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May 24, 2006

Cranston mayoral candidate bows out

Democrat Michael S. Pisaturo withdrew from the race for mayor of Cranston this afternoon, leaving two Democrats and one Republican in the race.

The current mayor, Stephen P. Laffey, is not seeking reelection because he is running for U.S. Senate.

In a message emailed to the media, Pisaturo, a veteran city councilman, said he also will not run for reelection to his council seat and is withdrawing from public service "to focus more attention on other areas of my life.”

The remaining candidates are Democrats Cynthia M. Fogarty and Micheal T. Napolitano, and Republican Allan W. Fung.

-- Journal staff writer Zachary R. Mider

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:21 PM | Comment

Assembly passes bill forcing cat fixings

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island could become the first state to require cat owners to spay or neuter their pets under legislation passed today by the General Assembly.

The House approved a bill 59-3 to require cat owners to spay or neuter pets older than six months unless they pay $100 for a breeder's license or permit for an intact animal. Violators will be fined $75 per month.

The Senate previously passed the bill, and it now goes to Gov. Don Carcieri for his signature.

Supporters say the bill could save thousands of cats from being killed each year and ease overcrowding in animal shelters. Private shelters and municipal pounds in Rhode Island killed 5,452 cats from 2002 to 2004, according to the state Department of Environmental Management.

But other animal rights advocates, while wanting to reduce the state's cat population, worry the bill could prompt cat owners to abandon their pets rather than risk a fine or pay several hundred dollars for the birth control procedures.

The bill has a provision for low-income pet owners to receive subsidies for low-cost spay and neuter surgery. It also exempts farmers.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:20 PM | Comment

Court rules against tribe in smoke shop case

PROVIDENCE -- The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this afternoon that the state was well within its legal bounds when troopers raided a Narragansett Indian smoke shop, seizing cigarettes and arresting tribal leaders in a violent confrontation three summers ago.

In a 34-page decision written by Judge Bruce M. Selya, the court concluded that the Narragansetts traded in their immunity from state law when they entered into the agreement that gave them 1,800 acres of their aboriginal lands in 1978. That settlement -- now federal law -- subjects the tribal land to the civil and criminal laws and jurisdiction of the state.

The Narragansett Indian Tribe began selling tax-free cigarettes against the state’s wishes from a roadside store on tribal lands in Charlestown in 2003. Two days after they began, the state police, acting on a state search warrant, raided the shop in a widely televised clash. Officers seized cigarettes and arrested eight tribal members, including Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas.

The tribe filed suit in U.S. District Court in the aftermath, arguing that as a sovereign nation, it was outside state taxing authority. U.S. District Judge William E. Smith ruled against the tribe, landing the case before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Last May, a three-judge panel from the appeals court found that the state had violated the tribe’s sovereign rights by executing the raid.

"Under their terms, the tribe surrendered any right to operate the settlement lands as an autonomous enclave. It is plainly not the case, as the Tribe would have it, that an Indian tribe can render any conceivable act on Indian lands (say, drug trafficking) impervious to state regulation’’ simply by labeling it tribal, Selya wrote in today's decision.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:40 PM | Comment

Library petitions demand local services

PROVIDENCE -- Public library representatives today delivered hundreds of letters and a petition with 3,000 signatures to the City Council supporting local library branches that may be closed.

The petition and letters were presented to the library board of trustees last week with the intention of passing them on to city officials.

“While this outpouring of concern and support for the Providence Public Library is a testament to the wonderful work our library staff is doing in the community, we recognize that only by working together with city officials can we map out long-term solutions for sustainable municipal neighborhood library services,” Board Chair Mary B. Olenn wrote in a letter to Council members.

Because of insufficient funding, library officials are considering closing 6 of 10 local branches and laying off workers.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:32 PM | Comment

R.I. science scores lag

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island’s science scores have not improved in the past five years, according to test results released today by the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

The state continues to trail the five other New England states and is stuck in the middle of the pack nationally, according to the latest results of standardized science tests.

Just 63 percent of Rhode Island’s fourth graders scored at or above proficient in science in 2005, a drop of 2 points since 2000, the last time the national test, commonly called the Nation’s Report Card, was administered. The national average for 2005 was 66 percent.

Eighth grade scores showed a similar gap. Scores were stagnant in Rhode Island, with 58 percent of students performing at or above proficient -- the same as five years earlier.

In Rhode Island, 2,700 fourth graders and 2,800 eighth graders from urban, suburban and rural districts took portions of the test, which were administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress and are the only continuing national assessments that measure what students know in a variety of subjects.

-- Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:45 PM | Comment

Carcieri names new chief of staff

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri today announced this afternoon a series of high-profile staffing changes, two days after his campaign manager, Timothy Costa, decided to quit for personal reasons.

The governor's chief of staff, Kenneth K. McKay IV, will leave his current position and take over the re-election campaign. The chief of staff position will be filled by Jeffrey Grybowski, the governor's current policy director and deputy chief of staff.

“Ken McKay has been the lynchpin of my team from the very beginning,” Carcieri said in a statement released this afternoon.

Carcieri said he's confident with his new chief of staff, Grybowski, who "has been intimately involved in every detail of my administration."

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:15 PM | Comment

Warwick Mayor joins walk for homeless / Photo

Journal photo / John Freidah
This morning, North Kingstown police stop traffic as the group of activists on a walk from Westerly to Providence to raise attention to homelessness, leaves Saint Bernard's Church in North Kingstown where they spent the night.

WARWICK -- About 60 activists briefly paused at the Warwick/East Greenwich town line this afternoon as Warwick Mayor Scott Avedesian joined the group in their fourth day of walking for homelessness.

The walkers are still cheerful, reports Journal staff writer Mark Arsenault, who is on the scene with the group, which began walking Sunday in Westerly and will finish tomorrow at the State House.

The activists have been passing out leaflets promoting a rally at the Capitol tomorrow to pedestrians and local businesses along their route. Many motorists are honking to encourage the marchers, who are traveling along Route 1.

The average walking speed today is 2 mph, reports Arsenault.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:00 PM | Comment

The Pops sign Linda Eder, Temptations, Peter, Paul, Mary

The second season of Rhode Island Philharmonic pops concerts will include Linda Eder's Holiday Concert on Dec. 9; The Temptations on Feb. 17; and Peter, Paul and Mary on March 24, the Philharmonic and the Providence Performing Arts Center announced today.

The shows will be at PPAC, where this past year's concerts -- starring Ronan Tynan, the Beach Boys and Bebe Neuwirth -- were held.

For more information or to subscribe to the series, call (401) 421-2787 or go to ppacri.org.

Posted by at 3:25 PM | Comment

3 Barrington HS students hit by car

BARRINGTON -- Three high school students were hit by a car this morning as they crossed the street in front of Barrington High School.

The students, all girls, were transported to Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, though none of their injuries are considered serious, according to Barrington Police Chief John LaCross.

They were struck while standing in a crosswalk at about 11:15 a.m. by a 2001 Hyundai driven by another female Barrington High School student, who was travelling with two female friends.

LaCross said he does not believe the car was speeding. No criminal charges were filed today, he said, though the incident is still under investigation.

The students had been released early from school to work on a project, LaCross said.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:06 PM | Comment

Guardsmen return from Middle East today

CRANSTON -- Eleven members of the Rhode Island Air National Guard will return to the Ocean State this afternoon after spending six months in the Middle East.

The soldiers will fly into Quonset Air National Guard Base at 4 p.m.

The troops -- members of the 143rd Airlift Wing -- were stationed at Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar, where they were assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.

The Rhode Island National Guard has 276 troops deployed in the Middle East.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:35 PM | Comment

Three indicted in Dunkin' robbery plot

MIDDLETOWN -- Three people have been indicted for their alleged roles in the robbery of an East Main Road Dunkin' Donuts in January, according to the attorney general's office.

The Newport County Grand Jury charged Jason Abdullah, 20, of 195 Admiral Kalbfus Road, Newport; Alexander Barra, 21, of 36 Forest Avenue, Middletown, and Jamie Lyn Santos, 21, of 77 Bayview Avenue Bristol with one count each of conspiracy to commit the crime of embezzlement.

Police believe that Santos drove Barra to the Dunkin' Donuts to stage a robbery, while Abdullah was behind the counter. While Barra wielded a pair of scissors in the "robbery," a Middletown police officer pulled up to the donut shop and recognized Barra -- a former Dunkin' Donuts employee -- as he fled the scene with $333 in a paper bag.

Abdullah was also charged with one count of embezzlement, while Barra was charged with one count of breaking and entering, two counts of felony assault, and one count of resisting arrest.

The defendants are scheduled to appear in court on June 22.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:03 PM | Comment

Contractor troubles? Speak up today

PROVIDENCE -- A special House commission wants to hear from you today if you’ve had problems with contractors.

The commission is considering tightening regulations for contractors, including requiring them to take ethics and contract law classes, raising the penalties for working without registering as a contractor and increasing the fines that the state Contractors’ Registration Board can impose.

The commission expects to hold a public hearing today at 2 p.m. in room 313 at the State House.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:41 PM | Comment

Chafee ad campaign attacks Laffey

The Chafee campaign is launching a new radio and television advertising campaign today, attacking the incumbent senator's primary opponent, Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey for implementing "record tax increases" while in office.

"Laffey promised spending cuts. Instead, he increased spending nearly 20 percent," the radio ad states. "Worse, Laffey paid for his higher spending with higher tax increases. Record tax increases...Cranston now pays the highest taxes in Rhode Island."

The television ads, which are nearly identical in substance to the radio spots, will appear on local and cable stations beginning today for the next two weeks, Chafee's campaign spokesman Ian Lang said today, noting the media spots cost about $150,000.

When asked why the campaign is attacking Laffey instead of focussing on Chafee's achievements, Lang said that Laffey set the tone for a negative campaign weeks ago.

"It's already out there," Lang said.

The Democratic candidate seeking Chafee's seat, Sheldon Whitehouse, launched his media campaign last week, buying $100,000 worth of television air time.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:21 PM | Comment

Bruins' GM talks fail; Ottawa assistant may get offer

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins' search for a new general manager hit a snag today.

Earlier this week, the club reportedly offered the position to Nashville Predators assistant GM Ray Shero. But, according to an industry source, negotiations have broken down because Shero, 43, is asking for too much money.

As a result, it now appears Ottawa Senators assistant GM Peter Chiarelli is once again the lead candidate. Chiarelli was said to have had the edge late last week, but Bruins management began leaning toward Shero over the weekend.

Sources say the Bruins will likely send a second-round pick to the Senators as compensation for Chiarelli, who once captained the hockey team at Harvard.

Click here to read the full story.

-- JOE McDONALD

Posted by Art at 12:07 PM | Comment

Providence to host school planning session

PROVIDENCE -- What do you want the Providence school system to look like in 15 years? Do you want a middle school system or K-8 schools? Smaller high schools or smaller learning academies within a larger high school?

These are some of the questions that city residents will be asked when they met tonight at Mount Pleasant High School to discuss a long-term school facilities plan developed by DeJong, a planning group hired by the city earlier this year.

For a detailed look at the various proposals, check the Web site of the consulting firm hosting tonight's meeting.

-- Journal staff writer Linda Borg

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:04 PM | Comment

ACLU requests telephone records probe

PROVIDENCE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today asked state utility regulators to investigate whether Verizon and AT&T have improperly turned over Rhode Islanders' telephone records to the National Security Agency.

The complaint to the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers was part of a coordinated action by the ACLU in about 20 states, demanding that state utility regulatory agencies or attorneys general investigate accusations that some of the nation's biggest telecommunications companies gave the government records from millions of their customers' records.

The Rhode Island complaint, directed to the divison's administrator, Thomas F. Ahern, said, "The phone companies' apparent action in releasing this private information amounts to a systematic and flagrant violation of their customers' privacy rights" and the companies' own promises to protect their customers' privacy.

-- Journal staff writer Bruce Landis

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:53 AM | Comment

Voters OK eastern Conn. studio, theme park idea

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Voters in Preston yesterday approved a proposed $1.6 billion movie studio and theme park project that backers say will pump tax revenue and tourist dollars into eastern Connecticut but opponents fear will lead to crowded roads and other urban problems.

The unofficial tally was 1,330 to 1,023, or 56.5 percent in favor and 43.5 percent opposed. Voter turnout was about 68 percent.

Utopia Studios, based in Melville, N.Y., intends to build movie studios, a climate-controlled theme park, hotels and an arts school on the former Norwich Hospital property. The developers estimate the attractions would bring 8 million to 10 million visitors a year and employ 22,000 workers.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:18 AM | Comment

Amos House celebrates 30 years

PROVIDENCE – Amos House is celebrating its 30 years of helping the homeless at a luncheon today that will raise money for the organization’s programs and services.

At the luncheon at the Warwick Crowne Plaza today, Amos House is honoring Lawrence K. Fish, the chairman and chief executive officer of Citizens Financial Group, for his contributions in the state to the homeless and hungry.

Read more about Amos House in the Journal.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:10 AM | Comment

Mass. governor makes unannounced visit to Iraq

BOSTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney made an unannounced visit to Iraq this week, an effort to visit Massachusetts troops and understand an international hotspot that could also burnish his foreign policy credentials should he run for president in 2008.

The Republican governor met with military and diplomatic leaders in Baghdad yesterday and today, before returning to a United States staging area in Kuwait City, Kuwait, according to his communications director, Eric Fehrnstrom.

Romney is scheduled to stop in Pakistan tomorrow en route to Afghanistan, where he will meet with President Hamid Karzai. After an overnight stay at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Romney will fly to Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday. The governor is scheduled to return to Massachusetts on Saturday.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:07 AM | Comment

Governor to visit Burrillville salami-production plant

Governor Carcieri plans to visit a new salami-production company, Stedagio, in a Burrillville industrial park this morning.

Stedagio, located at 1000 Daniele Drive off of Route 102, is an offshoot of Daniele Inc., an Italian meat-processing company that has been in the village of Pascoag, in Burrillville, since 1976.

Stefano L. Dukcevich, who is president of the family businesses Daniele and Stedagio, could not be reached this morning since he was preparing for the governor’s visit.

However, after his family purchased 34 acres in Burrillville’s new industrial park in late 2002, he promised that when it opened Stedagio would employ 60 to 80 people and use the latest in salami-production technology. The company is already open and operating, a company employee said this morning.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:32 AM | Comment

Child advocacy group addresses childhood obesity

Rhode Island Kids Count will release an issues brief today on preventing childhood obesity.

One in five children entering kindergarten last year was obese, according to the children's policy organization.

The agency will release the brief, Preventing Childhood Obesity in Rhode Island, at a forum from 10:30 until noon today at its office, One Union Station, Providence.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:41 AM | Comment

Cabbie robbed in Providence

PROVIDENCE – Police are investigating an armed robbery of a taxicab driver early this morning at 62 Fairfield Ave., said Lt. Luis San Lucas, who responded to the incident.

The cab driver cut his thumb when he tried to grab a knife from the assailant, but the lacerations were not serious, San Lucas said. The man allegedly fled with about $200.

The cab driver had stopped his taxicab at Atwells Avenue and Valley Street and was talking with another driver, San Lucas said, when a man approached them for a ride.

When the driver arrived at 62 Fairfield Ave., San Lucas said the passenger put a knife to the driver’s throat and demanded his money.

The driver gave him the $200 in the cab.

“And then the cab driver decides to grab the knife, and he cut his thumb and I guess the assailant fled after that,” San Lucas said.

The police have stopped two suspects who fit the cab drivers’ description of the man, but both were released when it was determined they were not the assailant, San Lucas said.

The Providence Fire Department transported the cab driver to Rhode Island Hospital, Fire Lt. Kevin Gomes said.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:39 AM | Comment

Sun and clouds, temps in the 70s

PROVIDENCE -- Today should bring a mixture of sun and clouds – and possibly rain showers after 3 p.m.

Temps are on an upward track – near 70 today, in the mid-70s over the next couple days and even high 70s by Sunday and Monday.

Yes, that’s right. This long Memorial Day Weekend is looking like it could be a good one weather-wise. We might have a couple showers Saturday morning, but the weather should clear and temps should rise.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:03 AM | Comment