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March 31, 2006

Photo: Garden to grow in Chavez' memory

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman

A portrait of workers' rights activist Cesar Chavez looks out at the scene at Smith Hill's Davis Park in Providence after a groundbreaking ceremoney today for a memorial garden to Chavez.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 05:02 PM

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday

Don't forget to spring your clocks forward this weekend for Daylight Saving Time.

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, and clocks should be turned ahead an hour.

That's right. This weekend is an hour shorter, but it means an extra hour of daylight to enjoy spring after work.

Posted by Jack Perry at 04:49 PM

Expert: Supreme court skeptical of military's system for trying suspected terrorists

BRISTOL -- President Bush’s system of military tribunals for suspected terrorists might be in jeopardy, based on questions posed by U.S. Supreme Court justices earlier this week, the president of the National Institute of Military Justice said today at Roger Williams University law school.

Eugene R. Fidell gave the keynote address during a law school symposium titled “Challenges and Changes to Military Law from the War on Terror.”

Before and after the speech, Fidell talked about Tuesday’s oral arguments before the Supreme Court in a case involving Osama bin Laden’s driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan.

Hamdan’s lawyers are challenging the military commissions set up for terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. And on Tuesday justices seemed skeptical of the administration’s contention that the tribunals can be used without adhering to U.S. military procedures or the Geneva Convention.

In 2003, Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams was named to the military review panel that would hear appeals from suspected terrorists tried before the military commissions.

But, Fidell said, “If I were Judge Williams, I would not have myself measured for a uniform yet. The fate of the military commissions lies in the hands of the justices of the Supreme Court. And while it’s always hazardous to predict the actions based on oral arguments, the government certainly had its work cut out for it at the Hamdan arguments.”

-- More to come on projo.com and tomorrow's Journal

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Posted by Jack Perry at 04:41 PM

Attorney General questions Judge Yashar's pension

Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch is questioning the legality of the decision that gave retired Traffic Tribunal Judge Marjorie R. Yashar credit for eight months she spent on unpaid leave in 2005 when court officials calculated her pension.

Lynch is urging the Rhode Island Supreme Court to examine whether Yashar truly qualified for the $120,310 annual pension she is now receiving.

“State law clearly states that former Judge Yashar is not entitled to have the eight months she spent on unpaid leave calculated into her pension benefits,” Lynch said in a statement issued today. “To heap an extra serving of this proportion on a plate that’s fully funded by the taxpayers of Rhode Island is not only costly and offensive, but wrong, under the law. It’s imperative that former Judge Yashar’s pension is adjusted to reflect her actual service to the state during her employment.”

Court officials have said that according to their interpretation of state law, they had no choice but to give Yashar credit based solely on when she started and ended her service.

Read more on this issue.

Read letters between state officials and Yashar regarding her pension.

-- With reports by Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz

Posted by Kate Bramson at 04:18 PM

Much of southern New England under fire warning

The National Weather Service has expanded a red flag warning for potentially dangerous wild fire conditions for southeastern Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island except for Block Island.

Dry weather and wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph could spread fire quickly.

The warning is in effect until 6 p.m.

Posted by Jack Perry at 04:08 PM

Photo: Enjoying the highs of a see-saw ride before the rain drops

Journal photo / Bob Thayer

Sisters Rachel, left, and Sarah Simone of Bristol, ages 3 and 14 months respectively, enjoy today's spring weather by trying out the new see-saw at Burr's Hill Park in Warren. But like the children's ride, southern New England's weather will have its ups and downs this weekend, with rain in the forecast tomorrow, then mostly sunny with a high of 63 degrees Sunday.

Posted by Jack Perry at 03:59 PM

National Grid requests an electricity rate decrease

National Grid said today that a decline in energy prices will allow the company to reduce electricity rates next month by about 3.9 percent.

The company, which provides electricity in 38 of the state's 39 communities, filed a proposal with the Public Utilities Commission this afternoon, seeking to lower its rates as of May 1.

The proposed rate for "standard offer" service, which most customers receive, would be 9.4 cents per kilowatt-hour, down from the current rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour.

If approved by the PUC, the monthly bill for a customer using 500 kilowatts of electricity would be $77.82, down $3.12, or 3.9 percent.

-- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann

Posted by Jack Perry at 03:41 PM

New general to take over R.I. Guard in ceremony Sunday

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri will formally transfer command of the Rhode Island National Guard in a ceremony Sunday on the State House lawn.

Although he was hired last month, Brig. Gen. Robert Bray will be officially introduced at 2 p.m. Sunday as the head of the Guard, the head of the state Emergency Management Agency, and Rhode Island's liaison to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

There are 384 Rhode Island Guard troops deployed throughout the United States and in four countries, including Iraq, where 95 troops in the 43rd Military Police Brigade are guarding Abu Ghraib and two other prisons.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 03:29 PM

Medical marijuana ID cards available with doctor's note, $75

PROVIDENCE -- Open registration for medical marijuana begins today.

The state Department of Health this afternoon released guidelines regulating Rhode Island's recently passed medical marijuana law that details the application process, fees and special identification cards.

Rhode Island residents suffering from a debilitating medical condition may apply for the privilege online or get an application at the Department of Health offices in Providence.

Applicants need a doctor's note and an application fee of $75 (or $10 if the applicant is a recipient of SSI or Medicaid).

Once the application is approved, an ID card is issued, and the patient or caregiver can possess a limited amount of marijuana without violating state law. But federal law still prohibits use or possession or the drug.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 02:41 PM

Gorbachev in Portsmouth as club's special guest

PORTSMOUTH -- Mikhail Gorbachev is on Aquidneck Island today, a guest of the private sporting club, Carnegie Abbey, where he will hold a question-and-answer session tomorrow evening.

The former president of the Soviet Union arrived in Rhode Island last night. He will stay at the Abbey until Sunday, according to a club spokesman.

There are no public appearances planned aside from Saturday evening. Gorbachev, 75, will field questions from the media tomorrow from 5 to 6 p.m., following by a question-and-answer session with club members and their guests.

The latter session will be closed to the public.

Gorbachev, who was leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. His work as a world leader ended in 1991, on the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:00 PM

Firefighters respond to Johnston blaze

Johnston firefighters responded this morning to a fire near Allendale Avenue and George Waterman Road.

Further details were not immediately available.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:57 AM

Landscaper pleads innocent to Warwick murder

WARWICK -- A landscaper pleaded innocent today to murder in the November death of his boss's wife.

James S. Richardson, 38, of Cranston, was indicted March 20 for the stabbing death of Margaret R. Duffy-Stephenson in her Warwick home.

Richardson, who entered his plea this morning in Superior Court, has been held at the Adult Correctional Institutions since Dec. 8, when a genetic test on material found under Duffy-Stephenson's fingernails identified Richardson's DNA.

-- Journal staff writer Zachary Mider

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:50 AM

Groundbreaking today for Chavez memorial in Smith Hill

PROVIDENCE -- U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee will join a host of city and state officials this afternoon for a groundbreaking ceremony for a Cesar Chavez memorial garden at Smith Hill's Davis Park.

The 1 p.m. event has been organized by Providence City Councilman Terrance Hassett, who helped secure $50,000 for improvements at the park, including the Chavez garden.

Chavez was a worker's rights activists who preached nonviolence. His slogan, "si, se puede" (yes, we can), have become a mantra for today's labor rights movement.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:52 AM

Catch the N.E. Saltwater Fishing Show in Providence this weekend

PROVIDENCE -- For those who can't wait to catch that prize-winning striped bass this season, the New England Saltwater Fishing Show begins today and continues through Sunday at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence.

The show, presented by the Rhode Island Salt Water Anglers Association, features lots of gear, a virtual fishing simulator, fly-casting demonstrations and more than 20 seminars on a variety of topics, including saltwater kayak fishing at 1 p.m. today.

The show opens at noon today and continues until 9 p.m. It runs from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. tomorrow and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $10, but a $2 discount is available at the show's Web site. Children 12 and under are free.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:45 AM

Water drama ends as boil advisory lifted

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- Residents are free to drink their tap water for the first time in more than three days, as state health officials have lifted advisories urging them to boil water before consumption.

Earlier in the week, authorities instructed 83 North Smithfield households serviced by the Blackstone, Mass., Water Department not to drink, bathe in, or even touch their water after a security breach at a public water tank.

Health officials determined Wednesday that the vandals -- three 15-year-olds broke in to the facility, according to police -- did not contaminate the water supply. But after flushing the system, there were concerns that bacteria might have infected the water.

Test results yesterday revealed no evidence of dangerous bacteria. Health officials said that things today are back to normal for the 83 North Smithfield households and 8,800 Blackstone residents.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 09:30 AM

Temps in 70s, gusty winds and low humidity equal fire warning

We’re in for another beautiful day, with highs expected in the low- to mid-70s, according to the National Weather Service. That’s the warmest weather since the first week of November.

However, because those warm temperatures are expected to be ushered in with gusty southwest winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and low relative humidity, the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass., has issued a red flag fire warning in parts of southern New England. The warning is in effect from noon to 6 p.m. today.

Check for any warnings in your state on the National Weather Service site.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 09:00 AM

March 30, 2006

Photo: Wonderful day, another on the way

Journal photo / Bob Thayer

With the temperature near 70 degrees, Gerald and Mary Cubelli of Sudbury, Mass., found a quiet spot today to watch the sea and sand at Horseneck Beach State Reservation in Wesport, Mass. Southern New Englanders can enjoy more sunshine and warmth tomorrow with the temperature expected to reach the upper 60s, according to the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass.

Posted by Jack Perry at 05:26 PM

Dunkin' Donuts Center to close for renovations this summer

PROVIDENCE – The Dunkin' Donuts Center will be closed for the summer.

Starting on June 12, the 34-year-old downtown sports and entertainment arena will shut down for the first stages of a major renovation.

The Dunk will remain closed until October, for the first Providence Bruins hockey game of the 2006-2007 season, according to the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, which controls The Dunk and is orchestrating the $60 million overhaul.

-- Journal staff writer Andrea Stape

Over the summer, the war memorial outside The Dunk will be removed and stored, the utilities around the building relocated, the ice system inside the building replaced, the bowl-like ceiling repainted and a new scoreboard installed.

It will be the first public signs of the renovation, which will be funded by state bonds, and began last year. In November, the Convention Center Authority, an arm of state government purchased The Dunk from the city of Providence for $28.5 million and began planning the overhaul.

"Disruption,'' is what people will see this summer when they pass by The Dunk, said James McCarvill, executive director of the convention center authority.

``They are going to see things dug up, things that are moved, they are going to see something is happening,'' said McCarvill.

It's been a long wait. It took the city and the state more than two years to hammer out a sale of the property, which has been losing money and slowly deteriorating. The state plans to update the building, adding new concessions, seats and bathrooms, expanding the lobby and putting in money-making luxury boxes.

As part of the renovation, The Dunk will be connected to the next-door convention center, allowing the state to market both properties as one giant complex for conventions and exhibitions.

-- Journal staff writer Andrea Stape

Posted by Jack Perry at 04:10 PM

Rally planned this afternoon in support of affordable housing bill

State legislators and supporters of a bill they have introduced in the General Assembly plan to rally today in support of legislation that would provide $75 million to build affordable housing.

They will hold a press conference at the State House at 3:30 p.m. today, shortly before the measure is considered by the Senate Finance Committee at 4:30 p.m. in room 211.

The bill calls for a bond referendum in November.

Read more in today’s Journal.

Also, read the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 03:00 PM

R.I. GOP joins federal complaint against Brown campaign

PROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Republican Party has joined the Hawaii GOP in filing a federal complaint alleging campaign finance violations against U.S. Senate candidate Matthew Brown.

Rhode Island Republicans gathered in Providence this afternoon to sign the complaint, initiated last week in Hawaii, that asks the Federal Elections Commission to investigate allegations that Brown and Democratic organizations from three states illegally "laundered" $25,000 in contributions to his campaign.

Brown’s campaign has denied any wrongdoing.

See a full copy of the complaint here.

The federal complaint was signed by Patricia Morgan, chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party, this afternoon and notarized. Party officials will mail the document to FEC offices in Washington later today, according to spokesman Chuck Newton.

“We believe very strongly that filing this complaint is the right thing to do,” Morgan said in a statement. “This has not been a quiet episode. These contributions have received wide coverage already. But this does not detract from that fact that the practice reported is clearly illegal.”

Brown and his campaign engineered an arrangement whereby Maine, Massachusetts and Hawaii were induced to give his campaign a total of $25,000, while a handful of wealthy Brown backers agreed to give the state parties a total of $30,000.

Because Brown's individual donors had each given him the legal maximum, the episode raised the question of whether Brown -- a self-styled reform candidate for GOP Lincoln D. Chafee's Senate seat -- had created a mechanism for evading the lawful limits on contributions.

Brown has said that the maneuver, though legal, created "an appearance problem," and decided to return the money to the three states.

The five-page complaint signed today by Rhode Island Republicans relies largely on information in media reports to make its case against Brown.

“Federal law prohibits campaign committees from earmarking contributions from maxed out donors through state party committees in an effort to evade the contribution limits. According to recent media reports, Brown campaign and Democratic state party officials have indicated that such a scheme may have been set in motion,” reads the complaint released publicly today for the first time.

“Accordingly, the Republican state parties hereby request that the commission undertake an immediate investigation into this matter and, if the alleged scheme violates the … regulations, impose the maximum penalties under law.”

A spokesman for the FEC said this afternoon that should the commission decide to investigate, the maximum civil penalties would depend on whether the violations were “knowing and willful.”

In the case of a violation that’s not willful, the maximum penalty is the greater of $5,000 or the amount involved, according to FEC spokesman George Smaragdis.

Fines increase dramatically to a minimum of 300 percent of the amount involved for willful violations.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 02:49 PM

Kickboxer held without bail in girlfriend's death at Warwick motel

WARWICK -- The Baltimore kickboxer accused of beating his girlfriend to death at a Motel 6 last week appeared in District Court today and waived his right to a bail hearing.

Judge Elaine T. Bucci ordered Malbon D. Bolden Jr., 44, held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston while awaiting grand jury action.

Bolden is charged with murdering his girlfriend, Maria Sample, in a motel room while the two were visiting Warwick for a kickboxing tournament. The police said they arrested him as he was fleeing the motel.

-- Journal staff writer Zachary R. Mider

Posted by Steve Peoples at 01:38 PM

Updated: Providence boy, 15, charged in murder over hair braiding / Photo

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Phearin Rot of Providence waits in Providence District Court this morning to be arraigned on charges related to the murder of another teen.

PROVIDENCE -- A 15-year-old Providence youth was arraigned as an adult today in the shooting death of another teenager during a dispute over a $10 bill for hair braiding.

Phearin Rot, 573 Union Ave., Providence, was 14 when Jamont Richardson, also of Providence, was shot June 28 on Smith Hill.

Phearin's case was waived out of the Rhode Island Family Court and into District Court at the request of the Rhode Island Attorney General's office. The attorney general's office cited the severity of the crime in requesting the transfer. Phearin continues to be held without bail.

Phearin was charged with murder, conspiracy to murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Phearin's older brother, now 18, also faces charges in connection with the 14-year-old Jamont's death, but his case is still pending in Family Court.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

The police say the problems started when a friend of Jamont did not pay for his hair-braiding session. The hairdresser, a 17-year-old, called her cousins, Phearin and his brother, to get the money, according to the police.

A fight between several teens ensued on Goddard Street, Smith Hill, and Jamont was shot.

An assistant Attorney General during today's arraignment said that Phearin shot Jamont in the face.

Phearin did not enter a plea this morning in District Court, Providence, because Superior Court has jurisdiction.

Chief Judge Albert E. DeRobbio noted that the case is being sent to the grand jury for consideration. He ordered that Phearin continue to be held.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Steve Peoples at 01:00 PM | Comment

Pawtucket water main repaired

PAWTUCKET -- The section of water main broken during a construction mishap yesterday has been repaired and is being restored to service.

James L. DeCelles, acting chief engineer of the Pawtucket water system, said drinking water began flowing through the 20-inch water main around 11 a.m. He said customers throughout the water system may notice some discoloration as the renewed water flow dislodges rust from the pipes.

The 20-inch water main carries drinking water from the Pawtucket Water Supply Board’s Branch Street pumping station to customers in Central Falls and Cumberland.

The pipe broke yesterday morning, as a crew from South Shore Utilities was preparing to install a new 36-inch main that will carry untreated water from the Water Supply Board’s network of reservoirs to the new water treatment plant being built between Branch Street and Route 95.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

The crew was removing an abandoned 30-inch pipe to make way for the 36-inch water main, DeCelles said, when a section of the adjoining 20-inch water main broke.

Water service to Cumberland and Central Falls was interrupted, but only briefly. DeCelles said Water Supply Board engineers and workers devised another way to route water to those communities through the Pawtucket water system’s 240-mile network of pipes.

Meanwhile, a South Shore Utility crew worked through the day yesterday to locate the break and fix it. DeCelles said the repair was finished around 7 or 8 p.m.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:42 PM

Health care reps rally before General Assembly hearing

PROVIDENCE -- Representatives from 11 health-care groups gathered for a rally this morning, a few hours before the General Assembly will review the governor's controversial plan to cut 3,000 children of illegal immigrants from RIte Care health benefits.

The health-care groups, joined by a handful of former state legislators, criticized Carcieri's plan for about an hour this morning at the Rhode Island Medical Society offices on Promenade Street.

The House Finance Committee will meet at 2 p.m. today in the State House's Trainor Hearing Room.

A spokesman for the medical society said that the hearing would be well attended.

"The societies who were represented this morning will be represented later today," said spokesman David Leveillee.

"Public spending reflects our social priorities," Kathleen Fitzgerald, president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, said in a statement. "For years, Rhode Island has received a lot of very appropriate credit nationwide for having at least some of our social priorities right, and RIte Care is the prime example."

Established in 1994, RIte Care provides Rhode Island families, pregnant women, parents and children up to age 19 with comprehensive health-care coverage.

"The budget that is now before the General Assembly proposes cuts that are economically short sighted. It comes down to a question of spending something now, or spending a lot more later," Fitzgerald said.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:31 PM

4 students hospitalized after chemical sprayed in Central High classroom

PROVIDENCE -- Four students, one teacher and a school nurse have been hospitalized this morning after someone released a chemical spray, possibly pepper spray, in a Central High School classroom this morning.

"A group of students were complaining that they had irritated throats, they were coughing," said Providence School District spokeswoman Maria Tocco. "They were sent to the hospital to be checked out as a precautionary measure."

After the suspicious odor was reported to school leadership this morning, the Westminster Street school of more than 1,500 students was evacuated.

A school nurse tripped while attending to students during the evacuation and apparently broke her arm, according to Tocco.

Schools officials have ruled out a gas leak as the cause of the suspicious smell, but have not determined the exact cause.

"Some kids said it smelled like gas, other said it smelled like pepper spray," Tocco said. "We’re thinking it was a practical joke -- that a student or students sprayed pepper spray."

The fire department cleared the building at about 10:30 a.m., and students returned to class.

Tocco said school officials are investigating the cause of the incident. The student or students found responsible will be disciplined, pending the outcome of a student disciplinary hearing.

Tocco hinted that today's near 70-degree weather may have been a factor.

"We're thinking it's spring fever -- any excuse to be outside," she said.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:27 AM

Providence high school temporarily evacuated

PROVIDENCE -- Central High School was evacuated, and several students were treated this morning after a chemical agent was released inside the Westminster Street building.

Students and staff filled the street and sidewalks outside the school for about an hour while authorities investigated. At around 10:30 a.m., students were allowed to return to classes.

A fire department official could not confirm the source of the disruption, but fire officials suspect that pepper spray may have been sprayed inside the school, according to the Associated Press.

-- Journal staff and wire reports

Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:43 AM

Mass. high court says nonresident gays cannot marry in Mass.

BOSTON -- The court that made Massachusetts the first state to legalize gay marriage ruled today that same-sex couples from other states cannot marry here.

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled in a challenge to a 1913 state law that forbids nonresidents from marrying in Massachusetts if their marriage would not be recognized in their home state.

The eight couples who sued are from Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and New York.

Read the full story.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:27 AM

Report: New England fish stocks in bad shape

PORTLAND, Maine -- A new report from a Maine environmental group says nearly half of the fish stocks in New England's ocean waters are in jeopardy from overfishing.

The report, which was released by Environment Maine on behalf of the Marine Fish Conservation Network, says that only 10 fish stocks were known to be healthy in 2004.

That's down from 13 healthy fish stocks in 2001.

-- The Associated Press

The report also says only 13 percent of the fish populations nationwide are deemed to be healthy.

The study blames ineffective management for the poor status of fishery resources.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 09:17 AM | Comment

Blue skies and warm temps expected

Today should be clear and sunny, with highs in the mid-60s.

For those of you suffering from springtime allergies, pollen counts are expected to hover at a medium level today and Saturday and climb into the high range on Friday and Sunday. For more information on the local pollen count, check out Pollen.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 08:57 AM

March 29, 2006

2 teens accused of child pornography for photos posted on myspace.com

North Smithfield police have arrested a teenager and a 19-year-old woman who posted sexually explicit photos of themselves on the Internet.

The police say Elizabeth Muller of 6 Sorel Ave., North Smithfield and a 16-year-old female friend from Lincoln put the pictures on myspace.com, a popular Web site where young people socialize online.

During a routine patrol of the site, Lincoln High School Resource Officer David Waycott recognized the teenager from school and alerted the police department’s juvenile division.

"They were fully naked and posing together," said Capt. Denis Smith of North Smithfield.

Under Rhode Island law, posting naked pictures of an underage person, even one’s self, constitutes child pornography.

After further investigation, the police said they learned that the pair photographed themselves and posted the pictures from North Smithfield, putting the case under that town's jurisdiction.

North Smithfield police arrested Muller over the weekend at her home. The teenager was taken into custody soon after. Each was charged with one count of child pornography.

-- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham

Muller was arraigned on Monday. The girl’s case was referred to Family Court.

A second 16-year-old was also arrested in connection with the postings after the police learned that she had helped photograph and post the pictures of her friends. That girl was charged with one count of conspiracy for her involvement.

The girls have not been identified because they are minors.

Sullivan said the pictures have since been removed from myspace.com.

-- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham

Posted by Steve Peoples at 04:35 PM

Celtics suspend Orien Greene

The Boston Celtics have suspended rookie guard Orien Greene indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. He will miss at least tonight's game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

According to the Waltham, Mass., police, an officer spotted Greene's sport-utility vehicle at 3:23 a.m. Monday, traveling at more than 90 miles per hour. Detective Sgt. Tim King said Greene slowed and accelerated several times, "which the officer believed was evasive movements."

The police report did not indicate any tests for alcohol or other substances being administered, King said.

Charges of failing to stop for a police officer and operating recklessly were dismissed upon payment of $100 fines for each during a court hearing Monday. Charges including speeding and marked lane violation were placed on file, and the case closed.

With Associated Press reports

Posted by Mike McDermott at 04:17 PM

Union rallies to support janitors

PROVIDENCE -- A union representing janitors will hold a dowtown rally this afternoon to protest actions by an East Providence-based maintenance company.

The group, Justice for Janitors, has led a series of protests in recent months, including a five-day fast at the Turks Head building, the site of today's rally and also a building serviced by Martins Maintenance Company.

Four former employees of the maintenance company have filed charges with the state Department of Labor and Training and National Labor Relations Board, alleging unlawful firing, withholding pay for hours worked and failure to pay for injuries that happened while employed by the company.

Today's rally begins at 4:30 p.m.

In November, the campaign organized a five-day fast in downtown Providence outside of the Turks Head building. An art exhibit at the Rhode Island School of Design-owned Red Eye Gallery in Providence showcased photos of the fast.

Last month, the campaign successfully urged the Providence City Council to deem the maintenance company a "business non grata" in the city.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 04:03 PM

Foxwoods CEO to retire

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- William Sherlock, who has been engineering Foxwoods Resort Casino's transition into a destination resort with less reliance on gambling revenue, announced today that he will retire at the end of the year.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which owns the casino, said a national search is underway to find Sherlock's successor.

During Sherlock's six-year tenure as chief executive officer, which made him the casino's longest-serving CEO, Foxwoods added new nightclubs and restaurants and opened an $80 million golf course. It also broke ground on a $700 million expansion that will include an 825-room hotel, convention space and more restaurants and nightclubs.

Read the full story.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 03:25 PM

Mass. health officials: Vandalism did not contaminate water supply

Health officials confirmed this afternoon that the public water supply in Blackstone, Mass., is not contaminated.

Testing from two Massachusetts state agencies revealed today that vandals did not pollute the water when they broke in to a water department facility Monday night, according to Edmund Coletta, spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

Despite today's test results, health officials have ordered the affected residents to boil drinking water until bacteria tests are completed.

"There was an extensive flushing regime yesterday and today. This kind of flushing can cause bacteria issue," Coletta said this afternoon.

Bacteria testing is expected to be completed tomorrow afternoon. And while consuming non-boiled water is not advised, residents are free to come into contact with the water, Coletta said.

More than 8,800 Blackstone residents and 83 households in neighboring North Smithfield, R.I., were ordered not to touch their water yesterday after a security breach was discovered at a public water tank.

Two teenagers were arrested this morning on charges stemming from the vandalism.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 03:17 PM

Mass. House speaker: Slots at racetracks a non-starter this year

BOSTON -- House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said today that a proposal to install slot machines at the state's four racetracks likely won't pass the House this year.

Speaking at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, DiMasi said there's no real momentum for the bill, despite being approved overwhelmingly by the state Senate.

"My prediction is, I don't think it's going to pass," DiMasi said. "I don't think the support's there that people think there is."

Even if the bill does pass, DiMasi said it doesn't have the support of two-thirds of the Legislature, which would be needed to override an expected veto by Gov. Mitt Romney.

The bill would let each of the state's four racetracks install up to 2,000 slot machines.

In Rhode Island, gamblers can play video slots at two locations -- the Lincoln Park dog-racing facility in Lincoln and Newport Grand in Newport.

A study issued last week by the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth's Center for Policy Analysis said the most of the patrons at those two locales are from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

It warned that Bay State gamblers would quickly switch their allegiance to the Massachusetts tracks, if slots were added there.

If that happens, Rhode Island could lose much of the $100-million plus that these Massachusetts gamblers contribute annually to Rhode Island's heavily gambling-dependent economy.

-- With Journal archival reports

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 03:06 PM

Rust-colored water could follow Pawtucket water main break

PAWTUCKET -- Pawtucket Water Supply Board customers might notice that their water is discolored after a water main break this morning disrupted service to hundreds of households, most of them in Cumberland and Central Falls, the board's acting chief engineer said.

Despite the discoloration, the water is safe to drink; no contaminants have been introduced into the distribution system, according to James DeCelles, acting chief engineer.

Workers had to re-route the water through different pipes after the main was broken and that could lead to some discoloration throughout the system, DeCelles said.

The discoloration is expected to be temporary, DeCelles said. He advised customers whose water turns a rusty brown to let it flow out of their faucets to clear it up.

--- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

The water main break was caused by a construction mishap this morning. The break occurred around 8:30 a.m. as South Shore Utilities, a subcontractor on the water treatment plant project, was preparing to install a new 36-inch pipe that will carry untreated water to the plant, DeCelles said.

DeCelles said the subcontractor broke a 20-inch transmission main that carries water from the Branch Street pumping station to Central Falls and the Valley Falls section of Cumberland, where the Water Supply Board has thousands of customers.

He said service to Cumberland and Central Falls was only temporarily disrupted because Water Supply Board engineers and workers managed to shut down the broken transmission main and re-route water through other pipes.

Traffic wasn’t affected. The water main break took place on a section of Branch Street that has been closed for construction.

Nevertheless, DeCelles said, systemwide impacts are expected as the change in water flow through the Water Supply Board’s distribution system dislodges mineral deposits and rust.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Jack Perry at 02:15 PM

Judiciary proposes changes after judge's pension draws criticism

PROVIDENCE -- The head of the Rhode Island court system drafted legislation today that would change the way judge's pensions are determined, a move that comes a few days after The Journal ran a story about retired Traffic Tribunal Associate Judge Marjorie R. Yashar's pension.

The calculations used to determine Yashar's retirement included eight months of unpaid leave, pushing her annual pension from $81,650 to $120,310.

Governor Carcieri and Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty, a candidate for governor, both criticized Yashar's pension award this week. Carcieri said Yashar's case showed that the system should be changed.

Court Administrator J. Joseph Baxter forwarded a proposal to the General Assembly earlier today that would prevent judicial leave without pay from being counted as service credit time in calculating pensions.

But there is no indication that Yashar, who has been receiving her full pension since last December, will be affected.

Yashar had been on unpaid leave, beginning in February 2005, at her own request. Chief Judge Albert E. DeRobbio, who presides over the District Court and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, declined to grant Yashar’s request to come back to work last June.

Yashar’s arrest on a charge of domestic simple assault, her involvement in an automobile accident that she did not report and her conduct and attendance to her judicial duties were investigated last year by the state Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline. The Commission forwarded its report to the state Supreme Court, which publicly censured Yashar on Oct. 5, 2005.

While Yashar was on unpaid leave in July, she reached her 65th birthday and her 20th anniversary of employment as a traffic judge. These milestones qualified her for a full pension under state law. Yashar retired from active service on Sept. 27, 2005, after returning to work for one day, following her eight-month unpaid leave.

There was no arbitrary decision by any court official to grant Yashar something to which she was not entitled, according to the court. In Yashar’s case, the Judiciary simply applied the statutory language in calculating her time on the bench for pension purposes.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 01:53 PM

Carcieri to detail 'tax holiday' this afternoon

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri will present his plan for a two-day sales 'tax holiday' to the House Finance Committee this afternoon.

Carcieri outlined his plan for the August holiday as part of his fiscal year 2007 budget proposal, saying it would save Rhode Island taxpayers more than $5 million. House members will hear the details at 2 p.m. today.

The governor has proposed enacting a sales tax holiday Aug. 12 and 13 of this year. The move would enable Rhode Island retailers to compete with a similar holiday in Massachusetts, according to the governor, while saving Rhode Island taxpayers about $5.3 million.

During the Governor’s proposed two-day sales tax holiday, the state would collect no sales tax on most goods costing $2,500 or less.

The state would continue to collect sales and use taxes on a limited set of goods and services, including automobiles, telecommunications services, cigarettes, restaurant meals, hotel accommodations, and all business-to-business transactions.

In 2004, the following 11 states enacted sales tax holidays: Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and New Mexico. Washington, D.C., also had a tax holiday.

During the 2005 and 2006 period, 14 states and two major cities have held or are scheduled to hold sales tax holidays. They are Louisiana, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Missouri, Iowa, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, New York, Maryland, and Tennessee, as well as New York City and Washington, D.C.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 01:10 PM | Comment

Brown students win prestigious scholarships

PROVIDENCE -- Two Brown University juniors have received prestigious scholarships for their work in public service.

Te-Ping Chen, of California, and Geoffrey Gusoff, of New Jersey, are among 75 students nationwide to earn the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, an honor that gives them up to $30,000 each to pursue graduate degrees and career development opportunities.

Independent selection panels choose the scholars on the basis of leadership potential, commitment to public service, intellectual ability, and likelihood of making a difference in the world.

Chen, who studies sociology and international relations, founded the on-campus Democracy Matters Rhode Island group, which is working for statewide campaign finance reform.

Gusoff, who concentrates on public policy at Brown, worked extensively on issues of housing and homelessness in Providence. He is the co-founder and leader of HOPE (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere), an organizer with People to End Homelessness, and has co-led the Politics of Homelessness group.

Congress established the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation in 1975 as the federal memorial to the 33rd U.S. President. This year, the scholarship committee selected 75 scholars from a pool of 598 candidates nominated by 311 colleges and universities.

There have been 2,480 Truman Scholars elected since the first awards were made in 1977.

Three University of Rhode Island students have earned the scholarship in recent years.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:32 PM

Pawtucket water main breaks on Branch Street / Photo

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Water fills a section of Branch Street in Pawtucket this morning after construction crews damaged a water main.

PAWTUCKET -- City officials reported a water main break this morning on Branch Street.

The street -- near the city's Water Supply Board headquarters -- has not been closed, but area residences will notice a reduction in water pressure this morning, according to Vin Scully, battalion chief for the Pawtucket Fire Department.

Crews are working to fix the problem, which was caused by nearby road construction, Scully said.

Water was not shooting from the exposed main this morning, but the break covered the street with a thin sheet of water that created a muddy mess for construction crews.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:22 PM

Bragging rights at stake today in R.I. water taste test / Poll

WARWICK -- Water and wastewater personnel from around the state will gather today to determine which community has Rhode Island's best-tasting water.

Survey: Tell us about your drinking water.

The Atlantic States Rural Water and Wastewater Association will hold its annual conference this afternoon at the Radisson Airport Hotel, which includes speakers, training sessions and awards for wastewater treatment excellence.

The annual drinking water taste test begins at 12:45 p.m. This year’s winner will represent Rhode Island in the Great American Taste Test in Washington next month.

Last year's winner was North Kingstown. Other recent winners include Glocester and Burrillville.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:21 AM | Comment

Celtics to discipline Greene in wake of speeding stop

BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics plan to discipline rookie Orien Greene after the backup point guard was caught driving his SUV more than 90 miles per hour on a city street in Waltham.

"He will be disciplined by the team, significantly," said Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck. The team did not immediately return a call for comment today.

Waltham Detective Sgt. Tim King said Greene's SUV was spotted by an officer at 3:23 a.m. Monday. He said Greene slowed and accelerated several times, "which the officer believed was evasive movments."

The police report did not indicate any tests for alcohol or other substances being administered, King said.

Charges of failing to stop for a police officer and operating recklessly were dismissed upon payment of $100 fines for each during a court hearing Monday. Charges including speeding and marked lane violation were placed on file, and the case closed.

-- Associated Press

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 10:42 AM

Police believe Blackstone water is safe

BLACKSTONE, Mass. -- A police official says there is no evidence that a public water facility was contaminated during a break-in Monday night at a public water facility.

Two 15-year-old boys have been charged in connection with the break-in, and a 15-year old girl may be charged with trespassing.

"We’re certain they didn’t dump anything into the water supply," Blackstone Police Lt. Gregory Gilmore said this morning.

But out of an abundance of caution, authorities are still urging residents not to touch their tap water until official test results are known later today.

Authorities discovered an empty 5-gallon bucket at the water department building, which fueled speculation that something was dumped into the 1.3 million-gallon water tank.

But authorities now believe the bucket was simply left over from a construction crew that recently worked on the building.

More than 9,000 people in Blackstone and North Smithfield have been affected.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:24 AM

Trinity Rep actor, designer get IRNE awards

Trinity Repertory Company this week received two Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards, Trinity announced late yesterday.

Resident designer Eugene Lee won the award for Best Set Design for "Topdog/Underdog," and company member Joe Wilson Jr. took home the Best Actor award for his alternating roles of rival siblings Lincoln and Booth in that same production.

A co-production with Boston's New Rep, Suzan-Lori Parks’ "Topdog/Underdog" was on Trinity’s stage in January and February of 2005. The Independent Reviewers of New England are a panel of critics from media outlets around Rhode Island and Massachusetts that honor the best of the New England theater season with annual awards.

Posted by at 10:07 AM

Two teens charged in break-in at Blackstone, Mass., water facility

BLACKSTONE, Mass. -- Police in Blackstone say two 15-year-old boys have been charged in connection with a break-in at the town's water facility that prompted officials to declare a water emergency.

The boys were arrested last night after they allegedly made comments about the incident at school. They're charged with trespassing, malicious destruction of property and tampering with a public water supply.

A 15-year-old girl may also face a trespassing charge.

Meanwhile, the water ban remains in effect in Blackstone and a portion of North Smithfield, Rhode Island. Officials say test results could be available later today on water samples, but residents have been ordered not to drink the water or use it for any other purpose.

Police Lieutenant Gregory Gilmore says at this point there is no evidence that anything toxic was introduced into the water.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 08:47 AM

Vinatieri to donate Super Bowl cleats for scholarship fund / Photo

Former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri may have left the New England Patriots behind, but his latest gesture will at least make some future college students happy.

Vinatieri plans to donate the cleats that he wore during Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX to the Arthritis Foundation at a ceremony Friday afternoon at 5 o'clock at the foundation's office, 2348 Post Rd., Suite 104, in Warwick. The Arthritis Foundation will then auction the cleats to endow a new Vinatieri Scholarship Fund, which will assist students who have been diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Vinatieri previously gave the foundation the cleats he wore during Super Bowl XXXVI, against the St. Louis Rams, and during the "Snow Bowl" 2002 playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. The cleats that will be donated Friday were worn during Super Bowl victories against the Carolina Panthers -- a game in which Vinatieri made the decisive kick in overtime -- and the following year against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 01:07 AM

March 28, 2006

Updated: Cicilline asks feds to review cyanide poisoning

PROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline has asked the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to help review the cyanide poisoning recently discovered in several Providence firefighters, Cicilline said at an afternoon press conference.

Last Thursday, doctors at Rhode Island Hospital confirmed that several firefighters tested positive for cyanide poisoning after responding to a fire at El Fogon restaurant on Broad Street.

Although he had not been at the restaurant fire, Kenneth E. Baker, 50, suffered a heart attack while fighting a house fire several hours later. It was the second fire he had responded to during his shift. He also was found to have high levels of cyanide in his system.

It is unclear if the poisoning contributed to the heart attack.

But Cicilline called on the federal agency, also known as NIOSH, to assist a newly appointed, five-member task force to review the facts leading up to the cyanide poisoning. NIOSH is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injuries.

It will take NIOSH four to six weeks to respond to Cicilline's request, according to the mayor. In the meantime, the fire chief's task force will begin reviewing the poisoning, including an examination of the firefighters' apparatus, equipment and protective clothing.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this item incorrectly indicated that Kenneth Baker had been at the restaurant fire.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 06:08 PM | Comment

R.I. among states to win settlement in Paxil lawsuit

PHILADELPHIA -- The maker of the antidepressant Paxil has agreed to pay $14 million to state Medicaid programs in several states, including Rhode Island, to settle allegations about its business practices.

The states said the drugmaker blocked generic versions of Paxil with frivolous patent-infringement lawsuits -- causing the states to pay higher prices.

The settlement was filed in federal court in Philadelphia today by several attorneys general.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon said GlaxoSmithKline used the courts to hold onto a monopoly for a popular drug, hurting consumers and Medicaid programs.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 03:53 PM

Lawmakers celebrate Greek Independence Day at State House

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island political leaders have a series of events planned today to honor Greek Independence Day.

The events, hosted by Democratic state Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis, begin at 4 p.m. in the Senate chamber with appearances by Consul General of Greece Constantinos Orphanides and Vice Consul General Katerina Economou.

A reception in the governor's State Room will follow at 4:30 p.m. with performances by young parishioners of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Newport; Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Cranston, and Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Pawtucket.

This will be the 13th consecutive year that festivities have been hosted at the State House by Raptakis, and this year marks the 185th anniversary of Greek Independence, March 25.

A reception will also begin at 6 p.m. at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 175 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston, where refreshments, including Greek foods and pastries, will be served.

The events are open to the public.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 03:48 PM

State's first major wind turbine erected / Photo

PORTSMOUTH -- The state's first major wind turbine has been erected at Portsmouth Abbey, a private school overlooking Narragansett Bay.

The 241-foot Danish-made Vestas V47 is the first turbine of its size to be erected in Rhode Island. When it begins operating in the next few days, the windmill will be able to convert the steady breeze off the bay into electricity for the Abbey and its 80-year-old parochial school.

Parts have been shipped to the Aquidneck Island community from across the world in recent days.

The Abbey’s 15 Benedictine monks approved the purchase of the $1.2-million turbine in 2004, seeing it as a way to offset rising energy costs. The town of Portsmouth issued permits for the machine last March.

Parts of the machine started arriving last week. The generator was shipped from Italy, the blades came from Denmark, and the tower was brought from North Dakota on a flat-bed truck.

Crews placed the base of the tubular tower in a 26-foot deep foundation last Friday. Its top portion was attached over the weekend. The generator and nosecone went up Monday.

The turbine stands 241 feet at its highest point. Rising from a hill on the abbey’s 500-acre campus, it can be seen from miles away.

-- Journal Staff Writer Alex Kuffner

Posted by Steve Peoples at 03:06 PM

Afternoon press conference follows water emergency

PROVIDENCE -- State health officials will hold a 4 p.m. press conference today to discuss new developments regarding possible tap water contamination in Blackstone, Mass., that has left 44 North Smithfield households and more than 8,800 Blackstone residents without access to tap water.

Health officials have hand-delivered warnings to residents urging them not to drink, bathe in, or even touch their tap water. Blackstone police learned that a 1.3 million-gallon water tank at the town water department was tampered with last night. And they found an empty 5-gallon bucket at the scene.

The press conference will be held in the auditorium of the Cannon Building, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence.

Massachusetts officials are testing the water to determine if there is any contamination. There have been no reports of health problems related to the water supply.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 02:25 PM

Cranston woman charged with embezzling from parent-teacher group

CRANSTON -- A local woman has been charged with stealing more than $10,000 from the parent-teacher group serving Gladstone Elementary School.

Taralyn Gouveia, 32, of 8 Arlington Ave., has been arraigned on one charge of felony embezzlement. She served as the treasurer of the school's parent-teacher group, which regularly paid for cultural events and classroom supplies, according to school Principal Mark Garceau.

Gouveia cooperated with the police investigation, turning herself in last week, according to police Maj. Ronald Blackmar.

Gouveia said she had used the money for her family, Blackmar said. She has been released on personal recognizance, awaiting a Superior Court hearing.

Gladstone has the highest percentage of low-income students in the city's schools.

-- With reports from Barbara Polichetti

Parent-teacher group members contacted police earlier in the month after noticing a check drawn from the group's Webster Bank account had bounced.

The parent-teacher group, which is not officially connected to the Gladstone Elementary School, has disbanded, according to Garceau. The school will hold a walk-a-thon April 13 to try to recoup some of the funds.

Any money raised will be handled by the school administration, Garceau said.

-- With reports from Barbara Polichetti

Posted by Steve Peoples at 01:42 PM

Updated: Security breach at Blackstone facility spurs warning not to use water

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- At least 83 Rhode Island residents and more than 8,800 Massachusetts residents have been urged not to drink, bathe in or even touch their tap water this morning, following a break-in last night at a Blackstone, Mass. water department building.

North Smithfield Town Administrator Robert Lowe said that warning notices have been hand-delivered to the local residents living in areas receiving Blackstone water. He said that officials in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are working to investigate a security breach that took place at about 6 p.m..

A 1.3 million-gallon water tank at the water department facility was damaged, according to state Department of Health spokeswoman Maria Wah-Fitta. Authorities also discovered an empty 5-gallon bucket on top of the tank.

"We're hoping that it's a bunch of kids as opposed to what we all fear," Lowe said. "Being post-9/11, it's better to be safe than sorry."

The warning notice instructs residents to completely avoid contact with tap water "until further notice" and urges them take "extreme care" while exercising a few safety precautions:

- Flush all taps (hot and cold) for a minimum of 10 minutes without coming into contact with the water.

- Discard ice cubes made yesterday and purge automatic ice dispensers

- Discard juices and baby formulas prepared with tap water yesterday

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has isolated the damaged water tank and is testing Blackstone water for a variety of contaminants.

Test results are expected to come by tomorrow morning at the latest, according to DEP spokesman Edmund Coletta.

More to come ...

Posted by Steve Peoples at 01:19 PM

Grand jury indicts British man accused of killing wife and baby in Mass.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- A British man accused of killing his wife and infant daughter was indicted by a grand jury today on first-degree murder charges.

Neil Entwistle, 27, has been held without bail in a Cambridge jail since he was arraigned Feb. 16 in the death of his wife, Rachel, 27, and their 9-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose.

Prosecutors allege that Entwistle shot his wife and daughter in their rented home in Hopkinton on Jan. 20 after becoming despondent over rising debts.

The Associated Press

Read the full story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:06 PM

Weather service: This March looks to be one of driest on record

This March will probably wind up as one of southern New England's driest and least snowy in more than 100 years of recording keeping, according to the National Weather Service.

With "a fabulous few days ahead," according to the weather service, the region is unlikely to get much, if any, more measurable precipitation.

Providence has gotten just 0.57 inches of precipitation so far this month, which is likely to be the third-driest March on record here. The records go back 101 years.

The driest was 1915, when Providence got 0.07 inches, followed by 1981, when it had just 0.56 inches.

Rain is forecast for Saturday, the first day of April. The storm could get here by Friday night, according to the weather service, but three-quarters of an inch would have to fall for this March to slip to fourth behind March of 1910, when the city had 1.32 inches.

"We're locked in to Number 3, by the way I see it," said Walter Drag, a meteorologist for the weather service in Taunton, Mass.

March is normally "reasonably wet," with Providence averaging 4.43 inches of rain for the month, Drag said.

"It is considered a late winter transition month, so usually we get some pretty big storms up here," he said.

Boston, with just 0.56 inches of precipitation, and Worcester with 0.57, are in line for their second-driest months of March on record.

The dry weather has meteorologists concerned about an increased chance of brush fires, but for now, the weather service says a red flag warning is not necessary because of light winds.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:46 AM

Sovereign Bank moves into CVS with ATMs

Sovereign Bank will put its brand on nearly 900 ATMs inside CVS pharmacies across the Northeast.

Company officials announced the plan this morning, noting that installations will be completed over the next few months, which will allow Sovereign customers to get cash at CVS stores without paying a surcharge.

The move will nearly double the number of ATMs carrying the Sovereign brand.

Today's announcement is the result of partnerships between Sovereign, Woonsocket-based CVS, and Cardtronics Inc., of Houston, which operates the cash machines inside CVS branches.

A Cardtronics executive said in a statement that the move helps Sovereign improve customer service and convenience and drives potential consumers to CVS locations.

"For financial institutions, branding an ATM at a merchant loation is similar to adding a mini-branch location -- without the cost and risk associated with brick-and-mortar branches," said Keith Myers, executive vice president of financial services for Cardtronics.

"For merchants like CVS pharmacy, their customers receive secure, quick access to cash. This is definitely a win-win situation for all parties involved."

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:31 AM

City officials investigate cyanide poisoning of Providence firefighters

PROVIDENCE -- City officials are investigating how several firefighters recently tested positive for cyanide poisoning.

Mayor David N. Cicilline and Fire Chief David D. Costa will hold a press conference this afternoon at the Public Safety Complex to disclose details of the investigation.

Doctors at Rhode Island Hospital confirmed that several firefighters tested positive for cyanide poisoning after responding to a fire at El Fogon restaurant on Broad Street last Thursday. One of the poisoned firefighters, Kenneth E. Baker, suffered a heart attack the next day while battling a house fire.

It is unclear if the cyanide poisoning is related to the heart attack.

Today's press conference begins at 2:30 p.m.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:37 AM

Providence firefighter's condition upgraded

PROVIDENCE -- Firefighter Kenneth E. Baker has been upgraded from critical to serious condition, according to Rhode Island Hospital spokeswoman Andrea Barbosa.

Baker, 50, had a heart attack and collapsed without a pulse at a Silver Lake house fire early Friday morning.

He regained consciousness and began talking Sunday afternoon in the hospital’s intensive care unit, according to Paul A. Doughty, president of the city’s firefighters union.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:21 AM

Rhode Islanders to rally in Washington on immigration reform

PROVIDENCE -- More than 100 Rhode Islanders plan to travel to Washington, D.C., today to encourage "fair immigration reform" as lawmakers consider the issue.

Members of the Immigrants in Action Committee plan a joint press conference with other members of the National Coalition of Dignity and Amnesty. They also plan to meet with senators and representatives.

The group is scheduled to leave Providence early tonight and return late tomorrow night.

Read a story from today's Journal on the issue.

Posted by Jack Perry at 09:22 AM

State lawmakers to consider proposals on welfare spending today

PROVIDENCE -- A lot of people are expected at the State House this afternoon when the House Finance Committee begins two days of hearings on Governor Carcieri's proposal to rein in the cost of the state's welfare programs.

After the House begins its hearing at 2 p.m., the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to start its own hearing at 3 p.m. to consider Carcieri's proposals on welfare.

Posted by Jack Perry at 09:00 AM

March 27, 2006

Updated: Judge to allow evidence from previous claim in case against anesthesiologist / Photo

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Dr. Russel J. Aubin, left, talks with his defense attorney Robert Mann during the hearing today.

WARWICK -- When a former Kent Hospital anesthesiologist goes on trial tomorrow on charges of fondling a female patient, state prosecutors will be allowed to introduce evidence about a previous claim that he fondled a patient, a judge ruled today.

Dr. Russel J. Aubin, 40, of Jamestown, had argued that allowing evidence of the previous incident -- he was not charged in that case -- would prejudice the Superior Court jury. But Judge Melanie W. Thunberg ruled it could be allowed.

Aubin is charged with second-degree sexual assault, accused of improperly touching a 21-year-old woman during her knee surgery in 2004.

-- Journal staff writer Zachary R. Mider

In the incident from 2000, at Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer, Mass., a 23-year-old woman complained that Aubin fondled her during surgery on her wrist. She complained to the local police, but they did not file charges, and an internal hospital investigation found the allegation not to be credible.

A pool of jurors answered a questionnaire today, and jury selection is expected to begin tomorrow.

The state medical board revoked Aubin's license in December, concluding that he molested the woman during her knee surgery.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 04:59 PM

Record number of deer struck on R.I. roads

Rhode Island drivers hit more deer on the state's roadways last year than ever before.

According to statistics released today by the state Department of Environmental Management, drivers reported hitting 1,261 deer in 2005 -- up 22 percent from the previous year's total of 1,032, which was also a record.

More than 210 deer were hit in North and South Kingstown alone, the communities with the highest rate of deer collisions. And the DEM noted that more deer are hit in November (238), which is peak mating season, than in any other month.

A spokeswoman for DEM said it's difficult to reduce collisions because many occur in urban and suburban areas where hunting can't be used to control deer populations.

To see more statistics regarding the 2005-2006 hunting season, click here.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 04:41 PM

Fists fly at Sox' preseason tilt against Tampa

Continuing a string of ugly incidents at Red Sox spring-training games, newly acquired relief pitcher Julian Tavares today exchanged blows with outfielder Joey Gathright of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after a collision on a close play at home plate.

The Red Sox and Devil Rays are playing at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Fla. Yesterday, the Red Sox nearly got into a scuffle with the Philadelphia Phillies after pitcher Josh Beckett took exception to perceived showboating by Phils slugger Ryan Howard.

The Red Sox and Devil Rays have a history of nastiness that goes back to the year 2000, when Tampa Bay's Gerald Williams charged the mound after being plunked by Pedro Martinez, touching off a bench-clearing brawl.

The Sox led the Rays, 11-10, in the top of the eighth inning.

-- Journal sportswriter Sean McAdam

Posted by Mike McDermott at 04:04 PM

Prophet Mohammed cartoon debate reaches Brown

PROVIDENCE -- Community leaders will meet with representatives from Rhode Island's Muslim community later this afternoon to debate the Prophet Mohammed cartoon controversy that sparked violent clashes across the Middle East.

The 4 p.m. forum is sponsored by the Rhode Island Council for Muslim Advancement.

Speakers will include U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente; Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch; Nihad Awad, head of the Council on American Islamic Relations; Stephen Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union; and Toby Ayers, executive director of Rhode Island for Community and Justice.

Muslims throughout the Middle East launched violent protests earlier in the year after several European newspapers published cartoon depictions of the Prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban. Any depiction of the prophet violates Muslim law, according to some interpretations.

This afternoon's forum is free and open to the public. It is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. at Brown University's Solomon Conference Room, 114 Doughty St., Providence.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 03:19 PM | Comment

Photo: Waiting for a cue at City Hall

Journal photo / Bill Murphy

Chris Horta of East Greenwich, a stand-in on the set of the CBS television pilot"The Waterfront, waits for his cue this morning as the filming for the show takes place at Providence City Hall.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 03:03 PM

Johnston sex offender classified 6 years after his release

JOHNSTON -- Police are notifying members of the community that a 35-year-old local man has been classified as the most likely type of sex offender to re-offend.

Anthony R. Perfetto Jr. has been classified recently as a Level III sex offender by the state Sex Offender Board of Review. He lives on the southeast side of Central Avenue, near the Providence line in Johnston, according to Johnston Police Major Ralph Bubar III.

Perfetto was convicted in 1997 of third-degree sexual assault in an incident involving a 14-year-old female victim known to him, according to Paula Kocon, special projects coordinator for the state Parole Board’s sexual offender community notification unit. He had previously been convicted of second-degree sexual assault, Kocon said.

Perfetto has been out of prison and in the community since 2000, Bubar said. He has been registered there as a sex offender, but not at any particular level. Police are notifying the community about Perfetto at this time because they have just been notified of his classification, Bubar said.

Police are mailing out fliers in the Johnston area where Perfetto lives and to people they believe he will encounter in the community, Bubar said.

Information about Perfetto and other Level III offenders in the state is available on the Parole Board’s Web site. Also, Johnston police intend to list information about Perfetto on their site, Bubar said.

More to come in tomorrow's Journal and on projo.com ...

Posted by Kate Bramson at 02:38 PM

Judge's pension spurs Carcieri to call for closing 'loophole'

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri says "an apparent loophole" in the pension system must be closed because a retired judge received a $38,660 annual boost in her pension after she was credited for eight months of unpaid leave.

Carcieri was reacting to the pension award for Traffic Tribunal Judge Marjorie R. Yashar, which was the subject of a story in yesterday's Providence Sunday Journal and on projo.com.

“It is completely unreasonable that Judge Yashar’s time on unpaid leave will be counted towards the amount of pension benefits she will receive, " Carcieri said in a written statement. "Taking eight months off of work should not translate into an extra $38,000 in pension benefits each year for the rest of your life.”

Yashar, who retired in September, receives a $120,310 annual pension, but she would get just $81,650 if she had retired when she first went on leave in February 2005.

Yashar took leave after she was charged with assaulting her husband, a charge that was later dropped.

She was also censured last year by the state Supreme Court after Chief Traffic Tribunal Judge Albert E. DeRobbio filed a complaint, alleging Yashar had violated judicial ethics rules.

During her time on leave, Yashar reached her 20-year anniversary of working for the Traffic Tribunal, moving her from a 75-percent-of-salary pension, to one worth 100 percent. Yashar also turned 65, enabling her to start collecting a pension immediately upon retirement. And her actual salary increased from $108,867 a year to $120,310.

Carcieri said, “I can’t see any reason that unpaid leave time should count towards pension benefits. That’s not how the system works for most state employees. And that’s not how it should work for the judiciary.”

“Judge Yashar’s case highlights the need to close this apparent loophole in the judiciary pension system,” he said.

Posted by Jack Perry at 01:51 PM

Appeals court to hear California medical marijuana case

The debate over medical marijuana comes before a federal appeals court in California today.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on whether marijuana should be allowed if it's the only viable option to keep a patient alive or out of excruciating pain.

It would apply only to the sickest patients and their suppliers -- regardless of whether they live in one of the 11 states authorizing medical marijuana.

Rhode Island in January became the 11th state to legalize the use of medical marijuana for medical reasons.

The California case was brought by a 40-year-old mother who suffers from scoliosis, a brain tumor, chronic nausea and other ailments. She uses marijuana every couple of hours.

The Bush administration says the lawsuit is without merit.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 01:00 PM

Photo: R.I.'s congressional delegation talks to business community

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman

All four members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation attended the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce's annual congressional breakfast this morning at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. From left, U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee, and Reps. Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin fielded questions on health care, homeland security, jobs and the economy. About 500 people attended.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:49 PM

TV pilot's film crew invades Providence City Hall

PROVIDENCE -- Film crews took over Mayor David N. Cicilline's office this morning, displacing the city's top official for the day as filming for the CBS pilot Waterfront moves to its eighth day.

The second floor of City Hall was jammed with video monitors and boxes of production equipment, production staff with earpieces roamed the stone hallways, and well-dressed extras waited patiently outside the mayor's office as the cameras rolled inside.

Cicilline moved to another office for the day to accommodate the filming, which stars Joe Pantoliano (of the Sopranos TV series) as the mayor of Providence and William Baldwin as an ambitious attorney general.

Outside City Hall, tractor trailers clogged nearby alleys and a food table for the actors and crew was set up on Washington Street, offering everything from European-style almonds to chili.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:07 PM | Comment

R.I. gas prices up again, but only by a penny

PROVIDENCE -- Gasoline prices in Rhode Island increased by a penny over the past week after jumping 18 cents the week before, according to AAA Southern New England.

The average price for regular, unleaded gasoline is $2.46 per gallon at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey.

That's 20 cents more than drivers paid at the beginning of the year and 36 cents more than drivers paid at this time last year.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:51 AM | Comment

High court 'rides the circuit' to Warwick

The state Supreme Court will visit Warwick City Hall next week as part of the court's effort to "ride the circuit," or hear cases in different parts of the state, a court spokesman announced today.

Cases on the docket next Tuesday include a medical malpractice suit involving the death of a boy at Kent County Hospital, a convicted murderer seeking a new trial, and an appeal request from someone convicted of taking $300,000 worth of electricity from Narragansett Electric by bypassing the meter.

In the days before the automobile, courts would travel throughout their jurisdiction to hear arguments. This practice, called riding the circuit, was eventually dropped as transportation methods made it easier for litigants to travel.

The practice has been revived in recent years. Now, twice a year, the Supreme Court moves to a local community and invites students and members of the community to see the process first hand.

Among the five justices who will hear the cases next week is Francis X. Flaherty, a former mayor of Warwick. Current Mayor Scott Avedisian is expected to give welcoming remarks.

Court will begin at 9 a.m. in the City Council Chamber. It is open to the public. Anyone who wants to attend should get there by 8:30 a.m. Warwick City Hall is at 3275 Post Road in the city’s Apponaug section.

The Supreme Court last traveled on Oct. 25, 2005, to the University of Rhode Island in Kingston.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:37 AM

Victim of S. Kingstown one-car crash ID'd

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Police today identified the 22-year-old man who died in a one-car crash on Route 2 as Michael Demarais.

The last address that Capt. Jeffrey Allen has for Demarais is at his mother’s house, at 7 Pinecrest Road in Richmond, but Allen said he is unsure if Demarais still lived at that address.

The accident early yesterday is still under investigation, but initial reports indicate that speed was a factor, Allen said.

The speed limit on the stretch of Route 2 where the accident took place, just south of Great Swamp Monument Road, is 45 mph, Allen said.

Demarais was traveling north when he failed to make a curve on Route 2. The 2003 Acura he was driving crossed into the southbound lane, left the roadway and flipped several times into a wooded area, Allen said. He was thrown from the car.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:08 AM

Analysis reveals downward shift in R.I.'s share of federal revenue

The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council released an analysis this morning that reveals an upcoming shift in how much money the state's residents pay to the federal government and how much they receive.

For decades, state residents have received more in federal spending than they have paid in federal taxes. But that is on the verge of ending, according to today's report.

The data analysis by the business-backed organization found that in the 2000 federal budget year, Rhode Island received $1.15 in federal spending for every $1 Rhode Islanders paid in federal taxes, such as income, excise, estate, gift and customs taxes.

By the 2004 budget year, that had dropped to $1.02.

Read more about the report's findings in today's Journal story.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:45 AM

Two fishermen swim to shore after boat runs aground off Cape Cod

EASTHAM, Mass. -- Two fishermen and a dog managed to swim to safety this morning after their Maine-based fishing vessel ran aground off Coast Guard Beach in Eastham.

One fisherman, Michael Darragh, was taken to Cape Cod Hospital for treatment of severe hypothermia. A second fisherman, Ian Orchard, was found huddled in an unused Coast Guard station several hours after a call for help, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Kelly Turner.

-- The Associated Press

Darragh and Orchard were aboard the Stonington, Maine-based fishing vessel Josephine. Someone aboard called at 4:40 a.m. to report it was taking on water.

When he was rescued, Darragh told officials he thought his crewmate had also managed to swim ashore, prompting a land search while the Coast Guard searched the water by helicopter and vessel. Orchard was found by fire officials around 8 a.m.

The Coast Guard did not release the hometowns or ages of the fishermen.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:18 AM

Providence firefighter still critical at Rhode Island Hospital

PROVIDENCE – Firefighter Kenneth E. Baker, who suffered a heart attack and collapsed without a pulse at a Silver Lake house fire early Friday morning, remains in critical condition this morning at Rhode Island Hospital, spokeswoman Andrea Barbosa said.

Baker regained consciousness and began talking yesterday afternoon in the hospital’s intensive care unit, according to Paul A. Doughty, president of the city’s firefighters union.

This morning, Baker was sleeping, with no real change in condition from overnight, Doughty said shortly after 9.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 09:29 AM

Sunny spring day on the way

PROVIDENCE -- We’re in for a nice spring day and what looks to be a nice week. With temps already in the mid- to high-40s this morning, expect a high around 56 today and sunny skies.

Highs this week are expected to range from the mid-50s to 65 on Friday.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 09:03 AM

March 24, 2006

Cicilline asks school department to delay decision on Bishop Middle School

PROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline has asked the city's school department to postpone making any decisions involving Nathan Bishop Middle School until the court rules on the fate of a new high school.

Cicilline said today that it looks like Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini may allow construction of a new high school on Adelaide Avenue to go forward. The city and the YMCA, which wants to build on an adjacent site, are supposed to meet with the judge Tuesday.

The Providence School Board was supposed to vote on whether to close the middle school on Monday. But Schools Supt. Donnie Evans said that he has taken the item off the agenda until additional options can be explroed.

Evans, in a series of public forms this week, had said that the school department had little choice other than to transform Nathan Bishop, set in a bucolic East Side neighborhood, into a temporary high school.

-- Journal education writer Linda Borg

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 05:04 PM

R.I. Minority Caucus to hold summit tomorrow

PROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Minority Leadership/Legislative Caucus will sponsor a summit tomorrow to gather information on concerns of Rhode Island's minority community and generate ideas to bring to the General Assembly.

The summit, free and open to anyone, will be from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in the atrium at the Liston Campus of the Community College of Rhode Island, 1 Hilton St., Providence. Lunch will be provided.

Posted by Jack Perry at 04:48 PM

Parenting tips available at conference tomorrow in Warwick

WARWICK -- Bradley Hospital will sponsor a conference on parenting tomorrow at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 801 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick.

Parenting Matters 2006 will, among other things, offer advice on discipline, rewarding children, treating illnesses, communication and techniques for relaxing as a parent.

The program will run from 8 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. with a 9 a.m. keynote presentation by author Howard Glasser, who will discuss the "nurtured heart approach" to raising children.

The cost is $30, but attendees can receive a $5 discount tomorrow by providing the code PM2006.

Posted by Jack Perry at 04:38 PM

R. I. teens to perform in all-state music fest Sunday

PROVIDENCE — From “It Takes a Village” to selections from “West Side Story,” music fans will be treated to a variety of numbers Sunday afternoon by high school students performing in the senior division all-state music festival at the VMA Arts & Cultural Center, Avenue of the Arts in downtown Providence.

More than 320 high school students in the senior division all-state orchestra, all-state band and all-state choir will participate in Sunday’s program, sponsored by The Providence Journal in conjunction with the Rhode Island Music Educators Association.

Admission for the 2 p.m. concert is $10.

See a list of Sunday’s performing students, and view a photo slide show of the students rehearsing for the show.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 03:49 PM

Hearing today on Providence club's future

PROVIDENCE – Club Diesel, a popular downtown nightclub, is the subject of more debate today.

The city’s Board of Licenses is holding its second in a series of public hearings on whether to close the Washington Street club.

The 1 p.m. hearing is in City Hall in Room 112. Last week, at the first hearing, about 30 Club Diesel supporters, downtown residents, lawyers and observers jammed into a tiny hearing room for the trial-like proceedings.

The Providence police have asked the board to close the club, saying that in recent months, club patrons have been involved in violent confrontations, including two stabbings, after leaving the club.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 01:21 PM

Man, 32, gets life plus 30 years for execution-style murder

PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge this morning sentenced a convicted murderer to life in prison plus 30 years for what he said was "nothing more than a cold-blooded execution."

David Rios, 32, of Puerto Rico, was convicted in January of kidnapping and murdering 24-year-old William Sanchez in Providence in February 2000.

Rios and two other men were arrested days after Sanchez was kidnapped, handcuffed and killed over a drug-dealing dispute, but Rios was not indicted until July 2003.

On Jan. 27 of this year, Rios was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping with intent to extort, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and commission of a crime of violence when armed with a firearm.

Prosecutors say Rios, who is also known as Johnny Colon Masso, killed Sanchez with two shots to the back of the head. Judge Robert D. Krause said Rios inflicted "excrutiating terror, pain and suffering" on Sanchez.

Krause ordered that Rios serve the sentences consecutively, meaning the 30-year sentence would only start if he makes parole on the life sentence.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:56 AM

Gas main damage spurs brief evacuation of Central, Classical High Schools

PROVIDENCE -- Central and Classical High Schools were among several buildings were briefly evacuated in Providence this morning when a contractor damaged a natural gas pipe, sending natural gas into the air.

Students at the neighboring schools, along with workers in two nearby school administration buildings, were allowed to return within about 10 minutes, after workers from New England Gas Co. checked the buildings for gas, said Maria Tocco, a spokeswoman for Providence schools.

A contractor working at Crary Street, near Route 95, damaged the gas main at about 10:15 a.m., according to Jim Caroselli, chief civil engineer for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

Christopher Medici, a spokesman for New England Gas, said company technicians checked area buildings and a crew was repairing the damaged main.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:21 AM

Providence firefighters being screened for cyanide poisoning

PROVIDENCE -- Ten Providence firefighters were tested throughout the night for cyanide poisoning after responding to a fire yesterday morning at El Fogon restaurant, 1197 Broad St., and two had high enough levels of the poison in their blood that they needed a chemical antidote to neutralize it, Fire Chief David Costa said this morning.

Those firefighters are Edward Donahue of Providence and Anthony Toro of Lincoln. They are on medical leave for a few days, but doctors have said they should be OK with a couple days of rest, Costa said.

Another Providence firefighter, Kenneth Baker of Pawtucket, also tested positive for cyanide poisoning at Rhode Island Hospital after he suffered a heart attack this morning while outside controlling the pump at a house fire on Ralph Street, Costa said. He also needed the chemical antidote and is in critical condition, Costa said.

Because Baker was not at the El Fogon fire but had responded last night to a fire at 127 Knight St. before the Ralph Street fire, firefighters from both house fires to which Baker responded have been alerted, Costa said.

Some firefighters from the Ralph Street fire have already been tested for cyanide poisoning and two must be re-tested before doctors determine if they need to receive the chemical antidote, Costa said.

This morning, the department is contacting the firefighters who responded to the Knight Street fire to see if any are experiencing symptoms of cyanide poisioning, Costa said.

During a fire, a number of regular household products and plastics can give off cyanide with the right combination of heat and oxygen, Costa said. However, this is an unusual situation, he said.

“We’ve never even had an incident like this, and to have this many people that have been experiencing some symptoms and actually having three people who had to have the antidote, we’ve never experienced this before,” Costa said.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:14 AM

Firefighter on respirator after suffering heart attack at Providence blaze / Video

PROVIDENCE -- Providence firefighter Kenneth Baker suffered a heart attack early this morning while controlling the pump on a fire truck that had responded to a house fire at 70 Ralph St., according to Fire Chief David Costa.

Baker, 50, was on a respirator and in critical condition this morning at Rhode Island Hospital, Costa said.

Baker, of Pawtucket, fell to the ground outside the single-family home. He had not gone inside the house, but it was the second fire he had responded to last night, Costa said.

“Luckily, we had other firefighters right there who witnessed him collapse,” Costa said. “I believe that’s the only reason he’s still alive.”

The department had a rescue truck on scene, and firefighters immediately performed CPR and shocked Baker’s heart a couple of times with a defibrillator, Costa said.

Baker had a high level of cyanide in his blood, but doctors do not know if that triggered the heart attack, Costa said.

During a fire, a number of regular household products and plastics can give off cyanide with the right combination of heat and oxygen, Costa said.

View a video report from the scene, from wpri.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:47 AM

Providence firefighter critical after collapsing at fire

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence firefighter was sent to the hospital after collapsing at a house fire early this morning.

Two people in the home also received medical attention after the fire, which was reported at around 2 a.m.

The firefighter was listed in critical condition this morning at Rhode Island Hospital.

View video from the scene of the fire, by wpri.com.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:06 AM

Sentencing this morning for man convicted of kidnapping and murder

PROVIDENCE -- A man convicted in January of kidnapping and murdering 24-year-old William Sanchez in Providence in February 2000 will be sentenced in Superior Court this morning, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.

David Rios will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. by Judge Robert D. Krause in Providence County Superior Court.

Rios and two other men were arrested days after Sanchez was kidnapped, handcuffed and killed over a drug-dealing dispute. However, Rios was not initially indicted in the case, and he was released from the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston after more than 6 months.

In July 2003, a grand jury indicted Rios for murder and related charges, according to the Attorney General's Office.

On Jan. 27 of this year, Rios was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping with intent to extort, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and commission of a crime of violence when armed with a firearm, according to the Attorney General's Office.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 09:20 AM

Boston Archbishop O'Malley made a 'prince of the Church' / Photo

Associated Press photo
In the red cardinal's robe, Archbishop of Boston Sean O'Malley, top right, walks past a flag of the People's Republic of China as he arrives at the consistory led by Pope Benedict XVI to elevate 15 new cardinals in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican today.

VATICAN CITY -- Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley was among 15 prelates elevated to cardinal at a ceremony today in St. Peter's Square in Rome.

O'Malley, bishop of the Diocese of Fall River in Massachusetts from 1992 to 2002, became a prince of the church at 5:35 a.m. EST in the outdoor ceremony at the Vatican. He was one of only two Americans to join the elite College of Cardinals.

The traditional red clothes of the cardinal are a significant departure for O'Malley, who has clung to wearing the simple brown robe of his Capuchin Franciscan order.

Cardinals serve as advisers to the pope, and one day will elect the successor to Pope Benedict the 16th.

Read the full story.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 09:09 AM

Weather service: Cloudy with a chance of showers today

PROVIDENCE -- The National Weather Service forecasts a mostly cloudy day with a slight chance of showers after noon.

The temperature should reach 49 degrees.

There's also a slight chance of rain showers before midnight and then a slight chance of snow showers after that, the weather service says.

Posted by Jack Perry at 09:00 AM

March 23, 2006

Judge rejects Swain's appeal of ruling in wife's death

PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge this afternoon denied the appeal of David Swain, the Jamestown scuba shop owner recently found to have drowned his wife Shelley Tyre during a 1999 Caribbean vacation.

At a hearing earlier today, Judge Patricia A. Hurst said there was overwhelming evidence to support the jury's verdict following last month's civil trial.

As he had in the previous court proceedings, Swain represented himself today in arguing for an appeal. He accused Hurst of several missteps, including denying his motion for a continuance after one of his lawyers fell ill with cancer, and blocking another lawyer from entering the case late on his behalf.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski

Swain and Tyre were scuba diving with friends for a week on a chartered sailboat off Tortola. On March 12, 1999, the last vacation day for diving, Swain and Tyre entered the water together while their friends and their friends' young son waited on the boat. Swain surfaced alone about 35 minutes later. Their friend Christian Thwaites found Tyre's body minutes later after he entered the water.

Swain was never charged criminally with his wife's death, though Tortola police said they may consider charges in light of findings in the civil trial.

The jury in the recent civil trial deliberated less than three hours before finding the former Jamestown Town Council member liable for Tyre's death. It awarded her parents more than $3.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages, which with interest since the time of Tyre's death raises the total award to more than $6 million.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 05:32 PM

3 cameras on duty to catch red-light violators in Providence

PROVIDENCE -- Watch your foot, if you're driving in Providence.

The city's Police Department has started a new, red-light camera enforcement system at three intersections. The system will photograph cars and trucks that run red lights.

The police will eventually use the information, including a photograph of the vehicle's license plate, to send $75 citations to the offending drivers, but they're starting with a 30-day warning period.

The police plan to expand the program to intersections across the city.

The three intersections included in the initial phase are Raymond Street and Chalkstone Avenue, Oakland Avenue and Chalkstone, and Eaton Street and Huxley Avenue.

Posted by Jack Perry at 04:51 PM

3 teens charged with breaking into Johnston home, stealing handgun

JOHNSTON -- Three Providence teens were arrested earlier today after a break-in on White Drive. The police allege that they stole a handgun and alcohol from a White Drive home.

The police went to the area at about 10 a.m. after a neighbor complained of three teens acting suspiciously at 11 White Drive, the home of Renato Yee.

The teens, two 15-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl, led Patrolmen Richard Norato and Joseph Razza on a brief foot chase through the neighborhood before they were arrested.

According to police reports, the Johnston police later determined the teens had taken several bottles of alcohol and a silver handgun from the home, where one of the teen's uncles lived.

Yee, the homeowner, told the police he wants to press charges.

The police charged each teen with four criminal counts: breaking and entering a house without consent, larceny of a firearm, resisting arrest and conspiracy.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 04:50 PM

Top high school musicians to present free jazz concert tonight

PROVIDENCE -- Members of the Rhode Island high school All-State Jazz Ensemble and the All-State Jazz Choir will perform a free concert at 7 tonight at Rhode Island College's Roberts Hall Auditorium.

The program is sponsored by The Providence Journal with the Rhode Island Music Educators Association.

For a list of tonight’s performing students go online to: projo.com/allstatemusic.

Posted by Jack Perry at 04:38 PM

Shooting rumor spurs police presence at Pawtucket school

PAWTUCKET-- Police officers were at Tolman High School today to assure students that a rumored Columbine-style incident would not happen.

The police started getting calls in early March about rumors of a possible school shooting in the style of the 1999 massacre that left 13 people dead at Columbine High School in Colorado, said Pawtucket Police Det. Sgt. Roberto DaSilva.

By Tuesday, the police found the source of the rumors, a 15-year-old boy and his 16-year-old f