Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal

« March 14, 2008 | Today | March 18, 2008 »

March 17, 2008

Tonight: Going green at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet

Plenty of people will be going green this evening.

The state's biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration is at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, 1 Rhodes Place, Cranston, which began at 2 p.m. and goes to 11 p.m.

St. Michael’s Church in Providence hosts the celebration, which raises money for programs for the poor. Irish step dancers perform until 7 p.m., when the New York Irish Show Band takes over and performs until 10:30 p.m.

Admission is $10, and food can be purchased.

For more St. Patrick's things-to-do, check the the Journal's listings.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:50 PM | Comment

Reward offered in search for attacker on Jewish student

PROVIDENCE -- Three organizations today announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction "of those responsible for the March 15 attack on the apartment of an employee of the Brown/RISD Hillel and the Jewish Agency for Israel."

The organizations are the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, Brown/RISD Hillel and the Anti-Defamation League. The announcement was made at a news conference in conjunction with the Providence Police Department.

A Molotov cocktail was thrown into the 122 Camp St. apartment on the city's East Side early Saturday. The apartment is shared by Josef Knafo, 25, a graduate student from Israel,and his roommates. The Molotov cocktail did not explode but a second liquid-filled bottle landed in the yard outside the building, exploded and burned itself out early Saturday. The incident led to an investigation by several agencies including the FBI.

If somebody were to claim the reward, Deputy Police Chief Paul J. Kennedy said the police department would participate in the decision-making on whether to pay the reward -- in terms of whether the information leads to arrests.

The building is a triple-decker house with one apartment on each floor. One person lives on the ground floor. Three people live in the second-floor apartment, including Knafo, who was the alleged target. One person lives in the third-floor apartment.

The police said today that everyone is living in the house except for Knafo, who has been moved to another residence.

Knafo, who is from Afula, Israel, has been in the United States as an emissary for the Jewish Agency for Israel. The organization sends young people around the world for educational, religious and cultural programs.

Kennedy yesterday said Knafo was in the apartment kitchen when he heard a bang. After looking out the window and seeing fire on the ground, he came upon the unexploded bottle inside his bedroom.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith and Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:35 PM | Comment

State urges high court to reject appeal on paint verdict

The state of Rhode Island filed legal papers today urging the state Supreme Court to reject an appeal by three corporations that are seeking to overturn a jury’s verdict two years ago that found their lead-based paints created a nuisance by poisoning children throughout the state.

“Having evaded their responsibility to the state and to its citizens for decades, these defendants now come before this court seeking immunity for their role in creating this public nuisance,” said the brief filed by Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch’s staff and private attorneys at Motley Rice, LLC. “Armed with little more than alarmist proclamations and doomsday rhetoric, they ask that this court take a bold, unprecedented step that would eviscerate over a century of established Rhode Island law.

“In one fell swoop, defendants attempt to rewrite the law on public nuisance, carving out judicial immunity for themselves and ensuring that they will never be held accountable for the consequences of their actions,” the state argued.

The two sides are scheduled to make oral arguments before the Supreme Court May 15. The state’s arguments today were backed by briefs from more than 50 organizations and public health experts.

-- Journal environmental writer Peter B. Lord

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:12 PM | Comment

Six arrested on drug charges in Fall River

FALL RIVER -- The police have arrested six people in connection with an alleged heroin dealing operation on Valentine Street, according to a report released today.

At about 9:50 p.m. Friday, detectives executed a search warrant at 41 Valentine St. After repeatedly knocking on the door, they said they forced their way inside, where they found three people, 141 bags of suspected heroin, and $71 in cash.

While the police were inside the house, one of the residents continued to receive calls from would-be customers, the police said. Two callers were arrested when they later came to the house. A third caller, who asked to be met elsewhere, was also taken into custody by the police.

Courtney Lapointe, 31, Michelle Gonsalves, 33, and Phillip Leonardo, 32, all residents of 41 Valentine St., were each charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws. In addition, Lapointe faces a charge of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

Maria Gheewala, 31, of 6858 Whitman Way, Sarasota, Fla., and Frank Mello, 39, of 123 Duluth St., Fall River, were charged with conspiracy after they went to 41 Valentine St. allegedly trying to purchase heroin.

Charles Dosvais, 30, of 386 Durfee St., Fall River, was also charged with conspiracy after trying to have drugs delivered to his residence, according to the police.

-- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:10 PM | Comment

Van Halen's Providence show rescheduled to May 25

Guitarists and air guitarists partial to speed-is-king solos can exhale -- the Van Halen concert has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 25, at Providence's Dunkin' Donuts Center, according to concert promotion agency LiveNation. For those who just want to hear in person the keyboard line from "Jump" one more time, breathe a sigh of relief.

The hard rock band, which rose to wide fame in the 1980s, has reunited with original singer David Lee Roth and has been touring the country. The band postponed its tour, including the originally scheduled March 24 show at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, while guitarist Eddie Van Halen undergoes tests "to determine a course of treatment" for an illness that was not disclosed.

The guitarist popularized the "tapping" technique in rock guitar, in which the player creates notes using both hands on a guitar's fretboard, which can create fleet-fingered, flowing solos.

Today's announcement is for all of its previously postponed North American tour dates.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:00 PM | Comment

Bear Stearns fallout rippling through R.I.

The collapse this weekend of Wall Street investment bank Bear Stearns will send ripples across the Rhode Island economy, according to two New England business experts interviewed yesterday.

“The easiest way to envision it, it’s kind of like a spider web,” said Mark M. Higgins, dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Rhode Island. “What happens with one piece of the economy will have an effect on somebody else.”

The collapse will make it harder to buy a car, pay off credit cards and finance a college education, according to Higgins and Augustine Faucher, director of macroeconomics at Moody’s Economy.com.

“It’s gotten a lot more difficult to get a loan nowadays,” said Faucher.

The problem is what economic experts refer to as “credit tightening.” Bear Stearns was pulled under by heavy investments in the mortgage industry, which has been strained by soaring foreclosures, especially on sub-prime loans that borrowers can no longer afford.

In part, concern isn’t for the failing loans at Bear Stearns, because they have already done their damage. “There’s a lot of bad debt out there,” said Faucher. “The problem is we don’t know who’s holding it.”

-- Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker

That uncertainty has made banks much more cautious in lending, both to consumers and to each other. Banks carrying bad debt don’t want to take on more that they might not be able to cover, and banks are wary of lending to each other, in case the borrower bank collapses as Bear Stearns did.

And Higgins said the fallout will extend beyond the web of banking interests. Everyday people whose money was — directly or indirectly — invested in Bear Stearns, will now find themselves crunched for cash. That could lead to further problems with bad mortgages, which could spiral into more difficulty for banks.

The collapse has other indirect effects, he said. “People forget there’s people working for Bear Stearns. Everybody thinks of this as a corporation ... but it’s a person, it’s the employees of the entity.” Those people could find themselves out of a job or taking home substantially less pay.

And, Higgins said, Bear Stearns had a policy requiring employees to donate 4 percent of their earnings to charity. That is money the charities count on, but now may not receive.

Also, as mortgages are harder to come by, fewer people buy houses and house prices decline. This, Faucher said, leads to homeowners being less willing to spend money as their home becomes worth less, creating more drag on the economy. “Consumers are cutting back already.”

The long-term effects of the Bear Stearns collapse will be psychological, as well as financial, said Higgins. He said steps must also be taken — by the financial community or the government — to demonstrate either that Bear Stearns was a fluke or that steps have been taken to prevent the same thing from happening again.

“No one will have any confidence, and a lot of what happens with the stock market is based on confidence.”

While both agreed the economy is in recession, they offered slightly different forecasts for where it is headed. "I can’t foresee coming out of this before the fall,” said Higgins.

“If things continue along this path, it’s going to be a pretty severe recession,” Faucher said, but added that he expects the federal government will take steps to shore up the economy, such as buying mortgage-backed securities to limit potential private losses. If that is the case, he said, “we think the recession is going to be pretty shallow and only last through the first half of 2008.”

And they agreed on the key step consumers can take to ride out the recession. Said Higgins, “You want to stay out of debt.” Said Faucher, “People have got to watch what they’re doing.”

Posted by Karen Bordeleau at 5:30 PM | Comment

Murphy's Law: All pols deserve to be roasted

St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated today with House Speaker William Murphy’s annual "Murphy’s Law" luncheon in downtown Providence, where the one-liners and zingers flew from Murphy and landed on business leaders, State House political figures, lobbyists, judges and members of Rhode Island’s Washington congressional delegation.

The meal featured the traditional Irish fare of corned beef and cabbage at the Federal Reserve on Dorrance Street. Murphy served up his own ration of humor at today’s event, the fourth annual "Murphy’s Law" luncheon.

Everybody who is anybody in Rhode Island politics attended; the head table was held down by Governor Carcieri, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, General Treasurer Frank Caprio, Providence Mayor David Cicilline, and House Majority Leader Gordon Fox.

Bob Burke, owner of the Federal Reserve, kicked off the verbal roasting with a welcome for former Providence Mayor Vincent A. "Buddy" Cianci Jr. Burke said that Cianci, released from federal prison last July, couldn’t make last year’s St. Patrick’s luncheon because "he was unable to get parole.’’

Among the targets today was New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s downfall; the state budget shortfall; the December 13, 2007 snowstorm; the transfer of Steve Kass, Carcieri’s former communications director, to a job at the state Emergency Management Agency; and various peccadillos of Rhode Island lawmakers and state officials.

Murphy twitted his top lieutenant, Majority Leader Fox, who has a name similar to the false one used by Spitzer for his assignation with a prostitute in Washington’s Mayflower Hotel.

"We all know that Gordon Fox would never spend $4,300 on a woman,’’ said Murphy. "A bellhop, that might be a different story."

Joking about criticism that the General Assembly has not followed through on putting into the 2002 Separation of Powers referendum, Democrat Murphy said of Republican Carcieri, "We’re still trying to separate the governor from his powers."

The queues at the state Division of Motor Vehicles are so long, Murphy said, "that drug dealers still have to wait four hours to get a fake license."

-- Journal staff writer Scott MacKay

Chiding Mike O’Connell, chairman of the West Warwick St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Murphy said O’Connell didn’t seem to know that Palm Sunday marked the beginning of Holy Week. "Thanks to Mike and others like him I continue to represent the people of West Warwick."

In a shot at Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a well-born Protestant, Murphy said that after Spitzer was caught in the Mayflower hotel with a prostitute, Whitehouse ``should not tell anyone that you’re connected to the Mayflower.’’

Murphy also lampooned some of his GOP House opponents, including Rep. Robert Watson, R-East Greenwich, Rep. Nicholas Gorham, R-Coventry and Rep. Joseph Trillo, R-Warwick, as Larry, Curly and Moe of "The Three Stooges."

Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank Williams, an Abraham Lincoln afficianado, was spoofed in a large photograph showing him wearing a top hat that mimicked one worn by Lincoln.

Cianci arrived with a few bon mots of his own. As Burke, especially, droned on, Cianci said the luncheon was ``going on longer than my prison sentence.’’

Cianci joked that Italian immigrants were once accused of bringing organized crime to American shores by establishing La Cosa Nostra. But it was Irish immigrants who really set up an organized cartel, Cianci said. ``They called it the Democratic Party.’’

To the tune of the St. Patrick’s Day perennial `The Wild Rover,’ Montalbano sung a tune about the state’s budget problems and the downturn in state gambling revenue from the Twin River slot machine emporium.

```Well, we’re half a billion in the hole this year, and how we will fix it Il have no idea. I thought we knew the ways and means but they’re not showing up to play slot machines. And it’s no, nay never, never, no nay never no more, do they play at Twin River, no never no more,’’ sang Montalbano.

Rep. Richard Singleton, R-Cumberland, sung a rousing rendition of `O Danny Boy.’ And Harry Casey, an aide to Murphy, finished with a benediction,’’May the road rise up to meet you, may all your glasses be filled with plenty and may you never be subpoened by U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente.’’

A portion of the proceeds from the $40 per person event went to the Rhode Island Food Bank.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:15 PM | Comment

Carcieri nominates six to clean house at landfill

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri today nominated six new board members for the state's $70-million trash agency.

The move comes in the wake of a preliminary audit report that found potential “irregularities and appearances of impropriety."

Carcieri's nominees, who would replace most of the current panel, are:

* Carole Bell, of Cranston, a senior program manager with Science Applications International Corporation, who works "in the environmental compliance and waste management/prevention arenas." Environmental Council of Rhode Island recommended her.

* Bradford Gorham, of Foster, a lawyer and former state senator "who led efforts to establish and improve the recycling programs of the corporation."

* Douglas Jeffrey, of Johnston, who is president of Signature Properties, a broker and a developer of urban residential properties. Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena recommended Jeffrey.

* Michael Quinn, of Warwick, retired State Police major and current executive director of campus safety and security and adjunct professor at Johnson and Wales University.

* Sue Sheppard, of Lincoln, retired former Lincoln town administrator.

* John Ward, of Woonsocket, current Lincoln finance director and Woonsocket City Council member and a certified public accountant.

“The Bureau of Audit’s preliminary report demonstrates that the Resource Recovery Board of Commissioners needs new leadership and a new direction,” the governor said in an afternoon statement. “It is now clear that the Central Landfill has been mismanaged for years. I have already asked the Bureau of Audits to continue and complete their investigation. I have also provided copies of the bureau’s preliminary findings to the State Police, the Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney for their review.

The report says several transactions were poorly planned, insufficiently documented, and suggested potential conflicts involving Resource Recovery board members Austin Ferland, John St. Sauveur and executive director Sherry Mulhearn.

The report also singles out former Johnston Mayor William A. Macera, who supported the creation of a controversial industrial park while “members of his own family would benefit through land sales.”

The trash agency, known as the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, is overseen by an eight-member board including the Department of Administration administrator or his or her department designee and seven governor-appointed members. Two of the seven must be residents of Johnston, where the state's Central Landfill is located.

Carcieri is submitting the nominees to the state Senate for advice and consent.

Extra: Read a summary of the preliminary audit's findings.
-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:19 PM | Comment

Teenager who died in Providence car crash is identified

PROVIDENCE -- The teenager killed when the car he was driving went off Jewett Street and struck a tree yesterday was Victor Fernandez of Providence, according to the police report.

Fernandez, 17, of 245 Mt. Pleasant Ave., was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:40 p.m. yesterday. Passenger Luis Coronado, 17, of 302 Lowell Ave., Providence, was admitted to Hasbro Children's Hospital.

The car, which the police said Fernandez was driving east on the two-lane Jewett Street shortly after 4:30 p.m., veered, climbed a curb and hit a tree. The collision forced the car to spin around and come to a stop in both lanes, facing northwest in front of 211/213 Jewett St., according to the report. A debris trail stretched about 70 feet east from the impact.

The police used an extrication device to remove Fernandez from the 1993 two-door Honda Civic.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:53 PM | Comment

Priest removed from ministry amid sex allegation

A retired Massachusetts priest, who allegedly committed sexual misconduct with a child at a residence in 1979, has been removed from the ministry.

The Rev. Bento R. Fraga was a pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Attleboro at the time, the Diocese of Fall River said today in a news release.

The diocese learned of the allegation in January and, per policy, turned the issue over to the Review Board. "After a full investigation, although Father Fraga has denied the allegation, the board has determined that the allegation is credible," the statement said.

The statement does not go into specifics of the allegations, but says it was a "single claim of sexual misconduct with a minor." The diocese states that it has reported the allegation to the Barnstable County District Attorney's office.

Fraga retired as pastor in June 2005 and has not been assigned to any parish since then. But, until this decision, he had the "faculties," or permission, to continue ministering as a priest. During retirement, he opted to reside at St. Anthony Parish in Taunton, Mass., "where he frequently assisted," the diocese said.

Bishop George W. Colemen's letter about Fraga's removal was distrubuted at this weekend's Masses at all parishes where Fraga had served since his 1956 ordination.

Bishop Coleman is "deeply troubled by this matter," the diocese said, and at his request, Catholic Social Services counselors were at weekend Masses at the two Taunton parishes -- St. Anthony's and St. Paul's -- where Fraga most recently served.

The diocese asked that anyone with information that might help in the case should contact Arlene McNamee of Catholic Social Services' Office of Children Protection at (508) 674-4681, the Barnstable County District Attorney's office at (508) 362-8110 or the Bristol County District Attorney's office at (508) 997-0711.

The diocese statement listed Fraga's assigments as:

* 1956, assigned assistant, St. John of God Parish, Somerset.

* 1969, assigned assistant, St. Joseph Parish, Taunton.

* 1972, assigned assistant, Holy Ghost Parish, Attleboro.

* 1974, assigned pastor, Holy Ghost Parish, Attleboro.

* 1985, assigned pastor, St. John the Baptist Parish, New Bedford, Mass.

* 1987, assigned pastor, St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Provincetown, Mass.

* 1992, assigned pastor, St. Paul Parish, Taunton.

* 2005, requested retirement at age 75.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:17 PM | Comment

Chicken products recalled

An Alabama company is recalling more than 940,000 pounds of chicken products -- including gizzards, liver, hearts and necks – after a problem was discovered with sorting equipment.

The products would have been sold to restaurants or other industrial food preparers, according to the state Department of Health, but not at grocery stores.

Cagle’s Inc., based in Collinsville, Ala., announced that it will voluntarily recall the products after an inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services.

According to a statement released by the USDA, Cagle’s installed new sorting equipment in November, but, according to the FSIS inspection, the equipment was not properly sorting the organs from condemned carcasses from those meant to enter the food supply.

The recall affects products sold between Dec. 3, 2007 and March 12, 2008. No illnesses have been reported.

Click below for a full list of products affected by the recall.

• 3-lb. bulk packages of "Cagle's MRB BREADED GIZZARDS." Each label bears a product code of "49113."

• Bulk packages of "Cagle's FRYING CHICKEN GIZZARDS." Each label bears a product code of "61913," "61914" or "61915."

• 50-lb. bulk packages of "Cagle's FRYING CHICKEN LIVERS." Each label bears a product code of "62150."

• Bulk packages of "Cagle's FRYING CHICKEN LIVERS." Each label bears a product code of "62921," "62924" or "62931."

• 13-lb. bulk packages of "OUR PREMIUM DELI PRE-BREADED CHICKEN LIVERS." Each label bears a product code of "12210."

• 13-lb. bulk packages of "OUR PREMIUM DELI PRE-BREADED CHICKEN GIZZARDS." Each label bears a product code of "21210."

• 40-lb. bulk packages of "Cagle's FRYING CHICKEN HEARTS." Each label bears a product code of "69934" or "69938."

• 33-lb. bulk packages of "Cagle's FRYING CHICKEN SKINLESS NECKS." Each label bears a product code of "63191."

• 33-lb. bulk packages of "Cagle's FRYING CHICKEN SKINLESS NECKS." Each label bears a product code of "63005."

• Bulk packages of "Cagle's FRYING CHICKENS WITH SKINLESS NECKS." Each label bears a product code of "39003."

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:40 PM | Comment

Photo: Prepping for a St. Patrick's Day dance

Irish%20AD%208.JPG
Journal photo/ Andrew Dickerman
Niamh Bohan (right) makes a last minute arrangement to the hair of Catherine Clarke, 8, as dancers from the Goulding School of Irish Dance, in Cranston, prepare to perform during the St. Patrick's Day celebration in Providence City Hall.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:04 PM | Comment

Driver indicted after teen struck, seriously injured

A South Kingstown woman has been indicted on charges she was driving drunk and "with reckless disregard" when authorities say she struck at high speed a 17-year-old girl who was standing on the Route 1 shoulder last year.

Heidi Harrall, 45, of 24 West Side Road, is named in the indictment handed up Friday on one count of driving under the influence, serious bodily injury resulting, and one count of driving to endanger, personal injury resulting, the state Attorney General's office announced today.

Authorities allege that Harrall's car struck Sylvia Bogusz last June 23 in South Kingstown, seriously injuring Bogusz.

The police have said Harrall was driving at more than 90 mph.
Harrall's Washington County Superior Court arraignment is slated for March 24.

Bogusz was hit after having driven her car with a flat tire onto the shoulder. She put on her emergency lights, got out, walked to the shoulder and made a phone call to her mother.

Harrall was driving Route 1 south when she tried to pass a car, the authorities have said, crossed the yellow line, swerved, lost control, and drove onto the shoulder, where Bogusz stood.

Bogusz was found unconscious and bleeding in Route 1's southbound lane.

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

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:30 PM | Comment

Irish police to observe Providence's community policing

PROVIDENCE -- Fourteen police officers from Ireland and Northern Ireland are coming to the city tomorrow to check out its community policing efforts.

Chief Dean M. Esserman, who traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland, two years ago extended the invitation, according to a news release from Mayor David N. Cicilline's office. Cicilline will meet with the them in his City Hall office tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.

The delegation is in the country for a 10-day seminar at Boston College’s Irish Institute with emphasis on "establishing an effective channel of communication between law enforcement and the community," the release says.

The Irish police officers will also look at community policing efforts in Boston and Miami.

The delegation is expected to visit Providence neighborhoods and learn more about the police department's efforts to "build relationships with its community partners," the release said.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:39 PM | Comment

Amtrak train derails in Connecticut

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn.— Amtrak service has been suspended between Hartford and Springfield, Mass., after a train derailed because of an apparent mudslide.

An Amtrak spokesman says no one was injured when the shuttle from New Haven to Springfield went off the tracks north of Windsor Locks about 10 a.m. Monday. The six people on board at the time are being taken to Springfield by bus.

In Providence, a contract worker was killed on the tracks Thursday after being hit by the Acela train, and in New Hampshire Friday, a person was killed near the Vermont state line, after being struck by the Vermonter train.

Also Friday, a Washington-bound Acela train hit a woman crossing the tracks in Connecticut, seriously injuring her arm and killing her dog, authorities said.

Train service between Hartford and Springfield has been suspended at least for the rest of Monday because there is only one track in that area.

Buses will be provided to take riders between the two cities. Once in Hartford, they can continue on to New Haven as normal.

Riders with questions can call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:44 AM | Comment

Smoke shop trial marches on toward April 4

State police trooper Ann Assumpico returned to the stand today to face cross examination in the trial of seven Narragansett Indians who are facing a variety of misdemeanor charges after a scuffle during a 2003 state police raid on a tribal smoke shop.

Under direct examination Monday, Assumpico testified about her confrontation with conservation officer Thawn Harris, and councilman Hiawatha Brown pushing on a door that her arm was stuck in.

The trial is set to continue until a 12:45 p.m. lunch break.

Last week, after two days were missed due to a sick juror, Judge Susan E. McGuirl said the trial would end by April 4.

“It’s got to be done,” she said, even if the days had to be longer.

Extra: See video footage and photos from the raid at the Journal's smoke-shop section.

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

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:36 AM | Comment

Lesbian pair married in Mass. seeks annulment in Mo.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- A lesbian married in Massachusetts has filed for an annulment from her wife in Missouri.

Charisse Y. Sparks and Janet Y. Peters Mauceri Sparks were married in Boston three years ago and moved to Missouri shortly thereafter. Late last year Charisse Sparks went to Buchanan County court to dissolve the marriage.

The filing creates a legal challenge in a state that voted overwhelmingly four years ago to limit marriage to unions between one man and one woman.

Judge Daniel Kellogg said the case is being treated as an annulment. In her petition, Sparks does not recognize her marriage.

The other woman argues the marriage is legal.

Kellogg has taken the matter under consideration and scheduled another hearing for April 2.

In December 2007, the State Supreme Court ruled same-sex couples that were married in Massachusetts could not be legally divorced in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island couple has since filed for divorce in Superior Court.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:03 AM | Comment

Gas prices continue to climb

Gasoline prices jumped another four cents per gallon last week and are now within five cents of an all-time high, according to AAA Southern New England.

The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.189 per gallon at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey.

The price for regular unleaded gasoline has increased 20 cents over the past five weeks, but people driving cars and trucks that take diesel fuel are suffering the most. The price for diesel fuel has increased 65 cents per gallon over the same period, crossing the $4 per gallon mark.

A year ago at this time, drivers were paying $2.579 per gallon for regular, unleaded gasoline.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:59 AM | Comment

State to file response to lead paint companies' appeal

PROVIDENCE -- Lawyers for the state are asking Rhode Island's Supreme Court to uphold a two-year-old jury verdict against three former lead paint manufacturers.

The state is expected to file court papers later today in response to the companies' appeal of the verdict, which could force the companies to spend billions of dollars to clean up hundreds of thousands of contaminated homes.

The companies say the state failed to prove that their products were responsible for poisoning children or contaminating homes. They also say the judge allowed the state to introduce inflammatory evidence.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on May 15.

Meanwhile, two public health experts are evaluating the state's proposed $2.4 billion cleanup of older properties.

Extra: Read Poisoned, the Providence Journal's series on lead paint poisonings in Rhode Island

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:41 AM | Comment

Brown president says school, police working together

Brown University’s president said in a letter that even though a weekend act of violence against a graduate student took place off-campus, the University is looking at the situation to determine if there is more the school can do to prevent “this kind of activity” from happening.

Brown President Ruth Simmons sent the letter a day after a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the apartment of Josef Knafo, 25, an Israeli graduate student who works at the Brown/Rhode Island School of Design Hillel House.

One of the cocktails exploded outside of the house Knafo lives in, the other crashed through a window into the apartment, but did not explode. No one was injured.

In a statement published on the Hillel House Web site, Simmons said interim vice president of campus life and student services Russell Carey is working with staff to address any safety concerns and find new housing for Knafo.

“There is nothing more unsettling on a campus than to have acts that might seek to spread fear, intimidate, or harm individuals,” the statement reads. “Swift action to condemn such behavior and strongly restate our values of openness and mutual respect is an essential step at such moments.”

Knafo, 25, has been in the United States as an emissary for the Jewish Agency for Israel, an agency that sends young people around the world to conduct cultural programs.

Deputy Police Chief Paul J. Kennedy said he does not know whether the attack, which happened at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday, was the result of a personal grudge or for a “global reason,” but that the department is taking the incident very seriously.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:02 AM | Comment

Looking for something to do on St. Pat's Day?

St. Patrick’s Day is finally here and, while many events were staged over the weekend, there is still some celebrating left over for today.

A Celtic Sojourn, Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. (617) 931-2000. Featuring vocalist Karen Casey, Kiernan Jordan and Dancers, accordionist Sean Gannon and fiddler Amanda Cavanaugh, vocalist John Spillane, neo-trad trio Buille and host Brian O’Donovan of WGBH-FM Radio. 7:30 pm. $31-$36.

Damhsa Irish Dance Studio Presentation, Warwick Mall, Routes 2 and 5, Warwick. 2 pm. Free.

Fishing With Finnegan. Irish music.

•North Providence City Hall, 2000 Smith St., North Providence. 232-0900. 10 am. Annual flag raising ceremony.

•Mayor David N. Cicilline is inviting the public to a St. Patrick's Day celebration featuring Irish music and dance at noon today in City Hall.

•Sham Rocks, 733 Kingstown Rd. (Route 108), Wakefield. 782-6700. 9 pm-1 am. No cover.

Rory Malloy, Irish music, Mulhearn’s Pub, 507 North Broadway, East Providence. 438-9292. 3 pm.

Calley McGrane and the Exiles, Celtic and rock music, Twin River, Fado, 100 Twin River Rd., Lincoln. 723-3200, (800) 720-7275, www.twinriver.com. 8:30 pm-12:30 am. No cover. 18+.

Murphy’s Law Luncheon, featuring Rhode Island House Speaker William Murphy at Federal Reserve, 60 Dorrance St., Providence. 273-8953. Corned beef and cabbage luncheon with all the fixings. Noon. $40. By reservation.

St. Michael’s Church St. Patrick’s Day Celebration (10th Anniversary), Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, 1 Rhodes Place, Cranston. 785-4333; www.rhodesonthepawtuxet.com. 2-11 pm. John Connors and the Irish Express, 2-6 pm; Irish Step Dancers, 6-7 pm; Show Band, 7-10:30 pm. $10. Food available for purchase.

St. Patrick’s Day Family Ceili, Local 121, 121 Washington St., Providence. 274-2121. Irish social dance with music by Jimmy Devine and Friends with set and ceili dances called by Barry and Pat Callahan. No partners or experience necessary. 6-9 pm. $5. Traditional Irish food available.

St. Patty’s Day Dinner, Prince’s Hill Deli, 328 County Rd., Barrington. 245-1900. Corned beef and cabbage, carrots, potatoes and Irish bread. 11:30 am-6:30 pm. $9.95.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:49 AM | Comment

Governor to recommend new board for trash agency

The governor said Friday that he will submit nominations today for new board members to serve on the state’s $70-million trash agency after a 33-page report found possible “irregularities and appearances of impropriety.”

Gov. Carcieri said he sent the audit of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation to the U.S. and Rhode Island attorneys general, and the Rhode Island State Police.

Extra: Read a summary of the preliminary audit's findings.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 9:04 AM | Comment

Mass. man to face murder charges today

A 31-year-old Massachusetts man is scheduled to face charges today for the murder of a man outside a Pawtucket methadone clinic.

Police say John Duffy and the victim, Ronald Leone, were standing in line outside the Addiction Recovery Institute in October 2007 when they got into an argument about holding the place in line for a woman.

Police say Duffy got upset that Leone wanted to allow the woman to return to her place in line after she had left. The argument escalated and, police say, Duffy stabbed Leone at least twice; once in the head and once in the side.

Duffy is scheduled to appear in Superior Court, Providence, today.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:23 AM | Comment

Photo: A deer pause in Lincoln

DEER%2001%20BM.JPG
Journal photo/ Bill Murphy
A deer visits Riverside Drive in Lincoln this morning.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:52 AM | Comment

Irish dancing and music today at Providence City Hall

PROVIDENCE – Mayor David N. Cicilline is inviting the public to a St. Patrick's Day celebration featuring Irish music and dance at noon today in City Hall.

The celebration will include traditional Celtic sounds, Irish step dancing by the Goulding School of Irish Dance and a performance by Cheryl Brodsky, a student from the music school of the Rhode Island Philharmonic.

William J. Gilbane, Jr., president & chief operating offficer of Gilbane Building Company, is the guest speaker.

A light lunch will be served.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

A sunny but brisk St. Patrick's Day

Yes, it's March, but don't put the winter coat away yet. The National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature of 49 degrees, which isn't so bad, but a north wind gusting up to 32 mph will make it feel colder.

Tonight expect clear skies and a low 21-degree temperature. The wind should die down some, to between 6 and 13 mph.

More sunny skies tomorrow with a high temperature near 45 degrees an a north wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south as the day goes on.

To check up on the weather through the day, see projo.com's weather page.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a story about concerns that the state's new $61-million juvenile detention center is already too small.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment