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October 19, 2007

Weekend: local bands, a Hendrix and more Hendrix

Tonight bands will hit the club circuit, some playing blues and others cranking up the distortion on the guitars. The rest of the weekend, people can learn -- and hear -- something about someone who popularized both of those sounds for the masses.

Alter Ego plays rock at Effin's Last Resort, 325 Farnum Pike Smithfield. Call 349-3500. 9 p.m.

Steve Anthony and Persuasion play rock and pop at Bovi's Town Tavern, 287 Taunton Ave., East Providence. Call 434-9670. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Automatics play blues and Doug Stanhope does comedy at The Shorebreak, 3 Beach St., Narragansett. Call 783-1022, www.theshorebreak.com. 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The Bandstand Revue plays oldies and swing at Wharf Tavern, 215 Water St., Warren. Call 245-5043. 8 p.m. to midnight.

Battery plays a tribute to Metallica, and other bands include Projekt 13 and Lourds, playing rock at J.R.'s Bourbon Street Rock House, Mardi Gras Multi Club and Johnny Bahama's Complex, 1500 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston. Call 463-3080. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Sunday at 3 p.m. Janie Hendrix, the half-sister of the late rock icon Jimi Hendrix and president of the company that promotes Hendrix's music and legacy, is scheduled to be at Border's Books at the Providence Place Mall. She will speak about the new book Jimi Hendrix: The Illustrated Experience, which she co-authored, and do a book signing, according to the official Hendrix Web site.

That's not the end of it for Hendrix fans. On Sunday, Experience Hendrix -- a tour by a host of blues and rock luminaries -- is coming to the Providence Performing Arts Center to cover Hendrix songs and perform blues numbers.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at PPAC.
Among those playing on the tribute are Mitch Mitchell, who was the drummer in the original Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Billy Cox, the bassist who backed Hendrix at Woodstock and during the Experience's final tour in 1970.

Also on the bill is bluesman Buddy Guy -- aficionados know that Hendrix was once spotted in the audience of a Buddy Guy show in the late '60s.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Monterey Pop Festival in California, where Hendrix, a Seattle native who first become a star in London during the '60s, exploded onto the American rock scene. It was at Monterey that his setting his guitar afire became well known.

His Woodstock, N.Y., performance, including his reading of the Star-Spangled Banner, in August 1969 is perhaps his best known performance.

Hendrix died in September 1970 in London at age 27.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment

AG office: Woman admits to leading large drug ring

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence woman has admitted to leading what authorities called the city's largest street-level drug trafficking ring -- whose members were welfare recipients allegedly driving around in such distinguished marques as a Porsche Cayenne, a BMW 745i and a Lincoln Navigator, according to a news release from the Attorney General's Office.

Joanna Gonzalez, 28, of 49 Anchor St., admitted to leading what authorities called "Operation Rosa," and is scheduled to be sentenced in Superior Court on Nov. 16, according to the news release. The police have said Gonzalez was allegedly a pregnant mother who drove a Porsche SUV while on welfare.

Gonzalez waived indictment in Superior Court on Sept. 12 and pleaded no contest to four counts before Judge Susan E. McGuirl. Gonzalez pleaded to one count of RICO, one count of conspiracy to commit RICO, one count of possession of one ounce to one kilogram of cocaine, and one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to deliver.

Gonzalez has been held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions, in Cranston, since her arrest.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Two others involved in the ring were sentenced by McGuirl today.

Tania Rivera, 28, pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to commit RICO and one count of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, and got identical concurrent sentences for each charge: 10 years, with 3½ to serve at the Adult Correctional Institutions and 6 ½ suspended with probation. Rivera, who has been held at the ACI since Sept. 4, listed an address of 49 Anchor St. in Providence.

Xiomara Guitard, 24, who lists the same Anchor Street address, pleaded no contest to two counts of conspiracy to deliver cocaine. Judge McGuirl sentenced her to 10 years, with 1 year to serve and 9 years suspended with probation, with the sentences to be served concurrently, but consecutive to another 1-year term that Guitard is now serving.

“A drug dealing operation of this magnitude -- which provided its ringleader and major operators with the means to lead lavish lifestyles -- put an enormous amount of illegal drugs on the streets of our capital city,” Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said in the statement. “Through solid investigative work, cooperation, and collaboration, the family at the heart of this enterprise, plus many employed in various aspects of this large illegal ring, are off the streets and out of business. With next month’s sentencing of Operation Rosa’s leader, Joanna Gonzalez, this criminal family venture will be finished.”

Last month, Joanna Gonzalez’s mother and sister -- whom prosecutors said were part of the drug-dealing organization -- waived indictment, entered no-contest pleas, and were sentenced.

Evelyn Gonzalez, 26, of 135 Terrace Ave., Cranston was sentenced to 15 years, with 6 years to serve at the ACI and 9 years suspended with probation on one count of delivery of cocaine. She was identified as the ringleader’s sister and pleaded no contest to one count of RICO, one count of conspiracy to commit RICO, one count of delivery of cocaine, and one count of unlawfully conspiring, with Joanna Gonzalez, to violate the Rhode Island Uniform Controlled Substance Act by delivering cocaine.

Evelyn Carabello, 46, of 102 Berkshire St., Providence, the mother of Joanna and Evelyn Gonzalez, pleaded no contest to one count of RICO and one count of conspiracy to commit RICO. She was sentenced to 10 years, with 6 months to serve at the ACI, 1 year of home confinement, and 8½ years suspended with probation on each count, to be served concurrently.

Carabello was remanded to the ACI where she had been held without bail since a July arrest.

Michael Taylor, 22, of 9 Anchor St., Providence -- identified as Joanna Gonzalez’s boyfriend -- waived indictment and pleaded no contest to three counts stemming from Operation Rosa before Judge McGuirl in on Sept. 14, plus three counts from two earlier 2007 cases.

For the Operation Rosa, Taylor pleaded no contest to one count of RICO, one count of possessing one ounce to one kilogram of cocaine, and one count of conspiring, with Joanna Gonzalez, to violate the state Uniform Controlled Substance Act by possessing cocaine with the intent to deliver.

Taylor was sentenced to 15 years, with 6 years to serve at the ACI and 9 years suspended with probation on each of the cocaine-related charges and to 10 years, with 6 years to serve at the ACI and 4 years suspended with probation on the RICO count. All sentences are to be served concurrently and are concurrent to 2 additional counts of delivering cocaine and one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to deliver that were included in the plea agreement.

Joanna Gonzalez, Evelyn Gonzalez, Evelyn Carabello, and Michael Taylor could face additional charges from allegations of welfare and Social Security fraud, which are currently under investigation, the attorney general's office said.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:50 PM | Comment

Cranston kids are getting a Sox surprise right now

Here's how a lot of us would like to end today.

Dunkin' Donuts is at this hour surprising Cranston Western Little League players and coaches with tickets to tomorrow night's crucial American League Championship Series game six of the Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians.

The 5 p.m. surprise is happening at the Dunkin' Donuts at 1288 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston.

The Cranston team won the Rhode Island Little League title in August.

The Sox, having fought their way back into the series with a 7-to-1 win last night in Cleveland, return to Boston today. Cleveland leads the best-of-seven series, 3 games to 2.

The players and coaches will get to sit in the Dunkin' Dugout, a seating area where the company hosts abut 20 people from community groups during the season.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:00 PM | Comment

'Everything begins and ends' the night she died

Journal photo / Steve Szydlowski
John Raposa of Warren, whose daughter Kayleigh died in an auto accident, speaks at a conference on substance abuse among teens.

WARWICK -- At least once a day John and Christine Raposa check their daughter Kayleigh’s computer. Eight months have passed since the 16-year-old high school junior was killed while riding in a car driven by a drunken driver, but she still gets instant messages from her friends.

Some write about their days, the classes they would have shared with her at Mt. Hope High School, in Bristol, or the sports they would have played together. Some send messages telling her about seeing the number 21 or 57, numbers Kayleigh wore playing for Mt. Hope’s basketball team and the a youth soccer team in her hometown Warren.

And some simply say, “I love you,” or “I miss you.”

“Obviously,” John Raposa said today, “she’s still with us.”

Raposa spoke at a conference on teen substance abuse hosted by Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. and Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch.

The conference, “Substance Abuse Among Teens: Connecting the Dots,” drew 450 people to the Crowne Plaza hotel in Warwick to hear strategies to prevent drinking and drug use by adolescents. The participants included police officers, state legislators, teachers and students.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse stopped by, as did Col. Brendan P. Doherty, superintendent of the state police.

Raposa was invited to tell the audience how his family has been affected by a drunken driving accident. He came with his wife, his parents and his mother-in-law. Christine Raposa wore a button with a photograph of Kayleigh on the front. Her husband wore a wristband that said, “Kayleigh. Your’re Irreplaceable.”

Raposa fought back tears as he talked about the accident.

“Everything begins and ends with what happened on February 23rd,” he said.

That night, Raposa and her friend 17-year-old Julie E. Alfano were at a party in Bristol. Witnesses said Alfano was drinking shots of Bacardi and Gatorade before leaving to give Kayleigh a ride home.

A police investigation showed Alfano was driving her father’s Mazda at least 55 mph in a 25 mph zone when she lost control at 11:25 p.m. and smashed into a utility pole at Michael and Casey drives.

Alfano survived with minor injuries. Raposa was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

-- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:35 PM | Comment

Contractor, wife, sentenced in tax evasion case

A North Smithfield-based construction contractor and his wife were sentenced in federal court to three years' probation, six months of it home confinement, for failing to report $266,861 in income over three years.

Robert Portman and wife Candy Portman were also ordered by Judge Mary M. Lisi to pay all outstanding taxes, according to a news release today from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office.

The Portmans pleaded guilty to tax evasion in July. Prosecutor Andrew J. Reich said at plea hearings that the government could prove that for tax years 2000 through 2002 Robert Portman failed to report all business receipts of his firm, Reliable Builders.

Portman asked many customers to pay with checks made out to him personally rather than to the business, the U.S. Attorney's office said, then he deposited the checks into a personal account rather than the business account.

Candy Portman maintained the company's books.

The U.S. Attorney's office said the couple failed to report $42,239 of income in 2000, $82,237 in 2001 and $142,385 in 2002. The government's net tax loss was $74,721.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:47 PM | Comment

Report: No. of R.I. priests accused of sex abuse doubles

The Diocese of Providence has admitted that more than twice as many priests as originally reported have been accused of sexual misconduct against children in the last 35 years, according to a national group that tracks such cases.
Write body
The Diocese of Providence has admitted that more than twice as many priests as originally reported have been accused of sexual misconduct against children in the last 35 years, according to a national group that tracks such cases.
The revelation, said the group BishopAccountability.org, came in a case filed by one alleged victim. In a January document explaining why it couldn’t produce all the records asked for, the church said the request was “unduly burdensome’’ because since 1971 it had heard allegations against 125 priests, said the group.
According to Anne Doyle, codirector of the group, the church had previously said it had heard allegations against 56 priests since 1950.
The finding, said Doyle, establishes that the Diocese of Providence is “among the worst U.S. dioceses for clergy sexual abuse allegations.’’
The group called on the state’s top prosecutors, state Attorney General Patrick Lynch and U.S. District Attorney Robert Corrente to investigate the diocese.
A spokesman for the diocese could not be immediately reached.
Lynch said in a statement that over the years he has never found the diocese to provide information that was “inaccurate or untrue… If however, through the information release today by BishopAccountability.org, we find that the diocese has withheld names and/or has not been fully candid … this will be very troubling news.’’

-- Tom Mooney, Journal staff writer

Posted by Karen Bordeleau at 3:27 PM | Comment

Martineau's change of plea slated for Nov. 2

PROVIDENCE -- Former House Majority Leader Gerard M. Martineau is scheduled to make his plea change to guilty on corruption charges on Nov. 2, U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office said today.

Martineau's change of plea, which is expected under a signed plea agreement, is slated for 2 p.m that Friday before Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi, a news release said.

Martineau on Oct. 12 appeared before Magistrate Judge David L. Martin, waiving indictment and agreeing to be charged by criminal information. Martineau pleaded not guilty during that court appearance.

His expected upcoming plea change before a U.S. District Court judge is for two felony counts of honest-services mail fraud. Martineau acknowledged in the plea agreement that he sold his office to the CVS drugstore chain and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island in return for $900,000 worth of contracts to sell paper and plastic bags to the companies.

A 30-page criminal information said that Martineau was paid $175,500 by Blue Cross for 10 million paper bags, but fewer than 2 million were delivered. Martineau also got $715,000 in commissions from 1999 to 2002 for selling paper and plastic bags to CVS. He admitted that, in return, he influenced the fates of health-care legislation.

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

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:47 PM | Comment

Pawtucket to induct 2 into Hall of Fame

The late Rev. Aaron F. Usher Jr., civil-rights activist, Yale graduate, former dairy farmer and world traveler, will be inducted into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame today.

Usher’s work in the 1960s with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. set him on a path to a lifetime of service, which took him to, among other places, east Africa and Moscow to work with politically disenfranchised people.

Usher, who was 73 when he died in 2004, served as chaplain at the Pawtucket Fire Department for nearly 35 years.

He is being inducted into the Hall of Fame along with former School Committee Chairman J. William Busald, an active member in the local community.

The two men will be honored at a dinner tonight at 7.

Busald served on the School Committee for 12 years and was the recipient of the Pawtucket Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force this year.

In 2005, before he left the School Committee, Busald negotiated the deal that enabled the School Department to move offices and several education programs into the former Registry of Motor Vehicles building.

The deal was controversial. For years, the City Council balked at authorizing the bonds needed to finance it.

Kenneth R. McGill, the chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee, said the committee doesn’t avoid controversial people and that the controversy wasn’t a factor in its decision to induct Busald into the Hall of Fame.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:45 PM | Comment

Asst. U.S. Attorney honored for appeals work

The chief appeals lawyer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island today received an award from the Executive Office of United States Attorneys.

Donald C. “Skip” Lockhart, who has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Rhode Island for nine years, was recognized for cases he has argued before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, including the racketeering conspiracy case against former Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. and the bribery conspiracy case against former Lincoln Park executives Nigel Potter and Daniel Bucci.

“Mr. Lockhart is an essential contributor to the District of Rhode Island’s recent success in the prosecution of significant and complex cases,” U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente said. “He is a prolific and accomplished writer, and a seasoned advocate before the First Circuit. It is not unusual for Mr. Lockhart to write briefs for more than 40 appeals a year, and in the process, develop favorable legal precedent that furthers law enforcement’s efforts.”

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Lockhart, 42, of Needham, Mass., received the award at 10 a.m. during the 24th annual director’s awards ceremony yesterday in Washington, D.C. In all, 132 prosecutors and litigation support personnel were recognized by the Executive Office of United States Attorneys.

In United States v. Cianci, the 1st Circuit upheld the racketeering conspiracy conviction and affirmed the convictions of two co-defendants. The court accepted the government’s argument that municipal entities may be part of an “associated-in-fact enterprise” for purposes of violations under the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

In United States v. Potter, the 1st Circuit upheld the mail fraud convictions of former Lincoln Park executives who schemed to pay $4 million in bribes for former House Speaker John B. Harwood. No bribes were paid, but the court held that the conspiracy was intended to sway Harwood to use his power to help Lincoln Park and that their conduct was within the scope of honest services mail fraud.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:39 PM | Comment

Boyfriend defends false statements in mom's murder trial

WARWICK -- In his opening statements Tuesday, defense attorney Kevin Bristow told a jury that Daniel Fusco, Kimberly Mawson’s former boyfriend, killed her 19-month-old baby.

Bristow also remarked that Fusco had told different stories to the police, DCYF workers and state officials during the investigation.

At Kent County Superior Court today, where Mawson stands trial for murder, Fusco told jurors that he had initially lied to the police about who was at his house the day before his girlfriend’s 19-month-old daughter was fatally injured because he was selling marijuana.

He has since made a deal with the Attorney General’s office, he said, and was promised he wouldn’t be prosecuted for the drug charges if he cooperated with the investigation.

Fusco also said that a few days after Jade died, someone had advised him to take notes of everything that happened to him. He referred to those notes during questioning, recalling, he said, that months after the baby’s death, Mawson appeared to be overly distraught.

“It didn’t seem natural."

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports form Journal staff writer Talia Buford

In his second day of testimony, Fusco said soon after Jade died, Mawson suggested he get another girlfriend, because she was considering killing herself.

They broke up for a few months, but later moved in together in Johnston. During this time, the police continued to investigate the girl's death.

Fusco returned to the stand after a break for cross examination.

“I was exhausted,” Fusco told the jury. “Mentally and physically exhausted; I just wanted to forget that that ever happened.”

Fusco, who has a short criminal history of misdemeanors in several New England states, said he had seen injuries on the baby before she died. He said he eventually broke up with Mawson because “I had a lot of anxiety.”

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:14 PM | Comment

Judge awards compensation to injured illegal immigrant

Journal photo/ Bill Murphy Velasquez

PROVIDENCE -- A judge today awarded workers’ compensation to Edgar Velasquez, a Mexican illegal immigrant who slashed his face to the bone with a chainsaw last year while working for a Warwick Tree Service.

Workers Compensation Judge Bruce Q. Morin entered his order at pretrial that William J. Gorman Jr., owner of Billy G’s Tree Care, pay Velasquez two weeks’ salary and thousands of dollars in medical costs. The case is now expected to move to trial. Velasquez’s lawyer, Stephen J. Dennis, said he will seek more compensation for Velasquez, who will require further surgery on his eye.

“We won. This is huge. I know of no other jurisdiction,” he said, where someone has won such a case. Dennis noted however, that the case is not over yet.

Judge Morin said it was clear “that a horrific incident occurred” on March 31, 2006, and ordered Gorman to pay an average weekly wage of $400 a week, plus all of Velasquez’s medical bills for hospitalization, surgery and continued medical care.

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:25 PM | Comment

Caretaker pleads not guilty to murder

A woman accused of killing a man she had been cooking and cleaning for pleaded not guilty at her arraignment this morning in Superior Court, Warwick.

No bail was issued for Heather M. Catterall, who was remanded to the Adult Correctional Institutions, where she’s been held since her arrest in July.

Prosecutors say Catterall smothered 76-year-old Albert Dubois, stole cash, and forged checks from his account. He had let her live with him in exchange for her cleaning his home and cooking.

Catterall is facing a murder charge along with one larceny and two forgery charges. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for early December.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:01 PM | Comment

Ex: Defendant discussed marriage for immunity

At one point after the death of Kimberly Mawson's daughter, Mawson and Daniel R. Fusco talked about getting married, because if they were married, Fusco told a jury this morning, the two couldn’t testify against each other.

The two broke up shortly after the 19-month-old died.

Mawson is now on trial in Superior Court, Warwick, for the 2002 death of her daughter, Jade.

In his second day of testimony, Fusco said soon after Jade died, Mawson suggested he get another girlfriend, because she was considering killing herself.

They broke up for a few months, but later moved in together in Johnston. During this time, the police continued to investigate the girl's death.

“I was exhausted,” Fusco told the jury. “Mentally and physically exhausted; I just wanted to forget that that ever happened.”

He’s preparing to take the stand for cross examination by the defense attorney Kevin Bristow, who said in opening statements Tuesday that Fusco killed Jade.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:00 PM | Comment

R.I. gets $8.3 million from feds for drug treatment

A White House deputy "drug czar" today is announcing at a Warwick conference $8.3 million the state will use over several years to provide vouchers to people seeking drug treatment and recovery.

Dr. Bertha K. Madras, deputy director for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, is keynoter speaker at a conference where residents affected by teenage drug and alcohol abuse talk about the problems surrounding it.

Called an Access to Recovery grant, Rhode Island's will total about $8.3 million over the next three years. The grant is awarded to the governor’s Office in collaboration with the state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals’ Division of Behavioral Healthcare.

The federal money will target people recently released from the Adult Correctional Institutions, the state Training School for Youth, and parents/guardians involved with Department of Children, Youth and Families.

The grant aims to individualize substance-abuse treatment and recovery care, a news release said. It allows faith-based and organizations and providers to help those Rhode Islanders in need.

“Rhode Island is on the forefront of substance abuse prevention and recovery,” Dr. Madras said in a statement. “By implementing an ATR program, Rhode Island can get help to those who need it most -- through an individually-structured and organized treatment and recovery regimen -- and help more Rhode Islanders achieve and maintain recovery from addiction.”

“Substance Abuse Among Teens: Connecting the Dots” began this morning at 8:30. Attorney General Patrick Lynch and Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah, Jr., are hosting the event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

John Raposa, whose daughter was killed in a car crash, will also speak to the sold-out crowd of 450.

-- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandie Jefferson

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:55 AM | Comment

Conference tackles problem of teen drug abuse

City, state, and federal government officials and advocates are joining residents today whose lives have been affected by teenage drug and alcohol abuse to discuss ways to address the issues surrounding teenage drug and alcohol abuse.

The deputy director of demand reduction in the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Bertha Madras, is the keynote speaker.

John Raposa, whose daughter was killed in a car crash, will also speak to the sold-out crowd of 450.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:43 AM | Comment

Caregiver to be arraigned for murder today

A 28-year-old woman charged with killing the 76-year-old man who she cooked and cleaned for is set to be arraigned today in Superior Court, Warwick.

Heather M. Catterall was indicted Aug. 3, more than two months after prosecutors say she smothered Albert Dubois with a garbage bag, stole cash and, a day or two later, forged two checks from his account.

Dubois’ stepson said Catterall had been living in Dubois’ house in exchange for her services cooking and cleaning.

Catterall is facing a murder charge along with one larceny and two forgery counts.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:48 AM | Comment

Former boyfriend to retake the stand this morning

Daniel R. Fusco told a jury that his former girlfriend told him not to call 9-1-1 after her baby daughter collapsed. Two days later, 19-month-old Jade Mawson was pronounced brain-dead.

Fusco is scheduled to take the witness stand again this morning in Superior Court, Warwick, where Jade’s mother, Kimberly A. Mawson, faces a second-degree murder charge for the 2002 death of her daughter.

Fusco did call 9-1-1, however, and jurors heard the recording, as well as a voicemail message Mawson left for Fusco in court yesterday. Judge Edwin J. Gale instructed jurors not to evaluate the tape for truthfulness, but to establish there was a 9-1-1 call made.

In opening statements, Mawson's lawyer said Fusco murdered the baby, citing his conflicting reports to detectives and officials from the state Department of Children, Youth and Families following the incident.

The trial is scheduled to resume at 10:00 a.m.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:46 AM | Comment

Reform-minded Catholic group gathers in Providence

PROVIDENCE -- A reformed-minded Catholic group that was spawned by the priest sex-abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Boston five years ago is holding its third national convention starting today at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Voice of the Faithful's convention should draw 500 to 700 participants, according to the group's president, Mary Pat Fox. The convention will include more than 30 workshops and talks by such luminaries as the Rev. Richard McBrien, a theologian at the University of Notre Dame.

The group is banned from holding meetings in certain places, such as Catholic parishes in the Fall River Diocese, but Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin has written a letter extending his greetings to the group.

Sentencing postponed for doctor in steroid case

PROVIDENCE -- A federal judge delays sentencing for a New York doctor who's pleaded guilty to writing medically unnecessary prescriptions for steroids and human growth hormone.

Victor Mariani had been scheduled for sentencing today in U.S. District Court.

But a judge has granted a request from federal prosecutors to postpone the sentencing until November 2.

That is the scheduled sentencing date for two other defendants -- Ana Maria Santi and Daniel McGlone -- who have been charged in the case and have also pleaded guilty.

McGlone, a New Jersey businessman, has admitted paying Mariani and Santi, a former doctor, to write steroid prescriptions for clients they had never met or diagnosed.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:19 AM | Comment

Magnitude 2.5 quake overnight in Massachusetts

LITTLETON, Mass. -- The U.S. Geological Survey reports a small earthquake rattled some communities west of Boston.

The epicenter of the 2.5 magnitude quake was about one mile from Littleton Common and about five miles from Ayer. It was felt at 1:23 a.m. today.

There were no reports of any damage.

Littleton police dispatcher Sam Welch said the department received a number of phone calls from people who heard or felt the temblor and were wondering what it was. But he said there were no reports of any problems associated with it.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Periods of rain today, but better over the weekend

It's not as bad as it looks.

Yes, there's rain now, and more forecast for this afternoon when the high temperature should reach 73 degrees.

No, there won't be much sun

Yes, there's more rain coming overnight, when the temperature should drop to the mid 60s. .

But tomorrow looks rain-free after possible drizzle in the early morning. The sun is not scheduled to make an appearance, but the temperature should hold in the mid 70s.

Saturday night is looking partly cloudy with a low temperature of about 50 degrees.

And then, Sunday, finally: sun. The National Weather Service is forecasting clear skies and temperatures in the mid 70s and an overnight low around 50.

More sun expected Monday morning and more warm weather, with an expected high in the mid 70s.

To check weather updates throughout the weekend, visit projo.com's weather page.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a photograph of Red Sox' starter Josh Beckett, who led the team to victory last night, keeping the Sox alive in the ALCS against Cleveland.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment