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January 18, 2007

Update: Polar cold, winds to follow rain, snow mix

There may be snowflakes showing in the National Weather Service's illustrated forecast for tonight, but the latest alert from the service says it looks more like rain for our area.

As the service said this afternoon:

"One would think that the precipitation type forecast would be easy given the very cold air that moved into New England the last few days. However ... this is not the case as cold high pressure has moved offshore and southerly winds are warming the boundary layer up over a good portion of southern New England."

So, at the most, it appears rain and snow will mix overnight, with little or no accumulation. As an area of low pressure pulls away, rain could change over to snow for an hour or two tomorrow morning.

What the service still sees as a sure thing -- the arrival of polar cold tomorrow afternoon, followed by strong, northwest winds on Saturday.

The combination could lead to broken tree limbs, poor driving conditions and power failures.

By Sunday morning, wind chills are expected to drop between zero and 15 degrees below.

Get the latest weather forecasts and helpful links for travelers here, and check for any delays or closings here.

Posted by Jack Perry at 6:25 PM | Comment

Police investigate death of Cranston woman

CRANSTON -- The police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was discovered this morning inside a two-story home on Hopewell Avenue.

The police have not declared the death a homicide, according to Maj.
Ronald T. Blackmar, the police spokesman.

The police have not released the woman's name. The house is owned by Frank Guidi, according to a city real estate database.

-- By Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Peter Phipps at 6:11 PM | Comment

Pats blog: No changes to Thursday injury report

Hey all --

There were no changes to the injury report for either the Pats or Colts today.

Rodney Harrison remains doubtful (75 percent chance he will not play).

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 5:58 PM | Comment

Update: CVS, governor react to CVS exec indictments

Drugstore chain CVS and the governor have both issued statements in the wake of the indictment of two CVS executives on corruption charges stemming from the hiring of former state Sen. John A. Celona as a consultant for CVS.

Woonsocket-based CVS said in a one-paragraph statement said that it learned of the indictments today of longtime employees Jack Kramer and Carlos Ortiz, who have been on administrative leave from the company.

It noted that no charges have been filed against CVS, which, it said, "has cooperated fully with the government in connection with its investigation of the matter since its inception."

It added that the matter has been previously reported in the company's annual reports and SEC filings. Beginning in its 2004 reports, the company noted that state and federal officials were investigating dealings between some General Assembly officials and certain Rhode Island companies, including CVS.

Kramer and Ortiz were placed on administrative leave in 2004, but the company has not said why.

In his statement, Governor Carcieri said:

“It is always disappointing when allegations of corruption touch on the actions of a major Rhode Island-based corporation like CVS. As a major contributor to our community and as an important employer in our state, CVS plays a vital role in Rhode Island. Despite these indictments, I am confident that the CVS brand will remain strong. That said, if there is wrongdoing, it must be investigated, stopped and prosecuted, no matter who is involved.”

Carcieri also said he was "pleased that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is continuing to pursue the Celona corruption case aggressively.”

The U.S. Attorney's Office reiterated today that its probe of corruption was continuing, but would not comment on questions posed about its specific direction.

CVS stock closed up 13 cents today, to $32.61.

-- With Journal reports

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:47 PM | Comment

Now only R.I. is out of regional pollution pact

Governor Deval Patrick announced today that Massachusetts will join a regional plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

That leaves Rhode Island as the only New England state not to have joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

In a press statement, Patrick said the pact will benefit the state by creating new economic opportunities and curbing greenhouse gas pollution.

“Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” Patrick said. “On this day, we want everyone to know that Massachusetts will not stand on the sidelines.”

By Michelle Lee

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a “cap and trade” program that allows New England states to charge power plants for air emissions in 2009. Money generated from the program could be used for energy-efficiency programs, clean alternative energy or electricity bill rebates

Last year, Governor Donald Carcieri backed out of the initiative because he was concerned about the impact on electricity rates.

Three local groups- the Conservation Law Foundation, Clean Water Action and Environment Rhode Island- are petitioning for Carcieri to join the pact.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:13 PM | Comment

Mental-health advocate to be Kennedy's guest

Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy today announced that Jim McNulty, President Emeritus of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), will attend President Bush's State of the Union address as his guest.

"It is always such an honor for me to select a Rhode Islander to visit the Capitol for such an historic event. Jim and I share many of the same concerns when it comes to insuring Americans have access to mental health treatment and addiction,"
Kennedy said today.
.
"For years, he has been out in front on the need for equity in treatment and his passion and compassion for this issue have never waivered. He has dedicated his career to helping those with mental illness get the treatment they need and I am proud to have him as my guest."

Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:11 PM | Comment

Sports tonight: Bruins and not much else

There was a lot of activity on the local sports scene last night, so tonight is a pretty quiet one.

The Boston Bruins, who gave up six goals last night in losing to Buffalo, are back at home to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins and NHL scoring leader Sidney Crosby. The Bruins are just a point behind the Penguins in the Eastern Conference standings, and four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. You can catch the game at 7 p.m. on NESN.

If you're into college hoops, ESPN is showcasing the Atlantic 10 tonight, as UMass -- the conference's only undefeated team -- travels to Cincinnati to play Xavier. The game is at 7.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:58 PM | Comment

Update: 2 CVS execs charged with corruption / Photo

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente announces the indictments today against CVS officials John R. Kramer and Carlos Ortiz. Also shown at the afternoon press conference are state police Capt. Steven Lynch, center, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Matos.

PROVIDENCE -- Two executives from drugstore giant CVS face federal corruption charges after a grand jury today issued a 23-count indictment against them.

Longtime senior vice president John R. Kramer and government affairs executive Carlos Ortiz were charged with fraud and bribery stemming from the hiring of former state Sen. John A. Celona as a consultant. The two had gone on leave in 2004; it is unclear at this time what their current status is.

The indictment alleges that Kramer and Ortiz engineered a consulting agreement in which CVS paid Celona $1,000 a month, ostensibly to improve CVS’s image among consumers, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

However, the indictment alleges, Celona’s actual job was to thwart legislation deemed harmful to CVS, and to advance bills that favored the company.

The indictment also alleges that Kramer and Ortiz concealed the true nature of Celona’s relationship with CVS from other CVS executives and lobbyists, and from the public.

Extra: Read the full 28-page indictment against Kramer and Ortiz.

More: Keep up with the developing story here.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Mike Stanton

In August 2005, Celona pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud charges, admitting he accepted payments from corporations to do their political bidding while he served as a state senator. He has been cooperating with the government in an investigation into corrupt political influence in the Rhode Island General Assembly, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Celona is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 31.

No date has been set for the arraigments of Kramer and Ortiz. A summons will be issued for them to appear in U.S. District Court, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Upon conviction, the conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for bribery is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The maximum penalty for mail fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, except for six counts allegedly committed before July 2002, which have a maximum of five years in prison plus the fine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:41 PM | Comment

Police looking for 2nd suspect in Fall River shooting

FALL RIVER — The police say they have obtained an arrest warrant for a second suspect in connection with the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy Tuesday night.

The police say they are searching for the suspect, Kyron A. Gorham, 18, who has a last known address of 199 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston.

The police believe they have recovered the weapon used in the shooting of Shakeem T. Davis, of 106 Quequechan St., Fall River, but, the police say, Gorham should nevertheless be considered armed and dangerous.

Davis was shot multiple times in an apartment building in the southern part of the city.

One suspect — Jason S. Bates, 27, of 54 Brow St. — has been taken into custody.

The police say they do not know the motive for the killing.

Posted by Jack Perry at 3:14 PM | Comment

Cranston police probing woman's death

CRANSTON -- The police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was discovered this morning inside a two-story home on Hopewell Avenue.

The police have not declared the death a homicide, according to Maj. Ronald T. Blackmar, the police spokesman. The woman's name has not been released.

The house is owned by Frank Guidi, according to a city real estate database.

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin Gedan

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:04 PM | Comment

Update: Police ID man killed by car walking to shelter

CRANSTON – The police have released the name of a man who was struck by a car and killed last night while walking along New London Avenue to a homeless shelter.

He is Jacob Tella, 28, with no known address, according to the police.

Tella was with another pedestrian at the time of the accident. He was crossing New London Avenue, in the area of Mulligan’s Island, walking from west to east when he was struck in the outside north-bound lane, according to Maj. Ronald T. Blackmar.

On the coldest night of the year, the Tella was walking at about 8:25 p.m. to one of the two nearby homeless shelters, either the Welcome Arnold shelter or Harrington Hall, according to Leo F. Kennedy, Cranston Fire Department’s deputy chief of emergency medical services. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with critical injuries, Kennedy said.

Until the police investigation into the accident is completed, Blackmar said he will not release the name of the driver of the 1994 Toyota that struck the man. The driver was interviewed by the police and was released.

There’s no indication that alcohol played a part in the accident. Whether the driver was speeding has not yet been determined, Blackmar said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

CORRECTION: An earlier report gave an incorrect age for Tella.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:23 PM | Comment

Rodney Harrison at Patriots practice

Patriots safety Rodney Harrison was spotted during the team's media-access portion of practice this afternoon, which was held inside the Dana Farber Fieldhouse behind Gillette Stadium.

Harrison is listed as doubtful (75 percent chance he won't play) with a knee injury on the team's injury report. He strained the medial collateral ligament of his right knee in New England's final regular season game, on Dec. 31 against Tennessee and has not been on the field since.

This latest injury came just six quarters into Harrison's return from a broken shoulder blade, suffered Nov. 5 against Indianapolis. The 34-year old co-captain sustained a three-ligament tear in his right knee in Sept. 2005.

New England plays the Colts Sunday in the AFC Championship game.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 1:23 PM | Comment

Providence couple enters plea for insurance fraud

William J. Wind and Alberta J. Wind of Providence have entered into a plea agreement in a fraud case brought by North Carolina's insurance commissioner.

The couple, who owned ESI America, cable assembly company in North Carolina, were charged with more than 200 counts of embezzlement, willful failure to pay group insurance premiums, and willful failure to deliver notice of termination of a group insurance plan.

The commissioner announced today that the couple was ordered to pay restitution to their former employees and their families for unpaid insurance claims that came due after health coverage was dropped in 2002.

The North Carolina insurance commissioner extimates that the total will exceed $200,000.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 12:33 PM | Comment

Witnesses testify murder victim attacked them

TAUNTON, Mass. -- Two women testified today in Superior Court that they had been attacked in the past by Courtney Sau, who died nearly two years ago in a Fall River streetfight over a boyfriend.

The two were defense witnesses in the trial of Karen Cordeiro, 22, accused of murdering Sau after a verbal argument in Providence promoted Sau to drive to Fall River to confront Cordeiro and Cordeiro's roommate, who also faces murder charges. Sau, who was unarmed, was stabbed at least twice in the brawl. Cordeiro is claiming self defense.

Jessica Fottler of Norton, Mass., said Sau approached her car in April of 2004, opened her car door, and repeatedly struck her with her fist and the spiked heel of her shoe. ``I was beaten pretty badly. I was bleeding,'' she said as the jury was shown pictures of heel-like marks on her body.

Nicole Silva of Taunton testified that Sau punched her in the face, kicked her once in the belly and kicked her again after she had fallen after she and Sau talked about a mutual boyfriend. Silva's older sister, in later testimony, confirmed Silva's account.

-- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:44 AM | Comment

Rite Aid shareholders approve Brooks, Eckerd deal

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. shareholders today overwhelmingly approved a deal to buy more than 1,800 Brooks and Eckerd stores and become the largest drugstore operator on the East Coast.

Rite Aid, the nation's third-largest drugstore chain, has billed the deal as a way to catapult it within reach of the rapidly growing drugstore leaders Walgreen Co. and CVS Corp.

Shareholders voted 404.1 million to 9.1 million in favor of acquiring the U.S. Eckerd and Brooks operations of Canada's Jean Coutu Group Inc. for $1.45 billion in cash and 250 million shares valued at about $1.5 billion, plus the assumption of $850 million in debt.

Read the full Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:08 AM | Comment

Cape DA wants to seal fashion writer murder photos

BARNSTABLE, Mass. -- Prosecutors have filed a motion to permanently seal the graphic photographs and video used in the trial of a trash collector convicted of killing former fashion writer Christa Worthington.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe filed the motion in Barnstable Superior Court on Tuesday after a request earlier this month by CBS television to access pictures and video from the trial.

Christopher McCowen was convicted in November of murdering and raping Worthington in her Truro home in 2002.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:01 AM | Comment

The morning commute was a disaster

Morning accidents and disabled vehicles are tying up traffic on Route 95 south, Route 195 west and Route 146 south.

On the state Department of Transportation’s congestion mapper, all three roadways were all measuring 8.1 on the 10-point congestion scale, with 10 being the worst.

A disabled vehicle at 8:18 a.m. on Route 95 south at Exit 23, which is where Route 146 south merges with 95, is affecting the right lane. An 8:30 a.m. accident on Route 195 west at Exit 3 (Gano Street/India Point) is affecting the right shoulder. An 8:32 a.m. accident on Route 95 south at Exit 21 (Atwells Avenue) is also affecting the right shoulder.

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 8:48 AM | Comment

Woonsocket's Social Street School closed today

WOONSOCKET – There’s no school today at Social Street Elementary School, where technicians located a crack in the boiler yesterday.

The part needed to fix the boiler was not immediately available, so the district had it express shipped, according to the facilities department. Technicians will be working through the day, with the goal for school to reopen tomorrow.

Letters were sent home to parents with students yesterday afternoon about the school’s closure.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:48 AM | Comment

Snow on the way

PROVIDENCE -- The National Weather Service forecasts a slight chance of snow after 3 p.m., then snow likely before midnight and periods of rain and snow after that.

The snow and rain is likely to slow tomorrow morning's commute.

Look for partly cloudy skies today with a high near 36 degrees and a calm wind between 8 and 11 mph, but possibly gusting as high as 22 mph.

Expect a low tonight of 31 degrees.

For more weather and updates, see projo.com/weather.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page: A mobster leaves prison

Today's front page includes a local story on the release from prison of mobster Gerald M. Tillinghast after nearly 30 years in prison and a national story on the decline in cancer deaths.

Download today's front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment