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« January 30, 2008 | Today | February 1, 2008 » January 31, 2008AG brief asserts CRMC's makeup is unconstitutionalPROVIDENCE -- Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch announced this evening that he filed a state Supreme Court brief today asserting that the Coastal Resource Management Council's provisions for appointing members is unconstitutional. Lynch said the appointment provisions violate the Separation of Powers constitutional amendment approved by Rhode Island voters on Nov. 2, 2004. The General Assembly is seeking the high court's opinion on whether the CRMC is subject to the Separation of Powers amendment, and today was the deadline for most interested parties to file briefs. According to Michael Healey, spokesman for Lynch, the House of Representatives was granted more time to file its brief. “Under the Separation of Powers amendment, the governor is given appointment powers of an executive agency of the state, with all appointees subject to the Senate’s consent,” Lynch said in the statement. “Four of the governor’s appointments to the CRMC -- an executive agency -- don’t require Senate approval. When coupled with the fact that the act allows members of the House and Senate to sit as members of the CRMC and allows appointments of public members by the speaker of the house, the act clearly violates the Rhode Island Constitution and is in opposition to the express will of Rhode Island voters." The Coastal Resources Management Council, an independent regulatory agency, was established in 1971, well before the passage of the act. The question of CRMC's makeup and the application of the Separation of Powers Act was debated in the last Assembly session, in which the House in its final moments approved asking the state Supreme Court for a ruling. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:03 PM | Comment Photo: This duo takes 'Go Red' day to heart
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:54 PM | Comment Conn. man serious after mini-van falls off Foster bridgeFOSTER -- A 54-year-old Connecticut man was in serious condition this afternoon suffering from hypothermia and possibly some broken bones after his mini-van fell off a bridge and plunged into Moosup River last night. Police said today they were notified by a neighbor along Moosup Valley Road who heard a man’s cries for help coming from the river. Police, fire, and rescue officials arrived at the scene at about 6:45 p.m. and found the vehicle, a Plymouth mini-van, submerged in the river. The driver, Gregory Gunderson, of Danielson, was apparently outside his vehicle but still in the water and conscious. Gunderson was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with hypothermia and other injuries. He was listed in serious condition this afternoon. Lt. Robert Bolger said the accident is still under investigation because police have not had the chance to question Gunderson. Bolger said it is clear that Gunderson was traveling westbound over a bridge on Moosup Valley Road when his vehicle slammed into a guardrail and fell 15 feet into the river. -- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo The mini-van landed, right side up, about 50 feet from the river bank, in a part of the river that was about four feet deep. The vehicle was damaged extensively on its front and sides, said Bolger. Police estimated that Gunderson’s vehicle was submerged in the water for about half an hour before rescue personnel arrived. By then, the water had reached window-level outside of the car, said Bolger. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:40 PM | Comment Providence man held in Cranston bank robberyCRANSTON -- A Providence man has been accused of robbing the Domestic Bank at 815 Reservoir Ave. this morning. Alberto J. Reyes, 28, of 26 Benedict St. was being held pending arraignment on the first-degree robbery charge. A police news release said a male went into the bank branch at about 8:45 a.m., showed a silver gun to the teller and demanded money. After getting an undetermined amount of money, the male left the bank and headed north through the surrounding residential area. A bank employee followed the male through the neigborhood and told police in what direction he was heading. Shortly after, Cranston officer Shane O'Donnell located the suspect hiding in the neighborhood. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:21 PM | Comment Providence man to take his chances on 'Pros v. Joes'A Providence man is scheduled to be on tonight's episode of "Pros vs. Joes" on Spike, Cox Channel 26. Robert Foster, 32, is slated to appear on the show, which airs at 11 p.m, according to a news release from Cox Communications. The show has 64 amateur athletes from around the nation competing against professional athletes to try to win $100,000. Foster was selected during a casting call, according to a Cox news release, and he will compete against National Football League running back Ricky Williams, boxer Arturo Gatti and former NBA star Charles Oakley. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:06 PM | Comment Update: Ex-CVS execs want bribery charge droppedPROVIDENCE -- Lawyers for two former CVS executives asked a federal judge today to force prosecutors to turn over FBI notes of its interviews with former state Sen. John Celona, who they are accused of paying off, and asked the judge to dismiss a bribery charge. John R. "Jack" Kramer, former CVS senior vice president for corporate affairs and government relations, and Carlos Ortiz, former vice president of government affairs, are charged with one count each of conspiracy and bribery and 21 counts each of fraud for contracting with Celona. Celona, who resigned from the General Assembly in 2004 amid questions about his business dealings with CVS, pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud charges in 2005 for his relationships with CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Roger Williams Medical Center. Woonsocket-based CVS Caremark Corp., the nation's largest drugstore chain, has not been charged and has said it is cooperating with the probe. Kramer and Ortiz have been on unpaid leaves of absence from CVS since 2004. The bribery charge in the January 2007 indictment accuses Ortiz and Kramer of giving Celona gifts between 1999 and 2003 as a way to influence Celona "in connection with legislation of interest to CVS." The charge doesn't specify particular bills, but refers to other parts of the indictment that discuss specific legislation. While prosecutors argue that other parts of the indictment were specific enough to address the concern, Scott Corrigan, a lawyer for Kramer, said the language amounted to a "moving target." -- The Associated Press "We're talking about five legislative sessions," Corrigan said. "During each of those sessions, hundreds of bills were introduced." U.S. District Judge Mary Lisi appeared concerned. "'Legislation related to CVS doesn't tell you a whole heck of a lot," Lisi said. Celona was the star witness in an earlier trial involving executives for Roger Williams, and admitted at trial that he lied to the FBI a number of times. Because he is expected to be a key witness in any trial of Kramer and Ortiz, the defense is keenly interested in any instances when Celona lied because it could help cast doubt on his credibility on the stand. While the defense team was given a summary report of nine separate interviews the FBI conducted with Celona between Sept. 1 and Nov. 17, 2004, as well as excerpts of some of those notes, it argues that other documents show Celona changed his story several times during that period. David Fein, a lawyer for Kramer, told Lisi that the defense wanted the complete notes of those interviews. He said they could include instances where Celona told different versions of the same story, or additional information that could be helpful and was not included in the summary notes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard Sullivan told Lisi that prosecutors in the Roger Williams case had carefully gone through the documents' discrepancies, and those notes were turned over to the defense. Lisi said she would issue a written ruling at a later date. Earlier this month, the convictions of two former top Roger Williams Medical center executives, Robert Urciuoli and Frances Driscoll for allegedly paying Celona to press the hospital's legislative agenda at the State House, were overturned on appeal. The U.S. Attorney's Office said it will retry the case. Today, Woonsocket-based CVS Caremark Corp. reported that fourth quarter profits were $815 million, or 55 cents a share, almost double the $417.2 million, or 49 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Last year, CVS completed a $27 billion purchase of Caremark RX to gain the second largest U.S. drug benefits manager. CVS and the Caremark division also benefited from demand for generic drugs. -- With Journal and projo.com reports
Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:51 PM | Comment Testimony: Oster told to minimize relationship with PicernoPROVIDENCE -- Testimony in the bribery and conspiracy trial of ex-Lincoln Town Administrator Jonathan F. Oster this afternoon included concern about former Lincoln Planning Board member Robert R. Picerno's behavior in Lincoln Town Hall and his closeness with Oster. Leon A. "Lee" Blais, who was Oster's public works director and assistant town administrator for a time, said he had advised Oster to tell Picerno to stay out of areas of Town Hall that were not open to the public and to minimize his relationship with Picerno. Blais testified that after those conversations with Oster, Picerno would seem to disappear from town hall for a while then come back. Blais also testified that Oster told him that Picerno had raised a lot of campaign money for Oster. He said Oster was concerned that if he broke with Picerno completely, Picerno would turn the Italian-American population in town against him in the next election.
Blais also testified that earlier in Oster's administration, Blais became concerned about what's known as the H&H Screw property on Route 116 in Lincoln. Blais said he'd been told about it by an official from a foundation that was developing industrial parks -- and that the foundation had identified the property as a potentially problematic site. The state's case in Providence County Superior Court contends that Picerno was Oster's partner in a bribery scheme centered around the Route 116 land. Picerno pleaded no contest in 2004 to four counts of taking -- or trying to solicit -- bribes, and three counts of conspiracy to solicit bribes. In the first days of trial, the prosecution has tried to show that Oster and Picerno had a relationship in which Picerno had access to Oster's office and got unusual treatment from the town in relation to property taxes. Blais said in court today he did more research and was surprised to find that in the 1990s the town appeared to have taken control of the site and that a company, Banneker, had occupied the site for several years. Blais said he told Oster of his research into the site and that Oster told him to continue looking into it. Blais said he was considering trying to get a private development foundation to develop the property. He said Oster told him that was generally a good idea, but Oster mentioned he had a potential buyer interested in the site. That buyer was Lincoln car dealer Robert Campellone -- one of the men Oster is accused of soliciting bribes from in exchange for letting him buy the H&H Screw property. In his afternoon testimony, Blais, a prosecution witness, did the defense a favor. One of O’Brien’s themes in his opening statement was that the land Oster is accused of seeking bribes to sell was not worth a lot, and therefore any offer the town got would be worth taking. Blais testified that one of his concerns about the H&H Screw property was that it had an undetermined amount of industrial pollution on it and that he had seen a state Department of Environmental Management report that estimated the cleanup could cost as much as $2 million. On cross examination, O’Brien got Blais to theorize that with $600,000 in taxes owed the town on the land and with $2 million in cleanup costs, the land could be seen as having a negative value.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:20 PM | Comment April 22 election set to fill late Sen. Badeau's seatPROVIDENCE -- The special election to fill the seat of the late state Sen. Roger Badeau, a Democrat who represented Woonsocket and Cumberland, is set for April 22. A primary will be held March 18, if needed, Secretary of State Ralph A. Mollis announced today. “Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and all the people of his district. He represented them well over the years,” Mollis said in the statement. “Making it easier to vote is our priority. We selected a date that met the letter of the law as well as encouraged the highest voter turnout possible.” Badeau died last week with most of the final year of his term left to serve, which the Secretary of State's Office said triggers law allowing the secretary of state to set a speical election. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:06 PM | Comment The Paragon leaving Westerly, laying off 119
The Paragon, a Westerly mail-order firm that has operated since 1972, is closing its complex in the town and laying off its 119 employees there. Cheryl Rinfret, a company spokeswoman, confirmed in an interview with The Providence Journal that the warehouse and call center will be shuttered on March 31. The work performed in Rhode Island will be handled in a building in West Virginia owned by The Paragon's parent company, the AB&C Group, Rinfret said. "They have the same thing in West Virginia," Rinfret said. "It's duplicated right now." The Paragon has not determined what, if any, severance package its employees may receive, Rinfret said. The company sells a variety of gift products, such as jewelry, rugs and clocks. For more business-related news, visit the Biz Blog at projo.com/business. Posted by Benjamin N. Gedan at 3:56 PM | Comment 8 school districts fail to meet new graduation standardsPROVIDENCE -- Eight districts and a state-run school still fail to meet the state’s more rigorous high school graduation requirements that go into effect for this year’s senior class, the state Department of Education announced this week. Letters went out Tuesday notifying school officials that they did not receive approval for the new diploma system. Failure will not affect the districts’ or the school’s ability to confer diplomas for the next few years. Districts have been given a grace period until 2012 to come into compliance with the state’s new regulations governing high school diplomas. However, failure to receive preliminary approval from the state indicates that a quarter of Rhode Island’s school districts -- 8 of the 32 -- are lagging in their efforts to adapt to the more challenging graduation system. In addition to completing 20 courses and taking the state standardized tests in 11th grade, the new diploma system requires that students show they have mastered key concepts and skills through a combination of portfolios, senior projects and end-of-course exams. Eight districts -- Burrillville, Cranston, Cumberland, Exeter-West Greenwich, North Smithfield, Providence, Tiverton and Woonsocket -- and the Rhode Island School for the Deaf were informed that the state Department of Education had “withheld preliminary approval” of their graduation requirement plans. In every case, the problem was the districts’ failure to “align” coursework and student projects to grade-level expectations established by the state, said Roy M. Seitsinger Jr., director of secondary school reform. “The major issue was lack of alignment with the expectations, and then also issues of access and opportunity -- that means, did districts do enough in terms of scheduling and curriculum to ensure that all students had access to classes that are aligned with the system?” Seitsinger said. Adapting to the more rigorous standards has proven a particular challenge to districts that have not had a consistent, high-quality curriculum in place. In some high schools, such as the state-run School for the Deaf, individual classroom teachers decide what is taught, so aligning each course to state standards is difficult and time consuming. Providence, the state’s largest school system, has no consistent high school curriculum, and many schools even use different textbooks for similar courses. Exeter-West Greenwich High School, classified as high performing for the past three years, does have a curriculum, said Principal Denise Boule. Teachers there began phasing in senior projects in 2002 -- a year before the Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education announced they would be required of all schools within five years, Boule said. “We have really tried to embrace the diploma system because many of us firmly believe in students demonstrating their proficiency in multiple ways, and my staff has worked very hard,” Boule said. “We have spent four years on this, but people have to realize this … changes the way you look at student work and assess it. You are not just having students pass one test and from that assume they have the knowledge. You are asking them to take part in multiple assessments.” The high school’s obstacle to approval, Boule said, is that the Department of Education wants it to more closely align end-of-course exams to state standards. They are doing so and hope to be approved in late April. Peter McWalters, state commissioner of education, said he will approve the districts and School for the Deaf as soon as they can demonstrate they have complied. In addition to information about portfolios, senior projects and end-of-course exams, districts must submit documentation that they are providing adequate support so students and teachers can adapt to the new system, and that they have communicated clearly with their communities about the graduation requirements, through meetings and newsletters. Districts have known the changes were coming since January 2003, when the Regents approved the new diploma system. The state Education Department began providing free training to hundreds of teachers and administrators three years ago, and asked districts to periodically submit updates on their progress in complying with the new regulations. By last summer, the department knew some districts were lagging and would struggle to comply by the December deadline. Some school districts, officials said, were better equipped to adapt to the new requirements, while others suffered from a lack of personnel or resources to start the time-consuming, difficult work. Other districts struggled with poor access to computers and the technical expertise needed to develop portfolios and senior projects, which has delayed their progress. For the moment, there are no penalties for districts that fall behind. Education officials say they will work closely with districts over the next two years to ensure the new diploma system is in place and is rigorous. In 2010, districts that have complied with the new regulations will be allowed to confer “Regents approved” diplomas; districts not in compliance will be able to still give out their present diplomas. By 2012, districts will only be allowed to award Regents diplomas; those not in compliance will not be allowed to grant any type of diploma. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:45 PM | Comment One dead, 6 households affected in 4 fires across R.I.
A 42-year-old man died and his mother was injured after fire broke out around 6 a.m. at a house on Peck Avenue, according to the East Providence Fire Department. East Providence Fire Chief Joseph J. Klucznik identified the dead man as James Marinelli. Marinelli's mother, Theresa Marinelli, was rescued by firefighters through a second-story window of the home at 39 Peck Ave., the fire department said. She was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with burns on her hands and smoke inhalation. Nadine Dwyer, 41, lives down the street from the Marinelli's. She said she used to shovel the Marinellis' driveway in the winter. Dwyer said she was awake early this morning when the fire started. "The whole sky filled with black smoke," she said from her front stoop today. "It smelled really bad, too. You could see smoke coming out of the roof."
A call came in at about 11:45 p.m. from 19 Kings Factory Road reporting a chimney fire, according to a statement from the Charlestown police. When Charlestown rescue arrived, they reported “extremely heavy” smoke on the first floor and flames reaching the second floor. The house’s owner, Russell G. Spears, was taken to Westerly Hospital for smoke inhalation and admitted into the intensive-care unit for observation. Two Charlestown firefighters were injured on the scene; one fell on the icy ground, but was not treated. Another firefighter was taken to South County Hospital for chest pains. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie Jefferson The state fire marshal is investigating and has not released an official cause. But, according to Charlestown Police statement, the fire may have been sparked by a chimney fire that spread through the house. Firefighters from the Dunn’s Corners and Bradford Fire Districts of Westerly, and the Hope Valley Fire Department responded.
In Central Falls, a fire broke out at a home on Central Street this morning. The fire department said a faulty boiler was to blame.The fire was contained to the basement. Resident Rosemary Michalski will have to find another place to stay, at least temporarily. The Red Cross is helping her.
Damage was confined to the third floor with the bottom two floors sustaining water damage. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 3:17 PM | Comment Oster trial: Defense grills prosecution's witnessPROVIDENCE -- The defense lawyer in ex-Lincoln Town Administrator Jonathan F. Oster's bribery and conspiracy trial tried for much of this morning to diminish the credibility of prosecution witness William Dickie, the former assistant solicitor who handled a tax appeal from the wife of the man the state says was Oster's co-conspirator. Defense lawyer C. Leonard O'Brien pressed Dickie on statements he gave to the state police after Oster's arrest in February 2002 and in April 2002 grand jury testimony. Dickie had said he didn't learn that former planning official Robert R. Picerno and his wife had not paid taxes on their home while their tax appeal was pending. That was important because having paid the taxes first is required for the kind of suit the Picernos filed. The state's case in Providence County Superior Court contends that Robert R. Picerno was Oster's partner in a bribery scheme centered around a Route 116 property in Lincoln. Picerno pleaded no contest in 2004 to four counts of taking, or trying to solicit, bribes, and three counts of conspiracy to solicit bribes. In the first days of trial, the prosection has tried to show that Oster and Picerno had a relationship in which Picerno had access to Oster's office and got unusual treatment from the town in relation to property taxes. Picerno’s wife, Joyce, filed the suit contesting the way the town assessed taxes on the Preakness Drive home for the period of 1998 to 2000, refusing to pay about $22,000 in property taxes over those years, some before Oster took office. O'Brien today played a tape of the Nov. 20, 2001, Lincoln Town Council closed session in which Dickie told the council the taxes were not paid. O'Brien also produced transcripts of Dickie's interview with state police and his grand jury testimony given after Oster's arrest, where he had said he didn't learn about the unpaid taxes until after the Nov. 20 council session. Dickie testified today that he first thought the taxes were not paid but said that during the Nov. 20 meeting Oster said they had been paid. Dickie was not able to show a point on the tape where Oster said that. O'Brien further challenged Dickie, saying that when discussing the settlement, Dickie talked about the Picernos paying the town, not the town refunding taxes already paid. And when Dickie said the taxes had not been paid, Oster never corrected him on the tape. Read about yesterday's testimony. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Hill Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:02 PM | Comment Photo: Catching a breath after fighting the fire
Posted by Jack Perry at 1:55 PM | Comment I <3 Robots!A program intended to get more black students interested in robotics and engineering will be bringing students from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to College Hill. As part of the Advancing Robotics Technology for Societal Impact (ARTSI) Alliance, Brown University is working with more than a dozen research universities and HBCUs to develop outreach programs to encourage black students at the K-12 and college levels to consider careers in robotics. “To advance computing technology and robotics, we need as many great minds in the field as possible,” Chad Jenkins, assistant professor of computer science at Brown, said in a statement. “So it is critical to draw in dedicated and interested students, whether they choose to work in academia or the commercial sector.” Jenkins will lead the program at Brown, first bringing undergraduate students from HBCUs to Brown in the summers of 2008 and 2009. They’ll work with Jenkins on developing software programs that improve robot interactions with humans. The ARTSI program is funded by a three-year, $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Click below to find out what schools are participating. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson HBCUs participating in ARTSI are Spelman College Hampton University Morgan State University Florida A&M University Norfolk State University Winston-Salem State University University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the University of the District of Columbia Research universities and private companies involved include: Brown University Carnegie Mellon University of Pittsburgh Georgia Institute of Technology Duke University University of Alabama University of Washington Corporate partners include: Seagate Technology Microsoft Apple iRobot Juxtopia. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:40 PM | Comment Former lead paint manufacturers want verdict overturnedPROVIDENCE — Three former lead paint manufacturers who lost a landmark lawsuit brought by the state have asked Rhode Island’s highest court to overturn the verdict. The companies, including Sherwin-Williams, say the judge who handled the trial excluded relevant evidence while permitting prejudicial testimony against them. They also say the verdict, which requires them to remove lead paint contamination from homes and buildings, is at odds with state laws that make landlords responsible for the upkeep of their properties. Attorney General Patrick Lynch wants those companies to pay $2.4 billion dollars to clean up roughly a quarter-million homes. The state will have an opportunity to respond, and the state Supreme Court will hear arguments on May 15. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:30 PM | Comment Janitors' strike looms for PC Family weekendProvidence College janitors are planning to go on strike in less than 12 hours if they do not reach an agreement with their employer, Hurley of America, Inc. And they’re not optimistic that much will change between now and midnight, when the janitors’ contract expires. “It doesn’t seem likely,” said Roxana Rivera, the Rhode Island director for SEIU Local 615. The sticking points on the contract, Rivera said, include pension and wage increases over a 5-year period, and the number of days employees can take off. If the workers and the Mass.-based Hurley cannot come to an agreement by midnight, the janitors will strike this weekend, the college’s upperclassmen family weekend, tomorrow through Sunday. “We believe this is a great opportunity to emphasize that the sacrifice parents make for their kids to PC,” Rivera said, “are not unlike the sacrifices that the janitors make for their families.” -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:28 PM | Comment Organization rates R.I. 7th best in nation on gun lawsRhode Island ranked seventh best in the nation, showing "good progress," in enacting laws to prevent criminals and others who pose dangers from easily getting guns, but more can be done, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, which released its national scorecard today. Rhode Island scored 47 points out of a possible 100 in the scorecard that measured the 50 states across five areas of law. California was best in the nation, scoring 79 points, followed by New Jersey, and a third-place tie between Connecticut and Massachusetts. Maryland and New York also fared better than Rhode Island, according to the organization. Worst in the nation in enacting gun-control laws were Kentucky and Oklahoma, which each got 2 points. The five areas of law from which scores were reached are: * Curbing firearm trafficking. * Bolstering "Brady Background Checks." * Child safety. * Banning military-style assault weapons. * Making it harder to carry guns in public places. Check out the organization's state-by-state scores, category-by-category, at www.bradycampaign.org. “Rhode Island is doing a better job than most states in adopting laws designed to make it harder for criminals and other dangerous people to access guns,” Paul Helmke, the national organization's president, said in the statement. “While Rhode Island has made some progress, much more needs to be done,” Cathie Whittenburg, director of New England Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, said in the statement. “We’re certainly not satisfied.” The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence notes in its release that the state is seeking to improve its score by "making crime gun identification and regulating gun dealers as their new top priorities in this year’s legislature." The release cites "cutting-edge" technology called “microstamping" that legislation would give law enforcement -- "a powerful investigative tool to solve more gun crimes and apprehend more armed criminals and gang members by identifying the crime gun -- without the gun." Read more about microstamping here. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:17 PM | Comment Suspect in fast-moving robberies arrestedThe Cranston police think they’ve caught up with the fast-moving burglar who attempted to rob more than five businesses in quick succession last Friday and Sunday. Gerald Capozzi, 37, of Cranston, faces two counts of first-degree robbery and four counts of second-degree robbery. He’s due in District Court today. According to the Cranston police, the first report of a robbery was made Friday, Jan. 25, at about 3 p.m. at Park Avenue Liquors. As officers investigated that crime, another robbery was reported at Defusco’s Bakery. Two days later, at about 5:15 p.m., Superior Bakery called the police, reporting a robbery, according to the Cranston police. Less than 15 minutes later, Subway Sandwich Shop called in an attempted robbery. While officers were investigating these two robberies, a third complaint was called in – from Tim Hortons. Then, on Wednesday, another robbery was reported. Descriptions of the suspect and vehicle were similar to the suspect and vehicle described in the other robberies. Victims said the suspect was a white man, about 5’6” tall, wearing a blue, hooded sweatshirt and driving a white, two-door Pontiac. The Cranston police sent the description out, and Warwick police responded with information on Gerald Capozzi as a possible suspect. Capozzi was arrested Wednesday, shortly after the robbery was reported. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:36 AM | Comment Barrington teen due to check in with judge todayThe 19-year-old who bought alcohol that may have played a part in a fatal car crash is scheduled to return to court today to check in with Judge Michael A. Higgins. In December, Benjamin Geldmaker was fined $500 and ordered to undergo substance abuse treatment. It was the second time that the then-18-year-old had been arrested for misdemeanor underage alcohol possession, according to Barrington police. Higgins ordered Geldmaker to return today to District Court to make sure Geldmaker has been going to substance abuse treatment. According to prosecutors, Geldmaker bought a 30-pack of beer, and gave six cans to a friend. The friend brought the beer to a party. Four teenagers that were at the party got into a car, the 16-year-old driver -- who was allegedly driving more than twice the speed limit -- slammed into a tree, killing 16-year-old passenger Jonathan Converse. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:06 AM | Comment Traffic: Lanes re-opened, but traffic still heavy on 195The Transportation Management Center has cleared an accident on Route 195 westbound, but warns that traffic is still heavy. Two left lanes were blocked at the Washington bridge after the 9 a.m. accident. The lanes have been re-opened, but ti's still slow going on Route 195. For more information, visit the TMC’s Web site. See how traffic is moving on the site’s traffic cameras. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 9:03 AM | Comment Photo: Out in the cold after a fire in Central Falls
Posted by Jack Perry at 8:58 AM | Comment Fourth quarter profits almost double at CVSWoonsocket-based CVS Caremark Corp. reported this morning that fourth quarter profits were $815 million, or 55 cents a share, almost double the $417.2 million, or 49 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Last year, CVS completed a $27 billion purchase of Caremark RX to gain the second largest U.S. drug benefits manager. CVS and the Caremark division also benefited from demand for generic drugs. Sales at CVS stores open at least a year rose 3.4 percent, including a 3.6 percent increase in pharmacy revenue and a 2.9 percent advance in non-pharmacy goods. -- John Kostrzewa, Business editor Posted by Jack Perry at 8:34 AM | Comment 1 dead, 1 injured in East Providence fire/ Photo
EAST PROVIDENCE -- A 42-year-old man is dead and his mother injured after a morning fire at a house on Peck Avenue, according to the East Providence Fire Department. East Providence Fire Chief Joseph J. Klucznik identified the dead man as James Marinelli. Marinelli's mother, Theresa Marinelli, was rescued by firefighters through a second-story window of the home at 39 Peck Avenue, the fire department said. She has been taken to Rhode Island Hospital with burns on her hands and smoke inhalation. Nadine Dwyer, 41, lives down the street from the Marinelli's. She said she used to shovel the Marinelli's driveway in the winter. Dwyer said she was awake early this morning when the fire started. "The whole sky filled with black smoke," she said from her front stoop today. "It smelled really bad, too. You could see smoke coming out of the roof." Klucznik said the call came in just after 6 a.m. -- By Brandie Jefferson, projo.com staff writer Posted by Jack Perry at 8:17 AM | Comment 2 firefighters, homeowner injured in Charlestown fireTwo firefighters and a homeowner were injured in a late night fire in Charlestown yesterday. A call came in at about 11:45 p.m. from 19 Kings Factory Rd. reporting a chimney fire, according to a statement from the Charlestown police. When Charlestown rescue arrived, they reported “extremely heavy” smoke on the first floor and flames reaching the second floor. Firefighters from the Dunn’s Corners and Bradford Fire Districts of Westerly, and the Hope Valley Fire Department responded. The house’s owner, Russell G. Spears, was taken to Westerly Hospital for smoke inhalation and admitted into the intensive-care unit for observation. Two Charlestown firefighters were injured on the scene; one fell on the icy ground, but was not treated. Another firefighter was taken to South County Hospital for chest pains. The state Fire Marshal is investigating and has not released an official cause, but, according to Charlestown Police statement, the fire may have been sparked by a chimney fire that spread throughout the house. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:28 AM | Comment Lead paint companies to file arguments in appealPROVIDENCE -- Three former lead paint makers plan to file their arguments in an appeals case potentially worth billions of dollars. The companies -- Sherwin-Williams, NL Industries and Millennium Holdings -- lost a landmark public nuisance lawsuit two years ago brought by the state attorney general. The lawsuit accused the companies of contaminating homes with toxic lead paint. Lawyers for the companies plan to file their appeal arguments today with the state Supreme Court. Attorney General Patrick Lynch wants those companies to pay 2.4 billion dollars to clean up roughly a quarter-million homes in Rhode Island. Company lawyers have called the plan legally flawed and want the verdict overturned. -- Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment A high of 40 degrees and sunny skiesToday's looking nice, with a high of 40 degrees and clear sunny skies. However, the National Weather Service, is forecasting a slight chance of sleet and snow early this evening as clouds increase and the temperature drops to about 24 degrees. Tomorrow's looking pretty dreary with freezing maybe mixed with sleet in the morning, then rain later in the day. Temperatures should just reach 40 with high, east winds gusting up to 29 mph. For weather updates throughout the day, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features coverage of Governor Carcieri's plan to cut Medicaid costs, in large part by moving the elderly and disabled out of nursing homes. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006