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April 27, 2006

American Power reports income down 60 percent

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- American Power Conversion has reported net income for the first quarter down 60 percent compared to the same period last year.

Profits dropped from $36 million, or $.18 per share, to $14.5 million, or $.07 per share.

Overall revenues were up 17 percent for the first quarter, from $408 million last year to $478.8 million.

"We are strategically investing in the areas where APC solutions are delivering substantial benefits to IT and data center managers," said president Rodger B. Dowdell, Jr. "The end result of these investments was very strong performance...as the company extended its quarterly double-digit year-over-year revenue growth streak to 11 consecutive quarters."

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:43 PM | Comment

33 family members to speak at Station fire hearing

PROVIDENCE -- The man who ignited the fire that killed 100 people at the Station nightclub will face at least 33 victims' family members during his May 8 sentencing.

Earlier in the month, the Superior Court asked victims families for notificiation if they wanted to address Daniel M. Biechele during his sentencing. Thirty three family members responded, Michael Healey, a spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch, said this evening.

An additional 10 family members have asked a prosecutor to read their statements.

"We expect [the sentencing] will be at least a couple of days, maybe three days, at least," Healey said.

Biechele, the former Great White tour manager, is facing up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to 100 charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:30 PM | Comment

Two traffic judges nominated

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island District Court Chief Judge Albert E. DeRobbio has nominated William J. Trezvant and Ralph T. Della Rosa for the two vacant magistrate positions at the Traffic Tribunal.

Trezvant, 37 of Portmouth, is a prosecutor with the Rhode Island Attorney General. Della Rosa, 55, of East Providence, is a probate judge in East Providence. The nominations must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Posted by at 5:39 PM | Comment

Four Tops, Bo Bice coming to Newport

The Four Tops and American Idol runner-up Bo Bice are among the headliners of the 9th Annual Snapple Sunset Music Festival, to be held June 22 through July 3 at the Newport Yachting Center. The lineup was announced this afternoon.

Bruce Hornsby will open the festival on Thursday, June 22 (tickets are $45 in advance / $50 the day of the show); The Four Tops follow up on June 23 ($35 / $40); Train come in on June 24 ($60 / $68); America performs June 25 ($30 / $35). On Wednesday, June 28, the festival continues with local favorites Zox, Virginia Coalition and Michael Tolcher ($15/$18); on Sunday, July 2, it’s Peter Frampton ($45 / $50) and the festival wraps up on Monday, July 3, with Bice ($30 / $35).

One more headliner will be added to the lineup, and opening acts are yet to be determined, according to the festival.

All shows begin at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Monday at the box office, at all Strawberries locations or by calling (401) 846-1600, ext. 2, or online at www.newportfestivals.com.

- Journal arts writer Rick Massimo

Posted by at 5:20 PM | Comment

Prosecutors argue Lincoln verdict was just

PROVIDENCE _ Prosecutors today urged federal judges to reject appeals by former Lincoln Park executives Nigel Potter and Daniel Bucci, saying there’s more than enough evidence they hatched a scheme to bribe former House Speaker John B. Harwood.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office dismissed the idea that $4 million in proposed payments were intended for Harwood’s law partner, Daniel V. McKinnon, who’d done previous legal work for the dog track.

“Though discussed in euphemisms such as "bonus" and "incentive," this huge sum of money bore no relationship to the actual legal work performed by McKinnon,” prosecutors wrote in a 119-page legal brief filed with the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. “Even Potter admitted that he had no idea what McKinnon could possibly do to merit such largesse.”

“Most importantly, in their own discussions, Bucci and Potter clearly tied the payments not to McKinnon’s unremarkable legal work but rather to the success of their political agenda, including, most notably, the goals of increasing the number of (video-lottery terminals) and obtaining permission to install slot machines,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald C. Lockhart wrote.

In August, a federal jury convicted Lincoln Park, Potter and Bucci of conspiring to bribe Harwood with up to $4 million to secure state approval for at least 1,000 more VLTs and to block a rival casino.

In October, U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi sentenced Potter to three years in prison and Bucci to three years and five months in prison. She also imposed a $1.5-million fine on LPRI, the limited liability company remaining from Lincoln Park’s former owners.

-- Edward Fitzpatrick

Posted by at 5:19 PM | Comment

Minor leaguer suspended after incident at McCoy

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Top Tampa Bay prospect Delmon Young is suspended indefinitely from the International League.

The decision comes one day after Young threw a bat that hit a replacement umpire in the chest during a minor league baseball game in Pawtucket's McCoy Stadium.

The 20-year-old Young is the brother of Detroit star Dmitri Young and considered one of the best players in the minors.

The Durham Bulls outfielder was ejected in the first inning yesterday after the umpire called a third strike against him. Young took his time leaving the batter's box, and the umpire tossed him. Young then flipped his bat underhand and it hit the umpire.

League officials haven't released the umpire's name, but he didn't appear injured. Young has apologized for the incident.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:10 PM | Comment

Body confirmed as missing URI student

The body found this morning floating off the Newport coast has been confirmed as missing University of Rhode Island student Fandia Mahoud Shloul.

Department of Health spokeswoman Maria Wah-Fitta said this afternoon that the medical examiner used dental records to identify the 21-year-old woman, who disappeared more than a month ago with two classmates.

Geoffrey M. Wilkes remains unaccounted for.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:32 PM | Comment

Photo: Take your children to work day

Journal photo / Frieda Squires

Michael Kalisz Jr., 9, New Bedford, tries on a 35 lb. helmet with help from U.S. Navy Chief Dan Trout of the Explosives Ordance Disposal Mobil Unit, EODMU 2, detached to the Newport Naval Station. Michael came with his dad, Michael Kalisz.

It's the fourth annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

The Ms. Foundation for Women broadened the Take Our Daughters to Work Day to include sons back in 2003, 10 years after launching the daughters-at-work day.

Survey: Did you take your son or daughter to work today?

Posted by at 3:55 PM | Comment

Accident closes Route 114 for a time

BARRINGTON -- Two people have been taken to Rhode Island Hospital, in
Providence, after a three-car accident this afternoon that forced closure
of a portion of the northbound lane of Route 114.

The police said the injuries were minor. Both people were drivers of two of
the cars involved.

The lane has since been reopened.
-- Journal staff writer Michael McKinney

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:24 PM | Comment

Body found in Palmer River identified

WARREN -- The police have identified a body pulled from the Palmer River Monday night.

Warren police today said the man is Steven Tomaselli, 53, of Warwick, a Warren boat mechanic who disappeared a month ago when screams were heard near his waterfront shop, Speed's Diesel.

The Warren Police chief plans to release preliminary autopsy results tomorrow afternoon.

Tomaselli's funeral is planned for 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Peter’s Church on Fair Street, Warwick.

Monday night, a Barrington resident saw Tomaselli's body floating in the river near Wallis Avenue in Barrington.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:14 PM | Comment

PawSox win matinee game

The Pawtucket Red Sox came from behind on the strength of a three-run seventh inning to beat the Durham Bulls, 5-4, this afternoon at McCoy Stadium.

Craig Breslow got the win, pitching two scoreless innings in relief of starter Abe Alvarez. Jermaine Van Buren pitched the ninth for the save.

Trying to protect a 4-2 lead, Bulls relief pitcher Jason Cromer walked the bases loaded. Pawtucket got two runs on a single by Rodney Nye, and catcher Corky Miller drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly. The Journal will profile Miller tomorrow.

Top infield prospect Dustin Pedroia hit his first home run as a member of the PawSox.

The win moved the PawSox, who lost the first two games of the three-game series, to 11-10 on the season.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:08 PM | Comment

14 homeless after Cranston fire

CRANSTON _ Fourteen residents of a three-story apartment house at 157 Smith St. are without a home today, after a basement fire last night, said Assistant Fire Chief James B. Gumbley. No one was injured.

The fire was reported at about 10:20 p.m., and firefighters were able to keep the fire confined to the basement, Gumbley said. The Red Cross is providing shelter to the former residents of the six-unit building.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation yesterday afternoon, Gumbley said. Damage was estimated at about $75,000.

-- Journal staff writer Zachary R. Mider

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:51 PM | Comment

Photo: In Warwick, Jane Pauley attacks stigma of mental illness.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Jane Pauley answers questions from the press before her talk today.

WARWICK -- ``The more you know about the science of brain research, the more you recognize that it's an organ like (the heart) and all the other ones that we commonly treat,'' said veteran broadcast journalist Jane Pauley.
Pauley spoke today during a late-morning press conference and then before some 500 people attending a luncheon sponsored by Butler Hospital, the psychiatric center in Providence.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:39 PM | Comment

Photo: Canal boat prepares for launch

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Ramon Rodriguez of Providence examines the hull of the Samuel Slater, a 40-foot, authentic British canal boat, as he prepares the vessel for its spring launch into the Blackstone River this Saturday. Ramon, the boat's captain, is employed by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. The Samuel Slater will be hauled to the Central Falls landing at Broad Street and Mederia Avenue, where it will be docked for the summer.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:30 PM | Comment

Barney's bagel recipes, other assets on auction

If you’ve missed the bagels you used to buy at Barney’s Bakery in Pawtucket, today could be your lucky day. The recipes, equipment, diner stools and other assets of the bakery will be sold at a live auction at 10:30 a.m.

The auction will be held at the former bakery, 727 East Ave. in Pawtucket. Anyone wishing to bid must bring a $100 deposit. Payment must be made in cash, cashier’s check or with a company check with a bank guarantee, according to Stephanie DeSilva of SJ Corio Co., the auction firm.

More details about what's for sale are online.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:11 AM | Comment

Update: 95N closed again to upright truck / Photo

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
People watch from the Fountain Street overpass, in Pawtucket, as crews work to upright a tractor-trailer on the northbound side of Route 95 this morning.

State police have once again closed a short stretch of Route 95 northbound as crews are trying to upright the tractor-trailer that tipped over shortly before 7 a.m., Sgt. Ernest Quarry said around 9:15 a.m.

The area before Exit 29 all the way up to Exit 30 will be closed while crews work, Quarry said. He encouraged drivers to get off Route 95 by exit 28 and weave their way beyond exit 30 on other roads.

Quarry said the truck was carrying frozen food. Nothing spilled onto the roadway
The highway could be closed or partially closed until 9:45 a.m.

Check state Department of Transportation traffic cameras and other travel tips online.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:31 AM | Comment

Updated: Traffic slow on 95 after tractor-trailer crash

Traffic on Route 95 northbound is backed up this morning, with commuters using just one lane, after a tractor-trailer overturned shortly before 7 a.m., before exit 30 in Pawtucket, according to state police Sgt. Ernest Quarry.

After closing all lanes for a short while this morning, the state police opened the high-speed lane to let traffic pass, Quarry said. More than an hour after the accident, northbound traffic was backed up starting before exit 27.

The police do not yet know what caused the accident. The driver was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, Quarry said.

Crews continue to work to remove the truck from the highway, according to the police.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:17 AM | Comment

Grid managers see no power crunch this summer

NEW YORK -- Power grid managers say electricity supplies in the Northeast this summer will be adequate to handle the region's power needs, even if there's a long heat wave.

But if it gets especially hot, or there are problems with the grid, the Boston area is one spot where emergency measures might have to be taken to prevent power failures.

A report today from the Northeast Power Coordinating Council also cites Southwestern Connecticut as a region where such moves might be needed.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:50 AM | Comment

Blue-sky day, then cloudy as daylight increases

Blue skies should remain through the morning, but clouds are predicted for this afternoon.

Expect a high of around 66.

With sunrise at 5:48 a.m. today and sunset at 7:38 p.m., we’ll get an extra hour and six minutes of daylight compared with the first day of daylight-saving time, back on April 2, according to an online sunrise-sunset website.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:12 AM | Comment