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October 26, 2005

PUC to decide 23.8 percent gas rate hike today

The Public Utilities Commission is expected to decide today whether to grant a 23.8 percent rate hike proposed by New England Gas. The three member panel meets at 2 p.m. in Warwick. Check back this afternoon for our coverage of today's decision.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 07:00 AM

October 25, 2005

New England Taxpayers Are Owed Refunds

The Internal Revenue Service says it's holding $2.26 million in refund checks that are owed to more than 2,500 taxpayers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Why? The checks were returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable. Find out if you're owed a refund by using the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS Web site:
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html

Posted by Neil Downing at 03:36 PM

Consumer confidence dips _ again.

Consumer confidence nationwide fell last month to its lowest level in two years, and New Englanders' confidence dipped bellow the national average, The Conference Board in New York reports today. The decline in consumer confidence is expected to dampen holiday sales this season.

Posted by Lynn Arditi at 01:24 PM

Langevin questions Homeland Security delay

U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin and several other Democratic members of Congress have questioned the Department of Homeland Security about the department's delay in completing the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. They specifically questioned delay is related to use of private contractors and requested a complete detail of taxpayer dollars have been "wasted" to pay the contractors who have failed to complete the task.

Posted by Scott Mayerowitz at 01:22 PM

Wall Street reacts to Sovereign's three-way deal

Shares of Sovereign Bancorp are down more than 7 percent the day after the company announced the sale of a 20-percent stake to a Spanish banking giant and the simultaneous purchase of Independence Community Bank Corp. of Brooklyn. Making his best pitch to investors today, Sovereign chairman Jay S. Sidhu said there was just one standard for the deal: "If it makes sense for the shareholders we do it, if it doesn’t make sense for the shareholders, we don't do it."

Posted by at 12:26 PM

Young jury chosen

Just before noon today, a 10-member jury was chosen in U.S. District Court for the remainder of the civil case stemming from the death of Sgt. Cornel Young Jr., the off-duty Providence policeman shot by two on-duty officers. The jury contains six women and four men. None of the jury members are black. The trial is set to begin Nov. 7.

Posted by Edward Fitzpatrick at 12:25 PM

October 24, 2005

vote scheduled

The state Board of Elections has served notice of a possible vote Wednesday on the allegations of '02 campaign-spending improprieties that the state Democratic party chairman lodged against the governor and state GOP.

Posted by Katherine Gregg at 03:09 PM

Brown has baby

Secretary of State Matt Brown and his wife Marisa are the parents of a 7 pound, 12 ounce baby girl. Born at 3:47 a.m. Saturday, the baby has been named Eleanor Mable Brown.

Posted by Katherine Gregg at 02:55 PM

October 21, 2005

Trial now set for Nov. 7 in Young suit

A judge today set Nov. 7 as the trial date for the remainder of the lawsuit filed by the mother of Sgt. Cornel Young Jr., the black off-duty Providence policeman killed by two white on-duty officers in January 2000. The trial had been scheduled to start Nov. 1, but U.S. District Judge William E. Smith issued an order today, setting the new date. Jury selection will start on Monday, Oct. 24.

Posted by Edward Fitzpatrick at 02:58 PM

Legislators to PUC: Hold off on gas rate increase

Four legislators told the PUC today they recommend regulators hold off on approving a 23.8 percent rate increase that New England Gas has requested to go into effect Nov. 1. The PUC will likely vote on the increase next week.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 02:50 PM

New baby for Trinity actors

Trinity Rep announced today that company actors Angela Brazil and Stephen Thorne welcomed their first child on October 19. Dashiell Christopher Thorne weighed in at 7 pounds 11 ounces. Parents and baby are doing fine.

Posted by Journal Staff at 12:36 PM

October 20, 2005

Springsteen at the Dunk

Rocker Bruce Springsteen will be making a solo accoustic appearance without the E Street Bank at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence at 7:30 tomorrow night. Springsteen and the band will be releasing a 30th anniversary boxed set of the Born to Run album on Nov. 15. Amazon reports the boxed set is already its top-selling album.

Posted by Journal Staff at 02:29 PM

Celtics guard Tony Allen involved in shooting investigation

CHICAGO (AP) -- Boston Celtics guard Tony Allen has been questioned by Chicago police investigators about his possible role in a fight that escalated into a shooting outside a diner this summer, Allen's lawyer said today.

Posted by at 02:15 PM

Taunton hopes pumping will ease strain on dam

TAUNTON, Mass. -- As another storm threatened to bring more heavy rains, authorities prepared to begin pumping water today from behind a battered wooden dam in hopes that would help it withstand the next wave of bad weather.

Posted by at 02:13 PM

KVH Industries Inc. Sees Revenue Rise

Due to strong sales of military, marine, and fiber optic producs, Middletown's KVH Industries Inc. today reported third quarter revenue increased 22 percent, to $16.7 million, compared to the third quarter of 2004. KVH also recorded $700,000 in income compared to a $1.6 million loss in the third quarter of last year.

Posted by Andrea Stape at 01:22 PM

Supreme Court to hear cases at URI

The Rhode Island Supreme Court will "ride the circuit" and hear oral arguments at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston on Tuesday, Oct. 25. The state's high court, which usually meets in Providence, is to hear arguments in five cases, beginning at 9 a.m. in Edwards Hall. Those wishing to observe should arrive by 8:30 a.m.

Posted by Edward Fitzpatrick at 01:10 PM

Biotech company joins collaborative

MultiCell Technologies, of Lincoln, today said it will collaborate with Thomas Jefferson University, in Philadelphia, to jointly research drugs that treat hepatitis C viral infection.

Posted by at 10:52 AM

October 19, 2005

Local agency awarded $1.1 million grant to study energy conservation and the elderly

JOHNSTON -- Tri-Town Community Action Agency was awarded a $1.1 million federal grant to fund a three-year study on how energy conservation affects the health of the elderly, Joseph R. DeSantis, executive director of the agency said today. The "Reach Out to Our Elders" Program, which will start Jan. 1, will observe 600 randomly chosen low-income senior citizens for two years. The work will lead to a cost-benefit analysis of conservation programs and the related social health cost savings.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 04:48 PM

Science & Technology Advisory Council to Meet

The state's 11 member Science & Technology Advisory Council will hold its first meeting on Thursday, October 20th at 5 p.m. Randall Kempner, vice president of regional innovation for the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, will discuss results of a study on Rhode Island's science and technology competitiveness.

Posted by Andrea Stape at 04:38 PM

CCRI wins job-training grant

The U.S. Dept. of Labor today awarded a $1.8 million training grant to the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick to help workers gain the skills to compete for jobs in high-growth industries. The college's project will focus on jobs in the healthcare industry. The award to CCRI was part of $125 million granted to 70 community colleges across the country.

Posted by at 03:02 PM

Public Hearing for proposed 23.8 percent natural gas hike

Rhode Islanders have another chance Friday to speak out about the proposed 23.8 percent rate increase proposed by New England Gas. The Public Utilities Commission will hold a public meeting on Oct. 21, at 9:30 a.m. at the PUC offices at 89 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 02:54 PM

Chafee urges help for businesses hurt by flooding

U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee is urging the U.S. Small Business Administration to quickly consider Governor Carcieri's request for an SBA disaster declaration so small businesses hurt by flooding last weekend can receive federal assistance.

Posted by Jack Perry at 02:11 PM

Teaching R.I. Students about Money Matters

A U.S. Treasury official will help teach some Rhode Island students tomorrow about money matters. Dan Iannicola Jr., Treasury deputy assistant secretary for financial education, will team up with state Gen. Treas. Paul J. Tavares, as well as Bob Twomey, president of the Rhode Island Bankers Association, for "Get Smart About Credit Day." They'll help teach students at the University of Rhode Island and West Warwick High School about such things as how to budget, use credit cards responsibly, and build a positive payment history. To learn more:
http://www.aba.com/Consumer+Connection/getsmartaboutcredit.htm

Posted by Neil Downing at 11:50 AM

Reed calls for more heating aid

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, and other Northeast lawmakers have scheduled a media conference this morning to call on the Bush Administration to release more federal heating assistance aid to help people pay oil and natural gas bills this winter.

Posted by at 10:49 AM

World Record paper clip chain

A fraternal organization will attempt to construct the world's longest paper clip chain starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Dartmouth Mall. About 60 participants, organized by Blessing Branch #1647 of Foresters, a benevolent organization, will link paper clips at a rapid clip for 24 hours in order set a record and also to raise money for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The exisiting record, set by a single individual, is a chain 5,340 feet long.

Posted by Journal Staff at 10:47 AM

U.S. business leaders hold innovation summit

Top executives from major U.S. corporations, including IBM and Procter & Gamble, are gathering at the Hotel Providence in downtown Providence for a two-day summit with Rhode Island economic development officials. The agenda: how to use innovative and creative thinking to create a climate that encourages job creation.

Posted by at 08:07 AM

October 18, 2005

Prosecutors: No legal basis to drop Station fire manslaughter charges

PROVIDENCE -- State prosecutors urged a judge not to dismiss charges against the owners of The Station nightclub where 100 people died in a fire and the former tour manager for the rock band whose pyrotechnics set off the blaze.

Posted by at 04:17 PM

Carcieri to award development grants

Governor Carcieri will award Community Development Block Grants totaling $5,393,037 to 32 of Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns tomorrow at 10 a.m. at West Warwick Town Hall. The awards are part of the 2005 Small Cities program.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 03:48 PM | Comment