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April 14, 2008

Tonight: Beaux Arts Trio performs at RIC

Hear works by Franz Schubert and György Kurtág performed tonight by the Beaux Arts Trio at Rhode Island College in Providence.

The concert, at 8, will be in Sapinsley Hall, Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave, and features violinist Daniel Hope, cellist Antonio Meneses and pianist Manahem Pressler.

Regular tickets are $35. It's $30 for seniors and $10 for students.

For information, call (401) 456-8144 or go to www.ric.edu/pfa or www.beauxartstrio.org.

For more things to do, check projo.com's Lifebeat page and calendar of events.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:07 PM | Comment

Butler Hospital workers call attention to 'travel' nurses

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Picketing members of the New England Health Care Employees Union at the entrance to Butler Hospital on Blackstone Boulevard today.

PROVIDENCE -- Nurses and other workers at Butler Hospital today picketed the East Side medical center hoping to pressure hospital operator Care New England Health System into agreeing to a new contract that limits the use of “travel” nurses.

More than 50 Butler Hospital employees trooped back and forth across the private psychiatric and substance abuse hospital’s entrance on Blackstone Boulevard late in the afternoon, blowing whistles, shaking home-made noisemakers and carrying signs of one sort or another imprinted with stock union slogans.

The picketing hospital workers, members of the New England Health Care Employees Union -- an affiliate of District 1199 Service Employees International Union, slowed traffic along the boulevard as they called attention to contract issues. The union represents about 300 nurses, mental-health workers, medical records employees and janitorial workers at the hospital whose three-year contract expired March 31.

“We’re really down to the wages and the staffing issues,” said Stan Israel, executive vice president of the New England Health Care Employees Union.

Hospitals have used travel nurses since the early 1980s when a nursing labor shortage and nurse specialization spawned the specialty.

Initially, nurses were brought into staff hospitals to fulfill both permanent and seasonal shortages. As the "travel nurse" became more embedded in the nursing industry, their work expanded to fill "on demand" positions in specialized nursing areas.

“The issue is really whether [Butler] uses them to fill vacancies,” Israel said. “It’s been an issue for a while.”

-- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi

Travel nurses, who work for staffing agencies, stay at a medical center for a short while and can cost more to pay than a permanent employee, according to the American Nurses Association, when payments to the agencies are taken into account.

The 117-bed Butler Hospital has used travel nurses in the past, said Patti Melaragno, the hospital’s marketing director, though she is unsure for how long. About 2 percent of the nursing shifts are filed by the temporary workers.

Care New England uses travel nurses in at least one of its other facilities -- Kent Hospital in Warwick, according to Israel. Care New England also includes Women & Infants Hospital and Care New England Home Health.

“The hospital’s major concern is ensuring we have enough qualified staff to care for our patients and meet the requirements of the new mandatory overtime law,” the hospital said in a statement e-mailed to The Journal.

The state law, which took effect March 4, prohibits requiring nurses to work more than 12 consecutive hours.

“Given the current nursing shortage, it is imperative that the hospital have access to agency or travel nurses to fill gaps created by vacations, leaves of absence or vacancies,” according to the hospital statement.

The union members are working under a contract extension as contract talks continue, Israel said. The two sides expect to meet tomorrow morning to pick up negotiations on a new three-year contract, according to Israel and Melaragno.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment

Police: Husband left suicide note, as well as warning

CUMBERLAND -- Norman V. Langelier, who police believe killed his wife, then himself in an explosive fire that destroyed their home last Thursday, left an apparent suicide note in his truck outside the home, police revealed today.

But police would not reveal its contents, and they say they will not be commenting on what may be the possible motives for the crime anytime soon.

“Even if we found out the reasons we would not tell the public,” said Deputy Chief Michael Kinch. “It does not benefit the family.”

Kinch said that police are confident that Langelier, 61, killed his wife Beatrice A. Langelier, 60, before rigging the couple’s home at 500 Nate Whipple Highway to explode and taking his own life early Thursday morning.

Kinch said today that police based their conclusion on a note Langelier left, along with other personal effects, in his truck as well as the state medical examiners' autopsy report, which concluded on Friday that Beatrice died from skull fractures and brain injuries resulting from a gunshot wound to the head.

The medical examiners' report said that Norman died from multiple blunt force injuries, which police said was consistent with the explosions that Langelier apparently set off.

Kinch would not say what information the apparent suicide note contained. Police said previously that Langelier had left a note outside of the house warning firefighters of the explosives, gunpowder and ammunition inside the burning house.

The note to emergency responders, written on a large piece of paper affixed to a propane tank in the trunk of his pickup truck, was in Norman’s handwriting and consistent with the handwriting of the suicide note found in the truck, said Kinch.

“Everything points to him writing the note,” he said.

Kinch said that detectives are satisfied in their questioning of family members and business acquaintances and their research into the couple’s past. However, he would not name whom police interviewed and what was found during the investigation, which is ongoing.

-- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo

Police originally assigned five detectives to the investigation in the wake of Thursday’s fire; the department has pared that down to one lead detective, Richard Quinn, who will write the final report on the case, Kinch said.

Meanwhile, as questions around how Beatrice spent her final hours before she was murdered also remain unanswered, her family has made preparations for her burial. Funeral arrangements for Norman will be held separately, her family said.

A wake will be held at Holt Funeral Home at 510 So. Main Street in Woonsocket from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church in North Smithfield, with the burial to follow in the parish cemetery.

Norman was the president of Barber Electric Manufacturing Company, a producer of metal electrical equipment and supplies in North Attleboro; Beatrice was a homemaker. They had no children.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that contributions be made to the Friends of North Smithfield Animal Shelter, PO Box 391, Slatersville, RI 02876.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:43 PM | Comment

Esserman cancels police exam after leak alleged

PROVIDENCE -- Police Chief Dean M. Esserman today announced that he has canceled a promotional examination for sergeant scheduled for April 26 because inside information about the exam allegedly had leaked to one of the candidates for promotion.

The inside information, according to a statement by Esserman, was the identity of some of the study material for the exam. One of the candidates for promotion who planned to take the exam apparently learned what the study material would be approximately three weeks before the material was announced. That would have given the officer a head start in his studies at the expense of his competitors.

The study material at issue will be replaced by other material when a new exam is scheduled, Esserman announced in a statement.

City Councilman John J. Lombardi has said that a leader of the police labor union, the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 3, has been implicated as the leaker but has denied responsibility. The leaker allegedly overheard a captain discussing the material and then passed on what he heard to one of the patrolmen scheduled to take the exam.

Esserman today confirmed that there is an internal investigation of the leak of the confidential information prior to the date it was supposed to be made available to everyone. The police leadership so far has been unwilling to discuss the leak allegations in detail.

Cheating on police promotional exams became a scandal under former Police Chief Urbano Prignano Jr., who retired under pressure. Prignano admitted in sworn testimony he secretly gave favored subordinates inside information to help them cheat.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:19 PM | Comment

Mixitforme defendant has to pay another piper -- AmEx

PROVIDENCE -- The state Supreme Court today rejected the appeal of a former Warwick man who challenged a portion of an American Express credit card bill totaling nearly $1 million.

But Cory Johnson has bigger problems than that.

Johnson, 29, who now lives in Morrisville, Pa., pleaded guilty in January to federal charges, admitting he defrauded a credit card processing firm out of about $2.2 million in customer orders that were never filled by Mixitforme.com, a now-defunct Internet retailer based in Providence. Johnson pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and he is to be sentenced on the federal charges June 20.

In the meantime, Johnson has lost his appeal in an unrelated state case in which he has been ordered to pay $928,028 to American Express Bank.

“This case stems from defendant’s zealous use of an American Express Business Platinum Card account,” Supreme Court Justice Paul A. Suttell wrote in today’s five-page opinion.

The account was opened in August 2005 in the names of Johnson and Mixitforme.com, which specialized in selling discounted small electronics such as iPods, PlayStations and cell phones.

“According to the account statements, defendant used the credit card to purchase more than supplies and inventory for the business,” Suttell wrote. “Indeed, the statements reflect charges for stays in luxury villas and hotels, shopping sprees in Beverly Hills, California, private yacht charters, exotic car rentals, and international flights.”

Johnson ran Mixitforme.com with David Whitaker, who federal authorities allege was the architect of an Internet scheme that bilked nearly $13 million from people who ordered electronic goods from a company he set up over a toy store he ran in downtown Providence. Whitaker was arrested last month.

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:37 PM | Comment

Etheridge among stars at Newport sunset concerts

NEWPORT -- The line-up is out today for a six-concert summer series in the City by the Sea that spans age groups and styles, including the Plain White T's, Boz Scaggs, Melissa Etheridge and Jimmie Vaughan.

Calling it an "eclectic mix," the Newport Yachting Center announced the lineup for the 11th annual Snapple Sunset Music Series. Concerts are slated for June 14, July 6, July 7, July 11, July 12, and Aug. 21.

“Melissa Etheridge is arguably the biggest act we’ve ever had at the festival and Boz Scaggs, Indigo Girls, Jimmie Vaughan and John Hiatt certainly meet our criteria of booking the highest quality entertainment to satisfy a variety of musical tastes -- from pop to folk, blues and rock,” Michele Maker Palmieri, festival director at the Newport Yachting Center, said in the news release. “We’re also looking forward to enjoying The Plain White T’s who have a loyal following of fans a lot younger than me!”

Concert tickets can be bought at www.newportfestivals.com, except for tickets for the Etheridge concert, which will go on sale April 21 by using the yachting center’s “print tickets at home” ClicknPrint ticketing system. People wanting tickets can also call the Newport Yachting Centers' boc office at (401) 846-1600, ext. 3, which will now also be open for walk-up sales seven days a week, beginning May 1.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Here's the schedule of main acts, provided in a news release. There will also be opening acts and festival stage acts.

* Saturday, June 14: Boz Scaggs
Tickets are $60 each in advance/$68 day of show.

* Sunday, July 6: Melissa Etheridge
Tickets are $95 each in advance/$105 day of show

* Monday, July 7: The Plain White T’s
Tickets are $35 in advance/$40 day of show

* Friday, July 11: Jimmie Vaughan
Tickets are $25 each in advance/$30 day of show

* Saturday, July 12: Indigo Girls
Tickets are $35 each in advance/$40 day of show

* Thursday, Aug. 21: John Hiatt & the Ageless Beauties
Tickets are $30 in advance/$35 day of show

For each night the gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with music starting on the Festival Stage at 6, the opening act/special guest at 7 and the headliner beginning at approximately 8. But the gates will open at 5 for the Melissa Etheridge concert with the festival stage acts also beginning then. Etheridge will begin on the main stage at 7. The triple bill featuring the Plain White T’s will start at 7. The festival stage act will still begin at 6 and the gates will open at 5:30.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:04 PM | Comment

2 more convicted in cocaine ring using 'Simpsons' code

PROVIDENCE -- Two more men have been convicted in a cocaine smuggling operation from California to New England, a scheme that included a cell-phone conversation with coded reference to "The Simpsons" for the shipment pick-up point: Springfield, Mass.

A U.S. District Court jury on Friday found Adolfo Verdugo, 41, of Pomona, Calif., and Rafael Fernandez-Roque, 30, address unknown, guilty of conspiracy after a week-long trial. Sentencing is slated for Aug. 29, U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office announced today.

Omar Altamarino-Nunez, 30 who goes by alias Juan Carlos, and Idelfonso Betancourt-Rodriguez admitted to arranging a cocaine deal with Verdugo and driving from Providence to the Springfield, Mass., area with Fernandez-Roque to pick up the drug, according to the news release. Verdugo had hauled the drug, mixed in with a produce shipment, from California, prosecutors said.

Prosecutor Mary E. Rogers presented evidence at the trial that last May, Altamarino-Nunez, going by alias Juan Carlos, arranged in a cell phone conversation with Verdugo to pick up a cocaine shipment. On May 29, Verdugo told Altamarino-Nunez to meet him “where the Simpsons live,” referring to Springfield, Mass., which the TV show cartoon characters call home, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The three men headed to Springfield, with Altamarino-Nunez in a mini-van and Betancourt-Rodriguez and Fernandez-Roque in a borrowed Jeep Cherokee. With federal agents monitoring, the Cherokee was parked between two trucks at a rest area north of Springfield, then left after about a minute. Massachusetts State Police and DEA agents stopped the Cherokee, seized a black bag containing cocaine bricks and arrested Betancourt-Rodriguez and Fernandez-Roque.

Verdugo, questioned by a state trooper at the rest area, asserted he was delivering produce to a Massachusetts location. Although one of four cell phones in his truck had been used to communicate with Altamarino’s cell phone, Verdugo was allowed to go as the investigation continued. In July, Newport Police Detective Michael S. Naylor, assigned to the DEA Task Force, flew to California and arrested Verdugo.

Three other men have already pleaded guilty to roles in the drug-trafficking ring.
-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:28 PM | Comment

Police car involved in serious accident in Cranston

CRANSTON -- Paramedics took three people to the hospital this afternoon after a three-car accident involving a police cruiser outside the Chapel View shopping center, according to police.

A preliminary investigation by the Cranston Police Department’s accident reconstruction team found that an officer was traveling east on Sockanosset Cross Road around 12:50 p.m., responding to a breaking and entering call on Mapleton Street, when a two-door Ford exited the Chapel View development and collided with the officer's cruiser.

The Ford then collided with a third vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, which was stopped in the left turn lane on Sockanosset, on the road's westbound side.

Paramedics took all three drivers to Rhode Island Hospital. The police department was withholding their names late this afternoon, as they attempted to notify family members.

The police say the officer involved was operating his emergency lights and sirens at the time of the accident.

-- Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:23 PM | Comment

Faldo, Price will play in CVS Classic

By Paul Kenyon
Journal Sports Writer

Hall of Famers Nick Price and Nick Faldo will be among the headliners for the 10th annual CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

The field for the event June 22-24 at Rhode Island Country Club was announced today, in a press conference at the Button Hole Short Course and Teaching Center, and it is one that has something for everyone. As has been the case in the past, veteran will be showcased with Price and Faldo.

For the second year in a row, women will take part. In this case two members of the winning U.S. Solheim Cup team, Laura Diaz and Nicole Castrale, will play even though it will mean missing practice rounds for the U.S. Women’s Open, which will be held later that same week.

The rising young talent on the PGA Tour will be represented, too, headed by Brandt Snedeker, who finished in a tie for third at The Masters yesterday, Charles Howell III, Camilo Villegas, who was a bit hit last year, and Floridians Boo Weekley and Bubba Watson.

Tournament veterans slated to return, in addition to co-hosts Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, are RICC products Dana and Brett Quigley, Davis Love III, Tim Herron and Peter Jacobsen, whose company runs the event.

Stewart Cink and J.J. Henry, who combined to win the team event last year, will return to defend their title.

``I think it’s the most diverse field we’ve ever had,’’ Faxon said in summing up the field.

The final two spots in the $1.55 million event will be filled at a later date.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:06 PM | Comment

Ex-mob boss Salemme makes federal plea deal

BOSTON -- One of Boston's most notorious gangsters has pleaded guilty to federal charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements.

Former New England mob boss Francis "Cadillac Frank'' Salemme agreed to a plea deal today that could get him released from prison in nine months.

The 74-year-old struck the deal after he began cooperating with authorities during an investigation into the FBI's handling of mob informants James "Whitey'' Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman'' Flemmi.

Salemme headed the New England mob during the early 1990s.

Under the plea deal, prosecutors and defense attorneys will recommend a five-year prison term. With credit for the more than three years he's served while awaiting trial and good time, Salemme is expected to be released in January.

Extra: For more about the "State of the Mob" in Rhode Island and New England, see a 2007 multimedia report of by projo.com.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:58 PM | Comment

Update: Bradley Hospital kicks off modernization project

EAST PROVIDENCE -- A groundbreaking ceremony today at the state's only hospital focused on children with psychiatric and emotional illnesses was part formality and part new business.

Work on the first phase of Bradley Hospital's expanded and modernized facilities has already begun, but today's groundbreaking ceremony was also a forum to announce the public phase of a massive campaign seeking to raise $7.5 million.

President and CEO Dan Wall said in a statement, "Today, with the groundbreaking of this $31.1 million modernization project, the hospital makes sure it stays on the forefront of this most important battle for our nation's children."

The first phase of the project is the construction of a new facility will replace the dorm-like, 77-year-old structure with a 60-bed, state-of-the-art building that offers individual rooms for each patient.

The building process has been a novel one in the state, with officials adding innovative features –– smash-proof windows, for instance –– to keep children safe and comfortable.

The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust today announced a $750,000 gift to fund a sensory, speech and occupational therapy clinic. Since the project received approval in July 2007 more than $3.5 million has been donated from Hasbro, Inc., the Champlin Foundations, and trustees Stanley and Martha Livingston, among others.

This phase of the hospital's expansion is expected to be completed by fall 2009.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:44 PM | Comment

Federal aid to help health center move to new site

PROVIDENCE -- In a move aimed at improving the health of a community as well as its residents, a local health-care center is moving to a new location.

The Allen Berry Health Care Center is in a rented building on Prairie Street.

Today, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Merrill Thomas, the CEO and executive director of Providence Community Health Centers, announced a $241,000 federal boost to help the center move to a new facility of its own on the same street.

“The impact of the this funding in our community will be multiplied many times over,” Thomas said, “as we develop the old Federated Lithographers site turned from its current, run-down state into a new health center as well as site renovations that will be the catalyst for additional community investment and redevelopment.”

The PHCH was also awarded a $400,000 federal brownfields grant, which will pay for remediation of the site, which had been a construction site for metalworking machines tools and other products.

“Not only will this federal investment help protect the health and well being of residents and the environment,” Reed said in a statement, “but it will generate job growth, increase surrounding property values, and strengthen the local economy.”

The site of the new center is part of a larger proposed project to create an urban industrial park with commercial and retail operations as well as green spaces.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:17 PM | Comment

Cardi's plans to expand in Massachusetts

Cardi’s Furniture plans to expand its retail operation this summer at two new locations.

The company plans to open a 15,000-square-foot showroom at a former electronics store in the Capetown Plaza, 768 Iyannough Rd., across from the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis.

Cardi’s will also open a 113,000 square foot superstore in Braintree, Mass. at the site of the former Home Depot Expo Center which closed in 2005.

To staff the two showrooms, Cardi’s will host a job fair at the Braintree, Mass. site, 180 Pearl St. from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23.

-- Journal business editor John Kostrzewa

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:14 PM | Comment

Reporter's query: Looking for college rejection stories

Are you a high school senior or a parent of one who has received depressingly thin envelopes from colleges this spring, containing rejection letters, not the acceptance letters you'd hoped for?

We want to hear from you. Due to a population surge this year, many colleges accepted fewer applicants than in previous years, leaving a lot of stressed out and sad high school seniors.

Please e-mail or call Jennifer D. Jordan to share you college rejection (and acceptance!) stories: jjordan@projo.com; (401) 277-7254

Posted by maria caporizzo at 12:20 PM | Comment

Chat on immigration: Church council minister is guest

Rhode Islanders will be able to talk with the Rev. Donald Anderson, executive minister of the Rhode Island Council of Churches, from noon to 1 p.m. today, when he appears as a guest in an online chat hosted by projo.com.

Questions for Mr. Anderson may be submitted to the chat room now.

To submit questions in advance, or participate in the chat while it's going on, go to: projo.com/chat, log in and enter the chat room named Rev. Anderson.

Note: To enter the chat room, you may skip the "log in as member" options and simply enter a display name, then click on "login." And when typing your question, do not press enter or click send until you have finished; pressing enter will cause questions to be submitted prematurely.

As with all projo.com chats, guests may select the questions to answer, and it may not be possible to answer all questions in the time alloted.

An online transcript of the chat will be available after it ends.

For more on immigration-related events in Rhode Island, including a transcript of a chat last week with Governor Carcieri, visit projo.com's continuing report at: projo.com/immigration

Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:45 AM | Comment

Cicilline joins mayors to stop illegal guns sales

Mayor David Cicilline is with mayors from across the country at a conference aimed at curbing the sale of illegal guns.

More than 60 mayors convened in Washington today for the Mayors Against Illegal Guns National Summit, a bipartisan group which consists of more than 300 mayors total.

“The men and women of the Providence Police Department have worked very hard to reduce crime in our city, but law enforcement officials can only do so much to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” Cicilline said in a statement. “I am looking forward to joining mayors from across America as we share best practices and search for effective strategies to get illegal guns off our streets.”

The group of mayors is expected to work on its legislative agenda, including bills to strengthen federal background check systems and ways to put an end to the sale of illegal weapons.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:28 AM | Comment

Hold your horses: Gas hits record high in R.I.

We've heard it more than once, gas prices in Rhode Island continue to climb. They've reached a record high -- the highest ever recorded by AAA.

According to AAA's weekly survey, self-serve, unleaded gasoline is averaging $3.24 in Rhode Island, 4 cents pricier than last week's average. That price beats the previous record -- set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina -- by a penny. The prices, however, are not adjusted for inflation.

We're still behind the national average of $3.37. Last year at this time, unleaded was averaging $2.79 in the Ocean State.

AAA, which conducts the survey weekly, suggests shopping around for the best deals because the prices range from $3.16 to $3.33.

You can find current prices online for nearby pumps at AAA's fuel price finder.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:22 AM | Comment

Lt. Governor Roberts to tout health care proposal

State and local officials plan to tout a proposed health plan today at a community meeting in East Providence.

In the second of several planned meetings, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts and a handful of local officials will answer questions about Roberts' proposed Healthy Rhode Island Reform Act, eight bills aimed at increasing the availability of health care.

Roberts is also soliciting anecdotes from residents illustrating how poor or no access to health care has affected their lives.

The public meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at Phillips Street Hall at 51 North Phillips St.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 9:27 AM | Comment

Photo: Morning accident snarls Route 95 in Providence

Journal Photo/Bill Murphy

A car is lowered onto a flatbed following a crash that left it sitting on the barrier between routes 95 north and south, just north of the Eddy Street overpass in Providence, this morning.

PROVIDENCE -- A morning accident interrupted the commute this morning on Route 95 just south of Providence today.

The accident was on the northbound side of the roadway at Exit 18/Thurbers Avenue. The left lane of traffic was blocked, but the accident has since been cleared.

To see for yourself how traffic is moving along, visit the Transportation Management Center's Web cameras.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:00 AM | Comment

Ceremonial groundbreaking for new children's hospital

A new hospital for children with mental and emotional problems is breaking ground this morning, sort of.

Work on the new Bradley Hospital in East Providence has already begun, but officials today will conduct an official ceremony.

The new facility will replace the dorm-like, 76-year-old structure with a 60-bed, state-of-the-art building that offers individual rooms for each patient.

The building process has been a novel one in the state, with officials adding innovative features –– smash-proof windows, for instance –– to keep children safe and comfortable.

The groundbreaking is set for 10:30 a.m. today at 1011 Veterans Memorial Parkway in East Providence.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:42 AM | Comment

It's going to be a beautiful day, let me count the ways

There's not much to say that can't be gleaned from a step outside. It's beautiful.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature near 54 degrees with sunny skies and a northwest wind between 9 and 13 mph.

Skies should remain clear tonight, when the temperature drops to around the freezing point and the winds die down to a mild 5 mph.

Tomorrow begins the slow progression toward a warm weekend -- a high temperature near 56 with sunny skies and mild south winds.

To keep track of the weather through the week, see projo.com's weather page.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

A new bottle bill: Download today's front page

A package of stories on a new bottle bill lead today's Journal.
Download file

Posted by Peter Phipps at 6:56 AM | Comment

Tax time: You knew it was coming, but are you ready?

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Janet Bowers, left, of Central Falls, who cares for a disabled son, was happy to learn that she's eligible for a $300 rebate. She was helped by Catherine Lachapelle, an individual taxpayer assistant specialist, at the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center at 380 Westminster St. in Providence. Click here for more about IRS help in Rhode Island.

PROVIDENCE -- You've known it was coming for months. The April 15 deadline for filing your income taxes for last year.

But just in case you procrastinated, the Providence Main Post Office will stay open Tuesday until midnight for people looking to mail last-minute income tax returns.

Of course, these days, taxpayer responsibilities can be taken care of online. Find tax forms, tips on maximizing your return, links to state and federal resources and other help from Journal MoneyLine columnist Neil Downing and more on projo.com's Tax Time page.

If you prefer the old-fashioned method, the Post Office can help.

On filing deadline day, Tuesday, April 15, the main branch will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight.

Bring parcels weighing more than 13 ounces inside to be weighed, stamped and postmarked.

But for lighter, tax-related items, postal employees will be on hand at the corner of Corliss and Charles Streets to accept them and make sure they are postmarked in time.

The main branch will also be open today from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 6:44 AM | Comment