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June 13, 2007

Union rally at State House highlights budget battle

PROVIDENCE -- In the escalating tug-of-war over the state budget, state workers and their union leaders this afternoon used a State House rally to criticize Governor Carcieri's deficit-closing proposal that includes cutting 1,000 state employee positions.

The 45-minute rally saw speeches from union officials such as Dennis Grilli, executive director of Council 94, which represents thousands of state employees.

"We will remember this. We will never forget what you did last Thursday," Richard Ferruccio, head of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, said in comments referring to the governor's proposal.

State workers took exception to the governor's office saying the average state employee's salary is $58,000-plus. Ferruccio said he has worked as a correctional officer for 23 years and he makes $46,000.

But the governor's office acknowledged that the average includes all state employees, including top managers.

And Jeff Neal, spokesman for the governor, said "the governor has pointed out that his office won't be exempt" from consideration for reductions. The governor's office is not only going to look at layoffs for union workers but at managers as well.

House Democratic leaders, meanwhile, have proposed a budget plan that includes cutting the education-funding increase the governor's proposal had called for, drawing criticism from school leaders and others in communities. A petition signed by 15 senators and 9 representatives, all of them Democrats, has urged the leadership to put back the 3 percent increase that Carcieri's proposal sought.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:13 PM | Comment

Providence library, city agree to historic pact

PROVIDENCE -- The city and the Providence Public Library have agreed to a one-year renewable contract, ending a years-long dispute over library service and establishing the first written agreement in the history of their 100-year relationship.

The agreement brings to an end several years of debate over the level of funding the city should provide, who controls the library’s branches, and staffing levels and hours at the city’s libraries.

The PPL wanted the city to take over the branch library system, while the PPL ran the Central Library downtown. But the city was not interested. At the same time, the city wanted more public, voting members on the library’s Board of Trustees, but the libraries held fast on that point.

The city agreed to increase its contribution by $300,000, giving the libraries $3.3 million this year, with increases every subsequent year tied to the cost of living. It will also give a one-time payment of roughly $100,000, making the city and the state’s contribution $4.15 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The library agreed to the establishment of an advisory board to oversee finances across the entire library system, though the body would have no authority over the PPL’s trustees.

The agreement will mean a reduction in hours at most library branches, and layoffs of up to 10 library staffers — a number the library hopes it can reduce by restarting its fundraising efforts, which have long stagnated as donors shied away from giving during the protracted city-library struggle.

-- Journal staff writer Daniel Barbarisi

The PPL is a private, nonprofit organization that has provided library services for city residents for more than 100 years without a contract.

The fiscal year ending June 30 was to be a transition year that gave the city and the PPL time to carve out a new, long-term agreement for library services in Providence.

More to come in tomorrow's Providence Journal and on projo.com ...

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 7:09 PM | Comment

Update: Union chiefs call for GOP chair to resign

PROVIDENCE -- Leaders of unions representing state workers and teachers today called on state Republican Party Chairman Giovanni Cicione to resign over a flap over yard signs printed for the GOP that say cutting 1,000 state worker jobs was a "good start!"

Dennis Grilli, executive director of Council 94 -- the largest union of state workers -- and Bob Walsh, head of the Rhode Island affiliate of the National Education Association, called for the resignation during an afternoon rally at the State House.

The controversy surrounds hundreds of yard signs the state Republican Party apparently had printed. It was unclear how many signs were actually distributed.

Cicione, of Barrington, was chosen unanimously by Republicans at the state convention in March to be party chairman. He replaced Patricia Morgan. He was described in March as a lawyer with the Providence firm Adler, Pollock & Sheehan. He served as legal counsel to the Republican National Committee in Rhode Island last year.

Governor Carcieri's office today distanced itself from the sign issue, saying it had asked that the signs be taken down when it became aware of them.

The governor, a Republican, has called for cutting 1,000 positions as one of several components of a plan to close a budget deficit of $300 million to $400 million. House Democrats have offered a different proposal.

Donna Perry, spokeswoman for the state Republican Party, said in response to the unions today: "The budget debate is a critical discussion the state should have right now. The unions want to demonize this governor and demonize the chairman of the party" for the purpose of changing the conversation.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau and Journal staff writer Mark Arsenault

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:56 PM | Comment

Photo: A day worth a hundred cakes

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Winifred Mae Lane celebrated her 100th birthday today with her nephew, Bill Brophy, left, of Cranston and fellow residents of the South Kingstown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Kingston.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:31 PM | Comment

Bill financing R.I. military projects clears committee

WASHINGTON -- A bill earmarking money for rebuilding the wharf that connects two piers at Naval Station Newport, a Quonset National Guard special-ops training facility and other Rhode Island military projects moved a step closer to law today.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs approved a $64.7-billion spending bill for projects around the country, the office of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed announced. It also includes money for veterans' health issues.

The bill next needs approval from the Appropriations Committee before it goes to a vote on Senate floor.

Money in the legislation would also "bolster work at the Army Aviation Support Facility in North Kingstown and Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich," says a news release from Reed's office.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Some $9.9 million is in the bill for reconstructing the wharf connecting Piers 1 and 2 at the naval station in Newport.

"These piers are an integral part of naval operations at the base with Pier 1 anchoring two inactive carriers and Pier 2 serving as the primary operational pier for the naval station supporting four Coast Guard ships, visiting ships, and a building that houses port operations, Coast Guard Offices and shops, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) periscope repair facility," Reed's office said.

Since being built in 1954, the wharf connecting the piers has deteriorated and was closed in 2004 because it could not support any loading.

The bill would also provide $5 million for a Special Operations Training Facility at the National Guard facilities at Quonset.

And $750,000 is included for planning and design of an addition to the Bachelor Quarters on Coddington Point at Naval Station Newport and $810,000 for planning and design of a new building for the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in North Kingstown.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:26 PM | Comment

Somerset administrator gets Wareham job offer

SOMERSET, Mass. -- John McAuliffe, the town's administrator for the past 9-1/2 years, has been selected as the new administrator in Wareham -- and, he said this afternoon, he expects to take the job.

The vote by the Wareham Board of Selectmen, announced earlier today, was unanimous.

"They put a very solid offer on the table,'' said McAuliffe, 45, who said that while a final deal has not been cut, one appears likely.

Wareham was offering between $105,000 and $120,000, which would probably mean a pay increase for a man who was also a finalist in Middleboro, Mass.

McAuliffe said Wareham is wooing him because, ``first and foremost, they want to tackle some financial challenges, which works nicely with my background'' with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

McAuliffe began looking for another post after losing the support of the majority of the three-member Board of Selectmen in a town where the political climate has gotten increasingly venomous.

He angered the current chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen by ruling that her husband, then a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, may have bent the rules when developing some house lots.

He was also the subject of two citizen petitions calling for his removal, both drafted by a local chiropractor who objected that his wife's business was cited when McAuliffe tried to enforce the town's sign ordinance.

-- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:19 PM | Comment

Group: Tobin's attack on Giuliani may violate tax law

A Washington-based religious advocacy group accuses Bishop of Providence Thomas J. Tobin of violating tax law by criticizing GOP presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani's abortion views in the diocesan newspaper.

The group says the Internal Revenue Service "should investigate" the diocese.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued a news release today saying "federal tax law forbids non-profits to use organizational resources to support or oppose candidates for public office." The organization says it sent a letter to the IRS noting that.

Rev. Barry W. Lynn, the group's executive director, said in the letter that Tobin, "appears to have violated federal tax law by attacking Giuliani," according to the news release.

Tobin made his comments in a piece in the Rhode Island Catholic, the diocese's newspaper, questioning Giuliani's personal belief that abortion is wrong while feeling that government should not intervene.

“If the bishop wants to join the political fray, he should do so as an individual without dragging along his tax-exempt diocese," Lynn said in the news release. "A church is not a political action committee, and it should not act like one.”

On its Web site, Americans United for Separation of Church and State describes itself as having members in every state and as an "nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation."

A spokesman for Tobin told the Associated Press the complaint lacks merit.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Associated Press reports

The site contains a feature critical of what it calls the "the religious right after Falwell," which shows images of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, Rev. Pat Robertson and James Jobson, who leads Focus on the Family, a group that opposes same-sex marriage.

The organization posts "alerts" on various issues such as "undermining evolution" and, therefore, in its words, undermining science standards in the public schools. It accepts financial contributions on part of its Web site. And it suggests contacting members of Congress on issues.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:49 PM | Comment

Legislator aims to cut open-space land sale

State Rep. Donna Walsh filed today an amendment to the state budget seeking to remove a proposal to sell up to 50 acres of open space land bordering the state’s Burlingame Management Area and Watchaug Pond for an estimated $3.4 million to plug a hole in the state’s budget.

The Charlestown Democrat proposes cuting the Judiciary’s budget by that amount to help balance the budget.

Governor Carcieri originally proposed the land sale in his budget proposal amid a broader $28.2-million land sale proposal. He later said through a spokesman he no longer counted on the land sale, but said it is up to the General Assembly to set the final budget. Carcieri has not said if he’d stop the sale if it is authorized by the General Assembly.

Legislators blame Carcieri for proposing the sale in the first place.

Those who oppose the open space land sale say it would violate existing state law and would set a dangerous precendent.

The state’s proposed 2008 budget, and all amendments, will be considered Friday by the House of Representatives.

-- Journal staff writer Maria Armental

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:44 PM | Comment

Joint chiefs candidate speaks at Naval War College

NEWPORT -- The Navy admiral tapped to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today he favors a diplomatic approach in dealing with Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, but offered few clues on how he would handle the war in Iraq.

Admiral Michael Mullen accused Iran, without being specific, of giving aid to insurgent forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still he called diplomacy "the right path."

"I'm concerned about what Iran's doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, you know, broadly providing capability to which we are losing American soldiers on the ground and Marines on the ground, and I consider that not to be acceptable," he said.

The Navy must stay in the Persian Gulf to reassure allies and maintain its ability to act quickly in a crisis, he said.

"I think we will be there with a strong presence for a long time," he said, during a question-and-answer session at the Naval War College in Newport.

-- The Associated Press

Mullen, 60, said little about Iraq while at the college and ducked a question about his strategy there during a brief news conference with reporters.

"I'm honored to be recommended to be nominated, and we'll just take it one step at a time," Mullen said.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates recommended Mullen for the chairman's seat after key lawmakers warned the Bush administration that Gen. Peter Pace would face a public grilling over the Iraq War if nominated for another term. Pace's departure means a largely new slate of military commanders will be responsible for a war that has killed more than 3,500 U.S. troops.

Democratic leaders in Congress say they want a nominee committed to changing the course of a war now in its fifth year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has warned the next chairman cannot be an advocate for a "failed policy."

During the forum, Mullen reiterated his support for the creation of a new strategy for U.S. maritime forces, a project that hasn't happened on a large scale since the end of the Cold War.

He wants to expand the Navy's fleet to more than 300 ships.

"You can't be in as many places in 200 ships that you can with 300 or 400," he said. "You got to be there to have the impact."

With nearly half of its 277 warships supporting missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, Mullen said the Navy faced a "very challenging time" and could not secure international seaways by itself. U.S. naval forces have shrunk 40 percent since the end of the Cold War, he added.

He said U.S. officials are working with allies abroad to create a naval alliance that would be based in ports around the world and respond quickly to problems.

"Nobody can do it alone," he said.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:20 PM | Comment

Photo: Police sergeant arraigned for burglary

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Suspended North Providence police Sgt. Michael Ciresi, 39, of Cranston, is arraigned today in Superior Court, Providence. Ciresi pleaded not guilty to two counts of burglary, two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary and one count of using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, burglary, according to the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office. Ciresi, already awaiting trial on previous charges, was released on $50,000 bail with surety. Read a previous story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 3:14 PM | Comment

Photo: Woman arraigned for sports bar stabbing

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Penny Juan, 36, of Boston, is arraigned for murder today in Superior Court, Providence, for the stabbing death last year of David De La Rosa-Ruiz in the Comfort Zone sports bar, Providence. Juan pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail by Superior Court Magistrate Joseph A. Keough, according to Michael Healey, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Attorney General's office.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:53 PM | Comment

MySpace meeting leads to child molestation charge

PAWTUCKET – A 21-year-old Pawtucket man is held without bail today at the Adult Correctional Institutions on a charge of first-degree child molestation for allegedly having sexual intercourse with an 11-year-old Providence girl he met on MySpace.

Otensi Dekargai, of 10 Anthony Ave. in Pawtucket, and the girl, whom the police are not identifying, had communicated via the Internet for a while before meeting once in person in April, Pawtucket Det. Lt. Daniel Mullen said today.

Each apparently lied about their age, Mullen said. Dekargai said he was 17 or 18, and the girl said she was 16, he said.

Dekargai allegedly picked up the girl at a pre-arranged meeting spot in Providence and drove her to a Pawtucket apartment, where the two had sex, Mullen said. He then apparently gave her cab fare to get back to Providence, according to the police.

The police learned of the encounter after the girl was taken Monday to Women and Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island for some “medical issues” she developed “as a result of this encounter,” Mullen said. He declined to say any more about her medical condition.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

The hospital contacted the Providence police because of the nature of the girl’s health issues and her age, Mullen said. Once the police determined the incident happened in Pawtucket, the case was referred to that police department.

The girl cooperated with the police and went into MySpace with the police to locate the man she had met there, Mullen said.

Both Dekargai and the girl have said their encounter was consensual sex, according to Mullen. Rhode Island law, however, would not allow an 11-year-old to consent to sex.

First-degree child molestation sexual assault is defined as sexual penetration with someone 14 years of age or under. A conviction on this charge carries a sentence of not less than 25 years and may be life imprisonment.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:29 PM | Comment

Providence detective pleads not guilty to assault / Photo

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Suspended Providence police Detective Jason Simoneau is arraigned in Superior Court today.

PROVIDENCE -- A suspended Providence police detective charged with assault with a dangerous weapon pleaded not guilty at his Superior Court arraignment today -- and his lawyer said in an interview that the officer will take this to trial and not plead out.

Jason Simoneau, 32, of 19 Higgins St., Smithfield, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Simoneau was indicted by a grand jury and appeared today before Magistrate Joseph Keough.

Specific details have been few. The incident allegedly occurred outside a bar in the vicinity of Westminster and Union streets on Christmas Eve last year when Simoneau was not on duty.

He is accused of assaulting Matthew Turgeon, 26, and Eric O'Connell, 28. Their addresses were not yet known.

Simoneau's lawyer, Kevin Bristow, said in an interview that a disagreement ensued between Simoneau and the two men. He said that Simoneau was actually trying to get away from them, and they followed him to the doorway of his then-apartment house on Westminster Street.

At some point Simoneau is accused of pulling out a gun, which was not his duty firearm, and pointed it in their direction.

Bristow implied this was a defensive action. He was not conceding that Simoneau did anything wrong. "There's a lot of evidence yet to be presented," Bristow said.

Keough set $10,000 personal recognizance bail for Simoneau and ordered him to have no contact with the men.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:27 PM | Comment

Scorecard: R.I. health-care system ranks 6th in U.S.

Rhode Island's healthcare system ranks sixth overall in the country -- and first in quality of care -- according to the first ever scorecard of states' health systems.

Hawaii is ranked first overall nationally, followed by Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island. Behind Rhode Island are Connecticut and then Massachusetts.

"For the past decade, Rhode Island has provided incentive payments to Medicaid managed-care plans that reach quality targets; it now ranks first on measures of the quality of care," according to the scorecard by Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System.

Rhode Island is also among five "leading states" in terms of access to care as well. That, along with higher rates of insured residents, equated to better car quality.

The scorecard ranked five "dimensions" of healthcare then came to overall conclusions about states.

The scorecard also lists 32 specialized "indicators" of health-system performance. The executive summary names the top state in each; Rhode Island is tops for hospitalized patients who received "recommended care for acute myocardial infarction, congestive failure and penumonia."

"States in the Upper Midwest and Northeast often rank in the highest quartile of performance, with those in the lowest quartile concentrated in the South," the report says.

To see the full report, go here and go to the various PDF files available.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:25 PM | Comment

Vaccination clinics set for new high school graduates

Graduating high school seniors, you may be leaving your school days behind you. But you still may need one more aspect of them before you go on in life -- vaccinations.

Many states, employers and colleges and universities either recommend or require certain vaccinations, the state Health Department says.

The state of Rhode Island offers a free vaccination program for those under 19 that is administered through public and private schools statewide. And a special program called Vaccinate Before You Graduate is conducted to help ensure needed vaccinations in the transition before school and the workforce or college.

To help in that effort, the state is adding on two free clinics this summer for new graduates. They will be held:

- Wednesday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Warwick Mall, outside the Old Navy store.

- Tuesday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rhode Island Department of Health, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, in the Health Policy Forum in the Lower Level.

The following vaccines can be received: hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal (meningitis), polio, and varicella (chicken pox).

Once a student reaches age 19 and is out of high school, the same shots could cost as much as $1,200, the Health Department says.

Don't know if you need to be vaccinated before attending a college or university in Rhode Island? Here are requirements:

http://www.health.ri.gov/family/immunization/ImmunizationRemindercollege.pdf

At the clinics, a parent or guardian must accompany students under age 18 (unless a parental consent was signed at a previous Vaccinate Before You Graduate event). Students must bring their immunization records and photo identification.

No appointments are necessary. All vaccines for graduating seniors are free. If you have questions about Vaccinate Before You Graduate, contact Kathy Marceau at 222-4624 or Pat Raymond at 222-5921.

For more information on childhood vaccination requirements in Rhode Island, click here.

Adults age 18 and older may receive the pneumonia vaccine at the Warwick Mall clinic on June 20.

The pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine is recommended for adults age 65 and older and those in high-risk groups. The pneumococcal vaccine is a covered benefit for Medicare beneficiaries, Part B. If an individual’s insurance provider does not cover the pneumococcal vaccine, there is no charge; however, you must call 401-461-0662 to reserve a dose.

For more information about the adult immunization program, contact Annemarie Beardsworth at 222-5658.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:20 PM | Comment

Governor announces state police team in Providence

PROVIDENCE -- For a third year, a State Police team will help the Providence police patrol the streets on weekend nights beginning July 5.

Governor Carcieri will announce the State Police Neighborhood Response Team effort at 1:30 p.m. in the State Room of the State House.

State Police Col. Brendan Doherty, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman are slated to attend the announcement.

"Since the [Neighborhood Response Team] initiative began, police have made more than 1,100 arrests and issued more than 1,900 summonses," a news release said.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:22 PM | Comment

Nantucket Airlines also cancels flights

Cape Air’s sister airline, Nantucket Airlines, has also canceled most of its flights for the next few days, as Cape Air works to make engine repairs on its fleet of Cessna 402 aircraft.

The airlines have posted a statement online explaining the cancellations and offering travel alternatives.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:19 PM | Comment

Feinstein raises $148 million to battle hunger

Cranston-based philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein's foundation said it's raised a record $148 million nationally this spring to fight hunger during its 10th annual "giveaway" of $1 million in matching grant money, divided among participating agences.

More than 1,700 participants -- agencies that battle hunger and houses of worship around the country -- participated in raising money and will share in varying allotments from the $1 million, according to a news release from The Feinstein Foundation.

Since 1997, the foundation said it has raised more than $700 million, asserting that it is "the most successful grassroots effort ever to help the hungry."

Feinstein founded Center for a Hunger Free America at the University of Rhode Island, which heads up the admistration of the program.

Last spring's total came to $133 million, compared to this spring's $148 million.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:43 AM | Comment

Ample energy forecast for New England this summer

HOLYOKE, Mass. -- Gordon van Welie, the man responsible for making sure the lights stay on in New England, is usually anxious this time of year.

Even though it looks like millions of residents won't have to worry about being able to fire up their air conditioners to battle the upcoming summer heat, he knows the demand for electricity is only going to grow.

"We believe we have enough capacity available to meet the projected demand for electricity this summer," he said. "Assuming everything is running and nothing big breaks."

As president of ISO New England, which manages the region's power grid from a control room that's slightly larger than a tennis court, part of van Welie's job is to make sure there's enough power to feed the needs of about 14 million residents in six states.

-- The Associated Press

During a nearly two-hour meeting with reporters at ISO New England's headquarters on Tuesday, he also pushed a message of conservation.

As electronic devices continue to become cheaper and more easily available, people need to make smart choices about using them, he said.

"You've added in your homes large plasma screen TVs, digital video recorders, cable modems, iPods, cell phone chargers," he said. "They're all sitting there consuming more energy and producing more heat. Now you have an air conditioner that has to try and reduce the inside of your home to be 10 degrees below what it is outside, and it's going to have to work that much harder to get rid of that heat."

Since 1980, there's been a 1.7 percent growth in demand for electricity during peak demand, which fall on the hottest days of the year. And overall, there's been a 1.2 percent increase in energy use each year.

But there are blips in that trend. Last year, which had a mild winter and high energy prices, New England used slightly less electricity than it did in 2005.

"High prices caused people to think seriously about conservation and energy efficiency," van Welie said. And as people used less energy, wholesale electric prices dropped by about five percent.

Still, ISO New England's projections show electricity demand rising. By 2015, the grid managers expect 32,000 megawatts will be needed to meet peak demand, up from the 29,000 megawatts expected from this summer's hottest day.

"The most viable option to deal with this is to become more efficient about our own usage," van Welie said. "We can do something to address this peak demand growth."

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:52 AM | Comment

Gay police group holds conference in Providence

PROVIDENCE – Mayor David N. Cicilline is expected to welcome a gathering of gay and lesbian criminal justice professionals this morning on the second day of a five-day conference focusing on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in the criminal justice profession.

The capital city’s openly gay mayor should be joined by Corrections Director A.T. Wall in welcoming the 11th annual International Conference of Gay and Lesbian Criminal Justice Professionals. The conference is hosted by the Gay Officers Action League of New England.

Participants will attend seminars on issues that include sexual orientation and gender identity in policing, creating effective diversity training, creating a GLBT liaison position, an overview of hate crime training in Rhode Island and a look into the transgender community.

The conference concludes Sunday, following participation on Saturday night in Rhode Island PrideFest and that evening’s Night-Time Pride Parade.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:46 AM | Comment

Cape Air canceling flights for engine repairs

HYANNIS, Mass. -- Cape Air is grounding most of its fleet of Cessna 402 aircraft to make engine repairs, a spokeswoman for the regional airline said last night.

Hundreds of flights will be affected, Cape Air spokeswoman Michelle Haynes told the Cape Cod Times. The Massachusetts-based airline serves Cape Cod, the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, as well as destinations in Florida, the Caribbean and Micronesia. It offers flights from T.F. Green Airport in Warwick to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

"This is the most painful chapter in this airline's 18-year history," Haynes said.

Haynes said Cape Air discovered abnormal wearing in the planes' engines related to the crankshaft counterweight and decided to ground the planes after consultation with Federal Aviation Administration officials and the manufacturer of the aircraft's engine, Continental Teledyne.

"The unusual wear pattern on these parts has to be fixed," Haynes said. "It's a tough decision, but it's the only decision."

She said a handful of the 49 planes have been repaired, but Cape Air expects to cancel many flights through the weekend.

"We expect the entire airline to be up and operational by early next week," she said.

She said the airline will be posting revised flight information on its Web site, flycapeair.com.

Haynes said Cape Air was committed to "finding options" for customers whose flights are canceled. "Our heart goes out to them," she said.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Partly cloudy with a high of 66 degrees

The National Weather Service forecasts a partly cloudy day with a high near 66 degrees.

The wind will blow from the northeast at 14 to 17 mph.

There's a slight chance of showers tonight with a low around 50 degrees.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features coverage of the state budget debate.

The front page also features photographs and a story about a program that tries to tighten bonds between female state prison inmates and their daughters.

Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment