll.

Flooding has caused a lane closure on Route 95 in Pawtucket.

The Transportation Management Center is reporting flooding on the southbound side of the highway at Exit 27/US-1/Pawtucket. The right and right-center lanes are blocked.

Traffic is stop and go. See for yourself on the TMC’s Web cameras.

Your turn: Send us your storm reports here.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:35 PM | Comment

Rain wreaks havoc on second day of CVS / Photo

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Spectators clear the course at the Rhode Island Country Club as rain arrives at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic today.

BARRINGTON -- Give the organizers of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic an ``A’’ for determination. And the players, too.

As of 2:15 p.m., the tournament remains in delay. A powerful storm has blown through, flooding much of the course as it brought hail, thunder and lightning. Play was halted at 12:10 and the storm arrived about 12:40. It lasted for about an hour.

``It was hailing on the 18th fairway,'' said Darren Lee, who was in the Edwards & Angell suite on the 18th. ``It looked like golf balls were falling from the sky.'' Some of the suites had damage to their roof. The wine pavilion apparently did not survive. It was taken down by the storm.

Many of the fairways were flooded. Weather reports indicate one more storm cell could be on its way soon. Despite all that, hope remains that play will resume.

Peter Jacobsen, whose production company organizes the event, just spoke with reporters and said everything is on hold for the time being.

``Everyone’s been great. They’re all willing to stay,’’ Jacobsen said of the 20 competitors.

Many of the players have flights scheduled today. The only one with a major problem is Justin Rose, who has a commercial flight to Scotland scheduled for 4 p.m.

During the storm, spectators were allowed to go to the clubhouse, Champions Club and suites along the 18th hole, all areas normally reserved for sponsors. At least from what has been seen around the clubhouse, few people got caught in the storm. Buses became a shelter more than a source of transportation. There was one report that lightning had hit a building at St. Andrew’s School, where some of the parking is for the tournament.

Through it all, the players have cooperated fully, Jacobsen said.

``I think one reason they want to stay is because they have this ice cream bar up there (in the players area),’’ Jacobsen related. ``They have vanilla and chocolate and oreo and heath bar. They’re saying they’re doing fine there.’’

``Our first priority is to finish out the tournament and all 20 professional are on-site and available to do so,'' CVS officials said in a statement. ``If a complete finish is not an option our next step would be to initiate a playoff between the four teams tied for the lead through 28 total holes.''

-Sports Writer Paul Kenyon

Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:31 PM | Comment

Cicilline, municipal union agree on labor contract

PROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline says he has reached a tentative agreement with the city's largest union.

Cicilline and Laborers International Union of North America Local 1033 Business Manager Donald S. Iannazzi will announce details of the four-year labor deal at 3 p.m. in the mayor's office.

The membership of Local 1033 is scheduled to vote on the tentative pact today, they've been negotiating with the city since April of last year, according to Iannazzi.

The union represents about 900 employees in Providence; the majority of municipal employees, such as workers at City Hall and the Department of Public Works, but it doesn't represent teachers or uniformed personnel such as police officers.

The contract includes some losses and some gains for union employees and, Cicilline said in a statement, the contract will significantly rein in costs.

"Most significantly," Iannazzi said, "we're safeguarding the employment of all 900 members."

Click below for an outline of some of the other changes to the contract.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

According to Donald Iannazzi, the business manager and legal council for Local 1033, the new agreement provides:

- An 8 percent increase in wages over the next 37 months

- An increase in the cost of health care for employees

- Adds contributions from employers to the union benefit fund

- Eliminates a provision that automatically lets outdoor workers go home if the temperature hits
90 degrees

- Gives workers an additional two floating holidays.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:24 PM | Comment

Weather alert: Severe thunderstorm warning / Radar

As if the threat of lightning strikes and heavy winds during this approaching storm weren't enough, we also have to worry about flooding.

The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for minor flooding of poor drainage areas in... Bristol County in Rhode Island... this includes the cities of...Bristol...Barrington... eastern Kent County in Rhode Island... this includes the city of Warwick... Newport County in Rhode Island... this includes the city of Newport... eastern Providence County in Rhode Island... this includes the city of Providence... eastern Washington County in Rhode Island... this includes the city of South Kingstown... west central Barnstable County in southeast Massachusetts... Bristol County in southeast Massachusetts... this includes the cities of...Taunton...North Attleborough...New Bedford...Fall River...attleborough... Plymouth County in southeast Massachusetts... this includes the city of Plymouth...

* until 430 PM EDT

* at 135 PM EDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar detected
high rainfall rates across much of Rhode Island and southeastern
Massachusetts out of several severe thunderstorms that are moving
through the area this afternoon. Expect heavy rainfall to result in
poor drainage and urban flooding until these storms pass.

Never drive into areas where water covers the roadway. Flood waters
are usually deeper than they appear. When encountering flooding roads
make the smart choice...turn around...dont drown.

Heavy rain will cause ponding of water on highways...roads and
underpasses as well as other poor drainage areas. Rises will occur on
creeks and small streams and may result in minor flooding of low
lying areas along their banks.

The National Weather Service in Taunton, at 12:54 p.m, has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for:

Bristol County in Rhode Island...
this includes the cities of... Bristol... Barrington...
northeastern Kent County in Rhode Island...
north central Newport County in Rhode Island...
extreme southeastern Providence County in Rhode Island...
extreme northeastern Washington County in Rhode Island...
central Bristol County in southeast Massachusetts...

* until 200 PM EDT

* at 1251 PM EDT... National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter size hail... and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located near Bristol... and moving northeast at 9 mph.

* The severe thunderstorm will be near...
Bristol by 110 PM EDT...
6 miles northwest of Tiverton by 115 PM EDT...
Barrington by 125 PM EDT...
Warren by 130 PM EDT...
Swansea and Somerset by 155 PM EDT...

This is a dangerous storm. If you are in its path... prepare immediately for damaging winds... destructive hail and deadly cloud to ground lightning. Go indoors now... preferably inside a strong building and away from windows.

In addition to large hail and damaging winds... frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Get indoors or inside a vehicle now! Lightning is one of natures top killers. If you can hear thunder... you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

At 12:47 PM:

An airport weather warning for lightning for the Providence area has just been sent out by the National Weather Service:

At 12:45 PM a strong thunderstorm was over Narragansett Bay between Prudence Island and Quonset Point...drifting slowly to the northeast. While the storm will likely remain southeast of TF Green Airport...there will be a specific threat of cloud to ground lightning in TF Green/S airspace from this storm until 1:30 PM.

Check the latest conditions, live radar and forecasts -- and sign up for your own e-mail weather alerts -- at: projo.com/weather

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:42 PM | Comment

Old remains uncovered in Cranston now being re-buried

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Jay Waller of the Public Archeology Lab labels stakes that mark each new grave. Eventually, the graves will have granite markers with names and birthdates on them.

CRANSTON -- The state Department of Transportation today began the process of re-burying remains of 67 people, following discovery two years ago of bones in a parking area along Route 37.

They were remains from graves dating to the late 1800s, exposed by soil erosion.

Two years ago, some employees were walking around at lunch hour and found bones that had washed into the parking lot from a Route 37 embankment, behind the former Davol building in the Sockanosset Cross Road area.

Investigation determined they were remains of men, women and children who died at the State Farm -- a place for those who lived in poverty known as the state potter's field -- at the turn of the 20th century. The state burial ground was used by the State Farm from 1875 to 1918.

Digging found grave after grave, showing that Route 37 was built over a potter's field cemetery. The DOT decided to remove the 67 graves' remains found to be in danger of being disturbed by embankment erosion caused by drainage pipes and culverts and water coming off Route 37.

The remains have been stored in a climate-controlled facility at Public Archeology Lab in preparation for the work that started about 8:30 this morning.

The state Veterans Cemetery provided equipment to carry out the digging and re-burials, estimated to take three days. The remains will be re-buried at land at corner of Knight Street and Pontiac Avenue on the Cranston-Warwick line.

Michael Hebert, the Department of Transportation archaeologist who has worked on the investigation of the remains, and Public Archaeology Lab, in Pawtucket, are doing the project.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Barbara Polichetti

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:39 PM | Comment

Coming tonight: HSGameTime All-State boys lacrosse

Tonight at 6, we continue our coverage of spring All-States by unveiling the 2008 Providence Journal HSGameTime All-State boys lacrosse team. You can find the first-team and second-team All-State listings as well as All-Division and SENE All-League teams, at HSGameTime.

Here is the online schedule for spring All-States. The new teams will be announced at 6 p.m. each day.

Online now: Boys tennis, golf, boys volleyball, softball, girls lacrosse
Today: Boys lacrosse
Tomorrow: Girls outdoor track
Thursday: Boys outdoor track
Friday: Independent stars
Saturday: Baseball

Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:54 PM | Comment

Update: Storm delays CVS Classic / Photo: Rocco blasts out

The horn has just sounded, shortly after noon, stopping play in the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

The stoppage comes just as rain is beginning. Fans are now filing back to safety under overcast skies. However, there are cells in the area that are producing electrical storms. Thunder has been heard several times in the last few minutes.

The halt comes with the players between the 11th and 14th holes _ and with six of the 10 teams tied for first at 15-under-par.

Two teams, Billy Andrade-Davis Love III and Paul Goydos-Tim Herron, have gotten to 15-under with the help of eagles on the par-5 eighth.

Also in the deadlock for the top spot are the teams of Camilo Villegas-Bubba Watson, Rocco Mediate-Brandt Snedeker, Nick Price-Charles Howell and Dana and Brett Quigley.

Read more tournament coverage.

Follow the action through this live scoreboard.

-- Journal staff sports writer Paul Kenyon

Journal photo/ Bob Breidenbach
Rocco Mediate comes out of a sand trap on the 6th hole. He and his partner Brandt Snedeker were 13 under after 6 holes.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:31 PM | Comment

Defendant on video: 'I didn't do anything for her to die'

WARWICK -- Jurors in Brian Mlyniec's murder trial this morning watched video of West Warwick police questioning Mlyniec about the acts he and Kelly Ann Anderson engaged in at his house before she was found dead there two years ago.

Mlyniec, on the tape, did not really want to talk about the sexual activities. He said that at one point he tied her ankles and wrists but did not want to go into it because "that makes me look like an animal or something."

Mlyniec and Anderson had left Kennedy Plaza in Providence and gone to his home on June 22, the day before she was found dead.

The police questions kept coming on the tape and Mlyniec ended up describing what he said the two did. At various points in the questioning, he said he did not remember.

"I didn't do anything for her to die," said Mlyniec, referring to their sex acts. "I mean, I love that girl."

Mlyniec is charged with first-degree murder in the 2006 death of Anderson. West Warwick firefighters found the body of Anderson, 41, inside Mlyniec’s home on the afternoon of June 23, 2006, after getting an anonymous call about a possible overdose. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene and had face, throat and neck injuries.

Mlyniec has denied killing Anderson and told police the two had engaged in consensual, violent sex activities that resulted in the bruises and bleeding.

Mlyniec repeated on the tape seen by the jury today in Kent County Superior Court that what they did together was consensual.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Nandini Jayakrishna

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:47 AM | Comment

Jury weighs Entwistle's fate

WOBURN, Mass. — A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of a British man accused of killing his wife and baby daughter.

Neil Entwistle is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Rachel, and their 9-month-old daughter, Lillian, in their Hopkinton home in January 2006, then fleeing to his native England.

A jury of six men and six women began deliberating murder charges this morning in Middlesex Superior Court.

Prosecutors said Entwistle killed his wife and daughter after sinking deeply into debt and becoming dissatisfied with his sex life.

Entwistle told police he found their bodies after returning home from running errands. His lawyer said in closing arguments yesterday that Rachel Entwistle shot the baby and then killed herself, and her husband covered up her actions to “protect her honor.”

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:59 AM | Comment

Update: Carcieri defends immigration statement on radio

Governor Carcieri responded on the radio this morning to criticism that he had undermined the work of Providence police officers and their enforcement of immigration policy.

In a statement released yesterday, Mayor David Cicilline said that the governor had unfairly blamed the police for Marco Riz –– a Guatemalan living illegally in Rhode Island who is accused of kidnapping and rape –– being able to walk the streets.

“This is no criticism,” Carcieri said this morning on WPRO. Instead, he said, he was “giving (the police) a tool to do their job even better and, by the way, to protect themselves.”

Carcieri issued an executive order in March urging state and local law enforcement officers to take steps to enforce federal immigration law.

“Had the Providence Police Department been working with ICE,” the way they should be , Carcieri said, “this man might have been taken off the street.”

In a statement released yesterday, Carcieri said that had the police used the NLTS telecommunications system to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement after Marco Riz was arrested, in 2007, he would not have had the opportunity to rape and kidnap a woman. Carcieri also touted his Executive Order, which was passed after Riz’s 2007 arrests.

In yesterday’s statement, Cicilline said Carcieri was unfairly blaming Providence police for the failures of federal agencies, and that the police followed a decades-old protocol by faxing information about Riz to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Carcieri told WPRO's John DePetro that if “what happened to that woman,” happened to a member of the mayor’s family, “he might view it differently.”

Riz has been arrested and faces charges of rape and kidnapping for allegedly carjacking a woman at a grocery store, robbing her, then driving her car to Roger Williams Park and raping her. His trial has not yet begun and he’s being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston.

Your turn: React to the Assembly's handling of immigration issues this year

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:56 AM | Comment

R.I. recognizes World Refugee Day today

The United Nations recognizes World Refugee Day on June 20, but in Rhode Island, the event, which highlights the plight of refugees around the world, takes place today.

The state’s 4th Annual Rhode Island World Refugee Day Celebration is sponsored by the International Institute of Rhode Island, which provides education and legal and social services to immigrants and refugees in the state and through southern New England.

Speakers will include the former U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Mauritania and Nigeria, William Taddell; Ghaydaa Ghalum, a former refugee and recent arrival from Iraq; and Bill Shuey and Baha Sadr, both of the International Institute.

Expect music, refreshments and a celebration of the spirit and courage of refugees, as well as efforts to help refugees across the world. The event will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Alderman’s Chambers, 3rd floor in Providence City Hall.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:06 AM | Comment

Jogging with John, RISD's running president

John Maeda, the newly installed president of the Rhode Island School of Design, has scheduled the first “Jogging with John” for this morning from 6 to 7, starting in front of his temporary residence, the Hilton Providence, 21 Atwells Ave., Providence.

Maeda said that during and after the loop of about 1.5 miles, he plans to talk to his colleagues about Web 2.0 leadership and other innovative ideas.

Read more about Maeda.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:14 AM | Comment

Today in history: A European spots North America

On this day in 1497, the first recorded sighting of North America by a European took place as explorer John Cabot, on a voyage for England, spotted land, probably in present-day Canada.

Read more from today in history.

Watch video about today in history.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Sunny, muggy but dry so far

What is with this weather?

It's sunny and muggy at 6:30 a.m., but the National Weather Service says there's a slight chance of more isolated showers an thunderstorms late this morning, and again later in the afternoon. The NWS is even predicting a chance of hail, frequent lightning and winds gusting up to 21 mph. Temperatures should reach 81 degrees.

And it's the same story tonight, with isolated showers and storms possible until about 9 p.m. Skies should begin to clear as the night goes on, and the temperatures should drop to about 58 degrees.

But it looks like we're in for a rain-free Wednesday, with sunny skies and temperatures reaching near 84 degrees and breezy north winds.

Check projo.com's weather page for the latest forecasts

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page: Why the immigration bill failed

Today's front page features a look at why a bill to crack down on illegal immigration failed in the General Assembly.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment

June 23, 2008

Tonight: Start gearing up for July 4 with Bristol concert

It's almost Fourth of July celebration time in Bristol -- an event that people trek to from all over.

Tonight, get a start on it. Catch a free concert in Bristol in Independence Park on Thames Street. Gerry Grimo and the East Bay Jazz Ensemble performs at 7:45 p.m. The event is part of the town's 223rd annual Fourth of July Celebration. It will be held rain or shine, according to the Bristol Fourth of July Web site.

If you get there early, you might catch the end of a concert in the same location by The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble. It was scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

For more concerts in tune with the annual celebration, click here for a schedule.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:04 PM | Comment

Carcieri again vetoes minimum sentencing, voting bills

PROVIDENCE – Governor Carcieri has once again vetoed bills to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for drug-dealers and allow 16- and 17-year-olds to “pre-register’’ to vote.

With a flood of bills headed his way from the General Assembly session that ended on Saturday night, the veto messages that Carcieri issued today on these two bills raise all the same issues he raised before when he voted earlier versions of the same bills.

The drug sentencing bill introduced in the House by Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence, and in the Senate by Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence, would not only eliminate the current 10-year minimum sentence, it would also lower the maximum allowable prison term -- life in prison -- for people convicted of manufacturing, selling or possessing “with the intent to manufacture or distribute’’ illegal drugs from life in prison to 20 years.

The argument: The Reagan-era law has ruined lives, and contributed to the disproportionate number of minorities behind bars.

“Whether intended or not,’’ the Republican Carcieri said, “the practical import of this legislation is that the General Assembly is directing the judiciary to ease up on sentences for serious drug offenses.’’

As to why he again vetoed the so-called teen pre-registration bills introduced in the House by Rep. Edwin Pacheco, D-Burrillville, and Sen. Rhoda Perry, D-Providence, he said state law already allows 17-year-olds to register if they will be 18 by the next election. He said the law has worked well and in his opinion “it creates no impediment, nor dissuades anyone eligible to participate in the political system from doing so.’’

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal State House bureau

Worse, he said there could be counter-productive if the state, which has invested time and money cleaning up the state’s voter rolls, was now “forced to add thousands of names – all people ineligible to vote.’’ His argument: “Adding people to a voter list who are not eligible to vote defeats the purpose of having the list in the first place.’’

In a press release hailing the passage again this year of the pre-registration bill, the sponsors anticipated Carcieri’s objections. In it, both Pacheco and Perry said they didn’t see “any reason pre-registration would be any more susceptible to fraud or confusion that regular registration.’’

They said it would make it more likely that students “who might be away at college when they turn 18’’ would return to vote. They also argued that giving youngsters a “personal link to the voting process at a younger age would increase the likelihood that they will vote now and in the future.’’

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:54 PM | Comment

Update: RAF jets pass on State House flyover today

PROVIDENCE -- If you looked up in the sky at the appointed time, and didn't see the Royal Air Force jets stream by -- it wasn't because you missed them.

Instead, the team was forced, after several delays, to drop its plan to fly over the State house. Instead, the jets went to the aiport at Quonset, where they've already landed.

The planes were initially scheduled to screech over the State House with smoke trails and all at about 12:30 p.m. But bad weather along the way has led to several schedule changes. The latest announced at around 2:30 p.m., saying they would attempt a 3:45 p.m. arrival.

At fault, Lt. Col. Denis Riel of the Rhode Island National Guard said earlier, was a storm in Virginia, from where the jets were taking off, and a low cloud cover here in New England.

The jets may try another flyover later this week.

And you'll still have a chance to catch the Royal Air Force when the team performs in the Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show, which is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 4:12 PM | Comment

Update: Ex-legislator Mesolella's daughter dies in crash

The daughter of Vincent J. Mesolella Jr., a prominent former state representative from North Providence, was killed Sunday morning in a head-on car crash in Port Washington, N.Y.

The Nassau County Police Department said that alcohol appeared to be a factor in the accident leading to the death of Desiree Mesolella, 19, of Lincoln, an aspiring model, clothing designer and student at Adelphi University in nearby Garden City on Long Island.

Mesolella was a passenger in a 2007 Honda Civic that was driven by Ansaf G. Imbrahim, 21, of Port Washington. The police said that Imbrahim was driving north on Port Washington Boulevard at 8:29 a.m. when she crossed the center line and crashed into a Toyota heading in the opposite direction.

The impact of the collision forced the Toyota to collide with another car, a 2006 Honda. The drivers of those cars -- a 30-year old woman, and a 44-year old man -- were transported to local hospitals and treated for minor injuries.

Mesolella and Imbrahim were brought to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. Less than three hours later, at 10:54 a.m., Mesolella was pronounced dead. It was not known whether she was wearing a seatbelt.

Mesololla’s father, now a developer, was unavailable for comment today.

Imbrahim, whose injuries, the police said, were described as non-life threatening, was arrested at the hospital and charged with second-degree manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and the aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

-- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski, with reports from projo.com staff writer Brandie Jefferson

She was expected to be arraigned today in her hospital bed, or in First District Court in Hempstead, Long Island. A spokeswoman at Adelphi said that Imbrahim was not a student at the university.

Desiree Mesolella was a 2006 graduate of St. Mary Academy-Bay View in East Providence. She had been a past contestant in the Miss Rhode Island Teen USA pageant, gaining recognition in the "evening gown’’ portion of the 2005 contest.

Colleen Gribben, principal of St. Mary Academy-Bay View, learned of Mesolella’s death on Sunday afternoon, and the news left her shocked. She said that Mesolella came to the Catholic school in the fourth grade and stayed through high school. She was a cheerleader and her parents were supportive of "Manhattan,’’ an annual fund-raising cabaret.

"She was great,’’ Gribben said. "She was a very happy kid. She was very social and very outgoing.’’

Last summer, Mesolella was recognized on a local Web site, 4Zero1.com as "Model of the Month.’’ In response to a series of questions on the site, she said that she was taking college business courses and she was interested in owning a clothing boutique in Manhattan. She also said that she loved Las Vegas, Rhode Island beaches and "definitely coffee milk.’’

In the fall of 2006, Mesolella enrolled as a freshman at Adelphi University, largely a commuter school with more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Its campus is about 20 miles west of New York City.

Bonnie Eissner, Adelphi’s communications director, said Mesolella had recently declared art as her major, and she was wrapping up a summer session of studies that began last month.

"We at the university are saddened by the news,’’ Eissner said. "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this most difficult time.’’

Mesolella’s father was deputy Democratic majority whip for former House Speaker John B. Harwood, D-Pawtucket. Over the past 14 years, he has been chairman of the Narragansett Bay Commission, the state’s largest sewage-treatment agency.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:40 PM | Comment

State gets more money for crime victims

A Rhode Island fund that is used to compensate victims of crime for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses has just received a boost from the federal government.

The Crime Victims Fund, which is financed through fines paid by people convicted of federal crimes, is allocating $891,000 to the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund, which reimburses victims up to $25,000 for expenses not covered by insurance or court-ordered restitution.

“The last thing a crime victim should have to worry about is how they are going to make up for lost wages or cover their medical expenses," Sen. Jack Reed said today in a statement. Reed is a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds Department of Justice Programs.

“For years,” he said, “Rhode Island’s Crime Victims Fund has played a vital role in helping crime victims heal their wounds, both physical and emotional, and get back on their feet.”

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:18 PM | Comment

Gloucester mayor: No evidence of pregnancy pact

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) -- The mayor of Gloucester said Monday there is no evidence a group of young girls made a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together, seeking to dispel an explosive theory put forth by the high school principal.

"Any planned blood oath bond to become pregnant - there is absolutely no evidence of," Mayor Carolyn Kirk said Monday after a closed-door meeting with city, school and health leaders.

Conspicuously absent from that meeting was Gloucester High School Principal Joseph Sullivan, who has not responded to repeated requests for comment after he was quoted last week in a Time magazine story saying the girls planned to get pregnant together. The story made headlines around the world.

The mayor, who also sits on the school committee, said she was not comfortable having Sullivan at the meeting.

Kirk cited privacy concerns in refusing to answer many questions about the 17 girls who had become pregnant this school year - more than quadruple the number who generally become pregnant at the school.

Kirk said she and Superintendent Christopher Farmer have been in touch with Sullivan, and that he was "foggy in his memory" about how he came to believe there was a pact.

"When pressed, his memory failed," Kirk said.

Authorities have talked to school and health officials who work most closely with the children and, Kirk said, "The people that worked with the children on a daily basis have said there has been no mention whatsoever of a pact."

Kirk said the spike in pregnancies is in keeping with similar spikes in other cities.

-- Associated Press

Farmer said there was a "distinct possibility" that the girls who found themselves in similar, challenging situations later decided to "come together for mutual support."

He said the Time magazine piece did not distinguish between "a pact to become pregnant or a pact because we are pregnant."

Farmer also said it was clear some of the girls were not trying very hard not to become pregnant. The principal had said some girls gave high-fives and planned baby showers while others were sullen if their pregnancy tests at the high school clinic came back negative.

Farmer defended Sullivan saying, "I don't believe anyone has acted in particularly bad faith here."

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:06 PM | Comment

Big Dig contractor files for bankruptcy protection

BOSTON — Big Dig contractor Modern Continental Co. has filed for bankruptcy protection, the first business day after federal prosecutors charged the company with lying about its work on the massive project.

The contractor made a Chapter 11 filing Monday in federal bankruptcy court in Boston. The bankruptcy petition lists debts of $500 million to $1 billion, and assets of $100 million to $500 million.

The Boston Globe reports Modern Continental’s board voted June 11 to seek protection from creditors.

On Friday, federal prosecutors charged the Big Dig’s biggest contractor with lying about the quality of its work on two areas of the tunnel system. Those include a section where a ceiling collapse killed a woman.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:44 PM | Comment

Bay fish count: Menhaden up, flounder still floundering

JAMESTOWN -- Many fish populations in Narragansett Bay are improving this year, with menhaden showing another big upswing.

But fish such as winter flounder that live on the Bay’s bottom continue to do badly. And the Bay’s temperature continues to warm while its ecology is changing.

Those were some of the biggest conclusions announced in a press conference today at the state’s fisheries laboratory at Fort Wetherill in Jamestown. State and federal scientists used the occasion to thank the state’s congressional delegation for appropriating $916,000 to continue the unusual federal-state-private effort to monitor the health of the Bay.

The so-called Bay Window partnership was initiated in 1997 by the late U.S. Sen. John H. Chafee in response to the North Cape oil spill off Rhode Island in January 1996. See the data online.

-- Journal environmental reporter Peter B. Lord

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:42 PM | Comment

Governor waiting for Senate leaders to transmit budget

PROVIDENCE -- For those wondering why Governor Carcieri has not yet signed the new $6.9 billion state budget, this is the answer: He can’t, because as of late this morning, he still didn't have it.

The bill cleared its last legislative hurdle on Thursday, but Senate Democratic leaders have not yet “transmitted’’ the bill.

The fiscal year does not end until June 30, so the delay has not yet caused any financial problems.

Lawmakers adopted most of Carcieri's cost-saving proposals, including $67 million in Medicare “reforms’’ and $90 million in personnel savings that have yet to be fleshed out. The new budget preserves the income tax cuts lawmakers promised the state’s wealthiest taxpayers in a rosier year, while cutting hundreds of people from the state’s health and welfare rolls, and millions of dollars from the state colleges and university and a tuition scholarship program.

Said Carcieri last week: “This budget represents a watershed moment in the recent history of Rhode Island state government. In the face of a severe fiscal crisis, we have worked together to reduce spending and balance the budget without raising taxes. In particular, the House of Representatives has approved most of the spending reduction plans I and the House Republicans proposed earlier this year. As a result, it’s a huge win for Rhode Island taxpayers.”

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau

Posted by maria caporizzo at 1:26 PM | Comment

Coming tonight: HSGameTime All-State girls lacrosse

Tonight at 6, we continue our coverage of spring All-States by unveiling the 2008 Providence Journal HSGameTime All-State girls lacrosse team. You can find the first-team and second-team All-State listings as well as All-Division and All-Academic teams, at HSGameTime. Right now, you can get watch and listen to a multimedia interview with All-State Chloe Schmitz, from the Division I champion Moses Brown team.

Here is the online schedule for spring All-States. The new teams will be announced at 6 p.m. each day.

Online now: Boys tennis, golf, boys volleyball, softball
Today: Girls lacrosse
Tomorrow: Boys lacrosse
Wednesday: Girls outdoor track
Thursday: Boys outdoor track
Friday: Independent stars
Saturday: Baseball

Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:59 PM | Comment

Update: Defense: Entwistle's wife killed baby, herself

WOBURN, Mass. -- A defense attorney for a British man accused of killing his wife and 9-month-old daughter has told a jury that the defendant's wife shot the baby and then committed suicide.

Neil Entwistle's attorney said Entwistle decided to "protect" his wife's honor and cover up her actions after he found Rachel and their daughter, Lillian, dead with his father-in-law's gun on the bed.

Lawyer Elliot Weinstein told jurors in closing arguments today that Entwistle took the gun and drove more than 50 miles from his home in Hopkinton, Mass., to his father-in-law's house to return it because he was "committed to not betraying Rachel's memory." The police later determined it was the gun used to kill mother and daughter.

Prosecutors are expected to give their closing later today.

-- The Associated Press

The defense rested Monday without calling any witnesses after jurors heard a recorded interview of Entwistle asking how quickly they died.

Prosecutors claim Entwistle, 29, was despondent over heavy debt and dissatisfied with his sex life.

Entwistle told police he returned home from running errands on Jan. 20, 2006, and found his wife and daughter dead in a bed in the master bedroom. He said he flew to his native England the following day because he wanted to be consoled by his parents.

Prosecutors rested their case Monday after playing a 45-minute recorded conversation Entwistle had with a state trooper on Jan. 26, 2006, five days after he returned to England. In the phone conversation, State Police Sgt. Robert Manning told Entwistle that the state medical examiner had ruled his wife and daughter died of gunshot wounds.

Entwistle had told the same trooper in an earlier conversation that he thought his wife and daughter had been shot, but left the house without calling for an ambulance because it was “obvious” they were dead.

“When I saw Lilly, you know, that’s when I could see what happened,” Entwistle said.
Entwistle asked Manning if the medical examiner was able to determine how quickly they died.
“I can’t tell you that, but I can probably tell you that it was probably quick,” Manning said. “I don’t think they suffered much.”

Entwistle choked up when he asked about his daughter.

“It was just the state of Lilly,” Entwistle said. “The blood on her looked like it was more than just a shot.”

Closing arguments were expected late Monday morning, followed by the judge’s instruction on the law to the jury.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:25 PM | Comment

Pawtucket man sentenced to 13 years for drugs, guns

PROVIDENCE -- A Pawtucket man has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking and gun offenses.

Timothy Falcon, 44, was sentenced to the 157 months by Judge Mary M. Lisi on Friday in U.S. District Court, Providence, according to a news release today from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Pawtucket police last September found more than a half-kilogram of cocaine in two Pawtucket residences linked to Falcon, the U.S. Attorney's office said.They also found a loaded handgun in the trunk of Falcon’s car and another in a safe.

Falcon pleaded guilty in March to four charges.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Prosecutor Sandra R. Beckner said at the plea hearing that the government could show that, in September 2007, DEA agents and Pawtucket police got search warrants for apartments on Denver and Prospect streets in Pawtucket. While agents were doing surveillance outside the Denver Street apartment, Falcon left in his car, spotted the surveillance and tried to flee. Agents stopped the car, detained Falcon and a passenger, and found about seven grams of cocaine in the passenger compartment, and a loaded .22 caliber pistol in the trunk.

In the Denver Street apartment, agents found two bags containing about two ounces of cocaine, a scale and a safe. Agents found in the safe a loaded .45 caliber pistol and $17,000. In the Prospect Street residence, which Falcon owned, agents found 565 grams of cocaine in a kitchen drawer. The total cocaine seized was about 627 grams. Falcon told agents he had been selling cocaine at a rate of about 100 grams per week for the past year.

Lisi sentenced Falcon to 97 months in prison for two drug-trafficking offenses and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and another 60 months for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:19 PM | Comment

Reed, Frank help spur housing market rescue bill

WASHINGTON -- Despite a veto threat from President Bush, the Senate is prepared to press ahead this week with a sweeping rescue of the housing market that could protect hundreds of thousands from foreclosure.

With Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., in the lead on the House side, work on a compromise between the two versions of the bill could begin as early as tomorrow, when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has scheduled a key parliamentary vote in the Senate.

If it succeeds, full Senate passage could come swiftly. The goal would then be to reconcile the House and Senate bills and get a final version on the president’s desk well before Congress goes on its August recess.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who helped craft a financing mechanism to bridge differences between Democrats and Republicans on this issue, said the measure would address a housing crisis in Rhode Island that has become acute.

"You can have renters who are doing all they can and paying every month and suddenly the owner is foreclosed upon – they’re out of the house. So where do they go?’’ Reed said. Foreclosures can thus have a snowball effect on neighborhood blight, he said.

The Rhode Island Democrat’s contribution to the bill is a permanent housing assistance fund, financed by fees on the mortgage industry, that in its first year would go largely to address the mortgage foreclosure crisis. But as the mortgage rescue function phases out, the fund would become principally an affordable rental housing program for low-income families.

"Good housing is essential to families, not just for shelter but for whether have a chance to live decently, whether they can hold a job, how they can hold a job with a permanent address, whether the kids can do well in school. It’s hard if you go to two of three different schools moving house to house,’’ Reed said.

-- John Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:14 PM | Comment

Tim O'Shea named men's hoops coach at Bryant

Bryant University today announced that former URI assistant and Ohio University head coach Tim O'Shea is the new head coach of its men's basketball program. O'Shea succeeds Max Good, who has left Bryant to take the head coaching job at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. Bill Reynolds was at the news conference, and we'll have more from him later today.

Here's a link to the Bryant news release announcing O'Shea's hiring.

And here's the link to Kevin McNamara's story last week, which anticipated the choice of O'Shea.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:07 PM | Comment

EMT: Place a mess, woman was dead on floor / Photo

Journal Photo/ Kathy Borchers
Bryan Mylniec, left, with his attorney Andrew Bucci, listen while prosecutor Thomas O'Brien gets testimony from West Warwick police Sgt. Scott Thornton.

WEST WARWICK -- When rescue crews arrived at Brian Mlyniec’s home two years ago, the living room was a mess, with plants overturned, and clothes and food on the floor. In the middle of the room was Kelly Ann Anderson -- obviously dead, according to Eric Galloway, an EMT.

Galloway was the state’s first witness in Mlyniec’s murder trial in Kent County Superior Court today. The 45-year-old West Warwick man faces a first-degree murder charge in 41-year-old Anderson’s death by strangulation.

Prosecutors in the case today gave opening statements, telling jurors that they would eventually hear two videotaped statements that Mlyniec made to police after his arrest.

“At the end of the case,” John Corrigan, of the Attorney General’s Office, told jurors, “You’re going to have evidence before you so you can call this death exactly what it was: Murder in the first degree.”

The defense reserved its right to make an opening statement later instead of today. Previously, Mlyniec had said that he and Anderson had consensual, violent sex. He pleaded "absolutely not guilty" last week.

Galloway said when he entered Mlyniec’s home, he saw a room in disarray with Anderson on the floor. The state showed pictures, which led some in the courtroom to cry quietly and cover their faces.

Anderson’s shirt and jeans were unbuttoned, and, Galloway testified, Mlyniec was hovering over her and said, “Oh, she’s moving.” But, Galloway testified, it was immediately evident to the EMTs that Anderson was already dead.

The state medical examiners office later determined that the cause of death was strangulation.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:58 AM | Comment

Newport police keeping an eye on cyclists

The Newport police are stepping up enforcement of bicycle laws this summer after receiving complaints from the community, according to a statement.

The main focus will be on helmet and sidewalk violations. Anyone 15 or younger is required to wear a helmet and riders 13 and older are prohibited from city sidewalks.

The police will also use message boards to remind cyclists of the laws. The police have held bicycle safety classes for young riders to make sure they know what the rules are and how to ride safely.

And don’t forget. Stop at stop signs and red lights and always obey the rules of the road, whether you’re on two wheels or four.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:31 AM | Comment

Reporter's query: Seeking carpoolers into saving gas

Have you recently begun carpooling to work as a way to save on gasoline costs? We're interested in hearing from you for a possible Providence Journal story.

Please contact The Journal's energy writer, Tim Barmann at tbarmann@projo.com.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 10:35 AM | Comment

West Warwick man faces murder charges

WARWICK -- A West Warwick man accused of beating and strangling a woman is scheduled to go on trial for murder today.

In Kent County Superior Court last week, Brian Mlyniec, 45, pleaded “absolutely not guilty” before Superior Court Judge Edwin C. Gale.

Mlyniec is accused of killing his house guest, Kelly Ann Anderson, 41. Anderson was found inside Mlyniec’s house in June 2006 with injuries to her face, throat and neck. According to the state Medical Examiners autopsy report, she died of strangulation.

Mlyniec said that the two had engaged in consensual, violent sex that resulted in bruises and bleeding.

The prosecution is expected to begin its case today. Lawyers for the state have a list of 15 potential witnesses. They include West Warwick police and fire officials, six civilians and a doctor from the state Office of Medical Examiners.

-- with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:27 AM | Comment

R.I. gas prices drop for first time since March

Gasoline prices in Rhode Island have dropped by one cent this week, according to AAA Southern New England.

It's not much, but it follows 12 straight weeks of price increases, for a total of 93 cents, according to AAA.

AAA’s survey of prices found self-serve, regular unleaded averaging $4.099 per gallon in Rhode Island.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:02 AM | Comment

Good vibrations: Brian Wilson joins folk fest lineup

NEWPORT -- The Newport Folk Festival is picking up good vibrations.

The festival producers plan to announce Monday that Brian Wilson, a founding member of the Beach Boys, is joining the festival's lineup. He'll headline an evening performance on Friday, Aug. 1 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The festival continues Aug. 2-3 at Fort Adams State Park.

Wilson is the latest big-name act added to the festival, which already includes Jimmy Buffett, Trey Anastasio, the Black Crowes and reggae artists Stephen and Damian Marley.

The festival is under new management and has branched out beyond more traditional folk this year. Organizers are hoping their roster of popular performers can produce a sellout.

The festival marks its 50th anniversary next summer.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:57 AM | Comment

CVS charity golf tournament tees off today

Golfer Rocco Mediate, who lost the U.S. Open to Tiger Woods last week in a dramatic playoff, will be among the most watched golfers when the CVS Caremark Charity Classic tees off this morning at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington.

Twenty of the world's top golfers will compete for $1.55 million in the event, which raises money for children's charities throughout southern New England.

About 20,000 fans are expected to attend.

Read more coverage of the tournament.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:20 AM | Comment

Alligator found, rescued on Cape Cod

HYANNIS, Mass. — See you later, alligator.

Residents of a Cape Cod neighborhood are saying goodbye to an unwanted guest after a 3-foot alligator turned up beneath a parked car in Hyannis.

Barnstable Natural Resource Officer Thomas Murray used a pole with a noose to remove the alligator Sunday afternoon, then placed the 60-pound reptile into a large plastic carrier.

The alligator was being picked up today by staff from New England Reptile and Raptor Rehabilitation in Taunton.

Murray said he thought the reptile might have been an escaped pet, though it’s illegal under Massachusetts law to own an alligator.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:52 AM | Comment

Today in history: Nixon discusses obstruction

On this day in 1972, President Richard Nixon and White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman discussed a plan to use the CIA to obstruct the FBI's Watergate investigation.

Watch a video report from today in history.

Read more about today in history.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:03 AM | Comment

Today's front page: Housing recover looks bleak

Today's front page features a look at the prospects for a housing recovery.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment

Rain, hail, lightning ... Happy Monday

Depending on where you were this weekend, you may not have felt a single rain drop. But you likely won't be so lucky today.

The National Weather Service is forecasting scattered showers and thunderstorms today with heavy rain, hail, lightning and flooding all possible. We'll have cloudy skies all day with temperatures reaching about 78 degrees and south winds between 6 and 11 mph.

More of the same for tonight, with a slightly lower chance of rain and thunderstorms. Temperatures should drop to about 63 degrees with winds becoming west.

And tomorrow? Rain. Showers likely in the later afternoon with temperatures reaching 83 degrees and west winds between 5 and 14 mph.

Keep an eye on the meandering thunderstorms on projo.com's weather page.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

June 20, 2008

Tonight: Lawmakers pull late-nighter; you don't have to

You can watch Rhode Island lawmakers make the hoped-for final push tonight as the legislative session draws to a close -- or you can check out projo.com's listings of other things to do.

The General Assembly action will be showcased tonight on Capitol TV, Channel 15. Or check back with projo.com, which will be posting late reports from the legislative action.

In the clubs tonight, there's a bit of everything.

Black & White featuring Gary "Guitar" Gramolini plays rhythm and blues at H2O, 359 Thames St., Newport. 849-4466. piano bar 8:30 pm to 12:30 a.m.

In Providence, the bands Poorly Drawn People, 19NINTY7, Brzowski, Outwrite and Jotsone play rock at AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence. Call 831-9327. 8 p.m. $6. All ages.

There's the Rhode Island Songwriters Association: Mark Cutler, Joanne Lurgio and Nicole Berk, playing folk, acoustic rock and pop at Brooklyn Coffee Tea House, 209 Douglas Ave., Providence. 575-2284, www.brooklyncoffeeteahouse.com. 8 to 10 pm. No cover.

Roomful of Blues play rhythm and blues at Waterplace Park in Providence, exit 22 off Route 95. Call 751-1177, www.providenceri.com/ArtCultureTourism. 7:30 pm. Free.

Tomorrow, there's a WaterFire in Providence. The lighting's on at 8:24 p.m. -- sunset.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment

Records may fall in Newport Bermuda Race / Photo

Journal photo / Frieda Squires
The lawn was covered at Castle Hill -- a prime vantage point overlooking the mouth of Narragansett Bay -- for the start of the Newport to Bermuda sailboat race today. Keep track of the boats' progress via the race Web site.

NEWPORT – Among the 200 boats on the starting line for the Newport Bermuda Race today, three of them – The Monster, Rambler and Speedboat – could set a new record, even though forecasters are calling for light air.

The brand-new 100-footer, Speedboat, is the favorite to win line honors in Bermuda, says Ken Read, skipper of il Mostro, The Monster, a Volvo 70 built for Puma Ocean Racing to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race.

“Speedboat is a Volvo 70 on steroids,” said Read. The new maxi was designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian. It is owned by Alex Jackson and skippered by Mike Sanderson. Its professional crew is loaded with Teamorigin's America’s Cup Team with navigator Stan Honey.

Speedboat and The Monster will attempt attempt to the unofficial open-class record set by
Hasso Plattner’s the MaxZ 86 Morning Glory in 2004. Plattner finished in 48 hours, 28 minutes and 31 seconds.

George David’s Reichel Pugh 90-foot Rambler will be going after the traditional record of 53 hours, 39 minutes, 22 seconds set by Roy Disney in 2002 on Pyewacket.

Final entries have dwindled from 218 to 198 entries, according to race spokesman Talbot Wilson. "One boat sank on delivery, another was t-boned on its mooring, one had an electrical fire and other crews have dropped out for business or personal reasons," he said. "Yet this is still the second largest fleet in the 102-year history of the race. The special, centennial race in 2006 had 263 starters and the previous record was 182. Organizers from the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club are positive about the final turnout."

-- Journal sports writer Tom Meade

Posted by Jack Perry at 6:45 PM | Comment

R.I. gets $742,875 for emergency needs, ID protection

Rhode Island will get $742,875 in federal money that U.S. Sen Jack Reed said will improve emergency response communications and help protect people from identity theft.

The Rhode Island Democrat's office announced late today $242,000 of that will be awarded through a grant program to help Rhode Island’s emergency communications by doing planning, training and other preparedness exercises.

The other $500,000 will come via the 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program to standardize drivers’ licenses.

"This money will help train and equip emergency management officials and first responders to protect the public and respond to any threats or disasters that may strike,” Reed said in a statement of the emergency communications preparedness money. Of the ID grant, he said: “This federal grant will also help Rhode Island comply with new federal guidelines for state-issued driver’s licenses to help prevent fraud and identity theft.”

The money comes through the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:19 PM | Comment

Photo: A fern plus free lesson equals work of art

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Margaret Lee, of Riverside, draws ferns during the Rhode Island School of Design Museum's "For Adults Only" free art lesson during Providence's monthly Gallery Night. Materials are provided, and no experience is necessary.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:14 PM | Comment

Tape: Entwistle repeatedly denied killing wife, baby

WOBURN, Mass. -- A British man repeatedly denied killing his wife and baby in a taped interview with police played today for jurors at his double murder trial.

Neil Entwistle said, "No, no, no" when state police Sgt. Robert Manning asked him if he had anything to do with the deaths of his wife, Rachel, and their 9-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose.

Entwistle sighed heavily and stammered when pressed by Manning about whether he could have done anything "out of character" on the day his wife and daughter were killed.

"God, no. No," he said.

"Of course, no, I couldn't do that. Why would I do that?"

Prosecutors say Entwistle, 29, fatally shot his wife and daughter in their Hopkinton, Mass., home on Jan. 2006, after becoming despondent over mounting debt and dissatisfied with his sex life. Entwistle denies killing his wife and daughter, and claims he returned home from a two-hour shopping trip to find them dead in a bed in the master bedroom.

On the recording, Entwistle sounded flustered as he tried to explain why he did not call police or seek medical help for his wife and daughter before flying back to England the day after the killings.

"Looking back on it, I don't know why I did things in the way that I did," he said.

-- The Associated Press

At another point, after being asked again by Manning why he left, he apologized for not calling the police. "I just feel that it wasn't the right thing to do, was it?" he said.

Manning said he recorded the nearly 2-hour telephone conversation when he called Entwistle at his parents' home in Worksop, England, on Jan. 23, 2006, the day after the police found the bodies.

Entwistle told Manning he left his wife and daughter cuddled together in bed at 9 a.m. to go shopping for computer supplies. He said he returned two hours later and found his wife and daughter cuddled in bed together, as he had left them.

Entwistle's voice cracked and he sniffled as he was fighting back tears when he described finding the bodies.

"When I walked in, I couldn't see Lilly. I could only see Rachel, and she just looked asleep," he said.

"The first thing I noticed was just her color, she was kind of pale, and then as I got closer, I could see the blood. ... I pulled the covers back and that's when I saw Lilly. Lilly was such a mess."

Entwistle told Manning that was so distraught after finding his wife and daughter that he went to the kitchen to find a knife to kill himself, but he couldn't go through with it because he knew "how much it was going to hurt." He said he then drove to the home of Rachel's mother and stepfather in Carver to find a gun to kill himself, but was unable to get into the house. He eventually ended up at Logan International Airport in Boston, where he said he wandered around the terminals, left, then returned again. He said he decided to fly home to England to be with his parents.

"I got to the point where I just needed to be with someone," said Entwistle, who described his condition as "trancelike."

The tape was played on the eleventh day of testimony in the trial. Prosecutors are expected to rest their case on Monday.

During the conversation, Manning alternated between expressing concern about Entwistle and treating him like a suspect.

At one point, he asked Entwistle if he was depressed or under a doctor's care. Entwistle said his parents were taking care of him.

"I haven't even cried yet," he said.

"You haven't even cried?" asked Manning.

"No, not properly," he said.

"I think it's because I'm here. It almost doesn't seem real. It's a just a void."

Prosecutors have depicted Entwistle as a man who was obsessed with sex and searching the Internet for ways to meet women. On Thursday, a computer specialist showed the jury a profile Entwistle posted on a Web site called "AdultFriendFinder.com" in which he said he wanted to meet "American women of all ages" for sex.

Manning asked Entwistle if he and his wife had any marital problems or had argued near the time of the killings.

"No, nothing," he said. "It was just a normal day."

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:08 PM | Comment

2 picked to fill Traffic Tribunal magistrate vacancies

PROVIDENCE -- R. David Cruise and Alan R. Goulart have been picked to fill two magistrate vacancies on the state Traffic Tribunal. Both are for 10-year terms.

They were among 5 finalists chosen June 11 by the Magistrate Selection Committee and sent to state Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams, who announced the selections today.

Cruise, 51, of Cumberland is chief of staff to state Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano. Goulart, 48, of North Kingstown is criminal division chief of the state Attorney General's Office.

The appointments will go to the Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

"Any of the five candidates whose names were forwarded to me could well serve our citizens as magistrates on the Traffic Tribunal," Williams said in the statement.

"In David Cruise, we have an individual whose years of public service in both Rhode Island and in Washington have been outstanding. From the General Assembly, to the Governor's Office, to the U.S. Department of Commerce, he has consistently proven himself as a quick study, a conscientious, tireless worker who has served the public well," Williams said.

Williams called Goulart "an individual with eminent qualifications gained during his 17 years of prosecuting cases in the Attorney General's Office, culminating most recently as the chief of the criminal division. Prior to his service with the Attorney General's Office, Mr. Goulart served three years as a judge advocate general in the U.S. Navy."

The chief justice last year received authority from the legislature to appoint Traffic Tribunal magistrates. A three-member Magistrate Selection Committee, whose chairman was Traffic Tribunal Associate Judge Edward C. Parker, interviewed five candidates, including Cruise and Goulart, on June 5 and solicited written public comment.

The committee considered, but did not re-interview, four candidates who had applied for chief magsitrate last fall.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:30 PM | Comment

Assembly passes bill to speed public records release

PROVIDENCE -- A long night still ahead, the House late today passed a Senate-approved bill to quicken release of public records, among them police reports, in Rhode Island.

The vote was 49 to 9, with opposition coming from Republicans in the Democrat-dominated House, as lawmakers grind through a host of bills on their way to adjourning the year's regular legislative session.

The proposal would change Rhode Island’s Open Records Law, cutting to 7 days from 10 the amount of time a member of the public must wait to receive requested public records. The legislation also requires the release of basic arrest information within 24 hours.

-- With reports from Cynthia Needham, Journal State House Bureau

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:29 PM | Comment

Cox Communications raising cable TV rates in R.I.

WEST WARWICK -- Cox Communications is raising cable television rates in Rhode Island, blaming rising energy costs.

Customers with the least expensive basic services or digital service will generally take the biggest hit.

Cox says its standard cable service rate will rise 7 percent in August, to $48.99 per month.

The price of limited basic service is rising as much as 26 percent, to $12.99, in communities like Cranston and Johnston. In Providence, the increase is 15 percent. Fees for digital service will rise 16 to 20 percent, depending on the package.

The company isn't raising rates on packages that bundle cable with Internet or phone services.

Cox says high energy prices have pushed costs higher, and it can't afford to absorb the increases. It says digital prices are going up because of rising programming costs.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:15 PM | Comment

Amtrak project forces cuts in Block Island Ferry runs

Delays in an Amtrak railroad bridge construction project in New London have spilled over to service on the Block Island ferry, which has been forced to cancel some of its runs this Saturday through Tuesday.

The delay in work on the Thames River Bridge has blocked one of the ferries, Anna C, from leaving the company's maintenance shipyard and forced cutbacks in ferry runs.

The 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. ferries orginally scheduled to depart Point Judith on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are canceled.

The 11:30 a.m. ferries from Block Island scheduled to depart Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are canceled as is the 5 p.m. from Block Island on Saturday and Sunday, and the 4:00 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.

People with reservations to take vehicles on any of those departures can call (866) 783-7996, Ext. 3, to reschedule. People with passenger-only reservations will be able to use their tickets on any other scheduled departure on the same day.

There are no other cancellations during this time period.

The high-speed ferry schedule has not been affected. Beginning tomorrow, the high-speed ferry leaves daily from Point Judith at 7:15 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 1p, 4:35 p.m., and 6:45 p.m., and leave from Block Island at 8:05 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

For more details on both ferry schedules and services, go to its Web site.

The Amtrak contruction project is now scheduled from Tuesday, June 24, to Friday, June 27. For more information and the impact on train service, which will be disrupted, go to amtrak.com. or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 5:14 PM | Comment

Health Department reopens 3 beaches to swimming

The state Department of Health today reopened to swimmers the Atlantic Beach Club in Middletown, Saunderstown Yacht Club in North Kingstown and Warren Town Beach.

Water sample results showed bacteria within acceptable limits.

Remaining closed due to high bacteria levels are Gorton Pond, in Warwick, and Camp Grosvenor, in North Kingstown.

For updates about swimming at Rhode Island beaches, go to www.health.ri.gov or for recorded information call (401) 222-2751.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:52 PM | Comment

Trooper Doyle back at work, has already made an arrest

Almost a year after suffering a nearly fatal head injury, Rhode Island State Trooper Brendan Doyle is back on the job -- and he's already made his first arrest.

Doyle returned to work this morning and at about 9:20 a.m., he'd pulled over a vehicle over on Hartford Avene, Providence, and discovered the driver had a court warrant, according to Maj. Steven O'Donnell.

"It's great to have him back," O'Donnell said.

Doyle overcame great odds to return to the state police. He wasn't expected to survive the severe brain injury he suffered last summer.

On June 16, 2007, Doyle was off-duty and out with friends in downtown Providence when he attempted to stop an alleged reckless driver. The driver, a former corrections officer named James Proulx, punched Doyle in the face, according to the police. The trooper fell backward and hit his head on the pavement.

The police say Proulx sped off and boasted about the beating in a call to an ex-girlfriend. Proulx is out on bail awaiting trial on felony assault and reckless-driving charges.

Doyle, who had been a trooper for three years when he was injured, took some time to conduct interview with local television stations this afternoon, but now it's back to the road for the trooper, O'Donnell says.

Read more about Doyle and his recovery.

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:54 PM | Comment

Jury in Entwistle murder trial hears tape

WOBURN, Mass. -- Jurors in the trial of a British man accused of killing his wife and baby daughter have listened to a tape recording of him saying he had "not done the right thing" by flying home to England without calling police.

Neil Entwistle is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Rachel, and their 9-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose, in their Hopkinton home in January 2006.

Today, prosecutors played a 2-hour recording of a telephone interview Entwistle had with a state trooper from England. Entwistle cried as he told the trooper that he discovered the bodies of his wife and daughter, fatally shot in bed together, after returning home from doing errands. He said he should have called police, but "just couldn't get it clear" in his head.

Prosecutors say Entwistle flew to England the following day.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:33 PM | Comment

RIPTA begins summer bus schedule tomorrow

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has released its annual summer schedule, which will take effect tomorrow.

First the good news for the sun seekers:

Daily busses to First and Second Beaches in Newport begin on Route 61; daily service to Fort Adams Park in Newport begins on Route 62; and Route 67 will be extended to the Cliff Walk in Newport.

Several routes are being canceled for the season, however, such as the 6:05 a.m. Saturday outbound trip at 50 Douglas Ave. and the 77 Benefit/Broadway 7:19 a.m. inbound on Sunday.

Still to come -- "Beach Bus" 7-day-a-week express buses from the following points will run from July 1 to Aug. 11: Woonsocket Depot, Cranston City Hall, Central Falls (400 Dexter Street), Pawtucket Transit Center and North Providence (Tim Horton's) run to South County Beaches. Fare is the regular bus fare. Please see Rte. #66 (URI/Galilee) schedule for details.

To see a complete list of discontinued, rescheduled or renamed routes, see RIPTA’s Web site or call 401-781-9400

Click below to see the lines that will be affected by schedule changes starting tomorrow.

1 Eddy/Gaspee
3 Warwick Avenue
10 North Scituate
14 Wickford/Narragansett/Newport
19 Plainfield/Westminister
20 Elmwood/Auburn/Airport
26 Atwells/RI College
40 Butler/Elmgrove
50 Douglas Avenue
60 Providence/Newport
77 Benefit/Broadway
76 Central Avenue
72 Weeden/Central Falls
67 Bellevue/Mansions/Salve
64 Newport/URI
62 Thames/Fort Adams
61 Beaches (Newport)

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:49 PM | Comment

Three accused of tax fraud

Three Rhode Islanders face tax fraud conspiracy charges after allegedly using multiple bank accounts, fake business names and writing letters to the IRS to avoid paying taxes.

According to a statement released today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bruce Lapierre, 47, of Pascoag, Albert Martin, 58, and his wife Lorraine Martin, 59, both of Woonsocket, were arrested yesterday. Lapierre and Lorraine Martin were arraigned and pleaded not guilty. Albert Martin is scheduled to be arraigned June 26 after he said he did not understand the charges.

According to the indictment, which was sealed until the arrests yesterday, Lapierre and Albert Martin hid earnings from their Woonsocket-based machine shop, Classic Machine, between 2004 and 2007.

The indictment claims that the two used Lorraine Martin’s personal account, instead of a business account, to deposit receipts and that they used an anonymous “private” account to conceal income.

The three each face one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of tax evasion for 2002 and 2003.

All three were released on bond.

The defendants are also accused of using various business names –– Banner Technologies, Circle Machine, Preferred Enterprises and Royal Enterprises –– to conduct business.

And Bruce Lapierre is accused of trying to thwart the IRS by sending “false and frivolous letters to the IRS claiming he was not required to file returns or pay taxes,” according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Earlier this week, Steven Defreitas, of East Providence, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for failing to pay taxes on more than $123,000. He's set to report to prison on July 11.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:04 PM | Comment

Portsmouth motel murder plotter's conviction upheld

PROVIDENCE -- The state Supreme Court today upheld the murder conviction of Tajendra Patel, who got two consecutive life sentences after a jury found him guilty of hiring a man to kill the manager of a Portsmouth motel.

Authorities believe Tajendra Patel blamed the manager of Founder's Brook Motel and Suites, Sanjeev Patel -- his brother-in-law -- for breaking up his marriage.

The motel owner's son, Jay Patel testified at trial that he saw his father gunned down, that his father pleaded with the man, “Please, don’t do that, sir. Please don’t do that.” He was the only witness who saw the murder.

Sanjeev Patel’s wife, Prena, testified she could hear her husband pleading with the customer and when she entered the office after hearing the shots, she saw her husband covered with blood.

Patel's appeal to the state's highest court argued the judge erred when she admitted an in-court identification of defendant "because the identification procedure was unnecessarily suggestive and because the identification lacked independent reliability," the court's opinion says. The appeal also argued that the judge also erred in admitting a 911 call that was "irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial."

Among its conclusions, the Supreme Court found "no clear error" in allowing the 911 call recording to be part of the trial.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports

The man who was hired, Roger Graham, an immigrant from Barbados who lived illegally in New York City, was convicted of shooting and killing Sanjeev Patel at the motel on New Year's Day 2002. Tajendra Patel was convicted in a separate trial in 2003 of first-degree murder and conspiring with Graham.

Tajendra Patel has the possibility of parole. The Journal reported that a prosecutor said Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg was barred from considering life without parole in sentencing because of different evidence in the case that didn't meet the legal standard for such a ruling.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:03 PM | Comment

Update: Barrington teen put on home confinement

PROVIDENCE -- A Barrington teenager accused in the boating death of a fellow teen last summer can be released from the Adult Correctional Institutions and await trial for second-degree murder at home, a special magistrate ruled today.

Ryan Greenberg, 18, was sent to the ACI in April after he violated the terms of his bail, but this morning Special Magistrate Joseph A. Keough ruled that Greenberg can go home under a strict set of conditions with the posting of $10,000 cash bail.

He'll be released tomorrow.

Greenberg is accused of killing 17-year-old Patrick Murphy in a boating incident that involved alcohol last summer. He violated the terms of his bail when the police found him and seven other underage Barrington residents at a local pond with beer and liquor on April 19.

Under the terms set by Keough, Greenberg is only allowed to leave his house for medical, legal, educational or religious purposes. He has a strict 8 p.m. curfew under any condition.

Greenberg, wearing khakis, a white shirt and blue blazer, spoke only briefly during the short court session. He told Keough he understood the terms. Keough told him he hoped Greenberg's time at the ACI was an eye-opening experience.

Although his attorney, William Devereaux, indicated that Greenberg's parents would be able to post the bail, Greenberg did not walk out of Superior Court a free man. He was taken to the ACI to be fitted for an electronic bracelet.

-- With reports from C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Greenberg's case is in a legal limbo because Greenberg is one of the "gap kids," arrested when state law said that 17-year-olds should be tried as adults.

The state has not figured out what to do with all the teens who were arrested before the state legislature put the age limit back to 18, so there’s been no progress toward trying the Barrington youth. The state Supreme Court is weighing arguments in the matter.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:59 AM | Comment

Reports: Teen girls made pact to get pregnant

GLOUCESTER, Mass. -- A pact made by a group of teens to get pregnant and raise their babies together is at least partly behind a sudden spike in pregnancies at Gloucester High School, school officials said.

Principal Joseph Sullivan told Time magazine in a story published Wednesday that the girls confessed to making the pact after the school began investigating a rise in pregnancies that has left 17 girls at the school carrying a child. Normally, there are about four pregnancies a year at the school.

Sullivan told Time that nearly half of the expecting students, none older than 16, were involved. Sullivan said students were coming to the school clinic multiple times to get pregnancy tests, and "seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were."

Some of the girls reacted to the news they were pregnant with high fives and plans for baby showers, Sullivan said. One of the fathers "is a 24-year-old homeless guy," Sullivan told the magazine.

-- The Associated Press

Superintendent Christopher Farmer confirmed the deal to WBZ-TV, saying the girls had "an agreement to get pregnant."

He said the girls are generally "girls who lack self-esteem and have a lack of love in their life."

Christen Callahan, a former Gloucester High School student who had a child when she was 15, said on NBC's "Today" show that some of the girls would ask her about her own pregnancy.

"They would say stuff like, oh, I think my parents would be fine with it and they would help me, stuff like that," Callahan said.

But she said she had no firsthand knowledge of a pact between the girls to get pregnant.

"They were just kind of like curious about it, they never actually came out and said it," Callahan said.

The first reports of the students' apparent plan to get pregnant were in the Gloucester Daily Times in March, when Sullivan said students were reporting that the girls were getting pregnant on purpose.

The rash of pregnancies has shaken the seaside city about 30 miles north of Boston. Last month, two officials at the high school health center resigned to protest the resistance from the local hospital to the confidential distribution of contraceptives. The hospital administers the state money that funds the clinic.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:23 AM | Comment

Coming tonight: HSGameTime All-State boys volleyball

Tonight at 6, we continue our coverage of spring All-States by unveiling the 2008 Providence Journal HSGameTime All-State boys volleyball team. You can find the first-team and second-team All-State listings as well as All-Division and All-Tournament teams, at HSGameTime. Right now, you can get watch and listen to a multimedia interview with All-State James Boyce, from the Division I champion East Providence team.

Here is the online schedule for spring All-States. The new teams will be announced at 6 p.m. each day.

Online now: Boys tennis, golf
Today: Boys volleyball
Tomorrow: Softball
Monday: Girls lacrosse
Tuesday: Boys lacrosse
Wednesday: Girls outdoor track
Thursday: Boys outdoor track
Friday, June 27: Independent stars
Saturday, June 28: Baseball

Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:11 AM | Comment

Woman arraigned in stabbing death of another woman

Journal photo/ Kathy Borchers
Abimbola Johnson is arraigned on a murder charge this morning in Kent County Superior Court.

WEST WARWICK -- A West Warwick woman pleaded innocent to murder in the stabbing of another woman in March in West Warwick.

Abimbola O. Johnson was ordered held without bail following her arraignment this morning in Kent County Superior Court.

She was indicted by a grand jury June 4 for one count of murder, accused of fatally stabbing Natasha Gonsalves. Both were 18 at the time.

The police have said that on the night of March 20, Gonsalves and two friends followed Johnson to Gonsalves’ 114 Pepin St. home. Johnson and one of Gonsalves’ friends argued, when the police said Johnson went inside and returned with a kitchen knife. During the argument, Johnson pulled the knife from her waistband and stabbed Gonsalves, the police said.

Officers arrived to find Gonsalves lying on the ground as neighbors tried to help her. She was pronounced dead at Kent Hospital, in Warwick.

A status conference was scheduled for July 14, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for Aug. 5.

Read an earlier story.

-- Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:32 AM | Comment

Curt Schilling to have surgery, career in doubt

BOSTON (AP) - Curt Schilling says he's out for the season, and his career may be over.

The Red Sox right-hander said Friday morning he will undergo surgery next week on his injured shoulder. When asked on the WEEI "Dennis and Callahan Show" whether that will end his season, he said "Yes."

"My season is over and there is a pretty decent chance I have thrown my last pitch forever," he said.

Schilling's physician, Dr. Craig Morgan, confirmed to The Associated Press the surgery would be at his office in Wilmington, Del., on Monday afternoon.

"If you use a scale of 1-10 and 10 is pitching in the big leagues, I'm at about 3 right now," Schilling said.

He added: "I'm going in to make it not hurt anymore."

Early in spring training, Schilling's course of treatment became a sort of melodrama.

Red Sox team physician Dr. Thomas Gill recommended rehab for a tendon injury. Schilling sought a second opinion Morgan, who operated on the right shoulder in 1995 and 1999. Morgan felt strongly that surgery was best and that rehabilitation would fail - and potentially end Schilling's career.

Morgan said Friday that Schilling's shoulder is stronger than it was in spring training when he originally recommended surgery. But the original problem with the tendon persists. He said Schilling could throw off flat ground, but that not from the mound.

The 41-year-old Schilling, who's been out since the start of spring training, underwent an MRI Tuesday and after conferring with Morgan and Gill, a decision was made to do the surgery.
Up until a couple weeks ago, Schilling had still planned to stick with rehab.

"We had a rough couple of weeks, so a lot of stuff happened over the last couple of days," Schilling said. "I met with Dr. Morgan ... and Dr. Gill. It got to a point we had to make some decisions."

A team spokesman did not immediately return a call for comment.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 10:11 AM | Comment

Budget may be signed today

The governor said yesterday that he’s likely today to sign the 2009 budget, which has been approved by the House and the Senate.

The Senate voted yesterday to approve a $6.9 million budget for the 2009 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The House voted last night.

"I look forward to signing this budget plan into law as early as Friday,” Governor Carcieri said yesterday in a statement.

Some of the notable highlights of the approved budget:

- No increase in income, sales, capital gains or corporate taxes. Taxes on medical and dental premiums increased.

- Closes the estimated deficit of $422 million, mostly through spending cuts. Largest include $67 million in Medicaid spending; $90 million in cuts to state work force.

- $12.5 million cut in non-school aid. Slight increase for school aid.

Find out what other spending plans were approved and rejected in today's Journal.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:42 AM | Comment

Today in history: Lizzie Borden found innocent

On this day in 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Mass., found Lizzie Borden innocent of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.

Read more from today in history.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

It's official -- almost -- summer ish ere

Summer arrives today, at 7:59 p.m., when we reach the summer solstice, The spot in the Earth's orbit when the sun appears at its northernmost position in the sky.

Although we'll only have 25 minutes of sunlight left in the day.

So what does that mean for the weather? Not much.

Today we have more of the same warnings that we've heard most of the week from the National Weather Service: A slight chance of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Rain aside, we'll have cloudy skies, a high temperature near 77 degrees and south winds between 10 and 13 mph.

Tonight, we may see more rain through the night, when the temperature hits about 60 degrees.

But check this out: tomorrow, Saturday, the sun makes its return, high in the sky, with temperatures reaching 83 degrees and west winds between 7 and 11 mph.

Tomorrow night there's another slight chance of rain and storms, with temperatures in the mid 60s and mild south winds.

Back to gloom Sunday, with a good chance of rain and storms in the late morning. Also, expect strong south winds, gusting upwards of 25 mph. Temperatures should hit the high 70s with cloudy skies.

It's the same story Sunday night, with temperatures int he mid 60s, and a pretty high chance rain and maybe thunderstorms.

And Monday sounds like today, with a chance of rain and temperatures in the high 70s.

Check for changes in the forecast during the weekend on projo.com's weather page.

Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page: A state trooper's amazing recovery

Today's front page features the story of Trooper Brendan Doyle's recovery from a severe head injury to return to work with the Rhode Island State Police.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment

June 19, 2008

Tonight: Time for Gallery Night, with folk art theme

It's Gallery Night in Providence from 5 to 9 tonight.

The monthly free event involves the opportunity to visit some two dozen galleries and museums, with free parking at several locations, including One Citizen’s Plaza. The theme of this month’s tour is folk art.

For information, go to www.gallerynight.info or call (401) 490-2042.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment

N. Kingstown school superintendent resigns

North Kingstown School Supt. Priscilla L. Feir announced today she will be leaving her post effective June 30.

In her letter of resignation to the School Committee, she said, "I have had a wonderful year, in spite of the many fiscal challenges, knowing that my work was done with the student's best interests in mind. However, I have decided to explore the opportunities that are awaiting me."

"Please know that I will keep the fine people of this community in my heart and in my prayers as you move forward on taht tightrope of creating and maintaining quality eductation for all students and cutting costs to achieve the fiscal targets that have been imposed on you."

The school committee is expected to accept her resignation -- despite a clause in her contract that requires 90-day notice -- and appoint an interim superintendent. That's likely to be Assistant Supt. Phil Thornton, school committee members said.

Thornton, who previously served as assistant superintendent in the Chariho Regional School District, was hired by North Kingstown in December.

School committee members said the discussion will focus next on whether to launch a national search, appoint Thornton superintendent -- he is yet to apply for the position -- or explore a possible consolidation with neighboring school districts, specifically, West Greenwich and Jamestown.

-- Journal staff writer Maria Armental

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:50 PM | Comment

Beacon Mutual to lower workers' comp policy rates

The Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. said today it will lower its workers' compensation rates by an average of 7.2 percent as of Oct. 1.

The new rate will apply to new policies or those that are renewed, the company said in a news release. The reduction will save policyholders about $10 million, according to Beacon.

“Reductions in claim frequency and the efficient management of claim costs continue to be the drivers for rate decreases,” said James V. Rosati, Beacon’s president and chief executive officer. Rosati credited the company’s loss prevention and claims management programs for helping to reduce costs.

Beacon Mutual, a mutual insurance company, is the largest writer of workers' compensation insurance and the largest writer of commercial property casualty policies in Rhode Island.

The company is the state’s dominant workers’ compensation insurance carrier, with an estimated 14,000 policyholders. The company said it is financially secure with over $450 million in assets.

In April, Beacon announced it had distributed $5.6 million in refunds to about 9,400 policyholders as part of a consent order it signed with state regulators last July.

-- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann

Companies that held an insurance policy for at least six months, from Oct. 1, 2005, to Sept. 30, 2006, were eligible for the refund.

As part of the agreement, Beacon agreed to compensate policyholders who paid inflated premiums starting in January 2005, when the company was using an outdated formula for assessing losses. Beacon adopted new rate guidelines in May 2006.

An extensive state examination released in the summer revealed, among other things, widespread pricing irregularities. Beacon for years had given discounted rates to favored policyholders, plied insurance agents with unearned commissions and spent lavishly on fancy golf trips, according to the “market conduct examination.”

At the time of the refund announcement, Rosati said the company had reformed its underwriting procedures “to ensure that premiums are calculated in a transparent and equitable manner.”

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:58 PM | Comment

R.I. AG, Fall River oppose extension for Weaver's Cove

Officials in Rhode Island and Massachusetts told federal regulators this afternoon that they oppose a five-year extension sought by the company that wants to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in Fall River, Mass.

With time running out, Weaver’s Cove Energy has asked federal regulators to extend its permit to build an LNG terminal by an additional five years.

The company is facing a July 2010 deadline to complete the project. In 2005, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave Weaver’s Cove conditional permit to build the terminal. That permit was good for five years.

In the three years since that permit was issued, Weaver’s Cove has not begun any construction. It is still awaiting a number of approvals from various federal and state agencies before any work can begin.

Weaver’s Cove and Mill River Pipeline LLC, the company that would build the pipeline for the project, filed a joint request with FERC on Tuesday asking for an extension until Nov. 1, 2015.

-- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann

“As the Commission may be aware, despite Weaver’s Cove’s and Mill River’s best efforts to obtain all the federal and state permits and approvals necessary to begin construction of the project, Weaver’s Cove and Mill River are still in the process of securing certain permits and approvals because of a series of unanticipated delays and decisions affecting the timely receipt of such permits and approvals,” the companies said in their two-page request.

“Weaver’s Cove and Mill River have worked diligently to obtain all federal and state permits and approvals related to the construction and operation of the project, but have experienced delays beyond their control.”

But Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, and the city of Fall River, said the request is “wholly deficient, unsupported, and premature.”

In their nine-page response, submitted to FERC this afternoon, Lynch and the city said Weaver’s Cove has only satisfied one of the 77 environmental conditions it must meet before it is allow to construct the terminal.

They said that Weaver’s Cove failed to mention that the U.S. Coast Guard found that it would be too risky to allow LNG tankers to traverse parts of the Taunton River because of the closeness of the old and new Brightman Street bridges. Coast Guard approval is one of the conditions set by FERC that Weaver’s Cove must obtain.

That Coast Guard finding, Lynch and the city of Fall River argued, “is largely the reason for delays in issuing permits related to dredging and related activities, including the required dredging permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.”

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:49 PM | Comment

Photo: Celtics' Garnett breaks out the cigar

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett enjoys another traditional symbol of celebration during the Celts' parade today in downtown Boston, marking their NBA championship victory against the Los Angeles Lakers. See more photos of the celebration today.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:57 PM | Comment

Beach report: Health department opens 3, closes 2

The state Department of Health today reopened to swimming these Warwick spots: City Park Beach, Conimicut Point Beach and Kent County YMCA.

Water sample results show bacteria counts are now within acceptable limits.

The department today closed to swimming the Atlantic Beach Club, in Middletown, and Gorton Pond Beach, in Warwick.

Beaches remaining closed are Camp Grosvenor and Saunderstown Yacht Club, in North Kingstown, and Warren Town Beach.

For updates about swimming at Rhode Island beaches, go to www.health.ri.gov or for recorded information call (401) 222-2751.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:42 PM | Comment

Central Falls man, in U.S. illegally for 3rd time, sentenced

PROVIDENCE -- A Mexican man was sentenced today to nearly four years in federal prison for illegally returning to the United States after being deported, the U.S. Attorney's office in Providence said.

Gustavo Granados, 39, was convicted in 1992 in Family Court of second-degree child abuse, and was deported twice, a news release from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office states. Granados' illegal status was discovered in January after a traffic stop in East Providence.

Judge Ernest C. Torres imposed the sentence in U.S. District Court, Providence. Granados, who pleaded guilty in March to illegal re-entry, will again be subject to deportation after his term in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Prosecutor Sandra R. Beckner said at the plea hearing that the government could show Granados was deported as a felon in May 1995, and was deported again in October 1999. He re-entered the United States near Nogales, Ariz., in July 2005, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Granados most recently lived in a Mowry Street apartment in Central Falls.

In January, East Providence Police made a routine traffic stop of the car Granados was driving, and contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement for an immigration check, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Immigration agents took Granados into custody on Jan. 15.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:38 PM | Comment

House Speaker Murphy will seek another term

House Speaker William J. Murphy, one of state government's most powerful figures, announced today that he will seek re-election to the House.

If he keeps his House seat, Murphy will also seek support in January for a fourth term as speaker, according to a news release. He's been speaker for six years.

Murphy, a West Warwick Democrat in a state where that party commands wide House and Senate majorities, has represented District 26 -- West Warwick, Coventry and Warwick -- since 1992.

“There is no finer calling than public service, and it is a great honor to be able to represent the constituents of my district and to bring their collective voices to the State House," Murphy said in the statement this afternoon.

Early this morning, after the House finished voting on the state budget, Murphy assured Journal reporters he would be running again. Rumors had been swirling that he would not.

Today, notices were put in legislators' mailboxes at the State House letting them know Murphy would seek re-election.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Cynthia Needham and Katherine Gregg, Journal State House bureau

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:25 PM | Comment

Coming tonight: HSGameTime All-State golf

Tonight at 6, we continue our coverage of spring All-States by unveiling the 2008 Providence Journal HSGameTime All-State golf team. You can find the first-team and second-team All-State listings as well as All-Division and the SENE All-League team at HSGameTime. Right now, you can get watch and listen to a multimedia interview with girls golf champion Samantha Morrell, from North Kingstown High School.

Here is the online schedule for spring All-States. The new teams will be announced at 6 p.m. each day.

Online now: Boys tennis
Today: Golf
Tomorrow: Boys volleyball
Saturday: Softball
Monday: Girls lacrosse
Tuesday: Boys lacrosse
Wednesday: Girls outdoor track
Thursday, June 26: Boys outdoor track
Friday, June 27: Independent stars
Saturday, June 28: Baseball

Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:41 PM | Comment

Smoke-shop sentence: No jail time for Narragansetts

Journal photo / Steve Szydlowski
From left, Randy Noka, Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and Hiawatha Brown appear outside court after their sentencing today. Video: Watch as the three Narragansetts talk about their sentences.

PROVIDENCE -- The three Narragansett Indian tribal members found guilty of assaulting and scuffling with state police during the 2003 raid on a tribal smoke shop will not have to spend time in jail.

The outcome is almost anti-climatic, coming as it does after almost five years since the controversial raid pitted the tribe against the state, several court actions costing hundreds of thousands of dollars that spun off from the original case and and a six-week trial on the misdemeanor charges, featuring photos and videos of the raid.

At midday, Superior Court Judge Susan E. McGuirl filed the case of Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and one tribal member, ordering them to provide community service by talking to schoolchildren about tribe history. She issued a suspended sentence for the third defendant.

Thomas's case was filed for one year, and he will have to provide 150 hours of community service. Thomas had been found guilty of assaulting a trooper.

McGuirl said she opted for a filing because because a conviction could have an impact on Thomas's ability, as the tribe's leader, to act as the signatory when dealing with federal agencies.

"I do not see merit in punishing [Thomas] as chief sachem," McGuirl said.

First Councilman Randy Noka's case was also filed for one year. He was ordered to do 25 hours of community service. Noka had been found guilty of disorderly conduct for grabbing at an officer as police came onto tribal land.

According to Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the attorney general, a filing is not a conviction. Thomas and Noka must remain on good behavior for a year and then can seek to have the count expunged from their record, he said.

Tribal councilman Hiawatha Brown, who had been convicted of assaulting a trooper by slamming her arm in a door, was given a one-year suspended sentence with one year of probation on his assault conviction. He was also given a six-month suspended sentence with six months of probation on a disorderly conduct conviction.

On the courthouse steps after the sentencing, Thomas was asked to respond.

"It is what it is," he told reporters. "We felt the law was on our side."

The tribal members indicated they would look at whether to appeal the case. After the sentencing, Noka told reporters it is "certainly not over in my mind."

Your turn: React to the sentencing.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Asked about appealing, Thomas raised again the defense's accusation that one juror banged a water bottle like a tom-tom and that another juror, allegedly saying of a chief sachem "he's nothing," questioned why tribal members rose from their seats when Thomas took the stand.

Devereaux raised those contentions on Tuesday in court -- the prosecutor dismissed the accusations as speculation and interpretation about the others’ actions -- and ultimately McGuirl did not order a new trial.

"In my mind," Noka said, "there's still unanswered questions," including "what was done to our tribe members."

Earlier today, the defense lawyer for the three asked for leniency at a sentencing hearing, referencing the tribe's historically troubled relationship with the state.

"Isn't it time for us, the state of Rhode Island, to step for forward and extend a hand to them," said defense lawyer William Devereaux before the sentencing.

But Pamela Chin, the prosecutor, asked that the three be held responsible for their actions that day and she said that they had been spoiling for a fight.

"These are the tribal leaders, these are the people leading people, and they led them into a fight with state police," said Chin.

For Thomas, the state asked for probation and community service. The state asked that Brown get one-year suspended sentence with probation for the assault charge, and six months suspended with probation for the disorderly conduct. For Randy Noka, the state asked for a six-month probation with 25 hours of community service.

Each tribal member spoke on his own behalf.

The sentencing comes two days after McGuirl denied two bids for a new trial for the three. She rejected defense lawyers’ arguments that the jury was tainted by racial bias.

She also denied another motion for a new trial that asserted that the prosecutors had not produced enough evidence to convict.

The three had been among six Narragansetts on trial on charges stemming from the raid. Three others -- Bella Noka, Adam Jennings and Thawn Harris -- were acquitted by the jury last April.

At Governor Carcieri’s order under Attorney General Patrick Lynch’s advice, state police executed a search and seizure warrant around lunchtime July 14, 2003, to stop the tribe from selling tax-free cigarettes on tribal land in Charlestown. The raid turned violent as TV cameras rolled. Seven adult Narragansetts were arrested.

The criminal cases were on hold for more than three years until federal courts ruled the state can enforce its laws on tribal land under a 1978 agreement that gave the Narragansetts their 1,800 acres.

Extraordinary attempts were made to resolve the cases short of trial. In addition to Judge McGuirl’s efforts to reach a plea deal, the state Supreme Court took the unprecedented step of trying to mediate the matter.

The state’s high court also made a critical ruling that spared Carcieri from taking the stand, overruling a decision by McGuirl. Defense lawyers had wanted to question the governor about his orders that day.

In a related case, a federal judge last month ordered a new trial for a state trooper, erasing a jury’s verdict that the officer used excessive force when he twisted Jennings' ankle until it broke during the raid.

In granting the state’s motion for a new trial, Judge Ernest C. Torres wrote that the state police testimony proved more believable than that of defense witnesses and Jennings.

Two weeks after the raid, an internal state police investigation found that state police had "acted well within their legal authority when executing the search warrant."

-- With Journal archival reports

Extra: Look back at the raid, in photos and video, and its aftermath.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:58 PM | Comment

Today's front page: Con man gets 16 years

Today's front page features a story about con man John P. Kluth's being sentenced to 16 years in prison for scamming 30 people out of thousands of dollars.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:33 PM | Comment

Senate panel poised to vote on 'quash and destroy' bill

PROVIDENCE -- In the rush to adjourn this year’s legislative session this week, a Senate committee is poised to vote this evening on a bill sought by the criminal-defense lobby to automatically “quash and destroy’’ criminal records, no matter how serious the crime.

The bill introduced by Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence, cleared the House last month on a 46-to-17 vote, despite objections from the attorney general, the state police and the governor who question how state agencies and other employers can do the meaningful background checks required, in many cases by law, if criminal records are erased.

Co-sponsors included: Reps. Grace Diaz, D-Providence, Nicholas Mattiello, D-Cranston, and Frank Ferri, D-Warwick.

Advocates say clean records are essential to the kinds of jobs that would provide an individual a second chance. For example, current state law bars people with certain felony convictions from obtaining state licenses to work in nursing, social work and auto repair: this would provide a way around that.

"So now we are rewriting history and telling the newspaper they can’t refer to something that everybody knows about?" Rep. Laurence Ehrhardt, R-North Kingstown, asked rhetorically during last month’s House debate.

Rhode Island law already allows the “expungement’’ of a single non-violent crime by a first-time offender five years after the individual has completed a sentence for a misdemeanor and 10 years after completing a sentence for a felony.

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal State House bureau

Despite efforts over the years by the minority community, the criminal defense bar and the gun lobby to shorten the waiting periods, this law remains intact and was used to remove 4,360 misdemeanors and 625 felonies from the public record last year alone, and 28,417 criminal cases from the public record since 2000.

The bill that is headed for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote tonight, H7583, would automatically “quash and destroy’’ any record of a crime for which the accused received a deferred sentence, regardless of the individual’s criminal history or the nature of the crime.

Deferred sentences are often the result of a plea bargain with state prosecutors, in which the state is spared a trial and the accused is spared time in jail as long as they keep the peace for a period of time that usually runs five years.

In recent years, such sentences have gone to accused stalkers, embezzlers, an admitted accomplice to a gunpoint robbery in Waterplace Park who traded testimony for a reduced sentence, an executive secretary to the Barrington Police chief who stole town money, one of the admitted co-conspirators in the Lincoln bribery scandal and at least one child molester.

The legislation to purge these cases from the public record was sparked by a November decision by the Rhode Island Supreme Court on the treatment of cases in which the admitted criminal had been given a deferred prison sentence.

The court’s decision centered on two admitted criminals foiled by a judge in their efforts to get their records expunged. One had pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery; the other to a drug-possession charge. Both received deferred sentences. They both appealed to the high court after a judge ruled them ineligible for expungement: the first because he had committed a violent crime, and the second because she got into further trouble.

"Because they never were actually sentenced," their lawyer argued that "they had not been convicted of any offense and therefore all records involving their arrest and plea should be erased."

But the Supreme Court disagreed. Since "a plea of nolo contendere is an implied confession of guilt," the court said "it follows that such a plea constitutes a conviction for purposes of weighing who is and is not eligible for expungement, even when it has been followed by a deferred sentence."

The bill headed for the Senate committee vote would allow the automatic erasure the Supreme Court rejected as ill-reasoned.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:17 PM | Comment

2 p.m. southbound train packed with Celts fans / Photo

-- Brandie Jefferson, projo.com

Posted by maria caporizzo at 2:12 PM | Comment

Budget moves on to Senate, House moves on to bills

PROVIDENCE -- The 9-hour budget debate last night was just the beginning.

After passing a budget, the House must now move on to the real work of voting on hundreds of bills still before them this session.

Legislative leaders had originally said they hoped to adjourn by tomorrow.

But in an interview in the early hours of this morning, a bleary-eyed House Speaker William J. Murphy said lawmakers may be forced to return on Saturday to finish up the mountain of legislation.

Only time, and a lot of work, will tell, he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on the budget shortly after 4 p.m. this afternoon.

“They’ll likely report [the budget] right out to the Senate floor and we could take it up as soon as today,” Senate spokesman Greg Pare.

As one longtime House observer put it, the insiders known never to try to predict the end on Smith Hill.

-- Cynthia Needham, State House bureau

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:55 PM | Comment

Photos: Chanting, sweaty, happy Celts fans