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January 2, 2007

Medical mystery around student infections deepens

Health investigators concluded today that a third child, a West Warwick middle schooler, had suffered from encephalitis probably brought on by a common infection that usually causes pneumonia, deepening a medical mystery that has drawn the attention of federal medical authorities.

The bacteria that seems to have caused the infection, mycoplasma pneumoniae, very rarely causes encephalitis, and encephalitis itself is extremely rare, so the cluster of three cases -- which included one death -- has prompted an intensive investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The surviving children have recovered.

Five doctors from the federal agency are in Rhode Island talking with school nurses and the families of children who have been out of school, trying to identify any additional cases. One possibility under consideration is that a new, more virulent strain of the bacteria may have developed, according to Dr. David R. Gifford, Rhode Island director of health.

But so far health officials do not know of any children who are currently ill with mycoplasma or with encephalitis. All the eight known mycoplasma cases -- which include five children who had pneumonia without encephalitis -- occurred in November and December.

Seven of the eight infections were in children who attended the Greenwood Elementary School in Warwick. The Health Department has closed the school for this week, and has offered antibiotics to the families every student. Nearly all agreed to take the drugs.

The Health Department distributed 1,182 doses of antibiotics on Sunday, yesterday and today. The department ordered the drugs from a distributor at a cost of $57,000, charged to a Health Department credit card. Several children had upset stomachs, a common reaction to the medication, but no allergic reactions were reported.

The Health Department has been holding meetings with parents in West Warwick yesterday and today to talk about the illnesses.

-- Journal medical writer Felice J. Freyer

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:33 PM | Comment

Lincoln councilman accused of domestic assault

LINCOLN -- Town Councilman Ronald A. Loparto was arrested for domestic simple assault today after his wife came to the police station and said he had pushed her down during an argument, police Chief Robert T. Kells said.

Today is Loparto's last day in office.

Kells said Loparto’s wife came into the station at about 2 p.m. and said her husband had shoved her during an argument that began on the evening of New Year’s Day. He said she told police she was in fear of her husband and had obtained a restraining order against him.

Loparto, 53, of 91 Old River Road, was charged with one count of domestic simple assault and released on his own recognizance pending a Friday morning arraignment in District Court, Kells said. Loparto “cooperated fully” with police throughout the arrest process, Kells said.

Loparto’s afternoon arrest came in the final hours of his council term which expired at about 7 p.m., with the swearing-in of the new Town Council elected in November.

-- Journal staff writer John Hill

Loparto had passed on a running for council reelection last year in favor of running for state representative. He lost the election in the 46th House District to incumbent Republican William J. McManus by 12 votes.

During his term on the council, Loparto was criticized at times by opponents for what they considered an excessively aggressive debating style on issues he cared about. He and his wife have three daughters, ranging in age from approximately 5 to 12.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:59 PM | Comment

At the Assembly: Montalbano, Murphy get nod / Photo

Journal photo / Connie Grosch
Five-year-old Tiffanie Pichardo, joins her father, state Sen. Juan Pichardo, D-Dist. 2, in Providence, in the Senate chamber for the first day of the 2007 legislative session.

PROVIDENCE -- As expected, the Democratic leaders of the state General Assembly were reelected this afternoon by overwhelming majorities.

Both Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano, D-North Providence, and House Speaker William J. Murphy, D-West Warwick, had been endorsed at party caucuses in the fall.

Today's votes took place on the first day of the new legislative session and followed the swearing-in of members in each chamber. It means that Montalbano and Murphy will lead the state's legislative branch for the next two years.

Not sure who your state senator and representatives are now? Search this database on the secretary of state's Web site. Find contact information for your legislators here.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:55 PM | Comment

New Cranston mayor seeks budget cuts ASAP

CRANSTON -- Mayor Michael T. Napolitano is calling for deep, mid-year budget cuts from every department to compensate for a $2-million shortfall in projected tax receipts.

Napolitano mentioned the cuts during his inaugural address last night. Today, during his first day in City Hall, he said he would summon all department heads to discuss the city’s fiscal condition and the need for immediate reductions in spending.

The cuts could reach 5 percent of departmental spending, Napolitano’s chief of staff, Ernest J. Carlucci, said in an interview.

The projected deficit in tax receipts was caused by an error in calculating the total cost of partial tax exemptions during budget writing last year. Former Mayor Stephen P. Laffey has said that surpluses in other accounts will erase the shortfall in taxes, but Napolitano is insisting the emergency cuts are needed.

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin Gedan

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:31 PM | Comment

State asking all schools to review, report absences

The state Health Department has asked all schools in the state to examine their absentee records and report back to the department if they believe their students have had excessive respiratory illnesses lately.

The department and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to investigate a string of bacterial illnesses that killed one Warwick elementary student.

If a school believes they have had an excessive amount of respiratory illnesses, the health department and specialists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will investigate further, according to Dr. Robert Crausman, chief administrative officer of the state Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline.

This afternoon, health department and CDC officials will hold a press briefing at 4:30 to provide an update regarding the ongoing investigation of mycoplasma bacteria at local schools. This afternoon’s briefing will be at the Emergency Management Operation Center, at 645 New London Ave. in Cranston.

The state and federal agencies are working to determine if there’s a connection between illnesses in Warwick that killed one boy and hospitalized a girl in the same Greenwood Elementary School classroom, an illness in West Warwick and higher-than-normal absences at two Coventry schools, which may be the result of walking pneumonia.

Health officials announced last night that new test results show a student at West Warwick’s John F. Deering Middle School who was hospitalized about a month ago probably suffered from encephalitis, a brain infection, brought about by the mycoplasma pneumoniae infection that caused illnesses in seven students at Greenwood Elementary, including second-grader Dylan Gleavey. Gleavey died of encephalitis on Dec. 21.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:13 PM | Comment

Mass. lawmakers advance proposed gay marriage ban

BOSTON -- Lawmakers in Massachusetts, the only state where gay marriage is legal, today voted to advance a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, a critical step toward putting the measure the 2008 ballot.

The proposed amendment, which would define marriage as between one man and one woman but ban future gay marriages, still needs approval of the next legislative session before it can go onto the ballot.

The vote today in the constitutional convention came without debate, immediately after Senate President Robert Travaglini officially opened the joint session.

Read the full Associated Press story

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:59 PM | Comment

Update: 5 displaced by Providence fire

PROVIDENCE -- A Washington Park family was left homeless after a fire tore through their home early this afternoon.

A detective passing through nearby happened to see smoke rising over Calla Street. Detective Charles Matracia said he rushed over to 68 Calla St., calling for help over his radio while he banged on the door in search of anyone inside.

No one was home, said Fire Battalion Chief Joseph Desmarais, which was fortunate, because flames and smoke were flashing the windows and roof of the small white house when the first fire trucks pulled up.

The stairs between the first and second floor had burned through before firefighters made it inside, he said, so they raised ladders to the second floor and roof.
While they kept the fire from spreading to the neighboring houses barely yards away, the fire destroyed much of the inside of the house.

The family who lived there came home as firefighters were still extinguishing the flames. One woman ran up to the porch, screaming for her sister, until she was turned away by firefighters. Her sister and other relatives were gathered on the sidewalk in tears.

The state chapter of the American Red Cross was called to help the family of five. The cause of the fire, which began in the basement or first floor, was being investigated this afternoon.

One firefighter was brought to Rhode Island Hospital after injuring a shoulder while fighting the blaze.

-- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:11 PM | Comment

Update: Education is Carcieri's top priority for 2nd term

Journal photo / Steve Szydlowski
Governor Carcieri waves to the crowd on the State House lawn after being sworn in to day to his second term.

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri stressed the importance of education today during a 15-minute inaugural address under bright blue skies on an unusually warm January day.

Carcieri called education the greatest challenge facing the state, and said it's his top priority for his second term.

Noting his efforts to develop the state's economy, he said the state cannot thrive if its children, who will compete in a global economy, don't have the skills and knowledge they need to reach their potential.

Carcieri said he will also focus on health care and reducing the state's dependence on foreign oil through renewable resources such as solar and wind power.

The state's general officers sat behind Carcieri as he spoke. Down the hill, the governor could look out at three major construction projects and cranes reaching high into the sky.

Carcieri stressed economic development and made much of the need for change during his first address, four years ago.

"Clearly, the winds of change are still strong," he said,- as strong gusts buffeted the governor and spectators on the State House steps.

Extra: Read a prepared draft of Carcieri's inaugural address.

-- With reports projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

It's official for Governor Carcieri
Posted 12:21 p.m.
PROVIDENCE -- At 12:14 p.m., it became official for Governor Carcieri -- again.

The Republican governor was sworn in for his second term by Attorney General Patrick Lynch, shaking Democrat Lynch's hand at the conclusion.

Carcieris, supporters gather for inauguration
Posted 12:09 p.m.
Governor Carcieri and First Lady Sue Carcieri walked hand-in-hand down the marble steps of the State House to the south lawn moments before the governor’s noon inauguration.

Roughly half of the approximately 1,800 seats set out on the lawn were filled with supporters dressed in winter coats and gloves.

The State House flags – still at half-staff in honor of President Gerald R. Ford – are whipping in the wind.

The 88th Army band of the National Guard is playing.

Carcieri is dressed in a black coat and red scarf. No gloves for him. The first lady is wearing a red coat with a furry red collar.

Walking in behind the governor and his wife were outgoing Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty, Lt. Gov-elect Elizabeth Roberts, incoming Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, Attorney General Patrick Lynch and state Treasurer-elect Frank Caprio.

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Governor's inauguration to start at noon
Posted 9:08 a.m.

Governor Carcieri's inauguration is scheduled for noon today and will include a tribute to former President Gerald Ford, who died last week at 93.

Out of respect for Ford, the governor postponed his inaugural ball for one day. It will start tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. President Bush has designated today as a national day of mourning for Ford.

Under Rhode Island law, an inauguration must be held on the first Tuesday of January following an election. The state's five general officers -- the new lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and general treasurer -- will also be sworn in during the inaugural ceremony.

“The inauguration Ceremony will go on as planned,” Carcieri said last week. “The business of state government will continue, and the inauguration marks the new terms for the governor, the general officers, and the legislators.”

“We will honor the memory of President Ford and recognize what he did for our country during the inauguration ceremony,” Carcieri said.

All 38 senators are scheduled to be sworn in at 3 p.m. by the state's new Secretary of State Ralph Mollis. Four newcomers are among the senators.

The House inauguration is set to follow at 4 p.m. There will be 10 new representatives among the 75 people sworn in. All the new officials are Democrats.

The opening day sessions will be broadcast by Capitol TV, which is Channel 15 for Cox Communications subscribers.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:53 PM | Comment

Gas prices down one penny

Gas prices have dropped by one penny in the new year, after rising for seven consecutive weeks.

Regular unleaded gasoline in Rhode Island is averaging $2.41 per gallon at the self-service pump, according to AAA Southern New England. At this time last year, the average price was $2.25.

This is the first time prices have fallen locally since early November.

Prices in the AAA survey fall into a 25-cent range, from a low of $2.30 to a high of $2.55.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:44 AM | Comment

Photo: Flowers in January? Where's winter?

These flowers are blooming on Fruit Hill in North Providence.
Photo/Pat Heslin

PROVIDENCE – Looks like today may be the coldest day of the week – with a high of 48 degrees.

The National Weather Service predicts mid-50s for the rest of the week, and even a high of 57 on Saturday.

There is a hazardous weather outlook, though, for the region, with gale warnings posted for outer coastal waters and Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Sound.

Northwest wind gusts of 35 to 40 knots are expected today before diminishing this evening.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:45 AM | Comment

Meeting on encephalitis draws about 50 parents

WEST WARWICK -- Forty to 50 parents met with Health Department officials this morning to discuss a string of bacterial illnesses that has left one elementary school student dead and sickened others.

The press was barred from the meeting today in West Warwick, but state Health Director Dr. David Gifford met with members of the news media after the session to discuss the meeting.

The Journal reported today that new test results show that a student at West Warwick’s John F. Deering Middle School, who was hospitalized last month, probably suffered from encephalitis, a brain infection, brought about by the mycoplasma bacteria which caused illnesses in seven students at Warwick’s Greenwood Elementary School, including second grader Dylan Gleavey, who died of encephalitis on Dec. 21.

The Deering student has recovered from that illness, and health officials do not believe there is any additional evidence of an outbreak at that school. But they are now exploring the possibility that the illnesses are connected.

The state is also investigating higher-than-normal rates of absenteeism in two Coventry schools.

Five representatives of the Centers for Disease Control have come to Rhode Island to help, according to Gifford.

After this morning's meeting on the campus of Deering and the West Warwick High School, Gifford characterized the level of concern among parents at the meeting as "appropriate."

He told them that good hygiene procedures, such as regular hand washing, and covering up while coughing is the best way to prevent the spread of the mycoplasma bacteria.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common bacteria that spreads much like a cold and usually manifests itself as bronchitis, or as walking pneumonia. In what health officials say are “very, very rare” cases, people who contract the bacteria can develop meningitis, an inflammation around the brain, or encephalitis.

State health officials have established a toll-free information line at (800) 942-7434 for parents of children in Warwick, West Warwick and Coventry schools. People can also visit the Health Department's Web site.

Written questions were also handed out this morning to West Warwick parents to monitor whether their children had been sick recently.

A second meeting will take place today at 5:30 p.m.

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:53 AM | Comment

Press barred from meeting on encephalitis

The news media has been barred from a meeting this morning in which the state Health Department is explaining to parents an investigation into a student's case of encephalitis.

The media was barred because some parents were concerned that the names of children would be brought up in the meeting, according to Wayne Talbot, principal of the West Warwick High School.

The meeting is happening now in an auditorium at the campus for the high school and John F. Deering Middle School. Officials say they will meet with the press after the meeting.

In the wake of a string of bacterial illnesses that left one Warwick elementary student dead, the health department’s investigation has spread to West Warwick and Coventry.

A representative for the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is attending.
The meeting at Deering Middle School, 2 Webster Knight Drive, is at 7:45 a.m. today.

Read more in today’s Journal.

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:09 AM | Comment

Traffic: Providence streets closed for inauguration

The city of Providence will close and restrict traffic on several streets today because of Governor Carcieri's inauguration.

Service Road Eight from Broad Street to Washington Street will have limited access from 8 a.m. until about 10:30 a.m. for the Governor's Mass at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

Starting at 10 a.m., the following streets will be closed: Gaspee Street from Smith to Francis Street and Francis Street from Smith to Gaspee.

There will be no parking on Smith Street between Francis and Gaspee.

For other traffic needs, check out the state roadways, via the Department of Transportation's online traffic offerings.

You can find any traffic alerts describing accidents here, browse traffic cams to see real-time photos of the highways and check out the DOT’s road construction schedule here.

Also, check out congestion mapping -- i.e., how heavy the traffic is -- here.

To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:39 AM | Comment

Mass. lawmakers take up gay marriage again

BOSTON -- Lawmakers are scheduled to meet in a constitutional convention to vote on a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union of one man and one woman today, the last day of the legislative session.

Those opposed to gay marriage proposed the amendment, but in November, gay marriages advocates led by House Speaker Sal DiMasi voted 109-87 to recess without a taking vote, well above the simple majority needed to recess. The move was seen as a way to kill the measure.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:21 AM | Comment

Download today's front page

An advance on the Ford funeral and a story on second case of encephalitis in Warwick lead today's Journal.

Download file

Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:14 AM | Comment