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« May 2006 | Today | July 2006 » June 30, 2006Weather: A summery weekend awaits / Photo
On Sunday, the skies should be partly cloudy, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms inthe afternoon. It'll be humid with highs in the mid-80s and southwest winds10 to 20 mph with gusts. Looking ahead to the Fourth of July holiday on Tuesday? More clouds are due to roll in, but temps will still be in the 80s, with a chance of thunderstorms. But, after all, it is July! Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Looking to keep up with what's happening at the U.S. Women's Open? Keep checking our blog, by projo.com staffer Mike McDermott, who will continue to cover the event, in words and photos, through the weekend. Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:52 PM | Comment Naked man nabbed as he ran from N. Kingstown houseNORTH KINGSTOWN -- Police arrested a 26-year-old North Kingstown man early this morning after he tried to run naked from a 77-year-old woman's basement. Daniel C. Walters of 169 Heritage Rd. was arraigned today at District Court, Wakefield, on the charges of breaking and entering of a dwelling when resident home, simple assault (on a police officer), resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and vandalism. Police received a call around 1:30 a.m. from Faith Thibault, who was staying at her mother's house with her grandmother. When officers arrived, they found a basement window off of its hinges. They later heard a male "growling" on the other side of the basement door. When police opened the door, Walters allegedly tried to run and hit an officer. He was pepper sprayed and taken into police custody. Capt. Charles Brennan said Walters told police that he had been under the influence of alcohol, Ecstasy and cocaine. Walters' clothes were found close to the house, on a path near Forest Park Elementary School. Walters was ordered held in prison for violating the terms of his probation. His next court date was scheduled for July 17. -- Journal staff writer Bethonie Butler Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:47 PM | Comment LNG developer accuses CRMC of foot-draggingWeaver's Cove Energy has accused a Rhode Island regulatory agency of dragging its feet in reviewing the company's dredging plans in order to stall construction of the company's proposed LNG facility in Fall River, Mass. The company cannot proceed with its plans to build the 73-acre facility until it gets the okay from several agencies, including the Rhode Island Coastal Management Resources Council, or CRMC. That's because some of the dredging would occur in Rhode Island waters. "... The CRMC has abused its federally delegated authority under [federal law] by using it as a political tool to delay, block or otherwise obstruct this important energy infrastructure,'' Weaver's Cove said in a filing to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. CRMC has said in previous filings that it had not processed the application because it was incomplete. It was missing a "water quality certification'' from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Weaver's Cove said DEM "has shown no inclination" to give it that certification, and that it is not needed anyway. Posted by Tim Barmann at 6:04 PM | Comment Record travel, extra police on tap for weekendPROVIDENCE -- AAA of Southern New England has predicted that 40.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend -- a national record -- and the Rhode Island State Police plan to boost theirs presence across the state to meet the high demand. "We're putting more patrols out there," said State police Maj. Steven G. O'Donnell, noting that six more officers than usual have been assigned to Providence on Monday night, when the city has scheduled fireworks and public concerts. "Their specific mission is drunk driving enforcement," O'Donnell said. The state Department of Transportation is reporting just one planned highway lane closure this weekend. Between 1 and 7 a.m. early tomorrow, crews plan to shut down two right lanes on Interstate 195 westbound between Exit 3 (Gano St.) and Exit 1 (Downtown Providence). Heading out yourself? Check projo.com's collection of online travelers' resources, from highway cameras to ferry schedules to airport information around our area. Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:44 PM | Comment High court upholds Barrington affordable housing planPROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Supreme Court has upheld a decision by the State Housing Appeals Board granting approval for the construction of a 50-unit affordable housing development in Barrington. The ruling, released to the public today, appears to clear the way for the East Bay Community Development Corporation, a Bristol-based nonprofit, to build the Sweetbriar housing proposal on the site of the former West Barrington Elementary School, off Washington Road. In its ruling, the court instructs the Barrington Zoning Board to issue all necessary permits and approvals for the $9.8 million project, which has been in the works since 2003. But it does not prohibit the board from imposing conditions on the proposal. It was the Zoning Board that initially turned down the application for the proposal, finding in 2004 that the housing proposal was not consistent with Barrington’s comprehensive plan. The plan recommended redeveloping the approximately 9-acre site of the school for commercial purposes, rather than housing. -- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:19 PM | Comment Update: Governor signs state budget into law / Photo
PROVIDENCE - Governor Carcieri signed a $6.7 billion state budget today that reduces some taxes while scaling back social services and cutting 420 state jobs to avoid a projected $243 million shortfall. Carcieri signed the budget one day before the start of the new fiscal year. "While it does not include all the reforms I would have hoped for, the budget plan that was passed by the General Assembly last week largely addresses the priorities I put forward in February," Carcieri said. The General Assembly passed the budget a week ago after some last-minute wrangling in which House members voted to lower the state cap on property tax increases in return for Senate passage of the House's budget plan. The spending plan closes a shortfall estimated at $243 million. Republicans and Democrats call the budget a fair deal in tough economic times. It enacts tax cuts for high-income families and increases the car tax exemption from five-thousand dollars to six-thousand dollars. Carcieri says he soon expects to sign legislation limiting local property tax increases. But the budget reduces health insurance for people leaving welfare from 18 months to 12 months. It also keeps new non-citizens from enrolling in the state's health insurance program for the poor after the end of the year. -- Associated Press Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:15 PM | Comment School, tax groups face off in PortsmouthPORTSMOUTH -- Chanting "Saving Our Schools" and holding signs saying "Shame on You PCC," dozens of concerned parents and students filled the town clerk's office this morning to protest a citizens group's effort to call a special financial meeting and cut the school budget. Save Our Schools supporters surrounded members of the Portsmouth Concerned Citizens as they submitted 2,200 signatures from residents calling for the meeting, referred to locally as a tent meeting. The group needed about 1,250 signatures – 10 percent of the registered voters. One teenager stood behind group leader Lawrence Fitzmorris and held a sign saying, "Don't Hurt the Kids, U Had a Good Education, We Need One Too." A police officer eventually quieted the demonstrators, but the two sides engaged in shouting matches over the $32.5 million school budget approved on Monday that brings a 9.2-percent tax-rate increase. -- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes Officials projected the tent meeting would cost around $50,000. "We could use it for a lot better purposes than holding a tent meeting to cut the budget," said SOS supporter Michelle McGaw, who has two teenagers in Portsmouth schools. Hearing her comment, PCC member Nancy Askew told her that residents should be proud their town allows people to be heard. "Let the people speak," she said. Town Clerk Kathleen Viera-Beaudoin said it should take a couple of days to verify the signatures. If enough are deemed valid, the meeting will take place on either Aug. 12 or Aug. 19. -- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:10 PM | Comment Strawberry-picking season in full swingNear-record rains in June may have flooded area rivers, helped boost mosquito populations, and depressed some Rhode Islanders, but it did not hurt the state's strawberry farmers. The state Department of Environmental Management issued a statement today reminding state residents that despite recent bad weather, this is the height of strawberry season in Rhode Island. "Strawberries like water," said Stephen Volpe, deputy chief of DEM's division of agriculture and resource marketing. "Although there may be cases of a field or two being particularly wet, overall the fields are in decent shape, and there is a good crop of strawberries this year." Volpe said he recently visited 17 pick-your-own berry farms in the area and found no serious problems. See DEM's list of berry-picking farms in Rhode Island. June and July are the peak months for strawberry picking. Blueberries and raspberries come in July and last through early fall. Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:07 PM | Comment George Mitchell, who's investigating baseball, to address scholar athletesThe former Senate majority leader who has recently been tapped by Major League Baseball to investigate steroid use among players is set to give the 20th anniversary address tonight at the World Scholar-Athlete Games at the University of Rhode Island. George Mitchell, former U.S. senator from Maine, is set to speak at 7:30 p.m. in the Keaney Gymnasium, on URI’s Kingston campus. The weeklong event that has brought 1,900 teenagers from 157 nations is set to wrap up tomorrow night with closing ceremonies at 7 p.m. in URI's Ryan Center. Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:00 AM | Comment RIPIRG readies to warn against global warming / Photo
The globe is about 18 feet high and has flames painted on the bottom, Auten said a few minutes before the news conference was set to begin at 10:30 a.m. With that as their backdrop, environmental activists are releasing “The Carbon Boom,” a national study about trends in global warming pollution since 1960. Here in Rhode Island, Auten said that modeling shows emissions will remain at current levels. While it’s good they’re not increasing, the state must do more and decrease emissions levels, Auten said. Find "The Carbon Boom" report online. Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:42 AM | Comment EMC shares fall after announcing $2.1 billion dealEMC Corp. stock dropped 7.4 percent to $10.24 a share in trading this morning, as investors reacted negatively to the company's plans to purchase Beford, Mass.-based RSA Security Inc. for about $2.1 billion. The Hopkinton, Mass.-based EMC said yesterday evening that it plans to pay $28 a share to acquire RSA, which specializes in Internet security technology. EMC, a data storage company, employs several hundred Rhode Islanders in its Massachusetts' facilities. --- Andrea L. Stape Posted by Peter Phipps at 10:29 AM | Comment Photo / A leaderboard with leaders
By 9 a.m., 60 players had begun play with the first groups almost through nine holes. --- Journal photo Kathy Borchers Posted by Peter Phipps at 9:03 AM | Comment Finally, they're playing in NewportThe fog has lifted and the first groups teed off this morning at the U.S. Women's Open in Newport. The women will pay 18 holes today and 18 holes tomorrow. Then the field will be cut in half and the women will play 36 holes on Sunday. Monday has been set aside if a playoff is required. Despite all the rain overnight, play began close to schedule this morning. The National Weather Service says there's a 30 percent chance for more rain today. For news, links, profiles and the latest news from a team of eight projo writers, editors and photographers go to projo's U.S. Women's Open page. Posted by Peter Phipps at 8:30 AM | Comment It's going to be a great weekend in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- The big 4 holiday weekend kicks off tonight at WaterPlace Park. Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist Greg Abate will perform at 7:30 p.m. He is considered to be one of the best BeBop alto players in the country, according to the mayor's office. Then tomorrow night, there will be a full lighting of WaterFire will begin downtown at sundown. And on Monday, a series of events are planned. A 12-member orchestra known as Plena Libre will begin playing at Station Park at 6:30 p.m. The Grammy-nominated group specializes in a new and revitalized form of traditional Afro-Rican musical style. The Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops orchestra will follow at 8 p.m., with fireworks above Station Park scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Posted by Peter Phipps at 6:58 AM | Comment June 29, 2006Skier Bode Miller talks tonight at URISOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Champion skier Bode Miller will talk about his experiences at the last Winter Olympics games tonight as part of the World-Scholar Athlete Games event at the University of Rhode Island. Miller, of New Hampshire, had failed to bring home a medal despite high expectations for his performance at the games in Turin, Italy. His talk starts at 7:30 p.m. at Keaney Gymnasium on the Kingston campus. Tickets are $15 at the door. Come back to projo.com and The Providence Journal tomorrow for a report on his talk ... Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:23 PM | Comment R.I. GOP to endorse candidates tonightCRANSTON -- Republicans from around the state will gather at the Rhodes on the Pawtuxet this evening to endorse GOP candidates for the November elections. The event is open to the public and free, though only delegates are allowed to vote. The state party will officially endorse candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, general treasurer, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Absent from tonight's event will be U.S. Senate hopeful and Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey. “The state party made clear last September that they prefer the insider candidate over the reformer, and I have no interest in participating in their charade of a convention," Laffey said in a statement released today. Laffey is set to face off against incumbent Lincoln D. Chafee in a Republican primary in September. Tonight's convention begins at 6 p.m. Read more about it in today's Journal story. Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:38 PM | Comment Music, fireworks, WaterFire for holiday in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- There will be music, a WaterFire and fireworks in the days leading up to the July Fourth holiday, according to a schedule of events released this afternoon by the mayor's office. On Friday night, Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist Greg Abate will perform at Waterplace Park at 7:30 p.m. He is considered to be one of the best BeBop alto players in the country, according to the mayor's office. On Saturday night, a full lighting of WaterFire will begin downtown at sundown. And on Monday, a series of events are planned. A 12-member orchestra known as Plena Libre will begin playing at Station Park at 6:30 p.m. The Grammy-nominated group specializes in a new and revitalized form of traditional Afro-Rican musical style. The Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops orchestra will follow at 8 p.m., with fireworks above Station Park scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:00 PM | Comment Sen. Reed to visit Iraq for 8th timeWASHINGTON -- Sen. Jack Reed will make his eighth wartime visit to Iraq next week, traveling with fellow Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware. They will focus on the prospects for reductions in U.S. force levels. Reed said in an interview this afternoon that he will seek a first hand "sense of the judgement and insights" of military leaders in Baghdad, as well as those of front line troops in the outlying hotspots. A key question that Reed and Biden will explore is the ability of Iraqi security forces to start taking the lead in fighting battles. Reed said they will try to examine the less dramatic but equally important issue of how far the new Iraqi government has progressed on the political battlefront. In that regard, Reed said he hopes to meet with top Iraq officials to urge them to make changes in their new constitution that would provide for a fairer distribution of the nation's resources -- especially oil -- among its contesting ethnic and religious groups. -- Journal staff writer John E. Mulligan Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:40 PM | Comment Carcieri signs energy billPROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri signed an energy bill into law this afternoon, a move that helps low-income residents and pushes the state towards increased use of renewable energy. The bill is designed to "increase energy resources, increase energy conservation, ensure a safety net for low-income families, and bring down the cost of energy for all Rhode Islanders," according to a statement released this afternoon by Carcieri's office. Under the new law the state will: -- Merge its two engergy funds to create an even larger funding source for investment in renewable resources. This would move about $7 million toward renewable energy, helping achieve Carcieri's stated goal of obtaining 15 percent of the state’s electricity requirements from wind power. -- Create the Office of Energy Resources to conduct long-term energy planning. -- Discount gas and electric rates and discount heating oil procurement for low-income families with money from the gross receipts tax on electricity and natural gas, and a portion of the sales tax on heating oil. -- Encourage natural gas efficiency by increasing the rebates to consumers who purchase energy efficient equipment. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:34 PM | Comment Judge OKs Derderians' request for fire marshal infoPROVIDENCE -- A judge has authorized requests by attorneys for Jeffrey and Michael Derderian seeking to subpoena detailed information about the training of former West Warwick Fire Marshal Denis Larocque. Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. ruled today that the Derderian defense team can access records regarding Larocque from the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office, the town of West Warwick, and the National Fire Protection Association. According to the motions, the Derderians want "copies of any and all itineraries, syllabi, records, reports, or written materials of any kind relative to training received by Denis Larocque." Darigan also ruled today that he would begin assembling potential jurors for Michael Derderian's trial on Aug. 9. The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5. The Derderian brothers, co-owners of The Station nightclub in West Warwick, have been charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the fire that killed 100 people there in 2003. The brothers are scheduled to be tried separately. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:07 PM | Comment Vote today on tuition increases at R.I. collegesThe Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education is scheduled to meet late this afternoon to vote on a proposal to raise tuition and fees at the state's public colleges and universities. The proposal comes recommended from two of the board's subcommittees and is expected to pass. See the recommendation. The plan would increase in-state tuition by 6 percent at the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College, and 8.7 percent at the Community College of Rhode Island. Out-of-state tuition would go up 7.5 percent at URI and RIC, and 8.9 percent at CCRI. A last-minute increase in the proposed fees at RIC and CCRI was announced last week. The Board of Governor's meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Office of Higher Education in Providence. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:00 PM | Comment Play suspended at U.S. Women's Open / Photo
NEWPORT -- Tour officials officially suspended play today at the U.S. Women's Open due to the wet weather. The decision was made at 2:45 p.m., after fog-bound players had been waiting since 7 a.m. for play to begin. Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:23 PM | Comment Update: Lynch took donations from DuPont during lead-paint talksPROVIDENCE -- Attorney General Patrick Lynch accepted campaign contributions from the chief negotiator for DuPont Co. at the same time he was in talks with the company to drop it from the state's landmark lawsuit against former lead paint companies, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. Attorney Bernard Nash, who represented DuPont, negotiated the deal reached with the state in June 2005 to drop it from the lawsuit in exchange for DuPont donating about $12.5 million to three charities. Campaign documents filed with the state show that both before and after the settlement was reached, Nash contributed at least $1,500 to Lynch's campaign committee (see the filings). The deal allowed DuPont to drop out of a lawsuit that now may cost other companies in the industry billions of dollars. A jury in February decided that three of the remaining companies in the lawsuit were liable for creating a public nuisance by manufacturing and selling toxic products. The campaign of Bill Harsch, Lynch's Republican challenger in this year's elections, has filed a complaint today with the state Ethics Commission, alleging conflict of interest and influence peddling, Harsch told the AP. Lynch's campaign manager dismissed the allegations this afternoon as a political stunt. "[Harsch's] allegations of an ethics conflict are so absurd and political that we intend to seek an immediate and summary dismissal of his complaint," Lynch campaign manager Andrew Roos said in a statement. "It is wrong for Bill Harsch, on the day after he’s filed his paperwork declaring himself a political candidate, to misuse and politicize the Ethics Commission." Nash did not immediately return a phone message left at his office in Washington. -- Staff and wire reports The deal with DuPont dismissed the company from the lawsuit in exchange for its donations to the Children's Health Forum, a nonprofit group that works to prevent lead poisoning, Brown University Medical School and the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center in Boston. Nash first made contact with Lynch's office to work out a deal for DuPont in 2003, according to court documents related to the lead paint case. Depositions from January of Lynch and his chief of staff, Leonard Lopes, show Nash was DuPont's primary contact with the Attorney General's Office as the deal was negotiated. The deal was announced June 30, 2005. Documents filed by Lynch's campaign with the state Board of Elections show Nash gave Lynch donations totaling at least $1,500. The first, for $500, was on June 30, 2004. On Dec. 20, 2005, Nash gave Lynch's campaign $1,000, the maximum individual political donation allowed in Rhode Island per calendar year. According to campaign records, Lynch also accepted a $250 donation from Olivia Morgan, executive director of the Children's Health Forum, which stands to receive millions of dollars from DuPont's deal with the state. Her donation was recorded Dec. 20, 2005, about six months after the settlement was reached. Morgan did not immediately comment when reached by telephone this morning. Lynch is seeking a second term as attorney general. He was sworn in as Rhode Island's top law enforcement official in 2003. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:37 PM | Comment Cicilline unveils graffiti task forcePROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline held a press conference this morning to unveil an intense effort to combat graffiti, something he says has become "an assault on our neighborhoods." City officials this morning showed off two special vans with power-washing capabilities. The vehicles are covered with bright colorful words urging residents to report graffiti, offering up to $500 for information leading to the arrest of offenders. The city recently amended its graffiti ordinance to increase the penalty for graffiti offenses from $200 to up to $1,000 and up to 200 hours of community service. The new law prohibits anyone from selling aerosol paint containers, broad tipped markers, etching equipment, paint sticks or graffiti sticks to a minor without written permission from a parent or guardian. Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:12 PM | Comment Hammer hitman gets 30-year sentenceWARWICK -- The man who was paid to kill a Coventry woman and badly injured her with a claw hammer was sentenced this morning to serve 30 years in prison. Thomas M. Kenna pleaded guilty in January -- on the day his trial was to begin -- to assaulting Kris M. Sao Bento at her Coventry home two years ago, while her infant son played nearby. Kenna, an acknowledged drug addict, was hired by Sao Bento's ex-husband, Thomas J. Lewis, to commit the crime. Earlier in the month, Lewis was given the same sentence that Kenna received this morning. Both men were facing a maximum sentence of 35 years to serve, according to terms outlined in plea bargains. Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg sentenced them both to 60 years in prison, 30 to serve. "In my eyes, you are nothing less than a depraved assassin," Thunberg said to Kenna at today's hearing. Sao Bento and her mother were in the front row of the courtroom today. Prosecutors showed pictures of her bloodied face and head on an easel to encourage a harsh sentence. Kenna made a brief statement before his sentence was handed down, apologizing to his victim. Read a previous Journal story about the case. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:50 AM | Comment Report: Region losing highly educated workersThe percentage of young workers with college degrees will drop in most New England states, including Rhode Island, by the year 2020, if current trends continue, according to a report released in Boston this morning by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. The trend has troubling consequences for the economic vitality of the region, say education leaders, who want more young people to attend and graduate from college, and remain in the area to work in good-paying jobs. The report, New England 2020: A Forecast of Educational Attainment And Its Implications for the Workforce of New England States, is available online at www.nmefdn.org At the same time, all six New England states will see dramatic increases in the percentages of minorities in their workforces. By 2020, nearly half of the 25 to 29 year olds in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts will be minorities. -- Journal staff writer Jennifer Jordan The region must grapple with these changes, says Jack Warner, Rhode Island's commissioner of higher education. "Highly skilled workers are migrating out of New England, and they are being replaced by lower-educated workers, many of whom are low-income or immigrants," Warner said. Rhode Island and other New England states are developing strategies to deal with these shifts, Warner says. The effort includes doing a better job educating the people currently in New England, bringing more college students to New England and keeping them here by offering high-paying jobs. "It's not rocket science," Warner said. "It's really all about jobs." -- Journal staff writer Jennifer Jordan Posted by Jack Perry at 10:11 AM | Comment Update:Fog delays start of U.S. Women's Open / Photo
Read projo.com's U.S. Women's Open Blog. Posted by Peter Phipps at 10:00 AM | Comment Report: Financial health of R.I. hospitals improvingThe financial health of Rhode Island hospitals is improving, but they aren't as profitable as other hospitals, according to a report by the state Department of Health. The Health Department's financial review of the state's 13 hospitals found that the top-performing hospitals in 2005 were Newport, Miriam and Bradley, according to the report, which was released today. The net worth of Rhode Island hospitals grew at a faster pace than hospitals in other parts of the Northeast and the country, but the state's hospitals were less profitable, the report says. Rhode Island hospitals did well collecting accounts receivable, and their capacity to borrow improved, the report says. Posted by Jack Perry at 8:33 AM | Comment Governor eats to promote tourismCRANSTON -- Governor Carcieri plans to dine at the Twin Oaks Restaurant this afternoon, the beginning of a summer eatery tour designed to promote the restaurant industry. The governor is scheduled to make brief remarks at the restaurant at noon before having lunch with Cranston city officials and State Tourism Director David DePetrillo. The restaurant industry is "one of the most vital engines powering the state’s economic development efforts and tourism industry," according to an announcement released by the governor. As part of his summer restaurant tour, the governor plans to visit "everything from favorite local breakfast nooks, to lunch counters, to evening dining spots" across the state. Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:52 AM | Comment Weather service warns of lightning riskThe National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather advisory for Rhode Island and much of southern New England for thunderstorms, lightning, high wind gusts and possible flooding. The forecast, which calls for showers and thunderstorms, could hamper play at the U.S. Women's Open, scheduled to start this morning in Newport. Temporary downpours could cause flooding in urban areas and areas with poor drainage, the weather service says. Areas of fog by the coast should lift after 9 a.m. A high surf advisory continues on the coast. For more weather and updates, check projo.com/weather. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment June 28, 2006Update: Few surprises in candidate filingsThe parade of local candidates running for election this year became official as those seeking political office met the state deadline for filing documents needed to qualify for the September primary and November general election ballots. There were few surprises. In the U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Lincoln D. Chafee of Exeter faces Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey for the GOP nomination. On the Democratic side, former attorney general Sheldon Whitehouse of Providence, Carl Sheeler of West Greenwich, Christopher Young of Providence and Rebeka Palmer Rockefeller of Providence seek the nod. For Congress, 1st District Rep. Patrick Kennedy has no primary opposition, but three Republicans -- Edmund Leather of East Providence, Joseph Zuccolo of Providence and Jonathan Scott of Providence -- have taken out papers for the GOP nomination. In the 2nd District, incumbent Democratic Rep. James Langevin of Warwick is opposed by Jennifer Lawless of Cranston. No Republican candidate is running for the 2nd District U.S. Congress. In the governor's race, Republican voters have a choice between incumbent Governor Carcieri of East Greenwich and Dennis Michaud, a Providence business consultant. Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty was the lone Democrat to file for governor, but Democrats will have a primary for lieutenant governor between Spencer Dickinson of South Kingstown and state Sen. Elizabeth Roberts of Cranston. Republicans have two candidates to choose from for lieutenant governor: Former state adjutant general Reginald Centracchio of Scituate and Kernan "Kerry" King of Narragansett. The Republican attorney general candidate is William Harsch of Jamestown. He will face Democratic incumbent Patrick Lynch. Democrats have a secretary of state primary between North Providence Mayor Ralph Mollis and Guillaume deRamel of Newport. The lone GOP candidate to file for secretary of state is Warwick City Councilwoman Sue Stenhouse. -- Journal staff writer Scott MacKay Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:44 PM | Comment Detective's widow gives thanks for 'justice for Jimmy'PROVIDENCE -- The widow of slain police Detective Sgt. James L. Allen issued a statement of gratitude late this afternoon to many of those involved in what she called bringing "justice to Jimmy." Marguerite Allen's remarks came about 24 hours after a jury convicted Esteban Carpio of her husband's murder at Providence police headquarters last year, rejecting Carpio's insanity defense. Marguerite Allen said that she is indebted to the men and women of the jury "who recognized the truth and acted on it." She acknowledged staff of the state Attorney General's Office, which prosecuted the case, Police Department members, the mayor of Providence and family and friends. "But most of all, I am thankful to God," she said, "whose presence and protection I have never doubted. "I miss Jimmy every day, his face, his laugh, his love," the mother of two daughters continued. "He was a loving husband and a great father. May he now rest in peace." Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:30 PM | Comment R.I. Training School to hold graduation tonightCRANSTON -- They will don caps and gowns tonight, pose with smiling family members for pictures, and receive diplomas. But these graduates won't go home after the ceremony. Some won’t go home for years. The Rhode Island Training School -- a detention facility for convicted criminals between the ages of 13 and 21 -- will hand out diplomas or GEDs to 71 students at 6:30 tonight at a ceremony inside the locked facility’s cafeteria. An outdoor program under a large tent was canceled because of the rain. “It’s a commencement and a celebration of an academic milestone for these youths that they might otherwise not have achieved if they weren’t here,” said Arlene Chorney, the principal of the facility’s school program, which employs more than 40 teachers and school staff and caps class sizes at 12 students. “In actually a brief amount of time, by attending school every day -- and school is mandatory here -- they’re able to fill in the gaps in their education,” Chorney said. “It’s amazing how much they’re able to do by simply attending class. And we have just about 100 percent attendance here.” Many of the students had spotty school attendance records before entering state custody, she said. Most of the graduates are between 17 and 19 years old, though some are as old as 21. Chorney said she expects about 150 family and friends to attend tonight’s ceremony. Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:50 PM | Comment Women's Open: 1st day may be tough, wet slog
NEWPORT -- If the worst forecasts turn out to be true, tomorrow could be a rough first day of play at the U.S. Women's Open. The United States Golf Association is expecting anywhere from a quarter to a full inch of rain, in addition to the 3.7 inches that fell on the course over the weekend. "I think it's fair to say it can probably handle a quarter inch, maybe a half inch without too much problem," said Mike Davis, the USGA's senior director of rules and competitions. "If we truly get the inch, then we're going to have some severe puddling out there and probably some bunkers that are going to need to be pumped. It's going to be a wet, long U.S. Open, at least tomorrow." The rain could force delays in play or possibly force the action to be suspended, in which case four days of golf would have to be compressed into Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when better weather is expected. The wet conditions will also make the course in the famed City by the Sea harder to play, and make long drives a necessity. The USGA is contemplating shortening the course, to make it less difficult, if things get really rough. See the latest forecast for Newport. - With reports from Journal sports writer Paul Kenyon
Despite the rain, the final day of practice play for the U.S. Women's Open went as as scheduled. Projo.com will ramp up coverage of the U.S. Women's Open tomorrow, with a special section from The Journal newspaper and expanded coverage on projo.com. Beginning at noon, you can satisfy your appetite for news and pictures from Newport on the U.S. Women's Open Blog. We'll keep it running through the weekend and until a champion is crowned. Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:08 PM | Comment Update: Body found in Hopkinton ID'd as British manRhode Island authorities confirmed this afternoon that the body discovered in a shallow grave in the Rockville Management Area is that of a missing British man, Adrian Exley, 32, of London. The state police issued a statement indicating that the state medical examiner's office used dental records to verify the man's identity. Lynn, Mass. police had been investigating Exley's disappearance since late April. They were led to the gravesite yesterday morning by a suicide note. More to come ... Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:45 PM | Comment Carcieri signs sex offender monitoring billPROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri signed a law requiring electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders this afternoon. The new law requires state authorities to track some sex offenders with global positioning software from the time they're released from prison until their death. The bill also raises the minimum mandatory sentence for first-degree sexual assault to 25 years in prison, a five-year increase. The law takes effect January 1, 2007. It applies to child rapists and other sex offenders deemed likely to reoffend. Senator James Doyle, a bill sponsor, says the General Assembly will create a commission next year to consider excluding sex offenders from certain areas, for example, around schools. He says the new tracking system would allow state authorities to see if any offenders have violated those zones. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:22 PM | Comment Report: Bruins to hire new coachDETROIT -- Former Detroit Red Wings coach Dave Lewis has been hired as coach of the Boston Bruins, an official within the NHL said today. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bruins had not yet made an announcement. The Bruins fired Mike Sullivan yesterday, ending weeks of speculation. Sullivan coached the team the past two seasons. Boston finished last in the Northeast Division last season. The Bruins said today they would hold a news conference tomorrow at 1 p.m. to introduce their new coach, although the team did not disclose his name. Messages left with him Wednesday were not immediately returned. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:06 PM | Comment Deadline looming for declaration of candidacyPlanning to run for office in Rhode Island this year? This afternoon is the deadline for filing your declaration of candidacy. The deadline applies to candidates who may run in a primary this September or as an independent in November. Those running for statewide and federal offices have until 4 p.m. to file with the Secretary of State. Candidates for General Assembly, local offices, state and district committees and local committees file with their local boards of canvassers. Come back to projo.com and The Journal tomorrow morning for a look at some of those who filed today. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:44 PM | Comment High surf advisory equals poor surfing todayMIDDLETOWN -- The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory for the Rhode Island coast starting at 1 p.m., warning of high winds and powerful rip tides. And while such waters keep swimmers away, local surfers often flock to Ocean State beaches during such storms. Not today. Although the waves are reportedly at least waist high at Middletown's Second Beach -- a popular surf spot -- they're terrible for surfing. "It is super bumpy, really windy, choppy, sloppy swell," according to today's surf report from Middletown's Elemental surf shop. Today's strong off-shore winds cause the waves to break very quicky and come in from different directions -- far from ideal surf conditions regardless of how large the waves are, according to local surfer Christopher Murphy. Surfline.com's report for Narragansett beaches agrees, reporting that wave heights were 1 to 2 feet just before noon, with poor conditions.
Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:37 PM | Comment North Kingstown man arrested after police chaseAfter a police chase from East Greenwich to Woonsocket early this morning, Woonsocket Police arrested a 21-year-old North Kingstown man who now faces multiple charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and other charges after allegedly ramming police vehicles. Rocky Cote, of 42 Iron Horse Terrace, in North Kingstown was arrested by Woonsocket officers after a struggle, Johnston Deputy Police Chief Gary W. Maddocks Jr. said this morning. The Woonsocket officers used a taser gun to incapacitate Cote, Maddocks said. East Greenwich police wanted Cote for felony assault on a police officer, Maddocks said. “It appears that East Greenwich tried to stop him, and he tried to assault the officers with his vehicle,” Maddocks said. Johnston police joined the chase at 12:27 a.m. today. More details to come on projo.com Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:43 AM | Comment Fire in vacant Providence building quickly controlledPROVIDENCE – Within a half hour, a fire this morning in a vacant three-story wood structure at the corner of Friendship and Broad streets was under control, according to Battalion Chief Joseph Desmarais. At least two dozen firefighters responded to the 6:49 a.m. blaze that Desmarais said appeared to start on the first floor and spread to the upper two floors. There were no injuries, he said. The building has been vacant for years and had been boarded up, Desmarais said. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, Desmarais said. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:32 AM | Comment Warning: Heavy surf, thunderstorms due this afternoonPROVIDENCE -- Here’s to Saturday! A change in the forecast now predicts that it will be partly cloudy – but without rain – during the day. Yes, you heard that right. After days of rain on the horizon and in the forecast, looks like we might get a partly sunny-partly cloudy weekend day, with a high of 83. As for today, it should be mostly cloudy with a high around 76. Rain is likely and a thunderstorm in the early afternoon is possible. Along the southern coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory and urges anyone venturing out on the water this afternoon or tonight to be cautious. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:59 AM | Comment June 27, 2006Man's body found in shallow grave in HopkintonHOPKINTON -- State police discovered a man's body this morning, buried in a shallow grave deep in a wooded section of this rural town, according to State Police Capt. Stephen Lynch, who said the discovery is related to the apparent suicide of a Massachusetts man. The body was buried beneath about a foot and a half of dirt, Lynch said, in a gravesite set back about 75 feet off North Road, a dirt road off Canonchet Road. He said the body had been there for "several weeks" and that decomposition had begun. The body has not been identified, and authorities have yet to determine a cause of death. Lynch said that Rhode Island State Police were directed to the area -- which is miles from the nearest house -- last night by Massachusetts authorities, who had been investigating the suicide last week of 48-year-old Gary Leblanc, of Lynn, Mass. There were some large, identifying rocks in the area where the body was found, said Lynch, who declined comment on the Massachusetts investigation that led authorities to Rhode Island. Spokesman for Massachusetts local and state police could not be reached early this evening for more details. Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:07 PM | Comment No sign yet of West Nile virus in R.I. mosquitoesPROVIDENCE -- The state Department of Environmental Management announced this afternoon that samples taken from 85 mosquito pools earlier in the month have produced no evidence of West Nile virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis. So far this year, DEM says, no mosquitoes have tested positive for either virus, although state officials have confirmed their existence in Rhode Island in recent years. Therefore, Rhode Islanders are warned to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on their property such as standing water and to protect their skin from bites. Mosquitoes are trapped every week statewide by DEM staff and tested at the state Department of Health. DEM normally reports mosquito test results once a week throughout the summer. Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:05 PM | Comment Derderians seek details of local fire marshal's trainingPROVIDENCE -- The attorneys for Jeffrey and Michael Derderian filed motions in Superior Court today seeking to subpoena detailed information about the training of former West Warwick Fire Marshal Denis Larocque. The subpoenas would apply to the fire academy of the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office, the town of West Warwick, and the National Fire Protection Association. The Derderian brothers, co-owners of The Station nightclub in West Warwick, have been charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the fire that killed 100 people there in 2003. According to the motions, the Derderians want "copies of any and all itineraries, syllabi, records, reports, or written materials of any kind relative to training received by Denis Larocque." Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. has scheduled a hearing to rule on the subpoena requests for Thursday. The brothers are scheduled to be tried separately. Michael Derderian's trial is set to begin Sept. 5. Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:44 PM | Comment Women's Open warning: Be prepared for mudNEWPORT -- The organizers of the U.S. Women's Open hope they have a few more hot, dry days like today ahead. Unfortunately, the weather forecast has more rain this week. A tour of the Newport Country Club course today showed that many of the paths that fans will have to tread are already very muddy. So if you're planning on heading to Newport, be warned: It could be messy.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:38 PM | Comment FLASH: Carpio guilty on all 3 countsPROVIDENCE -- Esteban Carpio has been found guilty of killing a Providence police officer at headquarters last year. The 12-person jury deliberated about nine hours over two days before convicting Carpio on all three counts against him. The highly-anticipated verdict followed a case that asked jurors to decide whether Carpio was a calculating criminal or a psychotic who did not know what he was doing. After the verdict was read, a couple of hushed "thank God's" could be heard in the standing-room-only crowd in Superior Court courtroom. More to come... -- With reports from projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:30 PM | Comment Man denies murder, blames violent sexWEST WARWICK -- A West Warwick man was arraigned today in Kent County District Court on first degree murder charges for allegedly brutally beating and strangling a woman staying at his house. Brian Mlyniec, 43, had his case referred to Superior Court. He is being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions. West Warwick firefighters discovered the woman’s body on Friday afternoon, after receiving an anonymous call reporting a possible overdose. Firefighters called the police, and patrolmen later found Kelly Ann Anderson, 41, inside Mlyniec’s home, bruised and bleeding, according to a police affidavit. Mlyniec, who is on probation for an unrelated sexual assault in 2001, has denied slaying Anderson, according to the police affidavit. He told police the two had engaged in consensual, violent sexual activities that resulted in the bruises and bleeding. The police arrested Mlyniec late yesterday, after the state medical examiner completed an autopsy and reported that strangulation caused Anderson's death, according to Police Chief Peter T. Brousseau. -- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:04 PM | Comment Westerly police officer accused of off-duty sex assaultWESTERLY -- A town police officer is being charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of disorderly conduct leveled at him by the state police, according to a news release issued today by Police Chief Edward A. Mello. The charges arose after a state and local police investigation into a female’s complaint to the Westerly Police Department on June 16 that she was sexually assaulted by Officer Don Thompson, according to Mello. Mello confirmed this afternoon that the complainant is a 17-year-old girl. Thompson, 39, was off duty at the time of the incident in question, the police said. He also faces Westerly police charges of reckless driving, operating with a suspended license and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Thompson surrendered himself at the State Police Barracks in Hope Valley last night, according to Mello. He was arraigned at that time before a justice of the peace on all charges and was released on personal recognizance, according to the police. “The Westerly Police Department has taken these allegations very seriously, as it does with all criminal complaints of this nature,” Mello’s statement reads. “Officer Thompson has been placed on unpaid suspension as result of these charges.” -- With reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:01 PM | Comment Supreme Court to review lead paint lawPROVIDENCE -- The state Supreme Court has agreed to review the legality of a 2005 lead paint that was deemed unconstitutional in January by a Superior Court judge. Attorney General Patrick Lynch filed a motion in March asking the high court to review the lower court's decision. In an announcement released today, Lynch praised the Supreme Court's willingness to examine the case. "This is the law that finally moved Rhode Island away from a system aptly described by one witness as 'using babies as lead detectors,'" Lynch said. "That is, we no longer wait for a child to be poisoned in a property before steps are mandated to remove lead hazards." The Lead Hazard Mitigation Act of 2005 requires absentee landlords of pre-1978 units to learn about lead hazards, evaluate whether any exist in their units and correct any problems. No timeline has been set for the Supreme Court's review. Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:50 PM | Comment Update: Man accused in Block Island shooting spree held / Photo
"I want to represent myself,'' Ernesto A. Lacayo, of Stratfield Road., Fairfield, told Judge John M. McLoughlin. "No sir,'' McLoughlin said. "You're referred to the public defender.'' A determination of attorney date is set for July 7. Lacayo, who wore navy blue sneakers, khaki shorts and a T-shirt and was shackled at the ankles, faces seven counts of assault with the intent to commit murder. Police allege he fired five rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun -- three aimed at a state trooper; another two at Block Island police officers who arrived at the scene, police said. State police said Lacayo was spotted by State Trooper Michael Reynolds Sunday night as he walked toward the New Shoreham Police Department carrying a shotgun. After he fled from the trooper, o Block Island Police Chief Vincent Carlone said Lacayo lay in wait in dunes near Scotch Beach and fired upon the local officers as they arrived at the scene. All the shots missed. Lacayo is being held on $400,000 cash bail. For more background, read today's Journal story. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Lacayo was carrying the names and addresses of Fairfield, Conn., police officers at the time of the shootings, Rhode Island State Police Major Steven G. O’Donnell said this morning. Although he has had some contact with the Fairfield police department, O’Donnell described the past instances as “nothing of substance, nothing major.” One of the state troopers on scene Sunday night said Lacayo “had a lot to say verbally” during the incident and acted out “things from movies,” including, O’Donnell said, the film Scarface. Local police are working with Connecticut state and Fairfield police to investigate Lacayo’s background and family. O’Donnell said the police do not know why he approached the New Shoreham police department carrying the names and addresses of Fairfield police officers. “It’s difficult to get into the mindset of a person who would be doing something like this,” O’Donnell said. According to O’Donnell, Lacayo was spotted by State Trooper Michael Reynolds Sunday night as he walked toward the New Shoreham Police Department carrying a shotgun. A chase ensued, and Lacayo fired five times at officers before dropping his gun, which was out of ammunition. Officers apprehended him and discovered he was also carrying a buck knife. Additional charges may be filed against Lacayo as the investigation continues, O’Donnell said. For now, he is also charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, for pointing the shotgun at Reynolds, but not firing, as he walked across the lawn toward the Block Island police department, and with one count of using a firearm while committing a crime of violence. Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:48 PM | Comment 22-story tower proposed for old Providence police buildingPROVIDENCE -- City officials joined The Procaccianti Group today in announcing the preliminary plan for development of the old public safety building in LaSalle Square. The announcement, made at a morning news conference in front of the LaSalle fire station bays, coincided with the completion of The Procaccianti Group’s $3 million purchase of the property from the Providence Redevelopment Agency. The developer’s plan for the property – which is conceptual and must still go before city design review and zoning boards – calls for demolishing the old public safety building and constructing a 22-story, 496,000-square-foot office tower. -- Journal staff writer Karen Davis The project – which is called The Empire at Broadway -- would include a 522-space parking garage and 25,000 square feet of “pedestrian-friendly’’ retail space, according to Tom Niles, executive vice president of development for Procaccianti. “This is an exciting announcement of importance to the city,’’ Mayor David N. Cicilline said. “The Procaccianti Group is a critical partner in building upon the incredible momentum we have in Providence and its purchase of the long-vacant LaSalle Squate property is a shining example of that important work.’’ Cicilline said the project accomplishes several key objectives: to convert a vacant, blighted property into an asset and a gateway to downtown; to provide the downtown area with added parking and infuse the central city with a large mass of office and retail space. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:06 PM | Comment Carpio trial: Jury requests help with audiotapesPROVIDENCE -- The jury deliberating the fate of Esteban Carpio has asked for help listening to recorded interviews Carpio gave immediately after the shooting death of Detective Sgt. James Allen last year inside Providence police headquarters. The jurors indicated to the judge this morning that they were having trouble playing the recordings or finding the part of the interview they were looking for. Carpio was interviewed at the police station and inside the hospital after Allen's death. Jurors deliberated for about 3-1/2 hours yesterday after hearing closing arguments from the defense and prosecutors. They resumed their deliberations earlier this morning. Carpio's lawyer says his client was psychotic at the time of the killing and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity. But prosecutors say Carpio was a calculating killer who knew what he was doing when he shot Allen to death with the officer's own weapon. Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause instructed the all-white jury for about 25 minutes yesterday before they began deliberations. Although Carpio was indicted on four felony charges, the prosecution has withdrawn one of those charges – assault on a person older than 60, causing bodily injury. The remaining charges are murder; discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, death resulting; and assault with a dangerous weapon on 84-year-old Madeline Gatta. Carpio had been brought in to police headquarters for questioning in the stabbing earlier that day of Gatta outside her home. Read more in today's Journal story about the lawyers’ closing arguments in court yesterday, and review coverage of the trial, including audio clips of police interviews with Carpio after the shooting. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:50 AM | Comment Brown poll: Incumbents Chafee and Carcieri slippingPROVIDENCE -- Democratic challengers are gaining ground in the race for the U.S. Senate and Rhode Island's governor, according to a new poll released this morning by Brown University. If the general election were held today between Democratic candidate Sheldon Whitehouse and Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, Whitehouse would get 38 percent of the vote, Chafee would take 37 percent, and 25 percent would be undecided. As recently as February, Chafee led Whitehouse 40 percent to 34 percent. Today's poll shows Whitehouse's lead over Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey, growing as well. Whitehouse leads Laffey 55 percent to 25 percent, up from 44 percent to 29 percent in February. Governor Carcieri's lead over Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty is also shrinking. In February, Carcieri led 46 percent to 35 percent. But in today's poll, Carcieri leads 44 percent to 39 percent -- nearly within the poll's 3.5 percent margin of error. The survey was conducted June 24 to 26 by Brown's Taubman Center for Public Policy which randomly sampled 719 registered voters in Rhode Island. Regarding the casino vote, 52 percent say they oppose amending the state constitution to allow a gambling casino in West Warwick operated by Harrah’s in association with the Narragansett Indian Tribe; 39 percent favor a casino and 9 percent are undecided. Sixty-six percent think there should be competitive bidding on the right to operate a gambling casino in West Warwick, while 22 percent do not. Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:30 AM | Comment AAA predicts record travel for July 4 holidayAuto club AAA projects a record Fourth of July holiday weekend for travel with 40.7 million Americans expected to travel 50 miles or more from home. That represents a 1.2 percent increase from last year, and the highest number of holiday weekend travelers ever projected by AAA Southern New England said in a press release today. The holiday weekend follows Thursday's 50th anniversary of the interstate highway system, which was created when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act on June 29, 1956, AAA noted. “Vacation travel has changed dramatically in the past 50 years and this will be no more obvious than during this holiday weekend, which is the biggest vacation travel weekend of the summer,” said Robert P. Murray, AAA Southern New England's senior vice president of corporate affairs. AAA noted that this weekend’s drivers will have a much different travel experience than the highway travelers of 50 years ago. Today’s highway vacationers will be paying more than $2.90 a gallon for gas compared to 22 cents in 1956, and the national average hotel rate will be $96.08 a night compared to $8.86 in 1956, AAA said. And Orlando, Fla., has replaced Niagara Falls as the top vacation destination in the U.S., AAA said. AAA estimates that 34.3 million travelers (80 percent of the total) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 1.3 percent increase from the 33.8 million who drove a year ago. Another 4.6 million plan to travel by airplane, the same number flying last Fourth of July. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:11 AM | Comment West Warwick police say woman, 41, was murderedWEST WARWICK -- The police in West Warwick have arrested a resident for allegedly killing a female acquaintance in his apartment on Harris Avenue. Brian Mlyniec, 43, is being arraigned this morning in connection with the death of Kelly Ann Anderson, 41, of Cranston, on Friday. -- Journal Staff Writer Benjamin Gedan Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:09 AM | Comment Update: Burrillville man in serious condition after crashGLOCESTER – A 27-year-old Burrillville man was seriously injured early this morning when he lost control of his Jeep on a curve. The police say Eric Johnson, of Victory Highway, was driving westbound on Putnam Pike around 1:10 a.m. when he rolled his 2004 Jeep near the intersection of Chestnut Hill Road, according to a preliminary police investigation. Johnson is in serious condition at Rhode Island Hospital this morning, spokeswoman Andrea Barbosa said. The Jeep struck a guardrail before coming to rest on the driver's side, according to a news release issued by Police Lt. Joseph V. Mattera. The Chepachet Fire Department transported Johnson to Rhode Island Hospital, according to Mattera. Glocester Patrolmen Charles Entwistle and Jeffrey Jenison are investigating the accident. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:31 AM | Comment Arraignment today for man accused of shooting at policeWAKEFIELD – The man accused of firing a shotgun at state and Block Island police officers on Sunday night is expected to be arraigned in Fourth District Court, in Wakefield, this morning. Ernesto A. Lacayo, 19, of 1746 Stratfield Rd., Fairfield, Conn., was arrested after fleeing from State Trooper Michael Reynolds, whom the police say just happened by chance to be in the area and see Lacayo walking toward the New Shoreham police station carrying a shotgun. State Police Major Steven G. O’Donnell said yesterday that the police believe Lacayo had just one thing on his mind – killing police officers – when he walked toward that station. When the police nabbed Lacayo, he tried to pull a buck knife from his backpack. The police discovered that Lacayo was also carrying a list of police officers’ names and addresses in that backpack, O’Donnell said. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:17 AM | Comment Department investigating Coventry fireCOVENTRY – Firefighters are still on scene investigating an early morning fire at 40 Hill Farm Camp Rd., according to the Central Coventry Fire Department. Coventry Police Sgt. Frederick Heise said the structure fire was reported at 3:09 a.m. More details are not yet available. Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:59 AM | Comment American Power Conversion to cut jobs in IrelandAmerican Power Conversion Corp, of West Kingston, plans to lay off 200 to 250 workers in its Castelbar, Ireland, facility, the company announced today. The cuts will come primarily from manufacturing, operation and customer support, said APC, which makes equipment that keeps computers running during power failures. The company says it plans to move some positions closer to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. APC plans to keep some sales, information technology and research-and-development jobs in its Galway, Ireland, facility, the company said in a press release. Rodger P. Dowdell Jr., the company's president and chief executive officer, said APC is trying to reduce operation costs and improve customer productivity by moving production to lower cost areas and deploying some jobs closer to customers. The company expects the cuts to cost $4 to 5 million, primarily for severance payments. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:29 AM | Comment Providence Equity Partners in group to buy UnivisionA buyout group including Providence Equity Partners will pay $12.3 billion for Univision Communications, the country's largest Spainish language broadcaster. Providence Equity Partners, which is based here and manages about $9 billion in investments in media and communcations companies, combined with three other investment companies to win Univision. Univision controls about 80 percent of the Spanish-language TV market in the United States. -- Bloomberg Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:07 AM | Comment Respite from the rainPROVIDENCE – We should get a respite from the rain today before it starts back up around 3 a.m. tomorrow or later tomorrow afternoon. Today’s weather forecasters predict a mostly cloudy day will gradually become a mostly sunny day, with a high around 84. Tonight should bring fog, which could be dense in some areas. Then the rain returns -- and potentially thunderstorms -- and the drizzle could stick around at least through Saturday. Despite the lack of rain today, the flood warning for the Pawtuxet River in Cranston will continue until late morning. With a flood stage of 9 feet, the river was at 9.1 feet at 5 a.m. today. At 9 feet, minor lowland flooding will occur along the river through Warwick and Cranston. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:00 AM | Comment June 26, 2006Clinton stumps for Whitehouse at URISOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Former President Bill Clinton urged a crowd of about 150 Democratic supporters this evening to work hard to get Sheldon Whitehouse elected to the U.S. Senate. Clinton said that the Senate majority was in the Democrats' reach this November. The $1,000 per person fundraiser at the University of Rhode Island's University Club netted about $150,000 for Whitehouse, who will face the winner of the Republican primary between the incumbent Lincoln Chafee and Cranston mayor Stephen Laffey. Clinton is scheduled to deliver the keynote address for the World-Scholar Athlete Games at 7:30 p.m. at the Ryan Center on the URI campus. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Scott MacKay. Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:52 PM | Comment Brotherhood showing in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- By 6:30, more than 100 people had lined up on Thayer Street in Providence outside the Avon theater for tonight's showing of the Brotherhood pilot episode. The screening, which begins at 7:00, is free and open to the public. To get in, people needed to bring a full-page ad that appeared on page E7 of Thursday's Providence Journal, which admits two. Seating is not guaranteed and is first come, first serve. Guests at the screening will include Jason Clarke, who plays Tommy Caffee, one of the two leads in the series, and Kevin Chapman, who plays mob boss Freddie Cork. Brotherhood stars Clarke and Jason Isaacs as two brothers, one a politician and the other a criminal. Posted by at 6:35 PM | Comment Big Papi does it againThe Red Sox won their 10th straight game this afternoon on a walk-off 12th inning single by David Ortiz. Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon gave up a solo homerun to the Phillies in the top of the 9th inning -- just his second earned run this season -- to knot the game at 6 to 6. The game stayed tied until the 12th inning, when young Red Sox reliever Craig Hansen allowed an inherited runner to score, giving the Phillies a one-run lead. Red Sox centerfielder Coco Crisp led of the bottom half of the inning with a double. He scored to tie the game on a two-out single by Kevin Youkilis. Mark Loretta then walked, bringing up the slugger, Ortiz. And then, true to form, Ortiz lined a single to left centerfield, scoring Youkilis to win the game, bringing Fenway to a frenzy. The final score was 8 to 7. The Red Sox will host the New York Mets at Fenway tomorrow. Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:05 PM | Comment R.I. lesbian couple argues for marriage in Mass. courtBOSTON -- A lesbian couple from Rhode Island who were denied a marriage license in Massachusetts argued in court today that a century-old Massachusetts law should not bar them from marrying here. A lawyer for Wendy Becker and Mary Norton, of Providence, argued the 1913 law that prohibits nonresidents from marrying in Massachusetts does not apply to Rhode Island because Rhode Island law does not "expressly prohibit" same-sex marriage. "Rhode Island has implicitly decided not to stand in the way of its citizens who want to marry here," said Michele Granda, an attorney with Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, which represents Becker and Norton. Becker and Norton, a couple for 18 years, filed a notice of intention to marry in Massachusetts days after the state began performing same-sex marriages in May 2004. But they were denied a license after state officials cited the 1913 law. In March, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Massachusetts could use the 1913 law to bar gay couples from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont from marrying here because those states explicitly prohibit gay marriage. But the high court sent the part of the case involving New York and Rhode Island couples back to superior court, saying it was unclear whether gay marriage was prohibited in those states. Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Connolly heard arguments on the Rhode Island case today. No date has been set yet for a hearing on the New York case. Assistant Attorney General Peter Sacks argued that Rhode Island statutes use gender-specific terms - including both "bride" and "groom" - and make it clear that their intention is to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Becker and Norton, who are raising two children together, said their desire to get married was a natural extension of their long relationship. "We feel like the word 'marriage' has a particular meaning of dignity, love and respect. We want that for our families," Norton said after the court hearing. "It's sad that we have to go to court to get married," Becker said. Connolly said he expects to issue his ruling in the case within five to six weeks. In 2002, Connolly dismissed a lawsuit filed by seven gay couples who challenged the state's ban on same-sex marriage. His ruling was reversed by the SJC in its landmark 2003 decision legalizing gay marriage in Massachusetts. -- The Associated Press Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:10 PM | Comment Open update: Pros get to practice, but fans are barred
Michelle Wie was one of the few players to play a practice round this morning, while many more -- in small groups and alone -- played the course this afternoon after some sun and wind helped dry the area. Heavy weekend rains soaked the Newport course. One player, Cristie Kerr, joked that club officials had pumped three million gallons of water off the course today. Absent for the course for the morning, Anika Sorenstam made an appearance on the practice range this afternoon. Players will continue practicing tomorrow in preparation for the first day of play on Thursday. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Paul Kenyon Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:51 PM | Comment Carpio trial: Jurors end first hours of deliberationsPROVIDENCE -- The jury that will decide Esteban Carpio's fate has been released for the day, after deliberating for about 3-1/2 hours. Jurors will reconvene tomorrow morning at 9:30. Earlier today, attorneys for both sides delivered closing arguments to a packed courtroom in the high-profile case. The prosecution labeled Carpio, accused of killing a police detective at headquarters last year, cunning and cool. But the defense held that it was easy to find Carpio psychotic and unable to follow the law.
Fictional spy James Bond would have envied the cool cunning that Carpio used to murder a Providence police detective and elude authorities, prosecutor Paul F. Daly Jr. told the jury this morning. “This would have gone down in the annals of history as the crime of the century,” Daly said. "James Bond would have been envious." Daly called Carpio "cunning," "manipulative" and "evil." Emphasizing the high stakes of the case, just as the defense attorney had done before him, Daly told the jury: "You represent the collective will of the people in this state." The defense lawyer for Carpio presented his closing arguments to the jury this morning before a standing-room-only crowd. The easy part, attorney Robert L. Sheketoff told the jury, is to determine that Carpio was psychotic and couldn't follow the law. The hard part, he said, is, "Do you have the courage to actually follow the law?" Before the beginning of closing arguments, Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause instructed the jury that Carpio is not legally responsible for the murder of a Providence police detective if Carpio was "unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct," or was "unable to conform his conduct" to the requirements of the law at the time of the offense. Sheketoff told the jury to "look at this crowd," during his 20-minute argument, referring to the huge public interest and impact of its decision. Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:44 PM | Comment Update: Clinton to appear at Whitehouse fund-raiser at URISOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Before he takes the stage as keynote speaker for the World-Scholar Athlete Games tonight, former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear at a fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Sheldon Whitehouse. The $1,000 per person fundraiser will be held at the University of Rhode Island's University Club at 5:30 p.m. Clinton has been to Rhode Island many times to raise money and stump for Democratic candidates. The former president's most recent visit was on April 8, when he appeared at a fundraising event for his wife, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, in East Greenwich, at the home of Democratic activists Mark and Susan Weiner. After the event, Clinton is scheduled to speak at 7:30 p.m. at the Ryan Center on the URI campus. Tickets may be purchased for $77 (lower level seating) or $62 (upper level seating). As of this posting, tickets were still available, and can be obtained at the ticket window until the time of the event. Call (401) 874-RAMS for more information. Honor students from around the world have gathered for the games at the Kingston campus, which promote friendship, communication and cultural exchange. Some 1,900 students from more than 155 countries and all 50 states are expected to participate this year, Sponsored by URI's Institute for International Sport, the games are held every four years. But this year is unique, because the institute is teaming up with the United Nations to promote world peace through sports. U.N. delegates are expected to attend on Wednesday. More about the games from its Web site ... Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:27 PM | Comment Sale of Channel 10 completedRICHMOND, Va. -- Media General, owner of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, said today it has completed its purchase of four NBC stations, including WJAR Channel 10 in Providence. In April, the Richmond-based media company announced its plans to buy the television stations from NBC Universal in an all-cash deal estimated at $600 million. Media General says the stations are in large and growing markets. With the acquisition, Media General now has nine NBC stations. Media General also owns The Tampa Tribune and Winston-Salem Journal. NBC Universal is 80 percent owned by General Electric Company. Vivendi Universal Entertainment holds the remainder. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:27 PM | Comment June has a soggy record within reachWith rain forecast for all four remaining days this month, the region has an outside chance at setting a new rainfall record for June. This June is already the third rainiest for Providence since the National Weather Service began keeping records in 1904, according to Charles Foley, a meteorologist for the weather service in Taunton. Providence had 8.92 inches of rain through yesterday, which is 6.08 inches more than the June average of 2.84 inches, according to the weather service's Web site. (The measurements for Providence are actually taken at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick.) The second rainiest June was 1998, when 9.61 inches fell, according to Foley. The wettest June was 1982, when 11.08 inches fell. A record for June 25 was set yesterday, when 1.13 inches fell. The old record was .60 in June 1984. The weather service has forecast heavy rain for this afternoon and a chance of rain tomorrow through Friday, the final day of June. But Foley thinks it's unlikely the record will fall. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:20 PM | Comment World Cup: Italy's fans have something to cheer aboutItalians around our area had something to cheer about this morning, as the Italian national soccer team defeated Australia in the second round of World Cup play. The Italians earned a 1-0 victory over Australia after scoring on a controversial penalty kick awarded in injury time. Italy advances to the quarter finals and will play the winner of the Switzerland and Ukraine match. Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:16 PM | Comment R.I. same-sex couples argue for right to marry in Mass.BOSTON -- Lawyers for gay couples from Rhode Island will be in a Boston court today, arguing that they should be allowed to get married in Massachusetts. The couples say a 1913 law that bars non-residents from marrying in Massachusetts if their marriage would not be legal in their home state does not apply to them -- because gay marriage is not specifically banned in Rhode Island. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has upheld the 1913 law, but left open the door for same-sex couples from Rhode Island as well as New York. The justices said there was a question of whether gay marriage was legally allowed in those two states. Today's hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Suffolk Superior Court. Read a previous Journal story. Read more about the case on the Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders Web Site. Read about Marriage Equality RI's movement seeking legal recognition of same-sex couples through civil marriage in Rhode Island. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:41 AM | Comment Gas prices fall for second weekGasoline prices in Rhode Island dropped 2 cents per gallon this week, the second straight week that prices have fallen, according to AAA Southern New England. The average price for regular, unleaded gasoline is $2.96 per gallon at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey. The average price has dropped 4 cents over the past two weeks, but drivers are still paying 71 cents more per gallon than they were at this time last year. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:29 AM | Comment Providence board to discuss moving principals tonightPROVIDENCE – A controversial plan to move 11 middle school principals or assistant principals goes before the Providence School Board tonight. Supt. Donnie Evans is proposing the changes, which include reassigning some principals as assistant principals and vice versa, as part of a sweeping reorganization of the city’s seven middle schools. The changes are aimed at increasing student achievement. Read more in a Journal story on the topic. The board will address the proposed administrative changes at a 7 p.m. meeting in the district’s administrative offices, 797 Westminster St. However, the board meets prior to that, at 5:30 p.m., for a workshop on the new state testing program and how Providence student scores compare to the statewide scores, district spokeswoman Maria Tocco said. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:50 AM | Comment Summer Pops concert set for tonight in WesterlyThe Chorus of Westerly's free Summer Pops concert, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been moved by rain to 8 tonight, with a pre-show starting at 6:30 p.m. The concert takes place in Wilcox Park in downtown Westerly. It features the 200-voice Chorus of Westerly, the Boston Festival Orchestra, and special guest bass-baritone Kevin Short. The pre-show offers the URI Jazz Big Band, the Kevin Byrne Band and the Westerly Morris Men. No plastic ground covers are allowed; they'll be removed if put down. Items other than blankets that are left unattended will also be removed.
Posted by at 9:30 AM | Comment SUV rolls over on Exeter's Victory HighwayEXETER – Both fire departments in town, the Exeter Rescue and the State Police responded to a single-car rollover on Victory Highway at the New London Turnpike early this morning, according to rescue officials and the state police. The accident was called in at 1:42 a.m., Exeter Rescue Lt. Bryan Gardiner said. The SUV was traveling southbound when it rolled over at the intersection with the New London Turnpike, State Police Trooper Marc Alboum said. More details are not yet available. Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:50 AM | Comment Time to declare candidacy for state, federal officesIf you’ve been contemplating running for a federal or statewide office, you’ve got just a couple days left to make up your mind about whether to throw your hat in the ring. The declaration of candidacy period begins today and ends Wednesday at 4 p.m. In order to run for office, you must be registered to vote, and the deadline for that has passed. Potential candidates must also fill out and submit this form. There’s plenty of information on the process on the Secretary of State’s Web site, in English and in Spanish, including a How to Run for Office Guide.
Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:11 AM | Comment Carpio trial: Closing statements expected todayPROVIDENCE – After medical experts have offered vastly different accounts of Esteban Carpio’s state of mind, lawyers are expected this morning to offer their closing statements in the trial of the man accused of killing a Providence police detective. Carpio is accused of stabbing 84-year-old Madeline Gatta and, hours later, killing Detective Sgt. James L. Allen at police headquarters on April 16, 2005. Carpio’s defense team has never questioned whether Carpio stabbed Gatta or killed Allen. The defense has argued that Carpio is innocent by reason of insanity. Come back to projo.com later today for more ... The insanity defense sets up a two-part trial with differing burdens of proof. In the first phase, the state needs to prove Carpio is guilty of four charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Krause reminded potential jurors at the beginning of the trial that Carpio is presumed innocent and the state must prove otherwise. In the second phase, Krause explained, the burden of proof shifts to the defense in its argument that Carpio cannot be held legally responsible for any of the alleged crimes. A preponderance of the evidence is a lesser standard than beyond a reasonable doubt. Robert L. Sheketoff, Carpio's lawyer, told potential jurors that the phrase means "more likely than not." -- With reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:01 AM | Comment Clinton to give keynote at student games tonightSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Former President Bill Clinton will be the keynote speaker tonight as the World-Scholar Athlete Games kick into high gear at the University of Rhode Island. Clinton is scheduled to speak at 7:30 p.m. at the Ryan Center. Tickets may be purchased for $77 (lower level seating) or $62 (upper level seating). Call (401) 874-RAMS for more information. Earlier today, state Attorney General Patrick Lynch is to take part on a panel about non-violence, at 9:30 a.m. at Keaney Gymnasium. More about the games from its Web site ... Honor students from around the world have gathered for the games at the Kingston campus, which promote friendship, communication and cultural exchange. Some 1,900 students from more than 155 countries and all 50 states are expected to participate this year, Sponsored by URI's Institute for International Sport, the games are held every four years. But this year is unique, because the institute is teaming up with the United Nations to promote world peace through sports. U.N. delegates are expected to attend on Wednesday. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 7:52 AM | Comment Bleak week: More rain likely, flood warning onPROVIDENCE – Haven’t we had enough rain already? There’s a 40 percent chance of more rain on this mostly cloudy day, and a flood warning has been extended until this evening for the Pawtuxet River in Cranston. With the river already at 9.2 feet by 5 a.m. today and expected to rise to nearly 9.4 feet, minor flooding has already occurred in the area, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage for the river is 9 feet. So even if you have had enough rain, just wishing apparently isn’t the right formula to make it go away. The rain appears to be here to stay. And we’re sorry to say that the rest of the week’s forecast doesn’t look particularly sunny. The high today should be around 75. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:07 AM | Comment June 23, 2006Scholar-Athlete Games begin Sunday at URI / Photo
KINGSTON -- Student-athletes from more than 150 countries and all 50 states are gathering in Rhode Island for the 2006 Scholar-Athete Games. The games formally begin on Sunday at the University of Rhode Island. Former President Bill Clinton will give the keynote speech on Monday night at 7:30 at the Ryan Center. The theme of that day's events will be world peace and nonviolence. Participants will hear from an eclectic group of speakers during the week of events. Television talk-show host Bill O'Reilly will speak at 7:30 on Sunday; Olympic skiier Bode Miller will speak Thursday at 7:30; former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell speaks on Friday; and disgraced former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland will speak on the morning of July 1, in a presentation meant to emphasize the dangers of abusing power. Talan Toriero and Taylor Cole of the wildly popular TV show Laguna Beach will join the Tuesday night festivities. All of the events, including sports events featuring youngsters from around the world, are open to the public, but tickets must be purchased for many of the speakers. Go to the official event Web site for ticket information. Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:57 PM | |
