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January 12, 2007

Sun for San Diego Sunday, snow here Monday?

The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement that calls for up to an inch of snow in parts of Rhode Island Monday night.

"While details and timing of a potential significant ice or snow event are still to be determined, travelers should be prepared for the possibility of hazardous travel Monday," according to the weather service.

A combination of sleet, freezing rain and snow will affect much of New England, from Hartford to Worcester to New Hampshire, where "several inches" of snow are expected.

The forecast is a little different for Sunday afternoon in San Diego, where the New England Patriots will face the San Diego Chargers in a playoff game.

The weather service says that San Diego may actually see some "snow pellets" tonight, and there's a frost advisory on for overnight. But Sunday's forecast consists of mostly sunny skies with highs around 60 degrees. The probability of precipitation? Zero percent.

Get the latest local weather here, and check the San Diego forecast here.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:59 PM | Comment

Update: National Guard airmen return tomorrow

Thirty-seven airmen with the Rhode Island Air National Guard who were set to return this morning from the Middle East are delayed in Germany because of bad weather.

They are now expected to return to Quonset Air National Guard Base tomorrow at 10 a.m., according to National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Denis Riel, who confirmed this evening that the troops were in the air.

They were among 74 airmen deployed in September from the 143rd Airlift Wing for two- and four-month deployments.

The 143rd has been returning home recently, one at a time or in twos and threes. The remaining 20 airmen of that initial deployment four months ago should be home within the next two weeks, according to National Guard spokesman Denis Riel.

The 143rd airmen will return in a Rhode Island C-130 J. Some of the 143rd were based in Qatar and flying that C-130 J regularly into Iraq and Afghanistan.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:52 PM | Comment

Communities to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day

PROVIDENCE -- The state's official Martin Luther King Day celebration this Monday will feature music, discussion and a keynote address by a local college student.

It starts at 4 p.m. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, 475 Cranston St. The festivities on the federal holiday are expected to attract Governor Carcieri and a host of elected officials and community leaders.

But the event -- organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King State Holiday Commission -- is just one of several planned in our area to honor the fallen civil rights leader. They include:

Sunday, 4 p.m.
The Rhode Island Civil Rights Roundtable will host a celebration at the Providence Black Repertory Theater, 276 Westminster St., Providence. The free event will also focus on hot topics in civil rights, including the priorities of the Rhode Island Minority Legislative Caucus, the human trafficking problem in Rhode Island, racial profiling and improvements to witness identification procedures to help prevent wrongful convictions. It will conclude with a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m., including light refreshment.

Monday, 7 a.m.
The Ministers’ Alliance of Rhode Island will present the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. The featured speaker is the Rev. Lonnie McLeod, pastor of the Church of Living Hope, East Harlem, N.Y. This year's theme is "United We Stand."

Monday, 8 a.m. and noon
The Newport County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee's 22nd annual birthday celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. will be observed. The morning program begins at 8 with a prayer breakfast at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 12 Marlborough St., followed by the torch run that begins at at the 1st Rhode Island Regiment Monument, Route 24 at Route 114, Portsmouth, and the annual birthday program at 9:30 at Cranston-Calvert School, 15 Cranston Ave.

The annual lunch will be at noon at the Atlantic Beach Club Pavilion, 53 Purgatory Rd., Middletown. This year's guest speaker will be Vanessa Johnson, associate professor and director of student development and counseling at Northeastern University. Mistress of ceremonies will be Amanda Frye Leinhos, executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center.

Monday, 11:30 a.m.
As many as 200 local AmeriCorps members are expected to gather at the Holy Rosary Church, 21 Traverse St., Providence, to listen to speeches by community leaders. Then the group will disperse and head to a collection of workshops and volunteer activities such as quilting, cleaning India Point Park and visiting nursing homes.

Monday, noon
A mass rally to "Defend the Dream" is scheduled for the State House rotunda in Providence. The event, sponsored by the Peoples Assembly, will consist primarily of attendees reading King's own words.

Monday, 1 and 2 p.m.
The Providence Children's Museum will feature storytellers Valerie Tutson and Rochel Gardner Coleman's performance portraying civil rights activists King, Rosa Parks, Ralph Abernathy and others during the civil rights movement. Monday's performances will be at 1 and 2 p.m. at the museum, 100 South St., Providence.

Events elsewhere in the area include:

WOONSOCKET
“Walking in the Footsteps of Nonviolence," a day-long experience of community learning and celebration, will focus on the teachings of King, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Woonsocket High School, 777 Cass Ave.

FALL RIVER
Community breakfast: Bernard LaFayette Jr., director of the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island, will be the featured speaker at Bristol Community College's seventh annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast on Monday at 7:30 a.m., at the Fall River campus, 777 Elsbree St. The breakfast is free, and the community is encouraged to attend.

As part of the celebration, Fall River Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. will introduce the winners of a high school essay contest and a middle-school poster contest based on a theme from King's speeches and writing. The college's Alumni Association will honor Tabitha and Robert White as its Distinguished African American Alumni award winners.

To schedule a reservation, contact Bristol Community College at (508) 678-2811, ext. 2150.

Interfaith prayer service: The Interfaith Council of Greater Fall River will conduct its annual interfaith service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), 146 Hanover St. The guest preacher will be the Rev. Denise Myers, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Lowell, Mass. She will be joined by the Rev. Milne I. Johnson, pastor of Bethel AME Church, the Rev. Robert Lawrence of the First Congregational Church and the Rev. Marc H. Bergeron, pastor of St. Anne's Church who serves as ecumenical officer for the Diocese of Fall River. The event will be followed by a luncheon in the church hall.

LITTLE COMPTON
Interfaith service: A Service of Prayer and Reflection for Peace in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. will be held Sunday at 5 p.m. at St. Andrew's By-The-Sea on Willow Avenue. The service, which is sponsored by area churches and the Sakonnet Peace Alliance, will include participants from different religious traditions.

-- Compiled by Journal and projo.com staff

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:33 PM | Comment

Woman, 21, turns self in after Johnston hit-run

JOHNSTON — A 21-year-old Johnston woman was arrested today and charged with a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury, the police said.

Alicia Miller, of 32 Contillo Drive, was arrested when she went to the police station with her parents, according to Johnston Deputy Police Chief Gary W. Maddocks Jr.

The police say that Miller was the person who drove away after hitting and seriously injuring a 52-year-old Providence woman, Jane F. Williams, on Atwood Avenue at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Williams was battered by the Ford Escort’s front end, windshield and rearview mirror, and ended up on the sidewalk with a severely broken leg, according to Maddocks.

Police investigators lacked a physical description of the driver. But they did have the vehicle’s rearview mirror, which had broken off and fallen on the ground. That led them to believe that the car was probably a Ford Escort.

-- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds

In a Journal article today, the police described the suspect vehicle and asked the public to help them find the driver. Miller read the article herself and decided to turn herself in, Maddocks said.

“It was the right thing to do,” he said. “She fully cooperated with us on the investigation.”

She is being held at the police station pending an arraignment tonight, Maddocks said.

-- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:05 PM | Comment

Arraignments in smoke-shop arrests delayed

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The prosecution of the Narragansett tribal members arrested in the July 2003 smoke-shop raid has been delayed one week at the request of the tribe’s lawyers, the Attorney General’s Office says.

Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and six other Narragansetts face an array of criminal charges related to the state police raid on the tobacco shop the tribe opened on its lands in Charlestown. The police were acting on a search warrant issued by a state District Court judge to stop the sale of tax-free cigarettes. A violent struggle erupted when tribal members refused to accept the warrant.

Though some of those arrested appeared before justices of peace at the time of their arrest on July 14, 2003, District Judge Frank J. Cenerini last month ordered that they be formally arraigned in District Court. Those arraignments, originally set for Tuesday, have been rescheduled to Jan. 23.

The tribal members have also enlisted a new lawyer to assist in the case: William P. Devereaux, previously a casino lobbyist. Devereaux, who recently represented Roger Williams Medical Center, did not return a phone call placed to his Providence office today.

The charges had been on hold as federal court’s weighed what authority the state had. They were resurrected in November, when the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a lower court’s ruling that the state police could enforce Rhode Island laws, against the tribe, on tribal land.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:00 PM | Comment

On deck: Pre-playoff sports entertainment

AP photo / Stephan Savoia
Richard Seymour carries his lunch to the team bus this afternoon as the Patriots prepare to leave their football facility in Foxboro.

The Patriots are on their way to San Diego. In the meantime, we have the Celtics.

The Green are at home tonight against their Atlantic Division rivals the Toronto Raptors. The teams in this horrible division are a combined 69-108; on the other hand, everyone is very close to first place. Tonight's action begins at 7:30.

All three of our big local college teams are in action on Saturday. PC is at Louisville at noon, URI is at Saint Joseph's at 2 (both games are on Cox TV), and Brown hosts Yale at 7.

As for Patriot Sunday, projo.com will have live pregame coverage on our PatsBlog beginning around 2 p.m. There will also be a pregame slideshow, photos and commentary throughout the game, and stories posted live as we get them on Sunday night. Go to our Patriots page to add some extra flavor to your Sunday football feast.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:54 PM | Comment

Pare: 'Bigger world out there beyond law enforcement'

SCITUATE -- Col. Steven M. Pare, the head of the Rhode Island State Police, sat down with The Journal in his office this afternoon to talk about his decision to retire after 26 years on the force.

Pare, 46, has led the state police since October 2001. He qualified for a full pension last year. The governor's office announced last night he would be retiring in February.

He said he started thinking about retirement since maxing out his pension benefit last June after 25 years of service. Since then it was always in the back of his mind, Pare said, but during the last month he began considering it more seriously and discussing it with family and close friends.

He said he realized that at 46 years old he had an opportunity to pursue other interests. “It’s a bigger world out there beyond law enforcement and law enforcement has been my world for 26 years,” he said.

Pare said that looming budget cuts that may lead to 54 layoffs at the state police did not impact his decision. Difficult budget discussions take place every year, he said.

Pare added that he plans to stay in Rhode Island. His wife still works as a school teacher here and his two daughters attend the University of Rhode Island. He said he had no definite plans for his next job.

Pare will be missed, according to State Police Maj. Steven O'Donnell.

"Next to my father, he’s the most honorable man I’ve ever met," O'Donnell said of Pare. "He has integrity, he has class, he’s a leader, he’s visionary, and he’ll be a loss for the state police.”

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:50 PM | Comment

Two more student arrests outside Woonsocket school

WOONSOCKET -- Two more Woonsocket Middle School students have been arrested, the police confirmed today, bringing the number of students charged with crimes outside the school this week to six -- a number that doesn't include two mothers involved in a brawl on Monday.

The latest arrests, which took place yesterday afternoon, are not related to Monday's melee, in which four students and two parents were arrested.

Yesterday afternoon, a 14-year-old girl was trying to cross the street after school. She was instructed by a teacher not to cross because of oncoming traffic, but the girl responded, "I'll cross wherever ... I want to cross," according to Detective Lt. Timothy Paul.

The girl then crossed the street, nearly getting hit by a white car, Paul said, noting that the girl then yelled and cursed at the driver.

A police officer, who was stationed at the school as part of the increased law enforcement presence after Monday's brawl, arrested the girl for disorderly conduct. As the officer was leading the girl to the police car, the girl's 13-year-old brother grabbed the officer by the back of his jacket, Paul said, in an apparent attempt to free his sister.

The brother was then placed under arrest, also charged with disorderly conduct.

The cases have been turned over to the juvenile detective division. The names of the children have not been released.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples, with reports from Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:31 PM | Comment

Invalid lottery tickets accidentally sold in Cranston

If you bought a lottery ticket at Oaklawn Mart on Oaklawn Avenue in Cranston yesterday, it could be a dud.

The Rhode Island Lottery announced today that when a lottery terminal at the store broke, a GTECH technician “inadvertently” replaced the existing terminal with a model terminal that’s used for training sessions.

Model terminals are used to demonstrate how wagers are placed for online games, but they are not connected with the central lottery system for actually placing wagers. They print “sample” tickets, the Lottery said in a statement today.

About 70 sample tickets were printed by the model terminal before the error was recognized and a proper terminal was installed.

All of the sample tickets show a date of 1999. The Lottery is urging anyone who may have purchased a ticket at Oaklawn Mart yesterday to contact the Rhode Island Lottery at 463-6500, ext. 114.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:09 PM | Comment

Car crashes into South County Hospital building

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The main entrance to the Medical Office Building at South County Hospital is temporarily closed this afternoon after a driver crashed into the south side of the building.

As contractors work to repair the building, which houses doctor's offices and laboratories, patients have been diverted to other entrances. All physicians’ offices have been notified and are still seeing patients, hospital spokeswoman Cindy Wyman said.

The main entrance to the hospital’s Medical Laboratory, located inside the medical building, is also closed. Patients are being diverted through the hospital’s main entrance and into the staff entrance to the lab, Wyman said.

Shortly before noon, a man drove a Buick Roadmaster over the parking block and crashed against the south side of the medical building.

-- Journal staff writer Maria Armental

The area has been temporarily cordoned off because the crash appeared to throw out of alignment a three-story glass curtain wall whose weight is estimated at 6,000 to 7,000 pounds.

“They don’t want the glass curtain wall to collapse, so they want to make sure that they can support that,” Wyman said.

Contractors are working through the afternoon to support the damaged area.

Contractors were already on site since the hospital is currently building a three-story 60-bed in-patient building and a 10-bed orthopedic unit.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:54 PM | Comment

Terrorism suspect speaks out from federal prison

Mohammed Yousuf Mullawala, whose arrest in Rhode Island last month has spawned a national anti-terrorism investigation, today denied that he is a terrorist.

"I’m not. One hundred percent, I am an innocent student,’’ said Mullawala in a telephone interview this morning from the Suffolk County House of Correction, where he is being held on an immigration violation of his student visa.

"I’m not here to do anyone to harm. Really … swear to god. I am here for doing good,’’ he said.

Mullawala spoke during a nearly hour-long interview with the Providence Journal. At times, he veered from questions and rambled off point. At times he was difficult to understand. But many of his answers were clear.

Mullawala said that when he asked to make an overseas phone call when he arrived at the Boston federal detention center, prison officials told him, `` `You are a terrorist. You are Number One. Go inside that room.’ ‘’

The 28-year-old Indian national was arrested Dec. 5, after his behavior at a Smithfield tractor-trailer driving school aroused suspicion.

According to the school’s owner and one of its instructors, Mullawala said he was not interested in learning how to back up a rig. He asked to buy software on hazardous materials, and pressed the school on how soon he could get a commercial driver’s license with a "HAZMAT" -- or hazardous materials -- permit.

Since then, investigators said Mullawala’s cell phone records show numerous calls to and from ``people of national interest’’ who are linked to ``terrorist-type activities.’’

``That is totally wrong. I didn’t make a single call to these kind of people … This is wrong. Not only that, this is like blaming for no reason …’’ he said.

Mullawala said he was recruited from overseas to attend Johnson & Wales University. While here, he says, he took computer classes and lived on Carpenter Street in Providence.

Asked about favorite places or restaurants he liked to visit in Rhode Island, Mullawala replied, ``As a student, I went to so many downtown clubs. I went to dance, to go out, hang out with girls. I go out to strip club, Foxy Lady,’’ and other nightclubs.

He said he was a Muslim, and as such, attended a mosque in North Smithfield and another in Providence.

He also asked for help.

``I’m begging. I’m asking, anybody who can help me, any student committee or student organization … Please, I need help from them.’’ He’s not needy, he said, ``but if anyone can help me anywhere, I will be appreciate.’’

-- Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:15 PM | Comment

Authorities promote cell phone Amber alerts today

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Islanders can do more to help children in danger.

A host of state officials will meet at the State House this afternoon to promote cell phone alerts available through the Amber Alert system, designed to notify the public when children have been abducted and are believed to be in immediate danger.

The alert, named for a 9-year-old Texas girl who was kidnapped and murdered, was set up to swiftly publicize over the broadcast media and on highway signs. Rhode Island adopted the system in September 2002.

Today's press conference, hosted by Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Attorney General Patrick Lynch and Rhode Island State Police Capt. James Swanberg, is being held to promote National AMBER Alert Awareness Day, which is technically tomorrow, the 11th anniversary of Amber's death.

The group will promote a new Amber alert postage stamp and cell phone alerts that are being added to the Amber system. Rhode Islanders can sign up on the Amber Alert Web site to be notified when an alert is posted.

Today's press conference is set for 1:30 p.m. in the State House's State Room.

Once the local police know a child has been abducted and believed to be in imminent danger, they contact the state police to issue an Amber Alert. Once the state police determine that the matter does meet the Amber Alert criteria, the system can be activated in minutes, according to the State Police, which oversees the program. The alert puts out a description of the child, kidnapper, and a suspected vehicle that's broadcast on radio and television stations, and on highway signs, so the public can react quickly.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:59 AM | Comment

Police to walk the beat at Woonsocket Middle School

Woonsocket Middle School will soon have a police resource officer walking the halls on a regular basis.

Mayor Susan D. Menard has authorized adding a resource officer at the school in response to the fight Monday involving four girls, two mothers and a teacher.

The superintendent of Woonsocket schools, Maureen B. Macera, said Wednesday she intended to request such an officer of the mayor. As in many districts around the state, the high school in Woonsocket already has a resource officer dedicated to the school.

“I feel it would be a very good preventive tool,” Macera said about having an officer in the middle school.

Menard said today that she has instructed the superintendent to meet with the chief of police to work out the details about getting an officer into the middle school.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:06 AM | Comment

Two women suspected in Cape dog beheading

BARNSTABLE, Mass. -- Two Mashpee women arraigned on charges of threatening the owner of a pit bull who found the animal's severed head on her car are now facing additional charges.

Just hours after Rebecca Clancy and Kelly Hayden were released on bail Thursday on charges of intimidating a witness, a Falmouth District Court magistrate issued forgery and uttering charges against them.

Clancy and Hayden, who operate a kennel in Mashpee on Cape Cod, were arrested Wednesday after a 22-year-old woman told police they threatened her after she found her dog's severed head in a tin on her car last week. They pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of threatening, intimidating a witness and assault related to that incident.

Hayden and Clancy, both 24, are suspects in the beheading of the woman's dog, according to court records. They have not been charged in the dog's killing.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:02 AM | Comment

Snow could be moving in this weekend

PROVIDENCE – It’s beginning to look a bit like winter – particularly when you look at the night forecast for the next few days.

Today will be mostly cloudy with a high near 50. We could have rain overnight and will most likely have rain showers tomorrow as well.

Then, the National Weather Service predicts snow three times over the next couple days. There’s a 30 percent chance of snow and sleet tomorrow night, a 50 percent chance of rain or snow on Sunday and what they’re calling a “wintry mix” on Monday night, which includes a 70 percent chance of snow.

We’re probably not talking snow-day conditions, but still. Snow. We haven’t seen much of that this winter.

So bundle up and stay warm. And check back with us for the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page includes stories about the arraignments of two Woonsocket mothers arrested after a brawl outside the middle school and a report about the opposition in Congress to President Bush's order to send more troops to Iraq.

Download the front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment