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March 7, 2008

Tonight: Keller Williams, R&B and the blues

Tonight, you can find WMDs at Lupo's in Providence and the blues at Chan's in Woonsocket.

Keller Williams and the WMD's featuring Keith Moseley, Gibb Droll and Jeff Sipe play rock, at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, 79 Washington St., Providence. 331-5876, 272-5876, www.etix.com. 9 pm. $20 advance; $23 day of show; $25 reserved.

Black & White featuring Gary "Guitar" Gramolini play rhythm and blues at Finnegan's Wake, 397 Westminster St., Providence. 751-0290. 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Albert Cummings plays blues at Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St., Woonsocket. 765-1900. 8, 10 p.m. $15 early show; $10 late show; $18 both shows.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:18 PM | Comment

Alert: Woonsocket Mayor Menard will step down in June

Mayor Susan Menard, who announced today that she is stepping down as Woonsocket mayor in June, is seen earlier this week with State Police Supt. Brendan Doherty. Menard and Doherty appeared together at a news conference at which Lt. Eric L. Croce, of the Rhode Island State Police, was named to lead the troubled Woonsocket Police Department.
The Providence Journal / Bob Thayer photo

Woonsocket Mayor Susan D. Menard will step down June 15, City Councilman Roger Jalette said today.

Jalette said that Menard, who began her seventh term in November, called him this morning to tell him of her decision and "she was crying."

She did not give Jalette a reason but he said her administration had seen an exodus of several department heads over the past two years and the new controversy in the Police Department, which led to retirement of the chief and the deputy chief, could not have helped.

"She's human," he said, "that's it."

Menard, who took office as mayor in early 1996, was first elected to the School Committee in 1981 and later served for 10 years on the City Council, including time as council president.

In November, Menard, a Democrat described in past news accounts as having an at-times aggressive style, won a seventh term by defeating challenger Todd R. Brien by more than 900 votes. Menard spoke at the time of there being much to be done: two new middle schools to be built and a nine-year property revaluation.

“I really felt an obligation to see that through, “ she said in November.

On Wednesday, Menard and state police Supt. Brendan P. Doherty announced that the state police have assumed temporary management of the Woonsocket Police Department until a new police chief is hired. The move was announced after Chief Michael L.A. Houle and Deputy Chief Richard A. Dubois retired, which came after the chief’s ex-wife made allegations that they had changed police exam scores to get her on the force.

The Journal reported in November 2005 that during Menard's 10-year tenure, the city's deficit became a $4.6-million surplus, the city's bond rating improved, and infrastructure was rebuilt. Nearly a dozen old mills were slated to be turned into luxury condominiums for young professionals, with some fully occupied -- development that added to tax rolls while having little effect on Woonsocket's schools.

-- Journal staff writer John Hill, with Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:10 PM | Comment

Popular Providence bistro, Raphael Bar Risto, closes

PROVIDENCE - A popular Italian restaurant that came to prominence during the resurgence of downtown Providence in the 1990s has closed.

Raphael Bar Risto, located in the Union Station complex owned by the Rhode Island Foundation, filed a petition for receivership late last month in Superior Court, Providence.

The court appointed attorney Allan M. Shine as the receiver last Friday, and the restaurant closed its doors on Monday, Shine said.

The owner, Ralph C. Conte Jr., “indicated that business has fallen off, expenses have risen and he wasn’t able to pay rent and other expenses,” Shine said.

Conte could not be reached for comment today.

Tomorrow, a South County eatery once known for its inexpensive pasta, burgers and grinders, will be open for its last day. The current owner of Giro's also cited rising costs as among the reasons for the move.

Shine said that Conte has told him there is an outstanding mortgage debt of about $130,000 and vendor claims that could be in the range of $300,000.

The exact amount of indebtedness won’t be known until the creditors file their claims with Shine.

Under state law, a receiver is authorized to take possession of the property and assets of the business. Shine said that he will put the business up for sale.

“Our objective is to market the restaurant, which is in a terrific location, and to solicit offers for it, and sell as a restaurant,” Shine said in an interview. “We have already had a number of inquiries, so we think there’s significant interest in the purchase of a restaurant.”

There have been no bids so far, he said.

Once a bid is accepted, Shine said he will present information about the bid and the bidder to the court for its approval.

Raphael Bar Risto’s roots date back 25 years. Conte opened the first Raphael's in 1983 in a tiny place in North Kingstown. But before long, he moved the restaurant to Providence after he was encouraged to do so by former Providence mayor Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci, Conte told The Providence Journal last year.

In 1998, Conte moved his establishment from South Water Street to its current location, on the edge of Waterplace Park, near the Capital Grille and Union Station Brewery.

Raphael’s became know for its sophisticated Italian menu and a distinct visual style that was urbane, sleek and modern, according to a Providence Journal restaurant review. It was described as having a high-energy, loud atmosphere with music pulsating from the bar and tables. Its décor included blond wood, light colors and pop portraits of Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe on the walls.

In October 2005, New England Travel and Life named Raphael Bar Risto Providence’s best restaurant, citing its outstanding Italian cuisine and its “fashionably urbane dining experience.”

For more local breaking business news, visit the Biz Blog at projo.com/business.

Posted by Benjamin N. Gedan at 6:15 PM | Comment

Cumberland man charged in baseball scam

A Cumberland man who claimed to be a former minor league baseball player with ties to the Baltimore Orioles organization was arrested recently after parents reported him to the state police.

Jack A. Ranallo, 52, of 39 Peacedale Rd. is facing 13 counts of obtaining money under false pretenses and two counts of providing false documents to public officials after he allegedly persuaded parents in the Northern Rhode Island area to cut him checks to start a baseball team and academy that would get their teens ready for college-level play and exposure to major league scouts.

But when the team couldn’t find a league to play in and the academy never materialized, the parents reported Ranallo to the state police.

State police Lt. Brian K. Casilli, of the financial crimes unit, says that Ranallo was arrested by Maryland State Police in September 1999 in a similar case in which he posed as a former baseball player for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ranallo, who also goes by the names Jack A. Dorvis and Jack A. Norris, was arraigned on the local charges in District Court, Providence, on Feb. 26 and released on bail. His next court date -- determination of attorney hearing -- will take place March 11 in Superior Court in Providence.

-- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:10 PM | Comment

Steve Kass moves to EMA -- with his $126,541 salary

PROVIDENCE -- The governor's office confirmed this evening that communications director Steve Kass has been moved to the state Emergency Management Agency, where he will become the primary spokesman and public education officer.

"The Governor is assigning Steve Kass to oversee communications and be spokesman for the Emergency Management Agency, where the need for improved communications has been widely discussed in recent months," said the governor's spokesman Barbara H. Trainor.

The EMA was thrust into the news in December following a minor snowstorm that brought the capital city to a standstill, stranding hundreds of children on school buses for hours.

Current spokeswoman Brittan Bates was performing communications duties in addition to her role as a coordinator for emergency exercises, according to the EMA.

"What I have asked for some time and now, and thank goodness we’re getting some support from the governor's office, is someone who can inform the media and the public, and be the liaison during times of crisis or emergency," said Maj. Robert T. Bray, adjutant general of the Rhode Island National Guard.

Kass will continue to earn his current salary of $126,541. As of last June, Bates earned $47,138.

-- Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:00 PM | Comment

Update: Body found in Warwick field ID'd as man, 85

WARWICK -- No evidence of foul play in the death of an 85-year-old man who was found in a field this morning, police said.

He was identified this afternoon as John Medeiros, according to Warwick police Lt. Jeffrey Enos.

The medical examiner has not yet made a determination of death and the investigation is ongoing.

Earlier today, Capt. Matthew Costello said a truck driver spotted the body, face down, at about 8:15 this morning.

Medeiros was in a field at 325 Hardig Road, near Sparrow Point Apartments. The location is just west of Route 95, between Routes 117 and 3.

Costello said the apartment complex caters to the elderly and people with physical disabilities.

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

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 5:42 PM | Comment

EMA urges caution during expected flooding tomorrow

The state Emergency Management Agency today released these tips to help Rhode Islanders deal with possible flooding expected to hit the region tomorrow.

A flood watch is in effect from tonight through late tomorrow night because of the significant rainfall expected this weekend.

Rhode Island residents are urged to:

* Keep monitoring news reports, so you're aware of the impact on your community.

* For people in flood-prone areas, watch small streams and low-lying locations for early signs of flooding. Make sure street catch basins are cleared.

* Make certain your home is ready: Minimize damage from basement flooding by elevating utilities and materials that could be damaged by limited basement flooding.

* Heed the direction of local public safety officials and follow recommended evacuation routes. Shortcuts may be blocked or dangerous.

* Do not walk through flowing water. Most drownings happen during flash floods; water moving at high speed can move boulders, sweep away cars, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges. Six inches of swiftly moving water can knock a person off balance. If you have to walk through a flooded area, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is solid, even where the water is not flowing.

* Don't drive through a flooded area: More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Cars can be swept away in just two feet of moving water. Don't drive around road barriers. The road or bridge may be washed out or structurally unsound. If your car gets trapped in floodwaters, abandon it immediately and go to higher ground.

* Avoid electrical lines and wires, as electrocution is a major killer in floods. Electrical current travels through water. Report downed power lines to your utility company or local emergency manager. Always assumed a downed wire is a live wire.

* Look before your step: After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris such as broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be slippery.

* Stay alert for leaks: Don't turn on electric lights, but use a flashlight to look for damage. A spark from the light switch could cause an explosion or fire. Don't smoke or use candles, lanterns or open flames unless you are sure gas has been turned off and the area has been aired out.

* Carbon monoxide gas kills: Use only camping stoves, generators or other gasoline-powered machines outside. Charcoal fumes are especially deadly so don't used the machines indoors.

* Clean everything that gets wet. Floodwaters have probably picked up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms and factories. Spoiled food and flooded medicines and cosmetics are health hazards. When in doubt, throw them away.

* Be ready for a rough time: Recovering from a flood is a big job. "It is rough on the body and the spirit. The after-effects of this type of disaster on you and your family may last a long time. Consult a health professional on how to recognize and care for anxiety, stress and fatigue," the EMA news release says.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:15 PM | Comment

Photo: Cowboys' Anderson returns to his home turf

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Dallas Cowboys rookie Deon Anderson returns to The San Miguel School in Providence today, from which he graduated in 1997, to speak to the students there. The middle school is one of a national network established by the De La Salle Christian Brothers to address the needs of students from economically-poor communities. Fullback Anderson's season was cut short last November by a rotator-cuff injury.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:00 PM | Comment

Former British Prime Minister Blair to teach at Yale

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Yale University says former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will teach there next year.

Blair has been appointed as the Howland Distinguished Fellow and will lead a seminar on issues of faith and globalization.

The school says his efforts relate to the work of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which he is launching later this year.

The deans of Yale's management and divinity schools are working on the details of the program.

The fellowship program recognizes citizens of any country who have achieved distinction in the field of literature, fine arts or the science of government.

Yale President Richard Levin says the appointment will provide a tremendous opportunity for students and the Yale community.

Blair was prime minister from 1997 until he resigned last year.

His oldest son, Euan Blair, is in his second year of a two-year master's program in international relations at Yale.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:35 PM | Comment

Tiverton man faces assault charges

A 65-year-old man was indicted on an assault charge today in Superior Court, Newport.

Prosecutors say William Pelletier, of Tiverton, was armed with a knife when, on Jan. 10, he assaulted someone in a Tiverton home.

Pelletier is being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions. He’s scheduled for arraignment on March 20.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 4:15 PM | Comment

Update: Man found shot at Providence home, dies

PROVIDENCE -- A 34-year-old man who was shot multiple times early today has died at Rhode Island Hospital.

The victim, according to a police report, was identified as Francis Rivera. He had been found lying on the floor at his 103 Waldo St. residence by police officers sent there at about 2:05 a.m. for a report of a male who'd been shot.

A man identified by the police as a roommate said he had just gotten home from being out at a nightclub and found Rivera on the floor, bleeding.

Rivera had trouble breathing and could not communicate with officers. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died between 8 and 9 a.m.

The police have no suspect at this time.

Rivera had on him a Commonwealth of Puerto Rico identification card. The police are working to learn more about his background.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:07 PM | Comment

Forum on open government kicks off 'Sunshine Week'

Next week, the sun shines on the Ocean State.

A forum featuring a panel talk on Monday will kick off Rhode Island's "Sunshine Week," part of a national push to promote open government and to strengthen access to public records.

The panel will discuss issues relating to Rhode Island government. State legislative leaders are among those who have been invited to participate in the discussion at the Community College of Rhode Island's Knight campus in Warwick, according to Rhode Island Press Association President Sheila Mullowney.

Senate Majority Leader Teresa Paiva Weed is the first legislator to confirm participation. The free event, open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. Questions will be solicited from the audience. To submit a question before the panel discussion, send it to Editor@NewportRI.com.

The Rhode Island Press Association and ACCESS/RI are sponsoring the forum. This year's theme, tailored to the election season, is "vote for sunshine."

According to the news release, invitations for the forum have also been sent to Senate President Joseph Montalbano, D-North Providence; Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere, R-Westerly; Sen. J. Michael Lenihan, D-East Greenwich; House Speaker William J. Murphy, D-West Warwick; House Majority Leader Gordon Fox, D-Providence; and House Minority
Leader Robert Watson, R-East Greenwich.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:05 PM | Comment

Pawtucket man sentenced to 13 years for bank robbery

PROVIDENCE -- A Pawtucket man who has been arrested more than two dozen times was sentenced today to 13 years in federal prison for robbing a Pawtucket bank in December 2006.

Stephen Davidow, 46, of Cottage Street was sentenced as a "career offender" by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith, U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office said in a statement.

Davidow pleaded guilty last May to bank robbery. Prosecutor Zechariah Chafee said at the plea hearing the government could show that on Dec. 28, 2006, Davidow claimed he had a gun in a note that he gave to a teller at Webster Bank on Newport Avenue. The teller gave him $2,400.

The state police arrested Davidow on Jan. 4 after obtaining information they said tied him to the robbery and after a teller identified him from a photo.

Davidow has been convicted in the past of robbery, felonious entry, larceny, and passing fraudulent checks, the U.S. Attorney's office said, and is considered a career offender because of two or more violent felony convictions.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:00 PM | Comment

Update: Male, 18, grazed by shot near Kennedy Plaza

Journal Photo/Andrew Dickerman
A young man, wearing a white T-shirt, who was wounded in the back after police heard shots in a tunnel under Union Station, is helped into a rescue truck in Kennedy Plaza.

PROVIDENCE -- An 18-year-old man was grazed in the back by a bullet late this morning while in the pedestrian tunnel that connects Waterplace Park to the skating rink at Kennedy Plaza, police said this afternoon.

The unidentified youth was was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and is expected to be released from the hospital this evening.

Deputy Police Chief Paul Kennedy said the police went to the hospital to speak to him and his mother, but the victim has been uncooperative.

Shots were heard in the area of the outdoor rink late this morning, and rescue personnel were seen treating a young man with blood on his T-shirt.

Police Chief Dean Esserman arrived there shortly after noon, but would not at that time confirm that a person had been shot.

Asked then if the incident was connected to a shooting that seriously injured a person at 103 Waldo St. about 2 a.m. today, Esserman said: "We're positive it's not."

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith and photographer Andrew Dickerman and projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Ken Dias, 41, Tiverton, was standing on a hill overlooking the outdoor rink and talking to a police officer in a horse van, when, Dias said, "All of a sudden I heard three shots -- bang, bang, bang. It was real loud."

He said he asked the officer in the van, "Did you hear that?" and that officer called it in.

Dias said he then went down the hill and saw two young men running out of a tunnel next to the rink, known as the Bank of America City Center. One of them was holding his back, as if hurt. He would run, pause, run some more, then stop, Dias said.

Dias said he then went into the tunnel and saw what he described as three bullet shells on the concrete floor of the tunnel. He said he also an apparent bullet, deformed as if it had hit something and been partially crushed.

Two people in the area, frequented by pedestrians at the bus depot in Kennedy Plaza, said they heard gunshots and saw people running away.

About 15 officers were at the scene shortly after noon, and a crowd of onlookers had gathered. Police were seen searching shrubs in the area.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:37 PM | Comment

Bush to speak on economy in wake of jobs report / Video

WASHINGTON -- President Bush will make a statement on the nation's economy this afternoon, hours after a Labor Department report was released that showed employers slashing 63,000 jobs last month -- the most in five years.

He's scheduled to speak live at 2:10 p.m. Projo.com will stream video of his speech here.

The jobs report is the starkest sign yet that the country is heading dangerously toward recession or is in one already.

The report also indicated that the nation's unemployment rate dipped from 4.9 percent in January to 4.8 percent last month as hundreds of thousands of people - perhaps discouraged by their prospects - left the civilian labor force.

Job losses were widespread, with hefty cuts coming from construction, manufacturing, retailing, financial services and a variety of professional and business services. Those losses swamped gains elsewhere, including education and health care, leisure and hospitality and the government.

The latest snapshot of the nation's employment climate underscored the heavy toll of the housing and credit crises on companies, jobseekers and the overall economy.

To provide relief to persistent credit problems, the Federal Reserve announced today that it will increase the amount of loans it plans to make available to banks this month to $100 billion.

It has already provided a total of $160 billion in short-term loans to cash-strapped banks since the auctions began in December. Another Fed step will involve making $100 billion available to a broad range of financial players through a series of separate transactions.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrials were down by nearly 115 points in early afternoon trading -- to just under 12,000 -- as the Fed's actions helped to blunt worry about the eroding jobs situation.

The Labor report also showed that January's job losses were worse than the government first reported. Employers cut 22,000 jobs, versus 17,000.

It was the first monthly back-to-back job losses since May and June 2003, when the job market was still struggling to recover from the blows of the 2001 recession.

The health of the nation's job market is critical in shaping how the overall economy fares. If companies continue to reduce hiring, that will spell more trouble.

More from the Associated Press...

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:44 PM | Comment

Man pleads not guilty in Coventry ATV fatality

WARWICK -- A Coventry man accused of driving away after his all-terrain vehicle crashed in Coventry last summer, fatally injuring his passenger, was arraigned this morning in Superior Court, Kent County, on two felony counts and released on $20,000 bail with surety.

Gregory Hebert, 23, of 1540 Hill Farm Rd, indicted last month by a Kent County grand jury on two felony counts, appeared this morning before Judge William Carnes with his lawyer Matthew B. Smith. Hebert, who looked trim and neat in a dark suit, pleaded not guilty to charges of driving to endanger with death resulting and leaving the scene of an accident, death resulting.

Ashley R. Phelps, 21, was on the back of an ATV driven by Hebert in Coventry on June 23, when the vehicle crashed into mailboxes and rolled over, the police said. Both were thrown off the vehicle. Hebert is accused of getting back on the ATV and speeding off. Phelps, whom police found lying in a driveway with extensive head injuries, was taken to the hospital, but died nine days later.

-- Journal staff writer Lisa Vernon-Sparks

Hebert has voluntarily signed a form waiving his extradition rights, according to Smith. The state now sets bail for Hebert at $20,000 with surety, which was posted today. Carnes said Hebert, who is a carpenter for NAPA Auto Parts Store, will be allowed to travel out the state for “the purposes of his employment.’’

Hebert will be due back in court on April 23 for a pre-trial conference.

Meanwhile, the parents of Ashley Phelps, who was fatally injured in the accident, are calling for more regulations on ATVs, including mandatory insurance and safety changes.

Thomas Phelps, 43, and Kimberly Phelps, 44, of Coventry, this week filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hebert in Superior Court. Hebert’s lawyer has filed a response denying the lawsuit's allegations.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:20 PM | Comment

Landmark's cardiac-surgery program under fiscal review

The state Health Department is stepping in to review Landmark Medical Center’s cardiac-surgery program amid fears that the three-year-old program is jeopardizing the hospital’s financial survival because it has never attracted enough patients.

Under conditions set by the state when the program was approved, Landmark is required to perform 500 heart surgeries a year by its third year of operation. The program’s third anniversary is in May, but in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2007, the hospital had done only about 100 surgeries, said Dr. David R. Gifford, health director.

It’s unlikely that the hospital can reach the standard within the next few weeks, Gifford said this morning. He described the expensive program as a drain on the Woonsocket hospital, which has been teetering financially for years but provides services surrounding community needs, such as cancer care and outpatient surgery. Landmark has virtually no endowment and can’t sustain such losses, he said.

The volume standards were set to ensure that doctors’ maintain their skill levels, but Gifford said this morning that his primary worry is financial.

“This is not a quality issue,” Gifford said. “Our concern is making sure we preserve the hospital. I am concerned that this could be threatening the hospital.”

Landmark spokesman Bill Fischer said that the heart surgery program was only “one minor variable” in the hospital’s financial woes. He said Landmark projects a net loss of only $300,000 from the cardiac surgery program in the current fiscal year. Last year, he said, the hospital lost $7 million – the same amount of money it spent on uncompensated care. He said low reimbursements and free care for the poor are the main factors driving the fiscal crisis at Landmark and other community hospitals.

“The quality of care we deliver through the cardiac program is extremely high,” Fischer said.

Landmark’s program, done in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston, was created with the expectation that patients from central Massachusetts would be drawn to Woonsocket and that an aging population would have growing heart-surgery needs. But the Massachusetts patients apparently did not come to Landmark, and nationally cardiac surgery is on the decline, because more patients are undergoing angioplasty instead.

-- Journal medical writer Felice J. Freyer

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:04 PM | Comment

Man convicted in Latin Kings sweep heads back to jail

A man who was in the 1990s convicted in the first federal investigation in the state of the Latin Kings street gangs has pleaded guilty to drug and gun charges and is facing a return to federal prison.

In the mid 1997, Karim Abdullah, now 32, was sentenced, with 12 others, during “Operation Checkmate,” for racketeering, witness intimidation and a firearms offense, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

He was released in 2006.

According to prosecutors, last June detectives entered Abdullah’s Providence apartment and found him standing by a window with a gun. The police say he dropped it when ordered to, and they subsequently found four handguns, ammunition, and about 33 grams of crack cocaine in the apartment.

Abdullah is being detained until his sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 1.

He faces 10 years for being a felon in possession of a gun; 5 to 40 years for possession with intent to distribute 5 or more grams of crack; and 2 years for violating the terms of his supervised release.

He also faces more than $2.5 million in fines.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:47 AM | Comment

Man charged with home break-ins in Newport

NEWPORT -- Following a six-month investigation, a Newport man has been arrested on charges of breaking in to several city homes.

Matthew M. Notarangelo, 38, of 16-D Rolling Green is charged with three counts of breaking and entering and one count of possession of stolen property, the police said in a news release today.

Detectives yesterday saw him try to enter several homes, the police said. He was also seen entering 23 Gidley St. -- no one was home at the time -- and leaving with things he then put in the trunk of a car parked on Spring Street. The police determined the items were stolen.

The police stopped the car Notarangelo was driving on Broadway near Cranston Avenue, he was arrested around 4 p.m. and taken to the station.

The police, using search warrants for the car and Notarangelo's residence, found property stolen from 23 Gidley St. in the trunk and, in the residence, the search led to a "small amount of property seized, which is currently being examined to ascertain its status."

Notarangelo was held overnight and was slated to appear in District Court, Newport, this morning, as the investigation continues.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:47 AM | Comment

Lieutenant says tribal police resisted state police

John Brown, Narragansett tribal councilman and one of seven defendants on trial for resisting and scuffling with state police during the 2003 raid on the Narragansett smoke shop, listens to testimony from State Police Lt. David Palmer.
Journal Photo/Mary Murphy

PROVIDENCE -- Narragansett Indian tribal police told the state police that they would not accept a warrant issued from Rhode Island to enter the tribal-owned smoke shop, according to a state police Lieutenant.

Testifying today in the case of seven Narragansett Indians accused of resisting arrest during the 2003 raid of a tribal smoke shop, State Police Lt. David Palmer said he was first on the scene the day of the raid.

He said the state police expressed concern during a pre-raid briefing that the tribal police would be armed and that state authorities were not sure how tribal police would react.

Palmer -- who was put in charge of the North Providence police after the chief stepped down and a sergeant was convicted of burglary and several other crimes -- described the tribal police as resisting state officials who came onto tribal land. He said the state police told tribal police Lt. Rodney Champlin that if the state police were blocked, there would be arrests.

But, Palmer said, the tribal police continued to try to block the state police, shouting “federal papers, federal papers,” asking to see a federal search warrant.

Before the break, Palmer also described the arrests of several of the defendants, including Randy Noka and Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas.

Extra: See Journal coverage of the 2003 raid, including photos and video

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:31 AM | Comment

New report backs Mass. governor's casino estimates

BOSTON -- A study by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce supports many of the economic assumptions outlined by Gov. Deval Patrick in his proposal to build three resort-style casinos in Massachusetts.

In the report, the chamber said that by 2012, the casinos would generate up to $2.3 billion in gross revenues per year, leaving the state with up to $429 million in tax revenue.

The casinos also would create up to 21,000 permanent jobs and up to 11,500 construction jobs.

Patrick has been lambasted this week by House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi for apparently overestimating the number of construction jobs at 30,000, but the study bolsters his projections of 20,000 permanent jobs and $400 million in annual state revenue.

-- The Associated Press

The $80,000, 129-page report released yesterday also suggests Patrick was conservative when he proposed a minimum licensing fee of $200 million for each casino. In 2004, Illinois received a $518 million bid for a casino license.

While the survey is largely silent on social costs, citing wide fluctuations in research and circumstance, it said, "In no instance did a study find a reduction in problem gambling, crime or personal bankruptcy rates following the introduction of casino gambling."

Chamber leaders said they were taking no official position on Patrick's proposal now, but wanted to fill a void with a neutral analysis.

"We thought the chamber's role was to illuminate the debate with the most objective study that we could fund and generate," said Chamber Chairman Ralph C. Martin II, the former Suffolk County district attorney.

Chamber President Paul Guzzi said in his many conversations with business leaders, "what I'm hearing is that it would be helpful to have data and analysis to make decisions."

Martin added: "People in the business community are essentially agnostic on the issue of gambling, but very gung-ho on legitimate ways to generate revenue for the commonwealth and also to generate jobs. And if this turns out to be a net-positive, people will be receptive to it."

A casino opposition group, Casino Free Massachusetts, said other chambers of commerce, such as that for the South Shore, have concluded adding casino gambling will not boost economic development.

"This appears to be another rosy outlook of casino development in a report that relies heavily on numbers provided by the gambling industry and its cheerleaders," the group said in a statement. "All these promises of jobs gained ignore the issue of jobs lost. Casinos do not hire the unemployed, the untrained and inexperienced. They hire retail workers, office support staffs, teachers, secretaries, hotel workers, bartenders and restaurant personnel, which results in huge labor gaps in those employment sectors."

The report was written by UHY Advisors FLVS Inc., which uses accountants and other analysts for consulting, forensic accounting and risk management services.

While the company is not aligned with any party in the casino debate, company officials conceded that up to 10 of the 200 studies they examined for their report were written by casino operators.

The bulk of the studies, including most of the 50 cited in the report, were conducted by academics, the officials said.

Patrick, making a monthly appearance on WTKK-FM talk radio Wednesday, said he considered the report "generally good news" and hoped for a fair hearing when his proposal is heard before the Joint Committee on Economic Development on March 18.

The governor said he thinks Rep. Daniel Bosley, D-North Adams, an opponent who is co-chairman of the committee, "has prejudged this," a criticism he also leveled earlier in the week against DiMasi.

DiMasi referred comment to Bosley, who sent House members an e-mail Thursday disputing Patrick's argument that casino gambling is inevitable, either through the commercial licenses he proposes or on Indian lands being sought by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council.

The e-mail noted that the federal government must still approve property for the site, as well as gambling on it, before the tribe negotiates a compact with the state. At that time, Bosley said, the state could block the slot machines popular at similar casinos, since they are already illegal in Massachusetts.

"Since slot machines make up 70-80 percent of a casino's gambling revenue, it is highly questionable whether casino developers would be interested in investing in a casino that does not have slot machines," Bosley wrote.

Patrick has taken to communicating directly with House members - first in a letter and then with a brochure - as he tries to have them focus on facts rather than any perceived threat from breaking ranks with their chamber leader. He reiterated that point on the radio.

"There's got to be a way for the leadership and I to differ on a point of view without the vote being some sign of personal allegiance or disaffection," the governor said.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:56 AM | Comment

Early morning shooting; one person seriously injured

A person was seriously injured early this morning after being shot multiple times.

Providence Police Capt. David Lapatin said the shooting happened at 103 Waldo St. at about 2 a.m.

The victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:06 AM | Comment

Download today's front page

A story on a plan to cut a program at Hasbro Children's Hospital and the latest foreclosure report are featured on the front page of today's Journal.
Download file

Posted by Peter Phipps at 6:45 AM | Comment

Green on the map means flood watch

National Weather Service

The hazardous weather doesn't come until tonight. And then, "Oh Baby!"

It's going to rain and blow. There's going to be water, everywhere.

But for this afternoon, there's only a chance of rain -- after 3 p.m. -- and the National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature near 51 and a mild, east wind.

But the fog should roll in tonight, when the temperature drops to about 40 degrees.With the fog will come rain -- sometimes heavy -- and possible flooding. In all, we can expect between 1 and 2 inches and, in some places, up to 4 inches.

More fog and rain is expected for tomorrow when the temperature reaches the mid 50s. We'll also see a north wind up to 13 mph. About 2 inches are likely.

The story is the same for Saturday night, when the temperature drops to about 30 degrees. We could see some sideways rain, also, with southwest wind gusts as high as 45 mph.

The sun returns on Sunday, but expect cooler temperatures in the low 40s and gusty west winds up to 44 mph.

Cold, but dry Sunday night, when the temperature drops to about 19 degrees.

And another sunny day Monday, with a high temperature near 40 degrees.

To keep an eye on the rain and flooding throughout the weekend, check projo.com's weather page.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 6:41 AM | Comment