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« January 2008 | Today | March 2008 » February 29, 2008Tonight: Follies for ticket-holders, RVs for the restThe Providence Newspaper Guild Follies will take place tonight -- for those with tickets. The annual event brings Rhode Island politicos, journalists and others to the statued Venus de Milo restaurant in Swansea, Mass., for skits and song -- all capturing the foibles of Rhode Island events and politics of the past year. For everyone else, there's always the 15th annual RV Camping Show, which runs to 9 p.m. Hundreds of exhibitors show the latest RVs at the Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin St., Providence. Or check out here what's doing in the club scene tonight. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:55 PM | Comment Mollis: Assembly more compliant with meetings lawPROVIDENCE -- State lawmakers improved their compliance with the state Open Meetings Law in 2007, according to Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis. The Access 2007 report gives grades of A, B, C, D and F for two categories. One is letter of the law, which is "technical compliance" with the Open Meetings Law and the other is spirit of the law, which tries to gauge the House and Senate's intent to meet the law. Mollis's office offered these highlights in a news release: * Every House and Senate standing committee got an “A” in meeting the spirit of the law. * The House's compliance with the letter of the law was 86 percent of its 2007 meetings, compared to 57 percent in 2006. The House went from an F to a B in the letter of the law category and maintained an A in meeting the spirit of the law. Every House standing committee improved. * Senate compliance with the letter of the law was 90 percent of its 2007 meetings, compared to 67 percent in 2006. The Senate got an A, up from a D in 2006, in meeting letter of the law, Mollis's office said, and it maintained an A for meeting the spirit of the law. All but one Senate standing committee performed better. The Open Meetings Law mandates that most state and local agencies, departments, commissions, and others post electronic and written notices of meetings at least 48 hours before a meeting is held. Such public notices must have the date, time, place and the agenda. The General Assembly is not subject to the law. "To their credit, the House and the Senate made more than a good-faith effort to keep the public apprised of their work even though compliance with the Open Meetings Law is completely voluntary on their part," Mollis said in the statement. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:30 PM | Comment N. Kingstown school panel pays fine for meeting violationNORTH KINGSTOWN -- The School Committee has agreed to pay a $1,500 fine for an Open Meeting Act violation, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch's office announced this evening. Lynch's office had sued, asserting a "willful or knowing violation" by the North Kingstown School Committee when it held an Aug. 23, 2006 meeting, despite having posted public notice for the meeting less than the mandated 48 hours before the meeting was held. Under the consent judgment, entered in Washington County Superior Court today, the School Committee agreed to pay the state a $1,500 fine and "has represented that it has taken corrective measures to ensure that it electronically files notice of a meeting with the Secretary of State’s Office at least 48 hours in advance," Lynch's news release said. Also, all votes taken at the August 23, 2006 meeting were reaffirmed by the School Committee at a subsequent meeting. “It stands to reason that the North Kingstown School Committee will be more mindful of complying with our open-government laws as a result of this litigation,” Lynch said in a statement. “Upon realizing that the meeting was not properly posted, the committee should have canceled and then rescheduled the meeting. Open government is at the very core of our democratic principles, and it is incumbent on public bodies to abide by the laws governing the Open Meetings Act and the Access to Public Records Act.” -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:54 PM | Comment Chelsea Clinton stays on target at Roger WilliamsBRISTOL -- Although she sounded hoarse from campaigning, Chelsea Clinton stayed on target for an hour and 20 minutes this afternoon as she spoke on behalf of her mother, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, at Roger Williams University. The former First Daughter -- now 28 -- answered questions from an attentive and alert audience of about 325 students assembled in a former cafeteria at the school. They asked, and she answered, questions about Senator Clinton's positions on policies ranging from the war on drugs to the war in Iraq. Unlike her father, former President Bill Clinton, who stopped in Rhode Island yesterday, she had few laugh lines in her speech. But she also held back on attacks on her mother's chief rival, Sen. Barack Obama. Instead, her target of choice was President Bush, saying she was very disappointed in his administration. Dressed in dark blue jeans, shiny black shoes, with a tight blue jacket over a floral blouse, Chelsea Clinton looked casual yet tailored. It was an outfit that could take her several places in a day. She has already been in Vermont today. Her next stop -- the Venus de Milo restaurant in nearby Swansea, Mass., where she's expected to stand on the receiving line at The Providence Journal Newspaper Guild Follies. No, for those who may wonder, she is not expected to be the Mystery Guest at the annual satire on state and local politics. Instead, she has another stop to make tonight between 8 and 9 p.m., back in Providence, with a meeting of young professionals at the Paragon restaurant. -- With reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:48 PM | Comment Update: Police chief says officers used 'great restraint'EAST PROVIDENCE -- Police Chief Hubert Paquette emphasized this afternoon that his officers used "great restraint" during a struggle with a 40-year-old man who fell unconscious and died. But he acknowledged that his department "mistakenly" interpreted protocol in belatedly informing the state attorney general of the death. In a statement issued at a late-afternoon press conference -- the department's first since the Wednesday evening incident was announced in a statement yesterday afternoon -- the chief said his officers "risked great personal injury" rather than use deadly force. The reason his department delayed notifying the attorney general's office, the chief said, was because his officers did not use methods of restraint defined as deadly force. Instead, he said, they used verbal commands, "OC" spray, and strikes to the body, which he said "are commonly used by police departments." A cause of death has not yet been determined for Leonel Farias, a 6-foot, 300-pound man diagnosed as schizophrenic and diabetic, who confronted the police with a steak knife when they responded to a help call from his 513 James St. home. For the first time, Paquette indicated how many officers may have been on the scene. He said three members of the force initially responded and encountered Farias in front of his house early Wednesday evening. One of them, a female, sustained enough injuries in struggle with Farias so that she is now on Two other officers, he said, who also were injured to some degree, are still on the job. Last night, in an interview with a Journal reporter, family members alleged the officers continued beating Farias after he'd been knocked out with chemical spray and was down. Farias was later pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital. Yesterday afternoon, a spokesman for Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said it “is troubling and does not inspire confidence” in the East Providence Police Department that the attorney general's office was not notified by the police of the death until 8:30 a.m. yesterday. “You can’t reconstruct a scene 15 hours after the fact,” spokesman Michael J. Healey yesterday. “That’s the salient issue here.” In a Journal interview earlier today, Paquette admitted his department had made a protocol mistake in not informing the AG's office sooner. He also said he has sent out a department memo to prevent such late notification from happening again. He also said at the press conference that he had wanted to look at reports of the incident before holding the press conference. He did not release any reports. -- With reports from projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:37 PM | Comment WPRI poll: Clinton holds 9-point lead over ObamaHillary Clinton holds a 9-point lead over Barack Obama among Rhode Island voters surveyed this week as the Democratic presidential primary looms, a Channel 12 WPRI/RIpolitics.tv poll released this afternoon found. People polled were asked whom they would vote for if the state's Democratic primary were held that day. Forty-nine percent said Clinton, 40 percent said Obama and 11 percent were not certain. The poll, done by Fleming & Associates in phone interviews from Feb. 24 to 27, used 401 registers voters statewide. The primary on Tuesday is one of several nationwide. Despite its small size, Rhode Island's role in the tight race is considered signficant, and both candidates have been actively campaigning here. A high voter turnout is expected in Rhode Island. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:10 PM | Comment Update: Opening statements in smoke-shop trial / Photo
The prosecution took about an hour to lay out its case against the defendants, using up to 10 photos taken the day of their arrests. Prosecutor Pamela Chin says they will help prove the state’s case that the police were “just doing their job,” executing what she called a court authorized search warrant on the shop, which was selling tobacco products tax free. The defense team put on a lengthy argument this morning in which lawyer William P. Devereaux alleged that what happened on the Narragansett land was not so much an execution of a search warrant, but "a raid." Devereaux said that the state, rather than execute a search warrant, chose a means of confrontation in trying to shut down the tribe's plan to sell untaxed cigarettes. He said the state chose confrontation over going to court to seek an injunction. Fellow defense lawyer Kevin Bristow went further in his allegations, saying that the governor of the state of Rhode Island wanted to "do the maximum economic harm to the Narragansett Indians" by ordering that the raid take place when a shipment of cigarettes were being delivered. Bristow said the state chose not to get a federal warrant to stop the selling of cigarettes, or to simply ban customers from entering the shop. And Bristow said the defense would produce the state police major in charge of the operation, who will testify that never in his 25 years on the state police had he been ordered directly by the governor to execute a search warrant. And finally, Bristow said the attorney general, who is the chief law enforcement officer of the state, "had nothing to do with the execution of the search warrant." -- Journal staff writer Tom Mooney But even before opening arguments, Superior Court Judge Susan E. McGuirl outlined the history of the relationship between the Narragansetts and the state. She focused primarily on the last few decades and explained a 1978 tribal land settlement agreement that essentially put tribal members under the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the state. McGuirl also outlined how some elements of the smoke-shop case had played out in federal court here, and in appeals court in Boston, in the last 4 ½ years. Both courts ruled against the defendants, and the state Supreme Court refused to hear the case. The defense is set to make opening arguments shortly. Yesterday, the jury visited the site of the shop on tribal land on Route 2 in Charlestown. Extra: See video and photos of the raid and coverage of the ensuing events. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 4:04 PM | Comment Man, 28, dies after being hit by train in New BedfordA 28-year-old former Fall River, Mass., man struck by a train yesterday in New Bedford died from his injuries last night, the New Bedford police said today. Richard Boyden, most recently of Springfield, Mass., was run over by a train just after noon in the area of Worcester and Lynn streets. Preliminary investigation found was trespassing on the railroad tracks and was drinking with a friend when Boyden tried to jump onto the train's caboose. He slipped off the train and was then run over by it "causing significant threatening injuries to his lower extremities," the police said in a statement today. Boyden's friend ran for help, with New Bedford and Massachusetts State Police and emergency personnel responding. Boyden was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford with what the police said were life-threatening injuries. He was moved to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:55 PM | Comment No misstep here; Pawtucket St. Pat's parade tomorrowThe Pawtucket St. Patrick’s Day Parade is getting ready to roll. Although it’s more than two weeks before the day the world typically celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, March 17, the parade is scheduled this year for tomorrow, March 1. And yes, the mayor’s office said, it’s on, despite the fact that tomorrow’s forecast isn’t exactly parade friendly: A wintry mix of 2 to 4 inches of sleet and snow with temperatures in the mid-30s. For the first time since 1940, St. Patrick’s Day falls during Holy Week, the week before the Christian holiday of Easter. The Roman Catholic Church has said masses in honor of Patrick cannot be held during the week. And some bishops are trying to keep parades and other celebrations from going on, too. Pawtucket's parade, however, was not moved to accommodate those wishes -- it's traditionally been one of the earliest celebrations in the state. Led by state Rep. Peter F. Kilmartin, the procession will start at Jenks Junior High, taking Walcott Street to downtown and ending in front of City Hall. After the parade, there will be food and music at the Pawtucket Armory on Exchange Street; $2 for adults and free for kids 12 and younger. To accommodate the parade, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will detour buses in Pawtucket. Click to see the changes. -- With reports from the Journal archives and the Associated Press Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 3:50 PM | Comment Providence's historic Turk's Head building sold
"The property was not actively on the market," said Thomas V. Moses, a Providence lawyer who advises the Granoff family. "They were offered far beyond what the value was and were able to make a sizeable profit." Brothers Evan and Lloyd Granoff bought the building, now 95 years old, in 1997 for $4.2 million. The brothers spent "millions" renovating the building during the decade they owned it, according to Moses. The building is located in the heart of the city's financial district - it's the one with the rounded corner at the intersection of Weybosset and Westminster Streets. A scowling Turk's head is carved above the second floor and stares out over the streets. The building became part of a block of properties they assembled in the city's financial district, which included The Arcade, a Weybosset Street building that was formerly home of the St. Francis Chapel, a parking garage, and the Union Trust Building at 170 Westminster St. The Granoffs are also partners in the One Ten Westminster hotel-condo project. Last August, the Granoffs sold the 12-story Union Trust building to FB Capital Partners for $6.55 million. FB Capital Partners lists the same Philadelphia address as the entity that purchased the Turk's Head building - 76 Westminster St. LLC. The Turk's Head sale closed Feb. 8. "It was almost with a heavy heart that they agreed to sell it," Moses said of the Turk's Head building. -- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Jack Perry at 2:41 PM | Comment Photo: Kennedy father-son appear on Obama's behalf
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:37 PM | Comment 3 sentenced for beating death of rival gang memberPROVIDENCE -- The three gang members looked like boys today as they stood before the judge and pleaded guilty to charges stemming from their roles in the beating death of a rival member of the Young Bloods street gang. But the youthful defendants will be middle-aged men the next time they see the world outside the walls of the Adult Correctional Institutions. Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause sentenced the three killers -- Sarith Chith, 20, Thomas P. Havey, 20, and Tavares Morales, 19 -- to lengthy prison terms for last year’s murder of Vicheth Klakratok. Klakratok, 24, was the city’s first homicide of 2007 and the fatal beating underscored the growing problem of gang violence in the West End. Chith, Havey and Morales are members of the Hanover Street Boyz street gang. In the early morning hours of Jan. 27, 2007, Klakratok just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. To make matters worse, he was wearing the red colors of the Young Bloods. Klakratok’s gang and the Hanover Boyz have been bitter rivals for years. Chith and Havey pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder, while Morales pleaded guilty to manslaughter. All three defendants also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit felony assault. Chith, who struck Klakratok in the head with a pipe, received the stiffest sentence -- 60 years in prison, 42 years to serve with 18 years suspended. Havey, who admitted to striking the victim in the head with a baseball bat, received 50 years, 30 years to serve with 20 years suspended. Morales was sentenced to 30 years in prison, 18 years to serve with 12 years suspended. He was not armed with a weapon, but he repeatedly kicked Klakratok on the ground. View a special report: The Gangs of Providence. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski All three of them declined to address the court. They were shackled and chained before they were paraded out of the courtroom for their next stop: the state prison complex in Cranston. Michael McCarthy, an assistant attorney general, told the court that, had the case gone to trial, he would have proven that Chith, Havey and Morales beat Klakratok to death on the corner of Cranston Street and Benedict Street in the West End. At about 2:30 a.m., a brawl between the Young Bloods and Hanover Boyz erupted near a 7-11 convenience store at 775 Cranston St. The street fight involved about 40 gang members armed with baseball bats and pipes. Several car windows and head lights were smashed. There were reports of shots fired and the police raced to the scene. Meanwhile, two cars with the Young Bloods drove off, leaving Klakratok behind. Prosecutor McCarthy said that the gang member ran east on Cranston Street toward the downtown area. He said that Havey, driving a dark sports utility vehicle, chased after him and caught up to him near the corner of Benedict Street. Chith, Havey and Morales piled out of the car and attacked Klakratok. The police found him on the ground, blood flowing from his head into a freshly fallen snow. Standing before the judge, the three gang members all agreed with the prosecutor’s version of the events leading up to and including the murder. White also said that Klakratok hoped that the stiff penalties would steer other youths away from gangs. He cried and wiped tears from his eyes as the interpreter translated the message. Members of the Havey and Morales families also were teary-eyed as the young men pleaded guilty and were sent away. No one was there to offer support for Chith. A police officer who worked on the investigation said that Chith called a family member after he was charged in the murder. "Don’t bother calling us anymore,’’ said the loved one. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:01 PM | Comment Police chief admits protocol mistake in reporting deathEAST PROVIDENCE -- Police Chief Hubert Paquette said today it was a mistake for his department not to notify the Attorney General's Office until yesterday morning about resident Leonel Farias's death while in police custody Wednesday. In an interview today, the chief said he has sent out a department memo to prevent such late notification from happening again. He would not release any more information on the incident than he had previously because, he said, it is still under investigation. Sisters of Leonel Farias, the 6-foot-tall, 300-pound, 40-year-old man who died, did not deny yesterday that their diagnosed schizophrenic brother waved a knife at police or that he struggled with them after his violent outburst in his 513 James St. home. But the sisters allege the officers continued beating Farias after he'd been knocked out with chemical spray and was down. Farias was later pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital. Today, the state Medical Examiners Office said the cause of Farias's death is not yet determined "pending further studies." -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Alisha A. Pina and Journal reports A statement released yesterday by Paquette said Farias told officers, who been called to the house for a domestic disturbance, to "come and get him" and that they "would have to shoot him." Farias attempted to go inside, police used pepper spray and struck him in an attempt to subdue him. But he "continued to act completely unreasonable," the statement said, and a "violent struggle ensued" between Farias and several officers. Officers put him in handcuffs, but Farias continued kicking at officers while lying on the ground until he fell unconscious. Paquette's statement said several police officers at the scene Wednesday received treatment from rescue workers for injuries they suffered in the struggle. No injuries were reported from the knife, described the sisters as a small, serrated steak knife. Yesterday afternoon, a spokesman for Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said it “is troubling and does not inspire confidence” in the East Providence Police Department that the attorney general's office was not notified by police of the death until 8:30 a.m. yesterday. “You can’t reconstruct a scene 15 hours after the fact,” spokesman Michael J. Healey yesterday. “That’s the salient issue here.” East Providence police were supposed to follow a protocol put in place by the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association in the wake of the accidental fatal shooting of an off-duty Providence police officer, Sgt. Cornel Young Jr., in January 2000. Earlier this month, Pawtucket police shot and killed a man at his home after responding to a 911 call there of a 6' 5", 300-pound man wielding a "Samurai-style sword." It was the third fatal shooting involving that city's police in seven months. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:42 PM | Comment Bristol company to lay off 90 starting in JuneSaint-Gobain Performance Plastics will begin laying off 90 employees in June, according to a filing the company made to the state Department of Labor and Training. Last October, the Bristol-based company, a subsidiary of the France-based Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, first notified the plant's 160 employees about the plan, Providence Journal writer Alex Kuffner reported. One of the plant's manufacturing lines, the company said, is moving moved to Mexico. “We appreciate the contributions made to our business by our Bristol employees and want to do what we can to help them during this transfer,” Donald Stinnett, general manager of the company’s Polymer Products Unit, said in a statement at the time. “We will work closely with each of our employees to ease the transition for them and their families.” Earlier this month, Saint-Gobain told the Department of Labor and Training that the layoffs would begin on June 1 and be complete by September 2009. The letter, signed by human resource manager Christine Jocelyn, said the 90 employees will receive at least 60-days notice. Saint-Gobain operates a 100,000-square-foot plant on Metacom Avenue, where it produces polymers for the automotive, medical and aviation industries. It has run the plant since 1999, and company officials have said they have no plans to close it. The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) compels companies in Rhode Island to notify the state before closing a plant or making "mass layoffs." For more local breaking business news, visit the Biz Blog at projo.com/business. -- Journal Business writer Benjamin Gedan Posted by Jack Perry at 12:00 PM | Comment Still no cause found for E. Providence man's deathThe state Medical Examiners office has not yet determined a cause of death for the 40-year-old East Providence man who died Wednesday after a confrontation with the police. In a statement released today, the medical examiners office said the cause of death of Leonel Farias, 40, was "pending further studies." Farias's death has raised questions. Family members don't dispute that Farias waved a knife at the police, but they claim that police officers used excessive force against Farias, a diagnosed schizophrenic, beating him after he was subdued. The attorney general's office was not notified of the death until the next morning, according to spokesman Michael Healey. The police have not responded to the family's claims of excessive force. The attorney general's office and the East Providence Police Department are investigating the death. Earlier this month, a Pawtucket police officer shot and killed 30-year-old Jason Swift at his home. Swift also had emotional problems, according to his mother, who had called the police to help get her son to a hospital. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:23 AM | Comment Chelsea Clinton to visit R.I. todayA third Clinton is coming to Rhode Island. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's daughter, Chelsea Clinton, is scheduled to speak at Roger Williams University this afternoon to talk about her mother's candidacy for president. The younger Clinton will be meeting with students and faculty at a the school's Bristol campus, according to Jennifer Sullivan, spokeswoman for the university, who announced the visit this morning. At about 3:15 this afternoon, Clinton will expected to speak for about 10 minutes and then answer questions. Chelsea's father, former President Bill Clinton, spoke at Bryant University in Smithfield yesterday, and the Sen. Clinton was in town Sunday at Rhode Island College. Clinton's rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Barack Obama, is scheduled to campaign at Rhode Island College tomorrow. Today, U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts will be at University of Rhode Island's Feinstein Providence Campus to lead a "get out the vote" rally for Obama's campaign. Before the rally, Kennedy will be joined by his son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island, for an 11:15 a.m. visit to the Woonsocket Senior Center, 84 Social St. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. for the rally at the 80 Washington St. campus in the Paff Auditorium, the Obama campaign announced today. Both Kennedys and state Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch will attend. Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, visited the Community College of Rhode Island last week. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:59 AM | Comment Sister McKillop, former Salve Regina president, diesNEWPORT – Sister Lucille McKillop, the fifth president of Salve Regina University and the longest-serving president in its history, died last night in Chicago, the school announced this morning. Sister McKillop served as president of Salve Regina from 1973 to 1994. “Sister Lucille McKillop was first a Sister of Mercy,” said the university's current president, Sister M. Therese Antone, said in a statement. “Her dedication to education and the traditions of the Sisters of Mercy contributed significantly to those traditions continuing to thrive on the campus of Salve Regina University. "Sister Lucille worked diligently to serve the needs and interests of generations of students. The best years of her life were spent ensuring that the mission of Salve Regina University would continue. McKillop Library, named in her honor, is a fitting tribute to her enabling spirit. She was deeply admired and will be missed.” A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Salve Regina’s Ochre Court. The public is invited to attend. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 10:31 AM | Comment Does Leap Day add up for you?For once, the working-class folks are getting a break. For hourly workers, a Leap Year could be a benefit -- extra hours squeezed into a year's paycheck. And an extra day to pay those February bills. But for salary earners, you may be working an extra day this year without making any more money. That's because just about every four years, an extra day is added to February in an attempt to keep our clocks in line with the solar year -- what we see in the sky as one full orbit of the earth around the sun. But even the extra day doesn't square everything away -- that would be too easy. The difference between the solar year (also called the tropical year) and 365 days is about .2422 days -- not .25, which would bring us back in line exactly every four years. So we don't add an extra day every four years, but every four except those years that can be divided by 100. But if that year, divisible by 100, is also divisible by 400, it is a Leap Year. That's why we had an extra day in 2000. We won't in 2100. And that just about does it. Except for leap seconds -- but that's a different story all together... In any event, you can (sort of) look at at this as an "extra" day. So what are you going to do with it? See what people across the world say. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:42 AM | Comment Four years later, smoke-shop trial beginsMore than four years after the state police raided a smoke shop on Narragansett tribal land, the seven tribal members who were charged with misdemeanors for scuffling with police are going to trial. After the judge and lawyers questioned potential jurors over three days, ten women and six men were selected yesterday. They toured the site of the raid, in Charlestown, with Judge Susan E. McGuirl and lawyers from both sides. Opening statements are scheduled for this morning. The trial, which has been delayed several times -- most recently as police responded to a subpoena for records -- is expected to take about one month. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:53 AM | Comment Judge awards $1.3M to man beaten on UConn campusNEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- A Southington man who suffered severe head injuries after he was beaten at the University of Connecticut has been awarded $1.3 million. A judge has ruled that Jonathan Stewart can collect the money from Bryan Kapustinski, a student from Meriden who was the center for the UConn rugby team at the time. Stewart was hit in the head with a fence post in April of 2004 at the UConn campus in Storrs. The attack was apparently triggered after Stewart and others apparently didn't move fast enough to allow the truck operated by a girlfriend of one of Kapustinski's teammates to pass. Kapustinski was given a one year suspended prison sentence. His lawyer says he hasn't had a chance to read to decision. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Cold today and then snow likely tomorrowThe clouds are expected to increase today as the temperature rises – a little – to about 28 degrees. The National Weather Service is also forecasting mild northwest winds to become south as the day goes on. Snow is also in the future, when the temperature drops a few degrees into the mid 20s. We may see as many as 3 inches of accumulation after midnight. Precipitation may continue into tomorrow, first as snow, then as rain when the temperature rises to the high 30s. We can also expect a southeast wind up to 16 mph, later becoming west. Rain or snow may continue into the evening, tapering off by 9 p.m. Temperatures are expected to drop to the mid 20s and winds to pick up, gusting from the west as high as 33 mph. The sun returns Sunday, with a high temperature near 40, and northwest winds gusting near 40 mph. The skies should stay clear through the night when the temperature dips to the low 20s. Monday looks good, with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-to-high 40s. To keep an eye on the weather through the weekend, visit projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about an East Providence man dying after waving a knife at the police and then struggling with them. There's also a report that Rhode Island's losing 1,700 jobs last months signals that the state is nearing a recession. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 28, 2008Update: Man dies after struggle with E. Providence policeEAST PROVIDENCE -- A knife-wielding man who fell unconscious during a struggle with police yesterday and who later died has been identified by his family as Leonel Farias, 40, of 153 James St. The family, who spoke to a Journal reporter this evening, said they had called police to their home yesterday evening for help after Farias turned violent. Family members said he had been diagnosed some time ago as a schizophrenic and, more recently, as a diabetic. Two sisters, Genoveva Porto, 46, and Gabriela Farias, 45, said they witnessed the incident. Both allege that police in subduing their brother used "excessive force" which the two believe caused his death. City police, in their account first provided this afternoon, would not disclose the name of the man involved or the location of the disturbance. The man, later identified as Farias, was described by police as 6 feet tall and weighing 300 pounds. According to the family, the knife he held was a small, serrated steak knife. Earlier this afternoon, Police Chief Hubert J. Paquette issued a statement which said the suspect, armed with a knife, confronted two police officers outside his home when they initially responded to the report of the domestic assault. The statement said the man later identified as Farias told police to “come and get him” and said they “would have to shoot him,” according to the statement. When the man turned and tried to get back inside, police used pepper spray and struck him in an effort to subdue him, “but the subject continued to act completely unreasonable,” the statement said. -- Journal staff writers Gina Macris and John Castellucci, with reports from Journal staff writer Alisha Pina and projo.com In the statement, Paquette said “a violent struggle ensued” between the man and several officers, who eventually put him in handcuffs. The man, lying on the ground, continued to kick at the officers until he fell unconscious, Paquette’s statement said. The man was taken by rescue workers to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived, Paquette said. He could not say what time the man was pronounced dead. Paquette also declined to release additional details of the incident, which he said is under investigation. He said the identity of the dead man will be made public once all his family members are notified. Several police officers at the scene received treatment from rescue workers for injuries they sustained in the struggle, according to the statement. No injuries were reported from the knife the man had been carrying. The Attorney General’s Office was not notified of the death until 8:30 a.m. today, a delay which “is troubling and does not inspire confidence” in the East Providence police department, said a spokesman for Atty. Gen. Patrick C. Lynch said late this afternoon. Michael J. Healey said, “You can’t reconstruct a scene 15 hours after the fact. That’s the salient issue here.” Earlier this month, Pawtucket police shot and killed a man at his home after responding to a 911 call there of a 6' 5", 300-pound man wielding a "Samurai-style sword.". It was the third fatal shooting involving that city's police in seven months. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:56 PM | Comment Tonight: Hip-hop showcase comes to AS220Over at AS220 in Providence, you can catch a local hip-hop showcase -- and there's an open-mike component. The club's Web site says the show will feature Charles ExSavior, Left Over Wine, Big City, and more acts. The club is at 115 Empire St. (401) 831-9327. 9 p.m. $6. All ages. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:05 PM | Comment Group seeks to end 'climate of fear' for immigrants
PROVIDENCE -- Proponents of a new legislative platform promoting “racial and economic equality for every Rhode Islander” said today they want to end a “climate of fear” against immigrants, no matter their legal status. Five legislators unveiled a legislative platform called “Campaign for Fairness, Respect and Civil Rights,” on behalf of the Immigrants United advocacy group, which marks a counterpoint to numerous bills aimed at curbing illegal immigration. “These bills all come down to the fact that community safety, civil rights and economic opportunity must apply to all Rhode Islanders, regardless of immigration status,” said Ellen Gallagher, community outreach coordinator for the International Institute of Rhode Island. -- Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:14 PM | Comment Obama will hold rally at Rhode Island College SaturdayPROVIDENCE -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will make a campaign stop at Rhode Island College on Saturday, as the March 4 primary here and in three more states could prove crucial in picking the Democratic nominee. Doors open at noon for the "stand for change" rally, which is free and open to the public, the campaign just announced. He will be at the college's recreation center, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave. Delegate-rich Texas and Ohio hold primaries the same day as Rhode Island, as does Vermont. Former President Bill Clinton visited Rhode Island today, speaking to a crowd at Bryant University in Smithfield, on behalf of his wife, Obama's opponent for the nomination, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama's wife, Michelle, visited last week, and Hillary Rodham Clinton was here last weekend, making her campaign stop at Rhode Island College as well. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Scott MacKay Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:56 PM | Comment Photo: Jury tours Narragansetts' smoke shop
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:43 PM | Comment Kennedy duo to stump in R.I. on Obama's behalfPROVIDENCE -- U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts will be at University of Rhode Island's Feinstein Providence Campus tomorrow to lead a "get out the vote" rally for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign. Before the rally, Kennedy will be joined by his son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island, for an 11:15 a.m. visit to the Woonsocket Senior Center, 84 Social St. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. for the rally at the 80 Washington St. campus in the Paff Auditorium, the Obama campaign announced today. Both Kennedys and Lynch will attend. Obama is slated to visit Rhode Island on Saturday, through the campaign has not yet said where and when. His wife has already come to the state on his campaign's behalf. Obama, the Illinois senator, and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton are battling for the Democratic presidential nomination, and this coming Tuesday's primaries in Rhode Island, Vermont and delegate-rich Texas and Ohio could go a long way to settling things. Today, Former President Bill Clinton was campaigning for his wife at Bryant University in Smithfield. Hillary Clinton came to Rhode Island last Sunday for a campaign rally at Rhode Island College. Another member of the Kennedy political clan, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, appeared on her behalf in Providence yesterday. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:22 PM | Comment Clinton to Bryant crowd: Hillary needs your vote / Photo
SMITHFIELD -- Former President Bill Clinton told a crowd at Bryant University that his wife needs them to swing the vote in the presidential primary on Tuesday. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are locked in a tight race for the Democratic presidential nomination. The next big contest is Tuesday, when voters go to the polls in Rhode Island, Vermont, Ohio and Texas. Speaking to a crowd of more than 2,000, Clinton said that if his wife can get a victory here, along with victories in Ohio and Texas, then she is on her way to the White House. Clinton said to the crowd if they were having trouble deciding who to vote for -- or somebody they knew was -- they should perform a simple exercise. Don't ask how you feel right now or how you will feel on Inauguration Day, but, when it's over, how will you if the next president has done a good job, Clinton said. He said he asked his wife that months ago. " ...After a while she said, 'I believe, if I'm luck enough to be elected, I believe I will think I did a good job if I could say, at the end, these things: Number one, the American people are better off when I quit than when I started. Nmber two, our children and grandchildren have a brighter future. And number three, this troubled but fascinating world is coming together instead of being driven apart," Bill Clinton said. He added: "If you want the next president to say, yes, yes, yes, I urge you to vote for her. I hope you will volunteer to help her in the closing days." The former president was in Philadelphia earlier today and was scheduled to hit Ohio later in the day. Hillary Clinton was campaigning in Ohio and Texas. Her opponent for the Democratic nomination, Obama, the Illinois senator, is slated to campaign in Rhode Island this Saturday. Wwhen and where had not been determined, his campaign said yesterday, but it's probably an early-afternoon visit. Obama’s wife, Michelle, made a campaign stop in the state last week. Republican candidates John McCain, the Arizona senator and presumptive GOP nominee, and Mike Huckabee, who distantly trails McCain in the delegate tally ahead of the party convention, have also made stops here this month. -- The Associated Press and projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:03 PM | Comment Lincoln man wins $1 million-plus in game at Twin RiverA Lincoln man today decided to take a $1 million-plus payout in cash after hitting the jackpot playing the multi-state game called Ca$hola at Twin River in Lincoln, Rhode Island Lottery announced. Michael Goudreau hit a jackpot of $1,936,695.28, the largest Ca$hola prize won awarded in the state and the third biggest in the game's history. By taking the cash option, he will get $1,094,139.66, according to the news release. The game debuted in Rhode Island, Delaware and West Virginia in 2006, the lottery news release said, and Ca$hola has a "starting cash value jackpot" of $250,000. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:58 PM | Comment Photo: Young and old gather to hear Bill Clinton
Posted by Peter Phipps at 3:41 PM | Comment Early-morning fire damages Providence homePROVIDENCE -- A fire that apparently began in a third-floor ceiling light fixture routed five adults and four children from their tenement house at 70-72 Spicer St., Washington Park, early this morning, the Fire Department reported. Assistant Fire Chief Michael J. Dillon said the apparent electrical fire resulted in smoke and water damage to the third-floor apartment, leaving that unit uninhabitable. But firefighters spread out salvage covers on the furniture and appliances in the second-floor apartment, and if the house’s electrical service is maintained, the first- and second-floor tenants will be able to stay there, he said. The occupants, he noted, declined assistance with temporary shelter. The fire was called in at 3:50 a.m. and firefighters were on the scene for about one hour. -- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:28 PM | Comment Traffic Alert: Lane closed on Route 10An accident has a lane closed on Route 10 this afternoon. The right land on the southbound side of the roadway is blocked at Reservoir Avenue in Providence. For updated traffic information, see the Transportation Management Center's Web site. See updated pictures of the roadways on the site's traffic cameras. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:35 PM | Comment State environmental agency improving its own recyclingThe state Department of Environmental Management is launching a new recycling program tomorrow for its own employees. It turns out, much of the paper that DEM employees were setting aside to be recycled was actually finding its way into the general trash. Now, thanks to a grant from the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, the Department will be able to safely recycle some of its sensitive information. The grant will also help Better Shred, a wing of Cranston Arc, which employs adults with developmental disabilities. Tomorrow at 9 a.m., Better Shred will deliver 17 66-gallon, secure plastic recycling containers to DEM’s offices at the Foundry Building on Promenade Street, Providence. About 320 employees use the bins to dispose sensitive or confidential information that would otherwise find its way to the landfill. When the bins are full, Better Shred employees will pick them up and take them to a facility in Cranston and have them shredded in accordance with federal regulations. The paper will be sold for reuse. Other state offices will participate, including the Department of Elderly Affairs, DCYF Juvenile Corrections and the even the Disability Commission. Recently, the DEM announced it would reinvigorate its current law regarding corporate recycling, asking 2,300 businesses to report information about their trash and recycling efforts online. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:34 PM | Comment Train hits man in New Bedford; Police say he was drinkingA former Fall River man was "run over" by a train in New Bedford, the police said today. The 29-year-old man, who police did not identify in a news release, was hit near Worcester and Lynn streets. A preliminary investigation suggests the man was trespassing on the railroad tracks, drinking with a friend, when the man tried to jump onto the train's caboose. The man, who is now from Springfield, slipped off the train and was then run over by it. The police say his injuries are "life threatening." His friend ran for help, and New Bedford and State Police and other emergency responders came. The victim was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and will likely be taken to a Boston or Providence trauma center, the police statement said. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:18 PM | Comment R.I., Conn. lawmakers will push for submarine fundsWASHINGTON -- Connecticut and Rhode Island lawmakers eager to protect local jobs say they will push hard on Capitol Hill to safeguard federal funding for doubling Virginia-class submarine production to two ships a year. "Looking ahead to this year, it looks like we still got some work to do," said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., whose district includes the submarine manufacturer Electric Boat. "The competition is going to be even more intense this year with all of the challenges that our country faces." Courtney's remarks came at a breakfast gathering today of submarine industry officials who want to make sure the money for a second submarine stays in future defense spending bills. Congress is beginning work on its new budget bills. A key mission for Connecticut and Rhode Island lawmakers has been to convince the Navy to accelerate plans to double production of the 377-foot long high-tech attack sub as soon as possible. Such a move could help safeguard jobs at Electric Boat, which has facilities in both states. "I want to stress how important it is to continue this effort," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. About 7,600 people work at Electric Boat's shipyard in Groton, while about 2,000 are employed at the company's Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., said maintaining a strong shipbuilding industry is vital to the nation's security, particularly since nations such as China are bent on producing more and more submarines. "We have to do all we can to protect that base," Langevin said. -- The Associated Press Submarine supporters who had fought for funding for a second ship for several years on Capitol Hill scored a major breakthrough in the recently approved defense spending bill. The measure signed by President Bush in January allows the Navy to accelerate plans to double Virginia-class submarine production to two ships a year. The Navy had opposed moving up its plans for a second sub before 2012. But the defense bill included $588 million requested by Courtney, who spearheaded the effort along with lawmakers from both states. The $588 million allows construction of two ships a year as early as 2010 or 2011, officials said. "The amazing thing that happened last year was we succeeded in actually changing the direction of the shipbuilding budget," Courtney said. Electric Boat officials were thrilled about the boost in the military's shipbuilding budget, but they want to make sure they don't lose ground as new strains on the federal budget arise. "There's certainly some momentum that's been built," Electric Boat President John P. Casey said. "But we can't take for granted that there will not be a change in the tides. We need to keep the program sold." In addition to protecting current funding, submarine backers are seeking more money as Congress crafts a new defense spending bill for fiscal year 2009. Submarine supporters want $79 million in new funding to speed up construction on a second sub. They're also seeking an additional $53 million for design work on next-generation submarines. Electric Boat, a division of General Dynamics Corp., and Northrop Grumman Newport News in Virginia, together produce one $2.5 billion submarine a year. Electric Boat officials say doubling annual sub production would help to reduce costs, something the Navy has been pushing for. The production increase would also make it cheaper to buy materials while making it easier to keep workers and equipment in place, they say. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:38 PM | Comment Citizens operating profit drops 9%; revenue up 2%Turmoil in the real estate and credit markets is straining Citizens Financial Group, the bank's parent company, Royal Bank of Scotland, said today. In all, operating profit at Citizens dropped 9 percent last year, to $2.65 billion. The continuing devaluation of the U.S. dollar made that drop even more painful for RBS; net income was down 16 percent after the conversion to British pounds. In announcing its 2007 earnings, RBS said the sputtering U.S. economy slowed the growth of Providence-based Citizens last year. "Against a weaker economic backdrop in the U.S., Citizens, whilst performing well relative to its peers, experienced testing conditions," RBS said in its earnings report. "Market conditions remain difficult," RBS said, "and we continue to respond to challenging income prospects with tight cost control." U.S. operations were not all bad news for Scotland-based RBS. Citizens, the ninth-largest bank in the United States, grew its consumer banking customer base by 2 percent, RBS said. Boosted by higher fees, Citizens saw its revenue grow by 2 percent to $6.24 billion. Average loans increased by 4 percent in 2007, despite "close attention being paid to our risk appetite," RBS said. Average customer deposits rose by 1 percent. And Citizens increased its credit card customer base by 20 percent. But the crisis in the credit market undermined those gains. Impairment losses increased from 0.31 percent of loans to 0.60 percent. After the conversion to pounds, total revenue dropped by 6 percent. Over all, RBS reported an 18-percent rise in net income in 2007. For more local breaking business news, visit the Biz Blog at projo.com/business. As of November, Citizens had 5,400 employees in Rhode Island, more than in any other part of the country. Citizens operates in 13 states and has 24,500 U.S.-based employees. Last March, Lawrence K. Fish stepped down as Citizens' chief executive officer. In December, he relinquished his remaining operational responsibilities at the bank. Posted by Benjamin N. Gedan at 12:38 PM | Comment Package of bills aims for equalityFour Providence legislators are meeting this afternoon to introduce a package of 10 bills they say will promote racial and economic equality throughout the state. Rep. Grace Diaz, D-Providence; Sen. Juan M. Pichardo, D-Providence; Rep. David A. Segal, D-Providence, East Providence; and Rep. Joseph S. Almeida, D- Providence, are meeting with a number of immigrant activist groups, neighborhood associations and other activist groups . The news conference will be moderated by the Ellen Gallagher, community outreach coordinator for the International Institute of Rhode Island, which offers legal and social services to immigrants and refugees. The group is meeting at the State House today at 3 p.m. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:32 PM | Comment R.I. high court upholds conviction of motel owner's killerPROVIDENCE -- The state Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction and life-without-parole sentence of Roger Graham, who went into Founder's Brook Motel and Suites in Portsmouth six years ago and shot the owner in front of his 8-year-old son. "The cold-blooded and shocking nature of this act reveals a heart of stone and a character unconcerned with the standards of a decent and law-abiding society," Supreme Court Justice Francis X. Flaherty wrote in the court's opinion out today. "We cannot in good conscience say that the citizenry ever would be safe if again exposed to this callous criminal. Therefore, we affirm the sentence of life without parole imposed by the trial justice." Graham appealed his February 2005 conviction in Newport County Superior Court. Graham, an immigrant from Barbados who had been living illegally in New York City, became the 22nd convicted felon in Rhode Island sentenced to life without parole possibility. The prosecution said Graham had been hired by the victim's brother-in-law to kill motel manager Sanjeev Patel on New Year's Day 2002. Patel's bullet-riddled body was found by his wife, the high court opinion says. There were two consecutive hung juries before a third jury convicted Graham and concluded the crime met the conditions that is was a murder for hire, enabling the judge to consider the life-without-parole sentence. Graham's appeal argued the Superior Court judge gave improper jury instructions, incorrectly ruled on certain evidence matters, incorrectly denied the defendant’s motion for acquittal on the conspiracy charge; erred in life-without-parole proceedings and sentence, and erred in not appointing additional legal counsel for the defendant for his third trial. The Supreme Court said Graham's "troubling character, record, and propensity for criminal activity persuade us that it is unlikely that he could be rehabilitated" and that he "has been engaged in a life of crime, including selling bootleg tapes and compact discs, installing bootleg cable, selling weapons, and selling drugs." The high court adds it was "unable to find any indication" that Graham has, "to this day, shown any real remorse for what he has done." -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:30 PM | Comment Providence Place sales jumped in December
PROVIDENCE -- Sales tax receipts at Providence Place mall jumped 28.4 percent in December, reaching a record of nearly $2.6 million, according to figures compiled by the state Division of Taxation. The monthly tax figure bests the previous monthly record of $2 million, set in December 2006. For the year, stores in Providence Place generated $13,981,625 in sales taxes for the state, also a new record. The financial and legislative assistance that helped make Providence Place a reality put a unique requirement on the mall: It is the only shopping center in the state that must file sales tax returns. Because of the way mall stores turn over their sales tax receipts to the state, there is a lag of more than four weeks before the totals can be made public, according to division officials. Consequently, December’s total weren't available until this month. For more local breaking business news, visit the Biz Blog at projo.com/business. Posted by Benjamin N. Gedan at 12:08 PM | Comment Update: Car in river unoccupied, reported stolen / Photo
Divers had entered the frigid watersr near the bottom of Manville Hill Road, near the Lincoln/Cumberland border. The car is about 40 feet offshore, according to police Lt. Stephen Duda, and was called in by a passing driver. Crews were having trouble fishing the car out of the water, Duda said, because they did not have enough cable to reach the car. Another tow truck is on its way.
Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:37 AM | Comment Jury of 10 men, 6 women picked for smoke-shop casePROVIDENCE -- A jury of 10 men and 6 women will hear the case the state makes against seven Narragansett Indians charged with resisting and fighting with State Police during the 2003 raid of a tribal smoke shop in Charlestown. Among jurors are a school principal, an elementary school clerk, a high school English teacher, a special education director, a pest-control company employee, a construction company employee, and an activities director at an assisted-living facility. This afternoon, the jury is slated to tour the smoke-shop site on tribal land on Route 2. This week, lawyers questioned each prospective juror about such things as their view on the Narragansett Indian tribe’s casino quest and whether they could accept defense arguments that state troopers might lie under oath. State police used a search warrant on July 14, 2003, to halt tax-free sale of cigarettes by the Narragansetts at the roadside store. The situation turned violent and seven adult tribal members, including Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, are on trial in Providence County Superior Court on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstruction and assault. Read more about jury selection this week. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:27 AM | Comment Executive tells R.I. conference: Green is the word
The web page of 1E, a global Windows management software and services company was on hand with software that automatically shuts down computers when not in use. Brown University is hosting a conference today to highlight "green" technology in the business world.
In just the last 120 days, Makower said: A leading manufacturer has produced a green cell phone that uses minimal energy when recharging. A major auto maker has developed a production plant that produces zero waste. A line of green cleaning products has gone to market and another company converted its fleet of 1,000 trucks to bio-diesel. However, Makower said there are still no standards for what makes a company green, activists don’t reward companies that do good, Wall Street still isn’t paying attention and the public doesn’t know who to believe. Steve Hamburg, director of the Global Environment Program at Brown, challenged everyone at the conference, sponsored by the Brown Forum for Enterprise, to come up with one idea that would make money, reduce carbon emissions and lessen energy usage. At the same time. -- Journal staff writer Peter B. Lord Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:31 AM | Comment Amtrak to spend millions on defective ties in NortheastWASHINGTON -- Amtrak says it must spend tens of millions of dollars to replace defective railroad ties on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor. The problem could delay trains - and thus cost Amtrak business - if not addressed quickly, the railroad warned in a letter to Congress last week. The concrete ties were purchased beginning in the 1990s and have already begun to crack, Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said yesterday. Concrete ties normally last about 50 years. The total cost of fixing the problem is still unclear. But in its annual funding request to Congress, Amtrak said it expects to spend at least $23.5 million on it this year alone. Black said costs are likely to be similar next year. The ties are manufactured by Rocla Concrete Tie Inc. at a plant inside an Amtrak maintenance yard in Bear, Del. Amtrak said that under the terms of the contract, the supplier must replace the defective ties for free, but won't reimburse the railroad for the labor. -- The Associated Press "Amtrak and Rocla are working together to ensure that the replacement ties that they are providing us are top quality," Black said. "Amtrak is comfortable that the manufacturer has corrected the problem." If concrete ties fracture severely, they can't properly support the rails, Black said. However, he emphasized that the problem does not pose a danger because it was caught early and is being addressed. It's not the first time Rocla has been blamed for defects. New York's Metro-North commuter railroad sued the company in 2006 for premature cracks in ties purchased in 1997. The case was settled out of court. Metro-North spokesman Dan Brucker said Rocla agreed to replace the ties as part of the settlement. That process is expected to be completed within the next three years, Brucker said. The president of Denver-based Rocla, Peter Urquhart, declined to comment Wednesday on Amtrak's concerns. Black said the cracking was first spotted in the fall. Since then, Amtrak has been implementing speed restrictions, known as slow orders, on sections of track between Washington and Boston. "This is a critical problem, since tie-related slow orders are already delaying trains on the Corridor," Amtrak Chief Executive Alex Kummant wrote in the $1.67 billion funding request. The Northeast Corridor is home to Amtrak's only high-speed service, the Acela Express. Good on-time performance has helped the railroad take business away from the airlines between Boston and Washington. In 2007, the Acela Express arrived at its destination within 10 minutes of the scheduled time 87.8 percent of the time. That has fallen to 84.2 percent in the current fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. However, Black said the drop for the most part is not connected to the slow orders, but stems from running more trips with the same number of trains. Still, if enough slow orders were to accumulate, it would be difficult to make up the time. The degree of the speed reduction depends on the concentration of faulty ties in a given area. In the worst cases, they force trains to drop from 135 miles per hour all the way to 60 mph. So far Amtrak has replaced about 5,000 defective ties on a spot basis, lifting slow orders as the problem spots are fixed. In the spring, the railroad plans to begin using a track-laying machine to replace ties systematically, Black said. The process may require adjusting timetables to lengthen trip times or temporarily reducing the number of trips on the corridor. It could also affect commuter lines that operate on Amtrak-owned tracks. Black said he did not know how many of the 3.4 million concrete ties on the corridor were supplied by Rocla since Amtrak began doing business with the company in the early 1990s. According to the Web site for Chatswood, Australia-based Rocla Pty Ltd., its U.S. affiliate produced 895,000 for Amtrak and Metro-North from 1996 to 1999. The U.S. company is no longer part of Rocla Pty. Ltd. Amtrak began replacing its wooden ties on the Northeast Corridor with concrete ones in 1978. Concrete ties are more expensive, but last longer and require less maintenance. They are also better for high-speed operations, Black said. Posted by Jack Perry at 8:33 AM | Comment The environment and the bottom lineCan a business grow its bottom line while at the same time working to improve environmental conditions? Could including environmental stewardship in a business model actually be better for business? Brown University is hosting a conference today focused on those questions and others concerning sustainable technologies in the business world. Today's event will bring together "the region's top business leaders to address cutting edge topics in this emerging field, from environmentally friendly building to 'green ventures' in business," according to a statement released by the school. "It is said that the field of green technology innovation could well become the largest economic opportunity of the coming century." The daylong conference, "Green Technology: Science, Innovation and Enterprise in the Region," is being organized by the Brown Forum for Enterprise. It's set to take place at the Rhode Island Convention Center and will feature 25 speakers discussing renewable energy, environmentally friendly building, financing "green ventures" and other themes. The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:25 AM | Comment This is only a test, in the event of a real emergency...Don’t panic when you hear the sirens go off this afternoon. Brown University is testing its new emergency warning system between noon and 1 p.m. The sirens are atop university buildings on the East Side campus. The system will sound a loud tone and voice message. The system will be tested twice a year, according to a statement from the University. It would only be used otherwise for life-threatening emergencies during which people need to immediately seek indoor shelter. Most emergencies – forecast weather events, for example – will not trigger the system. A large chemical release, or unforeseen weather event such as a tornado would. Several other security initiatives – including the city’s reverse 911 system -- would supplement the alarm system in the event of a real emergency. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:06 AM | Comment Another Clinton comes to Rhode IslandFormer President Bill Clinton is coming to the Ocean State today, less than one week before Rhode Island's March 4 presidential primary election. Clinton has been traveling the country, campaigning on behalf of his wife, presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. He will be hosting a rally at Bryant University in Smithfield, according to a statement from the Hillary Clinton campaign. Doors open at 2:15 p.m., and the event is expected to begin at 3:15. The rally, titled “Solutions for America,” will be at the Chace Athletic Center, and is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to carpool because of the limited parking. Sen. Clinton has already visited the state; she held a rally at Rhode Island College on Sunday. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will make a campaign stop in Rhode Island Saturday -- the March 4 primary here and in three other states could prove crucial in picking the Democratic nominee. But exactly when and where are still to be determined, his campaign said at a news conference yesterday. His wife visited the state last week. Sen. John McCain spoke to an audience of more than 1,000 at the Crowne Plaza hotel on Feb. 14. Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee was on the radio, and visited a school and this newspaper Monday in a day-long campaigning tour of Rhode Island. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:05 AM | Comment Sunny but coldThe clouds should clear later in the day and the National Weather Service is forecasting a sunny, albeit cold day with a high temperature near 30 degrees. Skies should remain clear tonight when the temperature drops down to about 11 degrees. Clouds are expected to return tomorrow, and they may bring snow in the afternoon. The temperature should only reach the high 20s with a northwest wind becoming south later in the day. For more weather and regular updates, see projo.com/weather. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about the state's poor showing on high school math tests and a story about three stolen paintings worth about $1 million turning up in a Rhode Islander's home. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment February 27, 2008Tonight: Magic Slim and the Teardrops play the bluesMagic Slim and the Teardrops bring the blues to Chan's in Woonsocket tonight. The band picked up an award in 2003 as Blues Band of the Year, The Journal's Seize Today listing says in the Lifebeat section. It's $15 for the 8 p.m. show, $10 for the 10 p.m. show or $18 to catch both shows. For more things to do, browse projo.com's calendar of events. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment Jury selection nearly complete in smoke-shop trialPROVIDENCE — Jury selection continued today in the trial of seven Narragansett Indians charged with resisting and fighting with the state police as they raided a tribal smoke shop in July 2003. Prosecutors and defense lawyers appeared to be nearing a complete jury in Providence County Superior Court, but Judge Susan E. McGuirl replaced several members of the 16-person panel this afternoon after they were challenged by attorneys involved in the case. A bank branch manager was released after she told the court she was concerned by TV footage that showed apparent excessive force by the state police and tribal members during the raid. A Central Falls man who said he had many close friends on that city’s police force was also released. Lawyers are quizzing each prospective juror about issues ranging from their position on the Narragansett Indian tribe’s casino quest to whether they could accept defense arguments that state troopers might lie under oath. The state police executed a search warrant on July 14, 2003, to stop the Narragansetts from selling tax-free cigarettes from the roadside store in Charlestown. The confrontation turned into a violent scuffling match. Seven adult tribal members, including Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, are now on trial for misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstruction and assault. Prospective jurors will continue to be questioned tomorrow morning. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Karen Bordeleau at 5:55 PM | Comment EPA: Four R.I. companies paying penaltiesFour Rhode Island companies have been assessed $2,000 fines by the federal Environmental Protection Agency for not filing reports on chemicals present at their facilities. An EPA news release today said the local companies are Geib Refining Corp. in Warwick, National Chain Co. in Warwick, Technodic Inc. in Providence, and M. Weisman Roofing Co. in Warwick. They are among 11 New England companies that have been assessed fines. The EPA said it reached settlements with the companies after inspections found they failed to report as required under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The hazardous chemical inventory reports give information on "nature, amount, location, and hazards of chemicals stored at the facility," the EPA statement said. “Chemical reporting is very important for the public-at-large, and it is essential for the safety of first responders if there is an accident at one of these facilities,” Robert Varney, EPA's New England administrator, said in the statement. “Regular reporting of hazardous chemicals helps first responders to protect themselves, and protect the public, if there is a fire or other dangerous event at a facility. Officials also use this information for disaster planning -- for example when simulating a response to a hurricane.” -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:45 PM | Comment State gives its OK to plans to improve Newport schoolsNEWPORT -- The state has given preliminary approval to plans to replace the city’s aged elementary schools with modern facilities, including the construction of one new elementary school at the site of Underwood School. The project, estimated to cost between $20 million and $24 million, would be eligible for 30 percent reimbursement from the state if given final approval. The ultimate approval, however, must come from city voters, who are expected to be presented a referendum in November. The School Committee spent several years holding public hearings and discussing what to do about its five antiquated elementary buildings before finally settling upon a plan late last year. The committee voted to build a new K-2 elementary school at the site of the Underwood School, send all students in grades three to six to what is now Thompson Middle School and use surplus space at Rogers High School to create a separate wing for seventh and eighth graders. -- Journal staff writer Richard Salit The 5-2 vote allowed Supt. John Ambrogi to complete an application for Stage 1 preliminary approval for the project from the Department of Education. He received a letter last week from Carolyn Dias, director of finance and administration. She wrote that the department “recognizes the great need for facilities work in Newport. To that, we are both approving your Stage 1 application and encouraging you to begin work on the Stage 2 application as soon as possible. We will continue to work with you to the extent needed during the Stage 2 process with the goal of full Board of Regents approval of the project by late April or early May. "Approval by the Regents by May should allow Newport sufficient time to obtain General Assembly approval for enabling legislation in this session.” Ambrogi said it took longer than expected to receive the preliminary approval. But the news was welcome. “I was obviously pleased we would be able to move forward with the project. It is one of the most important things that will be faced by the voters in November in terms of making a determination as to whether or not they support quality education for students at a very reasonable price,” he said. “Now hopefully we’ll quickly get Stage 2 approval and we’ll be able to show that a new school construction program benefits everyone in the city, the students, first and foremost, but additionally the taxpayers. According to Ambrogi, the consolidation, from seven schools to three, would translate into $21 million in savings in personnel costs alone during the next 20 years, not to mention heating and other expenses. In addition, the four elementary schools that would no longer be needed could be sold by the city for an estimated $7.7 million, generating about $16 million in taxes for the city over the next years If the city were to continue relying on its old elementary schools, it would still be faced with costly renovations, he said. The timetable calls for the three schools to be fully realigned and renovated by the fall of 2011. The plan is not without its critics. At hearings, parents have criticized moving seventh and eighth graders to Rogers and realigning grades at Thompson, which was refurbished with the intention of housing students in grades 6 to 8. Some said that a K-2 school should be built not at Underwood, but at a more central location. Ambrogi said that the Stage 2 application will require the city to submit detailed plans to the state. It’s where the city would have to commit to a location and grade alignment. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:41 PM | Comment Update: Bush pays tribute to Sox -- again / Photo, video
The First Fan -- President Bush -- clearly in his element among owners and players of the Sox -- paid tribute to individual stars with several humorous jabs at them and at himself. Bush welcomed "Dice-K" -- Daisuke Matsuzaka -- and told the crowd, which included a large contingent of Japanase reporters, "His press corps is bigger than mine. We both have trouble answering questions in English." It was the team's second trip to the White House in recent years. Many of the players also attended a ceremony in the spring of 2005, months after the Sox won the 2004 World Series. The president also got a big laugh by noting the absence of Manny Ramirez and joking that the slugger's grandmother "must have died again." But as is his custom at these White House gatherings of champions from beyond the world of politics, Bush also made some serious points about the value of teamwork and diligent effort. He also noted that members of the Red Sox planned after the White House celebration to visit wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. "Thank you for really honoring the true heroes of America," Bush told the players. As the ceremony wound down, a military band struck up "Sweet Caroline," the number traditionally played during the seventh-inning stretch at Fenway Park. And as the champions walked up the stairway to the Truman Balcony of the White House, a chant rose up from the crowd, "Let's go Red Sox!" Video: See a clip of the White House ceremony today. -- John Mulligan of the Journal Washington Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:10 PM | Comment Update: Candidate Obama to visit R.I. SaturdayPROVIDENCE -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will make a campaign stop in Rhode Island Saturday as the March 4 primary here and in three other states could prove crucial in picking the Democratic nominee. But exactly when and where are still to be determined, his campaign said at a news conference this afternoon. The venue is not yet confirmed, though the time is likely to be early afternoon. Such uncertainty in scheduling has been typical of campaign visits, as candidates shuffle their schedules from state to state. Former President Bill Clinton is coming to Rhode Island tomorrow to campaign on behalf of his wife, Obama's opponent for the nomination, Hillary Rodham Clinton Obama's wife, Michele, visited last week, and Obama's opponent in the Democratic primary, Hillary Rodham Clinton, was here last weekend. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Scott MacKay Posted by Jack Perry at 3:59 PM | Comment Live video: Red Sox welcomed at White HouseThe Red Sox are in Washington, D.C., where the team is scheduled to take part in a ceremony at the White House with President Bush, saluting the world champions. It will be the second trip to the White House in recent years. Many of the players also attended a ceremony in the spring of 2005, months after the Sox won the 2004 World Series. After leaving the White House, the Sox will travel to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where they will visit with some wounded soldiers and bring the World Series trophy. Francona recalled the team’s last visit to the hospital as emotional and inspiring. “It was humbling and an honor to be there,” said Francona. “I didn’t hear one person say, ‘Let’s go.’ Everybody wanted to stay and talk [to the patients].” Weather-permitting, projo.com plans to have a live video feed of the ceremony on the South Lawn today, when the MLB champion Red Sox meet President Bush. Video: See live coverage of the event. -- Journal staff writer Sean McAdam Posted by Jack Perry at 3:00 PM | Comment Conn. woman gets probation for groping SantaDANBURY -- A woman accused of groping Santa Claus at the Danbury Fair Mall won't have to serve any jail time if she stays out of trouble. Sandrama Lamy of Danbury has been sentenced under an accelerated rehabilitation program that will wipe her record clean if she completes two years of probation. Danbury Superior Court Judge Susan Reynolds has ordered the 33-year-old to stay away from the mall. In December, Lamy was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault and breach of peace for allegedly touching Santa inappropriately while sitting on his lap. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 1:36 PM | Comment RIPTA routes to detour for Pawtucket St. Pat's paradeTwelve Pawtucket-based RIPTA bus routes will be detoured Saturday for the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Pawtucket, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority said today. The affected inbound and outbound trips are on these numbered routes: * 42: Hope Street Pick-ups and drop-offs for the routes will be at Navigant Credit Union at Goff and Dexter streets. The buses will not stop at Pawtucket Transit Center from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Customers may call 781-9400 for the detoured route or go to www.ripta.com. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:12 PM | Comment R.I. 11th graders earn low marks in math test scoresPROVIDENCE -- Just 22 percent of Rhode Island’s 11th graders scored proficient in math on the new standardized tests that more than 11,000 students took in October, the lowest rate of proficiency recorded in the past decade. Education officials say the depressing scores offer a far more accurate and honest measure of students’ math performance than previous tests. Even worse, the majority of students — 51 percent — missed proficiency by a wide margin and were classified as “significantly below proficient,” receiving the lowest possible score. Just 1 percent of juniors — 123 students — did well enough to be classified as “proficient with distinction.” Another 27 percent of students scored “partially proficient” on the test, which focuses on algebra and geometry skills. Some high schools, particularly in urban areas, reported proficiency rates as low as 3, 2, even 1 percent, a troubling indication of the low level of math instruction occurring in those schools and the weak preparation low-income and minority students receive in elementary and middle school to handle challenging math concepts. The dismal results were released by Governor Carcieri and education officials at an 11 a.m. press conference today at the State House. Read a press release from the Rhode Island Department of Education's Web site. See the scores for each school. -- Journal staff writer Jennifer Jordan Officials point to three main problems behind the scores on the new test. Too few students have access to rigorous algebra and geometry classes as freshmen and sophomores. Instead, thousands of students who struggle in math are channeled into “math to nowhere classes,” as one education official calls them. In addition, problems in math start well before high school, but are compounded as students fall farther behind and the classes get harder. Often, there are not enough supports for struggling students. Third, many districts do not have high quality math programs and teachers adequately prepared to teach them across all grade levels. This lack of expertise has been exposed through the test scores, said Peter McWalters, Rhode Island’s education commissioner. “We need to look at teacher prep programs at the local colleges and the level of professional development offered to veteran teachers,” McWalters said. Not surprisingly, students in wealthy suburbs received the highest scores. Even there, however, math scores were significantly lower than reading. At Barrington High School, just 63 percent of students scored proficient in math, compared with 90 percent proficient in English. At the next highest scoring school, East Greenwich High, just 54 percent scored proficient in math; 88 percent in reading. Last year, 43 percent of juniors statewide scored proficient in math on the old test, the New Standards Reference Exam. But that test included basic skills, giving students credit for easier concepts, said Mary Ann Snider, director of assessment for the state Education Department. The new test, which was developed in part by math teachers from Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont, is considered harder, Snider said. But it was designed to assess students on “what they should be learning in ninth and tenth grades,” Snider said. New Hampshire and Vermont, which developed the “New England Common Assessment Program” tests with Rhode Island, also fared poorly in math, with less than 30 percent of students in those states scoring proficient on the math test. Both states have smaller concentrations of poverty and have fewer English language learners than Rhode Island, and students in New Hampshire and Vermont generally score higher than Rhode Island on other national tests, such as the SATs. Yet all three states saw grim results on the NECAP math test. “It’s an American phenomenon to say ‘I can’t do math.’ People in Europe and Asia don’t say that,” McWalters said. “This is different than the literacy issue because people think they should read. But not all people assume they should do math.” Students scored higher in reading, with 61 percent of Rhode Island’s juniors scoring proficient or better, and 37 percent proficient in writing. New Hampshire students scored 67 percent proficient in reading, 28 percent in math and 33 percent in writing. Vermont plans to release its results next month. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:30 AM | Comment Advocate wants protective orders for pets, spayingAn activist organization is set to speak on proposed legislation related to animal treatment at the State House today. Defenders of Animals, a Rhode Island organization that, according to its Web site, consists of Daniel Tabella and volunteers, is set to promote four bills: A bill to prohibit a person from keeping animals outside for more than a half hour when conditions go beyond conditions deemed safe by the Tufts Animal Care and Condition Scale (.pdf) A bill that would issue protective orders against a person who has been found guilty of abusing an animal. A bill that gives a judge discretion to give jail time to people convicted of crimes related to animal fighting. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:03 AM | Comment Whitehouse to testify on vote caging prohibitionSen. Sheldon Whitehouse is scheduled to testify today in favor of legislation that would prohibit challenges to people’s right to vote based on a mailing address. The process in question, known as “vote caging,” is when mail that has been “returned to sender” is used as a way to question a person’s residency and, therefore, right to vote. The Caging Prohibition Act was introduced last November. It would prevent challenges to voter eligibility based only on these returned mail lists. Whitehouse sponsored the bill along with 13 co-sponsors. His testimony in front of the Committee on Rules and Administration will be available on the Committee's Web site. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:57 AM | Comment No injuries reported in East Providence fireEast Providence fire crews are on the scene of a fire. The fire is at 935 Broadway, a residential building, according to the East Providence fire chief. As of 10:25, he says the fire is under control, and so far, there are no reports of any injuries. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:45 AM | Comment Kennedy Townsend visits R.I. to rally 'Women for Hillary'Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and other women from around the state are meeting today as “Rhode Island Women for Hillary,” a group that aims to organize women supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s bid for the White House. Also involved are Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed, former Senate Republican leader Lila Sapinsley and Suzanne Magaziner, a Bristol resident. The women are meeting today at 1:30 p.m. at the 3 Steeple Street restaurant. Last week, Sen. Barack Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, visited Rhode Island to rally women and encourage support for her husband's candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. Last Wednesday, Mrs. Obama spoke to about 150 professional and politically active women at an invitation-only rally for Rhode Island Women for Obama at the Providence Biltmore. She later spoke before an estimated 2,200 people at a rally for her husband’s campaign at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Warwick campus. Some of Kennedy Townsend's relatives, including her uncle Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, and cousins U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, and Caroline Kennedy have thrown their support behind Obama. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:42 AM | Comment Boston gives reprieves to 57 bars without sprinklersBOSTON -- Dozens of bars and nightclubs in Boston are being given more time to comply with state regulations requiring fire sprinklers. The fire department had warned owners of these establishments in November that if they did not install sprinklers within two months, they would be shut down. But officials are now giving reprieves to 57 bars and nightclubs who they say are either in the process of installing the equipment or have shown a commitment to do so. The 2004 law requires that establishments with capacities of 100 or more people have automatic sprinkler systems. It was approved in the wake of the February 2003 Station nightclub fire in West Warwick that killed 100 people. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 8:42 AM | Comment Kennedy Plaza reimaginedKennedy Plaza can get pretty hectic – with the students, the workers, the buses, the cabs, not to mention the car traffic. Is there a way to improve that public space? A group of residents, public safety officials, representatives from other public and private sectors of the community are getting together today to discuss ways to improve the public space in and around Kennedy Plaza. The workshop is led by the Project for Public Spaces, a nonprofit organization that has worked with |
