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January 4, 2007

Update: Whitehouse Senate's newest member / Photo

Special to The Journal / Linda Spillers
U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, his wife, Sandra, and children Molly and Alex, pose with Vice President Dick Cheney, who swore in the new senators today.

WASHINGTON -- Sheldon Whitehouse was sworn in as the newest member of the United States Senate at 12:24 this afternoon, joining a narrow Democratic majority.

By virtue of his surname's place in the alphabet, the Rhode Islander was the last of 33 senators who swore the constitutional oath of office. Whitehouse was among six freshman Democrats whose election last fall gives their party a majority of 51 to 49.

Since the House of Representatives is also ruled by Democrats, the party has full control of the 110th Congress.

As he marched down the center aisle of the Senate chamber with Rhode Island's senior senator, fellow Democrat Jack Reed, Whitehouse blew a kiss into the gallery above, where his wife, Sandra Thornton Whitehouse, and their children, Molly and Alex, were seated with a legion of celebrants.

After he took the oath, and walked toward the rear of the chamber, Whitehouse turned again and repeated the gesture to his wife and children.

-- John Mulligan, Journal Washington Bureau.

Posted by Jack Perry at 6:45 PM | Comment

N. Kingstown gas leak sends 2 to hospital

NORTH KINGSTOWN -- Two people were taken to Kent Hospital this evening following a gas leak inside their apartment building.

Rescue officials responded to a two-story apartment complex at 23 Dayton Court where they discovered "a minor gas leak," according to Fire Chief Patrick Campion, who said the gas is carbon monoxide.

The names of the victims have not been released. More information was not yet available.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:34 PM | Comment

On deck: PC at the Dunk, Bruins host Toronto

Tonight in sports, the Providence College men’s basketball team gets its Big East season started when it plays Marquette at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The Golden Eagles come in at 13-2 overall, while the Friars are 10-3 in nonconference games.

Also, the Boston Bruins try to get back on track following a miserable road trip, when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7. A win would lift the Bruins past Toronto and out of last place in the Northeast Division.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:27 PM | Comment

Update: Derderian segregated after 'escape attempt'

CRANSTON -- Station nightclub co-owner Michael A. Derderian "tried to pull away" last month from an officer, and has accumulated five other infractions, an ACI spokeswoman said today.

Prison authorities today put Derderian in segregation at a medium security facility of the Adult Correctional Institutions, said spokeswoman Tracey Poolem where he'll stay until mid-February.

The "attempted escape from escorted custody’’ occurred on Dec. 5, when Derderian was being moved from minimum security to the intake center for what prison officials described as his inability to adjust to confinement after he was sanctioned for having an unauthorized visit from a non-family member, and accepting chicken soup from a family member in violation of work-release rules.

"He tried to pull away from the (correctional) officer, and that’s all,’’ Poole said. ``He didn’t get away. The officer grabbed his arm and they put him into the van for transport.’’

Derderian, 45, was sentenced to a four-year term on Sept. 29, after pleading no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the fire that killed 100 people at the nightclub he co-owned with his brother.

-- Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner

In early December, Derderian was scheduled to be moved from minimum security to medium security for 15 days as punishment for three violations related to his work-release job at the Allendale Auto Body and Sales in Warwick, according to ACI Director A.T. Wall.

Those violations included an unauthorized visit from someone who was not a family member; accepting non-prison food (chicken soup) from a family member while at his work-release job, and lying to authorities who were investigating those infractions.

Poole said Derderian lost his appeals after two hearings, on Dec. 13 and this past Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:19 PM | Comment

Brown gets NIH grant to train R.I. science teachers

PROVIDENCE — Brown University announced today that it has received a $636,131 grant from the National Institutes of Health to train Rhode Island high school science teachers how to integrate high-level concepts and hands-on experiments into their lesson plans.

Each summer, Brown faculty and graduate students will teach a two-week course to 15 high school science teachers selected as fellows to help them achieve the national science education standards for teacher professional development and teaching.

The fellows will have access to laboratory equipment and an adviser during the school year to help them develop new curriculum. In the spring, teachers and their students will go to Brown to share independent research projects and attend seminars led by biologists from Brown.

Over the course of the grant, 45 teachers will be trained, who will teach more than 3,000 students through the program.

-- Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:32 PM | Comment

Carcieri to order schools to carry hand sanitizer

Governor Carcieri said this afternoon that he plans to issue an executive order later today requiring all Rhode Island elementary schools to offer alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the wake of "a cluster" of illnesses in West Bay schools.

"The schools themselves can do and need to do a much better job," Carcieri said during a 3 p.m. media briefing at the Emergency Management Agency in Cranston.

The governor told residents not to be overly alarmed by the recent cases reported and said that schools in West Warwick, Warwick and Coventry should be re-opened by Monday.

"We do not have at this time any indication that there are any other districts affected. That can change," Carcieri said. "We’re not expecting to do any more school closures."

State health officials learned last night that a Coventry student has been hospitalized with a probable case of meningitis. They've sent samples taken from the student to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labs to check for a connection to three previous cases of encephalitis recently reported at West Bay schools.

State health director Dr. David R. Gifford, who appeared at this afternoon's briefing, said that the Coventry student "is doing very well" and is expected to be discharged from the hospital today.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:42 PM | Comment

Live video: Health Dept. update on meningitis fears

State officials are conducting a press briefing this afternoon on the closing of schools in Warwick, West Warwick and Coventry today in the wake of concerns over an increase in pneumonia-like illnesses.

The briefing was scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Watch it live via wpri.com.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:08 PM | Comment

Mollis' stepson fired two shots at a gold Lexus

The North Providence today said Gian Piscione, the stepson of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, fired two shots at a 2001 gold Lexus in front of 17 Third St., North Providence, last night.

No one was hit, the police said.

Piscione, 19, was arraigned this morning in Sixth District Court on six counts, including two counts of assault with the intent to commit murder, unlawfully possessing a loaded shotgun while driving, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

The police said Piscione had driven over to the area in his mother’s 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee after talking on the phone with a female acquaintance who was in the Lexus with two men and another woman. The women got out, Piscione argued with one of them and one got in the Jeep with Piscione, according to North Providence Deputy Police Chief Paul Marino.

Piscione got back out of the Jeep with a shotgun and fired at least two shots at the Lexus, Marino said. The police found one bullet hole in the right rear fender of the Lexus.

Piscione fled and was later stopped by Warwick Police after the North Providence police issued an all-points bulletin seeking help locating him, Marino said.

-- with reports from Journal staff writer Richard Dujardin

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:05 PM | Comment

Photo: Signs of no school

The scene this morning at Deering Middle School in West Warwick. All schools are closed until at least Monday in West Warwick, Warwick and Coventry. Private schools, sporting events, day-care centers and YMCAs have also closed in the three towns as state Health Department officials investigate higher rates of pneumonia and a probable case of meningitis.

--- Journal photo / Kathy Borchers

Posted by Peter Phipps at 2:14 PM | Comment

ACLU: Police doing little to address racial profiling

Very little has changed at local police departments in the nearly two years since the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union published a report outlining significant racial disparities in the stops and searches of motorists.

That’s according to a 36-page report issued today by the ACLU that charges many police departments in the state with doing very little to address the well-documented problem of racial profiling in their communities.

This is the fourth ACLU-issued report since data became available from a traffic stop study back in March 2005.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:07 PM | Comment

Photo: Secretary of State answers questions at court

Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis answers questions today after his stepson, Gian Piscione, was charged with attempted murder. “Gian has made a grave mistake, and we understand there are consequences with such mistakes,” Mollis said.

--- Journal Photo/Kathy Borchers

Posted by Peter Phipps at 2:03 PM | Comment

Update: Mollis' stepson charged with attempted murder

The stepson of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis has been charged with two counts of attempted murder.

Gian Piscione, 19, was arraigned this morning in Sixth District Court on six counts, including two counts of assault with the intent to commit murder, unlawfully possessing a loaded shotgun while driving, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

At the time of his arrest last night, Piscione was driving a vehicle owned by his mother, Laurie Mollis, the wife of the newly elected secretary of state. Piscione, one of the Mollis' four children, lives in North Providence with his mother and stepfather.

The arrest stems from a shooting in North Providence last night. Piscione allegedly fired a shotgun into an occupied car. No further information was immediately available about the incident.

Piscione was released on a $50,000 bond after Mollis posted $5,000 in cash.

-- With reports from Journal staff writers Dan Barbarisi, Richard Dujardin and projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

After freeing his stepson on bail, Mollis gave a brief statement and answered questions outside the courthouse.

“Gian has made a grave mistake, and we understand there are consequences with such mistakes,” Mollis said.

Court records identify the two people Piscione was allegedly shooting at as Kyle Terzian and Anthony Munio. The two names, Mollis said, are unfamiliar to him.

“The two names you just gave me don’t ring any bells.”

While adding that he had few details about the incident himself, Mollis said that “Gian was involved in a very dangerous and serious situation… Somehow, someway, along this path yesterday evening, a mistake was made.”

Mollis saw his stepson briefly at the courthouse. Mollis has known Piscione for 10 years, and married his mother, the former Laurie Rinaldi, eight years ago. Piscione lives with Mollis at his home on Modesta Street in North Providence.

Mollis said that Gian is remorseful, and understands that prison time is a possibility.

“Whatever mistakes he’s made, there’s consequences that come with that,” Mollis said.

“In our brief time together, there is obviously someone who is very sorry for what he is putting himself through and what he is putting his family through.”

Mollis said that Piscione is a North Providence High School graduate who has held several jobs since graduating, including a stint at Napa Auto Parts, but is not currently employed.

Mollis said that Piscione had been in “lesser trouble” with the law in the past, but “nothing of this magnitude,” and no felonies, he said.

“We have worked with him before to get him on the right track,” Mollis said.

Mollis said that for his wife and their four children, from his inauguration as secretary of state to Piscione’s arrest, the last several days have been the ultimate roller coaster ride.

“In the last 48 hours, we’ve experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows as a family,” Mollis said.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:00 PM | Comment

Informational meeting canceled in Coventry

Coventry Superintendent Kenneth R. Di Pietro has canceled an informational meeting that was planned for tonight to discuss an investigation by the state Health Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into past pneumonia cases at two district schools.

Officials last night decided to cancel school in Coventry, Warwick and West Warwick today and tomorrow after learning that an elementary school student in Coventry had been hospitalized with a probable case of meningitis.

Dr. David Gifford, director of the Health Department, said health officials need to collect more information and further investigate. Officials are trying to determine if there's a link between the Coventry student's meningitis and cases of pneumonia, meningitis and encephalitis in the schools. A Warwick boy died Dec. 21 from encephalitis.

The Coventry child’s blood test, results of which should be ready this weekend, should help health officials determine if that student’s illness is in any way associated with mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common bacteria that led to the cases of encephalitis in schoolchildren in Warwick and West Warwick, Gifford said.

Between October and December 50 students who attend Black Rock and Oak Haven Elementary schools in Coventry came down with pneumonia, causing a high rate of absenteeism. The student with the probable case of meningitis attends Hopkins Hill Elementary School.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Lisa Vernon-Sparks

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:19 PM | Comment

Car break-ins under investigation in Cranston

CRANSTON -- The police are investigating reports that thieves stole items from as many as eight cars in the Edgewood section last night.

The cars were unlocked, said Maj. Ronald T. Blackmar, the police spokesman. The stolen items included cellular phones and cash, he said.

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:11 PM | Comment

Downtown mailbox burns

PROVIDENCE -- Firefighters were called to the scene of a burning U.S. Postal Service mailbox shortly before 1 p.m. today on Dorrance Street at the corner of Westminster Street.

It's unclear how the fire started inside one of the two blue mailboxes in front of the Dress Barn clothing shop.

Firefighters used fire extinguishers to put out the smoldering mailbox and then turned over the charred letters to letter carrier Bill Turner, who just happened to be walking downtown at the time of the fire. Turner first thought the firefighters were dealing with a fire in the clothes shop, he said.

Turner took possession of the white plastic postal cartons that sit in the base of each blue mailbox, saying he would need to turn the mail over to a supervisor immediately. Some letters from the one box were half-disintegrated, with black and tan charred corners. The letters in the second box on Dorrance were unharmed.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:00 PM | Comment

No high school sports for athletes in affected towns

High school and youth hockey players in the Rhode Island communities of Warwick, West Warwick and Coventry will be off the ice for the next few days as a result of the concerns about meningitis that prompted officials in those three communities to close schools today.

Rhode Island Interscholastic League officials said today that they have been informed by the directors of both Thayer Arena in Warwick and the West Warwick ice rink that they are suspending both high school and youth hockey programs at the rinks at least through Saturday.

The rink closing means that two-game Interscholastic League hockey programs scheduled for Thayer and West Warwick both Friday and Saturday night will be canceled. Interscholstic League officals are working to reschedule games from those four doubleheaders that do not involve teams from the three communities to other rinks this weekend.

According to league officials, no public school high school athletes or teams, in any sport, from the three communities will compete during the school closings. In addition Hendricken High School, a private school in Warwick, closed yesterday and Hendricken teams will not compete this weekend.

Click here to read more
-Sports Writer John Gillooly

Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:30 PM | Comment

Update: Health director to hold briefing at 3 p.m.

Dr. David R. Gifford, state director of health, will hold a press briefing at 3 o'clock this afternoon at the Emergency Management Agency in Cranston to discuss the health scare related to mycoplasma pneumoniae. Only media representatives with photo identification will be admitted.

Although Health Department officials have forwarded some questions posed to projo.com about the increase of infectious disease in West Bay to department physicians, the doctors have not yet responded to those questions.

“Most of the doctors here are busy trying to actually deal with the immediate issue,” said Jeff Neal, spokesman for Governor Carcieri. “I don’t have the specialized knowledge to give medical advice.”

The Health Department agreed yesterday to answer some questions posed by readers to projo.com over a two-day span. However, before addressing questions that came in yesterday, officials learned a Coventry student had been hospitalized with a probable case of meningitis.

In the middle of the night, officials decided to close all public schools in Coventry, Warwick and West Warwick. They’re working to determine if that student’s illness is related to the mycoplasma that led to three cases of encephalitis in children in Warwick and West Warwick.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Projo.com readers are asking, among other questions, whether the Health Department is looking into the patterns of illness in local child-care facilities, and whether the Health Department is recommending that such facilities also close.

“At this point, we have not issued anything specific, to my knowledge,” Neal said.

They want to know which precautions parents should take, including if all children should be immunized for meningitis.

“That’s a medical question I have not heard the answer to,” Neal said. “That is the type of thing we’ll be able to address at a general briefing” this afternoon.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:19 PM | Comment

Mollis' stepson charged with attempted murder

The stepson of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis has been charged with attempted murder.

Gian Piscione, 19, was arraigned this morning in Sixth District Court on six counts, including assault with the intent to commit murder, North Providence Deputy Police Chief Paul Marino said.

He was driving a vehicle owned by his mother, Laurie Mollis, the wife of the newly elected Secretary of State. Piscione lives in North Providence with his mother and stepfather.

The arrest stems from a shooting in North Providence last night. Piscione allegedly fired a shotgun into an occupied car. No information was available at this time about the victim.

Adam Bozzi, Mollis' spokesman, said the shooting occurred after Piscione had a fight with his former girlfriend.

Bozzi said more information would be provided by Mollis, who was giving a statement on the steps of the courthouse steps in Providence after noon today.

Piscione was released on a $50,000 bond by posting $5,000 in cash.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Richard Dujardin and projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:00 PM | Comment

Carcieri fundraiser named to top insurance job

Governor Carcieri's chief political fundraiser has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, the state's dominant worker's compensation insurer.

James V. Rosati, who is also chairman of the board for the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, replaces former president and chief executive Joseph A. Solomon.

The company announced the appointment today.

Beacon, created in 1990 to rescue the state from an insurance crisis, has been the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation after revelations last year of unfair pricing practices and preferential treatment to some of the state's big businesses.

A former Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. executive was indicted last year as a result of the investigation. David R. Clark, a former company vice president, pleaded not guilty in November to five felony counts of conspiracy, insurance fraud and computer crime at his arraignment in Kent County Superior Court.

Clark and Solomon had been fired after an external audit of the company, conducted by Giuliani Safety & Security, found evidence that Beacon gave preferential treatment to some of its largest policyholders.

A national search to find a new president and chief executive started in August, according to Beacon.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Katherine Gregg

“Today’s announcement is a major step in the continuing process of restoring faith in The Beacon with our policyholders, regulators, employees and members of the Rhode Island business community,” Carl Hayes, chairman of Beacon’s board, said in a statement. “

"Jim has demonstrated the ability to lead large and complex organizations and brings a wealth of business and financial services expertise to the company at a critical juncture. He has the confidence of the board of directors and we believe under his leadership the company will reach new levels of performance, accountability and growth.”

Rosati said in the statement, “On behalf of The Beacon’s 14,000 policyholders, I intend to work with regulators and state officials in a cooperative manner. To protect Rhode Island’s workers’ compensation system, we will institute new policies, procedures and governance models. The challenges may be numerous, but they are not insurmountable and The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company will emerge from these challenges a healthier and stronger company.”

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:59 AM | Comment

Diocese closes schools in 3 communities

The Diocese of Providence has closed all Catholic schools in Warwick, West Warwick and Coventry today and tomorrow, according to diocese spokesman Michael Guilford.

The move follows the closing of all public schools in the three communities due to health concerns prompted by high incidences of pneumonia and the development in a few students of more serious ailments.

None of the schools opened today except Bishop Hendricken High School. The Warwick high school was closed today at 10:45 a.m.

-- Journal education writer Linda Borg

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 11:58 AM | Comment

Warwick youth activities canceled

WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian says he's canceling the city’s Parks and Recreation Department youth activities at the pool and skating rink for today and tomorrow.

“In light of the decision, out of an abundance of caution, to close the schools in Warwick, West Warwick and Coventry, it only made common sense to cancel youth activities that are sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department,” Avedisian said. “I do want to stress that these are precautionary measures and that no new cases have been reported in the City of Warwick.”

The mayor's full statement can be read at Warwick's Web site.

Posted by Pam Cotter at 11:55 AM | Comment

Health director: Tests will tell if illnesses are linked

The state Health Director expects to have blood tests and additional investigations completed by this weekend to determine whether three public school districts should reopen by Monday.

“I believe it is very likely that the information will show we can open the schools on Monday,” Dr. David R. Gifford told projo.com this morning.

When health officials learned late last night of a Coventry student hospitalized with a “probable case of meningitis,” the Health Department worked furiously with school and town leaders late last night and into this morning to determine a course of action. They decided “out of an abundance of caution” to close public schools in Coventry, Warwick and West Warwick for the rest of this week, Gifford said.

The Coventry child’s blood test, results of which should be ready this weekend, should help health officials determine if that student’s illness is in any way associated with mycoplasma pneumoniae, Gifford said. That common bacteria has led to three cases of encephalitis in schoolchildren, including one fatal case in Warwick.

The same infectious disease specialists who have treated those three children with encephalitis are treating the Coventry child, Gifford said. In any other year, those physicians would say the latest case is “probably just an atypical pattern of what we normally see,” Gifford said.

But with a “heightened index of suspicion” this year as state and federal health officials analyze the recent illnesses, doctors determined it was necessary to test this child for mycoplasma pneumoniae, Gifford said.

“This is not a situation where I say I’m really suspicious this [blood test] is going to come back positive,” Gifford said. “I think it’s going to come back negative, but, you know, you never know when you send the test out.”

If the test were to come back positive for mycoplasma pneumoniae, health officials would re-evaluate whether to open schools on Monday, Gifford said. If school closures are necessary, Gifford said they would cover a much narrower pool.

With this latest potential case of meningitis, health officials are now questioning whether the bacteria is still active. Most other cases of pneumonia they’ve examined are back in November and December, Gifford said.

“This new case raises the question: Are we still seeing mycoplasma around here?” Gifford said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:53 AM | Comment

Health director believes schools will reopen Monday

The state health director said in a radio interview this morning that he believes the department will have enough information about a Coventry child’s illness to reopen public schools in three communities by Monday.

The Coventry elementary school child is now at Hasbro Children’s Hospital with a “probable case of meningitis,” according to health officials.

The health department has not confirmed that the child’s illness was caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae, the common bacteria that has led to three cases of encephalitis, including one fatal case in Warwick, Dr. David R. Gifford said.

However, as it gathers more data, the health department decided it should close those schools where there’s a high level of illness right now, Gifford said.

With the new case, health officials are now questioning whether the bacteria is still active. Most other cases of pneumonia they’ve examined are back in November and December, Gifford said.

“This new case raises the question: Are we still seeing mycoplasma around here?” Gifford said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:42 AM | Comment

Update: More CDC investigators coming

The state Health Department is expecting more epidemiologists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to travel to Rhode Island to help investigate the increase of infectious disease that has now closed three school districts in the state for the rest of the week.

The governor's office says about a half dozen CDC epidemiologists are already in the state, working around the clock to investigate mycoplasma pneumoniae, the common bacteria that has led to three cases of encephalitis in children in Warwick and West Warwick, one of whom died on Dec. 21.

After the health department learned late Wednesday evening that a child from Coventry’s Hopkins Hill School has been hospitalized with a “probable case of meningitis,” the department recommended around 1 a.m. that three Rhode Island school districts close for the rest of the week, according to Michael Maynard, director of public information in the governor’s office.

That means 20,670 children, according to the districts' October enrollment numbers, are out of school today. Coventry schools have 5,635 children, Warwick schools have 11,236 children and West Warwick schools have 3,799 children.

There have been no other reports “of anything unusual” in any other school districts, Maynard said, and so there are no plans at this time to close other public schools.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:55 AM | Comment

It will be warm again; rains coming Friday

We'll get another spring day with a high near 58 and a gentle west wind.

The National Weather Service expects the winds will shift to the southwest overnight bringing showers Friday. The rain could be heavy Friday night.

Saturday will be warm and wet with a possible high of 63.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:34 AM | Comment

Download today's front page.

Stories on the Grand Jury's investigation of The Station nightclub fire and the swearing in of Sheldon Whitehouse lead today's Journal.

Download file

Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:10 AM | Comment

Meningitis concern closes schools in 3 communities

PROVIDENCE -- Schools in three Rhode Island communities are shutting down for the rest of the week after a Coventry elementary school student is admitted to the hospital with a probable case of meningitis.

State health officials say schools in Coventry, Warwick and West Warwick will close starting today.

The probable meningitis case in the Hopkins Hill School student reported last night is similar to previous cases in the area that have been reported.

Doctor David Gifford, director of the state health department, says there has been an unusually high incidence of pneumonia in the three communities.

Gifford said during a 6 a.m. press conference today that the schools are being closed out of an "abundance of caution." The decision was made after consultation with school superintendents.

He said in a statement early this morning that health officials need to "collect additional information and further investigate this recent case of meningitis and the high incidences of pneumonia at several of these schools."

Gifford said health officials are awaiting tests to see if the probable case of meningitis is related to the mycoplasma bacteria that sickened students in other communities.

A second-grader from Warwick died of encephalitis last month. Two other students in the area were also diagnosed with the disease but have since recovered.

The decision on whether to reopen the schools will be made over the weekend.

-- The Associated Press with projo.com staff reports

Posted by Jack Perry at 6:41 AM | Comment