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April 20, 2006

Still room at PPAC for B.B. King's concert tonight

PROVIDENCE -- Legendary blues musician B.B. King will be featured tonight at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

The show is part of King's international "Farewell Tour," though he is expected to make appearances when the tour ends later this year.

At 6:30 p.m., there were still tickets available for tonight's 7:30 concert, titled "B.B. King's 80th Birthday Bash."

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:56 PM | Comment

Drought panel on the lookout for much-needed rain

Where are those April showers when you need them?

March was second-driest month in Rhode Island's recorded weather history. Rainfall in February and March combined was about 42 percent below what it should have been.

Some farmers are delaying planting crops because they're afraid seeds won't germinate. And turf growers are harvesting early because they're afraid the grass will dry out.

Those were among the concerns voiced today by the state's Drought Steering Committee, which met today for first time since fall. They acknowledged weekend rain was expected, but said it may not be enough to reverse fears prompted by the dry conditions.

Still, the committee voted not to issue an advisory today -- but, in an unusual move, they will meet again in May to assess the situation.

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

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Benjamin Gedan

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:24 PM | Comment

Bridge's post-demolition cleanup under way

JAMESTOWN -- Construction crews began cleanup efforts at the old Jamestown Bridge today, two days after demolition crews sent 1,100 feet of steel and concrete crashing into Narragansett Bay.

Cashman Equipment Co., of Boston, led the demolition and will oversee the cleanup. A crane attached to a barge was on the scene today, working to remove a beam that failed to fully separate from the pier during the blast, according to Frank Corrao, a state Department of Transportation engineer who is overseeing the project.

Construction crews and divers will begin removing the tangles of steel and concrete from the water tomorrow, Corrao said. The steel will be recycled.

Read more about cleanup efforts and the next steps in the bridge's removal.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:32 PM | Comment

Carcieri removes two Beacon board members

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri fired two long-time members of the Beacon Mutual Insurance Co.'s board of directors today, claiming that moves by the board to remove two top company officials did not go far enough.

Termination letters were hand-delivered today to George Nee and Henry Boeniger, both Beacon board members since the workers' compensation insurer's formation in 1994. Carcieri has authority to remove for cause four of the seven board members who are governor appointees.

In a marathon meeting that ended this morning at 2:15 a.m., the board decided to fire former Beacon CEO Joseph A. Solomon and vice president of underwriting David Clark.

Both had been suspended by the board last Friday in the wake of a scathing audit of the company's practices.

“There is no doubt that Beacon’s decision to terminate the CEO and the vice president of underwriting for cause is the right thing to do, and is a good first step towards reforming Beacon Mutual,” Carcieri said in a statement released this afternoon.

“But it is just the beginning. For the good of the company, the policyholders and the people of Rhode Island, Beacon board members who refused to support this change must go.”

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:08 PM | Comment

Photo: Standing in on the Senate floor

Journal photo / Kris Craig

Mikaela Jordan of West Warwick, a member of Little Rhody Girls State, listens to the reading of her bill this morning in the State House Senate chambers. Girls State and and Little Rhody Boys State "took over" state government today in an American Legion-sponsored program aimed at teaching how government works. The high school juniors have spent their school vacation this week getting lessons from state and federal officials.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:05 PM | Comment

Brush fires pop up in Warren

WARREN -- Firefighters here have gone at least twice today to brush fires in
the vicinity of Our Lady of Fatima School, on a day the National Weather Service
issued a red flag warning for the region warning of "explosive fire growth
potential."

According to a dispatcher, two fire engines were on scene at 3 p.m. There
were no indications that either fire spread to any buildings.

The weather service warning today includes most of Rhode Island, northern
Connecticut and areas of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Low humidity,
strong winds and warm temperatures combine to heighten the risk of fire. The warning is in effect until 8 o'clock tonight.

-- Journal staff writer Michael McKinney

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:35 PM | Comment

DEM: Ethanol-blended gas now being distributed in R.I.

The state Department of Environmental Management announced today that ethanol-blended gasoline is now being distributed across Rhode Island -- a move that may push already-high gas prices even higher.

The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates an increase in the amount of renewable fuel used nationally -- which in practice means that refineries will meet the requirement by adding ethanol to the fuel, according to DEM.

Gasoline with the chemical, also known as ethyl alcohol, recently started being distributed across Rhode Island, while residents of Connecticut and New York have been using the product for more than a year.

"They had looked at the issue of price several months ago," DEM spokeswoman Stephanie Powell said today of DEM officials. "And at that time, they though it could impact the price by 2 or 3 cents a gallon."

Powell said such a bump is a result of distribution facilities having to upgrade their systems to accommodate ethanol.

Most consumers should not notice any difference in their vehicles' performance, according to DEM, though some may find a slight decrease in fuel economy.

Problems may arise, however, with pre-1980 car engines and boat engines made in the mid 1980s. Apparently, ethanol may not react well with fiberglass gas tanks or certain types of rubber seals and hoses.

DEM urges boat or vehicle owners with concerns should check with their manufacturers. The state agency also has a question-and-answer page on its Web site dedicated to the topic.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:00 PM | Comment

Grand jury subpoenas Beacon records

The Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. has received a state grand-jury subpoena for records related to the Giuliani report into alleged wrongdoing.

A company spokesman said today that the Rhode Island State Police delivered the subpoena to Beacon headquarters at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

``This is a new day at Beacon,’’ said the spokesman, Bill Fischer. ``We have nothing to hide. The board, management and employees of Beacon intend on cooperating fully with both the state police and the Department of Attorney General. The doors are wide open.’’

The report has led to the firing early this morning of the insurer's CEO and vice president for underwriting.

-- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:01 PM | Comment

Brown says he's staying in Senate race

Embattled U.S. Senate candidate Matt Brown released a statement today titled, "I'm in to win."

Despite widespread criticism regarding a campaign contribution scandal and financial troubles, Brown said he won't back down.

"I've been at this campaign for over a year," he wrote in a statement. "In that time, I've raised about $1.8 million. In the last independent poll, I'm running neck-and-neck with the incumbent senator, Lincoln Chafee, and am ahead of my Democratic primary opponent."

The Democratic candidate, who is also secretary of state, had $35,000 left in his war chest as of April 1 for the September primary. His opponent, Sheldon Whitehouse, had nearly $1.4 million left for the primary.

Brown said that money shouldn't determine his political future.

"The Democratic establishment in Washington tries again and again to anoint candidates based on who has the most money -- not who has the best ideas," Brown said in the statement. "That's why our party has been losing elections for 30 years -- why we've now lost the White House, Senate, the House and control of the courts."

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:58 PM | Comment

R.I. officials want federal help with disasters

Providence Mayor David Cicilline wants to give the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier back to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Warwick officials want to be reimbursed in a timely manner when they send city personnel out to respond to national disasters.

Governor Carcieri pledged to have the state's hurricane evacuation routes completed by June 1.

And communities across the state would like some assurances that the federal government will pay the $32 million it would cost for universal communication equipment throughout Rhode Island.

Those were some of the messages delivered to U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-ME, and Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, R-RI, during a hearing of their Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs this morning in Providence.

-- Journal environment writer Peter B. Lord

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:26 PM | Comment

Fire warning now on for region

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the region today, meaning that a combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures create "explosive fire growth potential."

The warning includes northern Connecticut, most of Rhode Island, and southwestern New Hampshire. It also includes western, central and interior eastern sections of Massachusetts.

The relative humidity away from the coast is 15 to 25 percent and winds are starting to gust over 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service, noting that the region has had very little rain in the past two weeks. Should a fire start, conditions are favorable for rapid fire spread, according to a statement released today.

The weather service had issued a fire weather watch yesterday.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:13 PM | Comment

Companies ask for new trial in lead-paint case

PROVIDENCE -- Lawyers for three national paint companies found liable for lead-abatement costs in Rhode Island that could exceed $1 billion have asked a Superior Court judge to overturn last month's verdict.

A Providence jury determined that Sherwin Williams Co., Millennium Holdings and NL Industries must clean clean up the paints used generations ago on thousands of Rhode Island homes. The state estimates the cost at between $1 billion and $3 billion.

The paint companies announced today that they have filed briefs in Superior Court that claim the verdict was the result of "a flawed trial," arguing there was no evidence presented that the companies contributed to a public health nuisance in Rhode Island.

Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein has yet to rule on the motions, which were expected because of the impact of the jury's finding. Should Silverstein rule against the paint companies, they could then appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:54 AM | Comment

Providence mayor unveils 5-year housing strategy

PROVIDENCE – Mayor David N. Cicilline is hoping to strengthen neighborhoods through a comprehensive 5-year housing strategy that he unveiled at a "Celebration of Housing" breakfast this morning.

The mayor’s plan, “Create, Preserve, Revitalize: Providence Housing Policy,” reports that the 450 new housing units built during the past three years were created at six times the rate of production in the 1990s.

The plan proposes increasing the amount of affordable housing over the next five years through a variety of ways, including: maximizing the use of funding for housing projects; using special tax districts for affordable housing developments; implementing an 8-percent property tax limit on affordable housing units; speeding the process for housing permits; and waiving fees for affordable housing units where possible.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:11 AM | Comment

EMC reports flat earnings

EMC Corp., the largest maker of data storage computers and software, today reported first-quarter profits of $272.5 million, an increase of about 1 percent over the same period last year.

EMC, based in Hopkinton, Mass., said its sales for the quarter increased to $2.55 billion from $2.24 billion.

On a per-share basis, the company made 11 cents in the quarter, the same as the previous year. For more, go to www.emc.com/ir/

Posted by at 9:13 AM | Comment

Defense sales push KVH sales, profits

KVH Industries of Middletown today reported net income of $1.3 million in the last quarter on revenues of $20.3 million. Both numbers are improvements on the same quarter last year when the company earned $300,000 on revenues of $17.9 million.

KVH, which makes mobile communication and defense-related navigation and guidance systems, called its first quarter "an outstanding start to the year.''

On a percentage basis, the military-related sales did better, increasing 57 percent to about $6 million. The company's mobile communication business increased just 2 percent to $14.3 million in the quarter.

Read the company release.

Posted by at 8:47 AM | Comment

Profits up at Textron

Textron today reported first quarter profits of $158 million, or $1.19 a share, up from $84 million or 61 cents a share for the same period last year. Textron, based in Providence, said sales in the period hit $2.63 billion, an increase of 15 percent.

Bloomberg News credited the strength of Textron's Cessna commercial aircraft division and an increase in orders for its armored security vehicles used in Iraq. The company's V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft was also cleared last year for full production.

"With a record backlog of $6.3 billion and a full new product pipeline, the outlook for Cessna is solid,'' an analyist for Credit Suisse First Boston wrote before today's earnings were released.

Read the company press release.

Posted by at 7:31 AM | Comment

Beacon fires CEO, another top executive

Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. early this morning fired its chief executive officer and another top executive.

CEO Joseph A. Solomon and vice president of underwriting David Clark were fired with cause, meaning they cannot collect severance, said Bill Fischer, a company spokesman.

The board's vote came during a meeting that started at 4 p.m. yesterday and didn't conclude until about 2:15 this morning, Fischer said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:16 AM | Comment

Mostly sunny before rain moves in for the weekend

The end of the week should bring sunny conditions before rain moves in for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass.

Today's forecast calls for sunny skies with a high around 69 degrees. Tomorrow should be mostly sunny with a high around 56 degrees.

Showers are likely for Saturday and Sunday.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment