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« May 2007 | Today | July 2007 » June 29, 2007Catch the circus and the Tall Ships this weekendIt's not too late to catch the circus or check out the Tall Ships. The Cole Brothers Circus brings acrobats, aerial artists and clowns. There's one more show at the Warwick Mall tonight at 7:30. There will also be trained elephants, horses and poodles. The show continues tomorrow and Sunday. Tickets are $17. For children younger than 13, it's $12. To reserve tickets, call (888) 332-5200 or visit www.tickets.com. And the Tall Ships event in Newport continues through the weekend. From 11:45 a.m. 1 p.m. tomorrow is the parade of Tall Ships crews and captains, local marching bands and militias. The parade runs from Colony House down Thames Street to Wellington Avenue. On Sunday, there's the parade of sail at 12:30 p.m. on Narragansett Bay. Admission aboard Tall Ships is free. Parking at various satellite lots is $15 per car. The lots are at Middletown High School on Valley Road, Gaudet Middle School on Turner Road in Middletown, and the highway interchange at the Claiborne Pell Bridge in Newport. For more information, call 841-0080 or visit projo.com's collection of stories and useful links at projo.com/lifebeat. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:59 PM | Comment Update: Conn. man accused of defrauding immigrantsWARWICK -- A Connecticut man accused of defrauding illegal Irish immigrants out of millions of dollars will be returned to that state after his arrest near T.F. Green Airport. Ralph Cucciniello appeared in a Rhode Island court today. He waived extradition, and authorities say he'll be returned to Connecticut sometime within the next week. He's being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions, in Cranston. He was arrested yesterday. The Hartford Courant reported that Cucciniello was charged on an arrest warrant issued in Connecticut with 59 counts of larceny and one count of racketeering. Cucciniello is accused of posing as a lawyer affiliated with Yale University in New Haven, and of swindling Irish immigrants with promises of helping them gain U.S. citizenship. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:38 PM | Comment Fall River man found guilty in RI of drug traffickingPROVIDENCE -- After a two-day trial and two hours' deliberation, a federal jury has found a Fall River man guilty of drug trafficking. According to a news release today from the office of U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente, the jury rendered its verdict yesterday against Kent Awer, 32. East Providence police found 500 grams of crack cocaine during a traffic stop last year on Route 195. Awer was a passenger in the vehicle that was stopped. The penalty is ordinarily 10 years to life imprisonment plus a $4-million fine. But the prosecution told the court Awer has three past drug trafficking convictions in New York, which could subject him to a mandatory life sentence for the Rhode Island offense. -- projo.com stafrf writer Michael P. McKinney During the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Beckner presented evidence that at about 1 a.m. on May 2, 2006, Awer was a passenger in a car that East Providence police stopped for speeding on Route 195. The driver did not have a driver’s license, according to the police, and officers took her into custody and had Awer and another passenger removed from the car. During a search, the police said, they found a black bag in the trunk, men's clothing and a vacuum-sealed pack containing a half-kilogram of crack, packaged in bundles for distribution. The bag also held "items of paperwork" in Awer’s name. Awer later told officers that he had obtained the crack in New York City. Awer was found guilty of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:32 PM | Comment Superior Court presiding justice is hospitalizedPROVIDENCE -- Superior Court Presiding Justice Joseph F. Rodgers Jr. was hospitalized after collapsing at a social event in Providence at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday, a courts spokesman said today. Rodgers, 65, of Narragansett, was taken by rescue squad to Rhode Island Hospital and was “resting comfortably” at the hospital, spokesman Craig N. Berke said. Superior Court Judge William E. Carnes Jr., a former Lincoln police officer who sworn in as a judge on March 30, was at the social event and “rendered immediate assistance” to Rodgers, Berke said. He said he had no further information about what caused Rodgers to collapse. Rodgers was expected to remain at Rhode Island Hospital last night, Berke said. “He’s under observation,” he said. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:20 PM | Comment DCYF allegations 'extremely' concern CarcieriPROVIDENCE -- A day after a lawsuit became public alleging children in state foster care are being burned with cigarettes, beaten, molested, and in one instance, killed, Governor Carcieri's office this afternoon issued a statement saying he was "extremely concerned over the allegations of abuse." But Carcieri also defended steps taken by his administration, saying in the statement that some information in the lawsuit "may be outdated and fails to take into account the reforms that have been made under Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) Director Patricia Martinez." “Any case of abuse involving children is extremely upsetting to me, which is why I take this lawsuit very seriously. Children who are placed in foster care are extremely vulnerable, and we have worked very hard since I took office to ensure that their needs are met,” Carcieri said in the statement. “We have instituted a number of reforms within DCYF that are making a difference, but are not reflected in the lawsuit.” The suit says Rhode Island was the nation's worst in the number of children abused and neglected while in state foster-care custody between 2000 and 2005. The lawsuit was announced yesterday morning while the governor was in Newport for scheduled events that included greeting President Bush during his visit to the Naval War College, a meeting with Republican political donors at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Goat Island, and a clambake at Fort Adams State Park. Carcieri has refused interview requests from The Journal today. Carcieri, who was elected in 2002, said he would meet with Child Advocate Jametta O. Alston -- who is suing Carcieri, the governor who appointed her to the post -- on Monday. He said they will talk about the suit and ways to "improve the lines of communications between her office and the Governor’s office, [the Department of Children, Youth and Families], and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services." The child advocate's suit is being assisted by a national group Children's Rights that has gotten involved in similar cases around the country. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:12 PM | Comment L.A. Times reporters win RI-based environment awardNARRAGANSETT -- Two Los Angeles Times reporters, whose series gave readers and policymakers a vivid wake-up call about a "virulent pox on the world's oceans," have won the 2007 Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment. Reporters Kenneth R. Weiss and Usha Lee McFarling will receive the $75,000 prize for the five-part "Altered Oceans" series that ran from July 30 to Aug. 3, 2006. The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting, based at the University of Rhode Island, and the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment made the announcement today. It began awarding the prize in 2005. The prize and the three awards of special merit will be given at a Sept. 24 ceremony and seminar to be held at the Metcalf Institute in Narragansett. The institute was named for Michael P. Metcalf, the late publisher of The Providence Journal, "who was keenly interested in marine and environmental issues and was known for his integrity, vision, and high standards for writing," according to the institute. In a news release, the jurors said the Los Angeles Times reporters "did more than simply research the literature and talk to the best minds. They went to the scene to make the case. "This extraordinary series gives life to all those generalities about the decline of the oceans in a way that should grab the imaginations not only of politicians responsible for taking corrective steps but also of ordinary readers." The series drew an "overwhelmingly positive response," according to the news release, and the U.S. House of Representatives Oceans Caucus distributed copies of the series to every House member. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney The awards jury also named three award of special merit recipients: -- Eugene Linden for his book The Winds of Change, published by Simon & Schuster. -- The NOVA television program "Dimming the Sun," a DOX Production for NOVA/WGBH and the BBC, produced by senior executive producer Paula S. Apsell, written and produced by David Sington and directed by Duncan Copp. -- A team of writers from the East Oregonian Publishing Company for their series, "Our Climate Is Changing … Ready or Not." The jurors said Linden's book "manages the remarkable feat of bringing a new light to the most written-about environmental challenge of the era, climate change," according to the news release. The NOVA production for presented "a different, but critical, take on global warming… Exceptional production values, great storytelling, and important subject matter make this a fascinating and disturbing report." And the East Oregonian Publishing Company series "represented an extraordinary effort on the part of a group of small newspapers in the Pacific Northwest. The result is sophisticated, compelling journalism, extraordinary for publications of this size and scope." The Grantham Prize was paid for by Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham through The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment. The foundation supports natural resource conservation programs both in the United States and internationally. Eligible for the annual prize are journalists, writers and producers in the United States and Canada. So is nonfiction work published or broadcast in the previous calendar year. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:00 PM | Comment State lowers weight limit for Sakonnet River BridgeAfter finding steel-truss deterioration on the Sakonnet River Bridge, the state Transportation Department this afternoon is lowering to 22 tons the posted weight limit for a truck that can use the bridge. Thirty-eight tons was the previous posted weight limit for three- and five-axle trucks and 22 tons the limit for two-axle trucks. The department said the bridge is safe for travel, but that heavier vehicles will need to use alternate routes. “This weight posting mainly impacts large truck travel,” said Jerome F. Williams, the transportation department director. The department "has reached out to the Rhode Island Trucking Association to help get the word out.” Regularly scheduled bridge inspection crews discovered the steel truss deterioration, the department said, and repairs will start as soon as possible. The bridge connects Portsmouth and Tiverton. The affected steel trusses, which are below the bridge and run across it width-wise, not length-wise, are closer to the Tiverton side. Crews will take between six and eight weeks to complete their work. Construction that might affect drivers will be scheduled for non-peak travel times. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:05 PM | Comment Update: Abandoned car leads to robbery arrests
Two people entered the squat, small building just after 9:42 a.m. brandishing a handgun and demanding money, according to police. The robbers fled shortly thereafter in a gray, older model vehicle with an undisclosed amount of currency. Officers received a tip that the getaway car was abandoned at a nearby construction site on Amflex Drive next to Route 295. A Cranston police officer saw two people matching the description of the robbers crossing the highway and entering the woods. Officers from Cranston, Johnston, Coventry and the State Police set up a perimeter and called in search dogs from surrounding departments. Police are still working to identify the suspects. -- Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:02 PM | Comment Providence no longer New England's 2nd biggest cityWORCESTER, Mass., -- Once again, Worcester, Mass., can lay claim to the title of New England's second-biggest city. Worcester surpassed Providence in the latest round of census data -- but not by much. The central Massachusetts city had just 199 more people than the Rhode Island city as of July 2006. The latest federal census estimate lists Worcester's population at 175,454, with Providence at 175,255. Providence had moved ahead of Worcester as New England's second-largest city behind Boston in 2001. Worcester City Manager Michael O'Brien says it's nice to have the title back. A spokeswoman for Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline did not immediatelty return a phone call seeking comment. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:00 PM | Comment Woman sentenced for spate of bank fraudPROVIDENCE -- A California woman was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison in connection with making $332,600 in fraudulent withdrawals from Bank of America branches in Rhode Island and six other states. Zelpha Conyers, 53, of Inglewood, Calif., was sentenced to 51 months by U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente. Conyers and two other Los Angeles area women were arrested last July after making withdrawals at Rhode Island Bank of America branches. Previously, Judge Lisi sentenced the other defendants who pleaded guilty: Patricia Moore, 55, of Los Angeles, to 42 months; and Debbie Jolene Tucker, 45, of Rialto, California, to 32 months, according to the release. Conyers was also linked to similar fraudulent withdrawals in Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Missouri, Kansas, and Connecticut, the U.S. Attorney's office said. -- projo.com stafrf writer Michael P. McKinney At Conyer’s February plea hearing, prosecutor Lee H. Vilker said the government could prove that on July 11, 2006, Conyers, Moore, and Tucker drove to Bank of America branches in Cranston, East Providence and North Providence. Moore waited in the car, either Conyers or Tucker entered the bank branch, presented fake identification in the name of a real bank customer with a California address, and made or attempted to make a withdrawal, authorities said. They successfully made about $10,800 worth of withdrawals at three branches. Tucker unsuccessfully tried to withdraw money at a branch in Cranston, and the manager notified other branches of her suspicious activity. Another branch manager later saw Tucker and Conyers changing wigs in a car outside a branch on Smithfield Road in North Providence. That manager called North Providence Police, who broadcast the car’s license plate number. Seekonk, Mass., police stopped the women’s car on Route 6, and notified North Providence Police. Seekonk police seized $13,646 from Conyers and Moore. North Providence police seized luggage from the women’s motel room in Seekonk and, in the luggage, found ten fraudulent California driver’s licenses in various names, bearing either Tucker’s or Conyer’s photograph. They also found fake social security cards in various names, and Bank of America customer profiles. At separate hearings, the defendants pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy, various counts of bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, which is committing identity theft in connection with another felony, the U.S. Attorney's office said. The United States Secret Service and North Providence Police investigated the case, with assistance from Seekonk Police. Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:52 PM | Comment Update: At Providence Place mall: I want my iPhonePROVIDENCE -- Mum’s the word on how many Apple iPhones are for sale in Rhode Island, but the six people at the front of the line at the Apple store in Providence Place mall are pretty confident there’ll be enough for them. The talk of gadget lovers everywhere, the cell phone with the 3.5-inch display screen is being offered to consumers for the first time today. Signs posted on mall entrances state that lines were to form today at 6 a.m. at The Apple Store on Level 1 and the AT&T store on Level 3. They also noted that customers were prohibited (with that word in bold) from lining up anywhere on mall property prior to 6 a.m. That didn't stop some from trying to get into the mall last night, but they were asked to leave -- and another was asked to leave at 4:30 a.m. today. Inside The Apple Store, employees and a man who said he was the manager but couldn’t give his name to the media said only that the iPhones would be on sale today at 6 p.m. – but only after the store closes at 2 p.m. as all Apple stores have been instructed to do, they said. By about 2 p.m., 55 people stood in line. The Apple store itself had perhaps six to eight shoppers inside just after 10 a.m., when the mall opens. Outside the store, some 25 people had staked out a spot in line -- set apart from other shoppers by pedestals with line dividers -- hoping to buy the much-anticipated phone as soon as it goes on sale. Six of them were there right at 6 a.m., they said, two in sets of two and two others there individually. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writer Tim Barmann A few were disappointed Apple hadn’t given them chairs or a spot against the wall where they could wait. They felt a bit as if they were in a fishbowl. Chris Silva, 21, of Narragansett, sat at the front of the line with his PowerBook. He was perusing the Web site MacRumors.com to see what new information he could learn about the iPhones and sharing information with others on line. He’s eager to get his hands on the iPhone. “What isn’t there about the iPhone that I want?,” he replied when asked which features he most wanted. He’s excited about the visual voice mail, which will allow him to view who has left messages for him and when and then decide in which order he wants to listen to his voice mail messages. And he’s glad he’ll be able to fast forward and rewind messages by touching a scroll bar on the iPhone, he said. He has his mind set. He wants the more expensive version of the iPhone, which is selling for $499 with 4 Gigs of memory and $599 for 8 Gigs. Silva said the MacRumors site is reporting that the flagship Apple stores will have 1,000 iPhones each for sale. Granted, Providence probably isn’t one of the flagship stores, but at the front of the line, Silva wasn’t worried about not getting one of the coveted iPhones. When someone walked by and asked what the line was for, a few at the front replied they were waiting to buy the iPhone. The passer-by said he’d just order his online. “But he won’t get it until Tuesday or Wednesday,” said one of the men at the front of the line. One of the first six people to make up the line, Bassem Megally, 27, hails from Milwaukee, Wis., but he was quick to say that he hadn’t traveled all the way from Wisconsin to buy his iPhone from The Apple Store in Providence. He’s in the capital city to help his cousin at the Transformers BotCon convention at the Rhode Island Convention Center. He was glad to come help, but he told his cousin he’d need to find an Apple store where he could get his iPhone while here for the convention. Those near the front of the line were making friends and said they felt like one big family by 10 a.m. Want to know more about the phone? Projo.com's Sheila Lennon has blogged advance reviews from a variety of tech experts. Projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson knows a thing or two about making friends while waiting in a line. She met her husband hoping to buy tickets to the Women’s Olympic Figure Skating final in Norway in 1994. That was the year of the Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding controversy – which meant no extra tickets for Kate, her mom or the man she’d later marry. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:39 PM | Comment Transformer lovers find soulmates at BotCon / Photo
PROVIDENCE -- His luggage is lost. Yet Erwin De Jong is happy. He’s here, in the Rhode Island Convention Center. The 28-year-old Dutchman is thousands of miles from home, without a change of clothes, but he’s finally with his people. He’s at BotCon. That’s a contraction for robot convention. It began here yesterday and continues through Sunday, celebrating all things Transformers: the toys, the comics, the videos, the TV series, the movies . . . the life. With airfare, lodging, food and Transformers paraphernalia purchases all totaled, De Jong figures this trip will cost him $2,000. "It’s worth it, once. It’s the whole experience.” It’s an experience De Jong is sharing with about 2,000 people, who come from all over this country and more than a dozen others, including Japan, New Zealand and Australia. BotCon is in its 11th year. And it’s never been bigger. It’s the timing: the convention, the new Transformers movie (opening on Tuesday, although BotCon goers got a sneak peak yesterday), and the tours yesterday of Hasbro, the Pawtucket-based toymaker of Transformers and the orchestrator of this weekend’s perfect promotional storm. “You have the convention, the movie and Hasbro,” De Jong says. “If you’re going to go to BotCon, this is the year.”
-- Journal staff writer Bryan Rourke This is the first year BotCon has been in Rhode Island. And for that Joseph Igo is grateful. The 22-year-old East Providence man didn’t have to travel far. He just had to arrange his work schedule, months in advance. Maybe you wouldn’t understand. “Most people remember Transformers from watching the cartoon one day. Or they just nod and smile. They don’t get it, but they try to be polite.” Transformers are robots that can convert into cars, trucks, planes, animals, you name it. They were first introduced in 1984, and there have been hundreds, even thousands of variations on the theme since. Igo, who “lost count at 900” for his collection, recalls the draw of Transformers as a child. “It was like getting two toys in one. You get a robot and you can transform it into another toy.” However, toys tend not to be sought by adults, which is most of the BotCon crowd. And most Transformers come packaged with the words: For ages 4 and up. “Well, we were 4 and up when the Transformers first came out,” says Stephan “Us,” in this case, refers to Bibeault and his companion Heather Chase, 28, also of Montreal. “I’m the addict,” she says. “He’s the follower.” Chase says that as an adult she “respects Transformers as an art form,” and marvels at their engineering, and their potential for intrigue. Her follower agrees. “It’s like a Rubik’s Cube with a purpose,” Bibeault says. “At the end, you get more than just colors.” All these people at the convention can see Transformers characters online, on TV, on videos and on display in their homes. They come to BotCon for many reasons, which include dozens of forums with, among others, the writers, actors and designers involved in various Transformers projects. They also shop. They get exclusive access to Transformers not yet released to the public, and the opportunity to purchase replacements. “They’ll have parts I’m missing,” says Evan Brown, 30, of San Francisco. “The guns are always gone.” You’ve got to understand, Transformers fans say, there’s a huge range of “We’re on the fringe,” says Mary Rogers, 27, of Washington D.C. “There is a feeling of solidarity here.” That, in part, is why De Jong, the Dutchman, has traveled so far: to be part of the Transformers community. He’s wearing a black T-shirt and a dark brown pair of pants, the only clothes that successfully made the trip with him. And he’s standing in a long line, waiting to buy new Transformers merchandise. And he has a brilliant thought. “I’m going to buy a T-shirt!” BotCon continues tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the Convention Center, 1 Sabin St., Providence. Admission is $10, $5 for children 5-12. -- Journal staff writer Bryan Rourke Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:26 PM | Comment Smooth sailing for second day of Tall Ships visitNEWPORT -- It's cloudy, and not very hot in the City by the Sea this afternoon -- very comfortable for walking around and taking a turn aboard a Tall Ship. It's the second official day of the Tall Ships event here, and signs of their presence are obvious on land and at sea. Sailors from the ships, who have gathered from several corners of the world, walk in small groups in their dress whites and caps. Lots of foreign languages are being spoken. There are lines of people waiting to board some of the larger ships, like the Gloria on Bannister's Wharf. But at others, especially smaller ships, there's no wait at all. Even the car traffic is bearable, with no signs of gridlock. (Organizers have urged drivers to park at designated sites outside the downtown.) Back at the Gloria, a woman is playing an accordion, helping to keep those waiting in line entertained. A nautical jig perhaps? No, not quite, a reporter on the scene suddenly realizes. He knows that song. It's "A small world after all." And today and through this weekend, in Newport, it certainly is. -- projo.com staff, with reports from Journal reporter Richard Salit Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:49 PM | Comment Photo uploads: Of lightning strikes and tall ships
Scott Lindemann of Providence sent projo.com this photo he took from his porch in Smith Hill as the storm passed over the region last night. You, too, can send in your photos of Providence life, and look at others, via our photo upload gallery. And, today, we're also inviting readers to send in their pictures of the Tall Ships visit to Newport. S. Taylor of Pawtucket has already sent some in. Take a look, and upload yours here.
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:18 PM | Comment Explosion heaves, loosens pavement in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- National Grid utility workers confirmed an underground explosion today on Elmgrove Avenue on the city's East Side, leading to some power failures in nearby houses. It caused pavement to swell around a manhole cover. A 5-by-5 section section of pavement also broke loose and heaved up around the manhole. The cover is in front of the home at 511 Elmgrove Ave., near the intersection of Woodbury Street. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:00 PM | Comment DMV begins new surcharge next weekThe state Division of Motor Vehicles announced today that a $1.50 surcharge will be added to customer transactions starting Tuesday. The surcharge goes into effect as a result of the recently approved state budget. The surcharge will go on such things as license and registration renewals, said Gina Zanni, a spokeswoman for the Division of Motor Vehicles. It will not apply to sales tax paid when someone buys a new or used car. It also will not apply to things where no fee is charged, such as a handicapped placard, she said. The revenue from the surcharge will be used "exclusively" for paying debt service on a $13-million bond issuance for a new computer system at the DMV, according to the release. The division said the computer system "will dramatcially enhance the ability of the DMV to offer efficient and quality customer service." To find out more about the surcharge, the Division of Motor Vehicles said to call (401) 462-4DMV or go to www.dmv.ri.gov. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:51 AM | Comment Warwick police still seek clues in fatal shootingWARWICK – For the second day in a row, the Warwick police are searching the house at 43 Warwick Lake Ave. for clues to an early morning shooting that killed a man and injured two of his relatives. “We have a great deal of materials being brought in by our forensics” unit, Deputy Police Chief Mark Titus said this morning. The police do not yet know when they will release the crime scene.
 Sketch of the suspect Also this morning, detectives are still on the lookout for the masked assailant who allegedly entered the house just after midnight yesterday with a gun. When the owner, Caesar Medeiros, confronted the suspect, he was shot in the arm. His wife, Claire, was shot in the leg and Caesar’s brother, Gabriel Medeiros, who was living with the couple, was shot in the chest and killed. The gunman escaped through a back door. After releasing a sketch of the assailant, the police say they’ve received several phone calls, but have not yet identified a suspect. The gunman is described as clean shaven, 5’8” to 5’10” with a thin build and red hair. Titus said the police “continue to talk” to the injured couple – Caesar and Claire Medeiros – about the incident. Both were released from the hospital late yesterday and Titus said they are being cooperative. It is unknown if the assailant is still in the Warwick area. Titus said Warwick residents who are concerned about safety should practice basic crime prevention: lock their doors, activate alarms and turn on floodlights if they are available. The police ask anyone with any information about the shootings to call them at (401) 468-4233 or (401) 732-8477. -- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham Posted by Jack Perry at 11:26 AM | Comment Beach and marine info as you plan your weekendOn this beautiful beach weekend, nearly all beaches around the state are open and ready for sunbathers, swimmers and surfers. Just the GINNY-B Campground Beach in Foster, which the state Health Department recommended closing yesterday because of high bacteria counts, is closed today, according to the department’s Web site. To check the status of any beach for swimming, go to the department’s beach-monitoring site or call (401) 222-2751 for recorded information. If you’re looking for marine weather information, check out the National Weather Service’s interactive coastal marine map for this region. Also, for all your nautical needs, boaters love the Maine Harbors site, which is packed with tide charts, marine weather news, information on fishing tournaments and links to local boat builders, charter operators, lighthouses and publications. The tide charts on this site are so well done that boaters rave about them. Check out Rhode Island’s chart. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:25 AM | Comment Traffic: Light problems on Route 4, North KingstownNORTH KINGSTOWN – The state Department of Transportation is on its way to fix a malfunctioning traffic light on Route 4 at West Allenton Road. For now, the police are directing traffic, which is building already, according to a police dispatcher. Otherwise, traffic in the Ocean State seems pretty normal for the moment. That could change, of course, as people begin heading out of town for the July Fourth holiday, which AAA Southern New England predicts will bring a record number of travelers onto the roads, beginning as early as today. 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 and listen to or read the radio reports for the week about traffic and construction on specific roadways. To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:17 AM | Comment Fire Safety Day comes to Washington ParkPROVIDENCE – The Providence Fire Department plans to bring safety tips, free smoke detectors and a Fire Safety House that simulates how quickly fire and smoke spread to Washington Park tomorrow. Fire Safety Day in the city’s 10th ward will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Columbia Park. On Michigan Avenue, the park is in front of Johnson & Wales University’s Harborside campus. Pizza and other food is free, and attendees are eligible to win children’s toys, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors and other raffle prizes, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the fire department. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson The fire department will give tours of the Fire Safety House, which is a trailer designed for demonstrations on how fires start and spread. Firefighters will offer tips on fire prevention and fire safety and will hand out fire safety pamphlets. Providence residents are also invited to sign up to receive free smoke detectors, which fire prevention specialists will install in homes and apartments at a later date, Taylor said. The safety day is sponsored by City Councilman Luis A. Aponte, state Rep. Joseph S. Almeida and Sen. Harold M. Metts, both Democrats from Providence. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:07 AM | Comment Heat wave over, great summery weather in storePROVIDENCE – Relief. The heat wave has broken, and it’s comfortably cool out there now, at just 63 degrees now. Feels nice, doesn’t it? Today is expected to be less humid than in the past few days, with highs in the mid-70s. This weekend should be beautiful. The National Weather Service predicts highs in the low-80s and mid-70s and lows at night in the low- to mid-50s. Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:03 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features photographs and a story on President Bush's visit to Rhode Island, the first of his presidency. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment June 28, 2007Delta cancels some flights to RI, rest of northeastATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines Inc. canceled about 200 flights to and from several northeastern airports Thursday to minimize delays caused by heavy thunderstorms forecast across the region. Atlanta-based Delta said it made an early call to cancel the flights in hopes of giving at least 12-hours notice to affected passengers via automated e-mail and cell phone messages or calls from reservations staff. Passengers could ask for refunds or switch to other flights for no additional fees. The airline said flights were canceled in New York; Newark, N.J.; Hartford, Conn.; Providence, Boston; Washington; Baltimore and Philadelphia. Joe Kolshak, Delta's executive vice president for operations, said the canceled flights made up about a third of Delta's departures and arrivals in the Northeast Thursday. He said Delta trimmed the flights after the Federal Aviation Administration alerted airlines Thursday it would slow air traffic in the region because of forecasts of heavy rain and lightning. Kolshak said the leaner schedule would reduce delays among the remaining Delta flights. "While it does inconvenience some people, the goal is to minimize the impact to as few people as possible," he said. -- The Associated Press Kolshak said having to cancel some flights to reduce delays to others illustrates the nation's need for an upgraded air traffic control system. The airlines and FAA are pushing Congress to authorize a new multibillion-dollar system that would replace radar navigation with global-positioning satellites - allowing plans to fly closer together. "If you think of a freeway at rush hour, the current FAA system is like metering a car on the freeway every five minutes," Kolshak said. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:24 PM | Comment Advocacy group complains about 'Transformers'PROVIDENCE -- A child advocacy group complained today to the Federal Trade Commission that ads and toys tied to the upcoming "Transformers" movie are aimed at children as young as 2 years old even though the film is rated PG-13. The movie is getting a premiere tonight at Providence Place Cinemas. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. And the Transformers toys are the focus of the "BotCon" convention this weekend at the Rhode Island Convention Center. This is the first time the convention, now in its 11th year, is being held in the state. There will be new toys and the old ones from the early 1980s. Check out the BotCon Web site by clicking here. The Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood called on the commission to work with the toy industry and media companies to develop a uniform rating system so toys tied to PG-13 movies would not be marketed to children younger than 13. It also asked the FTC to investigate the marketing of PG-13 movies to children. "We are reviewing the letter with great interest," said Jackie Dizdul, a spokeswoman for the FTC. Hasbro spokesman Wayne Charness said in a written statement that parents can rely on the existing toy coding and movie rating to decide whether they are appropriate for their children. "We believe that we are already taking the necessary steps in keeping the public informed so they can make decisions within the home, as opposed to further government mandates," Charness said, pointing out that Transformers toys have been around since 1984, long before the movie. -- The Associated Press Spokespeople for the Toy Industry Association and Paramount, which produced the movie along with Dreamworks, did not immediately return requests for comment. "Transformers," due to be released nationwide during the July 4 holiday, was rated PG-13 for violence and other content. Hasbro has released dozens of toys related to the film, some for children as young as 3 years old. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood told the FTC it monitored the Nickelodeon cable channel Monday and recorded "Transformers" movie ads during the shows "Fairly Odd Parents" and "Jimmy Neutron," both rated TV-Y for all children, including those age 2 to 6. It also recorded ads during "Ned's Declassified," which is rated for children 7 and older. "'Transformers' is a film that the industry itself deems to be too violent for children under the age of 13," said Susan Linn, a psychologist who co-founded the group. "When the toys and the film have ads during shows that children watch, the message that everyone is getting is, 'Well, it must be fine.' Yet the industry is actually saying that it isn't." Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:21 PM | Comment Man gets 30 days to get out of SomersetSOMERSET, Mass. -- A Fall River District Court judge has ordered John Makuch, 49, to get out of town and stay out in the wake of dozens of complaints that he harassed and intimidated his Lake Street neighbors, to the point that some said they feared for their safety. In all, he pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal harassment, three counts of witness intimidation, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, five counts of disturbing the peace and one count of disorderly conduct. Judge Mary Amrhein said he has 30 days to sell his two homes and leave town, and he can’t set foot Somerset again except for documented doctor appointments. She also put him on probation for 2-1/2 years and ordered him to have no contact with three of the families that had complained about him. Since at least 1998, police have been called to area about 120 times as a result of varying complaints, usually involving Makuch. He also faced a misdemeanor charge of assaulting his brother June 17 at 136 Crestview Ave., but that charge was dismissed after the brother, Thaddeus, said under oath that he wasn’t hurt and that the two siblings were engaging in “just horseplay.” Witnesses had told police that the brothers were rolling around on the ground during the altercation. Thaddeus Makuch said those witnesses were far away and didn’t really know what was going on. Makuch said his neighbors were making up the allegations, and the fact that he’s not a troublemaker is borne out by the fact that he has spent the last year and a half living on Hanley Road in Somerset, away from his wife and children, without any problems. But one Lake Street resident and one ex-neighbor said the sentence wasn’t stiff enough. -- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr. “I think it’s too light for what he has done to people,” said James Rockcliffe. “To me, he should have served jail time.” Rockcliffe said Makuch’s harassment became so bad, he and his family were forced to move out of state. “We kept saying it couldn’t get any worse,” Rockcliffe said during his session with the judge. But it did. “For our own health and sanity we had to leave. No one should be allowed to run roughshod like that.” Rockcliffe said Makuch “chased people out [of the neighborhood] before us.” “He went at my son-in-law and my grandson head on,” said Edward Holewiak, who moved to the neighborhood in 1992, four years before Makuch. He apparently enjoyed terrorizing neighbors with vehicular close calls. “He’s cut me off [on the road]. He thinks it’s fun,” Maria Holewiak told the judge, saying he had followed her several times. “This is years of abuse.” “It’s not just my family, it’s my whole neighborhood,” she said. “He’s like a time bomb. You don’t know when he’s going to go off. He does not respect anyone.” The four criminal harassment complaints to which Makuch pled guilty are based on 41 separate reports from the neighborhood extending from July 23, 1998 to Aug. 3, 2005. In a few, Makuch complains about his neighbors, such as an instance where he called police and alleged that some neighborhood children had stuck their tongues out at him. But all of the rest are against him. The complaints range from someone saying Makuch stared out his window at them and used an obscene gesture, to vowing to kill a neighbor’s dog for barking. For example, according to a June 13, 2000, complaint from the neighbor and his 22-year-old son, the son was washing his car and saw Makuch drive by. Makuch stopped, backed up, and reportedly demanded to know, “What the [expletive] are you looking at?” The son said he wasn’t looking at him, to which Makuch reportedly responded, “Why don’t you [expletive] Portuguese go back to your own country.” That report from Officer William Tedford says he approached Makuch, who claimed it was a minor argument about nothing. Makuch reportedly added, “I hope those two know that I could wipe the street with both of them.” And it’s not just neighbors. Court files include a few complaints against Makuch — such as two road rage incidents — that don’t even involve neighbors. Most of the remaining charges stem from incidents beginning June 1, 2005. On that date, police were called to his house because he was blasting music. The cops told him to turn it down. He did. He turned it right back up moments after the police left. They arrested him on two counts of disturbing the peace. The next day, he decided to mow his lawn — after dark. Neighbors complained about the noise. One said he did it while shouting obscenities at him. When police arrived at 9:49 p.m., his lawnmower was off, but still warm. He was cited again for disturbing the peace. Two weeks later, he was arrested on the same charge again because of loud music and revving his motorcycle. Seven weeks after that, he was arrested for using a trailer to block in the cars of people visiting neighbors. He began shouting obscenities when police arrived. He received scored another disturbing the peace charge and a disorderly conduct charge. The following December, he brought his truck around and arranged a near-collision with the vehicle of one of the neighbors who had complained about him. That produced the assault with a dangerous weapon charge and one witness intimidation charge. For a while, Makuch was asking for a jury trial. While that request was pending, a judge ordered him to keep away from Lake Street. He resided in Westerly for a while, according to court records, and subsequently moved to Hanley Road, an isolated street close to Route 195. Then, on April 28 of this year, with his trial just nine days away, the Holewiaks complained that Makuch had driven by their auto dealership on GAR Highway and made an obscene gesture toward them. The couple said it wasn’t the first time. Makuch got pegged with two felony counts of witness intimidation. The probation means that Makuch will have to stay out of trouble until Dec. 28, 2009. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:39 PM | Comment We've got ourselves a heat waveIt wasn’t supposed to happen -- today was originally supposed to bring enough relief to keep temperatures below 90 degrees -- but we’ve logged the first official heat wave of the summer. Preliminary data today from the National Weather Service show that the temperature hit 90 degrees or higher for the third straight day, the criteria for a heat wave. With thunderstorms closing in on some parts of the region, the official Providence temperature (measured at the airport in Warwick) hit 90 degrees just before 4 p.m. The highs on Tuesday and Wednesday were 95. The actual high temperature could be a bit higher. The official high won’t be posted for a few hours. Posted by Peter Phipps at 5:37 PM | Comment Health Department advises closing Foster beachThe state Health Department today recommended closing GINNY-B Campground Beach in Foster to swimming because of high bacteria counts. Officials will watch the water quality and recommend re-opening when it's deemed safe for swimming. To check beaches, go to www.health.ri.gov or for recorded information call (401) 222-2751. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:00 PM | Comment Motorcyclist dies in North SmithfieldNORTH SMITHFIELD -- A 24-year-old Massachusetts man died Wednesday night in a motorcycle accident, according to the police. The accident occurred around 7:30 on Douglas Pike between Mattity Road and Rankin Path. The driver, Gregory A. Amaral, of 20 Hough Road in Sutton, Mass., was traveling in the southbound lane when he entered the northbound lane, lost control of the motorcycle and collided with the pavement, according to a statement released by Lt. Bradley C. Aubin. Amaral was pronounced dead on the scene, and the accident remains under investigation by members of the department’s patrol and accident reconstruction units, Aubin said. -- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:49 PM | Comment Reporter's press pass revoked by Bush staffWPRI-TV, Channel 12 reporter Jarrod Holbrook had his White House press pass snatched today after he shouted “Mr. President” twice as President Bush greeted Air and Army National Guardsmen gathered on the tarmac at Quonset airport in North Kingstown. A member of the president’s entourage pointed at Holbrook after he first tried to get Bush’s attention. The man then ripped the pass from Holbrook’s belt after he shouted to the president, who was less then 10 feet away, again. Holbrook said afterward that he just wanted to ask Bush how he enjoyed his visit to Rhode Island. Members of the media were not told they could not ask the president questions. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:42 PM | Comment Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Rhode IslandPeruse every Rhode Island county on the National Weather Service Web site, and the result is the same this afternoon: a severe thunderstorm watch. The same goes for much of southeastern Massachusetts. Late this afternoon, there could be periods of showers, potential for hail in the region and damaging winds, according to the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass. Tonight, the forecast says showers and thunderstorms likely before 9 p.m., then a chance of showers. Click here to check on the forecast. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:13 PM | Comment President, aboard Air Force One, bids RI good-byeNORTH KINGSTOWN -- President Bush has left Rhode Island. Air Force One took off from Quonset Point around 3:30 p.m. after the president shook the hands, and signed hats for, some of the 100 or so Air and Army National Guard personnel gathered at Quonset, where the president landed about 10:30 this morning. Mr. Bush spent the day in Newport, addressing about 500 or so people at the Naval War College, where the Naval Command College is celebrating its 50th reunion. The president defended his Iraq, Middle East and foreign policies in a speech before a supportive audience at the college. Chanting "What do we want? The troops out," about 200 protesters -- other estimates put it at 100 and 150 -- walked to the intersection with Third Street, but could not go any farther, as they were met by the police and told not to block the street. The president apparently never saw the protestors. They had wanted to leave a list of demands, including immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, but indicated they would have to mail the list. Inside the college, Bush was embraced by a much more welcoming group, getting three standing ovations. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:38 PM | Comment Pawtucket man pleads guilty to drugs-for-gunsPROVIDENCE -- A Pawtucket man pleaded guilty today to trying to trade crack cocaine and heroin for guns. Tracy Angiolillo, 49, has several felony convictions, which could subject him to a sentence of at least 15 years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office said in a news release. At a Sept. 28 sentencing, the government will argue for the 15-year-minimum sentence, asserting Angiolillo is an "armed career criminal," with two or more convictions for drug trafficking or violent felonies. Angiolillo entered the guily plea before U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi in Providence. At the plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha said the government could show that on Feb. 22 Angiolillo met with an undercover ATF agent in a Pawtucket hotel parking lot. Angiolillo gave the agent 1.15 grams of crack, about a half gram of heroin, and $100 in cash, the U.S. Attorney's office said, The agent gave Angiolillo two handguns, and agents arrested Angiolillo. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Earlier in February, according to an affidavit, agents got information that Angiolillo wanted to get guns in exchange for cash and drugs, the news release said. An undercover agent made contact with Angiolillo, who said he wanted cheap “burners,” which authorities said is slang for guns. In exchange, he could offer both cash and “product" -- a street term for drugs. Angiolillo pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms, distribution of crack cocaine, and distribution of heroin. The maximum penalty for the firearms offense is ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for distributing crack cocaine, and for distributing heroin is 20 years in prison and a $1-million fine. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:26 PM | Comment Update: State House workers return to buildingPROVIDENCE -- People ordered to evacuate the State House this afternoon were allowed back in around 2:45 p.m. The evacuation appeared to be for some sort of electrical problem. About 100 people, including Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, left the building shortly after 2:30 p.m. and stood in front of the state Department of Transportation building, across the street from the State House -- where the legislature meets and the governor's office is. Governor Carcieri has been in Newport for President Bush's visit and his schedule shows him remaining there until 5 p.m. for a conference. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:52 PM | Comment Tall Ships: Blue sky and haze, no signs of stormNEWPORT – Despite the National Weather Service forecast that we could see thunderstorms and showers this afternoon, it’s a blue sky day in the city right now. It’s hazy, but nothing looks in danger of being canceled as the city celebrates the Tall Ships festival. Sailboats are on the water, going back and forth on what appears to be an ideal Newport Harbor day. One addition: With President Bush here and security officials on alert because of the vast number of visitors for the Tall Ships, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter is making the rounds, flying loop after loop from the Naval War College over to the Pell Bridge and back. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:31 PM | Comment Bush visit: Bush takes his leave / Photo
Posted by Peter Phipps at 2:01 PM | Comment Child advocate files lawsuit for foster-care childrenPROVIDENCE -- With 10 Rhode Island foster-care children as plaintiffs, the state's child advocate filed a class-action lawsuit against the state "to protect the rights of approximately 3,000 children in state custody" from abuse and neglect. That's according to a news release, which says the suit aims to reform Rhode Island's welfare system. "The evidence is well-documented that abused and neglected children are not getting the protection and services that they need -- and are entitled to -- from the Rhode Island child welfare system," state Child Advocate Jametta Alston said in the statement. "Consistent with our obligation to protect the best interests of our state's children, this suit seeks to achieve systemic, sorely needed reforms." The suit is "Sam and Tony M. v. Carcieri," and the child advocate's office said it has hired law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Child advocacy organization Children's Rights, which has brought cases of the same sort in other parts of the country, is also involved, according to the release. The news release asserts: -- Rhode Island was the worst in the nation in the number of children abused and neglected while in state foster care in five of the six years between 2000 and 2005, and in the sixth year it was the second-worst. -- Children are put in "large, orphanage-like institutions rather than in homes, and are frequently left to languish there, sometimes for years." -- Caseworkers have "dangerously high caseloads that far exceed national standards and that endanger the children" the state has to protect. The child advocate says the problems with the state's systems are documented at www.childrensrights.org. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:49 PM | Comment Bush visit: Staying strong on staying in Iraq / Photo
NEWPORT -- President Bush presented a strenuous defense of his Iraq, Middle East and foreign policies in a speech before a supportive audience at the Naval War College today. The late-morning speech wrapped up with questions from the audience of more than 500 people, which included military officials and foreign leaders gathered at the college for the 50th anniversary of its Naval Command College program. Also in the audience: fellow Republican Governor Carcieri, the only Rhode Island leader to be there. Bush received a standing ovation three times from the crowd, as he gave a stout defense of his Iraq policy. But the president, who is facing heavy pressure to withdraw troops from Iraq, also warned that more patience is needed because there is still a long way to go and there will be more casualties before all is over. While he did say progress was being made on the ground, in ways that the media may not report, he added: "We've got to prepare ourselves for more violence and more setbacks." In vintage Bush form, he invoked the reason why time and time again -- because he wants to protect the world from terror. The themes are similar to those he employed after the Sept. 11 terror attacks -- which he also kept coming back to in his speech today. Bush also declared there is a decrease in sectarian violence between the Sunnis and Shiites around Baghdad. But despite success, he said, Anbar province remains a dangerous place. His comments came on a day when a car bomb killed at least 22 people in a bus station in western Baghdad, and police said 20 beheaded bodies had been discovered on the banks of the Tigris River southeast of the capital. Government security officials raised doubts about the decapitation report. Bush is expected to have lunch at the military college overlooking Newport Harbor before heading back to Quonset State Airport for his departure later this afternoon. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Scott MacKay Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:40 PM | Comment Bush visit: A setback for his immigration plan / VideoWASHINGTON -- The Senate drove a stake today through President Bush's plan to legalize millions of unlawful immigrants, likely postponing major action on immigration until after the 2008 elections. After the stinging political setback, Bush sounded resigned to defeat. "Legal immigration is one of the top concerns of the American people, and Congress' failure to act on it is a disappointment," he said after his appearance at the Naval War College in Newport. "A lot of us worked hard to see if we couldn't find common ground. It didn't work." The bill's Senate supporters fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to limit debate and clear the way for final passage of the legislation, which critics assailed as offering amnesty to illegal immigrants. The vote was 46 to 53 in favor of limiting the debate. Rhode Island's Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, both Democrats, voted in favor of the motion. Some senators in both parties said the issue is so volatile that Congress is unlikely to revisit it this fall or next year, when the presidential election will increasingly dominate American politics. Bush -- who had just delivered a forceful and well-received speech before a military audience on his defense policies -- appeared glum as he spoke. His negotiators had expressed optimism the vote would go their way or at least be closer. "Congress really needs to prove to the American people that it can come together on hard issues," Bush said. He turned attention to his other goals in Congress this year, including energy, health care and balanced-budget initiatives. Video: See Bush's reaction to the failed vote. -- The Associated Press, with projo.com reports Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:34 PM | Comment Drug-trafficking 'leader' gets 14 years in prisonPROVIDENCE -- A Providence man has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison as the "leader and organizer" of a drug-trafficking organization that shipped cocaine from Colorado to Rhode Island last year. Estroredarcio Bernard, 51, led the organization's efforts to ship multi-kilogram loads of the drug into the state, according to a news release today from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office. U.S. District Court Judge Ernest C. Torres imposed the sentence yesterday. In December, Bernard -- also known as Beligue -- pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Rogers said at the plea hearing the government could prove that, in January 2006, agents with a drug trafficking task force monitored conversations between Bernard, in Providence, and Fernando Gonzalez-Ramirez, in Colorado They talked about the price of cocaine that Gonzalez-Ramirez wanted to sell to Bernard, the U.S. Attorney's office said. They agreed on $19,000 per kilogram, and Gonzalez-Ramirez said a shipment would arrive in Providence within a few days. Agensts saw a car on Jan. 30 last year with Colorado license plates outside California Liquors, a store on Union Avenue that Bernard ran. The agents said they followed the car to a warehouse on Hathaway Street. Drug Enforcement Administration agents said that later that day they seized from the warehouse 11 packages, each containing a half-kilogram of cocaine. Bernard was arrested as was the driver of the Colorado car, Adalberto Bejarano-Gonzalez, who is a cousin of Gonzalez-Ramirez. After additional investigation, federal agents arrested Gonzalez-Ramirez in Colorado in August 2006.
In February, a jury found Gonzales-Ramirez, 34, guilty of conspiracy to traffic in five kilograms or more of cocaine. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi sentenced him last month to 20 years in prison. Federal agents said they also seized nearly $100,000 in cash: $9,300 from a home in West Warwick, $70,500 from California Liquors, and $20,000 that Bernard’s wife turned over to the FBI. She was not charged. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:28 PM | Comment Bush visit: Protesters chant, 'The troops out.'NEWPORT -- About 200 protesters, from middle schoolers to retirees, chanted, "What do we want? The troops out!," as they converged at the Connell Highway rotary during President Bush's speech today at the Naval War College. The group walked to the intersection with Third Street but could not go any farther, as they were met by the police and told not to block the street. The protesters held signs, including one that said, "Bush 911 murderer scum," and another that said, "Impeach the beast." And they chanted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Bush and Cheney's got to go!" They also planned to present a list of demands, which include: -- Immediately withdraw all of the "occupying force" from Iraq. -- Reparations for Iraq. -- Full benefits for returning servicemen and servicewomen. -- No military action against Iran. At around 12:40 p.m., the group appeared to be finishing. The president apparently never saw the protesters. They said they would have to mail the list of demands. At least four helicopters were seen overhead at around 11 a.m., though you could not tell what kind of helicopters they were. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Meaghan Wims By 10:30 a.m., about three-dozens people had gathered for the protest in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Connell Highway. Tom Padwa and his wife, Joanne DeVoe, of Warren, were among them. Members of the group East Bay Citizens for Peace, they said they believe there should be an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. They believe the United States’ Middle East policy has failed. “We’ve destroyed their country,” Padwa said about Iraq. “The Iraqi people have no more reason to be grateful to us than a dog has to be grateful to an owner that kicks it.” One of the organizers, Warwick resident Nicholas Schmader, is a member of the Green Party and of the Rhode Island Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice. The group planned to walk to the nearby rotary at Connell Highway They wanted to get as close as they could to the Naval War College base, where they planned to leave their list of demands. “We are a counter-presence to the Bush visit,” Schmader said. “Rhode Island has given Bush his lowest approval ratings. We want to be consistent with that.” Among the protesters was Rod Driver, a former state representative who has had four runs for U.S. Congress. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:08 PM | Comment Tall Ships: Mobile command post ready -- just in caseNEWPORT -- A modern-day military and public safety encampment is at the top of the hill at Fort Adams, in place to provide security for the Tall Ships festival – and to handle the first visit to Rhode Island by President Bush. The Rhode Island National Guard, the state Emergency Management Agency, and several state and municipal public safety teams are in command trucks and tents in the command post. They are overlooking the harbor, the dock, Tall Ships and the historic old fort. At the state’s mobile command center, state and local search-and-rescue teams and the National Guard’s civil support team are posted along with teams that handle hazardous materials and decontamination. Meanwhile, downtown amid the crowd, roving patrols from the state hazardous materials team, a decontamination team and the National Guard are keeping watch, according to state EMA executive director Robert J. Warren. Earlier today, when the president’s helicopter was spotted flying over Fort Adams as Mr. Bush made his way to the Naval War College, everyone stopped and ran to the grassy edge with binoculars and cameras and cell phones to watch the four helicopters cruise by. -- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:56 PM | Comment Bush visit: Quotes from his speechSelect quotes from President Bush's speech at the Naval War College today: "Al-Qaeda's strategy is to use human beings as bombs to create grisly images for the world to see. ... They aim to cultivate a sense of despair about the future of a free Iraq. They hope to gain, by the teleivision screen, what they cannot gain on the battle field against U.S. and Iraqi forces ... " "We’re involved in a broader war against these ideological killers. Iraq is just a theater in this war." "And what makes the war even more significant is that what happens overseas matters to the security in the United States of America, wihich is what we learned on Sept. 11 ... " "[If we were to] yield the future of Iraq to terrorists like Al-Qaeda ... we would give a green light to extremists all throughout a troubled region. The consequences for America would be disastrous ... " "It is a huge honor to be the commander-in-chief of such noble men and women. Our military's not only great. It’s good. Good-hearted people. All volunteers who said, 'I want to serve in the face of danger.' " Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:30 PM | Comment Tall Ships: Aboard the Virginia, accents from afarNEWPORT -- At the schooner Virginia, here for Tall Ships Newport festivities that kicked off this morning, perhaps it's appropriate some of the accents weren't quite Rhode Island ... err ... Vo Dilun. One couple came from North Carolina just for the Tall Ships -- a trip planned three months ago. An Atlanta, Ga., couple, on their way back from Nantucket, Mass., also decided to stop by the Tall Ships today. At the Virginia, there was no long line to get aboard, but a steady flow of people, many of them snapping photos. For more about Tall Ships, click here. And watch for coverage on projo.com during the day and in the Journal tomorrow. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Richard Salit Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:11 PM | Comment Bush visit photo: Bush greets Warwick's mayor
Posted by Peter Phipps at 12:00 PM | Comment Bush visit: Addressing Naval War College / VideoNEWPORT -- President Bush is speaking now at the Naval War College. He just received loud applause when he said of U.S. troops: “We owe them the time and support they need to succeed." Later in the speech, he spoke to the issue of withdrawing troops from Iraq: "If we withdraw before the Iraqi government can defend itself ... the consequences for the area could be disastrous." Bush also said that the future of the United States depends on standing with the "moms and dads across the Middle East." His formal speech has ended just before noon, and he is now taking questions from the audience. His speech is also being broadcast live on WPRO-630 AM. Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:00 PM | Comment Update: Police ID Warwick shooting victims / Photo
The man who died was identified as Gabriel Medeiros, 35, of 43 Warwick Lake Ave., the scene of the shooting. The two injured people are the dead man's brother, Caesar Medeiros, 43, and Caesar's wife, Claire Medeiros, 39, also of 43 Warwick Lake Ave. The survivors told the police that they awakened to find a masked gunman in their home just after midnight. A violent struggle ensued. Gabriel was shot in the chest. Caesar Medeiros and Claire Medeiros were also shot. They are being treated at Rhode Island Hospital for injuries that are apparently not life threatening. The police believe the gunman was also injured in the struggle, but wouldn't say how he was injured. The police searched the area last night with dogs, but didn't find the suspect. Nobody has been arrrested. The police don't have any evidence to indicate that the victims knew the gunman. -- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:55 AM | Comment Bush visit: The president begins speech / VideoNEWPORT -- President Bush has just begun speaking at the Naval War College in an auditorium where 500 or more people are gathered. The president's speech is expected to concern terrorism before an audience of Navy officials and military leaders. The president, dressed in a dark suit, a light blue shirt and a red tie, was introduced at the college by Governor Carcieri. It is Mr. Bush's first visit to the state of his presidency. The president said he saw the Tall Ships, visiting Newport Harbor this week, from the air, and called them magnificent. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Nicole Dungca Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:28 AM | Comment Couple are convicted in pyramid schemeBOSTON -- A former Attleboro, Mass., couple is convicted of running a $27-million pyramid scheme targeting hundreds of Cambodian immigrants. A federal jury deliberated for two days before returning the guilty verdicts against James Bunchan and Seng Tan. Prosecutors said the victims were told they would receive $300 a month for the rest of their lives -- and the lives of their children -- for every $26,000 they invested. But prosecutors say the payments eventually stopped, and that Tan and Bunchan spent millions of dollars of investors' money on gambling trips, a Florida home and even tennis lessons. Sentencing is set for September. A third defendant, Christian Rochon of Warwick, pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme and testified against Bunchan and Tan. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:21 AM | Comment Tall Ships: Safety precautions for severe weatherNEWPORT – Severe weather could curtail some of the Tall Ships activities this afternoon, if the National Weather Service’s predictions for heavy downpours, thunderstorms and “frequent and dangerous cloud to ground lightning” hold true. Tall Ships organizers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the state Department of Environmental Management and the Newport harbormaster are listening to constant weather reports and working together to determine if activities must be postponed or canceled, according to Robert Toracinta, harbormaster assistant in Newport. The National Weather Service has issued both a special weather statement and a hazardous weather outlook. While most of the reaction to weather today should be common sense, Toracinta said the harbormaster has the jurisdiction to “shut things down at his discretion.” If he needs to, the harbormaster would cancel the shuttle boats taking visitors out to visit the ships and over to Fort Adams State Park, Toracinta said. If severe weather whips up while people are already aboard ships or at Fort Adams, those people would need to stay put, secured below on the ships or at the office facilities at Fort Adams, Toracinta said. The Tall Ships organizers have experience dealing with inclement weather, Toracinta said. In a previous visit, they secured a ballroom at the Newport Marriott where passengers waited out a storm, he said. “Everyone’s in contact with one another, and they do have emergency plans in place,” he said. Need harbormaster info? Click here. Heading to or already in Newport? Check the latest weather conditions for the city. Going by boat? Check the latest marine forecasts. Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:13 AM | Comment Bush visit: Presidential helicopter takes in the sightsMoments before 11 a.m., the president’s helicopter and three other large helicopters flew over Fort Adams. They arrived from the west, crossed Narragansett Bay to Newport, hovered over Newport Harbor and the Tall Ships and then flew over Fort Adams, where some of the Tall Ships are docked. They continued on their way. The president is due any minute at the Naval War College. -- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:00 AM | Comment Bush visit: A quick greeting and another flight / Photo
After getting off Air Force One, the president shook hands with dignitaries waiting for him, including Governor Carcieri, former Gov. Lincoln Almond and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian. He hugged Tiverton resident Sherrill Estes and gave her an award for her volunteer work. The president asked Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian if he still likes being mayor. Avedisian told him it's a lot of fun on most days. Bush replied that his job is like that too. Avedisian's job was anything but fun early today. He'd been up most of the night because of a shooting in Warwick early this morning that has left one person dead and two wounded. Bush left in a helicopter with the governor and Mrs. Carcieri. He's scheduled to speak later this morning at the Naval War College in Newport. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Jack Perry at 10:57 AM | Comment Bush visit: About 3 dozen protesters gatherNEWPORT – About three dozen protesters have gathered by 10:30 a.m. for a planned protest against President Bush in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Connell Highway. They don’t plan to get started for another half hour or so. Tom Padwa and his wife, Joanne DeVoe, of Warren, are among those at the rally. Members of the group East Bay Citizens for Peace, they said they believe there should be an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. They believe the United States’ Middle East policy has failed. “We’ve destroyed their country,” Padwa said about Iraq. “The Iraqi people have no more reason to be grateful to us than a dog has to be grateful to an owner that kicks it.” One of the organizers of today’s protest, Warwick resident Nicholas Schmader, is a member of the Green Party and of the Rhode Island Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice. He said the group plans to walk to the nearby rotary at Connell Highway and have a short protest there. Some of the protesters will then try to walk as close as they can to the Naval War College base, where they will try to leave a list of demands. “We are a counter-presence to the Bush visit,” Schmader said. “Rhode Island has given Bush his lowest approval ratings. We want to be consistent with that.” Among the protesters is Rod Driver, a former state representative who has had four runs for U.S. Congress. Some students are here as well, but the group is more heavily retirees. -- Journal staff writer Meaghan Wims Meanwhile, traffic is building in the city that is host today of Mr. Bush’s first presidential visit to Rhode Island and to the annual Tall Ships festival. Police are posted along West Main Road, Valley Road and Admiral Kalbfus Road, not yet directing traffic but looking ready to do so when needed. People arriving in the city to view the Tall Ships are gathering in the shuttle lots at the high school on Valley Road and at the Route 138-Pell Bridge interchange. Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:51 AM | Comment Bush visit: Air Force One lands at Quonset / Photo
The president hasn't yet stepped on Rhode Island soil. Several dignitaries are waiting for him, including Governor Carcieri and his wife, Sue. Former Governor Lincoln Almond is also waiting. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Jack Perry at 10:35 AM | Comment Bush visit: A busy day already for the presidentPresident Bush should be on his way to Newport by now and a speech at the Naval War College. But he's already taken care of some important business this morning. Moving toward a constitutional showdown with Congress, he asserted executive privilege and rejected lawmakers' demands for documents that could shed light on the firings of federal prosecutors. Bush's attorney told Congress the White House would not turn over subpoenaed documents for former presidential counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor. Today was the deadline for surrendering the documents. The White House also made clear that Miers and Taylor would not testify next month, as directed by the subpoenas, which were issued June 13. The stalemate could end up with House and Senate contempt citations and a battle in federal court over separation of powers. Bush is also working on salvaging his broad immigration bill that's in peril before a crucial test vote by calling senators early this morning to rally support. Republicans and Democrats could put the brakes on the bipartisan plan to legalize millions of unlawful immigrants today, after the measure's roller-coaster ride through a Senate deeply divided over the issue. Like many supporters of the complex bipartisan measure, both of Rhode Island’s Democratic senators see flaws in it, and both note strong currents of opposition from Rhode Islanders. But both plan to vote to limit debate on the bill today, -- With Associated Press reports Posted by Andrea Panciera at 10:30 AM | Comment A poor grade for Ocean State highwaysA study out today says Rhode Island has some of the least cost-effective roads in the nation. The study used factors including traffic fatalities, congestion and maintenance to measure the cost-effectiveness of highways in each state. It ranked Rhode Island in the bottom five, along with New Jersey, Alaska, New York and Hawaii. The report was based on data from 1984 through 2005. It was conducted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and financed by the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank based in Los Angeles. Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:50 AM | Comment Tall Ships: Flags fluttering in the breezeOn the Newport waterfront at 7 this morning, the towering masts of Tall Ships were shrouded in summer haze, ceremonial flags fluttering in the blustery southwest breeze. Last night the waterfront was lit up like Christmas, decorated by lights strung from masts and yardarms. Sailors in white uniforms strolled in small groups up and down the narrow sidewalks of Thames Street. Many appeared to be saluting the crowds, but were instead holding cell phones to their ears. -- By Capt. Frank Gerardi, Newport resident and Journal artist. Posted by Jack Perry at 9:47 AM | Comment Update: One dead after triple-shooting in WarwickWARWICK – One man is dead and a man and woman are at Rhode Island Hospital with injuries that don’t appear life-threatening after a triple shooting at 43 Warwick Lake Ave. just after midnight. The police have no one in custody at this time, Det. Lt. Michael Higgins said this morning. They expect to release more details at a 10 a.m. press conference. Mayor Scott Avedisian said the shooter appears to have fled the immediate area after the shooting, which occurred in the Chatham Village neighborhood, on the line of the Hoxsie neighborhood. In the middle of the night, as police and city leaders believed the suspect might be in the area, Avedisian was warning Warwick residents to lock their doors and windows and be on the alert for any suspicious activity. By this morning, he was urging people to report any suspicious activity. Avedisian said the state police assisted in the search for the suspect with a team of dogs to complement the one dog and handler the local police have. All three shooting victims were taken to Rhode Island Hospital, and the man who died succumbed to his injuries after arriving at the hospital, Higgins said. Avedisian said the kinds of warnings he has issued to residents are the sort the city typically makes after a crime. He wants people to call the main police department, at (401) 468-4200, to report any suspicious behavior or activity. “Really, for us, it’s no different than what we normally tell people,” he said. Check back with projo.com throughout the day for more details as they emerge. -- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:47 AM | Comment Bush visit: A whirlwind trip plannedPresident Bush is expected to arrive this morning on Air Force One at Quonset State Airport for his first presidential visit to Rhode Island. He has a busy schedule that includes a speech on terrorism before Navy officials and military leaders at the Naval War College in Newport. Governor Carcieri will introduce the president at the war college. Among those expected at Quonset for the president’s arrival is Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, a Republican in his fifth term as mayor. Mr. Bush is also expected to honor Tiverton resident and active volunteer Sherrill Estes and to meet with the family of the late Sgt. Michael R. Weidemann, a 23-year-old Newport soldier who was killed in Iraq last October. His visit falls on a day when Newport is expected to be packed with tourists and residents enjoying the Tall Ships festival, adding to the security challenges inherent with any presidential visit. Read tips on getting around Newport today. We have photographers and reporters on the scene. Check back with projo.com throughout the day. Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:24 AM | Comment Southwest cuts some Providence-Philly flightsPHILADELPHIA -- Southwest Airlines is trimming service between Providence and Philadelphia as part of a broader move to cut some routes nationwide. Southwest plans to trim service between Providence and Philadelphia from six to five daily round-trips. Also, Southwest will stop flying direct flights from Philadelphia to California this fall, at least temporarily. Nationally, the airline plans to cut 39 round-trips and add 45. The discount carrier is wrestling with high fuel costs and a slow economy. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:09 AM | Comment We could see a heat wave, thunderstormsPROVIDENCE – We could see a heat wave this week before it’s all over. After two days of 90-degree-plus days, the National Weather Service is now predicting a high near 91 today – higher than predictions from earlier this week. Three days in a row of 90-plus days equals an official heat wave. We’ve got an 80 percent chance of heavy rain today and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Then, we’ve got a 60 percent chance of more heavy rain tonight. That should cool things down for us. Today's air quality alert and chance of gusty thunderstorms and lightning have caused the National Weather Service to issue a hazardous weather outlook. Tomorrow is slated for a high of 76, with a slight chance of more showers. So hang in there, be careful managing the heat and know that some relief is on the way. But remember, it is summer, after all, and we’re sure to have more of this weather soon. Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:07 AM | Comment Another air quality alert todayPROVIDENCE -- Another Air Quality Alert has declared for today -- the third day in a row that state officials expect unhealthy air to blanket the region. The Department of Environmental Management says it expects a high level of fine particles in the air, which can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath and problems for people with asthma. Officials are asking people to limit their driving and help reduce emissions from power plants by saving energy -- like turning off lights and computer screens when not in use. Most RIPTA lines continue to be free tomorrow. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features photographs and a story about the tall ships visiting Newport and a preview on President Bush's visit to Rhode Island today. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment June 27, 2007Before the prez and ships, catch a comedianNEWPORT -- Before the Tall Ships thing really gets going here and the leader of the free world rolls into town tomorrow, you can mellow out with some laughs tonight. Comedian Ron White performs at the Newport Yachting Center. White, known for his “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” with Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy, goes on at 7 p.m. For tickets, $45, call (401) 331-2211 or go to www.newportcomedy.com. Or go to Ticketmaster. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:05 PM | Comment For Governor Carcieri, a busy day tomorrowGovernor Carcieri has one of those days tomorrow. He is scheduled to be at Quonset State Airport in North Kingstown from 10:30 to 10:35 a.m. to greet President Bush, who will be making the first visit of his presidency to Rhode Island. According to the schedule released by the governor's office, from 10:55 a.m. to noon, the governor is scheduled to be at the Naval War College in Newport, where Mr. Bush is expected to speak on the war on terror at 11 a.m. The president will be there as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the college’s Naval Command College, a school for military officers from around the world. But that's not all. From 12:30 to 5 p.m., Carcieri will host at the Republican Governors Association's Education and Financial Services Forum at the Hyatt Regency on Goat Island, Newport. And, of course, he may work in a few glimpses of the Tall Ships as they sail around Newport Harbor for the first official day of their visit here.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:02 PM | Comment High court ruling: It started with noises in the atticPROVIDENCE -- It began with five baby raccoons, spread to rabies vaccinations for dozens of residents, led to firing of an East Providence animal control supervisor and ended with today's state Supreme Court ruling. The state's highest court upheld that an arbitrator exceeded authority in reassigning John Smith, the former animal control officer, to another position -- police dispatcher -- as a result of a union complaint following the city's firing of Smith from animal control. Smith was animal control supervisor in May 2004 when he received a call from his father about animal noises apparently coming from the attic of the father's East Providence home, according to the Supreme Court opinion. Smith removed an adult raccoon from the house, but noises continued. Smith investigated more and found infant raccoons, determined they were too young to survive by themselves and brought them to the animal shelter. At the arbitration hearing, Smith testified that after trying to place the raccoons with two animal rehabilitators failed, he asked Tracey Blackledge, a part-time animal shelter employee, to care for the raccoons at her home. Blackledge agreed and about a month later, after animal control officers removed another infant raccoon from a local golf course, she took in a sixth raccoon, according to the court. "The raccoons, however, did not remain little for long," the court's opinion states, and by July 2004 they were too big for the cage at Blackledge’s house. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Smith had them brought to the shelter and put in a kennel. He planned to keep them there until old enough to be released into the forest and fend for themselves, the court said. "During the raccoons’ stay at the kennel, they apparently became something of an attraction," the court opinion states. People, including employees of the city garage next to the animal shelter, "came into direct, physical contact with the raccoons." Shelter staff let visitors enters the raccoons’ kennel and "provided virtually no warnings about the potential danger of such interactions," the court said. When one raccoon started showing signs of rabies, Smith ordered it to be quarantined. Eventually, the animal was euthanized and state lab test results showed it had rabies. Smith told East Providence Police, filed a written report as requested by the police chief and issued a news release to warn city residents about possible exposure. Though there were no recorded examples of people getting the disease, 56 people received rabies shots from the state Division of Disease Prevention and Control. East Providence Police investigated the animal shelter and found "a number of irregularities and violations" under Smith's tenure. On Aug. 14, 2004, Smith received a letter stating he was being suspended without pay for five days and then being terminated from the job at the end of the suspension. The letter gave three alleged violations of state laws as grounds for firing Smith and "also reprimanded Smith for boarding his own pet dog at the animal shelter and allowing other city employees to do the same," the court said. The union lodged a grievance, leading to arbitration hearings from which the arbitrator found the city had just cause to terminate Smith but also found it did not give him constitutional due process before the firing. He ordered the city to reinstate Smith to the police dispatcher position, a job Smith had held before. A Superior Court judge last year sided with the city's motion to vacate the arbitator's reinstatement of Smith to dispatcher. "Because we concur with the hearing justice that the arbitrator exceeded his authority by reinstating Mr. Smith to the position of police dispatcher, we affirm the judgments," the Supreme Court stated in its ruling today. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:01 PM | Comment Ex-Providence officer linked to cheating gets pensionPROVIDENCE -- The city Retirement Board today approved a pension for former police Detective Sgt. Tonya King Harris although she was implicated in a long-running scandal over cheating on promotional tests. Harris was fired after being accused of cheating on a promotional test to achieve sergeant’s rank, but she won reinstatement in a settlement of a lawsuit against the city on condition that she retire. As part of the same settlement, her husband, former Sgt. Michael M. Harris, who was accused of cheating on the same test to win sergeant’s stripes, agreed to retire, too. Michael Harris retired last year and is receiving a $2,606-a-month pension. As a result of the settlement terms, Tonya King Harris now qualifies for a $2,768-a-month pension. Both Harrises, who live in Woonsocket, were implicated in cheating in investigations done by the FBI and the Police Department. Neither Harris admits wrongdoing in the settlement, and the city has promised not to say otherwise. Tonya King Harris always has maintained that she did not cheat and Michael Harris never has had to confront the issue publicly. -- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:48 PM | Comment Update: Richardson murder trial ends in hung juryWARWICK -- The murder trial of James Richardson, accused of killing Margaret Duffy Stephenson of Warwick in 2005, ended in a hung jury this afternoon. Jurors could not reach consensus in the case in Kent County Superior Court today, the fourth day of deliberation. Richardson, 40, was accused of murdering Duffy-Stephenson, 37. She was found stabbed to death on Nov. 18, 2005, days after she returned from a family vacation in Florida. She was a teacher’s aide for special-needs students in East Greenwich. Yesterday, the jurors told the judge they had deadlocked, but Judge Francis J. Darigan urged them to continue deliberating. Ealier today, the jury asked to have more of the court record read back this morning. This time, the portions of testimony read to jurors were from cross examination of Dr. Dorota Latuszynski, a physician with the state medical examiner’s office. Jurors also heard testimony from the direct, the cross examination and the redirect questioning of Sharon E. Mallard, a state Health Department forensic scientist. Over several weeks, the jury heard more than 20 witnesses testify and saw 171 pieces of evidence. Much of it focused on Richardson's DNA. “DNA is the final piece of the puzzle,” Special Assistant Attorney General Thomas O’Brien told jurors at one point. Darigan told the jurors that to find Richardson guilty, they had |
