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October 26, 2006

RIC poll: Whitehouse, Carcieri leading; many still undecided

PROVIDENCE -- Democratic Senate challenger Sheldon Whitehouse and the incumbent Governor Carcieri have double-digit leads over their opponents in a poll released today by Rhode Island College's Bureau of Government Research and Services.

With the election just 12 days away, Whitehouse leads Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee by 10 points -- 43 percent to 33 percent, with 24 percent undecided.

GOP Carcieri leads his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty, 49 percent to 35 percent with 16 percent undecided.

And voters continue to oppose the proposal to amend the state Constitution to bring a Narragansett Indian casino to West Warwick; 55 percent oppose the measure, while 36 support it. Another 8 percent are undecided.

The survey of 408 registered voters was conducted Oct. 23-25 and has a margin of error of 5 percent. It seems to confirm recent polling trends that show Carcieri and Whitehouse increasing their leads and casino opposition holding steady.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:19 PM | Comment

Chafee, Whitehouse tussle over GOP in 2nd TV debate / Photo

Journal photo / Kris Craig
U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, left, and Sheldon Whitehouse may have hit hard at each other over the subject of President Bush, but the tone was mostly cordial and they shook hands with a smile at the end of the debate.

PROVIDENCE -- Democratic Senate candidate Sheldon Whitehouse continued today to hammer the Republican Party in his second TV debate with incumbent Sen. Lincoln Chafee, often invoking the name of President Bush and saying it would have been "gutsy" if Chafee had left the party.

Chafee fired back with his own record of disagreement with his party, including his vote against authorizing war in Iraq and his dislike of President Bush.

"I didn't vote for him. Rhode Island didn't vote for him," Chafee said. "This is a race between Lincoln Chafee and Sheldon Whitehouse."

The candidates met in an hour-long debate taped at WLNE-TV and co-sponsored by the Rhode Island chapter of AARP. The debate was scheduled to air on Sunday.

-- Associated Press

Whitehouse has run his campaign around one central theme: there are serious problems in Washington, most due to the Republican Party, and Democrats must take back the Senate to change things.

He rarely deviated from that message today. At one point, when asked to say why he should replace Chafee without using the words "Republicans" and "George Bush," he referred to "you know who" and "you know which party."

Chafee said Rhode Island benefits from having members of both parties represent them in the Senate.

When asked what he would do if he wins the seat but Republicans keep control of the Senate, Whitehouse did not answer directly.

"Democrats can take control of the Senate in this election," he said. "It will never happen if we don't win in Rhode Island."

The debate was largely cordial, even though it comes at a time when the race has become increasingly nasty.

The campaign is one of the most closely watched across the country as Democrats seek to win a majority in the Senate. Recent polls have shown Whitehouse with an apparently widening lead, although the results are still within the margin of error and many of those polled say they're undecided.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:58 PM | Comment

Derderian working at Warwick auto body shop

Station nightclub co-owner Michael Derderian went to work this morning at a Warwick auto body shop for his fourth day of a work-release job from the Adult Correctional Institutions.

Derderian was sentenced last month to serve four years in the ACI's minimum-security work-release program after he pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter charges related to the 100 deaths from The Station nightclub fire.

Today, ACI spokeswoman Tracey Poole said the state prison is not allowed to disclose the name of Derderian’s employer. But The Journal learned that Derderian is working at Allendale Auto Body and Sales, located at 2058 Elmwood Ave., in Warwick.

The business owner, James Buckley Jr., confirmed that he and Derderian have been friends for a long time. The auto body shop arranges for Derderian's transportation to and from work each day.

Poole initially said Derderian is working from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on a Monday-Friday schedule. However, early this afternoon she said he’s being picked up at the ACI at around 7:15 a.m. by one of four people at his new workplace. They bring him back to the ACI around 6:30 p.m. each day.

He is in the ACI evenings, weekends and any days off from the job, which Poole described as “office-type work” and “some light bookkeeping.” In addition, he is working an occasional Saturday.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writers Tracy Breton and Tom Mooney

The work-release program at the ACI requires inmates to find and convince an employer to hire them, Poole said. So inmates in the program often work for someone they know or have some connection to.

Derderian is earning $10 an hour, Poole said. Thirty percent of his salary goes to the state Department of Corrections, Poole said. From what is left after taxes, 15 percent will be applied to fines and costs assessed by the court. Twenty-five percent of the salary, up to $500, goes into an account that is frozen and held for the inmate until his release.

Derderian, like the ACI’s other 36 work-release inmates, will receive $35 a week for job-related expenses such as bus fare, gasoline or lunches. Any money remaining after that can be put into an account that he can use in the ACI commissary or transfer to his relatives, Poole said.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:14 PM | Comment

Bilodeau waives motion for new trial; sentencing in Dec.

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence man convicted last week of two felonies related to the death of a 17-year-old North Providence high school student today waived his motion for a new trial.

Jacob D. Bilodeau, of 16 Vinton St., 25, faces up to 25 years in prison after being convicted of driving to endanger, death resulting, and leaving the scene of an accident, death resulting.

Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause today scheduled his sentencing for Dec. 4.
He is being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston.

The motion for a new trial is relatively standard after serious criminal convictions.

Louis J. Salvatore, 17, suffered severe head injuries and died after a car crash July 19, 2004.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:58 PM | Comment

Hearing set on release of Station fire grand jury testimony

The judge weighing whether to release secret grand jury testimony in The Station nightclub fire case – at Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch’s request – has set a hearing for tomorrow on the matter.

However, the judge will not rule on Lynch’s petition tomorrow, according to courts spokesman Craig N. Berke.

Superior Court Presiding Justice Joseph F. Rodgers Jr. will address Lynch’s request at 11 a.m. tomorrow in courtroom 12 on the fifth floor of the Licht Judicial Complex, 250 Benefit St., Providence.

Rodgers said today that he will outline how he intends to proceed with the petition.

A statewide grand jury was impaneled within days of the February 2003 fire at the West Warwick nightclub that killed 100 people.

The grand jury conducted an independent, 10-month-long investigation before indicting Daniel Biechele, the band manager who set off the pyrotechnics that ignited the blaze, and club co-owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian on involuntary manslaughter charges.

All three pleaded out, averting any disclosure of the testimony during a trial.

The attorney general filed a four-page petition and a 61-page supporting memorandum yesterday seeking the release of the grand jury testimony.

Tomorrow’s hearing is open to the public.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:39 PM | Comment

Fogarty, Carcieri clash on jobs in morning debate

Governor Carcieri and Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty laid out their views of the state's economy this morning at a breakfast forum sponsored by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce at the Providence Westin.

Carcieri, who is running for his second term, pointed to the construction in downtown Providence and Fidelity Investments plans to bring 1,000 new workers to the state as evidence that the state's economy has grown during his first four years in office.

"When people are investing in the state it means they are positive about its future," said Carcieri, who also highlighted his efforts to cut taxes for businesses and improve education.

Fogarty, however, attacked Carcieri on his job creation record, saying Carcieri has not delivered the 20,000 jobs he promised to create at the beginning of his first term and questioned Carcieri's track record on health care affordability.

Fogarty called himself a true advocate for the state's small businesses.

"The state has to improve its business climate, business taxes have to be fair," said Fogarty. "Taxes must help, not hinder growth."

-- Journal staff writer Andrea Stape

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:57 AM | Comment

Autism experts to gather in North Kingstown

NORTH KINGSTOWN – The Autism Project of Rhode Island has gathered about 150 speech and language pathologists, teachers, social workers and parents today and tomorrow for a conference on developing children’s social skills.

Michelle Garcia Winner, who operates the Center for Social Thinking in San Jose, Calif., teaches children with autism how to understand the nuances of interpersonal communications that their peers take for granted. Winner, an author and speech pathologist known for her “I Laugh” approach will speak and lead group workshops.

The challenges for children with many forms of autism include dealing with a lack of social skills, problems making friends, getting along in groups or just “getting” the joke, which contribute to academic struggles as well, according to Joanne Quinn, director of the Autism Project of Rhode Island.

Although people have pre-registered for the conference, which is at the Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown, there is an opportunity for parents of autistic children to attend tomorrow’s sessions, according to spokesman Mike Dawson. The fee is $69.
-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:44 AM | Comment

Apartment fire at Charlesgate chases resident

PROVIDENCE – One person is living in temporary quarters today after a fire last night at the Charlesgate East Apartments at 50 Randall St.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 9:47 p.m. for a kitchen fire and heavy smoke on the third floor, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department. No one was injured.

Although some residents of the large apartment complex were evacuated, all were able to return to the building by 10:09 p.m., except for the resident of Apartment 3C, the location of the fire, Taylor said.

The Red Cross was called to assist that resident, Taylor said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:33 AM | Comment

Mild today, but a storm is brewing for the weekend

PROVIDENCE – A significant coastal storm is predicted to bring heavy rainfall to southern New England on Saturday as well as wind gusts up to 50 knots over coastal waters.

East to southeast winds are forecast to shift to the west by Saturday night, but winds may still gust to 40 knots through Sunday.

With a small craft advisory in effect, the National Weather Service warns mariners to consider postponing travel until after the storm passes and winds and seas subside.

As for today, we’ve got something more mild in hand. It should be partly cloudy with a high around 52 and a low tonight of 32.

Keep an eye on the forecast for the next few days at projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:15 AM | Comment