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« April 2008 | Today | June 2008 » May 30, 2008Police prepared for busy night on Providence streetsPROVIDENCE -- It’s going to be a busy night in Providence, which could mean a busy night for the Providence police. Police Chief Dean Esserman said he’s prepared for tonight’s festivities, which include a full WaterFire performance on downtown rivers and streets, Hot Night 2008, a hip-hop concert at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, the annual Pell Awards for achievement in the arts on Empire Street, and two prom celebrations. This afternoon, Esserman said there will be a 22-person special police detail at the Dunkin' Donuts Center for the concert and another 16-person detail for WaterFire and a 13-person detail at Providence Place mall. And he’ll be coordinating from the department’s mobile command center until about 3 a.m. to keep an eye on emptying bars and clubs. “We think it’s going to go wonderfully,” Esserman said. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:05 PM | Comment Crews on scene of a structure fire in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- Crews at this hour are on scene of a structure fire, believed to be in a residence, at 125 Whittier Ave., according to fire dispatch. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:58 PM | Comment 3 bitten by foxes in Hopkinton; at least 1 fox rabidA fox caught in Hopkinton has tested positive for rabies while test results are pending for a second fox caught in the town -- and three people who were bitten will undergo treatment, the state Department of Environmental Management says. The foxes were caught separately in the area of Sweet Valley Estates, near the Lindhbrook Golf Course near the center of town, the DEM environmental police said this evening. Earlier today, a DEM news release warned Hopkinton residents that there have been two incidents in which people in town were bitten by foxes in unprovoked attacks -- and that one fox had tested positive for rabies. Last night, a person was bitten while using a weed-whacking device in the yard in the Sweet Valley Estates area. Police called the DEM, whose officers captured and brought the fox to the state Department of Health laboratory, where it tested positive for the disease. A second person got bitten during the capture, the DEM says. Today, another person was bitten by a fox in an unprovoked attack, the DEM says. At the time of the news release, the fox was not captured. The three people will get a series of vaccinations as part of the treatment regimen. The DEM news release asked people in Hopkinton to be to be vigilant and to report any contact with foxes to DEM's environmental police office at 222-3070. More about rabies from the state DEM ... -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Scott MacKay Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:45 PM | Comment R.I. chef in finals for Next Food Network StarThe Next Food Network Star is back for a fourth season on Food Network with a local chef, Jennifer Cochrane, 32, of Woonsocket among the 10 finalists. And the restaurant where she was executive chef is throwing a party on Sunday. Geppetto’s Restaurant, 57 De Pasquale Ave., Providence, will host a premiere party to preview the first episode of the Next Food Network Star from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be free give-aways and food and drink specials for this Food Network sanctioned event. The episode appears on the Food Network at 10 p.m. and replays at 1 a.m. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:39 PM | Comment Pre-trial conference for Barrington teen postponedPROVIDENCE -- A pre-trial conference slated for Monday for Ryan Greenberg, the Barrington teenager charged with second-degree murder in the boating death of another Barrington teen, has been put off. Instead, on June 20, the various sides in the case will decide on a new pre-trial conference date. As part of the scheduling change, a bail review that was to be held June 23 will be held June 20, according to Michael Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch. Earlier this month, Greenberg admitted to violating terms of his bail after the Barrington police said they found him and seven other underage Barrington residents at a pond with beer and liquor in April. -- With Journal archival reports Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:51 PM | Comment Arguments for new trial for 3 Narragansetts postponedArguments for motions for a new trial for the three Narragansett Indians convicted of misdemeanor charges related to the state police smoke-shop raid were postponed to June 11 to give lawyers more time to prepare, a court spokesman said today The arguments had been scheduled for Monday. A Providence Superior Court jury found Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas guilty of assaulting a state trooper during a six-week trial. Two other tribal members were also convicted of misdemeanor crimes, while four Narragansetts were acquitted altogether. State police executed a search warrant on the roadside shop on tribal land in Charlestown July 14, 2003, to stop the Narragansetts from selling cigarettes without charging Rhode Island taxes. The raid descended into a confrontation in which eight Narragansetts were arrested. Charges against a juvenile were dismissed in Family Court. The seven other tribal members were tried earlier this year -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:43 PM | Comment Reporter's query: Did you get caught in house price drop?Did you get caught in the house price downturn? If your plans to sell your house and retire, travel, downsize, or pursue some other venture have been scuttled by this real estate bust, we want to hear your story. Please contact Providence Journal staff writer Lynn Arditi at larditi@projo.com or call (401) 277-7335. Please include a daytime phone number where you can be reached. Thank you. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:33 PM | Comment Black bears and youIn case you haven’t heard, there may be a black bear meandering through South County. With all of the publicity, the Department of Environmental Management has decided to issue some tips on how to live alongside bears: Fist thing’s first. Bears like food that’s accessible and reliable. Who doesn't? If the garbage is left out, a bear will keep coming back for more. If the grill is still dripping with grease from Memorial Day, the bear will sniff you out. And as one Narragansett resident already knows –– black bears can eat some bird seed. So, according to DEM, keep garbage out of sight, in sheds and garages, or double bag your trash. Clean your grill, it will make your food taste better too. And there’s plenty of food for birds without birdseed, especially from April to November, so DEM recommends taking down the bird feeders. For more tips on life with your new, wild neighbors, download this .PDF brochure from the DEM, or click below. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson The DEM also says the animals, fierce as they can be, "generally shy and secretive, and usually fearful of humans." This doesn't mean, of course, that they're not dangerous, but according to DEM, it's safe to make loud noises and waive your hands to scare one away from a safe distance -- but remember, the bars can climb trees, swim and run up to 35 mph. Keep that in mind when considering a safe distance. If, in a reverse of fortune, you happen to surprise a bear and it's at close range, back away slowly. But don't make eye contact! It may be perceived as a threat. The animals are typically nocturnal, with poor eyesight, decent hearing and a keen sense of smell. They eat grass, leaves, fruit, nuts and berries, according to DEM, and will sometimes eat small mammals and insects. But without a supply of food, bears are likely to leave the suburbs and head back to the forest. So keep food under wraps, and you and the bears should get along just fine. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:23 PM | Comment Entwistle fails to block his trial in wife, daughter's deathsWOBURN, Mass. — A judge refused Friday to dismiss murder charges or change the location of a trial for a British man accused of killing his wife and infant daughter, and delayed ruling on whether prosecutors can introduce evidence that Neil Entwistle trolled the Internet looking for sex. Judge Diane Kottmyer rejected the defense claim that the intense media coverage of the case has made it impossible for Entwistle to find an impartial jury. The judge also denied a request to move the trial to Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard after Entwistle’s lawyer said it might be the only place in Massachusetts where the case has not received saturation media coverage. Kottmyer said jury selection will begin as scheduled Monday in Middlesex Superior Court. Entwistle is charged with fatally shooting his wife, Rachel, 27, and daughter, Lillian Rose, 9 months, on Jan. 20, 2006. Their bodies were discovered curled up in bed together in their rented Hopkinton, Mass., house two days later. -- The Associated Press Kottmyer postponed a ruling on a request from prosecutors to show the jury Entwistle’s computer history, which includes numerous visits to escort service Web sites and other sites that help people find sexual partners. Weinstein said hearing about the Web sites could prejudice the jury against Entwistle because prosecutors plan to use his online history to argue he was motivated to kill his wife in part because he was unhappy with his sex life. “The evidence in this case will show that there was nothing but a loving relationship between Neil and Rachel Entwistle,” Weinstein said. Assistant District Attorney Michael Fabbri said prosecutors want to tell the jury about Entwistle’s computer history to “show what was going on in the mind of the defendant at or around the time of the crime.” Kottmyer said she will review earlier cases to decide whether the jury will hear about the sex sites. According to a summary of the case filed in court by prosecutors, Entwistle’s computer records showed he exchanged e-mails with a woman he met on a Web site called Adult Friend Finder. He told the woman he was in a relationship “but looking for a bit more fun in the bedroom” and “a very discrete relationship just for fun.” Prosecutors have said Entwistle was despondent because he was unemployed and deeply in debt. They have also said that he may have planned to kill himself after killing his wife and daughter. Entwistle told police he returned home from doing errands to find his wife and daughter dead. He said he was so distraught upon finding their bodies that he contemplated suicide, but instead flew to England to be comforted by his parents. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:15 PM | Comment Update: CVS Trial: Kramer, Ortiz cleared of all charges
PROVIDENCE -- Former CVS executives John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos Ortiz have been cleared of charges that they tried bribing former state Sen. John Celona to win favor in the State House for the Woonsocket-based drugstore chain. The jury of eight men and four women reached their verdict in less than two hours, clearing them of all 23 charges lodged against each defendant. Jurors got the case at 10:35 this morning after receiving instructs from Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi. Some in the courtroom sighed with relief as the not-guilty verdicts in the high-profile case were quickly read around 12:15 p.m. After the verdict, trial participants, reporters, family and friends gathered outside the federal courthouse. Descending the steps into a pleasant, blue-sky afternoon, Kramer, 75, wearing a dark suit, clapped his hands once or twice, then waved his arms, motioning a dozen or so waiting reporters forward. Kramer said he could not believe what he had been through. "This has been an unfair, unjust prosecution," he said. Kramer said that as he waited for the verdict to be read, “I was just so nervous, just so nervous.” He added that “frankly, it was my faith that carried me through this.” Kramer said he had put his life on hold for 3 ½ to 4 years, and now, “You’re like, ‘Now what?’” 
Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Ortiz, 64, also clad in a dark suit, left the courthouse to the applause of family members and friends. But his wife, Jan, said, "I'm not real happy with the government for putting together this sham of a case." Ortiz himself declined to characterize the government's case after his wife spoke. Both men thanked their lawyers. Asked if he was disappointed by the verdict, U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente said, "Well, that's the way the system works, so we'll go on from here." Asked what went wrong, he said: “I’m not sure anything went wrong.” Your Turn: Do you agree with the "not guilty" verdict in CVS case? -- projo.com staff writers Jack Perry and Michael P. McKinney, with archival reports The government's star witness was Celona, who is serving a 2 1/2-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges that he sold his office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and Roger Williams Medical Center. Reporters' questions after the verdict centered in part on Celona's effectiveness as a witness. Scott Corrigan, one of Kramer's lawyers, reflecting on the swifly delivered verdict, said of Celona in the trial: "You can see for yourself what kind of a witness he was.” Celona spent four days on the witness stand, but for three of those days, he was under cross-examination, and defense attorneys pointed out inconsistencies in his testimony. Celona testified how he came to be hired as a consultant by CVS, how he did the company’s legislative bidding while neglecting the other duties spelled out in his consulting agreement, and how he concealed the arrangement because he didn’t want the public to think he had switched sides on pharmacy-choice legislation because CVS was paying him. CVS was opposed to the pharmacy-choice legislation. But on cross-examination Celona was confronted with evidence that he had cheated on his taxes, failed to correct tax problems as promised in his plea agreement with prosecutors and lied to the authorities more times than he could remember. The defense rested without calling any witnesses. Neither Kramer, nor Ortiz took the stand to explain why CVS hired Celona, a state senator from North Providence, as a $1,000-a-month consultant from 2000 to 2003. In closing arguments over five hours yesterday, the prosecution argued that Celona abused his political office for CVS’ gain, at the behest of Kramer and Ortiz. The defense countered that Celona was hired for legitimate purposes, promoting CVS charities on his cable-access television show –– work that was permissible under Rhode Island law defining the state’s “citizen legislator” form of government. After the verdict, CVS issued a statement this afternoon, saying the company "believes that the judicial process has produced a fair and just outcome. "Today’s verdict is consistent with the company’s long-held view that Mr. Kramer and Mr. Ortiz had not engaged in criminal conduct. We are pleased for these two men and their families that this long and painful ordeal has ended," the statement said. U.S. Attorney Corrente said his office would continue with its investigation into corruption at the State House, "Operation Dollar Bill." "If anyone thinks were going away, we're not," Corrente said. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:17 PM | Comment Providence police to patrol on electric scooters / Photo
PROVIDENCE -- Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman and Mayor David N. Cicilline today unveiled a fleet of four electric scooters that will supplement this summer’s police patrol. Although the nearly emissions-free scooters have been touted as a "green" alternative to motorcycles, this summer they will be replacing the city's emissions-free foot and bicycle patrols, Esserman said at a press conference this morning. The scooters are on loan from manufacturer Vectrix Corporation, a Middletown-based company that has sold fleets to police departments in New York and California. The scooters, which have a suggested retail price of $8,400 to $8,500, have a top speed of 62 mph and are black except for Providence police decals and amber caution lights. “They are cool,” Esserman said today. And Providence will be just the third city in the nation to use them, even on a tryout basis. Although the department gets to use the scooter for free this summer, the program is costing the city about $1,450 for helmets and police decals. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports by Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:10 PM | Comment Big party fights small enemy -- the tickPROVIDENCE -- How's this for the theme of your next party: Ticks and Vector Borne Diseases? Too bad, it's taken. Tonight, politicians and scientists are getting together for the Big Tick Gala, an event that highlights people who work to spread the word about and prevent against tick bites and the harm they can cause. There's even a silent auction and an awards ceremony. The "Think TICK, Take Action" awards recognize government, philanthropic and grass-roots efforts to combat ticks. The event is taking place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Botanical Gardens in Roger Williams Park. Tonight's event will also serve as the launch for the University of Rhode Island's upcoming tick awareness program. Guests will include U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, Governor Carcieri, URI scientists and researchers, including Thomas Mather, head of the school's Center for Vector-Borne Disease, which is hosting the gala. Tickets are $25 -- for more information, call 874-2928 or email frostee@uri.edu. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:09 PM | Comment CVS trial: It's in the jury's hands now
At 10:35 this morning, a jury of eight men and four women received the federal corruption case against former CVS executives John R. "Jack’’ Kramer and Carlos Ortiz. "You should exercise reasonable and intelligent judgment,’’ advised Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi. She urged them not to feel pressured to yield their position if they are in the minority, but also not to be stubborn and to "keep an open mind.’’ The deliberations began after a three-week trial and followed an hour of instructions this morning from the judge on the law. Lisi defined such basic concepts as "beyond a reasonable doubt’’ and then outlined the elements of the 23 counts that Kramer and Ortiz are charged with -- 1 count of conspiracy to commit honest-services mail fraud, 21 counts of honest-services mail fraud and 1 count of bribery. Kramer and Ortiz are accused of hiring a Rhode Island senator, John Celona, as a $1,000-a-month consultant to help further the legislative agenda of the Woonsocket-based drugstore chain giant. By doing so, they allegedly deprived the citizens of Rhode Island of the honest services of an elected official. Read Journal coverage of the lawyers' closing arguments. Extra: Trial coverage and more on the related Operation Dollar Bill investigation. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton A key question that the jury must decide is whether Kramer and Ortiz acted "knowingly and willfully’’ to corrupt Celona by hiring him to influence his actions as a senator. Under Rhode Island law, Lisi explained to the jury, part-time legislators can participate in legislation affecting a company they work for, as long as the legislation affects all similar types of businesses equally. It is the legislator’s responsibility to determine if there is a conflict, and whether to avoid participating. Furthermore, Lisi instructed, the law allows a business with a legislator on its payroll to communicate with that legislator regarding legislation, provided that the payments to the legislator are not intended to influence his official actions. Kramer and Ortiz maintain that CVS hired Celona for legitimate public relations purposes and that the defendants’ communications with Celona on legislation was permissible. The prosecution counters that there was no sensible reason for CVS to hire Celona, other than for political favors, since the evidence shows that he didn’t do the public relations work mentioned in his consulting agreement, that he was paid from CVS’s political contributions account and that Kramer and Ortiz sought to conceal the relationship. Prosecutors hammered at the point that Celona helped kill pharmacy choice legislation that Kramer and Ortiz reported would have cost CVS millions of dollars in profits. Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:12 AM | Comment No bears in sightWhere's the bear? Taken up residency? Taking a nap? Taken off? Whatever the case, the black bear -- or bears -- that has been spotted from Scituate to Narragansett in the past few weeks has been nowhere in sight since about 4 p.m. yesterday, according to the Department of Environmental Management. And neither officials in North Kingstown or Narragansett, where the last two sightings came from, have fielded any sighting calls recently. And so, for now, there are no DEM Environmental Police waiting in the woods, no municipal police pounding the pavement, and no calls from residents missing bird feeders. But it's early yet. And here's a question, where did the bear or bears come from? -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:17 AM | Comment Lottery today for spots order on Foster ballotFOSTER - Candidates for the open town council seat will find out later today the order in which their names will appear on the July 8 ballot. Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis scheduled a lottery late this afternoon to determine the order of names on the ballot. Democrat Roger Hawes, Republican Gordon Rogers and Jonathon Vorro, who is running unaffiliated, are facing off for the seat left open after Harold Shippee Sr. resigned in March. "When I ran for office, I pledged to make government more transparent," Mollis said in a statement. "There is nothing that will give voters more faith in the fairness of their elections than the chance to see firsthand how the process unfolds." The lottery is set for 4:30 p.m. at the elections division, 148 West River St., Providence. Mollis has invited the candidates and Foster residents to attend. Foster residents must register to vote in the special election by June 7. Voters must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens and have a valid Social Security number or Rhode Island driver’s license. State law gives Mollis the authority to hold lotteries to determine ballot placement. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:04 AM | Comment Entwistle lawyers to ask for dismissal, venue changeWOBURN, Mass. — Lawyers for the British man accused of killing his wife and infant daughter in the family’s Hopkinton, Mass., home say they will ask a judge to dismiss the charges or change the location of the trial scheduled to start Monday. Attorney Stephanie Page says Neil Entwistle can’t get a fair trial in Middlesex County because of intense international media coverage. Lawyers are scheduled to argue motions in Middlesex Superior Court today. The defense also intends to ask the judge to exclude from trial the evidence prosecutors gathered against Entwistle since his arrest in February 2006. Prosecutors claim Entwistle killed his 27-year-old wife, Rachel, and 9-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose, in January 2006. Entwistle told police he found them dead after returning from an errand. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:59 AM | Comment CVS Trial: Jury instructions todayChief Judge Mary M. Lisi is set to read instructions today to the jury charged with deciding whether two former executives of Woonsocket-based CVS are guilty of trying to buy influence from former state Sen. John Celona, who is serving time in a federal prison for corruption. Yesterday the jury heard four hours of closing arguments in the trial. The prosecution argued that Celona abused his office to help CVS at the State House on behalf of John R. “Jack” Kramer and Carlos Ortiz, two former executives at the drugstore giant. Lawyers for the two argued instead that Celona was legitimately hired to promote CVS charities on his cable-access television show. After three weeks of testimony, Lisi is set to instruct the jury and deliberations may begin today. Special Report: More on the trial and the Operation Dollar Bill corruption investigation. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:59 AM | Comment Traffic Alert: Route 195 east, one lane blockedAn accident this morning has a lane closed on the Washington Bridge heading to Massachusetts. The accident, on the eastbound side of Route 195, has the right lane closed on the bridge. See how traffic is moving near the site of the accident, and along your commute, on the Transportation Management Center's Web cameras. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:50 AM | Comment Today in historyOn this day in 1431 Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. Read more about today in history. Check out a video report about today in history. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Nice Friday, not-so-nice SaturdayI didn't want to spoil the beautiful day, but today I have to. After a reprieve last week, it’s back to the same ol’ “beautiful week, crummy weekend” business that we’ve seen for the past month or so. Today will start off wonderful. By 8 a.m., we should hit 60 degrees and the National Weather Service is forecasting a clear, sun-filled sky, a high temperature near 76 degrees and the mildest of north winds. Tonight looks good too, with temperatures dropping just 20 degrees to about 56 degrees, increasing clouds and a light, south wind. But early Saturday morning we'll have a slight chance of showers, and as the morning goes on, we get hit: showers, thunderstorms and breezy west winds gusting up to 36 mph. The temperatures will stay mild, with highs in the low 70s. The same goes for Saturday night, with showers and thunderstorms on and off throughout the day. Temperatures will remain mild, with a low of 58 degrees and west winds gusting up to 31 degrees. In all Saturday, we can expect three-quarters of an inch of rain -- and more in areas of the most intense thunderstorms. But the rain should take off as quickly as it arrives, and Sunday we'll get back to sun, partly sunny skies and highs in the mid 70s. West winds should be between 8 and 14 mph. Clouds should thicken Sunday night, but no rain in the forecast. We'll have an overnight low in the low 50s. And Monday, the trend should continue: back to work, back to sunshine, blue skies, and mild temperatures in the mid 70s. Cross your fingers and check projo.com's weather page -- maybe Saturday's forecast will change. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a report on the average price for a gallon of gasoline reaching the $4 mark in Rhode Island. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format.
Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 29, 2008Tonight: 'Frankenstein Project' is in PawtucketThe Frankenstein Project continues its run at the Mixed Magic Theatre in Pawtucket, with a 7:30 performance tonight. It's described on the theater's Web site as "a laboratory production of Mary A. Shelley’s novel." Jim Brown plays Dr. Victor Frankenstein, and Bill Pett is his father in the production. On a less terrifying note, you can experiment with some music in Providence. Mark Cutler and Friends play rock and rhythm and blues at 9 p.m. at Nick-A-Nees 75 South St. Call 861-7290. The East Side Horns and Mac Odom and Chill, rhythm and blues and Motown, The Hi-Hat, 3 Davol Square, Providence. 453-6500, www.thehihat.com. 8 p.m. to midnight. For more events, see projo.com's list of calendars. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:56 PM | Comment Senate passes bill toughening DUI penaltyPROVIDENCE -- The state Senate today passed a bill that would make driving with a suspended license a felony when it results from a conviction for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or refusing to submit to a chemical test. Punishment would be up to five years' imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine and taking an alcohol and/or drug treatment program, according to a news release. The bill heads next to the House of Representatives. “When we talk of zero tolerance for drunk drivers, we have to put plenty of teeth behind it and give police the enforcement tools to make sure our streets and highways are safe," said bill sponsor Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis, D-Coventry, in the statement. The goal, according to the news release, is to get tougher on repeat offenders. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:52 PM | Comment Update: Historic Arcade building to get $8M facelift
The building's tenants, primarily lunch counters and retail shops, will have to vacate the building by June 30, so construction can begin, according to Granoff. Granoff expects the renovation of the Weybosset Street building to take about a year. "Our goals are to reposition the Arcade so that it can be sustainable in the long term, and to deepen our firm's commitment to the historic preservation and economic vitality of Downcity," Evan Granoff, managing member of Granoff Associates, said in a press release. -- projo.com staff writer Jack Perry, with reports from Journal staff writer Daniel Barbarisi Granoff said its application for a historic tax credit was approved by the state on May 15. Granoff also figured the time was right for renovation because Johnson and Wales University had earlier announced plans to move its Johansson's Bakery to the school's hospitality facility in Seekonk by June 30. The bakery represents 25 percent of the Arcade's revenue, according to Granoff. The building has 13 tenants. Tenants have been renting on a month-to-month basis since 2005 in anticipation of the project, according to Granoff. Later today, store owners said that the Granoff never told them they would have to vacate, and that they learned about it today via a report on projo.com, The Providence Journal's Web site. “Everybody’s shocked that we’ve only been given 30 days notice. How does anyone move a business in 30 days?” said Don Beohner, owner of Copacetic, a jewelry store on the Arcade’s second floor. Posted by Jack Perry at 6:34 PM | Comment Change in drug crime sentences goes to CarcieriPROVIDENCE -- For the second year in a row, a bill to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug crimes is headed to Governor Carcieri, who vetoed similar legislation last year. The House today approved the bill 52 to 13, with nine not voting. It had gotten Senate backing. Shortly after, a spokeswoman for Carcieri sent a statement saying that, since the bill is essentially the same as last year's, and the governor vetoed it that version, "it is reasonable to believe it will receive the same treatment this year." -- With reports from Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:02 PM | Comment House backs bill allowing flexible kindergarten entry agePROVIDENCE -- The House has approved a bill that would let school departments decide whether to admit a child who turns 5 between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31 into kindergarten. The bill would permit individual school districts to create policies for allowing students who have not met the minimum age requirement to attend kindergarten -- if space is available and it's determined that it would be in the best interests of the child to be enrolled in school. The current law holds that children must be 5 by Sept. 1 of any school year if they are to enroll in kindergarten. In 2002, the General Assembly changed the date of enrollment eligibility date from Dec. 31 to Sept. 1. “I’ve heard concerns from many constituents whose children are more than prepared for kindergarten but have missed the Sept. 1 deadline by weeks or even days. Then the child has to wait an entire year before being enrolled in school,” bill sponsor Stephen R. Ucci, D-Johnston, said in the statement. "This puts those children who are ready for school at age 4 at a disadvantage.” It's the second year Ucci introduced legislation to relax kindergarten entrance age requirements. The bill won House approval last year but died in the Senate. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Education Committee. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:16 PM | Comment Suspended police officer gets 20 years in prison / Photo
Ciresi, who had been on home confinement since February, was ordered to the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston by Judge Robert J. Krause. On Feb. 11, a jury convicted Ciresi on two counts of burglary, one stemming from an armed home invasion in Pawtucket in which his gun was found. He was also found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary, the use of a firearm to commit a crime of violence, attempting to steal money from a stolen ATM after a police raid, receiving a stolen generator, obstructing a police officer and harboring a criminal by hiding a traffic summons in his police locker. The verdict ended an investigation that started in 2004 when a man caught in an armed home invasion of a drug dealer in Pawtucket told police Ciresi had given him the gun. Ciresi indicated today to the Providence County Superior Court judge that he wanted to make a brief statement. But, after talking to his lawyer, Richard Corley, he did not on the lawyer's advice. At that point, Ciresi, who has showed little emotion during the course of the trial, got teary-eyed. On the first count of breaking and entering into the Pawtucket home, he was sentenced to 35 years with 20 to serve. He received lesser sentences on other counts, which are to run concurrently. On a count of using a firearm to commit a crime of violence, he was sentenced to serve 10 years consecutively, but that sentence was suspended. Lawyer Corley said he would be preparing an appeal for Ciresi. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:28 PM | Comment CVS trial: Closing arguments end; jury instructions next
PROVIDENCE -- The jurors in the CVS corruption trial will return to federal court tomorrow morning for final instructions and then begin deliberating the fates of John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos R. Ortiz, former vice presidents for the Woonsocket-based drugstore giant. The trial concluded at 2:15 p.m. today following lengthy closing arguments from the defense teams and prosecution. David B. Fein, one of Kramer’s defense lawyers, spent two hours hammering home the point that the allegations against Kramer and Ortiz did not amount to crimes. He whittled away at the prosecution’s case by zeroing in on "lies" and inconsistencies uttered by John A. Celona, the government’s star witness. Fein accused Celona of "giving the government what he thinks they want." Thomas R. Kiley, a lawyer for Ortiz, followed Fein and continued the attack on Celona’s credibility. He told the jurors that Celona talked to government investigators 25 times and spent nearly a week on the witness stand without providing any evidence that he talked to Kramer and Ortiz "about legislation." "They never asked John Celona to do something against his will, to alter his position," on legislation, Kiley said. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Read more about closing arguments from earlier today. Extra: More on the trial and the Operation Dollar Bill corruption probe. Kiley also underscored that it was Kramer, not Ortiz, who wanted to hire Celona as a $1,000-a-month consultant. And, he said, Ortiz asked Celona whether the state Ethics Commission had approved the consulting agreement. "That’s not an obvious question for a person who is about to engage in a bribe," Kiley said. Kiley said that Ortiz never saw the John Celona State House Report cable television show where Kramer was a frequent guest, and he had no interest in Celona’s role as a public relations guy for CVS. In a 10-minute rebuttal, prosecutor Dambruch seized on Kiley’s characterization of Ortiz. He said that Kiley’s statement offered proof that CVS brought Celona on board as a consultant to influence legislation at the State House. He said that CVS is a "billion-dollar corporation," that did not need to hire a public relations consultant for $12,000 a year. "The one thing, however, he could offer was his position on legislation," Dambruch said. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:13 PM | Comment Gas hits record high of $4 per gallon in the Ocean StateThe average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Rhode Island has reached the $4 mark, setting a new record along the way, according to AAA Southern New England and the Oil Price Information Service. The price has jumped 4 cents since the beginning of the week and almost 20 cents in the past 10 days, according to AAA. AAA surveys gas prices at the start of every week, but the travel club put out a special release today to announce that gas had hit the $4 mark. In its regular survey released Tuesday -- a day later than usual because of the Monday holiday -- AAA reported the average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline was $3.969 at the self-service pump. Rhode Island's average price is 5 cents above the national average of $3.95, AAA says. AAA offers gas saving tips and tools on its Web site. Posted by Jack Perry at 1:44 PM | Comment Funeral Saturday for North Kingstown coupleA funeral is scheduled for Saturday for Brad S. and Rosemarie Randall, a North Kingstown couple killed Monday in an accident. According to Connecticut state police, Brad Randall was driving his motorcycle at 11:30 a.m. with Rosemarie as his passenger on South Canterbury Road, just north of Depot Road in Canterbury, Conn., when a car driven by Lisa Ramos crossed the double yellow line, hitting the Randalls. Brad Randall was pronounced dead at the scene; Rosemarie Randall was taken to The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, Conn., and later pronounced dead. Ramos was taken to the hospital for observation. Connecticut state police are still investigating. Saturday's funeral is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. at Nardolillo Funeral Home, 1278 Park Avenue in Cranston. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Church in Cranston. Visiting hours are tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The couple will be buried in Highland Memorial Park in Johnston. In lieu of flowers, the families have requested contributions to be made in Brad and Rosemarie’s names to Meeting Street School, 1000 Eddy St., Providence, RI, 02909, where Rosemarie worked. You can read the Randalls' obituary and sign a guestbook on projo.com. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:00 PM | Comment Reporter's query: Staying home on vacation this year?The Providence Journal is looking to interview readers who have dropped their typical summer travel plans in favor of a “staycation,” a stay-at-home vacation. If you are among these people, e-mail Journal staff writer Mark Arsenault at marsenau@projo.com.
Posted by maria caporizzo at 12:57 PM | Comment Dunk to close for summer to complete renovationsPROVIDENCE -- The Dunkin’ Donuts Center will close tomorrow night after its last concert, Hot Night ’08 featuring L’il Wayne, for the third and final phase of renovations. Sheduled for completion this summer are: finishing the old lobby, a new Providence Bruins store, upgrades to seating areas, exterior work, and creating new seats in the arena bowl. The three-year phased renovation program is slated to culminate in a Sept. 5 re-opening. During an abbreviated season that spanned Nov. 14 to May 30, The Dunk hosted 109 events with estimated attendance of 523,800, according to a news release today. There will be no events at the facility from June 1 through Sept. 5. The box office will be open through the summer. Scheduled September grand opening events include a ribbon cutting, a Sept. 6 public open house, and several concerts. The first event after the September reopening will be the American Idols Live Tour 2008 on Sept. 7. The Rhode Island Convention Center Authority runs the convention center, the Dunkin' Donuts Center-Providence and two parking garages. An 11-member board governs the authority. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:45 PM | Comment Providence police to test-drive eco-friendly scootersPROVIDENCE -- The Providence police will become the first New England force to test out electric, high-performance two-wheel scooters -- billed as an eco-friendly alternative to smoke-spewing motorcyles. Mayor David N. Cicilline and Chief Dean M. Esserman will kick off the program to road test Vectrix electric two-wheel vehicles on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the public safety complex, 325 Washington St. A news release out today says the "silent, all-electric Maxi-scooters are virtually emissions free compared to larger traditional motorcycles that emit two tons of carbon dioxide each year." Four police officers have been tapped to test the Vectrix scooters over a three-month period. Mike Boyle, president and chief executive officer of Rhode Island-based Vectrix, is slated to be on hand Friday as officers take a test drive. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:10 PM | Comment CVS trial: Prosecution, defense make closing argumentsPROVIDENCE -- Closing arguments got under way in the CVS corruption trial this morning with a federal prosecutor laying out a trail of legislation, e-mails and memos -- proof, he said, that John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos Ortiz, former CVS executives, are guilty of criminal wrongdoing. During an hour-long closing, prosecutor Stephen G. Dambruch built his case around the actions and hiring of ex-state Sen John A. Celona, the government's star witness. Celona was hired as a $1,000-a-month consultant for the Woonsocket-based drugstore giant in 2000. Dambruch provided evidence that Celona reversed his position on pharmacy-choice legislation and became an eager advocate for CVS. CVS had long opposed pharmacy-choice legislation, and Dambruch today quoted from a document in which Ortiz had said that if the legislation passed, it would cost CVS millions of dollars in sales. Dambruch also suggested in his closing that Kramer and Ortiz made repeated attempts to hide that Celona was a paid consultant. He pointed out that Ortiz told Todd Andrews, a former CVS corporate communications director, to keep Celona's consulting role quiet. After a break this morning, David B. Fein, one of Kramer's lawyers, began his closing argument, telling the jurors they are probably wondering why they had to sit through three weeks of testimony. He said the government has not proved its case and there is no evidence of criminal intent by Kramer or Ortiz. Fein said the hiring of Celona -- whether right or wrong -- should never have reached a courtroom. "That discussion belongs in a corporate office in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, not a federal courtroom in Providence, Rhode Island," Fein told the jury. After Fein, Thomas Kiley, a lawyer for Ortiz, will give a closing argument. Dambruch will have the opportunity to offer a rebuttal. Extra: More on this trial and the Operation Dollar Bill investigation corruption probe. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:30 AM | Comment Operator killed after MBTA trains collide in Mass.NEWTON, Mass. — The operator of a commuter train died and several passengers were injured after the trolley she was driving slammed into the back of another train, derailing both, officials said. Investigators did not know what caused yesterday's wreck, which killed Terrese Edmonds, 24, and injured about 10 passengers in an aboveground accident near a station in suburban Newton, said Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The two-car train Edmonds was operating struck the back of another two-car train approaching Woodland Station outbound on the D branch of the Green Line at about 6 p.m., Pesaturo said. The trains had about 200 passengers combined. “The first one was stopped at a red signal and was ready to proceed to the station when it was struck,” he said. For several hours, firefighters struggled frantically to free Edmonds from the mangled wreckage. She was finally extricated early this morning, about seven hours after the crash. “It is my unfortunate duty to report the death of one of our employees,” MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas said. He said it was a “miracle” that there weren’t more deaths. One passenger was flown to a Boston hospital, and the other injured commuters were taken to nearby Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The hospital had eight train-wreck patients, including two who walked in, none with serious injuries, said spokesman Brian O’Dea. Both trains remained at the crash site this morning, covered in tarpaulins. The MBTA was busing passengers around the crash site. -- The Associated Press Federal investigators were scheduled to arrive at the scene on this morning to study the scene and interview witnesses, said Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board. A full report is not expected for up to 18 months, he said. Passenger Barry Gallup, standing aboard the train that was hit, told WCVB-TV that the impact threw him to the floor. “I may have been knocked out for a few seconds. ... The next thing I knew I was lying on the ground,” Gallup told WCVB. He described a confused scene immediately after the crash, with some passengers screaming and small fires breaking out on the side of the train. Other passengers concurred about the chaos. “There was a 70-year-old old guy who went ballistic, screaming at the conductor, ’You killed my wife! You killed my wife!’ And the wife is going, ’I’m OK! I’m OK,’” passenger Matt Stone, 46, told The Boston Globe. Massachusetts transit officials interviewed the surviving three operators Wednesday, Pesaturo said. Gov. Deval Patrick telephoned Grabauskas at the scene of the accident to offer any necessary assistance, Pesaturo said. “The governor also expressed that his thoughts are with the passengers, the train crew and the emergency responders who are working to extricate this female operator from the train,” he said. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:00 AM | Comment Gay rights advocates score wins in N.Y., Calif.ALBANY, N.Y. — Gay rights advocates had reason to celebrate on both coasts today, with New York set to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere and California preparing to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay couples on June 17. Rhode Island does not issue same-sex marriage licenses, but the issue has recently been in spotlight after two women who were married in Massachusetts unsuccessfully tried to get divorced in Family Court. A judge is considering whether to ask the state's Supreme Court if the Superior Court has the authority to grant the couple a divorce. Hours after California issued a directive yesterday authorizing that date, word came that New York Gov. David Paterson instructed state agencies — including those governing insurance and health care — to immediately change policies and regulations to recognize gay marriages. For years, gay rights advocates have sought recognition for same-sex marriages so couples could share family health care plans, receive tax breaks by filing jointly, enjoy stronger adoption rights and inherit property. Many or all of those rights would now appear to be available to New Yorkers who legally wed same-sex partners in other states and countries, according to the memo sent earlier this month from the governor’s counsel. Agencies have until June 30 to report back to the counsel on how, specifically, the directive will change existing state benefits and services for gay couples. “This is a milestone in the fight for fairness in New York,” Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. “Couples in New York who have never known true security for their families will be officially entitled to treatment by our state government that respects their rights.” -- The Associated Press The Rev. Duane Motley, director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which has lobbied against the legalization of gay marriage, declined to comment on Paterson’s directive. State Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Massachusetts is currently the only U.S. state that recognizes same-sex marriage, but its residency requirements would bar New Yorkers from marrying there. New York residents could instead flock to California, where gay couples will be able to wed beginning June 17 — unless that state’s Supreme Court decides to stay its own ruling same-sex gay marriage. Upon their return home, in the eyes of the state, their unions would be no different from those of their heterosexual neighbors. Gay couples could also travel outside the country to marry in Canada or one of the other nations where same-sex marriage is legal. The move by Paterson’s administration does not legalize same-sex marriage in New York. The state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, has said it can only be legalized by the Legislature, which failed to pass a proposed measure last year. The memo, one of the strongest steps the state can take short of action by the Legislature, cited a Feb. 1 ruling by a New York Appellate Division court in a case involving a woman wed in Canada who was denied benefits by her partner’s employer. The appellate judges determined that there is no legal impediment in New York to the recognition of a same-sex marriage. The state Legislature “may decide to prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages solemnized abroad,” the ruling said. “Until it does so, however, such marriages are entitled to recognition in New York.” In a video shown Saturday at the Empire State Pride Agenda’s spring dinner, the governor said he directed the move as “a strong step toward marriage equality right here in our state.” “We’re aware that our advocacy is incomplete and we will keep trying until people who love each other and want to get married, regardless of who they are, have that opportunity,” Paterson said in the video, which was posted on the gay rights organization’s Web site. Paterson spokeswoman Erin Duggan said the May 14 memo is intended to guide the actions of state agencies. It states that agencies must change policies and regulations to make sure “spouse,” “husband” and “wife” are clearly understood to include gay couples. The memo says failure to include gay marriages in the dispensing of state services such as health care benefits could violate state human rights law. The agencies could face sanctions for any violations, it warns. The agency changes can be instituted through internal memos or changes in regulations and would not require legislative action, Paterson counsel David Nocenti said in the memo, first reported by The New York Times. Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Paterson, his running mate for lieutenant governor, campaigned in 2006 on a platform that included bringing equal rights to gays. Spitzer, however, said the state constitution didn’t sanction gay marriage. Last year, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York was approved by the Democrat-led Assembly, but the Republican-led Senate hasn’t taken it up. In California, a group opposed to gay marriage has asked the state Supreme Court to grant a stay of its May 15 ruling until after the November election, when voters are likely to face a ballot initiative that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Passage of the initiative would overrule the Supreme Court. Justices have until June 16 to rule on the stay request, according to the memo sent yesterday by e-mail to the state’s 58 county clerks. The guidelines from Janet McKee, chief of California’s office of vital records, contained copies of new marriage forms that include lines for “Party A” and “Party B” instead of bride and groom. The gender-neutral nomenclature was developed in consultation with county clerks, according to the letter. “Effective June 17, 2008, only the enclosed new forms may be issued for the issuance of marriage licenses in California,” the directive reads. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:15 AM | Comment Police on the lookout after bear spotted in N. KingstownMaybe he just wants to settle down. A black bear -- apparently the same one that's been seen in Glocester, Scituate, Coventry, West Greenwich, and around South County -- was spotted again this morning in North Kingstown, according to the Department of Environmental Management's Environmental Police. Authorities are on the scene, tracking the bear that is likely responsible for rummaging through trash cans and bird feeders in a search for food. Trackers set up a bear trap yesterday in the Mettatuxet neighborhood of Narragansett after a sighting off Boston Neck Road. They waited. Nothing. This morning, just after 6:00, there was another spotting in a backyard on Pride's Crossing Lane, according to environmental police officer Mike Mahoney. Then reports came in that the bear had crossed Shermantown Road and gone into the woods. That was the last sighting as far as Mahoney has heard. So environmental police officers are on the scene, relying on citizens calling in sightings and pounding the pavement. They're armed with tranquilizers, a bear trap, and hopefully, a good supply of patience. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:50 AM | Comment Closing arguments today in the CVS trialPROVIDENCE -- Closing arguments are scheduled for today in the trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing former state Sen. John Celona with a $1,000-a-month job to gain favor at the State House. After the defense rested without calling any witnesses Tuesday, Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi gave the jurors the day off yesterday and scheduled a private chamber conference with lawyers for both sides to discuss her charge to the jury. Defense attorneys for former executives John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos Ortiz argue that Celona was hired to do legitimate work, promoting CVS and its charitable endeavors through his television show and his network of senior citizens in his North Providence Senate district. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:16 AM | Comment Today in historyOn this day in 1790, Rhode Island became the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the United States Constitution. Read more about Today in History. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment A summery kind of springWe'll see the warmer side of spring today, and it doesn't look too bad. The Ocean State is in for sunny, clear skies and a high temperature near 76 degrees. It will get pretty windy, though, with a mild west wind early, but increasing to between 18 and 21 mph. as the day goes on. Low humidity makes it a good day to take a long walk, but a bad day for fires. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning -- the combination of dry air and wind are good conditions for fast-moving fires. So be careful with the cigarettes and barbecues. Skies should stay clear and temperatures mild tonight, dipping to a comfortable 51 degrees. West winds should die down later in the evening. Tomorrow looks like today but without the high winds; temperatures should reach about 75 degrees, skies should stay clear -- at least through most of the day -- and we'll have calm, west winds. There are more spring surprises ahead in the forecast; see projo.com's weather page to see what the weekend may hold. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about La Salle freshman Juliet Vongphoumy, who became the first female to win the Rhode Island Interscholastic League individual golf title. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format.
Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 28, 2008Dunkin' Donuts pulls Rachael Ray scarf ad
AP photo / Dunkin' DonutsRachael Ray and scarf in ad. CANTON, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts has canceled an online advertisement featuring celebrity chef Rachael Ray after complaints that a scarf she wore in the ad offers symbolic support for terrorism. Dunkin' Donuts said today it pulled the ad over the weekend because of what it calls a "misperception" about the scarf that detracted from its original intent to promote its iced coffee. Critics, including conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, complained that the scarf appeared to be traditional garb worn by Arab men. The ad's critics say such scarves have come to symbolize Muslim extremism and terrorism. Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Donuts says the black-and-white scarf that Ray wore had a paisley design, and was selected by a stylist for the advertising shoot. The chain says no symbolism was intended. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:55 PM | Comment Tonight: Theatre by the Sea opens for the seasonFor the first year since it closed in 2003, Theatre by the Sea in Wakefield is set to open its first full season. Ain’t Misbehavin’ opens tonight at 8 in previews. Last year, the only production -- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum -- was so popular, it was extended for a week. The 75-year-old theater closed five years ago when, after 15 years, former owners Laura Harris and Renny Serre lost interest in producing shows. Four years later, the 500-seat theater found a new owner in Bill Hanney, who offered just that one show last year. This year’s opener, Ain’t Misbehavin’, opened on Broadway in 1978. It was a tribute to the black musicians of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. It was done at Trinity Rep four years ago, and features five singers who perform rowdy, funny songs. The show opens today in previews and runs through June 15th at the Theater by the Sea at 364 Cards Pond Road in Wakefield. Tickets are $35 for previews today and tomorrow and $39 to $49 for the later performances. For information, call 782-8587. Online ticket sales for tonight's show, according to the theater's Web site, end at 7 p.m. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney and Journal archival reports Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 6:43 PM | Comment Senate sends driver's license renewal change to HousePROVIDENCE -- Legislation raising to 75 the age when Rhode Islanders must renew a driver's license every two years motored to the House after being passed unanimously today by the Senate. Currently, that two-year renewal period applies to people beginning at age 70, with an $8 fee for renewal. People under that age renew licenses in Rhode Island every five years for a $30 fee. According to a news release, the bill does not change current law that lets the motor vehicles division administrator require an examination of any person applying to renew a license "who might be considered incompetent or otherwise unqualified to continue driving." Bill sponsor Sen. James E. Doyle II, D-Pawtucket, stated that raising to 75 the age for a two-year license acknowledges Rhode Islanders are "living and staying healthy and active longer." Doyle asserts that federal statistics show little difference between the 65 to 69 age group and the 70 to 74 age group in accidents and highway deaths. Rather, the arguments goes, it's at age 75 that the number begins to grow significantly, "with a real leap over age 80." The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. A matching House bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter L. Lewiss, D-Westerly, is before the House Constituent Services Committee, according to the news release. Read more about why the bill was proposed and reaction to it. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:04 PM | Comment Elections board allows 2 convicted of insanity to votePROVIDENCE -- The state Board of Elections voted unanimously this afternoon to preserve the voting rights of two men found not guilty by reason of insanity some 20 years ago. The vote reversed a nine-month-old decision by the Cranston Board of Canvassers, which found that John A. Sarro and William Sarmento were too mentally ill to cast a ballot. Lawyers for the two men said they were pleased with the vote. “It’s a relief,” said Kate Bowden, a lawyer with the Rhode Island Disability Law Center. But Joseph A. DeLorenzo, Jr., chairman of the Cranston board, decried the decision. “I hope they can sleep at night knowing they’ve allowed vicious murderers to vote,” he said. DeLorenzo said the board may appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. Lawyers for Sarro and Sarmento argued, during the hearing, that a single moment of insanity decades ago has little to do with their clients’ competence to vote. -- Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:37 PM | Comment New trial ordered for state trooper in smoke-shop raidA federal judge has ordered a new trial for a state trooper, erasing a jury’s verdict that the officer used excessive force when he twisted a Narragansett Indian’s ankle until it broke during the 2003 state police raid on a tribal smoke shop. In granting the state’s motion for a new trial, U.S. District Senior Judge Ernest C. Torres wrote Tuesday that the state police testimony proved more credible than that of defense witnesses and Adam Jennings, whose ankle was broken during the raid. Torres cast doubt on whether a shop worker and a customer who testified during a five-day trial in U.S. District Court could have seen Jennings’ struggle with state troopers inside the roadside smoke shop. He questioned Jennings’ recollections, arguing they were contradicted by state police. Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch’s office welcomed the decision today. “We’re very happy with the fact we got a new trial,” said Jim Lee, chief of the attorney general’s civil division. If you read the decision, Lee said, “he found the state police as credible witnesses” and that Kenneth Jones, the trooper involved, used an approved control technique. Jennings’ family was deeply dismayed by Torres’ ruling. “We know what happened,” said his mother Paulla Dove Jennings, of Richmond. “The judge obviously doesn’t care. He only cares about police officers looking good.” The decision rearranges a verdict reached by a jury, she said, that was not even of her son’s peers. “There is no justice for any Narragansett in the state,” she said, breaking into tears. Her son, she said, was emotionally and physically damaged by the raid and the continuous legal battles. The Jones case was reassigned to U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi today. -- Journal staff writer Kathleen Mulvaney Michael Bradley, who represented Jennings in the 2005 trial, also found the decision troubling. New trial can be granted under narrow circumstances, he said, but “when a judge takes away a jury’s verdict based on an assessment of credibility then he is in danger of substituting his opinion for that of a jury.” “The case law is pretty dead set against judges doing that,” Bradley said. State police executed a search warrant on the shop on tribal land in Charlestown on July 14, 2003, to stop the Narragansetts from selling cigarettes without charging Rhode Island taxes. The raid erupted into a violent confrontation in which eight tribal members, including Jennings, were arrested. Jennings, his mother and another shop worker sued former state police Col. Stephen M. Pare and seven other state troopers, accusing them of violating their civil rights and using excessive force during the raid. Most of the claims were dismissed during the trial before Torres in U.S. District Court, but the 10-member jury concluded after deliberating five hours that Trooper Jones used excessive force and battery when he twisted Jennings’ ankle until it broke while placing him under arrest. At the trial Jennings testified that Jones continued to twist his ankle, and even increased his force, after Jennings stopped struggling. Jones, an 11-year veteran of the force, said he maintained his grip because Jennings continued to resist, but did not elevate his force. The jury awarded Jennings $301,000. Torres overturned that verdict, finding that Jones was protected by qualified immunity that shields officers from liability when they act reasonably or believe they are doing so while doing their jobs. Jennings appealed to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge appeals panel reinstated the jury’s verdict in March 2007. That decision was affirmed by the full court in August, when it declined to review the case but sent it back to Torres to consider motions for a new trial that he did not rule on after the 2005 trial. The state sought U.S. Supreme Court’s review. The high court declined to take the case in February, sending it back to Torres for a ruling on motions for a new trial and a reduction in the jury award that were argued soon after the trial, said Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the attorney general. In Tuesday’s decision, Torres said it was not clear if the jury based its verdict on the belief that Jones increased his force after Jennings was stopped struggling. “Even if it were possible to say that the jury’s verdict was based on a finding that Jones increased the force applied in utilizing the `ankle turn control technique’ after Jennings had been subdued, Jones’ motion for a new trial should be granted because, in this Court’s opinion, such a finding would have been contrary to the clear weight of credible evidence,” Torres wrote. “In short, the weight of credible evidence supports Jones’ testimony that he maintained his hold on Jennings’ ankle because Jennings continued to resist but that he did not increase the force being exerted,” Torres said. Jennings was among seven Narragansetts tried over six weeks this winter in Providence County Superior Court for misdemeanor charges related to the raid. A jury found him not guilty of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest following the six-week trial. Three others were also exonerated. The jury found Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas guilty of assaulting a trooper. Two others were convicted of crimes. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:33 PM | Comment State Senate backs bill targeting cyber-bullyingPROVIDENCE -- The state Senate today approved a bill targeting cyber-bullying -- legislation expanding student discipline codes to cover electronic communications. Such communications would include any verbal, textual or graphic communication by using any electronic device, such as a computer, telephone, cell phone, text-messaging device and/or personal data assistance device. Under the bill sponsored by Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr., D-Smithfield, repeated violations threatening "physical or emotional well-being of any student" would be grounds for filing a petition for a Family Court determination that the offending student is wayward and/or delinquent, according to a news release. The bill goes next to the House of Representatives for consideration. Similar legislation, sponsored by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara, D-Warwick, has already cleared the House. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:01 PM | Comment Mass. governor signs landmark ocean resources billBOSTON -- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a landmark bill that aims to better protect and manage the state's ocean resources. The Oceans Act of 2008 is the first legislation of its kind in the nation. Patrick signed the bill today at the New England Aquarium. The legislation comes as the state deals with numerous offshore projects, such as proposed liquified natural gas facilities. The bill aims to ensure that decisions and permits about development in state-controlled waters -- which extend up to 3 miles from the coast -- conform to a single, science-based plan. Patrick says the law will help balance the protection of traditional natural resources with new ones, such as renewable energy sources. A 17-member Ocean Advisory Commission will draw up the plan, which must be in place by December 2009. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:52 PM | Comment Senate panel OKs R.I. minimum wage increasesPROVIDENCE -- A bill aimed at raising the minimum wage paid thousands of Rhode Island workers won the overwhelming support of the Senate Labor Committee this afternoon, and is now headed to the full Senate for a vote. The bill sponsored by Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, D-Coventry, calls for automatic annual increases of up to 3 percent, in keeping with inflation as measured by the consumer price index for the Northeast. Rhode Island pays among the highest minimum wages in the nation, at $7.40 an hour. While the bill does not specify a wage hike, Robert Langlais, the state’s assistant director for labor market information, has estimated the bill would raise the minimum wage to $7.53 an hour on Jan. 1, 2009. While there is no direct count of minimum wage workers in Rhode island, Langlais said federal Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates indicate there were 27,000 workers here making between $7 and $7.99 an hour in 2006, out of 321,000 workers statewide. While there was no debate today, and only one nay vote from Sen. David Bates, R-Barrington, the debate between organized labor and lobbyists for the small business industry played out at a hearing in early April. The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce is not opposing the bill this time around, but sent word that it “does not support automatic COLAs and believes the issue should be debated on its merits on annual basis.’’ A spokesman for Governor Carcieri issued this statement: “Generally speaking, Governor Carcieri is concerned about any bill that will add to the cost of doing business in Rhode Island. As the state and the nation grapple with an economic slowdown combined with skyrocketing energy prices, the governor believes we should be making Rhode Island more, not less, business-friendly. “However, the governor believes that Rhode Island’s business community needs to weigh in with their support or opposition to this legislation. If Rhode Island businesses oppose this bill, they need to make their voices heard at the State House,’’ spokesman Jeff Neal said. -- Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau, with projo.com reports In Connecticut, Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, yesterday vetoed legislation that would have raised that state’s minimum wage from $7.65 to $8 beginning Jan. 1, 2009, and to $8.25 starting Jan. 1, 2010, according to a news release. Carcieri let one minimum wage hike take effect without his signature early in his tenure as governor, and vetoed another. In his 2005 veto message, he said: “This will do nothing but exact another cost on Rhode Island businesses, especially small businesses, making our state even less competitive with our regional neighbors.’’ Lawmakers did not try to override his veto that year, which would have required bringing the General Assembly back into special session to face other thornier issues for them including a drive to unionize home-based child care workers. In 2006, Carcieri warned of another likely veto as a two-step increase in the minimum hike moved through the General Assembly, but then backed off acknowledging the Democrats likely had the election-year votes to pass it. That bill raised the state’s minimum wage from $6.75 to $7.10 an hour on March 1, 2006, and to $7.40 on Jan. 1, 2007. Carcieri’s turnaround had nothing to do with policy. He knew there were not enough votes in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly to sustain his veto. "The governor continues to believe that this legislation will undermine his efforts to grow Rhode Island jobs," Carcieri spokesman Neal said at the time. "But after a year of debate, passage of this legislation is now inevitable and the governor believes it is time to move on to other important business." Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:34 PM | Comment La Salle freshman becomes first girl to win state golf title
By JOHN GILLOOLY CRANSTON - Juliet Vongphoumy became the first girl to win the Rhode Island Interscholastic League co-ed individual golf title as the La Salle freshman, playing from the women's tees, posted a final-round 77 today at the Cranston Country Club and captured the title in the 36-hole state tournament. Vongphoumy's six-over performance, combined with an even-par 71 yesterday, gave her a 36-hole total of 148 and a two-stroke margin of victory over runner-up Justin Misiaszek of Burrillville. In tomorrow's Journal and online at HSGameTime.com, Jim Donaldson will have a profile of Vongphoumy and her unusual road to the top of the state high school golf scene. Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:16 PM | Comment Update: Bear reports, bear trap but no bear / Photo
Steven H. Hall, chief of the DEM's law enforcement division, said he is not sure of the accuracy of all the sitings and whether it is the same bear. Hall said none of his environmental police officers has seen the bear this morning, but DEM officers and residents did see a bear in Narragansett last night. In one instance, a bear crossed Route 1A from west to east and, in another, a bear was seen in the parking lot of an apartment building. This morning, Narragansett police and DEM officials were in the parking area of Twin Willows, off Boston Neck Road, with a bear trap on hand, in case the bear was spotted. Read more about the sitings of the black bear earlier this week. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Arline A. Fleming Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:53 PM | Comment Cheetah's long life in Providence comes to end
PROVIDENCE -- One of Roger Williams Park Zoo’s most popular residents was euthanized earlier this week after a long bout with arthritis, according to spokeswoman Laura Dunn. Togo the cheetah, who was just three weeks shy of his 16th birthday, had lived a long life –– longer than most cheetahs, who live an average of 8 to 12 years in the wild, and a few years longer in captivity. He was, Dunn said, one of the oldest surviving of his kind in North America. Togo, who came to the zoo as a yearling in 1993, was one of visitors’ favorite attractions, the zoo said. Last June, he had a two-hour operation for arthritis on his right front leg after showing discomfort for two years. Veterinarians fused what is the cheetah equivalent of the animal’s wrist joint in an attempt to alleviate pain. “The surgery worked,” Dunn said. And Togo, the zoo’s only cheetah, had another good year. But last week, she said, Togo’s caretakers noticed his limp had become more pronounced. By Sunday he wasn’t even using the leg and on Monday, veterinarians found another fracture. Caretakers and doctors had to make a decision, Dunn said. “’Do we put this animal through another surgery? And the rehab that’s involved after that?’” “And what’s his quality of life going to be after that?” she asked rhetorically. “It was a hard decision to make.” -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:16 PM | Comment Providence Water gets AA bond ratingPROVIDENCE -- Providence Water, the state's biggest water supplier, has gotten a AA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Mayor David N. Cicilline's office announced today. It is the utility's first time receiving a bond rating and, Cicilline said in a news release, it means Providence Water will save about $3.5 million, or $168,000 annually, in interest costs savings for loans used to pay for present and future major replacement projects. Cicilline touted the bond rating as “the direct result of smart management and responsible fiscal practices." -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:59 AM | Comment Everybody, Provi-dance!Downtown Providence is hosting a preview of what’s to come this year at one of the biggest music festivals in the state. Sure, you can get a sneak peek at scheduled artists on the Sound Sessions Web site, but then you'd miss the carnivalesque dancers, saxophone players and drummers set to perform this afternoon. The artists will join the Black Rep’s Executive Artistic Director Donald W. King and Providence Mayor David Cicilline to announce this year's lineup. The week-long Sound Session festival brings artists and performers from around the world to downtown Providence for what’s billed as a “genre-defying” music festival, featuring performers from West Africa to the Caribbean to American Jazz and Funk. This year’s festival is set to run from July 6 to July 12. The line-up announcement is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at 276 Westminster Street. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:52 AM | Comment Injured protester due in court todayThe 23-year old protester whose leg was broken as she was being arrested by the North Providence police is scheduled for a hearing in District Court, Providence, today. Alexandra Svoboda was arrested on August 26 during an Industrial Workers of the World protest of a local restaurant. She faces two charges of simple assault, one each of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Svoboda was released on personal recognizance after entering a not-guilty plea during her September arraignment. She is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing today. Her injury required several surgeries to repair vascular damage and a detached calf bone. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:48 AM | Comment Update: Bear trap set, just waiting for a bear
A young black bear that has apparently crossed a large portion of the Ocean State in recent days. The photo, taken yesterday, shows the approximately 130-pound, two-year-old bear. NARRAGANSETT -- Local and state officials are still on the look-out for an unwelcome visitor in Narragansett. Narragansett police and officials from the state Department of Environmental Management are in the parking lot of Twin Willows, off Boston Neck Road, waiting for an encounter with a black bear that was spotted yesterday in the Mettatuxet neighborhood.. On hand is a bear trap -- which looks like a giant drum on its side. Authorities are just waiting for the word that the bear has been spotted Officials are hoping that the bear, which was able to elude officials last night while tearing through backyard bird feeders and trash, can be subdued with a tranquilizer gun and captured today. John R. Gingerella, of the state's Environmental Police, said authorities had hoped to catch the bear yesterday, but "it wasn't cooperative. There were so many people around," he said, "it was kind of like a parade setting." But the bear wasn't putting on a show; he was, and is, lost. "He's a teenage boy," Gingerella said, "looking for his own place." Your Turn: Have you ever spotted a bear in your neighborhood?
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:45 AM | Comment Judge: Duke lacrosse players can pursue lawsuitRALEIGH, N.C. — Three former Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of rape -- including Reade Seligmann, who now attends Brown University -- can pursue a civil lawsuit against the disgraced Durham County prosecutor who led the case against them, a judge ruled yesterday. And former Duke Lacrosse coach Mike Pressler is now coaching at Bryant University in Smithfield. Federal bankruptcy Judge William L. Stocks lifted a stay that had protected former District Attorney Mike Nifong as he moved through bankruptcy proceedings. Stocks, a month after hearing arguments about whether the bankruptcy case should delay the civil lawsuit, said in a ruling that his court didn’t have jurisdiction to hear many of the claims involved in the civil case. Nifong, citing a woman’s story that she was raped at a lacrosse team party in March 2006, pursued rape charges against Seligmann, Dave Evans, and Collin Finnerty. State prosecutors declared the players innocent last year, and Nifong was disbarred and spent a night in jail in the fallout from the case. No DNA from any Duke lacrosse player was found on the accuser, and exculpatory evidence that genetic material from other unidentified males was found on the woman was withheld from the defense for several months. An attorney for Nifong did not return a call seeking comment yesterday. -- The Associated Press Nifong filed for bankruptcy in January, claiming more than $180 million in liabilities, mostly from the threat of pending lawsuits. The players also included the city of Durham, police investigators and others in their lawsuit filed in October. They accuse the defendants of conducting “one of the most chilling episodes of premeditated police, prosecutorial and scientific misconduct in modern American history.” Three other players also joined together in a lawsuit, and more than three dozen current and former Duke lacrosse players have also filed a third lawsuit, claiming they suffered emotional distress during the prosecution. That third suit does not name Nifong as a defendant. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:41 AM | Comment Traffic Alert: Route 95 northbound, WarwickA accident in Warwick has affected highway traffic this morning. The two-car accident is on the northbound side of Route 95 near Exit 10/Route 117/ Warwick/West Warwick. The left shoulder is closed. See how it's affecting traffic on the Transportation Management Center's Web cameras. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:06 AM | Comment Traffic Alert: Pawtucket at Broadway and SchoolRescue crews are on the scene of an accident in Pawtucket this morning. Pawtucket Fire and EMS teams are at the site near Broadway and School Streets. Traffic on Route 95 in that area does not look like it's been affected, but check online first, if you're headed that way. See traffic conditions on the Transportation Management Center's Web cameras. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:00 AM | Comment Today in historyOn this day in 1977, fire raced through the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Ky., killing 165 people. Read more from Today in History. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:05 AM | Comment CVS trial: Closing arguments tomorrowPROVIDENCE -- Jurors hearing the bribery trial of two former CVS executives have today off. Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi gave the jurors the day off today and scheduled a private chamber conference with lawyers for both sides this afternoon to discuss her charge to the jury. Closing arguments are set for tomorrow. The credibility of John Celona, the state’s star witness, came under sharp attack from the defense yesterday, but their lawyers declined to take up the judge’s offer to let them recall the corrupt former state senator to the witness stand. Instead, the defense in the trial of John R. “Jack” Kramer and Carlos Ortiz rested its case without calling any witnesses. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Some like it cool, some like it hot. We've got it allFor this blogger, today will be near perfect. The National Weather Service is forecasting a sunny, clear, dry day with temperatures reaching 68 degrees. It may also be a little breezy at times, with a north wind between 13 and 16 mph. Tonight will get chilly, with a low around 43 degrees and mild west winds. But if you like warmer weather, don't worry, it's coming. Tomorrow will also boast clear, sunny skies, no rain, and a high temperature just shy of 78 degrees with mild west winds picking up to between 17 and 20 mph. as the day goes on. Keep an eye on the spectrum of spring weather ahead at projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about a bear spotted wandering through Rhode Island and continuing coverage of the bribery trial of two former CVS executives. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 27, 2008Tonight: Cavalcade of Bands at Rhodes, blues at Chan'sHead to Cranston to catch the Cavalcade of Bands, playing jazz and swing, at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place (off Broad Street), Cranston. Call 785-4333, 941-2717. In the ballroom: MC Rick "Swing Daddy" Orcutt, The Ed Drew Strollers, The Arthur Medeiros 16-Piece Dance Orchestra with Terri Giviens & Hank Doiron, The Duke Belaire 16-Piece Swing Orchestra with Bob Mainelli, The Tommy Rotondo Group and a ballroom dance presentation by Nelia Lawton with Providence Ballroom & Jazz Project. In the foyer: MC Bill Pandozzi, The Terri Giviens Group, The Mary Andrews Group, The Pat Mitchell Group with George Masso & Dick Johnson, The Daryll Sherman Group with Mike Renzi & Artie Cabral, The Amanda Carr Group with Arnie Krakowsky & Gary Johnson and The Jan Marquez Group with Al DeAndrade. 6-11:30 pm. $10 advance; $15 at the door. In Woonsocket, Tab Benoit plays the blues at Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St. Call 765-1900. 8, 10 pm. $20 early show; $15 late show; $25 both shows. More events, see projo.com's calendar. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:58 PM | Comment Facebook photo plays role in DUI accident sentencing
Now he won’t have to pretend. Lipton, 21, of Fairfield, Conn., today was sentenced to serve two years in state prison after pleading no contest to felony charges of driving under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury and driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury. The sentencing focused in part on a photo of Lipton that was posted on the Facebook social networking Web site. The photo shows Lipton with his arm around a young woman. He is smiling, with his tongue out, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit that bears the words “Jail Bird.” At the moment that photo was taken, Jade Combies, 21, of Lincoln, was in Rhode Island Hospital, trying to recover from fractures to her femur, hip and collarbone and the lacerated liver and spleen she had suffered in the Oct. 11, 2006, crash on Route 7 in Smithfield. Assistant Attorney General Jay Sullivan displayed the photo in court this afternoon as part of a Power Point demonstration. Above the photo was a one-word question: “Remorseful?” Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini said he could not ignore the photo in deciding how to sentence Lipton. “The court has certain aspects of the last two or three years of defendant’s life chronicled in living color — photographs and captions — compliments of Facebook via the Internet,” Procaccini said. The photos, which show Lipton and his friends drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana, “give new meaning to the phrase ‘one picture is worth a thousand words,’ ” he said. “Without question, the most disturbing and troubling photo is the one where the defendant is dressed up in a prison inmate costume for a Halloween party shortly after this horrific incident,” Procaccini said. “For this defendant to think of mocking and joking about his irresponsible, reckless and life-altering dangerous behavior — on Facebook, for others to see, dressed in a ‘Jail Bird’ prison costume for a Halloween party a mere two weeks after this incident — is sick, depraved and disgusting.” -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:55 PM | Comment Deportation next stop for driver who passed police cruiserA driver the state police say was in the country illegally passed a state police cruiser on Route 95 in Pawtucket early yesterday, refusing to stop, while his passenger tossed beer bottles out a window and "continuously waved" at troopers in the cruiser. Both men are now facing deportation proceedings along with charges. At 2:05 a.m. Monday, Pascual Cipriano-Tzoc, 27, of 20 Kinfield St., 1st floor, Providence, was driving erratically behind the state police cruiser, the police said. The troopers pulled over to the right, letting the car pass. The car continued on, swerving from lane to lane. As troopers tried to stop the car, it sped up while passenger Regino Dominguez, 32, of 2022 Hartford Ave., Apt. 1, Providence, began throwing bottles out the window, the police said. The vehicle drove onto a dead-end street near the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border and stopped. The driver got out and fled while the passenger stayed in the vehicle. Dominguez was arrested and, after a short foot pursuit, so was Cipriano-Tzoc. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Cipriano-Tzoc, who the police said had a fake international driver's license, was charged with driving under the influence, eluding a police officer, driving without a license, obstruction of justice, identity fraud, resisting arrest, refusal to submit to a chemical test, and motor vehicle violations. The police said a check with federal Immigrations and Custom Enforcement found a pending deportation order for Cipriano-Tzoc. Following District Court arraignment, he was to be turned over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for deportation to his native Guatemala. Dominguez, who the police said was also in the country illegally, was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement Custody to the federal Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, pending deportation proceedings to his native Guatemala. Dominguez was charged with resisting arrest by state police. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:54 PM | Comment Johnston man nabbed in car accident that struck boy, 9JOHNSTON -- A 31-year-old man has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and other violations after police said his pickup truck struck a 9-year-old boy on Hartford Avenue on Friday. The boy’s ankle was broken as he left the scene of a seasonal carnival in the area of 1450 Hartford Ave. around 10 p.m. Friday night, according to Johnston Deputy Police Chief Gary Maddocks. Robert J. Gaunt, of 4 Doyle Ave., was arrested after police spotted his Dodge pickup parked at BJ’s Wholesale Warehouse on Sunday morning, Maddocks said. One of the vehicle’s rearview mirrors was missing. Gaunt, a store employee, told police that he thought he fell asleep, Maddocks said. Maddocks said Gaunt told the officer: “I got scared so I left, but I might have hit a pole.” Investigators found that the boy was hit in the shoulder area by a mirror on Gaunt’s truck and they believe the driver ran over the child’s foot, Maddocks said. He was treated and released from Rhode Island Hospital. -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds Gaunt was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, resulting in personal injury; failing to adhere to reasonable and prudent speeds, and failing to exercise due care. Gaunt was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Steven Catalano and released on $200 bail. He is scheduled to appear in District Court, Providence, on June 9, Maddocks said. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:26 PM | Comment 3 rescued from Point Judith fishing boat ID'dA Coast Guard spokeswoman today identified the three Rhode Islanders rescued last night from a Point Judith-based fishing boat that took on water some 180 miles southeast of Cape Cod. Carl Seppanen of Exeter, Steve Zarbo of Narragansett and Leo Croteau, 57, of Wakefield were on board the Dona Maria, according to Coast Guard spokeswoman Connie Terrell. The vessel is owned by Clarke A. Reposa Sr. of Wakefield. About 8:30 p.m., the fishing vessel Ing Toffer overheard distress calls from the 82-foot Dona Maria and radioed the information to the Coast Guard station in Portland, Maine, and the Canadian Coast Guard station in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a Coast Guard spokeswoman for the Coast Guard’s First District headquarters in Boston said yesterday. The Coast Guard told the Dona Maria’s crew to activate their emergency radio beacon so the boat’s location could be tracked. A Coast Guard Falcon jet and a Jayhawk rescue helicopter arrived on scene from Boston. The fishing vessel was floating and upright, but had taken on water. The crew had abandoned ship and was hoisted from their life raft into the helicopter, the Coast Guard said yesterday. The crewmembers taken to the Coast Guard’s Cape Cod station and were reported in good condition yesterday. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report incorrectly gave the name of the Ing Toffer. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Donita Naylor Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:21 PM | Comment CVS trial: Celona won't return; jurors to get day offPROVIDENCE -- John A. Celona, the star witness in the trial of two former CVS executives, will not return to the stand after all. This afternoon, defense lawyers informed the court that they would not summon Celona, the ex-senator from North Providence, to clarify an alleged phone call he made to the state Ethics Commission a few weeks before CVS hired him as consultant in 2000. Celona spent four days last week testifying in the trial of John Kramer, 75, and Carlos Ortiz, 64, who are accused of hiring the corrupt legislator to help advance the Woonsocket-based drugstore chain’s legislative agenda at the State House. Today, Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi announced from the bench that the defense team had a right to call him back to court. She gave them the option after they filed a motion alleging that prosecutors withheld evidence from them. The defense team argued that the prosecution knowingly failed to inform them that Celona had changed his story about contacting the Ethics Commission for an advisory opinion on the CVS consulting agreement. In past grand jury and court testimony, Celona had claimed that he spoke to an unidentified person at the Ethics Commission who said that there would be no conflict for an elected official to work for CVS. Last week, Celona testified that the conversation was more "abstract,’’ and that he did not specifically mention CVS. Lisi said the prosecution had an obligation to inform the defense lawyers about Celona’s latest version of the phone conversation. With the decision not to recall Celona, jurors will get the day off tomorrow. They will return to court on Thursday for closing arguments and, no later than Friday, they will begin deliberating the fates of Kramer and Ortiz. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:04 PM | Comment Cranston mayor will not seek re-election in the fallCranston Mayor Michael T. Napolitano told The Providence Journal today that he will not be running for re-election in the fall.  Journal file photo / Connie Grosch Cranston Mayor Michael Napolitano. The mayor, in the middle of his first term, cited family obligations. “My wife is getting her husband back,” he said. “My children are getting their father back.” The decision throws a nascent mayoral race into disarray. The city was gearing up for a rematch between Napolitano, a Democrat, and Republican Allan W. Fung, a former City Council member who narrowly lost to Napolitano two years ago. Now, the focus is on who will replace Napolitano at the top of the city’s Democratic ticket. City Council Vice President Paula B. McFarland and state Reps. Peter G. Palumbo and Charlene Lima voiced interest in interviews this afternoon. Council President Aram G. Garabedian has ruled out a run for mayor. -- Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:34 PM | Comment Weather service issues severe thunderstorm watch
Live radar
Click to see a full-size map.A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Providence and Kent counties in Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts. The watch remains valid until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The short-term forecast for an area including Providence, Cranston, Johnston, and Pawtucket says "widespread showers" as of 6 p.m., with some storms severe enough that there could be small hail and damaging winds. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:31 PM | Comment Cranston man accused of stealing church offeringsA Cranston man who counted church offerings has been charged with embezzling cash collected from parishioners during the weekly offerings at the Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston. State police detectives on Sunday arrested Vittorio "Victor" Castriotta, 48, of 66 Woodmont Drive, charging him with felony embezzlement and larceny over $500, according to a police news release today. Castriotta has been for the last five years a volunteer counter at the church at 237 Garden Hills Drive, and the police said they believe money was taken during at least the last five months. The state police allege their investigation found Castriotta, who was a member of a volunteer counting team that counted funds every four weeks, stole cash collected as part of the regular parishioner offerings. Church officials found that collections dropped when Castriotta was involved in counting offerings, police said, and the officials decided to review their video system. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney The amount of money the police say was stolen has not been figured, "however, it is believed to be in an amount warranting a felony charge." The police probe will continue to figure out the amount they say was taken. The police said there is no evidence suggesting Castriotta worked with any other volunteer or church employee in allegedly taking money. Castriotta was released on $10,000 personal recognizance. A July 29 pre-arraignment conference is slated in Providence County Superior Court. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:00 PM | Comment Web site set up to help business owners recycleRecently, state legislators and environmental managers have recognized business recycling as an area that could use improvement to extend the life of the Central Landfill in Johnston, the destination of about 660,000 tons of business waste a year. To help guide the commercial sector, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation have created a Web site to help business owners. The site, greenzoneri.org, has information -- including a waste stream checklist -- to help businesses identify what they regularly toss in the trash and how finding the right recycling program and service can also save money. -- Journal environment writer Natalie Garcia Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:57 PM | Comment R.I. company cited for violations in building collapseTAUNTON, MASS. -- Federal regulators have cited a Rhode Island construction company for 15 alleged safety violations and proposed nearly $240,000 in fines for a building collapse in Taunton that injured eight employees. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Ajax Construction, of the Harrisville section of Burrillville, for alleged violations of steel erection safety standards in the Dec. 4 collapse of an industrial warehouse that was under construction. OSHA investigators said a truck was improperly used to straighten a steel column that was disconnected from an overhead girder. The girder and overhead decking where employees were working collapsed. Ajax Construction has 15 days to contest the citations before an independent review commission. The company had no immediate comment Tuesday. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:34 PM | Comment Bear wanders through R.I. possibly looking for loveA young black bear that has apparently crossed a large portion of the Ocean State in recent days may be searching for a partner. The bear, which weighs an estimated 130 pounds and is about two years old, was seen this morning in South Kingstown and Narragansett, where it eluded capture by the DEM, according to John Gingerella, a DEM environmental police officer. DEM officials believe it's the same bear spotted in the Foster-Glocester-Scituate area last week, then in Coventry and, over the weekend, on Liberty Lane in South Kingstown's West Kingston section. This bear may have come out of hibernation looking to set up his territory, according to Gingerella. Mating time is typically in June and July, he said. Bears aren't a common sight in Rhode Island, but others have been spotted here in the last eight to 10 years, according to Gingerella. Some of them have weighed more than 200 pounds. "We've had quite a few bears coming through, but they don't tend to stay here," Gingerella said. "They tend to move on; they tend to be young bears." Apparently this bear won't let the miles or cold water slow his mission. Gingerella said the bear was spotted this morning on the South Kingstown side of the Narrow River and "ended up swimming over to the Narragansett side of the Narrow River." In Narragansett, Gingerella said he saw the bear standing in the middle of Emory Street, off Route 1A -- Boston Neck Road. The bear went into the woods, and the DEM responders thought they had the bear surrounded and were going to try to tranquilize it, but the bear eluded them, Gingerella said. Gingerella said people should not approach bears and never feed them. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney To keep bears away from their yards, people should make sure grills are cleaned, remove bird feeders, don't leave dog food, cat food or other food outside, Gingerella said. The DEM, in a fact sheet, says bird seed has high fat content and is attractive to bears. People should therefore remove bird feeders from the yard by mid-April and wait until Otober to November to put feeders back out. The DEM also advises that people keep garbage "secured or stored inside shed/garage" until trash-pickup morning. Keep meat/fruit out of compost piles. In Maine and other parts of northern New England, black bears can weigh 300 to 400 pounds. In the southern United States, the bears reach 600 or 700 pounds with frequency -- such bears are possible in northern New England, Gingerella said, but not typical. Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:24 PM | Comment Foundation set up to honor Peter T. Pastore Jr.The establishment of the Randolph Savings Peter T. Pastore Jr. Charitable Foundation was announced this morning in honor of Peter T. Pastore Jr., former executive vice president of the bank, who passed away in 2006. The foundation will provide financial support to deserving charitable and nonprofit organizations in communities served by Randolph Savings Bank. “We believe this is a fitting way to honor the memory of Peter Pastore, who truly personified the ideal of giving back to the community,” said Thomas H. Drummey, executive vice president and chief operating officer. Any not-for-profit charitable organization or municipal entity in the Randolph Savings Bank communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is eligible to apply for funding. In Rhode Island, that includes Coventry, Cranston, East Greenwich, Warwick and West Greenwich. Organizations interested in applying for foundation support can find guidelines and an application online. -- Journal business editor John Kostrzewa In Massachusetts, eligible communities include the towns of Avon, Braintree, Canton, Holbrook, Sharon, Stoughton and Randolph. Drummey, who will serve as president of the foundation, also announced that Louise DiChiara Pastore,would serve as chairman of the foundation’s board of directors. Peter Pastore served on the Cranston City Council for 16 years, including four years as president. He was a founder of the Cranston Teen Center and helped to create legislation to help small businesses. Founded in 1851, Randolph Savings Bank is a $365 million mutual savings bank with offices in Coventry and in Holbrook, Stoughton and Randolph, in Massachusetts. Plans to open a new Cranston branch are now in the regulatory and local approval stage. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:04 PM | Comment Johnston police: Man held girlfriend captive for 6 hoursJOHNSTON — A 32-year-old Plainfield Street man bound his girlfriend with rope and held her captive for about six hours early Monday morning, the police said today. The woman went to the first floor apartment home of Eric J. Quinn around 12:30 a.m. Sunday after he asked her to make the trip following an argumentative telephone consersation, Johnston police Maj. Ralph Bubar III said. After she arrived, the police say, he slapped her in the face, took her cell phone and later tied her wrists with rope and bound her to the mattress in his bedroom, Bubar said. He also bound her feet, he said. Quinn untied the woman when his live-in roommate arrived around 6:30 a.m., Bubar said. As he talked to the roommate, she sneaked out of the bedroom and escaped the apartment house, he said. Quinn chased her down and snatched her keys, but he gave them back after the woman threatened to lean on her car’s horn, Bubar said. The woman reported the incident and Quinn was arrested around 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon after a Johnston patrolman spotted him driving in the area near his home. He was charged with domestic kidnapping, a felony, and felony counts of domestic assault and marijuana possession. Quinn, of 1415 Plainfield St., also was charged with refusal to relinquish a telephone, he said. At the time of his arrest, he was wanted on an East Providence police warrant for fifth-degree arson, Bubar said. Quinn was held without bail and his arraignment was scheduled for this morning in District Court, Warwick. -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:48 PM | Comment Sound Sessions lineup will be announced tomorrowDowntown Providence is hosting a preview of what’s to come this year at one of the biggest music festivals in the state. Sure, you can get a sneak peek at scheduled artists on the Sound Sessions Web site, but then you'd miss the Carnivalesque dancers, saxophone players and drummers set to perform tomorrow. The artists will join the Black Rep’s Executive Artistic Director Donald W. King and Providence Mayor David Cicilline to officially announce this year's lineup. The weeklong Sound Session festival brings artists and performers from around the world to downtown Providence for what’s billed as a “genre-defying” music festival, featuring performers from West Africa to the Caribbean to American Jazz and Funk. This year’s festival is set to run from July 6 – July 12. The line-up announcement is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at 276 Westminster Street. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:38 PM | Comment Security of smaller vessels is focus of summitAnyone interested in attending next month’s Coast Guard’s Northeastern Small Vessel Security Summit has until Thursday to register. The summit is a chance for vessel pilots of all sizes, as well as other interested stakeholders to get together and discuss ways to reduce risks and threats to smaller vessels on the water. Groups will also have a chance to voice any security concerns about ports and along the waterways of the Northeast. Representatives from the Coast Guard and from the Homeland Security Institute also will be giving presentations. "This forum is a great opportunity for mariners to speak directly with the Coast Guard and Homeland Security to share ideas and concerns," Lt. Trevor Cowan with waterways management at Boston’s First Coast Guard District said in a statement. The Conference, scheduled for June 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzard’s Bay, Mass. For registration information, email Lt. Trevor Cowan or call at (617)223-8385. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:34 PM | Comment CVS trial: Defense rests, Celona may return tomorrowPROVIDENCE -- The defense has rested in the trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribery, fraud and conspiracy, and the case could go to the jury this Thursday or Friday. David B. Fein, one of defendant John R. Kramer’s lawyers, today played multiple clips for the jury of Kramer promoting the CVS Charity Golf Classic and the CVS Downtown 5K Road Race. The former CVS senior vice president also made many appearances on WJAR-Channel 10 touting both events. In one clip, he told viewers that they could head to their nearest CVS store for tickets to the golf tickets and to make sure they pick up some "sunscreen,’’ to protect them from the day’s heat. No witnesses were called for Kramer or his co-defendant, Carlos R. Ortiz. The jurors were sent home about 11:45 a.m. and told the standby for an order telling them to return to court. This morning, after a tense session, it was decided that the government’s star witness, John A. Celona, the imprisoned former legislator from North Providence, will return to federal court to testify. It appears that Celona may return tomorrow, to briefly testify about a conversation with a person at the Ethics Commission. After that, the defense and prosecution will ready for making closing arguments. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:22 PM | Comment On second try, Warwick chiropractor summits EverestIn his second try in two years, Warwick chiropractor Timothy Warren made it to the top of Mount Everest on Friday. He is believed to be the first Rhode Islander to climb the world's tallest peak, according to a children's organization.  Journal photo / Bill Murphy Warwick chiropractor Tim Warren grimaces while working out at Northeast Sports Training in Warwick last August. Warren made it to the summit at 11:15 p.m. eastern time, had a short stay and began his descent, says a news release from A Wish Come True. Mount Everest is 29,035 feet above sea level. Warren has chronicled his efforts at his web site, drtimwarren.com The Journal reported in late 2006 and last year on Warren's preparation to attempt the climb for the first time. Warren wrote by e-mail, in an article published last May, that he was not able to make the climb at that time. Everest is in the Himalayan ranges of Nepal, on the borders of Tibet and China. Last year, Warren spent about a month and a half taking day hikes higher up the mountain, then returning to base camp to allow his body to acclimate to climbing at high altitudes. Warren picked up a cough that would lead to his not being able to make the 2007 climb. He descended to lower altitudes with higher oxygen levels to try to let his body heal, but the cough persisted, the Journal reported. Warren's effort, a “Klimb for Kids” raises money for children whose wishes are granted by A Wish Come True, an organization that aims to make true a wish for people ages 3 to 18 who have life-threatening illnesses in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. A Wish Come True said last year's “Klimb for Kids” effort -- though Warren did not reach the summit -- raised $15,000 for children assisted by A Wish Come True. Warren's journey last year, which included corporate partnerships with Verizon and the Telecom Pioneers, "also enabled school children in several states (including Rhode Island) to increase their knowledge of Everest, Nepal and what it’s like to undertake such a challenge," the news release said. While Warren is believed to be the first Rhode Islander to summit Everest, in 1996, then 16-year-old Mark Pfetzer reached the final base camp, but was forced to descend because of a vicious storm. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:01 PM | Comment Pickup crashes into Tiverton home; 2 youths hurt / Photo
TIVERTON — Police are investigating a high-speed crash of a pickup truck into a house last night that sent two youths to the hospital. Four Providence boys, whom the police are not identifying because they are juveniles, were spotted in a Toyota truck speeding north on Main Road at about 9:45 p.m. by a marked police cruiser, which was driving with its lights flashing and siren sounding to a separate incident, Chief Thomas Blakey said this morning. The police believe the juveniles may have assumed the cruiser was after them, Blakey said. The pickup “catapulted” into 2537 Main Road, striking the house near the roof. A woman was home at the time but was uninjured, Blakey said. The house was substantially damaged and deemed uninhabitable today by the town’s building inspector, Blakey said. A 17-year-old boy was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition. A 15-year old boy was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, where he is also listed in serious condition, according to police. The truck’s other two occupants fled the scene of the crash, Blakey said, and allegedly stole a car about a half-mile away. The two were stopped and arrested on Route 195 in Swansea by Massachusetts State Police. Tiverton police are investigating the crash and determining whether to bring charges against the boys, Blakey said. — Journal staff writer Meaghan Wims Posted by Andrea Panciera at 11:57 AM | Comment Rep. Kennedy glad father hears stories of thanks / Photo
CENTRAL FALLS –– In presenting a grant to the social advocacy organization Progreso Latino today, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy briefly commented on his father’s illness. “His only disappointment,” Kennedy said of his father, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who was diagnosed last week with a malignant brain tumor, “is he came in second in a sailing race.” The senior senator from Massachusetts sailed his schooner, "Mya," on the return leg of the Figawi sailboat race from Nantucket to Hyannis, finishing second in his five-boat division. Sons Patrick and Edward Jr. served as crew members. Also aboard for the more than two-hour journey were his wife, Vicki, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and stepdaughter Caroline Raclin. Rep. Kennedy went on to say that he appreciated the fact that his father’s illness has enabled the long-serving Democratic senator to hear countless stories of appreciation from people that he’s helped during his 45 years in Washington. Patrick Kennedy took three or four questions today before being ushered out by his aides. His appearance in Central Falls today was to announce more than $180,000 in appropriations secured for a joint program with Progreso Latino -- which helps immigrant Rhode Islanders with job-growth skills -- and Johnson and Wales University. The program will provide job training for students. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Mark Arsenault and the Associated Press. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:53 AM | Comment R.I. gas prices soar to just under $4 per gallonGasoline prices increased another 16 cents in Rhode Island last week, leaving the average price for self-serve regular just a few cents under the $4 mark, according to AAA Southern New England. The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.969 at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey. The price has climbed 38 cents over the past four weeks. A year ago at this time Rhode Islanders were paying $3.089. Rhode Island drivers are paying 3 cents more per gallon than the national average. Drivers of cars and trucks that use diesel fuel are feeling even more pain. Diesel has jumped another 22 cents to $4.89 per gallon. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:30 AM | Comment N. Kingstown couple dies in Conn. motorcyle-car crashConnecticut State Police are investigating a collision between a motorcycle and car yesterday that left a Rhode Island couple dead. Brad S. Randall, 52, and Rosemarie Randall, 45, of Clearview Drive in North Kingstown, were killed after an accident last yesterday at 11:30 a.m. while riding together on a motorcycle. According to the police report, Brad Randall was driving north on South Canterbury road just north of Depot Road in Canterbury, Conn. with Rosemarie as his passenger. Lisa Ramos, of Connecticut, was driving a Subaru Legacy southbound, according to the report, when she crossed the double yellow line into the northbound lane, hitting the Randalls. She then veered to the right, stopping against the southbound guardrail. Both Randalls were thrown off the motorcycle, a 2005 Honda, at impact, according to police. Rescue crews pronounced Brad Randall dead at the scene. Rosemarie Randall was transported to Backus Hospital for severe trauma and later pronounced dead. Ramos was taken to Backus Hospital for observation. The accident is under investigation. Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the accident occurred at 11:30 p.m. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:58 AM | Comment CVS trial: Celona to return to the stand
During a tense 40-minute hearing this morning, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi weighed a defense motion on whether the bribery, fraud and conspiracy charges should be dropped against John R. ``Jack’’ Kramer, 75, and Carlos R. Ortiz, 64, two former CVS executives. And, in a highly unusual move, Robert Clark Corrente, the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, argued that the motion for dismissal of the charges was ``outrageous.’’ Scott Corrigan, one of Kramer’s lawyers, based his argument primarily on Celona’s varying versions of testimony of a call he made to the Ethics Commission in the weeks before the drugstore giant hired him as a $1,000-a-month consultant in 2000. At the time, Celona was a state senator who would later rise to the influential post of chairman of the senate corporations committee. In previous grand jury and trial testimony, Celona had testified that the called the Ethics Commission and talked to someone who has never been identified. In the conversation, Celona claims that the person told him that it was okay for him to serve as a legislator and work for CVS. A few weeks ago, in preparation for trial, Celona told investigators that it was a more ``abstract’’ conversation he never mentioned CVS to the person at the Ethics Commission. Corrigan repeatedly referred to Celona’s ``new memories,’’ and said that prosecutors knew about it, but chose to withhold it from the defense team. ``The prosecution readily accepted a gift that was too good to be true,’’ said Corrigan said, adding that the prosecutors should have questioned the new version of events. Corrente took umbrage with the defense team’s characterization that the prosecution acted in ``bad faith.’’ He said that the government didn’t know exactly what Celona was going to say in the witness box ``because he had changed his testimony so many times before. It was impossible to know exactly what he was going to say.’’ Lisi, the judge, was critical of the prosecution team for failing to inform the defense about Celona’s latest version of the call to the Ethics Commission. She said that the government was required ``to make that disclosure in a timely manner.’’ Nonetheless, she said that dismissing the 23 felony charges against Kramer and Ortiz would be a ``rather extreme remedy.’’ She decided to have Celona return to court to testify. No day or time was set for the former legislator, who is serving a 2 ½ -year prison term in federal prison. He has been at the Donald W. Wyatt Federal Detention Center fin Central Falls or the past three weeks. The defense and prosecution made their arguments outside the presence of the jury. The government rested this morning; and, at 10 a.m., the defense began presenting its case. Read more on the the trial and the government's Operation Dollar Bill investigation. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Jack Perry at 10:55 AM | Comment Library dedicated to dedicated educatorNo doubt Mary C. Brennan has made a mark on Vartan Gregorian Elementary School over the past 26 years. In 1977 she started at the school as a bilingual/ESL teacher. Since then she’s been an elementary teacher, worked as a curriculum coordinator and, in 1995, was named principal; a position she held until December 2003. Today her mark on the school will be officially recognized at the dedication of the new Mary C. Brennan Library -- an addition to the school, formerly the Wickenden Street Bath House. A ceremony is scheduled for this morning at the school, at 455 Wickenden St., in the auditorium. --projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:45 AM | Comment Changes on the road in ProvidenceThe Friendship Street on-ramp to Route195 East is closed for good today. Drivers trying to get onto the highway from the area of the Rhode Island Hospital area can use the temporary ramp off Hoppin Street while the Rhode Island Department of Transportation works on building a new, permanent ramp off Plain Street. Early next month, RIDOT plans to close Exit 20 off Route 95 north so that demolition can begin on the old portions of Route 195. When Exit 20 (the old exit to Route 195 East) closes, drivers won't be able to access Exit 1/Downtown or Exit 2/Wickenden Street. Instead, to reach Fox Point, drivers will have to take the Exit 19/Iway, and use the new Exit 2/Gano Street. To reach the Jewelry District, drivers can take Exit 18 from 95 north, and follow Allens Avenue north. To reach downtown, drivers can take Exit 22A/Downtown/Memorial Boulevard from 95 north.
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:28 AM | Comment Providence council to receive report on December stormPROVIDENCE -- Providence's city council is about to get an independent report on why a December snowstorm stranded dozens of school buses for hours on city streets. Council President Peter Mancini says the council will receive the 33-page report today from an independent board charged with examining what went wrong during the Dec. 13 snowstorm. The fast-moving storm dumped about a foot of snow across the state and brought traffic to a standstill. Some school buses were stranded for up to six hours. Motorists abandoned their cars along the sides of highways. Shortly after the storm, Gov. Carcieri fired the executive director of the state Emergency Management Agency, Robert Warren. Providence Mayor David Cicilline also fired his city's director of emergency management, Leo Messier. See a time line of the storm and its aftermath on projo.com. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:59 AM | Comment Today in historyOn May 27, 1941, the British navy sank the German battleship Bismarck off France with a loss of more than 2,100 lives. Read more about today in history Posted by Jack Perry at 7:03 AM | Comment Trial of former CVS executives resumesPROVIDENCE — The corruption trial of former CVS executives John R. “Jack” Kramer and Carlos R. Ortiz resumes this morning in federal court with the government expected to rest after two weeks of testimony. Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi released the jurors early for the long holiday weekend on Friday and told them to return to court today at 9 a.m. The defense teams for Kramer and Ortiz will have the opportunity to have their own witnesses take the stand. It’s not known who, if anyone, will testify for the defense. Today begins the third week of testimony in the bribery, fraud and conspiracy trial of Kramer, 75, and Ortiz, 64. They are accused of hiring ex-Sen. John A. Celona, of North Providence, as a CVS consultant to help promote CVS’ legislative agenda at the State House. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment From sunshine to hailThe sunshine won't lure you outside today. In fact, between the great outdoors and the office, the office may be the better choice. The National Weather Service is forecasting different variations of rain today -- showers, downpours, and thunderstorms -- high-speed winds from the west and even hail. Temperatures, though, will be very mild, even warm, reaching 78 degrees. Expect upwards of an inch of rain. More showers forecast for tonight with gusty winds from the north and cloudy skies until about 11. Then clouds should clear and the temperature will drop pretty low to about 47 degrees. Tomorrow looks good -- clear, sunny skies -- but not perfect, with a high temperature of just 67 degrees and north winds gusting as high as 24 mph. And in case you missed it, success! The Mars Phoenix Lander touched down on Mars Sunday. Check out photographs and more information on the mission. Keep an eye on the showers, downpours, thunderstorms and hail on projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about a Seekonk man's death in a rafting accident in Maine and coverage of a school progam that tries to discourage sixth graders from becoming drinkers or smokers. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 23, 2008Weekend: Memorial Day events and first WaterFireThere's plenty happening around Rhode Island this Memorial Day weekend -- whether it be a solemn ceremony, a weekend escape or a mix of both. In historic Bristol, a wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow at the Veterans Home, 9 Court St., at noon. On Monday, Bristol's formal Memorial Day ceremony will include a parade on Hope Street. There will be a plaque and wreath-laying for Bernard "Butch" Almeida, whose status was recently changed from Missing in Action to Killed in Action. In Cranston tomorrow, a ceremony will be at Pocasset Cemetery, Dyer Avenue, Cranston, at 10 am. Coffee will be served after the ceremony at Sprague Mansion, Cranston Street. On Sunday in Charlestown, the parade forms at noon and steps off at 1 p.m. from the intersection of Route 1A and Ridgewood Road, traveling down Old Post Road to Fort Neck Road, where participants board buses to Ninigret Park for a ceremony there. See projo.com's full listing of Memorial Day ceremonies. It's also the weekend that begins beach season. Check out projo.com's guide and map for that. In Providence, meanwhile, the season's first WaterFire is slated for tomorrow night. Can't witness WaterFire tomorrow night? Ten more lightings are scheduled over the summer. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment Carcieri vows to seek ethics opinion on hiring of niecePROVIDENCE -- With a television news report resurrecting controversy around Governor Carcieri’s hiring of a niece five years ago -- and state Democratic chairman William Lynch alleging an ethics violation -- Carcieri today promised to seek an advisory opinion from the state Ethics Commission. As first reported in The Providence Journal in January 2003, one of Governor-elect Carcieri’s first hires was Stephanie Accaputo of Kingston, the daughter of his wife’s brother. Initially hired in late 2002 as a $37,781-a-year staffer in the governor’s "constituent-affairs office,’’ the 40-year-old Accaputo currently makes $52,119.90 as an “administrative support specialist’’ in the executive department. When first asked about her hiring in 2003, Carcieri spokesman Jeff Neal said Accaputo "very clearly earned" the position, by doing "glowing service" during the 14 months she worked on the Carcieri-for-governor campaign. "The governor was familiar [with] and confident in her ability and therefore was happy to hire her on," Neal said. Amid budget cuts and threats of further state employee layoffs, Accaputo’s job has drawn renewed attention. -- Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau In the wake of a Channel 10 report Thursday night about her position, state Democratic Party chairman William Lynch accused Republican Carcieri of violating the state’s anti-nepotism law. The Democratic party issued a press release headlined: “Don’t you wish you had an Uncle Don too? ‘’ State Republican Party Chairman Giovanni Cicione called it “laughable for Chairman Bill Lynch, whose politically connected family has a long history of employment in government posts, to try to press a nepotism charge against the Governor...when no violation exists.’’ (Lynch’s family includes his brother, Atty. Gen. Patrick C. Lynch.) And what does the law say? The state’s ethic law has for decades banned public officials from using their public offices to benefit themselves or members of their families. In 1991, the first in a series of regulations was adopted that defined family as a spouse, dependent child and a select group of relatives “by blood, marriage or adoption,’’ including “parents, grandparents, adult children, siblings, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and first cousins.’’ In February 2007, the Ethics Commission adopted a new nepotism regulation aimed at clarifying any possible confusion around the disparate pieces of the earlier law and regulations. It says, in part: “No person subject to the Code of Ethics shall participate in any matter as part of his or her public duties if he or she has reason to believe or expect that any person within his or her family, or any household member…will derive a direct monetary gain or suffer a direct monetary loss, or obtain an employment advantage.’’ The definition of family was extended to include: step-niece and niece-in-law. Carcieri would not respond to Journal inquiries today, but went on Dan Yorke’s WPRO radio talk show to announce his intention to seek an ethics opinion. While spokesman Jeff Neal would not say if Carcieri asked for the air time or made the time in response to a request for an on-air interview, he said: “I do not expect the Governor to grant any additional interviews today.’’ In the meantime, the governor’s office issued a statement in which Carcieri “disputed a suggestion by WJAR Channel 10 that he violated the state Ethics Code,’’ but said he would seek an advisory opinion on Accaputo’s “continued employment in state government.’’ Based on his reading of the law, “neither the statute nor the regulation in place at the time (of her hiring) clearly barred the employment of a public official’s niece-in-law. No such provision was enacted until 2007.’’ In a brief interview today, Lynch said he had not decided whether to file a formal ethics complaint against Carcieri, but the governor’s pledge to go to the Ethics Commission on his own for an opinion might mitigate the need. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:48 PM | Comment Fire crews respond to incident in ExeterEXETER -- Fire crews are on scene at an "incident" in the Horsemen's campground area, fire dispatch said. Further details are not yet available. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:11 PM | Comment Electricity and natural gas rate hikes proposed for R.I.Just as consumers are facing higher food and gasoline costs, it appears that Rhode Islanders are about to get hit with significant increases in their electricity and natural gas bills. National Grid this afternoon has proposed raising electricity rates by 15.6 percent and natural gas rates by 10 percent, both as of July 1. Both increases would be the largest since the huge jumps in 2006 when rates were pushed higher as a result of the effects of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. A typical customer that has both gas and electricity would pay an extra $22 a month if both increases are approved by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, according to National Grid. “In both cases … it’s a direct result of increases in the costs of natural gas and oil,” said David Graves, a spokesman for National Grid. “That’s what’s driving it.” National Grid is Rhode Island’s dominant utility company, providing electricity service to 477,000 customers in 38 communities, and natural gas to about 245,000 customers in 33 communities. The company filed its rate increase proposals with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission earlier today. -- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:58 PM | Comment Former Johnston police officer sentenced to 60 daysJOHNSTON -- A former Johnston police officer was sentenced to 60 days in prison earlier today by a Superior Court judge. Marc Zaccagnini was found in violation of his five-year deferred sentence for vandalism and trespassing after he was convicted of committing simple assault in a separate case. That conviction last month led Judge Gilbert Indeglia to impose prison time, emphasizing that Providence police arrested Zaccagnini only a short time after he had worked out his deferred sentence with the court last October. Indeglia also said that Zaccagnini is “not the man on the street.” “He’s a law enforcement officer who’s taken an oath to enforce the law and abide by the law,” Indeglia said. Zaccagnini was not led away in handcuffs because Indeglia opted to let him wait for the state’s Supreme Court to rule on an appeal in the case. In April, Zaccagnini’s lawyer, Gary G. Pelletier, asked Indeglia to vacate Zaccagnini’s original plea on the trespassing and vandalism charges. The plea dates back to last fall. Pelletier’s argument was that a Supreme Court ruling had later clarified the understanding of a deferred sentence and eliminated Zaccagnini’s chances for expunging his record. Indeglia denied the request at the time. Today, he said Zaccagnini’s sentence would be imposed after the higher court decides the appellate matter. Indeglia also sentenced Zaccagnini to an additional 10-month suspended sentence on the trespassing charge. After serving that sentence, he must serve another one-year suspended sentence on the vandalism charge. Prosecutor Maureen Keough had asked Indeglia to send Zaccagnini to prison for six months, but he found 60 days to be “more appropriate.” “He’s going to learn from that or he’s not going to learn at all,” Indeglia said. “It will give him a taste of incarceration,” the judge said. -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:35 PM | Comment FAA sets flight restrictions over Kennedy compoundBOSTON -- Federal aviation officials have imposed a restricted flight zone over parts of Hyannis after intense media coverage of Sen. Edward Kennedy's diagnosis of brain cancer. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters said the FAA began restricting air traffic on Wednesday. That was the day Kennedy returned to the compound in Hyannis Port after being released from Massachusetts General Hospital. Peters said the restriction was put in place for safety reasons. "We are aware that there might have been news organizations who wanted to operate in that space continuously," Peters said today. "It's a very small airspace." Only unauthorized aircraft are being kept away, he said. Any aircraft landing or taking off from the Barnstable airport can go through the air space. Federal, state and local medical helicopters are also allowed, as are military aircraft. The restrictions will remain in place until Tuesday. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:28 PM | Comment CVS trial: Ortiz told grand jury he 'had a bad feeling'PROVIDENCE -- When John Celona asked CVS to hire him as a consultant, one of the defendants in the CVS corruption trial says that he had ``a bad feeling’’ because ``it didn’t smell right’’ and ``I didn’t think it was right.’’ Those are the words of Carlos Ortiz, who is on trial in federal court with another former CVS executive, John R. ``Jack’’ Kramer, for bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud for hiring Celona. Meanwhile, with the prosecution set to rest on Tuesday, the defense has called for a mistrial or, barring that, asked Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi to disallow ``false and misleading’’ testimony by Celona. Ortiz didn’t take the stand in his defense today, and he may not next week. Still, the jury will consider his words in the form of sworn testimony that Ortiz gave in 2004 to a Rhode Island state grand jury that investigated Celona’s consulting agreement. Ortiz gave the grand jury his recollection of a conversation he had regarding Celona with former CVS corporate communications director Todd Andrews, who testified this morning. ``Both he and I had some concerns about the, what the perception would be if it ever became public, that . . . it was going to smell the way it smelled,’’ Ortiz testified. The transcript was introduced by the prosecution, over the pre-trial objections of defense lawyers for Kramer. Judge Lisi instructed the jurors that they could only consider it as evidence regarding Ortiz, not Kramer. Read more on the trial and the Operation Dollar Bill corruption probe. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Ortiz described for the grand jury a meeting he had with Kramer and Celona at CVS headquarters before Celona was hired. Ortiz said that he asked Celona if his working for CVS would be okay with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. ``I had a bad feeling about what he was proposing,’’ Ortiz testified. ``It just didn’t, it didn’t smell right.’’ Mirroring prior testimony in this trial, Ortiz told the grand jury that Celona responded that he had spoken to the Ethics Commission, and it would be ``no problem.’’ Ortiz said that he never pursued the matter further, and went ahead and drafted and signed a consulting agreement with Celona. Ortiz said that Celona never gave him any formal reports on what he was doing for CVS, other than occasional e-mails mentioning a particular newspaper article or asking if Ortiz had seen Celona’s cable-access television show. Celona never mentioned any visits to talk to senior citizens about CVS services, Ortiz testified. Ortiz also testified that he was concerned about Celona’s hiring because the senator served on an important committee that heard pharmacy-related legislation affecting a large part of CVS’s business. The state prosecutor asked whether Ortiz was troubled just by ``the fear of bad publicity’’ or also ``that this might just be wrong?’’ Ortiz responded that ``everything about it, it was, you know, the bad publicity, but, you know, I didn’t think it was right.’’ Ortiz also testified that he never asked Celona to sponsor legislation benefiting CVS, although he didn’t know whether CVS’s lobbyists ever had. That testimony has been contradicted by evidence in this trial, including e-mails between Celona and Ortiz regarding legislation. When court resumes next week, Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi will also have before her a defense motion, filed Wednesday, seeking a mistrial based on assertions that prosecutors knowingly solicited false testimony from Celona this week. Barring that, the defense asks that the judge disallow Celona’s testimony on a crucial point: his purported conversation with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. Celona testified this week that he didn’t identify CVS as his prospective employer when he spoke to someone at the Ethics Commission prior to his hiring, and that he didn’t subsequently discuss that conversation with Kramer, but just Ortiz. The defense motion cites Celona’s prior testimony in the Roger Williams Medical Center corruption trial that he did identify CVS to the Ethics Commission and that he told Kramer as well as Ortiz. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:15 PM | Comment Grand jury indicts Bristol men on molestation chargesPROVIDENCE -- The Providence County Grand Jury has indicted two Bristol men on multiple child molestation charges in connection with incidents involving a 14-year-old boy. Raymond Grenier, 53, and Sedonio Rodriques, 57, a gay couple who have served as foster parents, were arrested by the Bristol police in February after the state Department of Children, Youth and Families received an anonymous tip. Grenier was indicted on three counts of first-degree child molestation, two counts of first-degree child molestation, and one count of indecent solicitation of a child. Rodriques was indicted on two counts of first-degree child molestation, one count of second-degree child molestation and one count of indecent solicitation of a child. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in Bristol between Sept. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2006. DCYF began its investigation after receiving the tip in late November. The tip concerned the licensed foster home of Rodriques and Grenier, who had two adopted children and two foster children. A preliminary investigation concluded that the children were in "immediate peril," according to a DCYF spokesman. On Nov. 30, DCYF workers, escorted by Bristol police, removed the four children from the home at 26 Sampson St., Bristol. The men were taken into custody Feb. 22. Rodriques and Grenier will be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on June 18. -- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:02 PM | Comment Update: Toddler taken to hospital after car accidentPROVIDENCE -- A toddler was taken to Hasbro Children's Hospital today after her brother lost control of the vehicle in which she was a passenger on Route 95, just north of the Exit 19/Eddy Street ramp, the state police said. Daryn Jones, 18, of Providence was driving south on the highway, according to the police. The car swerved left and overturned, according to Lt. Steven Lefebvre of the State Police Lincoln barracks. It was not clear how Jones lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle driven by Jones made contact with another vehicle, with minor damage resulting. The driver of the second vehicle was not injured, according to the police. The child sustained some facial lacerations and was in stable condition, Lefebvre said. The child was in a car seat, he said. The police are looking into whether speed played a role in the crash. Authorities closed two lanes for a time, while other lanes remained open. Traffic was backed up to Branch Avenue, and commuters on Route 195 were also affected. The accident happened shortly after 8 a.m. -- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:55 PM | Comment Providence/Newport ferry slated to resume tomorrowIn time for Memorial Day weekend, the ferry running between Providence and Newport is scheduled to resume trips tomorrow after being out of action for two days, according to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. The scheduled that resumes tomorrow will be in place until Oct. 16. The ferry is set to run a regular weekday schedule on Monday, Memorial Day. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:04 PM | Comment Blithewold offers $500 reward in theft of fountain / PhotoBRISTOL -- Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum is offering a $500 reward to anyone who can help in the recovery of an antique copper fountain that was stolen from the nonprofit organization’s property earlier this week.  The Art Nouveau copper fountain has a fluted edge and four stylized lotus leaves around its base. It is approximately 15 inches tall and 10 inches across. The handcrafted piece is original to the design of Blithewold’s North Garden, circa 1910. The 1908 Art Nouveau fountain is original to Blithewold’s North Garden, part of the mansion’s picturesque grounds that are open to the public. It was stolen Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, the same time someone smashed an honor box on the property and stole an undetermined amount of cash from inside. The organization reported the thefts to the police. Karen Binder, executive director of Blithewold, said the handcrafted fountain will be impossible to replace. “It is really a shame as we had just spent tens of thousands of dollars restoring and refitting our three historic fountains in the last year,” she said. “We’re celebrating our centennial year, so it’s especially unfortunate.” At a minimum, she said, the fountain is valued at $3,000-$5,000. Anyone with information about the fountain’s whereabouts can call Binder at 253-2707, ext. 12, or contact her by email at kbinder@blithewold.org. -- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:00 PM | Comment Bryant's U.S.-China Institute launches quake relief fundThe U.S.-China Institute at Bryant University has launched a China Earthquake Relief Fund aimed at helping schools and students recover from the May 12 earthquake. All of the money raised will be used for educational purposes in the Sichuan province via the province’s education department. The institute will also work directly with the Sichuan government to monitor how the money is used. “China’s media have reported that more than 7,000 schools in the province were damaged or destroyed by the earthquake,” Hong Yang, associate professor of science and technology and director of the U.S.-China Institute said in a statement. “As an educational institution with academic and cultural ties to several Chinese universities and organizations, we feel a special calling to assist in this way.” Contributions –– which are tax deductible –– can be made out to Bryant University and sent to the school at 1150 Douglas Pike, Box 40, Smithfield, RI 02917. Donations are also being accepted online. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:09 PM | Comment CVS Trial: Prosecution may have wrapped upThe prosecution appears to have finished presenting its case against former CVS executives John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos Ortiz. After hearing today from two former CVS employees and a current employee, Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi turned to prosecutors at 11:30 this morning and said that it appeared the government had no more witnesses for the day. She then sent the jury home about 90 minutes early for the long holiday weekend. The early ending came after jurors heard brief testimony from Susan DelMonico, a lawyer who works in the Woonsocket-based CVS’s regulatory compliance division. DelMonico testified that starting in the late 1990s, she spent a lot of time touting CVS in visits to senior citizens centers around Rhode Island as the company’s manager of community relations. She also said that she met former state Sen. John Celona at political fundraisers she attended with co-defendants Kramer and Ortiz, who are both facing charges of bribing Celona for favors at the State House. But the prosecution didn’t get to another point it apparently wanted to highlight –– a conversation that DelMonico said she had with Kramer about Celona. A defense lawyer for Ortiz objected to the prosecution’s question. That led to a sidebar conference between the lawyers and the judge, and after that, there were no further questions from the government and none from the defense. Judge Lisi told the jurors to return to court next Tuesday at 9 a.m., at which point the government is expected to rest and the defense will have its turn to argue motions seeking dismissal of the charges and, barring that, to present its case. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:37 PM | Comment Beer companies offer to settle Station suits for $21MAnheuser-Busch Inc. and McLaughlin & Moran Inc. have agreed “in principle” to pay a total of $21 million to settle civil suits stemming from The Station nightclub fire, which killed 100 people, according to federal court documents filed today. Anheuser-Busch, the world’s second-largest brewer, has reached a $5 million settlement, and beer distributor McLaughlin & Moran Inc. has reached a $16 million settlement, according to notices of settlement filed in U.S. District Court in Providence. Anheuser-Busch, based in St. Louis, issued a statement from its vice president of legal and government affairs, Gary L. Rutledge. “Our sympathies are with those impacted by the events at The Station nightclub. Anheuser-Busch had no responsibility for this tragedy, but is sensitive to the needs of the families. As a result, we wanted to direct the resources we would have committed to defending these lawsuits to the families.” McLaughlin & Moran, based in Cranston, issued a statement saying its insurance carriers have tentatively accepted an offer from victims’ lawyers that calls for the insurance companies to pay $16 million. “There has been no suggestion in the case that McLaughlin & Moran caused the fire,” the statement said. “Claims have been made that the company was liable in part for ‘sponsoring’ the event. The company has vigorously defended those claims, but we are pleased that a conditional settlement has been reached, and we hope that the case can be concluded quickly so that the funds can be distributed.” John P. Barylick, a lawyer representing many of the victims, said plaintiffs lawyers “will only comment in court and will rely on our pleadings.” Lawyers representing plaintiffs in all pending Station fire cases have agreed to the settlements, but the settlements hinge on the approval of all plaintiffs, the approval of the court, the filing of documents that would preserve claims against other defendants, and court approval of the plan for divvying up the money, according to the notices of settlement. The new settlement offers bring the pool of money offered to victims to nearly $122.8 million, including the $30 million that several polyurethane foam manufacturers tentatively agreed to pay earlier this month. The fire was sparked by pyrotechnics that the manager of the Great White rock band set off at the outset of a Feb. 20, 2003, show at the West Warwick nightclub. Sparks from the fireworks ignited highly flammable foam that was used as soundproofing, and the flames spread so quickly that many patrons could not escape. -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Read the Journal's continuing coverage of the Station nightclub fire and its aftermarth. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:16 PM | Comment Reporter's query: Planning a Sex and the City party?Any Sex and the City fan worth her Manolos knows that the long-awaited movie version of our favorite HBO series opens on Friday. What are you doing to mark the occasion? Gathering your girlfriends for pre-screening Cosmopolitans? Buying a(nother) pair of impossibly high heels? Hiring a limo with your plus-ones and walking down your own pink carpet? E-mail your fabulous plans to sendus@projo.com. We’ll include the best in our Sex and the City package, coming Thursday. Posted by maria caporizzo at 1:11 PM | Comment ACLU challenges Narragansett party penaltiesThe ACLU's Rhode Island chapter today filed a lawsuit calling unconstitutional Narragansett's regulation that lets police charge renters/tenants and landlords for "unruly gatherings" in residences and put orange stickers on the homes. An ACLU suit in Superior Court against the South County coastal town is on behalf of the University of Rhode Island's Student Senate and four students and three landlords who, according an ACLU news release, have been affected by the ordinance enforcement. The ordinance violates the plaintiffs’ rights to "procedural and substantive due process, privacy and freedom of association," the ACLU asserts. The ordinance “gives sole discretion to the police department” to put stickers on houses where alleged unruly gatherings happened, “without any opportunity for a hearing or appeal by owner or renter.” -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports Plaintiffs David Keach, Timothy DeMerchant and Michael Spatcher face pending charges in district court of violating the ordinance, the ACLU says. Two other plaintiff URI students, Warren Byrne and Ben Cuddy, were evicted after the police put an orange sticker on the house they were renting and, the ACLU says, had to pay rent for the rest of the school year for both that residence and their new one. Landlord plaintiffs Walter Manning and Steven and Karen Jedson own houses that received an orange sticker. They assert it adversely affected their ability to rent the houses, the ACLU says. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:00 PM | Comment Priest, family friend, remembers Pagano 'cherished life'CRANSTON -- The Rev. Thomas McGonigle told hundreds today at the funeral Mass for slain firefighter Lt. James A. Pagano that Pagano lived on, and in mysterious ways, would continue as a source of love and support for all who knew him for the rest of their lives. People filled the pews. Firefighters lined the walls. And McGonigle, a Pagano family friend, gave the homily at the Church of St. Mark for Pagano, who the police say was shot and killed by a next-door neighbor in Cranston Sunday. "In the mystery of our journey as human beings, both life and death are with us," McGonigle said. He continued: "We did not choose the time and place when we came into this world and, in most cases, we do not choose the time and place in which we leave this world." McGonigle said that "God knows how to bring good, even out of tragedy itself." He added that Pagano was "a source of love, life and support for his family, his friend, his neighbors and the firefighters" with which he served. Pagano "would have laid down his life for another," McGonigle said, "because he cherished life." -- With reports from Journal staff writer Tom Mooney Pagano funeral: One last trip through the neighborhood Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:12 PM | Comment Update: Medicaid cap plan could affect 186,000+ RIersPROVIDENCE -- More than 186,000 Rhode Islanders may be affected by a Carcieri administration plan to overhaul the state’s Medicaid system, which includes programs for tens of thousands of elderly, disabled and low-income Rhode Islanders. But the proposal, which is already being negotiated with federal officials, must survive the General Assembly, which has expressed concern that the ambitious plan may cause a “catastrophe” for the state’s most vulnerable citizens down the road. A spokesman for the House of Representatives, Larry Berman, said this morning that lawmakers will spend the coming weeks deciding whether to endorse the plan as they craft a state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. “Now it’s just a question of what they’re going to do when the budget is put together,” Berman said this morning. “The budget will probably be released in the next two or three weeks.” In a series of recent public hearings devoted to the issue, advocates for seniors have warned of waiting lists for the elderly, reduced access to in-home care, and cuts to transportation programs for medical appointments. Parents of disabled children made emotional pleas to lawmakers to block the cap, fearing they’d lose funding for part-time in-home aides. And others fear the move would force lawmakers to cut thousands more off the state’s health-care program for the poor, RIte Care. “It alarms us to think of frail 80- and 90-year-olds in need of assistance with activities of daily living on waiting lists for care,” said Maureen Maigret, former Department of Elderly Affairs director, and current policy director for the Senior Agenda Coalition. Administration officials, meanwhile, argue the current system is already facing substantial risk as costs continue to climb and the state’s financial health worsens. “I understand the risk involved and I understand the concerns of the community, but right now we are past the risk point,” said Gary Alexander, director of the state Department of Human Services. “We may be at a point where, just to balance the budget, we’ll be taking 30,000 to 40,000 people off our current programs for [fiscal year] 2010 because we don’t have any more money.” -- Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau There are still many questions as to how the Carcieri administration would execute the plan. Details are being ironed out behind closed doors between the state Department of Human Services and the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. But what is clear is that Rhode Island is negotiating something that has never been done in the United States. The plan calls for Rhode Island to agree to limit spending on all its Medicaid programs -- at a rate yet to be determined for the next five years. In exchange, the Carcieri administration would have greater flexibility to change the programs -- in ways that have yet to be determined, in many cases. The stakes are high, not only in terms of the people affected, but in the potential impact on the state’s financial health. Rhode Island’s Medicaid spending totaled more than $1.8 billion, one quarter of the total state budget, in fiscal year 2006, the most recent annual data available. (The federal government currently pays 52 cents out of every dollar spent on Rhode Island’s Medicaid program.) There is concern that the agreement being negotiated, known as a “global waiver,” would lock Rhode Island into spending levels that are based on unrealistic assumptions. If actual costs exceeded the negotiated cap, the state would have no option but to cut people off services or pay for the additional programs on its own without a federal match. Among the likely changes, the state would set strict new criteria for elderly residents wishing to enter nursing homes (the department has yet to finalize the specific criteria). But, “a second new group of persons with lower care needs, who under today’s standards would be eligible for nursing home care, would now be limited to home and community care services, but they would only get services if funding is available,” Maigret said. The General Assembly, which largely controls the state budget, has the power to block the plan. House Finance Committee chairman Steven M. Costantino this week expressed serious concern over the global waiver. “There’s a lot of uncertainty about this. Maybe we need a year. Maybe we need a year to do this global waiver and start working on it where it’s fully flushed out,” he said. “I don’t want to put the state at so much risk that in the third year, we’ve got a major catastrophe for the state of Rhode Island.” Vermont is the only state to have arranged something close to what the Carcieri administration is seeking. In 2005, Vermont secured two broad federal Medicaid waivers to restructure its Medicaid program, becoming the first state in the nation to agree to cap its Medicaid spending. In exchange, the state received greater flexibility to use the federal dollars on non-Medicaid health programs and to reduce benefits, increase co-pays and cap enrollment for some programs. The agreement has worked out well for Vermont so far. But a report issued by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2006 warns other states of potential risks. “As a small state that was willing to set the precedent of accepting an aggregate cap on federal Medicaid funds, Vermont secured a relatively generous financing arrangement and significant fiscal relief,” reads the report. “If other states were to seek similar waivers, they would likely receive more limited financing, making it more likely that they would fall short of federal funding and face pressure to reduce coverage.” Senior advocates such as Maigret generally support the administration’s plans to reduce the dependence of nursing homes in Rhode Island. The global waiver simply isn’t the best way to get there, she said. “There’s enough uncertainty on this proposal that we can’t tell seniors that they will have access to services they currently have access to,” Maigret said. “A global cap presents risks to the state. It also puts elders at risk for service denials. This is a risk we do not support.” -- Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:59 AM | Comment Pagano funeral: One last trip through the neighborhoodCRANSTON -- The funeral procession came through Jimmy Pagano's old neighborhood in Garden City and it brought the neighborhood to a standstill as his casket was led and surrounded by Cranston firefighters and the Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipes and Drums Corps. As the procession came to the church it passed by the Garden City Barbershop, where people stood quietly and watched them pass. Outside the Canston-Johnston Catholic Regional School, students and teachers stood in silence, some of the children had their hands over their hearts. The police have charged Nicholas Gianquitti, 40, with murdering Pagano after the neighbors allegedly had a dispute. A District Court judge Wednesday ordered Gianquitti held without bail. As the procession neared the Church of St. Mark, firefighters from all over the state stood at attention. Cranston firefighters lined either side of the walkway into the church. As the casket was brought in by six Cranston firefighters who'd been closest to Pagano, the Cranston firefighters on either side of the aisle raised their white gloves in a salute. Pagano's family walked behind the mahogany casket, some of them bursting into tears. Pagano was a married father of two. "What's the worst is seeing the family," said retired Providence fire investigator Bob Jarvis, a drummer in the pipes and drums corps. "The whole thing is just tragic. It was senseless." Outside an old friend watched in awe. Greg Mancini, of North Kingstown, had grown up with Pagano as one of the "Garden City boys," their homes only a few streets away. Mancini said he had stood in line at the wake last night for his old friend for two hours. Pagano's death has brought together many people. Some of his old friends had flown in from all across the country to be here. "The whole thing is unfortunate and unecessary," Mancini said. From The Journal: More about Pagano and the shooting. -- Journal staff writers Amanda Milkovits and Tom Mooney Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:53 AM | Comment CVS trial: Ex-PR chief recalls preparing 'talking points'PROVIDENCE -- CVS's former communications director testified today that when he learned John A. Celona was a paid consultant of the giant Woonsocket-based drugstore chain, he devised a title and prepared "talking points" to explain Celona's duties in case a reporter ever called to ask about it. Todd Andrews, now vice president of alumni relations at Brown University, testified in federal court that defendant Carlos Ortiz told him about Celona early in 2001, about one year after the then-North Providence senator went on the CVS payroll as a $1,000-a-month consultant. Andrews said that Ortiz raised the issue during a "gripe session" about his boss, John R. "Jack" Kramer. Ortiz and Kramer are on trial on charges of bribing Celona -- who is now serving a 2½-year prison sentence in Pennsylvania and is the government's star witness -- to push the drugstore chain's legislative agenda at the State House. "He told me that Mr. Celona was acting as a P.R. consultant for CVS, that he was going to senior centers and talking to seniors about services they were getting from CVS," Andrews said of Ortiz. Ortiz also told Andrews that Celona helped prepare Kramer for appearances on Celona's cable access television show. "He told me that Celona had an Ethics Commission ruling that made that work permissable," Andrews said. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Extra: Our continuing report on this trial and on the Operation Dollar Bill corruption probe Ortiz also said, according to Andrews, that Celona was providing reports "accounting for what he was doing for the company." At the end of the conversation, Andrews said, Ortiz asked him: "please don't tell anyone." Andrews testified that he went back to his office and developed written talking points, later approved by Ortiz, that described Celona's duties. Andrews said that he also gave Celona a title -- community outreach specialist. Earlier today, a former CVS vice president, Jim Smith, testified that when he took over the CVS government affairs department in spring 2003, he conducted a budget review and asked Ortiz about Celona's consulting agreement. "I asked Carlos, 'Are we getting any value for that?' and he said no. So I recommended that we terminate him," Smith said. Celona was terminated later that summer. Ortiz and Kramer are accused of 23 counts of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud for allegedly hiring Celona as a consultant from 2000 to 2003 to do the company's bidding. The defense, however, says Celona did legitimate community outreach, promoting CVS and its charitable endeavors to senior citizens. Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:39 AM | Comment Gas goes up a lot, travel declines a littleHigh gasoline prices are convincing some people that closer is better when it comes to Memorial Day plans. For the first time since 2002, AAA is forecasting a drop in the number of Memorial Day travelers that drive 50 miles or farther from home during this long weekend. AAA attributed the 2002 decline to anxiousness from the terrorist attacks of the previous year. This year, the organization blames close-to-$4-a-gallon prices for a a 0.9 percent decrease in people traveling 50 miles or farther from home. Of those 37.8 million, 31.7 million are expected to drive –– a one percent decrease from last year. Are gas prices affecting your Memorial Day weekend plans? “Many Americans are feeling a financial pinch this holiday weekend from record high gasoline prices and other factors in the economy,” Lloyd P. Albert, of AAA Southern New England said in a statement. “Despite the small national decrease, we will still see a significant number of people traveling over Memorial Day. More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will be celebrating the holiday weekend away from home.” Air travel is also is also expected to be down from last year –– about 0.5 percent to 4.3 million travelers. About 1.8 million are expected to travel this Memorial Day by train, bus or other mode of transportation according to a survey done by the Travel Industry Association. The Internet abounds with tools to help drivers navigate the costs of driving. AAA has a daily fuel cost calculator and fuel gauge report online. And gasbuddy.com also lists costs at different stations. For more general information on retail gas prices across the country, the Department of Energy keeps tabs. The DOE also has a brief primer on oil and gas prices, to help consumers figure out just why the soupy remains of plants and animals from millions of years ago cost so much money. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:36 AM | Comment Update: Two transported, overturned car clearedTwo people were taken to nearby hospitals after an accident on Route 95 this morning. A car overturned in the high-speed lane of the southbound side of the roadway. Debris led authorities to close two lanes on the highway, near the Exit 19/Eddy Street exit ramp. Rescue officials say one person was taken to Hasbro Children's Hospital, another to Rhode Island Hospital. Traffic was backed up to Branch Avenue, and commuters on Route 195 were also affected. See how traffic clears upTransportation Management Center's Web cameras. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:50 AM | Comment Memorial Day commemorationsA wreath laying is scheduled for this morning in advance of Memorial Day. The event, at the Garden of Heroes at the southwest lawn of State House, will honor Rhode Island servicemen and women. Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Maj. Gen. Robert T. Bray of the Rhode Island National Guard will lay the wreath at 10 a.m. today at the park, which was officially dedicated in 2005. See a list of scheduled Memorial Day events across the state. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:02 AM | Comment CVS trial: Former company spokesman to testifyTodd Andrews, a former spokesman for CVS, is expected to take the witness stand today and offer testimony about a January 2001 meeting in his office with Carlos R. Ortiz, a former CVS executive, and John A. Celona, the ex-senator from North Providence, who the drugstore giant hired as a paid consultant. Testimony has surfaced that Ortiz called the meeting to draw up a job description and duties for Celona, 11 months after he began consulting for the drugstore giant. Ortiz, 64, and John R. ``Jack’’ Kramer, 75, another former CVS executive, are charged with multiple counts of bribery, fraud and conspiracy. They are accused of hiring Celona to help promote CVS’ legislative agenda at the Rhode Island State House. The trial resumes at 9 a.m. in U.S. District Court. Read about yesterday's trial testimony. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Weather this weekend, at home and far from homeHow's this for a change? Crummy weather during the week, and a sunny, mild weekend. I think we've earned it. Today there is a low chance of rain late this afternoon, and we'll see some clouds, but the temperature is set to reach 72 degrees with breezy northwest winds. Tonight should stay partly cloudy, with a low temperature near 49 degrees. Tomorrow is looking good, with clear sunny skies, northwest winds gusting up to 23 mph. and temperatures reaching 68 degrees. Saturday night will remain clear, with temperatures dropping to about 48 degrees and mild, west winds. As the weekend goes on, the weather just gets better. Sunday will bring blue skies, sunshine and a high temperature near 74 degrees with mild northwest winds. And even though Monday is Memorial Day, a group in Arizona will hopefully begin their celebrations early when the Mars Phoenix Lander touches down on the Red Planet in search of organic materials. Just for reference, the average temperature on Mars is -81 degrees. See where the lander is right now. Skies should remain clear Sunday night, with a low temperature near 50. And Memorial Day may actually feel like summer, with a high temperature approaching 80 degrees and clear, sunny skies. Make sure the forecast is as good as it sounds on projo.com's weather page.
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features continued coverage of the bribery trial of two former CVS executives and, with the Memorial Day weekend upon us, a look at the increasing costs for a summer barbecue. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 22, 2008Tonight: How about taking on 'Taming of the Shrew'?Head over to the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre in Pawtucket for a performance of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew at 8 tonight. The theater is at 172 Exchange St. Tickets are $20-$34. Call (401) 723-4266 or go to www.arttixri.com. Read a preview of the performance by The Journal's Channing Gray. Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials play blues at the Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, Mass. (508) 324-1926, www.ncfta.org. 8 pm. $18 advance; $20 day of show. For those who want to remember, well, Abba, catch a tribute to the late-70s soft rockers. Arrival, tribute to ABBA, is at Twin River, Event Center, 100 Twin River Rd., Lincoln. 331-2211, www.ticketmaster.com. 8 pm. $15.50-$25.50. Update for sports fans: The Red Sox have already played their game today, beating Kansas City, 11-8. But the Celtics are up tonight against Detroit, at 8:30 p.m. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:01 PM | Comment Update: Contractor accused of hacking DOT computersPROVIDENCE -- The State Police today accused Shire Corp., a major contractor for the state Department of Transportation, of illegally rifling through the DOT's computer system to get confidential information about other contractors' projects. The police said in court filings that the information gave Shire a major advantage in dealing with the DOT, particularly in delaying projects to Shire's advantage. The state police searched the company's Cranston headquarters today. They said in court documents that Shire apparently gained accesss to sections of the computer system that were supposed to be accessible only to DOT employees by guessing DOT staff members "very simple" user names and passwords. The DOT uses the computer system to track all of its construction projects, but also lets contractors use it to monitor their own projects' change orders and payments, and to request information from DOT engineers about contract terms. The state police said DOT officials became suspicious when a Shire employee began making information requests that could only have been based on information that supposed to be inaccessible to Shire. The state police that the DOT computer system was "accessed unlawfully" as recently as May 9. Shire Corp., a construction company specializing in bridge work, has received tens of millions of dollars in contracts during the past several years. Those have included many of the DOT’s most troubled projects, suffering long delays and expensive disputes with the DOT that have been often settled in Shire’s favor. One of its current projects is the Barrington Bridge, which has taken so long to build that the DOT has had to repave the temporary bridge next to it twice. The bridge carries traffic on Route 114, a heavily traveled secondary road running up the east side of Narragansett Bay, across the Barrington River. That project is taking twice as long to build as it was supposed to, and it could cost more than twice as much as its $10.4 million bid price. With the project far behind schedule, the state paid Shire $5.3 million in September 2006 to settle the company’s claim that the DOT caused the delays. Extra: Find more details in the State Police request for a search warrant and accompanying affidavit. Read more about the State Police search of the contractor's offices this morning. -- Journal staff writer Bruce Landis Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:56 PM | Comment Convicted child murderer Bunnell denied new trialPROVIDENCE -- Convicted child murderer Katherine Bunnell was denied a new trial today by a judge who said it was Bunnell, not her co-defendant, Gilbert Delestre, who set off the spiral of violence that killed 3-year-old Thomas “T.J.” Wright. “She went ballistic. She started the whole engine rolling that night,” Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia said, referring to the night 3 1/2 years ago that T.J. was beaten to death. “Delestre didn’t need much encouragement. And he followed along,” acting in concert with Bunnell to kill the toddler, Indeglia said. Bunnell and Delestre, who is to be tried separately, now blame each other for the murder. Witness said Bunnell flew into a rage and she and Delestre took turns beating T.J. when they returned to their Woonsocket apartment from a night out on Oct. 30, 2004 and found a mess --some spilled milk and yogurt -- that the toddler had made on their living-room floor. Bunnell, 24, was found guilty of second-degree murder and murder conspiracy Friday following a two-week trial before Indeglia in Superior Court. T.J., described as an energetic little boy with a sweet disposition, was one of three young nephews that Bunnell took in when her sister, Karen Wright, went to prison in 2004 in Illinois. Ruling on a defense motion for a new trial, Indeglia said he agreed with the jury’s verdict, which put credence in the testimony of Bunnell’s babysitter, Kayla Roderick, who said she saw Bunnell drop T.J., knock him down repeatedly, punch him on the back and chest, and slap him hard across the face. Indeglia dismissed Bunnell’s claim that she only slapped T.J. lightly and never saw Delestre hurl the 32-pound toddler across the room. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Bunnell was stopped twice for speeding the night of the murder –– the first time when she drove the babysitter home, the second time on her way back to the apartment. Both times, Bunnell “batted her eyelashes” and talked the police officers who stopped her out of giving her speeding tickets, Indeglia said. “She has the ability to charm,” the judge said, and has probably charmed herself into believing that she wasn’t responsible for the multiple blunt force trauma injuries that medical witnesses said caused T.J.’s death. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:47 PM | Comment R.I. Philharmonic names new executive directorDavid Beauchesne, director of education and community partnerships for the Rhode Island Philharmonic, has been named the orchestra’s executive director. He takes over for David Wax, who was let go last fall for reasons that were not made public clear at the time. Beauchesne, who joined the orchestra two years ago, has had been in charge of the Philharmonic’s music school, which is slated to open a new multimillion-dollar facility in East Providence this fall. While the board said he was the obvious choice, trumpeter Joseph Foley, an ex-officio member of the orchestra’s board, expressed concerns to board members earlier this week, saying the search for a new director was not properly advertised and that Beauchesne lacks experience for the post. A survey of orchestra members also found reservations about Beauchesne’s appointment. -- Journal arts writer Channing Gray Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:45 PM | Comment Carcieri's 3 judge nominees win Senate confirmationPROVIDENCE -- The state Senate today confirmed Governor Carcieri's three nominees to the Superior, District and Family Courts. Carcieri nominated the judges on March 26, moving to fill a Superior Court seat left open more than a year ago and District and Family Court vacancies. Bennet R. Gallo, 63, of West Greenwich was confirmed as a Superior Court associate justice. Gallo is a lawyer practicing out of a Coventry office and a state Parole Board member who served as an assistant attorney general from 1973 to 1975. He will replace Judge Stephen J. Fortunato Jr., who retired in February 2007. Pamela Woodcock Pfeiffer, 46, of Bristol was confirmed as a District Court associate justice. She has been state Supreme Court Clerk since 2003 and was a special attorney general from 1997 to 2003. She is married to Superior Court Judge Mark A. Pfeiffer. She will replace Judge John McLoughlin, who retired in November. Debra E. DiSegna, 52, of Narragansett was confirmed as a Family Court associate justice. She has served as a Family Court magistrate since 1989 and was a special assistant attorney general from 1983 to 1987. She will replace Judge Pamela M. Mactaz, who retired in August. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:26 PM | Comment For slain firefighter, a line out the door at wake / Photo
Firefighters from Cranston, Providence, Bristol, Coventry and elsewhere have come to pay respects at the wake for Pagano, who the police allege was shot and killed Sunday by next-door neighbor Nicholas Gianquitti, 40. Gianquitti, a former Providence police officer, is now charged with murder. Pagano "was a great guy, the ultimate family guy," said James Moore, who retired as a Cranston deputy fire chief in 2002 and worked with Pagano at Station 3 for several years. At first there were two lines to get into Nardolillo Funeral Home, with firefighters in one and friends and family in another. Shortly before 5 p.m., about 100 people were waiting to go inside. The full Cranston command staff and the chief are inside with Pagano's family. An American flag flew at half-staff. His funeral will be held tomorrow, starting from the funeral home at 8:45 a.m. More about the services and an online guestbook. From The Journal: More about Pagano and the shooting. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:10 PM | Comment Update: Obama to fill in for Sen. Kennedy at graduationBOSTON -- U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy won't be able to deliver a commencement address to Wesleyan University graduates after being diagnosed with brain cancer, so Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will do so for him. Obama offered to stand in for him, and Kennedy had accepted. Late this afternoon, the university's Office of Public Affairs confirmed that Obama is scheduled to give the address Sunday. Kennedy, 76, had hoped to speak at the ceremony in Middletown, Conn., where his stepdaughter will be among the graduates. The commencement exercises also coincide with 25th reunion festivities for one of his sons, Edward Kennedy Jr. Obama said he and Kennedy had talked earlier in the week about Obama doing the speech. "Considering what he's done for me and for our country, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him," Obama said in a statement. "So I'm looking forward to standing in his place on Sunday even though I know I won't be able to fill his shoes." The scion of the Kennedy political clan, his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, have endorsed Obama for president. Kennedy was diagnosed this week with a malignant brain tumor, which was discovered after he had a seizure at his home last Saturday. He was released Wednesday from Massachusetts General Hospital and has been recovering from his biopsy at the Kennedy family compound on Cape Cod. Kennedy's spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter, said Kennedy accepted Obama's offer to help "knowing it would be an historic opportunity for the school and all those attending," including his stepdaughter, Caroline Raclin, and his son. "He's enormously grateful to Senator Obama and the support he's received from all of his colleagues this last week," Cutter said. -- The Associated Press and projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:20 PM | Comment Update: State vendor info site taken offlinePROVIDENCE – All public bidding on state contracts has been postponed, and the state’s vendor-information Web page is “unavailable until further notice,’’ according to a posting on the state Division of Purchasing site. According to John Landers, the head of the state’s information technology division, “the vendor Web site was affected [Wednesday] yesterday by an unauthorized attempt to enter a state Web site from the Internet. In this particular type of attempt, an outside computer that has previously been compromised is used to attack other computers on the Internet. Thousands of such attacks have been occurring across the world in recent days.’’ In this particular instance, Landers said, “there is no indication that anyone using our Web site was redirected to another Web site. The user simply received a ‘page not found’ error. There is also no indication that any information was obtained.’’ But Landers said, the Web site was taken offline until it could be “hardened to assist further in protecting against this type of attack.’’ The notice on the state purchasing Web page currently reads: RHODE ISLAND VENDOR INFORMATION PROGRAM. PLEASE NOTE:THIS WEBSITE WILL BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. ALL PUBLIC BIDS ARE POSTPONED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY. While Landers said the Web page would likely go back up tomorrow, neither he nor Lorraine Hynes, the acting director of state purchasing, responded to inquiries about how many public bids were cancelled or the nature of those delayed bids. Earlier today, they also would not answer questions about when the bidding had been suspended, and any possible connection between the cancellation and a May 13 memo that went out from Department of Administration Director Jerome Williams ordering state agencies to freeze non-essential spending. In a e-mail reply this afternoon to the question of whether the bidding had been suspended because of Williams' memo or whether there was any connection to it, Landers replied, "Absolutely not." -- Katherine Gregg and Steve Peoples, Journal State House Bureau The memo orders department directors to follow strict new guidelines for all spending – including new bids and requisitions - through the end of the fiscal year, which ends on June 30. Despite the passage of a budget-repair bill earlier this month, Williams wrote: “As you know the state is experiencing significant fiscal issues. Although the legislature has passed a 2008 supplemental budget, all agencies need to do everything possible to reduce expenditures.’’ Among the issues are $15 million in personnel savings the General Assembly booked based on the governor’s proposal to have all state employees take six unpaid days off before July 1 to save money. With the clock ticking, none of these so-called “furlough days’’ have happened. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:39 PM | Comment Patrick Kennedy issues statement about his fatherU.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, the Rhode Island Democrat whose father, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, has been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor, has released a statement today: “I have been overwhelmed by all the support and encouragement from people here at home and all around the country. It has helped lift my spirits to know you are rallying around my father as he gets ready to undertake this challenge. "Despite the current circumstances, my father’s spirits remain high, his laugh loud and his words comforting. Once again, he sets the tone for the fight ahead. I will support him in every possible way. "My father has always been a fighter and I know he will approach this challenge with the same tenacity and determination that defines his character. "I recognize that for right now the best thing for him is some rest and relaxation, in the place he loves, with Vicki by his side. When the time is right, I will rejoin them in Hyannis and offer him the love and support he needs to confront this latest challenge. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:11 PM | Comment Helping to get around Downtown
-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:54 PM | Comment Photo: A close eye on a buckeye butterfly
Posted by Jack Perry at 2:30 PM | Comment DOT's Leonetti to replace Franklin as R.I. controllerPROVIDENCE -- The current controller for the state Department of Transporation will become the new controller for the state, a spokeswoman for the governor's office confirmed this afternoon. Marc A. Leonetti will replace Lawrence C. Franklin Jr., according to spokeswoman Barbara Trainor. Franklin, 57, is leaving his post at the end of June after 34 years of state service. While several issues contributed to his decision, Franklin acknowledged last month that the looming threat of benefit cuts for state retirees “weighed heavily on my decision.”
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:22 PM | Comment Update: Two shot on Chalkstone Ave.PROVIDENCE -- Police are investigating the shooting of two young males on Chalkstone Avenue early this afternoon. The victims were taken by a private car to Rhode Island Hospital, police said. Traffic on Chalkstone Avenue between Parkway and River Avenues is being blocked off and being detoured. Seven evidence markers have been put down to show the position of shell casings and other bits of evidence. Police were examining a parked car in parking lot between Harmony's Family Restaurant at- 907 Chalkstone and Nino's Barbershop. -- Journal staff writer Greg Smith Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:20 PM | Comment Burrillville declares 'rabies watch'BURRILLVILLE -- After learning that a local horse had rabies, Burrillville authorities declared a “rabies watch” earlier today and strongly urged pet owners to vaccinate their dogs, cats, livestock and other animals. The announcement follows the Rhode Island Department of Health’s determination that a horse had rabies when it was euthanized last week, according to a news release from a Burrillville animal control officer, Ronald Woods. Under state law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies and Woods recommends that pet owners ask for special booster vaccines to counter rabies. The state has recommended vaccinations for livestock as well. The rabies watch will be in place for six months, the news release says. “There will be no leniency offered to anyone in this area in violation of the leash law or harboring unvaccinated pets,” the release says. “Residents should keep all pets (including cats) inside or on a leash while outside.” -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds The infected horse was euthanized last week, the release says. After testing the animal, the state health department notified the town of the rabies case on Friday, according to Woods. Now authorities are asking the public to avoid all contact with wildlife and stray animals, and to report any incident of potential rabies exposure, through Nov. 16. Reports of sick wildlife or stray animals should be made to the town’s animal control department at 568-9480, the release says. Any case involving a person being bitten or scratched by an animal should be reported to animal control and also to the state health department at 222-2577, the release says. Pets and other animals should not be left outside unattended. Pets should be fed indoors and garbage containers should be covered, according to Woods. “Any persons feeding stray and/or feral cats are legally responsible for ensuring these cats are vaccinated against rabies,” the release says. The town and Salmon River Veterinary Service have scheduled a rabies vaccination clinic for next Thursday. It will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30. at the Burrillville Animal Shelter, 131 Clear River Drive in Oakland. The cost will be $10 per vaccination. All dogs must be leashed and under the control of a responsible individual, the release says. Also, cats and ferrets must be in carriers. Pet owners are asked to bring any records of prior rabies vaccination. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:16 PM | Comment E. Providence man struck and killed crossing Route 95The state police are trying to determine what a man was doing last night before he was struck and killed by a car while crossing Route 95 in Providence. Police Lt. Steven Lefebvre said 36-year-old Peter Silva, of East Providence, did not come from a car that had, for example, broken down on the side of the highway. “He was a pedestrian,” Lefebvre said. Silva was pronounced dead on the scene –– Route 95 northbound near the Orms Street overpass –– when state and city police and city fire crews arrived, at about 9:40 p.m. last night. The driver, Daniel Brisson, 52 of Central Falls, told troopers that he was driving in the high-speed lane when he saw Silva approaching on foot from the middle lane. Brisson told police that he did not have time to brake and he tried to swerve left; he hit Silva with the front of his car. Silva went onto the hood of Brisson’s 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass and into the driver’s side of the windshield, Lefebvre said, ending up back on the road. Brisson stopped immediately, Lefebvre said, and was helped by a witness. Brisson called authorities, who pronounced Silva dead at the scene. Lefebvre said there is no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved in this death; Brisson is not facing any charges. Police are still investigating, trying to determine where Silva was before he walked onto the highway, and where he was going. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:00 PM | Comment CVS Trial: Celona testimony concludes
Scott Corrigan, a lawyer for the defense, wrapped up his questioning at 11:30 a.m. with several questions about false statements that Celona provided to a federal prosecutor and FBI agent earlier this year. It was clear that Celona was uncomfortable with the line of questioning. "You told them that you couldn’t remember all the lies you told them, correct?" Corrigan said. "I don’t know if that was the terminology," Celona said. "Did you tell them that you didn’t want to lie to them about lying?" Corrigan asked. Mark Smith, a lawyer for Carlos R. Ortiz, was next. He spent an hour and 15 minutes cross-examining Celona about his cable television show and a meeting in the office of former CVS spokesman Todd Andrews in January 2001. Celona said that Ortiz called the meeting in Andrews’ office to discuss his $1,000-a-month consulting contract. Ortiz talked about coming up with an official title and duties for the former legislator, 11 months after he began his consulting job for CVS. Andrews is expected to be the government’s next witness when the trial resumes at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Extra: Our continuing report on this trial and Operation Dollar Bill Posted by maria caporizzo at 1:25 PM | Comment Roof fire at linen supply building in PawtucketPAWTUCKET -- Firefighters are working to put out a fire on the roof of the New England Linen Supply building at 20 Rhode Island Ave., according to fire dispatch. The building is just west of McCoy Stadium. More details were not available. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:23 PM | Comment State police search contractor's Cranston headquarters
CRANSTON -- State police and federal highway authorities this morning executed a search warrant at the headquarters of Shire Corp., a major state contractor involved in the long-delayed Barrington Bridge and Point Street overpass projects. “We have a court-authorized search warrant for an ongoing investigation being conducted by the State Police Financial Crimes Unit in conjunction with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the federal highway Office of Inspector General,” state police Detective Lt. Brian K. Casilli said shortly before noon, standing outside the company’s headquarters at 7 Starline Way. When asked if the search had to do with the Barrington Bridge or Point Street overpass projects, Casilli said, “I can’t comment further at this time.” When asked if anything had been seized from the company, he said, “If we discover any evidence, we will seize what’s relevant.” Casilli said state police and federal highway authorities arrived at Shire Corp. at 9:30 this morning and planned to be at the building most of the day. When the Journal inquired about whether Shire Corp. had any comment, Providence lawyer Artin H. Coloian emerged from the building. “It’s too early to comment,” said Coloian. “From what I’ve seen preliminarily, it seems to be isolated and doesn’t affect the operation of the company.” Regarding the state police, Coloian said, “They have been afforded every courtesy.” -- Journal staff writers Edward Fitzpatrick and Bruce Landis The Shire Corp. headquarters are in a one-story building on a dead-end street off Plainfield Pike in Cranston, near the Johnston border. A storage facility is across the street, and a plaza is next door. Shire Corp., a construction company specializing in bridge work, is a major contractor for the state Department of Transportation that has received tens of millions of dollars in contracts during the past several years. Those have included many of the DOT’s most troubled projects, suffering long delays and expensive disputes with the DOT that have been often settled in Shire’s favor. That project is taking twice as long to build as it was supposed to, and it could cost more than twice as much as its $10.4 million bid price. With the project far behind schedule, the state paid Shire $5.3 million in September 2006 to settle the company’s claim that the DOT caused the delays. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:40 PM | Comment CVS Trial: Celona consulted for many, filed few taxesThe government’s star witness in the CVS corruption trial admitted this morning that he lied to federal investigators and cheated on his taxes during the years he worked as a paid consultant for the Woonsocket-based drug-store giant.  Celona In two hours of cross examination, Scott Corrigan, a defense lawyer, introduced evidence that former state Sen. John H. Celona was paid $12,000 or more annually from several businesses. Celona consulted for New England Ambulance Service Inc.; Certified cleaning and Restoration; Intercity Maintenance; and Healthlink. The consulting agreements called for representatives from the four businesses to appear on Celona’s cable television program at least once a year. Corrigan produced documents that showed Healthlink paid Celona $17,000 in 2001 that he did not declare on his income taxes. Celona also admitted that he used money from his campaign fund for personal use and failed to disclose it on his tax returns. At one point during cross examination, Corrigan showed a copy of a letter from Celona to his accountant on a video screen. “May I ask how you got those?” Celona asked. Judge Mary M. Lisi snapped back –– “No, you may not.” -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Extra: More on this trial and Operation Dollar Bill In 2005 Celona pleaded guilty to charges that he sold his public office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and Roger Williams Medical Center. As part of the agreement in which Celona agreet to cooperate with the authorities, he was promised that he would not be prosecuted for tax evasion. Celona’s cooperation resulted in a 12-month reduction in his prison sentence. He is serving a 2½ year term in a federal prison in Pennsylvania. Today is his fourth day of testimony in the trial of two CVS executives -- Carlos Ortiz and John R. "Jack" Kramer -- accused of bribing Celona and buying influence in the State House. Celona is expected to return to the witness stand after a short break. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:53 AM | Comment A $200,000-winning PowerBall ticket sold in TivertonA $200,000-winning PowerBall ticket was sold in Rhode Island for last night's drawing. The prize has not been claimed. The ticket was bought at Stateline Tobacco, 29 Stafford Road, Tiverton, and it matched the first five numbers but not the PowerBall number, a Rhode Island Lottery news release said. Last night's drawing was for $15 million. Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:46 AM | Comment R.I. Radio Hall of Fame inducts its first classNo school, Foster Glocester! Just kidding –– get to class! Thousands of former students spent winter mornings waiting to hear Walter “Salty” Brine utter those words. And the phrase is one of the reasons Brine has earned a spot in the newly created Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame. The inaugural class of 2008 will also include Sherm Strickhauser; Charlie Jefferds; Paul Fuller and Al Matthews; Chris Clark; Arlene Violet, Gene DeGraide and Chuck Stevens. Read about them on the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame Web site. The induction ceremony is at 7 p.m. today at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. Tickets can be purchased by calling (401) 781-9199. They’re $50 and benefit A Wish Come True. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:42 AM | Comment Coast Guard: Second LNG appeal deniedThe Coast Guard yesterday denied an appeal filed by an energy company to its decision that a proposed liquefied natural gas facility in Fall River was unsuitable for tankers. Weaver’s Cove Energy filed the appeal request with the First Coast Guard District in Boston after an unsuccessful appeal to the Coast Guard’s captain of the Port for Southeastern New England. In December, Capt. Roy Nash, captain of the port at the time, agreed with the initial October decision, that the necessary channel from Prudence Island, R.I., to the Fall River site was unsafe and had an “unacceptably high” risk of casualty. He upheld the initial decision. Rear Adm. Timothy Sullivan of Boston’s First Coast Guard District said he reached the same conclusions in a statement released yesterday: “After a thorough review of the detailed appeal by Weaver’s Cove Energy, I support Captain Nash’s decision that the waterway is unsafe in the vicinity of the Brightman Street Bridges for the transit of LNG tankers because of the same navigational hazards previously addressed.” Weaver’s Cove can appeal, finally, to the Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:14 AM | Comment No Providence/Newport Ferry service todayThe Providence/Newport Ferry is not making any trips today, according to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. The ferry will be undergoing mechanical work, and will return to its regular schedule tomorrow, which will be in place until Oct. 16. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:28 AM | Comment Bail revoked for man accused of rape, stalkingNEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- A man accused of raping and stalking a mentally disabled Rhode Island man has had his bail revoked. Buddy Smith is charged with rape, indecent assault and battery on a retarded person for allegedly assaulting the 25-year-old man multiple times between 2004 and 2006. Smith had been free on $1,000 bail. Yesterday, a judge revoked his bail and ordered him held until his July 21 trial. The ruling came after a witness testified about seeing Smith peeping in the window of the alleged victim's group home in Foster, R.I. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:59 AM | Comment New traffic pattern in Providence todayThe next phase of Iway construction begins today with one ramp opening and another closing. The new ramp is only accessible to drivers who are driving north on Route 95 and take Exit 19 to the Iway bridge. They can access the new ramp onto Gano Street. RIDOT plans to close the old ramp from Route 95 North to Route 195. Until then, there will be two Exit 2 off ramps –– the one opening today and Exit 2 off the old I-195 which leads to Wickenden Street. RIDOT will have more information at a press conference at 10 a.m. today, when officials release more details about the Iway schedule for the rest of the month. For more information, visit the Department’s Web site, call in for updates at 5-1-1, listen to the Highway Advisory Radio System 1630 AM or call Customer Service at 401-222-2450. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:44 AM | Comment CVS trial: Star witness Celona to go back on standThe CVS corruption trial continues in federal court today with the ninth day of testimony. The government’s star witness, corrupt ex-senator John Celona, will be on the stand for the fourth day –– and the third day of cross-examination by the defense. Former CVS executives John R. ``Jack’’ Kramer and Carlos Ortiz are on trial for bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud for allegedly hiring Celona to do CVS’s legislative bidding at the Rhode Island State House. Over the past few days, Kramer’s lawyer, Scott Corrigan, has tried to show that Celona earned his $1,000-a-month consulting fee by promoting CVS at senior centers and housing complexes, and on his cable-access television show. Celona has testified that whatever he did in that regard was by his own initiative, to justify the money from CVS, and not at the direction of Kramer or Ortiz. Corrigan was scheduled to continue questioning Celona today in the federal courtroom of Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi. When Corrigan finishes, Ortiz’s lawyer, Mark L. Smith, will have his turn. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Posted by Jack Perry at 7:09 AM | Comment Wake scheduled for slain firefighterA wake is scheduled today for a Cranston firefighter who was shot and killed Sunday in a neighborhood dispute. James A. Pagano died from a single gunshot wound to the torso, according to the state Medical Examiner’s Office. Nicholas Gianquitti, a former Providence police officer, was arrested and faces murder charges. The Paganos will hold a wake today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Nardolillo Funeral Home in Cranston. A funeral Mass is scheduled for tomorrow at St. Mark Catholic Church, where Pagano went as a boy. He will be buried at St. Ann’s Cemetery, following Friday’s Mass. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:02 AM | Comment Rainy and coolWe're in for more rain later this morning. The clouds are already here. It will be cooler today than yesterday with a high temperature reaching just 64 degrees and mild west winds. Rain will continue into the night, but should clear up after midnight with a low temperature near 47 degrees and mild west winds. And tomorrow - surprise! - rain in the afternoon with partly cloudy skies and breezy northwest winds. There's good news, though: The temperature should shoot past 70 where it will hopefully stay through the weekend. Keep an eye on the weather at projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:02 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features coverage of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's release from Massachusetts General Hospital and his return to Cape Cod after his cancer diagnosis, more coverage of the trial of two former CVS executives in federal court and reports on gasoline prices reaching $4 per gallon. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format.
Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 21, 2008Tonight: Civil War re-enactors discuss R.I. regiment's roleCatch a little history tonight. There's a roundtable discussion going on: The 14th R.I. Heavy Artillery -- a group reenactment of the state’s black Civil War regiment -- is holding a talk about the war and the regiment’s role in it. The free event, open to the public, is running from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Cranston’s William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St. For information, call (401) 781-2450 or go to www.cranstonlibrary.org or www.14thri.org. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment Bail revoked for man accused in rape of disabled manNEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- A man accused of raping and stalking a mentally disabled man has had his bail revoked. Buddy Smith is charged with rape, indecent assault and battery on a retarded person for allegedly assaulting the 25-year-old man multiple times between 2004 and 2006. Smith had been free on $1,000 bail. Today, a judge revoked his bail and ordered him held until his July 21 trial. The ruling came after a witness testified about seeing Smith peeping in the window of the alleged victim's group home in Foster. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:54 PM | Comment Summit seeks ways to fix R.I.'s dismal math scoresPROVIDENCE -- About 250 educators attended a day-long Mathematics Summit today, kicking off a statewide conversation about how to improve math education in elementary, middle and high schools. Governor Carcieri and education officials convened the event at Rhode Island College in response to dismal math scores on the latest state testing, when just 22 percent of high school juniors scored proficient on a new, tougher test. “It was a wake-up call to a lot of us,” Carcieri said. But the problem has existed for a long time, and has only come to light as the state struggles to align what is taught in the classroom with what is tested each year, said Education Commissioner Peter McWalters. For the first time, officials, schools and parents have a clear picture not only of how individual students perform on the tests, but also of how well districts and schools have adapted to a more demanding set of grade level expectations that outline what students are supposed to be learning each year. The disappointing test scores show that school systems have a lot of work ahead of them, officials said. “What we’ve found out, from many teachers, is that many schools have not aligned (classroom instruction) to the state standards,” McWalters said, calling the discovery “a slap in the face.” Just half of the state’s high schools said they were far along in this effort. “Why would we expect any other result, then?” Elementary and middle school math scores were better, with 54 percent of third through eighth graders scoring proficient. But students who struggle with math find their problems compound over time and often leave them ill-prepared for the rigors of algebra and geometry by the time they start high school, officials say. The state Department of Education will work with schools and districts this summer and in the coming year, offering them support and helping them to identify their weaknesses and cooperate with other districts, local colleges and educational collaboratives, McWalters said. -- Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan Other problems identified at the summit are: * Some classroom teachers lack of deep content knowledge in math, which makes it impossible for them to help their students reach the higher standards now required. * Many schools continue to “track” students, preventing many from taking the higher level algebra, geometry and calculus courses demanded by colleges and the work force. * Students are too dependent on calculators and lack the ability to perform high level work on their own. * Teachers are struggling to “differentiate instruction” so they can reach non-traditional learners, special education students and others who find math challenging. “The two most important areas are teachers figuring out what is happening with their students during instruction, and the depth of their own content knowledge,” said Diane Schaefer, director of instruction at the Rhode Island Department of Education. Carcieri and McWalters emphasized that many states face a similar challenge. Rhode Island developed the new test, called the New England Common Assessment Program, with New Hampshire and Vermont, states that generally score higher than Rhode Island and have fewer diverse students living in poverty. Yet their scores were also low: 27 percent of juniors scored proficient in New Hampshire and 30 percent in Vermont. “You were not brought here to be reprimanded,” McWalters told the teachers and administrators who came from 31 of the state’s 36 districts and some charter and state run schools, as well as representatives from all the state’s public and private colleges. Representatives from Burrillville, Foster-Glocester, Glocester, North Smithfield and Westerly did not attend, in some cases due to scheduling conflicts. “This is a national problem,” McWalters said. The United States does not score among the top nations by international math measures, either. Instead, U.S. students lag behind students in Asia and Europe, including countries such as Latvia, Russia and Hungary. Educators who attended the summit said building relationships across districts and education levels -- elementary, middle and high school and at the college level -- will help them figure out how to solve the problems in math education. “I’ve found that there has been an increase in deficits in students’ ability to think mathematically,” said Anne Veeger, chair of the geosciences department at the University of Rhode Island. “If you take the calculators away, the mental strategies at their disposal don’t seem as strong. They also want the answers to come to them easily and quickly and they get frustrated if they have to work through multiple strategies to get the answers.” Stacy Simmons, math coordinator for Riverside Middle School in East Providence, said the summit has given her ideas about how to improve her own math instruction. “I’m thinking about myself, as a teacher, how I know what the students know and when to move on and when to slow down,” Simmons said. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:52 PM | Comment Two taken into custody after dispute over car-repair billJOHNSTON -- The police took two men into custody and confiscated a handgun earlier this afternoon when they went to a local service station to investigate a heated dispute over a repair bill. During the argument at Hawk’s Mobil, 119 Greenville Ave., a customer pulled out a handgun, according to Johnston police Maj. Ralph Bubar III. Detectives are waiting to review a surveillance tape and determine the precise circumstances that led the customer to display the gun, said Bubar, who declined to name the two men until authorities have decided if they will be charged. The man who drew the gun does have a permit to carry the weapon, Bubar said. The other man, an employee, allegedly wielded a bat during the argument, which was over a $2,500 car repair bill, according to the police. -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:40 PM | Comment Bush pays tribute to Sen. Kennedy with bill signingWASHINGTON -- As Sen. Edward M. Kennedy settled in at home in Hyannisport today to ready for his battle against brain cancer, President Bush paid tribute to the Massachusetts Democrat’s long fight for a new anti-discrimination bill that he signed into law at an Oval Office ceremony. Bush said, "All of us are so pleased that Senator Kennedy has gone home, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.’’ The gathering was typical of the sort of ideological cross-section that the Massachusetts Democrat – very liberal but very practical-minded – has long specialized in lashing together to pass laws. Bush’s description of the bill at hand was likewise a good fit for the type of compromise between public welfare and business needs that is Kennedy’s stock in trade. The bill "protects our citizens from having their genetic information misused,’’ Bush explained, "without undermining the basic tenets of the insurance industry." The White House ceremony for the signing of the health-related legislation came hours after Kennedy, the longest-surviving brother in the nation’s most celebrated political family, was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where doctors diagnosed his malignant brain tumor on Tuesday. Kennedy, who traveled home by car with his wife, Victoria, was to remain there as he and his doctors chart a course of treatment over the coming days. Rhode Island Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy planned, meanwhile, to spend as much time as possible at his father’s side. He returned to his home in Portsmouth after seeing the senator off at Mass General. Family members have spent much of the time there since last Saturday, when the elder Kennedy was stricken by a seizure later determined to have been caused by the tumor. -- John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:17 PM | Comment Power failures hit Warwick Mall, 2 S. County sitesPower failures this afternoon are affecting Warwick Mall and some streets in the Ashaway section of Hopkinton. National Grid crews are on scene, said company spokesman David Graves. In Ashaway, at about 2:55 p.m., some 543 customers were without power because of a falling tree limb. Shortly before 5 p.m.,service is still out for customers on Potter Hill, Laurel Street and Maxson Street. Earlier today, there were scattered power failures in Richmond and South Kingstown this morning, but Graves said power has since been restored. That had been attributed to a blown fuse on a power line. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:03 PM | Comment Prov. schools chief vying for Cincinnati, Newark postsPROVIDENCE -- Supt. Donnie Evans is one of at least 17 candidates who have applied to be superintendent of the Cincinnati public schools, according to Cincinnati School Board President Eve Bolton. The current superintendent, Rosa Blackwell, is retiring after more than three decades as the leader of the 35,000-student district. She is paid $202,820 annually and the Cincinnati School Board said it would go higher if necessary. Blackwell will retire in July. The Cincinnati School Board has hired Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates of Chicago to conduct the search and the firm will accept applications until early June, according to a secretary for the school board. Several school board members told the Cincinnati Enquirer that experience in a large, urban setting is a top consideration for the job. The candidate pool includes superintendents from 11 school districts, including St. Louis, Beloit, Wis., and Sarasota County, Fla. A community advisory panel will select the semifinalists, whose names will be referred to the school board for review. Evans is also one of three finalists for the Newark, N.J., superintendent’s position. He is joined by former Washington, D.C., Supt. Clifford Janey, and former Randolph, N.J., Assistant Supt. Ross Danis. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine will review the finalists and appoint a replacement for outgoing Supt. Marion Bolden, who is retiring June 30. Evans announced in late March that he would not seek another term when his contract expires in September. He withdrew his candidacy hours before the school board was prepared to vote on whether to renew his contract for another three years. A week later, Mayor David N. Cicilline announced that a new superintendent had been chosen: Thomas M. Brady, a retired Army colonel who is interim superintendent of the Philadelphia school district. The mayor did not conduct a national search as he did with Evans. Instead, he asked the Broad Center, a national education leadership program, to recommend a list of candidates. Brady emerged as the group’s first choice. -- Journal staff writer Linda Borg Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:53 PM | Comment House scuttles vote on political pamphlet anonymityPROVIDENCE -- House leaders have scuttled a planned vote today on a bill to provide anonymity to political pamphleteers and those placing political-attack ads in newspapers. House spokesman Larry Berman said he was advised by House Majority Leader Gordon Fox, D-Providence, that the bill is being sent back to a House Judiciary Committee instead for a second look. Whether it will ever re-emerge is unclear. Action on the bill was postponed for the first time last week after it created a ruckus on the House floor. House Minority Leader Robert Watson, R-East Greenwich, led the charge. Reminding a Democratic colleague across the room of the bare-knuckled reelection campaign he endured a few years ago, Watson said: “At least you knew who was firing those missiles. At least you knew who was building those bombs and lobbing them into your lap. “Mr. Speaker, we’re going to have a bunch of anonymous terrorists playing in our political sandbox and I’m not sure I agree with that.” Current law bans the airing or distribution of any campaign flier, poster or newspaper advertisement that is designed to “injure or defeat” a candidate for public office, criticize “the candidate’s personal character or political action” or defeat a ballot question unless it contains the name and address of the person responsible for it and, with respect to print ads, the word “advertisement” is displayed on a separate line in the same typeface. The bill sponsored by Representatives Nicholas Mattiello, D-Cranston, and Patricia Serpa, D-West Warwick, to repeal these requirements was recommended by the state Board of Elections, at the urging of the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. -- Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau In an interview late last week, ACLU Director Steven Brown said “people may have legitimate reasons for distributing a pamphlet or putting up a poster anonymously,” including fear of retaliation. He said members of the voting public have to decide for themselves how much they are willing to rely on anonymously provided information, but “to demand disclosure is to chill speech on important public issues.” In his arguments to the Board of Elections and lawmakers, Brown also cited an April 1995 U.S. Supreme Court decision -- McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission -- that struck down that state’s law requiring the disclosure of personal identity on political literature. Hailed by some over the years as “an important case for privacy and free-speech advocates,” the case centered on these facts: In 1988, Margaret McIntyre was fined after distributing pamphlets opposing a proposed school tax levy that were signed by “Concerned Parents and Taxpayers.” She was fined $100 under a provision of the Ohio code that prohibited the distribution of campaign literature that does not contain the name and address of the person who issued the literature. Briefly stated: The Supreme Court ruled that the law violated the First Amendment by inhibiting core political speech. The Supreme Court also said that the ban on anonymous speech is not justified by the state’s asserted interest in preventing the distribution of fraudulent and libelous information. The court wrote: “Under our Constitution, anonymous pamphleteering is not a pernicious, fraudulent practice, but an honorable tradition of advocacy and dissent. Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority.” In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Donald Lally, Brown said repeal of Rhode Island’s law “should thus be seen as merely a housekeeping measure designed to avoid the enforcement of clearly unconstitutional laws.” But the dustup last week over the proposed repeal of Rhode Island’s political disclosure law sparked a flurry of behind-the-scenes legal activity at the State House. Robert Kando, executive director of the state elections board, said he was informed the Ohio decision was specific to the very specific fact pattern in that case, and a decade later the Federal Elections Commission still has a clear disclaimer requirement for political communications and advertising. At this point, Kando said, “there is some question in my mind if the statute is unconstitutional or not.” Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:00 PM | Comment Mobster Marrapese takes first steps out of ACI / Photo
Marrapese was fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet before being released from the Adult Correctional Institutions this afternoon. The terms of Marrapese’s parole prohibit him from associating with known felons without the consent of his parole officer. He also will be required to wear the electronic bracelet for at least a year, and he will remain on parole for the rest of his life. He will move back to his home at 104 Elwyn St., in Cranston, not far from the Silver Lake neighborhood in Providence. Last month, The Providence Journal reported that he had landed a job at a Anthony’s Restaurant in Johnston. The consequential news coverage resulted in the restaurant withdrawing its offer, and Marrapese’s release was postponed until he could find another job. In the ’60s and ’70s, Marrapese was a feared enforcer and capo regime in the Patriarca crime family. He operated from the Acorn Social Club midway up Atwells Avenue in the heart of Federal Hill. The club was recently razed and a restaurant is being built in its place. In September 1987, Marrapese was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for killing mob associate Richard "Dickie" Callei on March 15, 1975, in the Acorn Social Club. His bullet-ridden body was discovered later that day near a golf course in Rehoboth. The murder remained unsolved for nearly a decade. Meanwhile, in the 1980s, Marrapese was charged in two other murders: the 1982 gangland slaying of Anthony "The Moron" Mirabella at Fidas Restaurant on Valley Street and the baseball-bat beating of Ronald McElroy, of East Providence. Separate juries found Marrapese not guilty in the Mirabella and McElroy killings. -- With archival reports from Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:18 PM | Comment CVS trial: Sports fan Celona pitched himself to JetsPROVIDENCE -- Former Rhode Island senator John Celona not only sold out his public office –– he tried to sell out his New England sports allegiance, too. According to evidence introduced today in the federal trial of two ex-CVS executives accused of bribing Celona, the fan who proudly flew a New England Patriots flag outside his North Providence house and once tried, as a senator, to get the Patriots to build a football stadium in Providence, sought work from the New York Jets. Sports is a major interest of Celona’s, as evidenced by his testimony today about his efforts to promote the CVS Charity Golf Classic and Downtown 5K road race in Providence on his cable-access television show. Then, toward the end of today’s testimony, defense lawyer Scott Corrigan showed jurors a letter that Celona wrote in 1997, when he was seeking work following the failure of his family’s lawnmower store. The letter was to Bill Parcells, who had just bolted as coach of the Patriots following a Super Bowl loss to the Green Bay Packers, to take charge of the team’s arch-rival, the Jets. In his quest for work to support his family, Celona acknowledged sending out hundreds of resumes. On March 10, 1997, he wrote to Parcells pitching a new consulting group he had formed, The Image Group. "With perception so important," Celona wrote, "we at The Image Group can train you and your team to manage the news and the media in a way that is positive and beneficial to the Jets." A few minutes later, sparring with a defense lawyer over how many times he had met with FBI agents, Celona paraphrased the words of another Pats football coach and one-time Parcell's disciple, Bill Belichick: "If that’s what it is, that’s what it is, then that’s what it is." -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Celona testified that The Image Group was something that "never got off the ground." Nor, he said, did he use that corporate name when he discussed consulting work with Woonsocket-based drugstore giant CVS a few years later. Corrigan was apparently driving at the fact that Celona was trying to hustle consulting clients to fill out his income after the failure of the family business. Earlier today, Corrigan introduced a letter that Celona wrote in 2003 to the head of the Ocean State Hearing Aid Center, discussing a prospective consulting agreement. There was no evidence, however, that any agreement was ever signed, and Celona’s tenure in the Senate came to an end months later after publicity regarding some of his financial dealings with companies that he later pleaded guilty to selling his office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and Roger Williams Medical Center. The Parcells revelation came toward the end of Celona’s third day on the stand, and his second day of cross-examination by Corrigan, a lawyer for defendant John Kramer. Prior to that, Corrigan walked Celona through a series of transcripts of his TV show, The Celona State House Report, on which Kramer appeared eight times from 2000 to 2003 to promote CVS’s charitable endeavors. Celona, often reluctant to concede making remarks attributed to him in the transcripts, conceded that he had promoted CVS’s golf tournament and road race and the company in general. His love of sports came through in the transcript of one show, in which he described CVS’s chief executive, Tom Ryan, as a nearly "perfect individual" –– Ryan’s only fault, Celona added, was that "he’s a Yankees fan." It’s unclear how much longer Celona will be on the stand. When Corrigan finishes, a lawyer for his co-defendant, Carlos Ortiz, will take his turn questioning the government’s star witness. Read Journal staff writer Mike Stanton's earlier report on this morning's testimony. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:56 PM | Comment Patrick Kennedy to join his father on the CapeAfter spending much of the past four days at his father's Massachusetts General Hospital bedside, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy planned to follow him to the family's Hyannisport compound, where Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has gone after his hospital discharge this morning. "The congressman is very focused on being with his father and spending time with his father and doing everything he can to support his father," said Patrick Kennedy's spokeswoman, Robin Costello. For the time being, that meant the younger Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat, has returned to his Portsmouth home only long enough to pack for the trek to the Cape, Costello said. The family was to confer with the senator's doctors in the coming days to chart his course of treatment for the malignant brain tumor with which he was diagnosed yesterday. Costello said that congressman Kennedy does not yet know exactly how his father will proceed but plans to stay by his side during the coming days. For now, congressman Kennedy has cancelled the dates on his public schedule. -- John Mulligan of the Journal's Washington Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:39 PM | Comment Rescued seal to be released tomorrow off CharlestownA yearling female harp seal is slated for release tomorrow at Blue Shutter's Beach in Charlestown. New England Aquarium in Boston rescued the seal April 10, and it was moved to Mystic Aquarium that day. She had several wounds on her back, neck and right rear flipper. The sea received antibiotics, "has recovered well, gained weight and is ready to go home," Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exporation said in a news release today. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:08 PM | Comment Providence area YMCA appoints new leaderThe YMCA of Greater Providence has announced a new head of its board of directors. Amy Page Oberg was appointed to head the nonprofit organization’s board at its annual meeting yesterday. She takes the place of James Purcell, president and CEO of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island since 2004. “I am so pleased that Amy has agreed to step up to this leadership role on our board,” YMCA CEO and President Karen Leslie said in a statement. “She has served us so well as the chair of our Bayside Branch Board and now she will have the chance to do the same for the entire association. I welcome the chance to work more closely with her.” Oberg has chaired the Bayside Family YMCA since 2006. A lawyer, she works with DarrowEverett LLP which has offices in Providence and Boston, and has also served on the Barrington School Committee. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:55 PM | Comment Photo: Seeing red at the zoo
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:50 PM | Comment Update: Sen. Kennedy home from hospital / Photo, video
BOSTON --U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy gave a thumbs up to well-wishers and kisses to relatives as he walked out of the hospital this morning, a day after learning he has a cancerous brain tumor. A square bandage at the back of his head marked the spot where doctors performed a biopsy Monday that led them to diagnose the Massachusetts Democrat with malignant glioma. Experts say such tumors are almost always fatal. Kennedy's dogs, Sunny and Splash, met him at the hospital door. Hospital workers and well-wishers greeted Kennedy with applause. Before he and his wife, Vicki, got into a dark Chevrolet Suburban, he kissed his daughter, Kara, and his niece Caroline Kennedy, embraced his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I, and waved to onlookers. Television news helicopters followed his 75-mile trip south to his Cape Cod home. Along the way, he could be seen waving to nearby motorists from the front passenger seat of his SUV. He took a walk on the beach with his two Portuguese Water Dogs as soon as he arrived.
“Senator Kennedy has recovered remarkably quickly from his Monday procedure and therefore will be released from the hospital today ahead of schedule,” said a joint statement from his doctors earlier this morning. “He will return to his home on Cape Cod while we await further test results and determine treatment plans. He’s feeling well and eager to get started.” The 76-year-old senator, the last son in a famed political family, was airlifted to Boston on Saturday. He underwent the biopsy on Monday and the results were released yesterday. He was diagnosed with a malignant glioma in his left parietal lobe this week after suffering a seizure in his home Saturday morning. Malignant gliomas are diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year; in general, half of all patients die within a year. -- The Associated Press His wife, Vicki Kennedy, told friends the grim diagnosis was “a real curveball” that left his family stunned even as he joked and laughed with them, but expressed pride in how her husband was handling the news. “Teddy is leading us all, as usual, with his calm approach to getting the best information possible,” she wrote in an e-mail Tuesday to friends. “He’s also making me crazy (and making me laugh) by pushing to race in the Figawi this weekend,” she wrote, referring to the annual sailing race from Cape Cod to Nantucket. The diagnosis cast a pall over Capitol Hill, where the Massachusetts Democrat has served since 1962. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., the longest-serving member of the Senate, wept as he prayed for “my dear, dear friend, dear friend, Ted Kennedy” during a speech on the Senate floor. “Keep Ted here for us and for America,” said the 90-year-old Byrd, who is in a wheelchair. He added: “Ted, Ted, my dear friend, I love you and I miss you.” In a statement, President Bush saluted Kennedy as “a man of tremendous courage, remarkable strength and powerful spirit.” He added: “We join our fellow Americans in praying for his full recovery.” Kennedy has been active for his age, maintaining an aggressive schedule on Capitol Hill and across Massachusetts. He has made several campaign appearances for Sen. Barack Obama. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said: “Ted Kennedy’s courage and resolve are unmatched, and they have made him one of the greatest legislators in Senate history. Our thoughts are with him and Vicki and we are praying for a quick and full recovery.” Kennedy has left his stamp on a raft of health care, pension and immigration legislation during four decades in the Senate. In 1980, Kennedy unsuccessfully challenged Jimmy Carter for the Democratic presidential nomination. The Kennedy family has been struck by tragedy over and over. Kennedy’s eldest brother, Joseph, died in a World War II plane crash; President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963; and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968. Ted Kennedy shocked the nation in 1969 when he drove his car off a bridge to Massachusetts’ Chappaquiddick Island and a young female campaign worker drowned. Kennedy, who did not call authorities until the next day, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended two-month jail sentence. Kennedy, the Senate’s second-longest serving member, was re-elected in 2006 and is not up for election again until 2012. Were he to resign or die in office, state law requires a special election for the seat 145 to 160 days afterward. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:26 PM | Comment Toy car carrying real cocaine convicts Providence man / PhotoPROVIDENCE -- A Providence man has been convicted after prosecutors say he was caught trying to traffick in cocaine concealed inside a car too small to ever get caught in traffic.  This photo was taken by CBP agents in Memphis and was introduced in evidence at trial. The car, with standard-sized file cabinets in the background. Prosecutors said a kilogram of cocaine was packed inside a toy car shipped from Venezuela to Rhode Island, and a federal jury yesterday found Edward Perez, 24, of Arch Street guilty of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He faces five to 40 years imprisonment and up to a $2 million fine. Perez, who is in federal custody, is slated for Oct. 17 sentencing, U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office said in a news release today. A federal customs agent intercepted the shipment in December at a Federal Express location in Tennessee, and agents arrested Perez after he took possession of the package at a Johnston address, the U.S. Attorney's office said. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Prosecutor Gerard B. Sullivan presented at trial evidence gathered by federal immigration and customs agents. In December, a Customs and Border Patrol agent at the FedEx Consignment Hub in Memphis found a kilogram of cocaine concealed in the bottom of a radio-controlled car inside a package from Caracas headed for a Johnston address The agents in Memphis got the package to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Providence. On Dec. 31, an agent wearing a FedEx uniform, as part of a “controlled delivery” to the intended Plainfield Pike address, delivered the parcel, which now bore a package of sham cocaine hidden in the car. A woman who accepted the package said it was for her friend “Edwin.” Immigration and Customs Enfrocement and Drug Enforcement Administration agents, state and Jonston police watched as Perez came to the Plainfield Pike address shortly after. After a few minutes inside, he came out with the package and agents arrested him. While Perez was handcuffed, agents heard him trying to make a cell phone call, muttering into the phone, “The cops are here.” But cell phone records did not show a call being completed at that time. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:16 PM | Comment Update: Mobster Marrapese due to leave ACI after 1
Marrapese
Mobster and soon-to-be ex-convict Frank L. “Bobo” Marrapese Jr. won’t leave jail before 1 p.m. today, according to Tracey Z. Poole, spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections. The 67-year-old will be leaving from the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston after being fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet. Last month, The Providence Journal reported that the 65-year-old had landed a job at a Anthony’s Restaurant in Johnston. The consequential news coverage resulted in the restaurant withdrawing its offer, and Marrapese’s release was postponed until he could find another job. Marrapese, who was convicted in one gangland slaying and implicated in two other murders, will move back into his home at 104 Elwyn St. in Cranston. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:02 PM | Comment Blackstone to host primer on sustainable tourismWe’ve heard about sustainable farming and sustainable building; ways to use resources efficiently without depleting them. There’s another sustainable market waiting to be tapped: sustainable tourism. The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council’s Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory is hosting a primer on the concept tomorrow morning. Tourism agencies, local policy makers, educators and students and anyone else interested in the practices of sustainable tourism are invited to “An Introduction to Resilient Tourism,” tomorrow beginning at 8 a.m. For $35, participants will hear from a number of speakers on topics such as “experimental tourism,” to satellite accounting. The event is set to take place at the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center in Pawtucket. Although the Tourism Lab is based in the Blackstone River Valley section of the state, it consists of members from around the world. Registration is required, find a schedule of events and other information on the Sustainable Tourism Lab's Web site or call the Lab at 401-724-2200. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:47 AM | Comment CVS trial: Celona says he doesn't recall some evidencePROVIDENCE -- What did John Celona do for CVS? The corrupt ex-North Providence senator has testified that he did CVS’s legislative bidding at the state house for his $1,000-a-month consulting fee, and that he never performed the community outreaches spelled out in his consulting agreement. When under cross examination for the second day today in the federal trial against two former CVS executives accused of bribing him, Celona was confronted with his own words –– from e-mail correspondence, grand jury testimony and statements of FBI agents –– that he had done some community outreach for CVS, the Woonsocket-based drugstore giant. Scott Corrigan, a lawyer for defendant John Kramer, showed Celona an e-mail he wrote to defendant Carlos Ortiz in early 2001, after his first year as a consultant, stating that he had visited senior centers and housing complexes to explain CVS services and to tout CVS as “today’s neighborhood drug store.” This was after Celona had told Corrigan that he could not recall doing so. Corrigan also produced a 2001 letter from Ortiz to Celona enclosing 5 $20 CVS gift cards for Celona to use as door prizes at a senior health fair. He also showed Celona a 2002 Kramer expense report indicating Kramer had attended a CVS-sponsored event hosted by Celona at Amos House, and an e-mail from Kramer’s assistant requesting Celona’s presence at a CVS State House press event. Celona replied that he didn’t recall either occasion. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi has scolded Celona a few times, telling him to stay on track. “Mr. Celona, listen to the question,” said Lisi. “Answer the question.” -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:25 AM | Comment Kennedy doesn't want to forget about racing in Figawi
The 37th annual Figawi race starts Saturday, and Kennedy's 50-foot sailboat, Mya, is among the 205 sailboats registered to race between Hyannis and Nantucket. Kennedy regularly takes part in the race, which starts a short sail from the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport. Last year, the Concordia yawl won its division on the return leg. Kennedy's wife, Vicki Kennedy, has suggested to friends that her husband wants to race this weekend despite his being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. “Teddy is leading us all, as usual, with his calm approach to getting the best information possible,” she wrote in an e-mail yesterday to friends. “He’s also making me crazy (and making me laugh) by pushing to race in the Figawi this weekend,” she wrote. The Figawi "is recognized as a top sailing event not only on the east coast but is known nationally as well as internationally," according to the race's Web site. The early-season race across Nantucket Sound is often marked by foggy conditions -- contributing to its name -- and has a reputation for a party atmosphere. After racing from Hyannis to Nantucket, the sailors spend Sunday on Nantucket before racing back to the Cape on Monday. Kennedy won Division C on the race back from Nantucket last year, according to race results on the Web site. Kennedy's boat had finished 10th out of 16 in its division on the race to Nantucket, according to race results on the Web site. The race also hosts a ball, held last Saturday, that benefits more than 25 charities. -- projo.coms staff writer Jack Perry, with reports from the Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 11:02 AM | Comment Iway exit changes will affect traffic flowThe next phase of Iway construction is set to begin tomorrow with one ramp opening and another closing. The new ramp is only accessible to drivers who are driving north on Route 95 and take Exit 19 to the Iway bridge. They can access the new ramp onto Gano Street. RIDOT plans to close the old ramp from Route 95 North to Route 195. Until then, there will be two Exit 2 off ramps –– the one opening tomorrow and Exit 2 off the old I-195 which leads to Wickenden Street. RIDOT will have more information at a press conference tomorrow, when officials release more information about the Iway schedule for the rest of the month. For more information, visit the Department’s Web site, call in for updates at 5-1-1, listen to the Highway Advisory Radio System 1630 AM or call Customer Service at 401-222-2450. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:10 AM | Comment Green traffic down for April and 2008Passenger traffic at T.F. Green Airport declined in April and during the first four months of 2008, compared to similar periods last year, according to statistics released today by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation. There were 412,471 passengers at Green in April, off .4 percent from April 2007. For January, February, March and April, 1.50 million passengers used Green. That’s down 1.1 percent from the 1.52 million passengers in the first four months last year. Southwest Airlines remained the biggest carrier at Green, with 52.4 percent of all passengers at the airport in April. U.S. Airways was the second biggest carrier with 21 percent of all passengers. No other carrier has more than 7 percent. Posted by Peter Phipps at 9:30 AM | Comment Mobster Marrapese set to be released after 1 p.m.
Marrapese
Imprisoned mobster Frank L. “Bobo” Marrapese Jr. is set to be released from prison today, one month after his last scheduled release was postponed because of an abundance of publicity. Tracey Z. Poole, spokeswoman for the Adult Correctional Institutions, said yesterday that Marrapese has a job and will be released sometime after 1:00 p.m. today. Last month, the Journal reported that the 65-year-old had landed a job at a Anthony’s Restaurant in Johnston. The consequential news coverage resulted in the restaurant withdrawing its offer and Marrapese’s release was postponed until he could find another job. Marrapese, who was convicted in one gangland slaying and implicated in two other murders, will move back into his home at 104 Elwyn St. in Cranston. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:00 AM | Comment This bus stop's goal: Making cancer an election priorityHave you ever signed your name on a bus? Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire hadn't, but on Monday he penned his name to the American Cancer Society CAN Bus. The bus, which is traveling across the country to share stories of cancer patients and survivors, is working to make cancer a priority issue during this year’s presidential election. Today, the bus is stopping in Providence and Pawtucket where people are asked to sign their names to the bus, and sign a petition urging presidential candidates to promise a health plan that gives all Americans “access to affordable, available, and adequate health care that eliminates red tape.” Visit the bus today in front of the State House, at 2:45 p.m. or at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket at 6 p.m. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:53 AM | Comment CVS trial: Celona set to testify againJohn A. Celona, the corrupt former state senator from North Providence, will return to the witness stand at 9 a.m. this morning in the corruption trial of former CVS executives John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos Ortiz. One of Kramer’s lawyers, Scott Corrigan, of New York City, will continue his cross examination of the government’s star witness. Celona, a former paid consultant for CVS, is serving a 2 ½-year federal prison sentence for his corrupt dealings with CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence. Read coverage of yesterday's testimony. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:02 AM | Comment More clouds and more rain (maybe)Today looks like yesterday, but a little warmer. We may get some rain again in the late afternoon, with breezy southwest winds between 13 and 16 mph. Expect clouds and a high temperature of about 71 degrees. Rain may continue into the evening, when the temperature drops to about 47 degrees. We'll have cloudy skies and mild west winds. Another chance of showers tomorrow afternoon with more cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 60s. To keep an eye on the weather, visit projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features coverage of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's cancer diagnosis and the trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing former state Sen. John Celona. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 20, 2008Tonight: Celtics open NBA Eastern Conference finalsAll eyes were on Boston last night -- for the Sox's victory on the shoulders of a no-hitter pitching performance -- and all eyes will be again tonight when the Celtics open their NBA Eastern Conference Finals series against the Detroit Pistons. The game starts at 8:30 p.m. Read more about it tonight at projo.com's sports blog and keep up with the score and post-game stories on our Celtics page. For those who want to get out and hear bands, in Providence the Zuma Band, Ductape and Burning the Canvas play rock at AS220, 115 Empire St. Call 831-9327. 10 p.m. $6. All ages. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:55 PM | Comment Wake, funeral set for slain Cranston manThe family of James A. Pagano, the Cranston firefighter who police say was killed Sunday by a neighbor, will hold a wake Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Nardolillo Funeral Home in Cranston, with a funeral service to follow Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, which Pagano attended as a boy. A burial will follow the service at St. Ann’s Cemetery. “We’ll have our firefighters in dress uniform,” said Cranston Fire Chief James B. Gumbley. “We want to have a solemn and dignified remembrance.” Earlier today, the state medical examiners office ruled that Pagano died from a single gunshot wound to the torso with injury to the aorta, pancreas and liver. The police have charged Nicholas Gianquitti, 40, with murder. A District Court judge yesterday ordered him held without bail. -- With reports from Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:51 PM | Comment Plea deal ends possible test case on medical marijuanaSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- An Exeter man who was allowed to possess marijuana under the state’s medical marijuana law has admitted to drug possession in the first criminal case that would have tested the law had it gone to trial. Steve Trimarco pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of possessing marijuana with intent to deliver in a plea agreement reached Friday in Washington County Superior Court. Trimarco, 50, refused to surrender when the police arrived at his trailer at 480 South County Trail in 2006, but was taken into custody after three hours of negotiations, the police said. The next day, the police entered the trailer with a search warrant, seizing 71 marijuana plants, a homemade silencer and four guns, including a Chinese assault rifle. Trimarco at the time held a registration card from the state authorizing him to grow 12 marijuana plants and possess 2 ½ ounces of the drug under the law enacted in January 2006 over Governor Carcieri’s objections. Nineteen other charges, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possessing a silencer, were dismissed under the deal. The Senate approved legislation Friday that would create "compassion centers" where chronically ill patients enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program could openly purchase the drug. That bill has been referred to the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee, but an identical House-generated bill has been stalled in committee, said House spokesman Larry Berman. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:37 PM | Comment Update: Family, friends rally around Kennedy / Photo
By mid-afternoon, California Democrat Pelosi was among the congressional leaders rushing to express their affection and support for the longtime liberal stalwart. Kennedy’s closest friend in the Congress Sen. Christopher J. Dodd said Kennedy ``is a strong guy and he has great heart and we’re confident in getting him back.’’ Patrick Kennedy was at Massachusetts General Hospital this afternoon as the news broke of his father’s cancer diagnosis. He plans to remain with his father as family members deliberate with physicians over his treatment. ``He’s going to take it one day at a time,’’ said the Rhode Island congressman’s spokeswoman, Robin Costello. ``Obviously, he’s concerned. This is difficult news for any son to hear." But Patrick Kennedy remains hopeful, she said. ``His father has always been a fighter and the congressman knows that if anybody can beat this he can,’’ Costello said. Costello said the younger Kennedy has been commuting between Mass General and his home in Portsmouth since his father was stricken by a seizure Saturday morning at his home in Hyannisport. The congressman does not yet know exactly what course of treatment the senator will opt to undergo or what the timing will be, according to Costello. -- BY JOHN E. MULLIGAN 
Journal file photoFather and son greet each other in January 2002 at the Pawtucket Day Nursery in Pawtucket, where they were talking about their efforts to get money for daycare. Speaking of the Senate as a family, the majority leader, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters shortly after 2 p.m., ``We as a family are tremendously concerned about Senator Kennedy. But Reid repeated the general view: ``Anyone who knows Ted Kennedy knows he’s a fighter’’ and expressed confidence that he would rise to the fight against his illness. Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., said, ``Ted Kennedy and the Kennedy family have faced more adversity more times and in more instances with more courage and more grace than most families ever have to face.’’ Noting that Kennedy is famous for rushing to the side of friends and colleagues in need, Kerry said that it is now time for others to rally behind him. The diagnosis appeared to come as a surprise to many colleagues. After a Senate Banking Committee hearing this morning, Connecticut Democrat Dodd told reporters about what great spirits Kennedy seemed to be in during their conversations over the weekend. Dodd humorously recounted a phone call from Kennedy, mimicking his friends voice as he groused good-naturedly about the tests he was undergoing at Mass General. Dodd and Sen. Jack Reed, who has been in close touch with Patrick Kennedy, both spoke light heartedly – before the bad news broke – about how pleased the elder Kennedy had been about the Boston Celtics weekend victory in a key pro-basketball championship series, and about the no-hitter that Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester threw last night. Read the latest from the Associated Press Doctor's statement on Kennedy's tumor Members of Rhode Island, Mass. delegation react Posted by Jack Perry at 5:43 PM | Comment Update: House approves paying toward health insurancePROVIDENCE -- The House today approved a bill requiring the part-time members of Rhode Island’s General Assembly to pay 10 percent of the cost of their state-provided health, dental and eye-care insurance. The vote was 66-2, with six not voting, this afternoon. The measure next goes to the Senate. Without the Senate’s consent, the proposal will not become law. But House Republicans, who are the minority in the Democrat-dominated House, were saying they thought the proposal will not go anywhere in the Democrat-dominated Senate. House Minority Whip Nicholas Gorham, R-Coventry, challenged colleagues to sign a form today to voluntarily pay the 10 percent regardless of what happens to the legislation. "You can vote green [yes] but you know as well as the rest of us that this is N.G.N. in the Senate. It's dead," said Gorham, who defined N.G.N. as "not going nowhere." Gorham added: "So it's either going to be a publicity stunt today or it's going to be the real thing." Voting no in the House were Rep. William San Bento, D-Pawtucket, and Rep. Timothy Williamson, D-West Warwick. Rhode Island lawmakers meet three days a week, six months a year. They get paid $13,508 a year. And right now, they are eligible to get all of these benefits for free at a cost to taxpayers of $5,831 a year for single coverage, $16,293 for a family, according to newly revised cost figures from the General Assembly. The proposal by Rep. Amy Rice, D-Portsmouth, would not only require they pay 10 percent of their premiums, it would also eliminate the $2,002 waiver payment currently given to lawmakers who forgo the free health-care even though they all still get free Delta Dental and eye-care insurance. Being required to pay 10 percent for the full package would cost each lawmaker $48.59 monthly for an individual plan, $135 monthly for the lawmaker and his or her family. The co-pays will not make a big dent in the $434 million potential deficit the state is facing in the year that begins July 1, and recent statements by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport, raised serious doubt the Senate will agree to go along. In a recent interview, she said, she believes “that it should be a voluntary decision. It certainly defeats whatever power of example that they are attempting to demonstrate by mandating it, rather than having it be voluntary.’’ -- Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau A 2007 nation survey by the United Benefit Advisors -- an alliance of 142 employee-benefit companies across the country -- indicates the 10 percent is well below-average, even by Rhode Island standards. While the full survey encompassed 16,485 health plans sponsored by 11,723 employers with 1.9 million employees between them, it included 170 Rhode Island companies with between 10 and 250 employees. Among the key findings: the average Rhode Island employee contributes 28.8 percent of the premium cost for individual coverage, which equates to $118 monthly, and 40.4 percent -- $397 monthly -- for a family plan. Looked at from that perspective, Joseph E. Cardello, one of the principals in the UBA affiliate in Rhode Island -- the Cornerstone Group in West Warwick -- said the lawmakers’ gesture is modest. “Believe me, they work very hard and hopefully, honorably at the State House,’’ he said. But, “to be honest with you, there not a lot of love for those elected officials,’’ he said, when their benefit costs are compared to “somebody who’s working 50 hours a week at a jewelry manufacturing facility …paying 30 percent of their health insurance, making $10 an hour…That’s a harsh reality. ‘’ As the vote neared, more and more legislators volunteered to pay 10 percent of the cost of their coverage. In the House, 26 of the 57 lawmakers receiving health insurance are already paying 10 percent of the cost voluntarily, 15 are slated to receive waiver payments in December, though four have pledged to return 10 percent of the payments and two announced they would forgo the waiver payments. (The 75-member House has been one short since former Rep. Roger Picard, D-Woonsocket ran for an open Senate seat and won.) In the Senate, 9 of the 32 senators with health coverage are paying 10 percent of the premiums, three are positioned to receive the waiver payments and three have announced they will forgo them. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:10 PM | Comment Reed plays key role in foreclosure relief compromise
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.
WASHINGTON -- With Rhode Island's Sen. Jack Reed providing a crucial piece of the compromise, a key Senate committee overwhelmingly sealed a deal today that could help hundreds of thousands of homeowners refinance their troubled mortgages. Unlike a House measure passed last week, the Senate plan is said to have the president's blessing. The Senate Banking Committee cleared the foreclosure prevention package on a vote of 19 to 2, sending the full Senate a loud bipartisan signal that, according to Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, the committee's chairman, could spell enactment of broad mortgage relief -- along with a strong dose of banking reform and low-income rental housing aid -- by July 4. "Now we can respond to three pressing concerns: keeping people in their homes by preventing foreclosure, creating the housing program for the poor, and paying for both with a special new surcharge on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac," Reed said. Rhode Island's senior senator, a Democrat, is a committee member in the bipartisan talks that forged the compromise. Dodd, and Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, the ranking Republican on the panel, credit Reed with a key role in fashioning the so-called "pay-for," a levy on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that allays Republican concerns about what some have portrayed as a taxpayer bailout of ill-advised mortgages. Shelby said President Bush -- who has threatened to veto the mortgage relief package that passed the House last week -- will not veto an anti-foreclosure bill akin to what the Senate panel produced today. Bush said last week that the House bill would help "speculators and lenders," while risking taxpayer money. The Senate bill would raise an estimated $500 million -- less than one-fifth the projected cost of the House version of the bill -- by collecting just over half a penny on each dollar’s worth of mortgages issued through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The Senate version of the foreclosure remedy would assist an estimated 500,000 families, according to Dodd. -- John Mulligan of the Journal Washington Bureau Your turn: Are there foreclosed homes on your street? How are they affecting you?
In the first year of its existence, 65 percent of the new fund would go to finance federally backed mortgage insurance that would rescue homeowners from foreclosure by allowing lenders to reduce the outstanding principal owed on troubled mortgages. The loans could then be rewritten as long-term, fixed-rate mortgages. Much of the foreclosure crisis is attributable to adjustable-rate mortgages that proved too expensive for homeowners when they were adjusted upward. The remainder of the fund, 35 percent, would be used to help expand the pool of housing that poor people can afford. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would administer the new program through state agencies such as Rhode Island Housing. In the second and third years of the program, the fraction of the fund devoted to the low-income housing aid would expand, while the fraction devoted to troubled mortgage relief would shrink. Congressional liberals, including Reed and the House Banking Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., have long viewed fees on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- the huge, government-backed companies that largely finance the U.S. mortgage market -- as a potential source of revenue for expanding low-income housing assistance. Rhode Island’s foreclosure rates on sub-prime mortgages are among the highest in the nation. Foreclosure initiations almost tripled to more than 1,000 during the first quarter of the year, according to calculations by Rhode Island Housing. The state also faces an acute shortage of affordable housing for poor citizens. Reed, Dodd and Shelby all pointed to their compromise bill as a potential source of stability -- not only for the troubled housing market but for the economy at large. The purpose of the bill, according to Dodd, is to ``put a floor’’ beneath a market that has plummeted in recent months, with serious consequences for the nation’s growth as well as for hundreds of thousands of individual homeowners. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:02 PM | Comment RIH doctor: Prognosis for Kennedy's type of tumor poorPROVIDENCE -- The prognosis is not good for patients with the type of malignant brain tumor diagnosed in U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a Rhode Island Hospital neurosurgeon said today. “The prognosis is usually poor, with a life expectancy of one year or less,” said Dr. Curtis E. Doberstein, interim chief of neurosurgery at the hospital. Doberstein said he knows of cases with younger patients who have survived several years with similar brain tumors. Kennedy is 76. Doberstein said the hospital sees about 50 to 70 such tumors a year in Rhode Island, statistically more than one would suspect. He said Kennedy could be expected to leave the hospital soon and go home, if his treatment is confined to radiation and chemotherapy. The senator has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday after suffering a seizure at his Cape Cod home. -- Journal staff writer Peter Lord Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:35 PM | Comment After long wait, governor nominates 3 to Elections BoardPROVIDENCE -- Following months -- if not years -- of delays, the governor today announced three new nominees to the state’s Board of Elections, filling vacancies that some had said could lead to a “political crisis” in this state if not addressed. The nominations are John Clarke of West Warwick, Martin E. Joyce, Jr., of Cumberland and Richard H. Pierce of Cranston. Their appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. Clarke is the owner and president of “The Insurance Store, Inc.,” according to his resume. He also serves as the parliamentarian for the Rhode Island Republican Party and is a former member of the West Warwick Canvassing Board. In 2006, Clarke ran unsuccessfully against Senate Finance Chairman Stephen D. Alves for his District 9 seat in West Warwick. His Board of Elections term would expire in 2013. Joyce is a former director of personnel for the city of Pawtucket and before that, personnel director in Central Falls. In recent years, he has served as an investigator on the state Labor Relations Board and as a consumer protection investigator with the Attorney General’s office, according to the governor’s spokesman. Joyce’s term would expire in 2017. Pierce, a lawyer with the Providence firm Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, is a former Cranston City Council member and a past Cranston School Committee member, governor's spokesman Jeff Neal said. Pierce has twice previously been nominated to the Board of Elections, but was never confirmed by the Senate, prompting the governor to withdraw his name on both occasions. Pierce’s term would expire in 2021. In a letter to Governor Carcieri last month, Common Cause Executive Director Christine Lopes said the organization was “gravely concerned that if appointments to fill three vacancies are not submitted immediately for Senate confirmation, a major political crisis faces Rhode Island." -- Cynthia Needham of the Journal State House Bureau Member Judith Bailey resigned in 2005; Roger Begin departed in 2006; and, Thomas V. Iannitti turned in his resignation in March, according to Executive Director Robert Kando. Until today, Governor Carcieri had not filled any of the three seats, despite a law that dictates that he must appoint replacements within 30 days. Last month, Kando said if a fourth member, Florence Gormley, resigns as expected this summer, the board would be unable to convene a four-member quorum that is necessary to oversee and administer elections and certify the results of primary and general elections. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:24 PM | Comment Langevin, Whitehouse offer thoughts, prayers for KennedyU.S. Rep. James Langevin, a Rhode Island Democrat who serves in the House of Representatives with U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, had this to say on the news that Kennedy's father, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, of Massachusetts, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor: “My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Edward Kennedy and his family, especially my friend and colleague, Congressman Patrick Kennedy. I know from personal experience that it is never easy to have a parent facing such a serious illness. I wish the Senator a speedy recovery.” U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, said "this is difficult and saddening news, but Senator Kennedy’s energy, strength, and force of will are legendary, and we are hopeful. "Sandra’s and my thoughts and prayers remain with Senator Kennedy, Congressman Kennedy, and their family as they face this new challenge.” U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, another longtime Democrat in the Massachusetts delegation, said news of Kennedy's health "is disappointing to most Americans, and it is particularly sad news for those of us who've had the privelege of working under his leadership for Massachusetts, and for the goals he has championed." Frank added he hopes the "great fighting spirit" that has helped Kennedy "win so many tough battles will continue to serve him well." Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:40 PM | Comment Carcieri taps Kempe to replace Neal as press secretaryPROVIDENCE -- Amy Kempe, who has recently served as a spokeswoman for Newport Grand, will replace the governor's press secretary, Jeff Neal, the governor's office announced today. Kempe, 36, is a vice president/team leader at public relations firm Regan Communications Group with clients such as Newport Grand, Dunkin’ Donuts and the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association. From 1997 to 2000, Kempe, of Newport, was public relations supervisor for lottery giant GTECH. She is due to start her new job July 1. Neal announced in March that he would be leaving his post after more than five years on the job. He was one of the only members left of Governor Carcieri's inner circle. Kempe also has a role in organizing and publicizing today's rally at the State House by the organization the Rhode Island Disability Vote Project aimed, in part, at drawing attention to a bill up for a hearing today that would require ramps and other accomodations to ensure polling stations are accessible to disabled people. "Amy boasts over ten years of public relations experience in Rhode Island and already has strong connections with a number of reporters in the state and region," Carcieri said in the statement. "With that experience in mind, I believe Amy will do a terrific job of working with the local media to convey my views and public policy positions to the people of Rhode Island.” The governor's office said Kempe has a master of arts in modern European history from the University of Rhode Island and a bachelor's in political science from the University at Albany – State University of New York. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:37 PM | Comment CVS trial: Celona tells of becoming point man for CVS
Celona, a corrupt ex-senator from North Providence serving a federal prison sentence, said he followed directions from CVS executives to submit or kill bills at the State House. At the time, Celona was earning $1,000 a month as a paid consultant for CVS. Celona had also been appointed to the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority and he promoted an effort to allow University of Rhode Island pharmacy students to get a break on their student loans. The proposal would address a shortage of pharmacists in the state, New England and nationwide, and would also be beneficial to CVS. Celona also testified that he attended an event at the Narragansett home of Tom Ryan, who is CVS's chief executive officer and a URI pharmacy graduate. At the event, Celona said that Ryan spoke to his guests and thanked him for pushing the loan reduction plan for pharmacy students. Celona's consulting arrangement with CVS came to an end in August 2003 on a golf course in Norton, Mass. He was sharing a golf cart with John R. "Jack" Kramer, a then-CVS executive who is the other defendant on trial, and, Celona said, Kramer told him a flap at the time involving House Majority Leader Gordon Fox and his legal work for GTECH had caused CVS great concerns. Still, Celona said, Kramer arranged and paid for him to attend a lavish American Airlines golf tournament in Newport Beach, Calif., the following month. Celona admitted today -- after this all became public and he resigned from the Senate in March 2004 -- that he had lied to the news media and to federal investigators. At 10:30 a.m. today, prosecutor Stephen G. Dambruch finished his questioning of Celona. He was followed by Scott Corrigan, one of Kramer's lawyers, who began questioning Celona about his grand jury testimony involving his consulting agreement with CVS. Corrigan spent the final two hours of the day trying to trip up Celona on discrepancies he had from yesterday’s testimony and past grand jury testimony. He also spent more than an hour reviewing Senate Corporations Committee votes on pharmacy choice legislation. In 1998 and 1999, Celona was a leading proponent of the legislation that CVS opposed. After Celona became a company consultant, he was absent on days that the committee voted on the legislation. Corrigan continues his cross examination of Celona at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Read Journal coverage of yesterday's testimony. Click below for a look at exhibits submitted in court today: -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Exhibit F19: Read John Celona’s memo swearing loyalty to new Senate leader Bill Irons and taking credit for helping Irons oust Paul Kelly. Exhibits 16, 352, 17, 353 and 328: Read e-mails and meeting minutes documenting Celona’s efforts to promote a loan forgiveness program for pharmacy students on CVS’s behalf. Exhibit 358: Read a fax from Jack Kramer to John Celona with "talking points" for opposing a Canadian drug-imports bill. Exhibit 109: Read a job description that Celona testified was drafted by Carlos Ortiz and Todd Andrews at CVS a year after his consulting job began. Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:50 PM | Comment Update: Doctor's statement on Sen. Kennedy's tumorBOSTON -- U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy has a brain tumor. Doctors for the Massachusetts Democrat said tests conducted after Kennedy suffered a seizure this weekend show a tumor in his left parietal-lobe. The usual course of treatment includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy, but Kennedy’s treatment will be decided after more tests. The 76-year-old senator, who is the father of U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from Cape Cod after a seizure at his home. His wife and children have been with him each day but have made no public statements. His doctors said in a statement released to The Associated Press that he has had no further seizures, is in good spirits and resting comfortably. Here's a statement released by Dr. Lee Schwamm, Vice Chairman, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Larry Ronan, Primary Care Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital: "Over the course of the last several days, we've done a series of tests on Senator Kennedy to determine the cause of his seizure. He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital. Some of the tests we had performed were inconclusive, particularly in light of the fact that the Senator had severe narrowing of the left carotid artery and underwent surgery just 6 months ago. "However, preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe. The usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy. Decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Senator Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis. Senator Kennedy will remain at Massachusetts General Hospital for the next couple of days according to routine protocol. He remains in good spirits and full of energy." Last October, the senator, who has served since 1962 and has never lost an election in his home state, had surgery to clear a blockage in a neck artery that is a major supplier of blood to the brain. The procedure was intended to prevent a stroke. At the time, doctors said Kennedy had a major blockage in his carotid artery. -- With reports from the Associated Press, Journal archives and projo.com Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:19 PM | Comment Alert: ME says gunshot wound killed Cranston firefighterJames Pagano, the 44-year-old Cranston firefighter who police say was killed by a neighbor Sunday, died from one gunshot wound to the torso with injury to the aorta, pancreas and liver, the Office of Medical Examiners said today. Pagano and his wife hosted a birthday party Sunday for their young son. Children were playing in the street and, neighbors said, Nicholas Gianquitti, 40, came out yelling and swearing at them when a ball struck his car, the Journal reported. Pagano, 44, a Cranston firefighter for 15 years who had been officially promoted to lieutenant just last week, rushed over to confront Gianquitti. Punches ensued. Witnesses reported hearing several shots and seeing Pagano, lying in the street, mortally wounded. Many neighbors and relatives began calling 911 that afternoon. Pagano died at Rhode Island Hospital Sunday. Read the Journal's full coverage of what happened Sunday. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal reports Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:35 PM | Comment Local fund set up for Chinese earthquake reliefA relief fund has been set up in Rhode Island to help victims of the earthquake in China that has left at least 40,000 people dead and 5 million people homeless. A group of various Chinese and Chinese-American organizations has started the China Earthquake Relief Committee of Rhode Island. So far, the group has raised nearly $20,000. Participants include The New England Chinese Nurses Association, the Confucius Institute at the University of Rhode Island, the R.I. Association of Chinese Americans and various Chinese student associations at colleges and universities around the state. In addition, the group has begun putting collection boxes in restaurants around the state and holding cooking classes and dinner events, according to Sunny Ng, one of the committee's organizers. Tor more information on the committee, visit the China Earthquake Relief Committee of Rhode Island Web site. Donations can be mailed to China Earthquake Relief Committee of Rhode Island, 48 Blackstone Ave., Pawtucket, R.I. 02860. Checks can be dropped off at any Rhode Island branch of Sovereign Bank or at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, 175 Main St., Pawtucket, R.I. 02860. Make checks payable to China Earthquake Relief Fund. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:38 PM | Comment Mobster Marrapese gets out of prison tomorrowJailed mobster Frank L. "Bobo" Marrapese Jr., imprisoned more than two decades for murder, will be released from the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston to a home confinement program with an electronic bracelet after 1 p.m. tomorrow, according to Tracey Poole, Department of Corrections spokeswoman. He has employment, a requirement of the program, but corrections would not disclose what or where. Marrapese, 65, had been scheduled for release last month but because of media attention, his then-expected place of work had second thoughts about employing him, Poole said previously. Marrapese will leave the Pinel Building at the ACI. Read a special report on the state of the Rhode Island mob. -- With reports from Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:58 AM | Comment CVS trial: CVS defendants arrive for another day / Photos
PROVIDENCE -- Former CVS executives John Kramer, above, and Carlos Ortiz, below, arrive with their wives today as their trial continues in U.S. District Court on corruption charges as part of the government's Operation Dollar Bill investigation.
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 11:20 AM | Comment Cleanup to begin this afternoon on boat that ran agroundA Coast Guard cutter is en route to Point Judith where a 63-foot fishing boat ran aground yesterday. Willow, the Coast Guard boat, will join crews that are already at the scene this morning to oversee the cleanup of some 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel that is believed to be on board the fishing boat Blue Sea. The fuel will be removed by Clean Harbors Environmental Service, according to Petty Officer Lauren Jorgensen at the Coast Guard. The private company is waiting for low tide –– about 2:15 this afternoon –– before it gets to work, stretching a hose 300 feet from a vacuum tanker truck to the boat. The Blue Sea’s fuel tanks are made of steel and have separated from the hull. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:52 AM | Comment Lawmakers to vote on paying toward health insurancePROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island lawmakers making deep budget cuts that affect other people will soon consider one that hits their own wallets. House lawmakers are scheduled to vote today on a bill that would require members of the General Assembly to pay 10 percent of the cost of their state-funded health insurance. Right now, they get it for free. Those health care plans cost the state $5,810 for an individual lawmaker and $16,233 for a family. The proposal would also eliminate a $2,000 payment given to lawmakers who forgo the free health care. The bill is mostly a symbolic step, considering the state faces a $434 million shortfall for the fiscal year starting in July. -- The Associated Press Your turn: Should state legislators pay part of their health care costs? H8262a: Read the full text of the bill Posted by Jack Perry at 10:00 AM | Comment Public records bill headed for vote todayPROVIDENCE — A plan to strengthen the state’s Open Records Law by allowing slightly faster access to police reports and public records is headed for a key vote in a Senate committee this afternoon. Amended several times in recent weeks and finalized late yesterday, the proposed law would require state agencies to answer records requests from the public and the media within 7 business days as opposed to the current 10 days. Police departments would be obligated to turn over the accused’s name and arrest charge within 24 hours, though they would have seven days to release the details of the alleged crime as provided in the narrative sections of the arrest report. -- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham “Right now it’s [up to] 10 days for compliance with requests, so any reduction in time is an important step forward,” said Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. While pushing for expeditious release of all public records, the ACLU and the freedom of information group Access/RI say it’s the arrest records that have caused the greatest friction between open records advocates and state and local government. “Access to police reports has been the single most consistent problem throughout the years with Open Records Law compliance,” Brown said. When a serious crime or police event occurs, journalists and public watchdogs tend to push for official information, while police departments and the state’s attorney general often argue that releasing details could hurt the investigation. Scott Pickering, managing editor of East Bay Newspapers and president of the Rhode Island Press Association, agrees that while the bill may not offer a perfect solution, it creates a much-needed sense of uniformity and consistency in how records are released. The problem now, Pickering says, is that each police department has a different policy for doling out arrest records and what constitutes a complete report. “In an electronic age when so many records [are] available with a few clicks on a computer, to have to wait 10 days” for basic records from one’s community government or police department doesn’t make sense, he said. The bill also calls for state agencies to train employees who would be authorized to grant or deny open records requests so as to avoid time-consuming confusion about what is public and what is not. And it would increase fines for those who knowingly ignore the law. A spokesman for the attorney general’s office said last night that he was surprised to learn the amendment had been finalized –– that office believed the particulars of the language were still being hammered out. The Department of Administration, meanwhile, has sent a letter to the legislature saying it will undoubtedly be difficult for state agencies to comply with large records requests in a week’s time (the bill allows an extension to 20 days for complicated requests). The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the amended bill late this afternoon. A similar bill in the House has been postponed while Senate sponsor J. Michael Lenihan, D-East Greenwich, and the stakeholders worked out the amendment on the Senate side. Posted by Jack Perry at 9:53 AM | Comment Providence contest honors sustainable building designThe winners of Providence's first Sustainable Housing Design Competition proposed housing projects that were not only sustainable and efficient, but affordable as well. Christine West of Providence-based Kite Architects and Robert Swinburne, from Brattleboro, Vt., were the winners of the contest which challenged participants to be efficient, to conserve and to use renewable energy in their designs. "These winning designs are an excellent example of 21st century housing that is energy efficient, affordable and good for our environment," Mayor David Cicilline said in a statement this morning. The awards were presented at the city's Celebration of Housing breakfast. More than a dozen designs were submitted to blind judging, according to the statement. Judges focused on design and community context, LEED certification and technology standards, replicable design and realistic budget and materials.
Cicilline also awarded the executive director of the West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation, Sharon Conard Wells, with the Top Producer Housing Award. Cynthia Langlykke, executive director of the Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services, was given the Mayor's Partnership Award for the group's merger with the Elmwood Foundation. Cicilline also went over some of the programs that the city was initiating as a response to the growing number of houses going into foreclosure, such as penalties for abandoning properties and $1 million from the Housing Trust Funds to be made available for repairing foreclosed homes. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:51 AM | Comment CVS trial: Celona to return to standPROVIDENCE -- The CVS corruption trial resumes today for a seventh day of testimony. The lone witness is expected to be former state Sen. John Celona of North Providence. Celona, who is serving 2-1/2 years in federal prison for selling his office to CVS as well as Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Roger Williams Medical Center, is cooperating with the government and is the prosecution’s star witness at this trial. He will likely be on the stand for several days, depending on how long lawyers for the two defendants, former CVS executive John Kramer and Carlos Ortiz, take to cross-examine him. Read about yesterday's testimony. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 7:02 AM | Comment Rain may be coming, but not for a whileDon't be fooled, there is a chance of rain today, but the first drops probably won't fall until early this evening. We're starting out partly sunny, but the National Weather Service is forecasting increasing clouds and south winds between 8 and 13 mph. The temperature should reach about 61 degrees. The rain should fall until about 9 tonight, with clouds, a mild north wind and a low temperature near 44 degrees. Tomorrow evening may bring more showers. Until then, expect cloudy skies with a high temperature near 64 degrees and west winds between 7 and 14 mph. To keep an eye on the rain, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features stories and photographs of the fatal shooting in a Cranston neighborhood that left a Cranston firefighter dead and his next-door neighbor, a former police officer, under arrest. There's also coverage of former state Sen. John Celona's testimony during the trial of two former CVS executives in U.S. District Court, Providence. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 19, 2008Tonight: Red Sox in Boston, bands in ProvidenceThe Boston Celtics are taking a break, after winning the Eastern Conference semi-finals last night in seven games against the Cavaliers. But there's another Boston team on deck tonight. The Red Sox, leading the American League East by one game over Tampa Bay, take on Kansas City at 7:05. Jon Lester pitches for Boston. Check out projo.com's Sox Blog for the latest by Journal sportswriters on the game. For those whose plans don't include baseball fandom, there are live tunes in Providence. At AS220 in Providence, Cowgirl, Sleep Bellum Sonno, Stay in the States, and Chinabadge play rock, blues and country. Head over to 115 Empire St. Call 831-9327. 9 p.m. $6. All ages. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:05 PM | Comment Photo: How much they'll cut for Locks of Love
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:56 PM | Comment RIPTA raises its fares as it faces sea of red inkPROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority board raised its fares today, but before the decision was made, the agency had already suffered financial setbacks that far exceed the added revenue the fare hike will produce. The increases, effective July 1, will raise the fare for a single ride 16 percent, from $1.50 to $1.75, and the price of a monthly pass 22 percent, from $45 to $55. RIPTA officials need to generate $662,000 in extra revenue, but say the increases will probably drive away 5 percent of its riders who can’t afford to pay. The fare increase generated no outcry from riders, but it has been sharply criticized by transit advocates as exactly the wrong move when fuel costs are rising and riders are flocking to the bus system. "We can’t grow the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority with fare increases," Chris Wilhite of the Rhode Island chapter of the Sierra Club told the board today. Meanwhile, the financial significance of the fare hike seemed to wash away in a tide of red ink. What RIPTA officials had said looked like a balanced, $89.5 million budget in March has since turned into $5.3 million in budget deficits projected for this fiscal year and next, they said today. After the meeting, Chairman Robert Batting said he has no immediate idea how the agency will close that huge gap. -- Journal staff writer Bruce Landis Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:51 PM | Comment Curbs on sex offenders before Somerset voters tonightSOMERSET, Mass. -- Level 2 and 3 sex offenders will be prohibited from doing everything from sunning on the town beach to voting at a future town meeting if a controversial proposal is approved at tonight's Annual Town Meeting at the high school. The proposal bans offenders, who already have to be registered with police, from setting foot on any public park, school, playground or library. It would also restrict the time they could spend in other town offices to 15 minutes, which would affect their ability to attend meetings of the Board of Selectmen and other bodies. Selectman Lorne Lawless is pushing the proposal, saying it is needed to protect children and has passed constitutional muster in other cities and towns. But the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts says it opposes such laws because they impose additional punishment after someone has complete their sentence and such measure "may actually increase the likelihood of sex offenses." Voters will also decide whether to buy Taser guns for all police officers. -- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:06 PM | Comment A conversation with actor Robert Redford at BrownPROVIDENCE -- Sure, actor, director and conservationist Robert Redford will be in town to pick up an honorary Brown University degree this weekend. But he'll also hold a conversation that's open to the public on the university's Lincoln Field. A 30-minute conversation with Redford, who starred in such films as All The President's Men , is slated for 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lincoln field tent. The conversation is scheduled on a day of forums -- free and open to the public on a space-available basis -- given by various people on topics. "Every great actor is called upon to play many parts, to reimagine himself again and again, and to communicate in every role new possibilities and an openness to the unknown," says a university description of the talk titled "A Tempered Radical: A Conversation with Robert Redford." "Robert Redford has applied this principle of reinvention and creative dialogue across political divides and artistic disciplines. Actor, director, producer, and environmental activist, Redford will talk about his recent projects and plans for the future, the art of politics, and the politics of art." -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Ellen Rooney, a Brown professor of modern culture and media, will moderate the discussion. Redford is one of seven people getting honorary degrees at the university’s 240th commencement on Sunday. Redford previously received another Rhode Island-based honor -- a 2002 Pell Award for excellence in the arts. Award-winning author Dave Eggers will deliver Saturday's baccalaureate address to graduating seniors, speaking at 3 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in America. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:44 PM | Comment Grass-cutting robot gone AWOL in Barrington?BARRINGTON -- Jason Partridge’s grass-cutting robot is no mower. Partridge, of Columbus Avenue, reported to police Friday that he returned home from work to find that his $2,500 robotic lawn mower was gone, missing from its recharging station, where it rests between cuttings. It is not known whether the robot wandered off or was clipped. Partridge told officers that the device is designed to sense when the grass is long, turn itself on and start mulching. It is constrained by a wire along the perimeter of his yard that tells the robot when it’s at the property line. When the cutting is done, it returns itself to the charging station. Police checked neighboring lawns in search of a rambling robot, but turned up nothing. -- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:44 PM | Comment New N. Kingstown 'party patrol' uncovers 2 gatheringsNORTH KINGSTOWN -- A new police "party patrol" uncovered two drinking parties attended by dozens of under-age teens this past weekend, police said today. One of the gatherings led to the arrest of a 26-year-old North Kingstown woman under the state's "social host" law in connection with drinking they say happened at her Chaucer Drive residence on Saturday. Christine Whiteley of 182 Chaucer Drive is the only one charged, according to police. Whitely was issued a District Court summons. Some 30 young people, mostly 17 and 18 and primarily from North Kingstown, with some from Jamestown, were at Chaucer Drive where a beer keg, a tap and numerous cans full of beer were seized, the police said. Adults were also there, and "some of the juveniles and adults were intoxicated," a police news release said. There were "indications that some present were smoking marijuana," the police added, although none was seized. The police broke up the gathering about 11:30 p.m. Also Saturday night, the police said another drinking party -- at which about 30 juveniles were present -- happened at 730 North Quidnessett Road. The party patrol discovered it about 9:30 p.m., police said. No adults were present. Beer was seized, and "it was evident that drinking games had been played with numerous empty cups, beer cans and ping pong balls present." The police set up the party patrol about two weeks ago using a $15,000 grant from the Working Together for Wellness Task Force. Two officers in a car carry out 8 p.m. to midnight patrols. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Maria Armental Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:36 PM | Comment CVS trial: Celona: I 'took a walk' on pharmacy choice
PROVIDENCE -- John Celona testified today that he "took a walk’’ on pharmacy choice legislation within weeks of becoming a CVS consultant, and that he concealed his financial ties to the drugstore chain "because I wanted to give myself some cover.’’ The former North Providence senator was explaining why he skipped a committee vote on pharmacy choice legislation in 2000 after actively supporting it the previous two years. CVS opposed the legislation. And once Celona became a $1,000-a-month consultant in February 2000, he stopped supporting it. "I didn’t want to publicly change my position because I had been so adamant against it,’’ Celona told jurors as he continued his testimony today in the federal corruption trial of two former CVS executives. This morning, Celona began by testifying about his plea agreement with prosecutors in 2005 to admit to corruption charges and cooperate with the investigation. In return, he received a 12-month sentence reduction. Contrary to expectations that he would appear in his prison garb, Celona strode into the courtroom in a black suit and red pattern tie. His head was shaved, his trademark dark toupee absent. He looked about 30 pounds lighter than at his last public appreance, when he was sentenced Jan. 31, 2007, to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for selling his office to CVS, Blue Cross and Roger Williams Medical Center. In his words, Celona said this morning, his crime was "getting paid in exchange for votes." His obligation to the government now, he testified, is to provide "total cooperation and truthfulness." Later today, Celona testified that he was asked to "take a walk’’ by then-Sen. William V. Irons, the chairman of the committee. Irons, an insurance broker, had his own financial ties to Woonsocket-based CVS, collecting commissions on health insurance for CVS employees in Rhode Island. Irons is also good friends with CVS CEO Tom Ryan. Those matters remain under investigation by federal authorities as part of Operation Dollar Bill, the wide-ranging State House corruption probe. The prosecution did not follow up on Celona’s recollection of his conversation with Irons. Celona also testified that he never did anything he was supposed to do under his consulting agreement with CVS, such as educating senior citizens about health care issues. And after his first year, he testified, co-defendants John Kramer and Carlos Ortiz agreed to extend his consulting job, which was initially for one year –– at the same time that Celona became chairman of the powerful Senate Corporations Committee, which oversaw legislation of interest to CVS. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Around the same time that CVS extended his consulting agreement, Celona testified, he also had discussions with Ortiz and CVS’s then-public relations person, Todd Andrews, about his job description. "Now that I was chairman of the committee, I needed to have a title in case anything came up,’’ said Celona. Asst. U.S. Atty. Stephen G. Dambruch produced an e-mail exchange between Ortiz and Celona in January 2001. "If anyone asks what you do for CVS,’’ wrote Ortiz, "you should identify yourself as a Community Service Consultant. How does that sound to you?’’ The defense argues that CVS hired Celona not for any political favors but for help promoting the drugstore chain’s charitable endeavors, including the CVS Charity Golf Classic, on his cable-access television show. But Celona testified that that was never discussed when he was hired, and Dambruch pointed to his consulting agreement, which made no mention of that. Instead, Celona testified, he took the initiative to have Kramer on his show twice in 2000 to talk about the CVS golf tournament and also its Downtown 5K road race in Providence. Celona said that he did so to justify the $1,000 a month he was being paid –– "because I wasn’t doing anything else.’’ Celona testified that Kramer first broached the possibility of the senator working for CVS at a political fundraiser for Sen. Michael McCaffrey, D-Warwick, at a Knights of Columbus in Warwick, in the spring of 2000. "`We sat down and started talking,’’ said Celona. "We discussed CVS and how I was active in the community with seniors and that CVS could use another consultant,’’ testified Celona. That led to a meeting at CVS headquarters on July 8, 2000, with Kramer and Ortiz, during which the two CVS executives talked about him becoming a consultant. Ortiz mentioned Celona’s work among senior citizens and said "that I could be an asset to CVS,’’ testified Celona. Celona followed up with a written proposal, which he said Kramer requested, and that led to another meeting at CVS headquarters on Jan. 7, 2001, at which Kramer said, "We’d like to have you on board,’’ according to Celona’s testimony. Celona said that Ortiz asked him whether he had received an opinion from the Rhode Island Ethics Commission regarding the propriety of the senator working for CVS. As a result, Celona said that he contacted someone at the commission –– he didn’t remember who –– and received a verbal okay. But he added that he didn’t identify CVS as his prospective employer. "I didn’t want to publicize my change in position (on pharmacy choice) so quickly from being an adamant opponent to supporting it overnight,’’ said Celona. ``I thought it would hurt my credibility. The public might feel that it was because I was being paid.’’ Celona also testified about a luncheon he attended at CVS with about eight other senators in March 2000, shortly after becoming a CVS consultant. The government introduced the senator’s calendar to show the noontime meeting. The Senate normally meets later in the afternoon, but not on Mondays. Instead, Celona had another appointment written in after the CVS lunch –– a stress test. The trial has wrapped up for the day. Celona, considered the prosecution's star witness, will return to the stand tomorrow and is likely to continuing testifying for several days. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:31 PM | Comment Shooting victim: Firefighter, mayoral aide, Sox fanCRANSTON -- Former mayor Michael A. Traficante said he couldn't believe it when he heard it. James A. Pagano -- a man who had been an aide to Traficante for a few years, who came from a large Cranston family and left a wife and two children -- was shot dead yesterday, according to police, in a neighborhood where roads bear names like Daisy Court and Lily Court. "This hits hard," Traficante said today. Traficante, now the Cranston School Committee chairman, said Pagano was "a very bright young man, a guy who was very enthusiastic about getting the job done, very dependable." Paul Valletta Jr., the local firefighters union president, said of Pagano: "We're a family here, and all families have their spats sometimes. But he never got in a spat with anyone." Firefighters with whom Pagano worked at Station 3 on Cranston Street said he was a well-liked, happy-go-lucky guy, a big Red Sox fan who would watch games at the fire house. And Pagano made his opinions known during games when something happened on the field -- Valletta recalled humorously that sometimes he thought the Sox could hear Pagano through the television set. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:14 PM | Comment In Cranston, on Daisy Court, yellow crime scene tape
A police officer walked slowly, pointing a camera along the curb's edge this morning. Another raked debris away from the curb. And dirt appeared to have been overturned in the yard. On this short cul de sac with the tranquil name Daisy Lane, a ribbon of yellow tape today cordoned off a neighborhood. Yesterday, the police arrested former Providence police officer Nicholas Gianquitti, 40, of 16 Daisy Court in the shooting death of his neighbor, James A. Pagano, a Cranston firefighter who resided at 10 Daisy Court. Earlier today, Gianquitti, a graduate of Cranston High School West, was ordered held without bail following his arraignment on a murder charge. He was arraigned this morning in Kent County District Court, Warwick. Cranston Fire Chief James Gumbley said Lt. Pagano, a city firefighter since 1991, was a well-liked and well-respected member of the department, according to the Associated Press. An autopsy on Pagano is scheduled for 2 p.m. The police say the shooting took place at Gianquitti's house. They would not discuss the shooting's circumstances, but neighbors said Pagano had been hosting a party at his own 10 Daisy Court house. Neighbors said it was a birthday party for one of his own children, according to the Associated Press. Paul Gebhart, a neighbor, yesterday said he was stunned by the shooting. “Quiet little neighborhood,” he said. “Not so quiet anymore.” -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Tom Mooney and David Scharfenberg. Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:59 AM | Comment Update: 3 pulled from fishing boat off Pt. Judith / Photo
“I was coming back from a security round of the station when I just happened to see the Blue Sea really close to the station,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Gagnon, a watch stander at Station Point Judith. “I walked over to the waterline, and I could hear the boat hitting the rocks, so I went inside and hailed the vessel on the radio. They came back and said they were aground and taking on water.” Shallow water prevented the 27-foot Coast Guard boat from coming alongside. The Blue Sea’s crew, Michael Fallon, 47, Trevor Knight, 26, and a 17-year-old boy, were instructed to board their lifeboat, which was pulled to the Coast Guard boat. They were taken to Station Point Judith. No injuries were reported. -- Journal staff writer Donita Naylor, with Associated Press reports A slight sheen was seen around the boat by a Coast Guard Falcon jet that flew out of Cape Cod. A petty officer on scene reported the pollution was a small amount and non-recoverable. Coast Guard officials say the owner of the Blue Sea is working with authorities to salvage the vessel. The Blue Sea is registered to Barbara Joan Fisheries Inc. The Blue Sea is the second boat to hit the rocks off Narragansett within a week. On Friday, a 48-foot Newfoundland schooner sailing out of Wickford lost its rudder just after 11 a.m. and broke up on the rocks behind 290 Ocean Road, north of Black Point. Salvage diver Bob Cherenzia, 51, reported that by 7:45 p.m. Friday, the Truant was unrecognizable as a boat and by 9 p.m. it was gone. The Truant, a 1940s-era wooden schooner that languished unsold in Wickford for months, was being moved by its new owner, Peter Maack, 54, who wanted to restore it. When the rudder broke, the waves pushed the vessel up against the rocks. A rising tide and storm kept away boats that could have, in calmer waters, towed it off the rocks. Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:57 AM | Comment Update: Coventry man, killed in car crash, ID'dA Coventry man driving to work was killed yesterday morning when his car crashed off Route 95 in East Greenwich, the state police said today. James Madigan, 22, was on his way to his job at a fast-food restaurant in North Kingstown when his Hyundai drove off the highway just north of Exit 7 in East Greenwich, said state police Capt. James Swanberg. The car drove down the embankment and into some trees, where it rolled over, Swanberg said. Madigan was not wearing a seat belt, and he was partially thrown from the car, Swanberg said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Accident reconstruction investigators from the state police are still determining the cause of the crash. -- Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:53 AM | Comment Sen. Kennedy undergoing more evaluation at hospitalBOSTON -- U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy is undergoing further evaluation at a Boston hospital, two days after the 76-year-old Democrat suffered a seizure. Kennedy's spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter says it is unclear when doctors will release information on Kennedy's condition or on the cause of his seizure Saturday. Cutter said today the senator had a restful night at Massachusetts General Hospital. He spent Sunday watching sports and movies and visiting with family. One of his sons is U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat. President Bush had been notified of Kennedy's health just before he went to a Saturday night dinner meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Cutter says Bush called Kennedy's wife, Vicki, today to check on the senator's progress and asked her to take care of his friend. -- Associated Press Posted by Andrea Panciera at 11:51 AM | Comment Simulator drives home importance of seat beltsDrivers who have never seen the aftermath of a rollover crash may not understand the difference a seat belt can make. This morning, students at Hope High School in Providence saw, first-hand the value of a seat belt, courtesy of a demonstration of the state’s new rollover simulator. Today’s event kicked off the two-week “Click it or Ticket” campaign, sponsored by law enforcement to encourage the use of seat belts to prevent injury and death on the roads. As part of the demonstration, about 40 students watched what happened to four crash-test dummies, representing a family, in a rollover crash. None were belted into the vehicle. The two children in the back seat were ejected. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith The rollover simulator, purchased with $25,000 from the federal government, will be used in schools and brought to public gatherings to help the police drive home the point of the importance of seat belts. Col. Brendan Doherty, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, said in the "Click it or Ticket" campaign, there will be 'zero tolerance' for mototrists who do not buckle up." In Rhode Island, failure to wear a seat belt is a secondary offense for people over 18 years of age. That means a police officer cannot pull over an adult driver for not wearing a seat belt, but can cite an adult driver who's stopped for another offense such as speeding or running a stop sign. A police officer can pull over a car if the officer spots somebody under the age of 18 who isn't wearing a seatbelt. Today's demonstration was presented by the state Department of Transportation, the Rhode Island State Police and local law officials. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:39 AM | Comment DMV clerk indicted on fraud, ID theft, conspiracy chargesA federal grand jury has indicted former registry clerk Dolores Rodriguez-LaFlamme on charges of conspiracy, fraudulently producing drivers' licenses and identity theft. The 12-count indictment, jointly announced in a news release today by U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente and Rhode Island State Police Superintendent, Col. Brendan P. Doherty, was returned by the grand jury May 14 and charges LaFlamme with producing fraudulent licenses that were sold to individuals ineligible to legally obtain them. LaFlamme, 40, who worked in the Pawtucket office of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, pleaded not guilty to the charges on May 15 before Magistrate Judge David L. Martin, who ordered her detained. According to the indictment, other participants in the conspiracy met with prospective license applicants, who paid them between $700 and $2,500 for Rhode Island drivers’ licenses. Also according to the indictment, LaFlamme was, in turn, paid, and then she and another unindicted coconspirator produced the fraudulent licenses, the news release states. The indictment charges one count of conspiracy, six counts of fraudulently producing identification documents affecting interstate commerce, and five counts of fraudulently using another person’s identity. The maximum penalites for these charges are: 15 years imprisionment and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy and fraudulently producing identity documents; and two years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for fraudulent use of identity, according to the news release. LaFlamme, of Providence, who is well-known in the politically active Latino community in the city, was arrested Oct. 10, along with her friend and DMV coworker Soraya Santiago, 42, of Pawtucket. Posted by maria caporizzo at 11:39 AM | Comment CVS trial: Celona: My crime was getting paid for votesPROVIDENCE -- John Celona is on the stand. The long-awaited appearance of the corrupt ex-senator from North Providence -- and now the prosecution's star witness in the Operation Dollar Bill investigation -- came in federal court this morning at 10:20. 
Journal file photoFormer state Sen. John Celona, as he appeared Feb. 20, 2007, while leaving Superior Court in Providence, where he pleaded no contest to two state criminal charges. He had previously pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges of selling his office to Roger Williams Medical Center, the CVS drugstore chain and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Contrary to expectations that he would appear in his prison garb, Celona strode into the courtroom in a black suit and red pattern tie. His head was shaved, his trademark dark toupee absent. He looks about 30 pounds lighter than at his last public appreance, when he was sentenced Jan. 31, 2007, to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for selling his office to CVS, Blue Cross and Roger Williams Medical Center. Celona is testifying in the government's case against former CVS executives John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos Ortiz, who face 23 counts of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud. Prosecutor Stephen Dambruch began by walking Celona through his plea agreement with prosecutors in 2005 to admit to corruption charges and cooperate with the investigation. In return, he received a 12-month sentence reduction. In his words, Celona said, his crime was "getting paid in exchange for votes." His obligation to the government now, he testified, is to provide "total cooperation and truthfulness." Click below for more on Celona's testimony today ... -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Celona testified that in 1998 and 1999 he supported pharmacy choice legislation that was opposed by CVS, the giant drugstore chain based in Woonsocket. "I was very vocal in the community and around the state," testified Cleona. "I tried to garner supprt in the Senate and I talked to seniors and my constituents." Although defendant Ortiz and CVS lobbyist Joseph Walsh and Patrick C. Lynch -- now the Rhode Island attorney general -- lobbied Celona to oppose pharmacy choice, he voted for it. Then, in 1999, he not only supported pharmacy choice but cosponsored a bill to allow it. And he issued a news release in 1999, introduced in court today as an exhibit, in which he wrote, "It is simply unfair to the people who pay for their health care to have an HMO tell them who and where to go for their prescriptions." In 1999, Celona said, he was also lobbied by defendent Kramer, as well as Ortiz and Walsh and Lynch. Earlier today, a CVS employee who worked as Ortiz's assistant, tesified that her boss did not seem thrilled that Celona was on the payroll. The employee, Robin Seeley, testified that when she asked Ortiz what Celona did for CVS, he gestured with both hands, palms up. "Then he told me that John Celona went into the community, specifically North Providence, that he had a good rapport with seniors," testified Seeley. Prosecutor Daniel Petalas asked Seeley what Ortiz meant by his hand gesture. "I interpreted it to mean that what John Celona was doing didn’t have much ... sorry, I can’t find the word,” replied Seeley.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:18 AM | Comment Young male killed in rollover crash on Route 95A young male was killed yesterday in a single-car rollover on Route 95 north, just north of exit 7 in the Coventry-West Warwick area, according to state police today. The crash happened at about 8 a.m. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:07 AM | Comment It's another record: Gas prices jump 10 cents -- againFor the second week in a row, gas prices in Rhode Island increased another 10 cents per gallon, according to AAA Southern New England. And it's yet another week of breaking the record for highest gas prices ever. This time, te average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.809 at the self-service pump, according to AAA’s weekly survey. The price has increased 67 cents since the start of the year. Rhode Island is one cent above the national average. Special report: How increasing fuel prices are affecting our daily lives. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:50 AM | Comment French Navy ship visits NewportA French Navy ship that assisted troops in Afghanistan has come to Newport. Le Cassard, a 5,000-ton, 456-foot ship, will be officially welcomed today by state and U.S. Navy officials at a lunch in Newport. While in Newport, students from the French-American School of Rhode Island will be able to take a tour, and the ship’s crew will face students at the Naval War College –– on the sports field. The ship, which was launched in 1985, has been working to support coalition ground troops in Afghanistan. Le Cassard monitored area waters to prevent suspected criminals –– such as Taliban or Al-Qaeda leaders –– from escaping by sea. Crewmen and women also worked with the navies of Saudi Arabia, India and the United Arab Emirates, taking part in training exercises. The ship is armed with torpedoes, anti-air missiles, EXOCET (anti-ship) missiles, and decoys. Its crew is 240 strong, with 20 officers. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:34 AM | Comment Reporter's query: Seeking Classical teachers for reaxEmily Perry is a senior at Classical High School in Providence who gave a speech before alumni at an awards dinner on April 30. In her speech, Perry took aim at the quality of many teachers at the school, saying there were "far too many" teachers who "operate on cruise control," and saying that the administration needed to "demand more" from its teachers. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:32 AM | Comment Ex-cop held without bail in neighbor's death / Photo
WARWICK -- A Cranston man, who served briefly as a Providence police officer, is being held without bail following his arraignment today on a murder charge in the shooting death of his next-door neighbor, a Cranston firefighter. Nicholas Gianquitti, 40, of 16 Daisy Court, was arraigned this morning in Kent County Courthouse, Warwick. The police say the shooting took place yesterday at Gianquitti's house. The police would not discuss the circumstances of the shooting, but neighbors say the man who was shot had been hosting a party at his own house at 10 Daisy Court. Neighbors said it was a birthday party for one of his own children, according to the Associated Press. Neighbors identified the deceased as James A. Pagano, of 10 Daisy Court, a Cranston firefighter with a wife and two children. An autopsy is scheduled for 2 p.m. today. Cranston Fire Chief James Gumbley said Lt. Pagano, a city firefighters since 1991, was a well-liked and well-respected member of the department, according to the Associated Press. Gianquitti joined the Providence police on July 9, 1991, and was injured six months later during a foot chase off North Main Street when he jumped off a wall and fractured a knee, according to Providence Deputy Police Chief Paul Kennedy. He was granted an accidental disability on Jan. 23, 1993, Kennedy said. Read today's Journal story for an early report on the shooting. -- With reports from Journal staff writers Tom Mooney, Gregory Smith and Amanda Milkovits. One day after a shooting shattered the peace in this "quiet little neighborhood," police investigators continued trying to figure out what went wrong. A police officer walked slowly, pointing a camera along the curb's edge this morning. Another raked debris away from the curb. And dirt appeared to have been overturned in the yard. On this short cul de sac with the tranquil name Daisy Lane, a ribbon of yellow tape today cordoned off a neighborhood. Paul Gebhart, a neighbor, yesterday said he was stunned by the shooting. “Quiet little neighborhood,” he said. “Not so quiet anymore.” Posted by Jack Perry at 10:17 AM | Comment Celona expected to testify at trial of former CVS execsThe government’s star witness, former Sen. John Celona, is expected to testify today in the trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing Celona to gain favor at the Rhode Island State House. Former CVS executives Carlos Ortiz, 64, and John R. "Jack" Kramer, 75, are charged with 23 counts of bribery, fraud and conspiracy for hiring Celona to help promote the drugstore chain’s legislative agenda at the State House. Celona is expected to be escorted into court by federal marshals. He has been serving a 2½-year sentence in a federal prison in western Pennsylvania for selling his office to CVS and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. The trial began last week in U.S. District Court, Providence. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Thunderstorms possible this afternoonThe National Weather is warning of possible thunderstorms with hail and high winds this afternoon. Otherwise, there's a slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. It should be partly with a high of 64 degrees, the weather service says. For more weather and regular updates, see projo.com/weather. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story on graduations at Providence College, Salve Regina and the University of Rhode Island. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 16, 2008Projo.com will be off line early Saturday morningProjo.com will be down for maintenance early Saturday morning. It is expected that we'll be back up and running by 8 a.m., at the latest. We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope you'll come back later in the day. Posted by Peter Phipps at 6:59 PM | Comment Graduation saturation at R.I. colleges this weekend
On Friday, students at the Community College of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University School of Law were receiving their diplomas. Students from Johnson & Wales University, Roger Williams University, Bryant University and Rhode Island College graduate Saturday, as do graduate students from the University of Rhode Island. On Sunday, Providence College and Salve Regina University hold commencements, and URI awards diplomas to its undergraduates. Brown University graduates next weekend. The Rhode Island School of Design holds commencement on May 31. Restaurateurs are eager for the weekend to go well. They’re hoping the surge of thousands of visitors into Rhode Island for graduation exercises will provide a bump to what some say has been a soft business season so far. “Even though the economy is bad, this is such a special weekend that people don’t seem to be cutting back,” said Dale Venturini, president of the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association. More information about the graduations, and lists of graduates, are available on school Web sites. Journal coverage of the ceremonies can also be found on projo.com. Heading to Rhode Island for a graduation? Browse information about the state, activities, tourist hot spots and more, at the state's tourism site, visitrhodeisland.com. -- Journal staff writer Mark Arsenault Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 6:58 PM | Comment R.I. Guard unit to be honored for Iraq missionsA group of Rhode Island National Guardsmen and women who were deployed in Iraq for a year will be honored tomorrow for the nearly 2000 missions they performed overseas. The Rhode Island National Guard 861st Engineer Company will be awarded the Iraqi Freedom Battle Streamer during an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Sun Valley Armory at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich. Between June 2005 and June 2006, the 861st did security and combat engineer support for a security mission in Ar Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad. During its year-long mission, the unit earned nearly 250 commendations, including 74 Combat Action Badges and eight Bronze Stars. “The presentation of yet another battle streamer to a Rhode Island unit only adds to the great legacy of the Rhode Island National Guard,” Major Gen. Robert T. Bray said in a statement. The 861st Engineer Company traces its lineage to 1865. In addition to the streamer presentation, the event will also feature retired soldier awards, unit soldier awards, and a change of command. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 6:07 PM | Comment Update: Boat laid up Narragansett shore rocks / Photo
NARRAGANSETT –– A salvage crew is on site at the water’s edge off Hazard Avenue where a 48-foot wooden schooner smashed up against a wall of rocks this afternoon. But it doesn't look as if it will be able to save the Truant, which has been taking a series of beatings as the wind and waves pick up ahead of a forecast storm. While its owner, Peter Maack of Narragansett, was safely taken off the boat this afternoon by rescuers in inflatables, the salvagers say they can't do the same for the schooner itself. High tide is approaching at 6 p.m., making the situation worse. Rain is spitting, and lightning was spotted earlier. The boat itself is leaning into the rocks -- known for being dangerous -- with a Jolly Roger flag flying at half-mast. The boat’s owner, Maack, is on scene, along with members of the Department of Environmental Management’s Emergency Response Team, Coast Guard investigators, and Bob Cherenzia, from Shellfish Assassin Conglomerate Vessel Services, a Point Judith-based salvage company. Maack and Cherenzia were wearing wet suits as they worked to recover the Truant’s gas tank before high tide. They had managed to remove it by 5 p.m., as other items were being washed off the boat's deck. Although neighbors and city and state officials expressed concern about contamination, Maack said that there was only about 20 gallons of gasoline in the boat. Maack said he was under sail just before noon when a rudder broke on the boat, known as a Newfoundland schooner. He was taken off the schooner by rescue crews from the Coast Guard station in Point Judith and the Narragansett Fire Department. --- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Donita Naylor CORRECTION: The name of boat owner Peter Maack was incorrect in earlier versions of this report. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:33 PM | Comment Traffic Alert: Route 95 South at 146An accident has a lane closed this evening on Route 95. The accident, on the southbound side of the roadway, is at Exit 23/Route 146 north/Charles Street. The right lane is closed. To check on the traffic along your commute, see the Transportation Management Center's Web cameras. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 4:27 PM | Comment Brown student who threw pie at Friedman suspendedPROVIDENCE -- The Brown University student who threw a pie at New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman during his Earth Day speech at the campus was suspended for one semester by the university after an administrative hearing last Wednesday. The student, Margaree Little, 22, said she was notified of the suspension on Wednesday. She said the university considered her actions in violation of Brown’s protest policy by interrupting Friedman’s speech. Just as Friedman took his place behind the podium, Little and an unidentified male, ran onto the stage and threw two green Cool Whip pies at him and then fled the auditorium through a side door. A professor apprehended Little outside the building and turned her over to the campus police. The "Greenwash Guerillas," part of a grassroots network who confront causes of climate change, later claimed credit for the incident. The stunt involving the famous author and columnist garnered copious the media attention––a YouTube video of the incident has received more than 75,000 hits and several national newspapers and popular blogs ran the story––including vicious attacks against Little. Little, an English major, does not face any criminal charges, but her university suspension will delay her. After all the media attention, and her subsequent suspension, Little said she does nor regret what she did. “Fortunately, it did succeed in opening up a lot of debate,” Little said. “I don’t have any regrets.” Little said she has not decided exactly what she will do until she can return to Brown, but she wants to travel and continue to work on social justice issues. The university had no comment about the suspension, saying only that it does not comment on student disciplinary action. -- Journal environmental reporter Natalie Garcia Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:45 PM | Comment Pawtuxet Village, way back whenEver wonder what Pawtuxet Village was like during the American Revolution? A group of student from the area may be able to help. On Sunday, a group of 65 Wyman Elementary School students, with help from other local students, will be giving a walking tour of the area. But they’ll do more than tell participants what happened hundreds of years ago, they’ll show a slice of what life was like, too. Fifteen sites will be highlighted during the tour by actors –– students dressed in period clothes with assumed identities of long-gone Pawtuxet residents. The tours begin at 1 p.m. in Pawtuxet Park in Warwick and take off every 15 minutes until about 3:30 p.m. Take a tour for free if you’re 5 years old or younger. If you’re between the ages 6 and 12, the tour is $3 and its full price -- $5 -- for adults. If it rains, check back on June 1. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:18 PM | Comment Feds award money to keep state preparedThe state’s Emergency Management Agency is getting more than $1 million to help secure public transportation and important buildings from potential disasters or attacks. The Transit Security Grant Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, is providing the state EMA about $830,000 for on protecting buses, trolleys and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority against explosives and, what’s referred to in a statement as “non-conventional attacks.” An additional $200,000 was awarded to the state through the Buffer Zone Protection Program. This money will be put to use protecting sites such as chemical facilities and power plants. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:03 PM | Comment Zombies attack, be there or be squareYou might think that a gathering of zombies isn’t the place to be on a Saturday night, but you’d be wrong. It’s actually a very selective event, with space for only 100 attendees. A get-together at the one-and-only Rhode Island screening of George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead in Providence is set for midnight tomorrow at the Cable Car Cinema, which, come to think of it, seems to have an affinity for Zombies... The event is sponsored by Scars Magazine and Zombie Friends –– a social networking Web site for “Zombies, undead and Horror Freaks to hangout when not out shambling among the living.” -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:48 PM | Comment CVS trial: CFO says he was in the dark about Celona
She testified that no one at CVS ever asked her to "hide or destroy" any documents that detailed former state Sen. John Celona’s employment with the Woonsocket-based drugstore giant. But, during redirect questioning by prosecutor Daniel Petalas, of the Justice Department’s public integrity unit, Bibeault conceded that Ortiz was uncomfortable with the senator’s role as a CVS consultant. "He didn’t like the appearance of it," she said. During her testimony this morning, Bibeault questioned the first invoice submitted by Celona. She said she hadn't been expecting it, and she asked her boss if she should pay it. He told her he should, because Celona was going to be working for CVS as the "eyes and ears of CVS" among the senior population. Ortiz and Kramer are accused of bribing Celona for favorable treatment at the State House. Bibeault's testimony was followed by David Rickard, CVS’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. He spent an hour on the witness stand and answered questions about the company’s budgetary process and chain-of-command. In November 2001, Rickard said that he was charged with an additional responsibility: overseeing governmental relations, which included supervising Kramer and Ortiz. Under questioning by prosecutor Stephen G. Dambruch, Rickard said that neither Kramer nor Ortiz ever told him that Celona was working for CVS as a $1,000-a-month consultant. Scott Corrigan, one of Kramer’s lawyers, elicited testimony from Rickard that Kramer was free to hire paid consultants without his approval. Rickard concluded his testimony and the jurors were released for the weekend. The trial resumes on Monday at 9 a.m. Extra: Continuing coverage of this and other cases involved in Operation Dollar Bill -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:37 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Aunt guilty of 2nd-degree murder / Photos
Katherine Bunnell was also convicted of murder conspiracy early this afternoon by a jury in Superior Court, Providence. The jury in the high-profile trial announced that it had reached a verdict at 12:15 p.m. this afternoon, after deliberating for about 12 hours over three days. Bunnell and her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, were accused of fatally beating a foster child in their care, Thomas “T.J.” Wright, after they returned to their Woonsocket apartment on Oct. 30, 2004, and found a mess the toddler had made on the living room floor. The child had been left in Bunnell's care when his mother, Bunnell's sister, was sent to prison. Bunnell looked stricken as she was led out of the courtroom, but she maintained her composure. Bunnell's sister, Karen Wright, the mother of T.J., wept as the verdict was read. Bunnell had been charged with first-degree murder, but she was found guilty of the "lesser included" charge of second-degree murder. She faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison on the second-degree murder conviction. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 16. Defense attorney Gerard H. Donley says he will appeal the verdict, claiming that jurors weren't allowed to see a portion of a videotaped interview with Delestre that would have helped clear his client. The judge will hear a motion for a new trial on May 22. From its beginning, the case raised questions about the state’s system of screening prospective foster parents, putting the Department of Children, Youth and Families in the spotlight. An independent investigation launched by the Office of the Child Advocate determined that DCYF missed as least five opportunities to rescue Thomas from the couple’s Woonsocket home.
-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci In instructing the jury before its deliberations, Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia told jurors that they could find Bunnell innocent or they could find her guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter. The judge told jurors they could find the defendant guilty of second-degree murder rather than first-degree murder if they found her intention to kill was only momentary, if it wasn't the result of prolonged meditation. If she had been convicted of first-degree murder, Bunnell could have been subject to a sentence of life in prison without eligibility for parole. A first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison, and a defendant is subject to life in prison without parole if prosecutors can prove that the murder involved torture or aggravated battery. The attorney general's office said it would have sought life without parole if the jury returned a first-degree murder verdict. Bunnell's co-defendant, Delestre, is still awaiting trial. Because each accuses the other of inflicting the fatal injuries, Bunnell and Delestre are being tried separately. In 2006, the Office of the Child Advocate issued another report, saying the state had failed to make some of the most important changes that a review panel called for following T.J.’s death. Mostly notably, the state had not held caseloads to recommended levels. Then, last June, Child Advocate Jametta O. Alston filed for class-action status on behalf of the 3,000 children now in state custody, aiming for nothing less than an overhaul of Rhode Island’s child-welfare system, which the suit portrays as overburdened and mismanaged. That suit is still in U.S. District Court. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:35 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury says it has a verdictPROVIDENCE -- The jury in the Katherine Bunnell child-murder case announced that it reached a verdict at 12:15 p.m. The jury had started its third day of deliberations this morning, filing into the courtroom at about 9:45 a.m. Bunnell, 24, is on trial for murder and murder conspiracy. She is accused with her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, of fatally beating 3-year old Thomas "T.J." Wright when they returned to their Woonsocket apartment from a night out 3 1/2 years ago and found a mess on the livingroom floor. "T.J." had been placed in their care when Bunnell's sister went to prison. Read a story on yesterday's deliberations. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Jack Perry at 12:21 PM | Comment Mayor takes the lead on Bike to Work Day / Photo
The mayor, a handful of state officials and bike advocates gathered at the City Center before 8 a.m. amid free coffee, bagels and cycling-related trinkets, and to show support for bike commuting, a choice which makes up only 0.2 percent of all trips to work in Rhode Island, according the Providence Bike Coalition, the event’s organizer. “Obviously, biking to work is a very simple way to decrease congestion, improve the quality of the air we breathe and [it is] a beautiful way to see the city,” Cicilline said to the helmeted and messenger bag-clad crowd. “The city is working hard to make biking a clear and easy option.” Cicilline said the city has completed plans to put up bicycle signs and add bike lane striping on five city streets: Elmwood Avenue, Broadway, Charles Street, Smith Street and Hope Street, which will be completed this fall. More Bike to Work Day activities will be held in the Kennedy Plaza ice rink from 3-6 p.m. today, including vendor booths, raffles, safety demonstrations, music and information of about upcoming bicycle signage and lane striping. -- Journal environmental reporter Natalie Garcia Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:01 PM | Comment Westerly officer OK after being struck by suspectA Westerly police officer was struck by a car allegedly driven by a suspect who was trying to escape the scene of a crime. A statement released by the Westerly Police Department said the police were called yesterday to the Backtrack Bar and Grille, on Industrial Drive, for an assault involving three males. When the police arrived, one of the three took off in a vehicle, hitting Cpl. Larry Silvestri, who fired one round at the suspect, according to the police statement. Silvestri was not able to stop the suspect, who drove off and was later spotted and stopped by police in Pawcatuck, Conn. The suspect was not injured by Silvestri’s shot, the Westerly police say, and he was taken to Stonington police headquarters, where he was charged with driving while intoxicated. The suspect also faces fugitive charges out of Rhode Island. Silvestri was treated for minor injuries at Westerly Hospital and released. The other two males involved in the assault at Backtrack Bar and Grille were treated for serious injuries, according to the police statement. The incident is still under investigation by the Westerly Police and the Rhode Island Attorney General. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:59 AM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury starts its third day of deliberationsProvidence -- The jury in the Katherine Bunnell child-murder case began its third day of deliberations with no sign of progress but also without reporting a deadlock. The jury of five men and seven women filed into the courtroom at 9:45 this morning, none of them giving the defendant, Katherine Bunnell, so much as a glance. The jurors faces looked somber as they took their seats in the jury box. Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia assurred the jurors that if they had questions, the questions would be answered. "With that we'll send you upstairs and wait for your progress," the judge said. Bunnell, 24, is on trial for murder and murder conspiracy. She is accused with her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, of fatally beating 3-year old Thomas "T.J." Wright when they returned to their Woonsocket apartment from a night out 3 1/2 years ago and found a mess on the livingroom floor. "T.J." had been placed in their care when Bunnell's sister went to prison. Read a story on yesterday's deliberations. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Jack Perry at 11:45 AM | Comment CVS trial: Employee questioned Celona invoice
“I asked if I should pay it, because I wasn’t expecting it and it wasn’t budgeted,” testified Betty Bibeault, who was Ortiz’s administrative assistant. Ortiz told her to pay it, she testified, explaining that Celona was going to be working as a consultant, serving as “the eyes and ears of CVS among the senior citizen population.” Ortiz also said that “this was something that Jack (Kramer) wanted to do,” according to Bibeault. Kramer and Ortiz are on trial in U.S. District Court, Providence, on charges of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud, accused of hiring Celona to do their bidding at the Rhode Island State House. Celona is serving a 2 1/2-year prison term after pleading guilty to selling his office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. The trial's key witness, he is now not expected to testify today. When he does, he is expected to spend several days on the stand. The defense maintains that Celona was hired to promote CVS through his network of seniors and his cable access television show. Read yesterday's trial coverage. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Bibeault testified today that Ortiz never mentioned Celona’s television show when explaining Celona’s hiring as a consultant. Nor, she testified, did Ortiz mention that Celona would be acting on legislation. The prosecution also introduced a “Government Affairs” update that Ortiz wrote Kramer during the 2003 legislative session. Ortiz noted that two bills CVS opposed –– allowing pharmacy choice and Canadian drug imports – had passed the House. But “I feel fairly confident that we will be able to kill both pieces of legislation in the Senate.” Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:28 AM | Comment Photo: Serving up a lesson in career choices
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 11:26 AM | Comment Don't be alarmed, it's only a drillDon’t be startled if a group of emergency vehicles races by tomorrow on their way to Mount Pleasant High School. It’s only a drill. The Providence Emergency Management Agency and the state Department of Health are scheduled to conduct an emergency disaster exercise. More than 150 emergency response officials from the city and state will get the chance to practice for a real emergency. Funding for the exercise comes from the Department of Health via the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The drill is scheduled for tomorrow morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mount Pleasant High School, 434 Mount Pleasant Ave. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:48 AM | Comment Red tide algae arrives in Mass.GLOUCESTER, Mass. -- The state has closed shellfish beds on the North Shore of Massachusetts following the expected arrival of red tide. The Division of Marine Fisheries ordered a halt to shellfish harvesting today after tests conducted from Newburyport to Gloucester revealed the presence of the toxin-producing algae in bivalves. The red tide does not affect lobsters, crabs and scallops. Officials had expected the arrival of the red tide, which had been spreading southward from the coast of Maine for the past three weeks. While red tide is an almost annual occurrence, biologists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute are concerned this year's bloom could match the massive outbreak of 2005. The toxin can be potentially deadly to people who eat tainted shellfish. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 10:00 AM | Comment Trade in the car today for Bike to Work DayTwo wheels are better than four –– for your health, for traffic congestion and for air quality, not to mention it makes parking a lot easier. So if it’s within your range, consider taking to the road this morning on a bicycle and celebrate the 52nd annual National Bike to Work Day. Meet with other cyclists in downtown Providence at the Bank of America City Center at 7 a.m. for food, drinks and a host of bike-related activities, including safety tips, demonstrations and a bike raffle. And you'll be in prestigious company; for the sixth year in a row, Mayor David N. Cicilline and members of his staff are also planning on biking it tomorrow. They'll meet at the City Center for a press conference, joined by representatives from the Providence Bicycle Coalition, the Sierra Club and other groups to outline some of the bike-friendly initiatives taking shape, including striping and signage for bike lanes set to be finished by the fall. Bike to Work Day is funded by RIDOT, through a federal grant, with support from the Providence Foundation and the Providence Bicycle Coalition. If you’re not used to riding in the streets of Providence, the coalition has established bike trains with experienced riders to help lead the way. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:34 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story on Sox' slugger Manny Ramirez's pursuit of the 500-home run milestone. There's also full coverage of the bribery trial of two former CVS executives. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment It's going to be a wet oneThe word of the day and the weekend is "rain." And the National Weather Service in Taunton is pretty sure of itself, 100 percent sure. The service puts the chance of rain at 70 percent this afternoon, 100 percent tonight and 40 percent Saturday and Sunday. It looks like a washout. At least it won't be cold. Today's high is forecast to be 63. It could approach 70 tomorrow. Posted by Peter Phipps at 6:46 AM | Comment May 15, 2008Tonight: Bring your artwork to Cranston for adviceIn Cranston from 7 to 9 tonight, head to an ArtShare, at The Artists’ Exchange, 50 Rolfe St. Bring a finished piece or work in progress to share for inspiration and constructive advice. Call 490-9475. The event is free. Check out projo.com's list art listings. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:56 PM | Comment Photo: Shades of gray at State Police memorial
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:36 PM | Comment Short-term relief fund for Station fire victims closingPROVIDENCE -- A state-managed fund that raised money to help victims of The Station nightclub fire is closing. The Rev. John Holt, chairman of The Station Nightclub Relief Fund, tells WRNI-AM that the charity's work is done. The fund was set up by Governor Carcieri days after the Feb. 20, 2003, fire in West Warwick, which killed 100 people and injured more than 200. The charity was started to help meet the short-term needs of the injured and the families of the victims. It helped pay for things like funeral and travel expenses, and has given out more than $3 million in the five years it's been in existence. Other charities still exist to help fire victims with their needs, including The Station Family Fund. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:03 PM | Comment Mass. Senate backs landmark coastal-protection billBOSTON -- The Massachusetts Senate is unanimously supporting a final version of a landmark bill designed to protect the state's coastal waters. Environmentalists call the bill a first-in-the-nation attempt by a state to create a comprehensive ocean management plan. The bill approved today by the Senate is designed to make sure all decisions and permits about development in state-controlled waters up to three miles from the coast conform to a single plan. The plan would cover everything from whale watching tours to wind farms and liquefied natural gas terminals. Separate versions of the bill had been approved by the House and Senate. The final version now heads back to the House. Gov. Deval Patrick also supports the bill. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:59 PM | Comment Senate backs medical marijuana 'compassion centers'PROVIDENCE -- The state Senate today approved a bill that essentially allows the creation of "compassion centers" that distribute marijuana to patients enrolled in Rhode Island's medical marijuana program However, it does not have broad support in the House and is expected to die there, acknowledged Sen. Rhode Perry, D-Providence, the bill's sponsor. -- With reports from Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:41 PM | Comment Update: House OKs criminal case expungement billPROVIDENCE -- The House late today approved a bill to "quash and destroy'' the records of criminal cases in which a criminal was given a "deferred sentence'' in exchange for sparing the state a trial by pleading no contest or guilty to a crime. Th House voted 46 to 17 to support the measure, with no debate. Click here for the roll call on the vote. The bill now goes to the Senate. Unlike the state's current expungement law, the bill the House took up today is not limited to non-violent offenses by first-time offenders. In fact, the Rhode Island Supreme Court decision last November that sparked this latest drive to erase criminal records concerned a man who had pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery and a woman who had pleaded no contest to a drug charge. Both were given deferred sentences. A Superior Court judge -- and then the Supreme Court -- concluded that neither was eligible under the current expungement law: The man because he had commited a violent crime, and the woman because she got into further trouble, which meant she was no longer a first-time offender. The bill would open the door for the immediate destruction of such records after the deferral period -- which usually runs five years -- has ended, regardless of the nature of the crime and the history of the offender. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence, is the latest in a series promoted by prisoner-rights advocates, the criminal defense bar and the public defenders office this year to reach the House floor. More may be coming, including one giving judges the discretion to erase multiple misdemeanors from someone's record. In 2003, The Journal reported Almeida was found guilty of shoving a man who was trying to repossess his girlfriend's car from her driveway in Federal Hill. He was sentenced to one year of probation, 25 hours of community service and ordered to have no contact with the man or his brother. -- With reports from Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:37 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury goes home again without verdict
On the second day in which it deliberated -- and the first all-day session -- the jury asked at least two questions today, but lawyers would not disclose what they were. Copies of trial transcripts were taken into chambers for review by the prosecution and defense lawyers in order to answer the jury questions. Bunnell, 24, is charged with her boyfriend at the time, Gilbert Delestre, 27, with fatally beating “T.J.” Wright after the boy, one of five children in the home, made a mess in their living room. They arrived at the Woonsocket apartment around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2004, to find some milk and yogurt that T.J. had spilled on the floor. Bunnell and Delestre are being tried separately on the same charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. When the jury returned to the courtroom late afternoon, Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia said he had sent a note asking if jurors wanted to continue deliberating today or come back tomorrow, and they indicated tomorrow morning. Read The Journal's coverage of the lawyers' closing arguments yesterday in the case. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:24 PM | Comment House slated to vote on criminal case expungement billPROVIDENCE -- The House is scheduled to vote today on a bill to "quash and destroy'' the records of criminal cases in which an criminal was given a "deferred sentence'' in exchange for sparing the state a trial by pleading no contest or guilty to a crime. Unlike the state's current expungement law, the bill up for a vote today is not limited to non-violent offenses by first-time offenders. In fact, the Rhode Island Supreme Court decision last November that sparked this latest drive to erase criminal records concerned a man who had pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery and a woman who had pleaded no contest to a drug charge. Both were given deferred sentences. A Superior Court judge -- and then the Supreme Court -- concluded that neither was eligible under the current expungement law: The man because he had commited a violent crime, and the woman because she got into further trouble, which meant she was no longer a first-time offender. The bill up for a vote today would open the door for the immediate destruction of such records after the deferral period -- which usually runs five years -- has ended, regardless of the nature of the crime and the history of the offender. After a short-circuited debate earlier this week, lawyer and House Majority Leader Gordon Fox promised to draft an amendment addressing some of the concerns raised by House members. The amendment has not yet been made public. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence, is the latest in a series promoted by prisoner-rights advocates, the criminal defense bar and the public defenders office this year to reach the House floor. More may be coming, including one giving judges the discretion to erase multiple misdemeanors from someone's record. In 2003, The Journal reported Almeida was found guilty of shoving a man who was trying to repossess his girlfriend's car from her driveway in Federal Hill. He was sentenced to one year of probation, 25 hours of community service and ordered to have no contact with the man or his brother. -- Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:49 PM | Comment Update: Lawyers argue appeal in lead paint case / Photo
The stakes in a lawsuit probably never have been higher in Rhode Island. Unless the Supreme Court overrules a jury’s 2006 verdict, the defendant companies may have to spend up to $3 billion to clean up lead paint on some 240,000 houses in Rhode Island. A total of 13 lawyers argued a series of issues before four Supreme Court justices for almost four hours. The judges fired back a barrage of questions, and many suggested they had some doubts about the legal theories that supported the state’s public nuisance case against Sherwin Williams Co., Millennium Holdings and NL Industries. Paint company lawyers argued that the legal arguments used by the state charted new legal territory that is not supported by precedents anywhere. Lawyers for the state said the fact that lead paints have poisoned 36,000 children in Rhode Island and caused vast expenditures by local governments, schools, landlords and parents is common sense proof that the companies created a public nuisance. The arguments were not without some moments of humor. Chief Justice Frank J. Williams warned the lawyers to curb their arguments. “We feel like we’re on the receiving end of a fire hose here,” he said as the proceedings got under way. “Less is more. We know the issues.” The justices are expected to issue a written ruling this summer. The presentation before the state Supreme Court was recessed at 12:49 p.m., after Williams thanked all involved. "This is what the public should see," he said, about how the legal system works. -- Journal Environmental Writer Peter B. Lord, with projo.com reports Posted by Jack Perry at 3:22 PM | Comment Middletown man gets 18 years on child porn chargesPROVIDENCE -- A Middletown man was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography after the mother of the two victims told the judge before the sentence: "Their innocence is gone." Barry Zurybida, 51, received the 220-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente. Prosecutor Terrence P. Donnelly said at the plea hearing the government could show that between September 2005 and early 2007 Zurybida occasionally took care of two girls between ages 4 and 7. In January 2007, the girls disclosed that Zurybida had taken photos of them "after directing them to expose their genitals," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The victims’ mother told Judge Torres, according to the news release, that their innocence was gone, “never to come back, regardless of the amount of therapy sessions we go through. Innocence -- purity -- can never return. It’s gone.” In June, FBI agents and Middletown police said they used a search warrant at Zurybida’s house and seized a computer and a digital camera. Subsequently, a FBI Computer Analysis and Response Team investigation found that the computer’s hard drive contained sexually explicit images of the girls, and that data in the image files linked them to the camera seized in Zurybida’s house. The hard drive also contained child pornography not produced by Zurybida. FBI and police arrested Zurybida at his home in June, and he pleaded guilty in December to two counts of photographing minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and one count of possessing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney The 220-month sentence is about three years longer than the minimum required by federal law for Zurybida’s offenses. When he pleaded guilty in December, Zurybida admitted that he had also touched the girls sexually, a factor that enhanced his sentence under federal guidelines. Torres also imposed lifetime court supervision on Zurybida after his release from prison, and set conditions prohibiting his interaction with children and use of the Internet. State child molestation charges are also pending against Zurybida. Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:11 PM | Comment California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage banSAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court has overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage, paving the way for the state to become the second state in the United States where gay and lesbian residents can marry. Rhode Island does not issue same-sex marriage licenses, but the issue has recently been in spotlight after two women who were married in Massachusetts unsuccessfully tried to get divorced in Family Court. A judge is considering whether to ask the state's Supreme Court if the Superior Court has the authority to grant the couple a divorce. The California justices released their 4-3 decision today, saying that domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George. Massachusetts is the only state that allows same-sex marriages. In striking down the ban, the court said, "In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual's sexual orientation - like a person's race or gender - does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights." -- The Associated Press The cases were brought by the city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples, Equality California and another gay rights group in March 2004 after the court halted San Francisco's monthlong same-sex wedding march that took place at Mayor Gavin Newsom's direction. Outside the courthouse, gay marriage supporters cried and cheered as news spread of the decision. "Today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody - not just in the state of California, but throughout the country - will have equal treatment under the law," said City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who argued the case for San Francisco. Posted by Jack Perry at 1:51 PM | Comment CVS trial: Kramer's aide tells of meetings with Celona
Prosecutors are seeking to show that two former executives of the giant CVS drugstore chain, Kramer and co-defendant Carlos Ortiz, bribed influential former state Sen. John Celona when they hired hm as a $1,000-a-month consultant to wield his influence to push Woonsocket-based CVS’s State House legislative agenda. Mary Jane McCusker calmly answered questions from Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch today about more than a dozen exhibits that noted Kramer’s meetings with Celona. McCusker told the court that Kramer enjoyed appearing on Celona’s cable television program. She said that he kept "a drawer-full’’ of videocassettes of himself making televised appearances. "Jack would have copies of the tapes and he would show them in his office,’’ she said, adding that he would invite CVS employees in to watch the tapes with him. Prosecutor Stephen G. Dambruch entered an exhibit showing that CVS had four choice tables for state dignitaries at the June 2002 gala at the Rhode Island Convention Center that preceded the CVS Charity Golf Classic. Celona and his wife, Karleen, were seated at a table with Kramer. At an adjacent table was Tom Ryan, the chief executive officer and the some of the state’s then-most powerful politicians: Senate Majority Leader William V. Irons, House Speaker John B. Harwood and Gerard M. Martineau, the House majority leader. At one point today, the government introduced as an exhibit a letter on CVS stationery that Kramer sent Celona. ``Thank you so much for sending me the tape of our interview,’’ Kramer wrote. ``You are a great friend to CVS. Your new studios are fantastic.’’ The letter was dated June 10, 2002. At the time, CVS was paying Celona as a consultant. McCusker wrapped up her testimony today with some levity. Kramer’s lawyer peppered her with a series of questions asking her whether Kramer ever concealed Celona’s consulting job with CVS or ever lied about the arrangement. She said no. ``Did he ever ask you to lie about anything?’’ lawyer David B. Fein asked. ``Once,’’ McCusker answered. ``What was that?’’ ``His age,’’ she said. Kramer’s families and friends in the courtroom erupted in laughter. McCusker was followed by Betty Bibeault, a longtime CVS employee and former administrative assistant to Ortiz. She is expected to return to the witness stand tomorrow. More on McCusker's testimony this morning. Coverage of yesterday's testimony -- and courthouse power outage. Our continuing report on Operation Dollar Bill. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski and projo.com staff writer Michael Celona is serving a 2 1/2-year prison term after pleading guilty to selling his office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Roger Williams Medical Center. Under agreement with prosecutors, Celona is expected to testify as the government’s main witness in the projected four-week trial. The defense argues Celona was hired to promote the drugstore chain’s community image, given his contacts among the elderly and his cable-access television show that often had Kramer as a guest. In February, as part of the ongoing federal Operation Dollar Bill investigation of which the current CVS trial is a part, Martineau was sentenced to three years and a month in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to two felony charges of depriving Rhode Islanders of the right to honest service -- for $891,500 worth of paper-and plastic-bag contracts from the CVS drugstore chain and Blue Cross. At his sentencing, a prosecutor said that Martineau has agreed to testify against Kramer and Ortiz. It is not known whether he will be called as a witness in the trial that is expected to last at least three more weeks. Yesterday, jurors heard some testimony, even with courthouse power interruptions that postponed the trial's resumption to today: notably that Celona in 2002, by then on CVS' payroll for two years, contacted Kramer, who got Celona and his wife tickets to the Chicago-taped Oprah Winfrey Show. McCusker testified yesterday that she took Celona's call and forwarded his request to Kramer. She said Celona wanted to take his wife to the popular show's taping as a Christmas gift. McCusker said Kramer told her to call Lisa Churchville, Rhode Island NBC affiliate Channel 10's general manager -- the channel that broadcasts Oprah. McCusker also testified she met Celona at CVS headquarters for a luncheon meeting with Kramer in summer 1999. Prosecutors say it's during that time period that Celona, Kramer and Ortiz started talking about the senator possibly becoming a CVS consultant. She also testified she later learned Celona was a paid CVS consultant but that nobody told her what he did in that role. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:35 PM | Comment Update: Bicyclist critical after crash in WarwickWARWICK -- A bicyclist is in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital after colliding with a car yesterday afternoon at Church and Warwick avenues. The bicyclist's name has not been released, pending notification of family, according to the police. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2004 Acura that had been traveling west on Church Avenue was stopped at the intersection of Warwick Avenue shortly before 3 p.m. When the light turned green, the driver began to turn right onto Warwick Avenue when her car was struck by a male riding a bicycle south in the northbound lane of Warwick Avenue, the police said. The bicyclist suffered serious head injuries. The driver of the car was identified as Georgette Sweet, 58, of Smithfield. There was no indication that drugs, alcohol or excessive speed were factors in the crash, the police said. The police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call them at 468-4343 or 468-4364. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post incorrectly described possible factors in the crash. There were no indications that drugs, alcohol or excessive speed were factors, police said. Posted by Jack Perry at 12:45 PM | Comment R.I. journalists win Metcalf diversity awards
Journal copy editor Stephanie McKenna was among those recognized at the Rhode Island for Community and Justice Metcalf Diversity in the Media Awards. McKenna was commended for her daily community news columns, which report on events in the Cape Verdean/Cape Verdean-American, Southeast Asian/Asian-American, African/African American communities. Established in 1988 to honor the late Michael Metcalf, publisher of The Providence Journal, the honor is one of the premier awards given in the state recognizing professional journalists, media outlets and Internet media for promoting diversity awareness and social justice. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the award. Click below to see who else in Rhode Island media was honored at today's awards ceremony. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Print, Weekly/Bi-weekly: Nancy Kirsch, Jewish Voice & Herald for "Faith: divider or uniter?" Print, Monthly: Gail Braccidiferro, Rhode Island Monthly and Peter Goldberg, photographer for "Pride Street." Print, Special Series: Marion Davis, William Hamilton, Natalie Myers, David Ortiz and Justin Sayles, Providence Business News for: "Women in Business" series Internet: Matt Jerzyk, Rhode Island's Future.org for "Papitto Whistleblowers Punished." Broadcast: Jonny Skye Njie, Ken Swanson, R.I. Department of Education for "Deny No Dream." Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:21 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury continues deliberatingPROVIDENCE -- Jury deliberations resumed this morning in the trial of Katherine Bunnell, who is charged with murder in the death of 3-year-old Thomas "T.J." Wright. A jury of five men and seven women, which begin deliberating yesterday, returned to Providence County Superior Court shortly after 9:30 a.m. As of 11:30 a.m., no verdict has been reported. A prosecutor could be seen making photocopies of a transcript of testimony. Bunnell's defense lawyer, Gerard H. Donley, said the judge was not permitting lawyers to say whether the jury had asked any questions. Bunnell, 24, is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She is accused with her then-boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, of beating to death "T.J.," her nephew who was a child in their care, on Oct. 30, 2004, at Bunnell's Woonsocket apartment after they came home from a night out to find a mess on the floor. Read Journal coverage of yesterday's closing arguments in the case. -- With reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:41 AM | Comment CVS Trial: Kramer often met with CelonaPROVIDENCE -- The administrative assistant to former CVS executive John R. “Jack” Kramer spent the morning testifying about entries in her boss’s daybook calendar. Kramer and fellow former CVS executive Carlos Ortiz both face federal bribery charges for allegedly trying to win favor with former state Senator John A. Celona. Mary Jane McCusker calmly answered questions asked by asst. U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch about more than a dozen exhibits that noted Kramer’s meetings with Celona. The meetings took place at CVS headquarters, on golf courses and in restaurants in Providence. Kramer also bought tickets through CVS to political fundraisers for Celona and gave Celona and Celona’s wife tickets to attend the CVS Charity Golf Classic in Barrington. In a note that included the tickets to John and Karleen Celona, Kramer wrote, “John, going to be a great night.” Kramer’s lawyer, David B. Fein, cross-examined McCusker, pointing out that Kramer had a dizzying calendar filled with social, charitable and political events –– from a Save the Bay Charitable Function with Journal Publisher Howard G. Sutton, to an appearance with Katie Couric on the Today Show to promote a CVS Charity. “He enjoyed it,” McCusker said of Kramer’s action-packed social life. “And he talked about it a lot.” Extra: Our continuing report on Operation Dollar Bill Read Journal coverage of yesterday's testimony and courthouse power outage. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:36 AM | Comment Carcieri's O'Reilly Factor appearance is postponedGovernor Carcieri's appearance on The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News to talk about his executive order cracking down on illegal immigration is being rescheduled by the program, the governor's office said today. Carcieri's interview was scheduled to appear on the program hosted by Bill O'Reilly at 8 and 11 tonight, which will not happen, according to the governor's office. His schedule for today originally had the governor doing the segment between 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the airings later tonight. No information was yet available on when the appearance will be scheduled. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:21 AM | Comment CVS trial: Kramer's assistant McCuster returns / Photo
Mary Jane McCusker, administrative assistant to John Kramer, arrives at U.S. District Court in Providence with lawyer Jeffrey Pine to continue her testimony in the trial of Kramer and Carlos Ortiz on federal corruption charges stemming from the Operation Dollar Bill investigation into State House corruption. Before the lights went out yesterday, McCusker testified that former state senator John Celona had contacted her about getting tickets for the Oprah Winfrey Show. She also testified that Kramer authorized campaign contributions to Celona in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Extra: Continuing coverage of the CVS trial and Operation Dollar Bill.
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:15 AM | Comment Sox' Lester pitching free ice coffees in WarwickRed Sox pitcher Jon Lester will be tossing free ice coffees this morning to customers of the Dunkin' Donuts on 1678 Post Road, Warwick. Lester is pitching in on a Dunkin' Donuts promotion that gives customers a free 16-ounce (small) iced coffee from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at participating shops nationwide. Two customers in Warwick will win a pair of Red Sox tickets each to an upcoming Red Sox home game. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:14 AM | Comment CVS trial: The power is on -- for now at leastSo far this morning the power is on and ready to go at the U.S. District Court in Providence. Yesterday, testimony by several witnesses in the case of two former CVS executives accused of bribing a former state senator was interrupted several times when the power in the courtroom went out. The outage interrupted the testimony of Clark Curtis, a lobbyist who worked on behalf of CVS in 2002 and 2003. Former CVS executives John “Jack” Kramer and Carlos Ortiz are accused of bribing former Sen. John Celona for favorable treatment at the State House. At about 7:50 this morning, a clerk said, power was up and running. Judge Mary Lisi sent everyone home yesterday shortly after noon yesterday, and directed the trial to begin again today at 9. Before Judge Lisi canceled testimony for the day, Mary Jane McCusker, Kramer’s administrative assistant, testified that she got Celona and his wife tickets for The Oprah Winfrey Show. Read the Journal's coverage of Operation Dollar Bill Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:23 AM | Comment House Finance to take up school aid todayPROVIDENCE -- The House Finance Committee is slated to hold a hearing today on legislation for a school-aid funding formula. The hearing on a Fair Share Education Funding Formula bill is scheduled at the rise of the House session -- around 6 p.m. -- in Room 35 in the State House basement. The bill's sponsors say it would create a "permanent, equitable and predictable formula for distributing educational dollars to local school districts," according to a news release. The formula would consider the number of public school students in a community and the school needs of those children, "making weighted allowances for low-income children, English-language learners, special-education students and career and technical students." The legislation also would also take into account a community's resources and ability to pay for its schools, the sponsors say. The hearing will be broadcast live on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Channel 15 for Cox Communications and Full Channel cable subscribers and Channel 34 for Verizon subscribers. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 8:17 AM | Comment Mayor Cicilline to field questions in Elmwood tonightResidents of the city’s Elmwood neighborhood can meet with Mayor David Cicilline and other officials tonight at this month's “Mayor’s Night Out.” Cicilline and city department directors will be on hand tonight at 5 p.m. at the Southeast Asian Economic Development Center, 270 Elmwood Ave. Residents can ask questions, share concerns and get feedback on a one-on-one basis –– bus show up early, meetings are on a first-come, first-served basis. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:00 AM | Comment Bunnell trial: Jury returns to consider verdictThe jury in the trial of a 24-year-old woman charged with murder for the deadly beating of her 3-year-old nephew is set to resume deliberations today after spending three hours yesterday mulling the case. Prosecutors say Katherine Bunnell dropped Thomas “T.J.” Wright on the floor and beat him after she returned home to find a mess in her Woonsocket apartment. From the stand Tuesday, Bunnell denied the allegations, saying that she lightly slapped the child a few times. Bunnell’s lawyer has suggested that the defendant’s former boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, was actually responsible for the child’s death. Delestre also faces murder charges. His trial is set to begin after Bunnell’s. The child had been placed in their care after Bunnell's sister went to prison. Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia directed the jury to return to Superior Court, Providence, this morning to continue deliberations. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:26 AM | Comment Pats' owner pleased with Herald's apologyFOXBOROUGH, Mass -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has complimented the Boston Herald for apologizing for a story that said his team videotaped a St. Louis Rams walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl. He's "very disappointed," though, that the newspaper "wrote a story that was completely false and unsubstantiated," Kraft said in an interview with The Associated Press. He also said he doesn't know why former New England video assistant Matt Walsh didn't refute the story soon after it came out on Feb. 2, the day before the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants, 17-14, ruining their quest for an unbeaten season. -- The Associated Press "I must compliment the Boston Herald for doing what is unprecedented in terms of recognizing their error in a major way," Kraft said. "I'm really delighted with that, but I wish it never happened." The apology came a day after a meeting between NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Walsh produced no major revelations about the team's taping procedures. "I think I speak for all Patriot fans," Kraft said. "We're relieved that this is over and you see that this is nonsense and we were unfairly accused and we're moving on." Kraft spoke by telephone before Sen. Arlen Specter said in Washington that he wants an independent investigation of the Patriots' taping of opposing coaches' signals similar to the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the team had no immediate comment on Specter's remarks. Walsh told Goodell he did not tape the walkthrough and had no knowledge that any other Patriots employees did so, Goodell said. The commissioner also indicated he considered the investigation over after meeting with Walsh on Tuesday. "The only thing I don't understand is what he said (Tuesday) he could have said that a long time ago and defused it within 24 hours of the story coming out," Kraft said. "If you read the blogs or read people or talk to people, everyone assumed he was the source or was one step removed from the source. ... You'll have to decide why he waited." Goodell fined coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 and took away a first-round draft pick this year after an investigation found the Patriots violated league rules by taping New York Jets coaches on the sideline during the season opener. Kraft said he didn't think the investigation that began then would leave a lasting stain on the club. "I was unhappy with what transpired in the fall, the actions of some of our employees, and we were penalized severely for that," he said. "We said back in September that we had disclosed all of our actions as an organization to the league. You can see this is true.' "The erroneous story really led to a second round of inquisitions after September, and it really was a distraction. The sad part (is) that it took away from an 18-0 Super Bowl season." The Herald's story cited unidentified sources. "For 3 1/2 months that story has hung out there like a cloud and we denied it right up front," Kraft said. "When the reporter called Stacey James with the story, he said it's completely false and unsubstantiated." In the apology, published in the newspaper's Wednesday edition and posted on its Web site, the Herald said the story was based on sources "it believed to be credible." "We now know that this report was false, and that no tape of the walkthrough ever existed," the paper wrote. "We should not have published the allegation in the absence of firmer verification. The Boston Herald regrets the damage done to the team by publication of the allegation, and sincerely apologizes to its readers and to the New England Patriots' owners, players, employees and fans for our error." The newspaper featured a front-page headline reading "Sorry, Pats" next to a the Lombardi Trophy that goes to Super Bowl winners. It placed the three-paragraph apology on the back inside page of the newspaper. The backpage headline said, "Our mistake". "I'm glad they stepped up and admitted their error and are doing the best they can to put it behind them," Kraft said. "The fans of the NFL, even if they're not Patriot fans, we want them to respect what we're about, and in this age of media where you have 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all kinds of ways to have information be disseminated, there's people who throw stuff out there that is just false." Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Today's forecast: Not perfect, but not too badThe morning is starting off mild. It's already 50 degrees at 6:30 and the temperature is set to rise to near 70 degrees as the day goes on. It's cloudy, and should stay that way, but winds will be mild from the south. There's also a slight chance of rain later in the afternoon. Clouds should remain tonight when the temperature drops to about 50 degrees with very calm north winds. Tomorrow we'll likely see increasing clouds and then rain in the late afternoon. The temperature should stay mild, reaching the mid 60s, and calm winds will come from the northeast. To check the latest forecast updates, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features an interview with the 19-year-old surfer who was rescued by the Coast Guard after being swept out to sea off Matunuck Tuesday. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 14, 2008Tonight: Film fest starts rolling at RISDIt's the popcorn-and-special-effects time of the year at the big cineplex, but at the Rhode Island School of Design at 7 tonight you'll get films untouched by Hollywood. Undone, a stop-motion puppet animation by RISD senior Hayley Morris, is among the projects in RISD Film Animation Video Senior Show 2008 at the college's auditorium in Providence. Showings continue through Saturday. Tickets at the door are $5. It's $3 with a student ID. Go to RISD's calendar for information. Here's Journal arts writer Michael Janusonis's preview of the festival: RISD’s best at sparkling film fest. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:06 PM | Comment City crews fighting fire at Orms/Smith streetsPROVIDENCE -- A fire is burning strongly in a building, believed to be a restaurant, at Orms and Smith streets at this hour, according to fire dispatch. Crews are on scene. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:03 PM | Comment Mass. budget proposal could bring life to casino planBOSTON -- As Massachusetts Senate leaders unveiled a $28 billion budget today that relies heavily on new taxes and savings, Republicans pledged to file Gov. Deval Patrick's casino bill as an amendment to the spending plan, saying the state needs new sources of revenues. The move, which could breathe new life into Patrick's plan, comes a week after the governor told a Brookline Chamber of Commerce audience that his legislation to legalize casino gambling in Massachusetts "may yet come back." The House earlier this year overwhelmingly defeated the casino measure, essentially killing it for the year, but Republicans say they want to give the Senate, which has supported expanded gaming in the past, a chance to vote on the plan. "We want to fortify the governor's efforts going forward if he intends to refile the bill in the new year," said Republican Sen. Michael Knapik, R-Westfield. "Plus, we need the money." The Senate budget raids the state's rainy day fund for nearly $400 million and relies on hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenues from a proposed $1-a-pack cigarette tax hike and the closing of so-called business tax loopholes. -- The Associated Press Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos, D-Lowell, said the budget plan was fiscally responsible. "These recommendations are a balanced, fair approach to addressing the most pressing needs of the commonwealth while remaining mindful of the declining economy," Panagiotakos said. Besides the $400 million from the state's rainy day fund, the budget also relies on $175 million in projected revenues from the cigarette tax, $297 in added revenues from the business loophole closings and another $157 million from tighter enforcement by the Department of Revenue. He also said the budget includes "tens of millions" in cuts. One of the biggest question marks in the budget is funding for the state's 2006 landmark health care law. Senate budget writers used an estimate of $869 million to cover the law's subsidized health care program known as Commonwealth Care. But the administration's own, more current estimates - based on the unexpected success of the program - have added about $200 million to the cost. That's in addition to the $200 million above original estimates for MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program. Critics say the $400 million in higher-than-expected health care costs on top of the $400 million the plan already draws from the rainy day fund and other, smaller cost increases could force the state to draw as much as $1 billion from the rainy day fund. "If you look at the structural balance, meaning revenues coming in and spending going out, it's about a billion dollar gap," said Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Panagiotakos defended using the original Commonwealth Care estimate, pointing out the same estimate was used by the House when it drafted its budget. But he also expressed concern about drawing too much from the rainy day fund, meant to help the state weather fiscal slumps. "We are going to need that rainy day account if we get into any type of major economic downfall," he said. Panagiotakos, who also supports casino gambling, said there's nothing stopping Republicans from offering Patrick's bill as an amendment. He wouldn't say whether he thought the amendment would pass. "There are going to be a lot of amendments and we are going to take them up one by one," he said. Asked last week during a Brookline Chamber of Commerce address about whether his casino plan was dead or not, Patrick said: "It may yet come back in the Legislature. I acknowledge it's hard." Besides pushing the casino amendment, Knapik also said he was concerned with the spiraling cost of the health care law, saying it's siphoning money away from other pressing needs. He said the Senate should consider restricting parts of the law, designed to mandate health care to virtually all Massachusetts residents. "We ought to have that debate," he said. "We've got to put the entire discussion of the scope of the law on the table." Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:05 PM | Comment Carcieri focuses on immigration order in FAQs, on FoxGovernor Carcieri is scheduled to be on the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News tomorrow night to talk about his executive order cracking down on illegal immigration. The governor's office issued a news release saying Carcieri will tape a brief interview tomorrow with host Bill O’Reilly. The interview is expected to air at 8 and 11 p.m., according to the governor's office. The announcement followed the release earlier this afternoon by the governor's office of a frequently-asked-questions answer sheet based on the controversial executive order, issued at the end of March. The governor's office said the document is designed to answer questions about how the order is carried out. See the document here. The six-page FAQ sheet poses 26 questions followed by answers from the governor's office. The document is also offered in Spanish. “As people have requested information about the executive order, we determined that a Frequently Asked Questions document might prove informative and helpful in dispelling misconceptions," Carcieri said in a statement. “I expect that the document will be constantly updated as new information becomes available and new questions or concerns come to light.” Carcieri said he is setting up an advisory group to monitor how the order is carried out so there are no "unintended consequences" for immigrants here legally. Possible members' names are being gathered; a final slate will be presented to Carcieri within two weeks. The plan is for the panel to meet for the first time this summer.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:20 PM | Comment Weight restrictions put on Cove Bridge in PortsmouthTrucks and other vehicles weighing more than 10 tons will be banned from Cove Bridge in Portsmouth after inspection found deterioration in the bridge's concrete beams, the state Department of Transportation announced late this afternoon. The span, built in 1961, carries Hummock Point Road over a tidal inlet in Portsmouth's Island Park section. The bridge has average daily traffic count of 2,100 vehicles. Signs will be put in place by end of tomorrow, a DOT news release said. Because of this bridge posting, the DOT will increase inspection frequency. With the new weight limit, all trucks and school buses will have to seek alternate routes, the DOT release said. Vehicles over 10 tons trying to get to the Island Park Business District should use Exit 2 off of Route 24 to Boyds Lane, the DOT advises. Drivers unsure of a vehicle’s weight should consult their registration, which lists the gross weight. Vehicles below the weight limit can continue to use the bridge. Drivers with concerns or questions may call DOT customer services at (401) 222-2450 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The DOT has posted weight restrictions on two other bridges in recent months. Click here for more on the condition of bridges in the state, according to DOT. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:01 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Case goes to jury, no verdict yetPROVIDENCE -- The jury in the trial of Katherine Bunnell, charged with murder in the beating death of 3-year-old Thomas "T.J." Wright, began deliberating today and did not reach a verdict. The jury was behind closed doors for about three hours in Providence County Superior Court and will resume tomorrow morning. This morning, the jury heard different accounts of the events that led to T.J.'s death in closing arguments by defense and prosecution lawyers in Bunnell's trial. Bunnell, 24, and her boyfriend at the time of T.J.'s death, Gilbert Delestre, 27, are being tried separately on the same charges. Read about yesterday's developments, including Bunnell's testimony and that Delestre asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:27 PM | Comment Illustration: In federal court, it's the lady with the lamp
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:04 PM | Comment Woman accused of 'social host' violation after fatal crashIn the aftermath of a deadly car accident, a West Warwick woman has been accused of violating the state's "social host" law after the police said she permitted under-age drinking in her home by at least 11 people. Denise Daudelin, 57, of 42 Spencer St. was arrested following an investigation by West Warwick and Warwick police following an accident at Quaker Lane and Ginsu Drive in Warwick that killed a 46-year-old woman, according to a police news release today. The police said the 17-year-old driver of a car involved in the accident and his passenger, 16, had been at a party earlier in the evening at Daudelin's residence. The party allegedly involved “drinking games” and other boisterous activities. Daudelin was at home on the night of the party, the police said. The news release does not elaborate on Daudelin's alleged role in what police say happened at her residence. Daudelin was arraigned today and released on $1,000 personal recognizance. A pre-trial date is set for May 28. Three 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old have been charged with possession of alcohol by a minor. The police also allege that a 17-year-old employee of a local liquor store obtained some of the alcohol for the party. He "secreted a 30-pack of beer in the rear parking lot, which was later recovered by other juveniles and transported to 42 Spencer St.," the police said. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:49 PM | Comment Newport Music Festival director stepping downNEWPORT -- The longtime general director of the Newport Music Festival is stepping down. Mark Malkovich III will stay on as the festival's artistic director and is recommending that his son, Mark Malkovich IV, take over as general director when he leaves following the end of the festival's 40th season. The elder Malkovich, who is 77, has been running the festival for 33 years. The festival sets classical music in Newport's Gilded Age mansions. This year's season runs July 11-27 and includes 60 performances. Malkovich says his son is a natural successor. The younger Malkovich has worked with his father on the festival for 23 years. The festival's board of directors has final approval of Malkovich's successor. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:32 PM | Comment Rally shows support for state's lead paint case / Photo
Behind them they raised a banner colored with children's hand prints, created to represent 614 children poisoned by lead in Rhode Island in 2007. Some 71 organizations and attorneys general filed friend of the court briefs in support of the state's position. Leann Howell, president of the American Lead Poisoning Help Association, said propaganda from the industry caused the poisoning of generations of children. Dr. K. Nicholas Tsiongas, president of the Rhode Island Medical Society who as a state legislator authored the state's first lead poisoning prevention act in the early 1990s, said the society's 4,000 members support the state's law suit. He said lead has been the most "pervasive, insidious and offensive source of environmental poisoning in the history of the United States and of Rhode Island." Referring to a pro-industry op-ed piece in The Providence Journal today, Dr. Tsiongas added, "There isn't enough ink to overturn that truth." Clifford Montiero, president of the Providence Chapter of the NAACP, said he hoped the Supreme Court "would correct the injustices done to thousands of children." The appeal tomorrow will be Webcast -- a first for the court -- due to high interest in the case across the country.
-- Journal environmental writer Peter B. Lord Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:28 PM | Comment SNM Liquors license revoked after teens testifyThe Providence Board of Licenses today voted three to zero to immediately revoke the liquor license of SNM liquors, a Douglass Ave. liquor store. The board concluded that the evidence in a hearing last week showed that two Barrington teenagers came into the store and bought 90 cans of beer and a point of vodka on Nov. 5 of last year. Testimony at that hearing showed that some of the beers were consumed by Michael J. Silvera,16, before he drove drunk on New Meadow Road in Barrington and wrecked his car, killing his 16-year-old passenger and best friend Jonathan C. Converse. Board Chairman Andrew J. Annaldo said the sale to the minors by SNM Liquors proprietor Shawn Merilan shows “willful and wanton disregard of the public safety.” Annaldo said that if the board didn’t revoke the license, “it would jeopardize public safety.” Merilan was not present, but on hand was Barrington Police Chief John LaCross. He said that the decision of the board is “sending a very strong and severe message” that liquor stores should not sell to minors, and that he hopes licensees react by making sure that their employees are diligent about screening their customers. -- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:23 PM | Comment CVS trial: Power won't cooperate; recess until tomorrow
PROVIDENCE -- The federal trial of two former CVS executives charged with bribery has been called off for the day after a back-and-forth battle with power at the century-old U.S. District Courthouse. The trial will resume tomorrow at 9 a.m. with testimony from defendant John Kramer’s administrative assistant. Kramer and Carlos Ortiz are accused of bribing former state Sen. John Celona to get preferential treatment for Woonsocket-based drugstore giant CVS at the State House. The lights went out in the courtroom first went out just after 9:30 a.m. during testimony from Clark Curtis, who worked for lobbyist Joseph W. Walsh on behalf of CVS, the giant drugstore chain based in Woonsocket. Judge Mary Lisi called for a short recess, eventually putting the trial off until 11 a.m. The power was not steady at 11 a.m., and so the proceedings were moved to the John O. Pastore Complex next door. Then power returned across the street at the courthouse, and everyone made their way back. The power went out again at 12:01 p.m.; returned at 12:02 p.m.; and was out again at 12:05 p.m. Lisi called for a recess until tomorrow morning. Early this afternoon, National Grid spokesman David Graves said a crew had checked the underground equipment near the courthouse and found no problems. “Everything is fine on our side,” he said. “So it could be a problem within the building, possibly.” No other buildings in Kennedy Plaza are without power, Graves said. “Our equipment is functioning. We have power to all our cables in the area, and all our customers are up and running except the courthouse,” he said. So National Grid does not know where the problem is, but “we are working with courthouse personnel and are still trying to figure out what the problem is,” Graves said. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick The power outage comes during the centennial of the federal courthouse, a five-story gray granite structure which was built between 1904 and 1908 as the Providence Post Office, Court House and Custom House. In February, Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts Jr. came to Providence to kick off the centennial celebration, marking the first time a sitting Supreme Court chief justice had visited Rhode Island on official business in more than two centuries. There were no power outages during Roberts’ visit, and court officials talked about how despite its age, the courthouse had state-of-the-art technology. Today, in calling the recess, Judge Lisi said, "Members of the jury, since it appears we can’t rely on the electricity staying with us, we are going to break for the day." "We’ll resume tomorrow at 9 a.m. with power. If, for some reason it's not restored, we may reconvene next door in the Pastore building in Courtroom B.” After the first power failure, witness Curtis resumed his testimony at 11:28 a.m. He finished at 11:37 a.m. Afterwards, Kramer’s administrative assistant, Mary Jane McCusker, took the stand. The power went out for the final time while prosecutor Stephen G. Dambruch was asking McCusker about a May 2000 fundraiser for Celona at the Villa Santini, an Italian restaurant in North Providence. Celona was a Democrat who represented North Providence in the state Senate. Courtroom screens were displaying an entry in Kramer’s calendar that said, “May 16, 6 p.m., John Celona, Villa Santini.” And then the lights went out, along with power for the screens. Earlier, McCusker had testified about how Celona contacted her to try to secure tickets to the Oprah Winfrey Show. “He wanted to take his wife to see the Oprah show,” McCusker said. So, she said, Kramer told her to contact Lisa Churchville, general manager of Channel 10, the local NBC affiliate, to try to get the tickets. McCusker had asked Celona when he wanted to go to the show. Screens in the courtroom displayed an e-mail that Celona sent to McCusker on Jan. 3, 2002. “Thanks M.J. You and Jack and Lisa are the BEST!” Celona wrote. “That last week of January looks like the time.” Dambruch asked if Celona received the tickets. “Yes,” McCusker said. “He went to the show.” From 7to7 newsblog: CVS trial coverage as it breaks. Extra: An in-depth look at the CVS trial and Operation Dollar Bill. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:46 PM | Comment Update: Specter wants independent Spygate probeWASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter called today for a "transparent and independent" investigation into allegations that the New England Patriots tried to spy on opposing teams, asserting that the practice went on more frequently than has previously been known. The Pennsylvania Republican, who met with former Patriots' videographer Matt Walsh yesterday, also criticized what he called the National Football League's investigation into the matter. The NFL's investigation "has not been objective," Specter said. "If you cheat in the NFL, you can cheat in college, you can cheat in high school, you can cheat on your grade school math test. There's no limit," he said. Earlier in the day yesterday, Walsh met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who announced after yesterday's meeting that further sanctions against the Patriots over the Spygate controversy were unlikely. Goodell said Walsh affirmed that he does not have, nor did he make, a tape of the St. Louis Rams’ final walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI, in 2002. Speaking to reporters in Washington today, Specter charged among other things that, although Walsh did not tape the St. Louis Rams walkthrough practice, Walsh and several other Patriots' personnel "were present to observe most if not all" of the practice, including running back "Marshall Faulk's unusual positioning as a punt returner." -- John Mulligan of the Journal Washington bureau Specter, citing reports by the late journalist David Halberstam, said Patriots' coach Bill Belichick spent much time before that Super Bowl "obsessing about where the Rams would line up Faulk." Specter, based on an interview with Walsh and other research, also asserted that although Walsh did not tape opposition practices between 2003 and 2005 -- a gap much remarked upon in the sports media -- other Patriots' personnel did tape such sessions during those years. Specter also criticized the NFL for permitting the Patriots to have representatives on hand during yesterday's NFL questioning of Walsh. Former prosecutor Specter asserted that such a practice ran counter to the principles of objective investigations. -- Specter criticized NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in stinging terms for what he called the league's "dribbling out" of facts about the so-called Spygate scandal and for destroying the first significant evidence in the case, tapes that the Patriots surrendered last September after the disclosure that they had videotaped New York Jets defensive signals during a game. Specter also charged that Goodell settled on a penalty against the Patriots before he viewed the videotaped evidence of the rules infraction. Specter did not specify who should do the investigation, but he did hold out as an example the investigation of steroids use in baseball by former Senator George Mitchell. Specter, in response to a reporter's question, specifically rebutted the suggestion in some sports news coverage that his interest in "Spygate" is connected to campaign contributions from Comcast or to his interest as a fan of the Philadephlia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Spector said the NFL owners "absolutely" have an interest in seeing the scandal go away, which conflicts with the interests of football fans. Posted by Jack Perry at 1:27 PM | Comment Swimming will be off limits at Beach Pond in ExeterBeach Pond in Exeter is being closed to swimming all season, the state Department of Environmental Management announced. "Erosion control" efforts are under way at its 430-acre Beach Pond Management Area to stabilize the former beach, a DEM news release says, in addition to steps announced in the fall that DEM says will eventually restore vegetation and filter runoff from Route 165 before it hits the pond. While visitors can still go boating, fishing and hiking, parking has also been pared to about 15 to 20 cars without trailers. Signs are up on Route 95, Route 3 and Route 165 saying there's no swimming. Signs noting "No Trailers. Parking for Boating, Fishing, Hiking Only" are expected to be posted on site by the weekend. Parking on the opposite side of Route 165 remains open to vehicles with small boat trailers. The boat launch site in the Connecticut part of the area is also available. Beach Pond Management Area will not be staffed because of budget limits. But it will be subject to patrols and maintenance, the DEM said. A "dilapidated building" that once housed offices and concessions has been taken down and portable bathrooms are no longer available. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney The Beach Pond Management Area is stocked with trout in the spring and fall; last fall, Connecticut officials added salmon. Anglers might also catch largemouth bass, pickerel, perch, catfish, smallmouth bass, or walleye. Hikers can use the miles of marked trails within the state's 14,000-acre, largely forested, Arcadia Management Area, of which the Beach Pond area is a part. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:39 PM | Comment Lead-paint appeals before court, and on Web, tomorrowPROVIDENCE -- For the first time, the public tomorrow may view live video on the Internet of arguments in a state Supreme Court case. A Webcast of arguments being made for the historic lead-paint case at the Licht Judicial Complex can be viewed by going to www.courts.ri.gov. Click on the link at the lower left of the Web page. The court is giving lawyers about 3½ hours, starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow, to argue over appeals in one of the biggest cases in the state’s history, the state lawsuit that prompted a jury to find that three corporations created a public nuisance when they sold toxic, lead-based paint in Rhode Island several generations ago. Chief Justice Frank J. Williams decided to allow the Webcast because of strong interest across the country from lawyers, legal publications, brokers and investment companies, according to courts spokesman Craig N. Berke. Business interests think the case is a bad precedent that could lead to more costly litigation over other products. Local government officials and health-care advocates believe it’s a worthwhile effort to hold the companies liable for all the damage their paints have done to generations of children who have inadvertently ingested lead paint dust and suffered nervous system damage. Since the three companies — Sherwin Williams Co., Millennium Holdings and NL Industries — were found by a six-person jury on Feb. 22, 2006, to have created a public nuisance by selling their paints, the state has estimated that the companies may have to spend between $1.37 billion and $3.74 billion to clean up the paints at thousands of homes in Rhode Island. At the courthouse itself, public seating for the arguments will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 8:30 a.m. A conference room equipped with a video screen will be available for overflow seating, if necessary. — Journal environment writer Peter B. Lord Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:26 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Lawyers deliver closing argumentsPROVIDENCE -- Two different accounts of the events that led to 3-year-old Thomas "T.J." Wright's death were presented in closing arguments this morning by defense and prosecution lawyers at the trial of a woman charged with killing the child because he made a mess. Defense attorney Gerard H. Donley pointed the finger at Katherine Bunnell's former boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, who has also been charged with murder and murder conspiracy in the child's death but is still awaiting trial. Donley said that Delestre beat "T.J." to death after Bunnell left their Woonsocket to take their babysitter home. Delestre and Bunnell had been out earlier that night. "T.J." was Bunnell's nephew, placed in the care of Bunnell and Delestre when Bunnell's sister went to prison. Prosecutor Stacey P. Veroni countered that Bunnell, 24, charged with murder and murder conspiracy, set the stage for the fatal beating when she and Delestre arrived home around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2004, and found a mess on the living room floor. " 'What the (expletive) happened to my house? What the (expletive) did you do to my house?' " Veroni screamed, repeating what the babysitter said Bunnell yelled at the child. "She escalated the violence that began in that home," Veroni said of Bunnell. "She set it off and stepped it up." Closing arguments were delivered on the seventh day of Bunnell's murder trial before Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia in Providence County Superior Court. The case is expected to go the jury today after instruction on the law by the judge. -- With reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:16 PM | Comment Specter calls for independent investigation of SpygateSen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is speaking now in Washington, D.C. He has already called for an independent review of the Spygate matter, something along the lines of the Mitchell investigation into steroids in baseball. He says the NFL's investigation of the matter has "strained credulity" in certain respects, including the presence yesterday of a Patriots lawyer during the interview by Commissioner Roger Goodell of Matt Walsh. Specter says he has never heard of an investigation during which a lawyer for the subject of the investigation was present during the questioning of witnesses. More to come... Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:15 PM | Comment CVS trial: Lights back on, testimony resumingAt 11:00 a.m., the power was still out at the U.S. District Courthouse in Providence. The trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing former state Sen. John Celona, had been on recess since the courtroom went dark just after 9:30 a.m. The proceedings were moved next door the John O. Pastore Federal Building, which also houses the Post Office Annex. Then, as the everyone was getting set up in the new room, word came in: The power was back on at the courthouse. “I’m going to have to get a wheelchair or a skateboard,” trial spectator Mary Tassonne, 72, said as she made her way back to the courthouse. The morning began with testimony from Clark Curtis, who worked for lobbyist Joseph W. Walsh on behalf of CVS, the giant drugstore chain based in Woonsocket. Curtis was being cross-examined by a lawyer for John Kramer, one of the defendants, when the power went out. Walsh testified yesterday. Kramer and Carlos Ortiz are facing bribery and conspiracy charges stemming from allegations they bribed former state Sen. John Celona. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:31 AM | Comment Spygate: Sen. Specter to discuss Walsh meeting todayU.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa, is scheduled to hold a news conference at noon today after meeting yesterday with former Patriots videotape assistant Matt Walsh. Earlier in the day yesterday, Walsh met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who announced after yesterday's meeting that further sanctions against the Patriots over the Spygate controversy were unlikely. Goodell said Walsh affirmed that he does not have, nor did he make, a tape of the St. Louis Rams’ final walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI, in 2002. Specter has helped keep the Spygate situation alive with comments critical of the league’s handling of the situation. Many have said, however, that his ties to Philadelphia-based Comcast, which is locked in a battle with the NFL over rights to the NFL Network, is driving him. Also, the Pats have had success in recent years over the league’s two Pennsylvania-based teams, the Eagles and the Steelers. Specter was initially scheduled to hold a press conference yesterday. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:20 AM | Comment Sen. Whitehouse to attend hearing on Alzheimer'sU.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Aging Committee, is scheduled to attend a hearing this morning on Alzheimer’s disease, during which former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is expected to speak publicly for the first time about her husband’s struggles with the disease, according to the senator's office. Witnesses are expected to provide an update on research and treatments, issues on early-onset diagnoses and the need for a comprehensive strategy as more Americans are diagnosed with the disease, according to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. The disease currently affects 5 million Americans, according to a committee press release. Whitehouse is expected to testify but it's unclear when. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:58 AM | Comment CVS trial: National Grid called to courthouseNational Grid has been called about a power failure at the U.S. District Courthouse in Providence that has delayed the trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing former state Sen. John Celona. David DiMarzio, clerk of the court, said the source of the problem is apparently outside the building. He said the courthouse also had a power failure, stemming from a problem outside the building, about a week-and-a-half ago, and that National Grid had been called to fix it. Judge Mary Lisi has ordered a recess in the trial of the executives, John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos Ortiz, until 11 a.m. Meanwhile, jurors are staying with court court security officers either in the jury assembly area or the deliberation room, DiMarzio said. Read about yesterday's testimony.
Posted by Jack Perry at 10:41 AM | Comment CVS trial: Power failure interrupts cross-examination
PROVIDENCE -- The courtroom went dark this morning as a lobbyist who'd worked on behalf of CVS, was testifying in a federal trial in which two former CVS executives face bribery charges. The federal court building lost power at 9:37 a.m., and Judge Mary M. Lisi asked a marshal to see the jury out for a recess that she hoped would be short. "We'll be in recess until we figure out what's going on," she said. About 2 minutes later, the lights came back on, only to flicker and turn out less than 10 minutes later. As of 9:55 a.m., the building was running on generator power. Twenty minutes later, it was still on generator power, but the court was scheduled to reconvene at 11 a.m. The morning began with testimony from Clark Curtis, who worked for lobbyist Joseph W. Walsh on behalf of CVS, the giant drugstore chain based in Woonsocket. Curtis was being cross-examined by a lawyer for John Kramer, one of the defendants, when the power went out. Walsh testified yesterday. Kramer and Carlos Ortiz are facing bribery and conspiracy charges stemming from allegations they bribed former state Sen. John Celona. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal reporter Edward Fitzpatrick
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:19 AM | Comment Robot conducts symphony, steals reporter's heartWe here at projo.com like covering extended trials, community protests and the latest tribulations of local government. But we, and by we, I mean I, also like other things. For example: robots. Honda's Asimo, (for Advanced Step in Innovative MObility) began walking in 1986, and has become more confident in its steps -- and more pleasant in appearance -- ever since. (Check out the P1 series, seriously frightening). After an appearance on one of the many morning shows today, (for "conducting" the Detroit Symphony Orchestra), we couldn't stop talking about the humanoid robot that walks up stairs, delivers coffee and can kick a soccer ball. Honda has said it wants to see the robot put to use assisting people with limited mobility. Hopefully it will not be programmed to report and write the news. Click below for another video (in English) to see how some Carnegie Melon University researchers worked to teach Asimo to navigate landscapes without human direction. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:08 AM | Comment Homeless advocates to protest Chamber's influenceA group of homeless and former homeless people will be joined by advocates this morning when they place shoes at the foot of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce to represent people who have been hurt by cuts in social services. People to End Homelessness is planning to meet at the Chamber, in Providence, at noon today. The group says in a statement that the Chamber has too much influence at the State House and that it has ignored revenue reform, at the expense of the middle class and poor. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:57 AM | Comment Boston Herald issues apology over Pats' story
The Boston Herald has issued an apology for its publication of a Feb. 2 story that stated a member of the New England Patriots video staff had videotaped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. The story cited an anonymous source. Here is the text of the apology: On Feb. 2, 2008, the Boston Herald reported that a member of the New England Patriots' video staff taped the St. Louis Rams’ walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI. While the Boston Herald based its Feb. 2, 2008, report on sources that it believed to be credible, we now know that this report was false, and that no tape of the walkthrough ever existed. Prior to the publication of its Feb. 2, 2008, article, the Boston Herald neither possessed nor viewed a tape of the Rams’ walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI, nor did we speak to anyone who had. We should not have published the allegation in the absence of firmer verification. The Boston Herald regrets the damage done to the team by publication of the allegation, and sincerely apologizes to its readers and to the New England Patriots’ owners, players, employees and fans for our error. React to the Boston Herald's apology over Spygate.
Posted by Jack Perry at 8:35 AM | Comment Lobbyist to take the stand today in CVS trialA lobbyist who worked for a former Warwick mayor is expected to take the stand today in the trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing a former state senator. In court yesterday, Vice President of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Paul DeRoche testified about his dealings with the former senator, John Celona, and with the two CVS executives, Carlos Ortiz and John “Jack” Kramer. And State House lobbyist Joseph W. Walsh, who represented CVS from 1998 to 2004, testified about his work lobbying, legislation and his dealings with Celona. Walsh testified that Celona had repeatedly sought a meeting with Tom Ryan, chief executive officer of CVS. Walsh testified that he eventually arranged a meeting between Celona, Kramer and Ortiz. Clark Curtis, a lobbyist who worked for Walsh, is expected to take the witness stand today at 9:00 a.m. in U.S. District Court. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:39 AM | Comment Bunnell trial: Closing arguments expected, then to juryPROVIDENCE -- Lawyers are expected to make their closing arguments today in the trial of a woman facing murder charges after the beating death of her 3-year-old nephew who had been in her care. On the witness stand yesterday, Katherine Bunnell, 24, denied allegations made by a babysitter that she had dropped the child, Thomas “T.J.” Wright, on the floor or brutally beat him. Bunnell’s former boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, was also called as a witness, but refused to answer questions, claiming his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Delestre also faces murder charges in the child’s death. The trial is set to resume today in Superior Court with closing arguments. The jury is expected to begin deliberations later in the day. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:36 AM | Comment Beautiful and not much elseThis is a spring day. Seventy degrees, sunny, mild winds -- not much else to say. Tonight, temperatures should drop to around 44 degrees, very calm south winds. Tomorrow won't be quite as ideal, but still pleasant, with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s. We'll also have some mild, southwest winds. To keep up with the weather, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story on former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh's meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during which Walsh acknowledged that he does not have, nor did he make, a tape of the St. Louis Rams’ final walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI, in 2002. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format.
Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 13, 2008Newport Grand to stay open later on weekendsAlthough state lawmakers in search of budget-balancing revenue just gave it the permission to do so, Newport Grand will not go to full overnight weekend and holiday gambling. Instead, it will extend hours to 2 a.m. on those days. Newport Grand issued a news release today announcing the hours after having met with Newport officials to talk about extended hours. “With more than 20 years of gaming experience, we believe extending hours of operation to 2 a.m. on weekends and holidays is operating under best practices, and presents the most effective way to grow revenue," Diane Hurley, Newport Grand's chief executive officer, said in the statement. "Newport Grand will continue to closely monitor revenues and operations during the extended hours, and will make future business decisions based on this criteria." Before the law change, the gaming facility hours had been 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, according to its Web site. The new law allows the two privately owned video-slots emporiums to stay open overnight on Fridays, Saturdays and state and federal holidays. They are allowed to be open until 3 a.m. all other days. The law also has a one-year sunset clause to allow lawmakers to re-examine impact of the overnight gambling on revenue and the communities. Hurley said in today's statement that as "a vital partner" with the state, "we have a responsibility to maximize state revenues from video lottery terminals" and added that Newport Grand representatives met with the city "to be sure they understand what our plans are for the extended hours." The General Assembly last week overrode Governor Carcieri’s veto of the 24-hour gambling as it tries to close an ominous budget deficit. The state has expected to take in about $243 million from Twin River’s video slots for the fiscal year ending June 30, and about $256 million for the year beginning July 1. The Journal has reported that lawmakers are betting on round-the-clock gambling at Twin River and Newport Grand to raise upward of $14 million in new money. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:09 PM | Comment Lawmakers' part-payment of health costs goes to HousePROVIDENCE -- The House Finance Committee late today approved a bill requiring state lawmakers to contribute 10 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Amy Rice, D-Portsmouth, now goes to the House of Representatives. Senate leaders have resisted the move. Today, Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva-Weed said she believes a lawmaker shows more leadership by voluntarily contributing toward his or her premium -- as she recently decided to do. -- With reports from Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:58 PM | Comment TSA: Did Esserman violate airport security procedures?The federal Transportation Security Administration is investigating whether Providence Police Davis confirmed that an airport police officer is said to have taken Esserman around the checkpoint at the airport in Warwick last Wednesday, but after TSA personnel stopped him, he did go through the security checkpoint. Esserman was not armed. Esserman has not been charged with any crimes. A message left by projo.com with the chief's office seeking comment was not immediately returned.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:25 PM | Comment Surfer swept out to sea off Matunuck rescuedA 19-year-old surfer was rescued by the Coast Guard today after being swept about two miles out into rough seas in 34-knot winds off Matunuck Beach. Natalie Baggesen of the village of Ashaway in Hopkinton was getting farther and farther from the shore around noon, according to a Coast Guard news release. State Department of Environmental Management and South Kingstown police personnel helped Station Point Judith's 47-foot motor lifeboat get to Baggesen. Crew took her to Station Point Judith's boat house where Narragansett emergency medical services evaluated her. "We have an offshore wind right now, which is kind of unusual for this area," Senior Chief Petty Officer Chad Curth, officer in charge of Station Point Judith, said in the statement. "Normally, the wind blows surfers toward the shore, but the conditions now from the storm blew her out to sea." Winds have been coming from the northeast today, and area coastal temps are in the low 50s. The worst weather passed through Monday night with even stronger winds and higher seas. But the Coast Guard said that although the worst is past, "rough seas and cold water temperatures still pose a safety threat." -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney with reports from Journal staff writer Donita Naylor Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:07 PM | Comment Update: High court takes 'gap kids' case to studentsWARWICK -- As students looked on at Bishop Hendricken High School this morning, the state Supreme Court grilled lawyers about whether felony charges should be dismissed against the “gap kids” who were charged during the 130 days when Rhode Island prosecuted 17-year-olds as adults. While it usually hears arguments in Providence, the Supreme Court has revived the tradition of “riding the circuit.” Today, it convened at the Catholic school in Warwick to hear arguments in the “gap kids” controversy, as well as in two other cases. In July, the General Assembly adopted Governor Carcieri’s budget proposal to save money by treating 17-year-olds as adults in criminal matters. But the savings never materialized, and on Nov. 7 the Assembly repealed the law without making the repeal retroactive. That left about 500 “gap kids” charged as adults between July 1 and Nov. 8. In February, Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini dismissed felony charges filed against 115 of those teenagers, and he decided to hold four indictments “in abeyance” pending Family Court hearings — including the indictment of Ryan Greenberg, who has been indicted on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the boating death of another Barrington teenager. Now, the Supreme Court is weighing appeals in those matters. 
Journal photo / Mary Murphy State Supreme Court Justices Maureen McKenna Goldberg and Paul Suttell During today’s arguments, the justices zeroed in on why the law was changed in the first place. “Why is this such a hot topic?” Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg asked. “Heretofore, 17-year-olds were sufficiently and justly adjudicated in the Family Court with the exception of those who are charged with the most heinous offenses.” “I don’t quarrel with that,” said Assistant Attorney General Aaron L. Weisman, chief of the appellate unit. But he noted the General Assembly did change the law in July before changing it back in November. “All because of an effort to save money,” Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams said. “How much money?” Weisman said, “They contemplated savings of up to $3.6 million.” “And how much did they save?” Williams asked. 
Journal photo / Mary Murphy Lawyer Aaron L. Weisman Weisman said, “It turned out they did not save money.” “Of course,” Williams said. “Every single proposal that’s been made in the past two years, whether it’s furlough days or stuff like this, has not saved a single dime. And we’re talking about people here.” -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Weisman said, “There were reasons” behind the decision to change the law. “Obviously, it is far more expensive to keep someone at the Training School than to incarcerate them at the ACI.” “It’s far more expensive?” Goldberg asked. “What about A.T. Wall? Didn’t he testify to just the opposite?” Weisman said state Corrections Director A.T. Wall decided 17-year-olds should be held in protective custody at the Adult Correctional Institutions, and that proved to be “slightly more expensive” than the Training School. “What is your office’s position on these 17-year-olds? Where do you think they ought to be, Mr. Weisman?” Goldberg asked. Weisman said Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch was not in favor of the legislation that treated 17-year-olds as adults. “I wasn’t asking about legislation,” Goldberg said, “I’m asking where you send a 17-year-old in July.” “Our job is to execute the laws as passed by the General Assembly, and the General Assembly determined that for offenses committed during the period from July to November, they are going to be treated as adults,” Weisman said. “And we honor our commitment to execute the laws whether we agreed or disagreed with them at the time.” Williams said, “That’s exactly right, Mr. Weisman, and we commend you for that. Even if you have a different view personally and the attorney general feels otherwise, that is your job. But we may not buy into that, other than your duty, which we respect.” After the hearing, Williams said the Supreme Court will attempt to have this decision, along with others, completed by July 4. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:47 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Delestre takes the 5th, tot's mother wails
Delestre, like Bunnell, has been charged with murder and conspiracy to murder. He refused to answer when Bunnell’s lawyer, Gerard H. Donley, asked him whether he was in Woonsocket on the date of the murder, Oct. 30, 2004. He refused to answer when he was asked whether he knew Bunnell or Thomas J. “T.J.” Wright, the 3-year-old child he and Bunnell, T.J.'s aunt, are accused of beating to death. He refused to answer when he was asked whether he was at the apartment he and Bunnell lived rented at 2229 Diamond Hill Road. While Delestre was on the witness stand, T.J.’s mother, Karen Wright, was outside in the corridor, wailing, “I want my baby back! I want my baby back!” “He killed him. He did that. He did that,” Wright said, referring to Delestre. Wright, who is Katherine Bunnell’s sister, was unaware that Delestre was going to be called as a witness. Her children, who included a 10-year-old boy, David, and 6-year-old boy, Mickey, as well as T.J., were being taken care of by Bunnell and Delestre because Wright was serving a 2 ½ year prison sentence in 2004 in Illinois for possession of marijuana. The developments came on the last day of testimony in the trial. This morning, Bunnell took the stand, giving an account of how T. J. was hurt that differed from the prosecution's presentation, which includes testimony from the babysitter there at the time. Read about today's testimony from Bunnell, who took the witness stand in her murder trial. Read about yesterday's testimony, in which a relative said he tried to save T.J. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:04 PM | Comment State Supreme Court: No new trial for David SwainThe state Supreme Court today upheld a lower court’s decision and denied David Swain the chance for a new trial in the wrongful death suit filed by his former wife’s parents. In 2006, Swain, a former Jamestown Town Council member, was found liable in the death of his former wife, Shelley Tyre. She was an experienced scuba diver who died less than 10 minutes after entering the water with Swain when the two were on vacation in Tortola in 1999. Local authorities initially ruled her death an accident, but Tyre’s parents filed a civil suit against Swain to keep him from inheriting Tyre’s estate. Swain did not to have a lawyer during the eight-day trial and did not go to court for the first two days of proceedings. He later represented himself, but put on little defense. He was found liable, but challenged the Superior Court’s decision, appealing to the state’s Supreme Court for a retrial. In February of this year, Swain was criminally charged with murder in a British Virgin Islands court after investigators there decided to reconsider the case. He is currently being held in Her Majesty's Prison at Balsam Ghut, in the remote northeast of Tortola. Extra: Read the Supreme Court's decision (.pdf) -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with Journal archive reports Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:49 PM | Comment Town meeting approves extra bump for Lincoln schoolsLINCOLN — Voters at last night’s financial town meeting voted to increase the school committee’s 2008-09 budget by $517,248 more than the town Budget Board recommended. The Budget Board had proposed a $47.78 million school budget, a $1.1 million increase over this year’s spending, or about 2.5 percent. During the meeting at the high school last night, a motion from the floor was approved that raised the total to $48.3 million, or an overall increase of $1.67 million over this year, for a 3.6 percent jump. The rest of the Budget Board’s proposal was approved virtually as presented, for an overall town/school budget of $71.8 million The action means that the tax rate will probably go up by around 30 cents per thousand of assessed value, from $16.82 to $17.12, Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond said. -- Journal Staff Writer John Hill The vote to increase the school budget left some town officials seething, as in the weeks before the meeting the School Committee had stressed the need for a united front with the Budget Board and the town administrator on the budget that was being presented to voters. Almond said he was particularly bothered because no one during the discussion about adding the $517,248 could explain what it would pay for that was not already in the budget. “Usually, the argument is it is needed to restore something,” Almond said. “You had an entire School Committee that just sat there silent when it was asked ‘what is this money for.’ ” School Committee Chairwoman Mary Anne H. Roll said the committee was caught off guard when the increase was proposed. She said the committee had no role in preparing the motion and had been focusing its efforts on how to defend the original $47.78 million figure, not add to it. “Nobody was more surprised than the members of the School Committee,” Roll said. “We did not organize that,” she said. “We had no strategy for that.” Almond said the committee members should have spoken against the increase, but Roll said the committee members didn’t think they could, in good conscience, speak against an increase if the voters wanted to approve it. She asked what the Town Council would have done had a motion to increase town services come from the floor. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:25 PM | Comment Iway work will affect travel around ProvidenceDrivers on Routes 95 and 195 in the Providence area: Get ready for road openings, closings and alternate routes this month as work continues on the Route 195 relocation known as the Iway. * Next Monday, the state Department of Transportation will open a temporary ramp from Hoppin Street (off Point Street) to Route 195 east. The ramp will be open for about six months to allow more access to Route 195 east when the DOT closes the Friendship Street on-ramp on May 27. * The afternoon of Thursday, May 22, the DOT will open an exit from Route 195 east to India Street. The exit will permanently replace Exit 3 to Gano Street, becoming the new Exit 2 on the Iway. There will be no Iway Exit 1 as other Route 195 east exits are already numbered in order.
* May 27: The Friendship Street on-ramp to Route 195 east will close permanently. Drivers who traditionally use the on-ramp can travel on the southbound Service Road, turn left on Point Street, cross Route 95, and turn left onto Hoppin Street to use the new temporary ramp to Route 195 east. The DOT will replace the Friendship Street on-ramp with a permanent ramp from Plain Street to Route 195 east later this year. *May 29: Route 95 north Exit 20 -- the old Route 195 east exit -- will close for good. Route 95 north drivers won't be able to use it to get to Exits 1 (Downtown) and 2 (Wickenden Street) on the old stretch of Route 195. Drivers on Route 95 north will need to use the Iway to get to the East Side, East Providence and Massachusetts. The change does not affect Route 95 south drivers who want to access old Route 195 Exits 1 and 2. The DOT said it must take Exit 20 -- from Route 95 north only -- out of service so construction crews can start demolishing the old parts of Route 195 and to allow continuing Iway construction. To get to parts of Providence that had been reachable from Exits 1 and 2, the DOT suggested the following alternative routes for Route 95 north drivers: * For the College Hill/Fox Point/Lower East Side, drivers can take the Iway (Exit 19) and use the new Iway Exit 2. That will provide immediate access to Gano Street via India Street. * For the Jewelry District and the J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex, drivers must take Exit 18 (Thurbers Avenue) and follow Allens Avenue north. * For Downtown, drivers should stay on Route 95 north, take Exit 22A (Downtown/Memorial Boulevard) and head straight at the end of the ramp onto Memorial Boulevard. The DOT urged drivers to plan ahead. Information will be available by calling 511 and listening to the Highway Advisory Radio System on 1630 AM. Motorists may also call the DOT customer service at (401) 222-2450 on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:19 PM | Comment NFL's Goodell: Walsh has no new info on SpygateNFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking at the moment to the media, said Matt Walsh brought no new information on the Spygate scandal to their meeting today and that Walsh did not tell him anything that the Patriots hadn't already been punished for. He also made clear that Walsh did not tape the Rams' walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI, and that Walsh had no knowledge that anyone taped it. "As I stand before you today . . . I don't know where else I would turn [for more information],'' Goodell said, when asked if Spygate was over. Keep up with Spygate reports today via projo.com's PatsBlog ... Posted by Art Martone at 12:40 PM | Comment Company recalls beef sold in Mass., Conn.A New York company is recalling nearly 21,500 pounds of ground beef after consumers complained that they found plastic mixed in with the beef. According to a statement released by Fairbank Reconstruction Corp., based in Ashville, N.Y., there have been no reports of injury. The ground sirloin and beef, as well as sirloin and beef patties, were sold in Shaw’s Supermarkets in Massachusetts, as well as Connecticut, Maryland and New York. For more information, Fairbank Farms has a toll-free hotline: (800) 512-2291. Consumers can also visit AskKaren.gov for recall information, or call the USDA Meat and Poutry Hotline at (888) 674-6854. Click below for a full list and description of the products. 1.2-pound trays of "Shaw's Fresh Ground Sirloin 90/10." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a Julian Date of "124" on the bottom right hand corner, as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 1.3-pound trays of "Shaw's Fresh Ground Beef 80/20." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a Julian Date of "124" on the bottom right-hand corner, as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 1-pound trays of "Shaw's Fresh Ground Beef Patties 80/20." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a Julian Date of "124" on the bottom right hand corner, as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 3-pound trays of "Shaw's Fresh Ground Beef Patties Family Pack 80/20." 1.3-pound trays of "Price Chopper Fresh Ground Beef Sirloin Patties, 90% Lean 10% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/13/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 1.3- and 3-pound trays of "Price Chopper Fresh Homestyle Ground Beef Round Patty, 85% Lean 15% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/13/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 3-pound trays of "Price Chopper Pub Style Ground Beef Chuck Patty, 80% Lean 20% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/13/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 1.3-pound trays of "Price Chopper Fresh Homestyle Ground Beef Chuck Patty, 80% Lean, 20% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/13/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 5.3-pound trays of "BJ'S Fresh Ground Beef, 100% Beef, Contains 15% Fat." The labels bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/15/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 1-pound trays of "Fairbank Farms Ground Chuck Patties, 100% Beef, Contains 20% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/15/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:28 PM | Comment Deputy director to lead Providence Parks Dept.Robert McMahon, the deputy parks director who has been heading the Providence Parks Department since Alix Odgen was promoted to chief of operations for the city, is now officially heading the Parks Department. Mayor David Cicilline announced today that McMahon has been appointed to superintendent of the Parks Department. “Bob McMahon is an outstanding professional who has a keen understanding of what it takes to sustain and improve our beautiful parks system,” Cicilline said in a statement. “He’s played an extraordinary role transforming our neighborhood parks, while gaining the trust and respect of employees and residents alike. He is the perfect person to take the Parks Department to the next level of excellence.” McMahon has been the deputy parks superintendent since 1986. As superintendent, McMahon will oversee more than 100 neighborhood parks, including the Botanical Center; Museum of Natural History; Roger Williams Park Zoo; North Burial Grounds; Morsili Tennis Center; Triggs Golf Course and the Bank of America City Center. Before taking a job with the City of Providence, McMahon served as the first executive director of Keep Providence Beautiful (now GroundWork Providence) for four years. He also worked as a city planner in Brockton and Cambridge, Mass. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Brown University in political science and a master’s degree in city planning from the University of Rhode Island. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:20 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Bunnell says she never dropped toddler
PROVIDENCE -- Katherine Bunnell took the witness stand at her murder trial this morning and gave an account of the events that led to the death of 3-year-old Thomas "T.J." Wright that differed starkly from the testimony of prosecution witnesses in the case. Bunnell said she never dropped T.J., her nephew, who she gained custody of when her sister went to prison, and did not hit him hard enough to cause the injuries that left the toddler brain dead. She said she only tapped him lightly on the face twice and poured milk on his head after she and her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, returned home to their Woonsocket apartment from a night out in 2004 to find a mess on the living room floor. Bunnell, 24, and Delestre, 27, are each charged with T.J.'s murder. The couple are being tried separately because each is expected to implicate the other in T.J.'s death. Bunnell did just that when she took the witness stand today, testifying that T.J. was all right and showed none of the injuries that led to his death when she left the boy alone with Delestre early the morning of Oct. 30, 2004, to drive the babysitter home. Her testimony contradicted that of the babysitter, 18-year-old Kayla Roderick, who testified a week ago that Bunnell flew into a rage and beat T.J. savagely after Bunnell poured a jug of milk on the toddler and that Delestre hurled him across the room. Read Journal coverage of yesterday's testimony, in which a relative said he tried to save T.J. More on the case from the 7to7 News Blog ... -- With reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:01 PM | Comment Shea High loses power; students being dismissedPAWTUCKET -- Charles E. Shea Senior High School is dismissing students early because the building has lost power, according to the school Students are being let out at 11:45 a.m., according to the school's main office. Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:58 AM | Comment CVS trial: Lobbyist tells of pivotal State House meetingPROVIDENCE -- Joseph W. Walsh, a prominent State House lobbyist and a former mayor of Warwick, took the stand today in the federal corruption trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing former Rhode Island Sen. John A. Celona. Walsh testified about his years as a lobbyist for CVS, including a pivotal meeting at the State House that he arranged between Celona and the two defendants, John Kramer and Carlos Ortiz. The meeting, in the summer of 1999, came at a time when Celona was opposing CVS on critical pharmacy legislation –– and it led to further discussions culminating in Celona’s hiring in early 2000 as a $1,000-a-month consultant for the Woonsocket-based drugstore chain. ``On several occasions John –– Senator Celona –– mentioned that he wanted me to bring (CVS CEO Tom Ryan) to the State House,’’ testified Walsh. ``Several times he’d say, `Bring Ryan up here –– we want to talk to him.’ ‘’ Walsh said that he ignored Celona’s request, but then called either Kramer or Ortiz and asked them to meet with Celona. ``From my standpoint, it was just a meeting because someone requested a meeting,’’ said Walsh, who couldn’t recall many specifics. ``I looked at it as a meet-and-greet, where they could have a conversation.’’ Walsh said that he ``assumed’’ they discussed the hot bill that session, pharmacy choice, which Celona favored but CVS opposed. But he said that he didn’t recall. The legislation, which Walsh lobbied against and which failed to pass, would have forced Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and CVS to open up a restricted pharmacy network that they operated. ``I assume there would have been some give and take about that issue, and then CVS would make a case for who they are and what they’re doing in the community,’’ said Walsh. Previous testimony has indicated that in 2000, after Celona went on the CVS payroll, he stopped supporting pharmacy choice, skipping a key committee vote. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Asst. U.S. Atty. Stephen Dambruch asked Walsh if the subject of Celona possibly working for CVS came up at their 1999 meeting. ``Not to my knowledge, no,’’ replied Walsh. Dambruch also introduced documents –– memos and e-mails –– charting communications among CVS lobbyists, including Walsh and Ortiz, regarding CVS’s legislative agenda. In 2001, Celona sponsored a bill that would have required pharmaceutical manufacturers to take returns on unsold drugs from pharmacies, a measure that would have been a financial benefit to CVS. Later, a lobbyist who worked for Walsh at the law firm of Tillinghast Licht, Gayle Wolf, wrote him a memo indicating that CVS subsequently asked that the bill be held. ``Patrick and I discussed it with Senator Celona,’’ wrote Wolf, referring to Patrick Lynch, then another CVS lobbyist for Walsh and now the Rhode Island attorney general. ``He agreed at our request that the bill be held.’’ In 2003, Walsh testified, Ortiz e-mailed him that CVS wanted someone to introduce legislation allowing doctors to electronically file prescriptions, and that Ortiz had talked to Celona, who was willing to introduce the bill. Lawyers for Kramer and Ortiz cross-examined Walsh for about 90 minutes after the morning break. They elicited testimony from him that sometime in 2000 he learned that Celona was performing work for the CVS, but he said that neither Kramer nor Ortiz told him how much he was being paid or how he was being compensated. U.S. Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi dismissed the jurors at 1:45 p.m. at the conclusion of Walsh’s testimony. The trial resumes tomorrow at 9 a.m. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton, with reports from Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski See The Journal report on yesterday's opening statements. For more on the investigation known as Operation Dollar Bill, go to projo.com' s continuing report.
Posted by Jack Perry at 11:53 AM | Comment Former Pats' employee Walsh meets with Goodell
NEW YORK -- Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh spent nearly 3 1/2 hours talking to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about Spygate today, then headed to Washington to meet with Sen. Arlen Specter. Walsh did not comment after leaving the NFL offices. He traveled from Hawaii to discuss his role in New England's videotaping of opposing coaches' playcalling signals. "Out of respect for Sen. Specter, neither Mr. Walsh nor I will speak with the media prior to meeting with the Senator," said Walsh's lawyer, Michael Levy. They then got into a car to begin their trip to Washington.
-- The Associated Press Goodell and Specter each planned to hold a news conference after meeting with Walsh. Specter, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been critical of the NFL's handling of the investigation. Before the start of Goodell's news conference, the league played for the media the tapes Walsh provided. The clips cut from shots of opposing coaches going through their signals. Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, while the team was fined $250,000 and forced to forfeit its 2008 first-round draft choice. The investigation began after the NFL confiscated tapes from a New England employee who recorded the New York Jets' defensive signals from the sideline during the 2007 opener. Last week, Walsh sent the NFL eight videotapes that showed the Patriots recording playcalling signals. The tapes included signals by coaches of five opponents in six games from 2000-02. The league said the tapes were consistent with what it already knew. Walsh worked for New England from 1997 to 2003. His name surfaced just before this year's Super Bowl, nearly five months after the Patriots were sanctioned. After more than two months of negotiations, lawyers for the league and Walsh finally agreed April 23 to terms that would allow him to talk with Goodell. They include an agreement by the Patriots not to sue Walsh and to pay his legal expenses and his airfare to New York from Hawaii, where he is now a golf pro. Goodell has said that the Patriots could be subject to further sanctions if new information about previously unknown infractions arises. Specter, from Pennsylvania, met with Goodell in February after raising the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with the commissioner's answers about the handling of the investigation. Earlier that month, the Boston Herald reported that an unidentified Patriots employee illegally taped the Rams' final walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl, when New England, a two-touchdown underdog, upset St. Louis 20-17. Levy said Walsh has never claimed to have a tape of the walkthrough and was not the source for the report. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:36 AM | Comment RIPTA bus route in Coventry resumes without detourCOVENTRY -- A Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus route, detoured since early April because of Main Street's closing from Sandy Bottom Road to South Main Street, is back to its old ways. RIPTA Route 13 -- Arctic/Washington -- resumes its regular course today now that the section of Main Street has reopened, according to a news release. Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:28 AM | Comment Economic index shows deeper recesssion in R.I.The Current Conditions Index, a measure of the strength of Rhode Island’s economy, showed a severe contraction in March for the third month in a row. “The year 2008 continues to be a nightmare for Rhode Island’s economy,” said Leonard Lardaro, the University of Rhode Island professor who created the index. The index measures the behavior of 12 indicators: government employment, U.S. consumer sentiment, single-unit permits, retail sales, employment service jobs, private service producing employment, total manufacturing hours, manufacturing wage, labor force, benefit exhaustions, and unemployment rate. -- Journal Business Editor John Kostrzewa The data from the 12 indicators is used to compile an index. When the value of the index is above 50, the economy is expanding. When it is below 50, it is contracting. For January, February and March, the value was 8. By comparison, the value was also 8 in April, 1991, when a recession, a banking crisis and a major defense cutback all took their toll on the Rhode Island economy, Lardaro said. The index attained its maximum value of 100 on several occasions during 1984 and 1986. In the March 2008 index, only one of the 12 indicators, manufacturing wages, improved by 3 percent over March of 2007, reflecting some combination of skill shortages and a contraction of low-end manufacturing jobs, Lardaro said. “In March, our labor market clearly became unhinged,” Lardaro said. He cited the rise in the unemployment rate to 6.1 percent and the loss of 10,100 jobs during the last year. In a statement released with the index, Lardaro said, “Anyone who denies that Rhode Island is in a recession is clearly delusional. More importantly, based on our state’s 2008 economic performance, we have entered a second and deeper recession phase, where prior economic activity levels will continue to become ever-more unattainable. Having to eliminate large (state) budget deficits amid all this weakness will prove to be far more difficult than almost anyone here has imagined.” Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:48 AM | Comment Victim seriously injured by shooting in Providence parkPROVIDENCE -- The Providence police are still investigating yesterday’s shooting in which a teenager was injured at Davis Park. According to a police report, officers were called to the park, at the intersection of Chalkstone Avenue and Raymond Street, at about 4:40 p.m. for a report of a person with a gun. When they arrived, the police found a group of teenagers on the basketball court and one teenager on the ground bleeding from his arm and hip, according to the report. The 16-year-old victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and this morning the hospital said he is still in serious condition. Several witnesses were taken to the station for questioning. According to the report, the police learned that the shooting was on the west side of the park, where the police later found three shell casings. No suspect is identified in the report and police have not released additional information this morning. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:21 AM | Comment Ohio Lottery proposes dropping Providence gaming firmCLEVELAND -- The Ohio Lottery says it wants to replace the Rhode Island-based vendor that has operated the lottery's gaming system since 1985. The lottery said yesterday that it wants Intralot to replace GTECH Corp. in July 2009. The contract will go before a state panel next month for final approval. The contract could last up to 10 years and has an estimated worth of $170 million. Intralot is based in Athens, Greece, and its U.S. headquarters is in Atlanta. GTECH, which is headquartered in Providence, is part of Lottomatica SpA, the operator of Italy's national lottery. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:53 AM | Comment Churchgoers subdue would-be robber on Cape CodBARNSTABLE, Mass. — Bail has been set for a Cape Cod man who was subdued by churchgoers after allegedly trying to rob a collection box during a special Mother’s Day service. Police say 45-year-old Clyde Bridges arrived at the Hyannis Foursquare Portuguese Church carrying what appeared to be a handgun, but what was actually a cigarette lighter. When police arrived, they found the suspect being held on the ground by parishioners who had tackled Bridges and ripped a mask off his face. Lucas Vieira, whose father is the pastor, said he confronted the man because he was worried about the safety of parishioners, including about 20 children. Bridges was ordered held on $200,000 bail following his arraignment Monday on armed robbery charges. He also is accused of robbing a pizza delivery man earlier this month. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:45 AM | Comment Supreme Court hits the road to hear 'gap kids' caseThe state Supreme Court is riding the circuit today, all the way to Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick. The high court is set to hear arguments this morning in cases involving the so-called gap kids who were charged as adults during the 130 days that Rhode Island prosecuted 17-year-olds as adults. In February a Superior Court judge dismissed felony charges against more than 100 teenagers who had been charged, holding three in abeyance –– including that of the most well-known gap kid, Ryan Greenberg –– pending Family Court hearings on whether they can be tried as adults The state appealed the Superior Court decision, and Supreme Court will hear arguments today, but instead of hearing the case in Providence, the jurists are hitting the road, with deliberations open to the public. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:31 AM | Comment Woman accused of killing 3-year-old returns to courtThe trial of a 24-year-old woman accused of murder in the death of her 3-year-old foster child is scheduled to continue this morning. Katherine Bunnell, of Woonsocket, has been at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston since the 2004 death of Thomas "T.J." Wright. Her former boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, is also being held and faces murder charges in the death. Yesterday, a pediatrician testified that the injuries that Thomas suffered could not have been the result of a spanking. Delestre's cousin Jose A. Santiago also testified that Bunnell hung up the phone after he had called 911. He said he tried to perform CPR, but that Bunnell snatched the child from him. The trial is set to resume today in Superior Court, Providence. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:47 AM | Comment R.I. Senate to vote on bill permitting marijuana salesPROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island's Senate is expected to vote on a bill allowing nonprofit stores to sell marijuana to chronically ill patients. The proposal was scheduled for a floor vote this afternoon in the Senate. If adopted, it would then head to the House. In 2006, Rhode Island became the eleventh state to permit medical patients and their caregivers to possess small amounts of marijuana. But state lawmakers never specified how patients were supposed to buy marijuana. The drug remains illegal under federal law. Rep. Thomas Slater, who supports the proposal, says Rhode Island needs regulated marijuana stores so patients are not attacked by violent street dealers. Federal officials oppose the medical marijuana program and have raided marijuana shops in California. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Like yesterday, but betterLike yesterday, it's going to be breezy today with winds coming from the north at 20 to 25 mph. Unlike yesterday, we'll see some sun today with the National Weather Service forecasting a high temperature near 64, about 10 degrees warmer than yesterday. Skies should remain mostly clear tonight, when the temperature drops to about 45 degrees. Winds should die down to between 5 and 14 mph. Tomorrow looks better, with sunny skies, mild southeast winds and temperatures reaching 70 degrees. To keep an eye on the weather, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story reporting that Rhode Island adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Robert T. Bray, spent at least 130 days out of state at conferences, ceremonies and on military trips, at times collecting two paychecks –– his state salary plus pay from the federal government. There's also coverage of opening statements in the federal corruption trial of two former CVS executives. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 12, 2008Tonight: Laughs at Lupo's in ProvidenceLaugh Monday away in Providence tonight. Comedian Patton Oswalt at 8:30 will perform at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, 79 Washington St. Cal 331-5876, 272-5876, www.etix.com. $18 advance; $20 day of show. For more of what's happening tonight, and this week, see projo.com's calendar of events. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment Update: Shooting near Davis Park in ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- A young man was shot late this afternoon just outside the right field fence of a park near the intersection of Chalkstone Avenue and Raymond Street, City Councilman Terry Hassett said the police told him. Hassett said the police said the male has been taken to a hospital. Providence Police Major Stephen Campbell said one teenager was injured in the attack, according to The Associated Press. He did not immediately identify the victim. Campbell said detectives hope to learn more after interviewing the teenager at Rhode Island Hospital. No arrests were reported. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Bruce Landis and The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:38 PM | Comment One of RIC's own chosen to be school's new presidentWARWICK -- Nancy Carriuolo, a state higher education official and the only internal finalist in a national search, has been selected the ninth president of Rhode Island College. The state Board of Governors for Higher Education announced the selection at a meeting held this evening at the Community College of Rhode Island's Warwick campus. Carriuolo, 59, will replace John Nazarian, 75, who has served as RIC's president since 1990. Nazarian, who has spent 58 years at the college as a student, professor and administrator, announced last fall he would step down when his contract expires June 30. Carriuolo is just the second woman to serve as president of one of the state's three public colleges. She has been RIC's interim vice president for academic affairs and deputy commissioner and chief academic officer at the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education. The Journal reported last month there were three other finalists for the position: John William Folkins, chief executive officer at the Bowling Green State University Research Institute in Bowling Green, Ohio; Alfred J. Guillaume Jr., vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of French at Indiana University South Bend; and Nancy Kleniewski, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass. -- Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:30 PM | Comment Owner convicted of doing in his dog, SparkyA South Kingstown man who allegedly told a neighbor he was going to kill his pitbull, Sparky, because “a dog that won’t listen is no good" was convicted today. Edgar Goulet, 60, was found guilty of one count of malicious killing of an animal and one count of possession of a sawed-off shotgun, according to a news release from state Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch's office. The news release gave this account of the dog's shooting: One of Goulet’s neighbors, Heidi Eklund, was raking leaves at her house on Mautucket Road in May 2006 when Goulet’s dog, Sparky, ran into her yard. Goulet, who lives at 20 Nautilus Drive East, told Eklund to put her own dog away so he could catch Sparky. Goulet said that as soon as he caught his dog, Eklund said, he was going to kill it because “a dog that won’t listen is no good." Goulet led Sparky back into his yard, and Eklund pleaded with him not to harm the dog. A little later, Eklund resumed raking and heard Goulet start up construction equipment, which, police later learned, was a mini-backhoe. Soon after, she heard a gunshot and saw a cloud of smoke. Then she saw Sparky streak past. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Eklund told her mother to call the police. South Kingstown officers questioned Goulet on scene, and he admitted he had shot one of his dogs and they wouldn’t be able to find it. Detectives took Goulet into custody, questioned neighbors and search Goulet’s yard. There was a fresh dirt mound with a dog tag next to it and the butt of a 22-caliber rifle sticking out from an open shed door, according to police. Detectives used a search warrant and unearthed Sparky. A bullet later removed from Sparky’s body was found by the crime lab to be a 22-caliber round. There was too much damage to the bullet to match it to the rifle, the attorney general's office said. Goulet said he killed the dog in self defense, Lynch's office said. A 2006 Journal article covering a court appearance in connection with the case reported that Goulet said Sparky bit him at least a half-dozen times through the years and that he was concerned the dog might harm his neighbor's newborn twin boys or other children. The verdict followed a four-day trial in Washington County Superior Court. Goulet was ordered held without bail and remanded to the Adult Correctional Institutions pending a scheduled July 14 sentencing. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:48 PM | Comment Award-winning author to deliver Brown baccalaureatePROVIDENCE -- Award-winning author Dave Eggers will deliver the May 24 baccalaureate address to Brown University's graduating seniors. Eggers, who received a Brown honorary degree in 2005, will speak at 3 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in America. The speech precedes the university’s 240th commencement on May 25, during which actor and filmmaker Robert Redford is among seven who will receive honorary degrees. Redford is a previous winner of another Rhode Island-based honor -- a 2002 Pell Award for excellence in the arts. Eggers founded McSweeney’s, a publishing house in San Francisco that publishes a quarterly literary magazine. He is the author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, a 2000 memoir about raising his younger brother after both their parents died of cancer within weeks of each other. The book was a 2001 Pulitzer Prize finalist. He has since written You Shall Know Our Velocity! -- a work of fiction that won the 2003 Independent Book Award, and What is the What, a fictional tale based on the experience of a Sudanese refugee. During commencement, Brown will award honorary degrees to seven. Besides Redford, they are: author Edwidge Danticat, choreographer Judith Jamison, lawyer and retiring university trustee Matthew J. Mallow, National University of Singapore President Shih Choon Fong, literary agent and retiring university trustee Wendy J. Strothman, and planetary geophysicist Maria T. Zuber. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:38 PM | Comment Selectman seat, more on Somerset ballot todaySOMERSET, Mass. -- As voters headed to the polls today in Somerset, local political observers said nearly all of the races were too uncertain to call. There are 12,397 eligible voters. The polls close at 8 p.m. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:47 PM | Comment Alert: Foam makers offer $30M to Station fire victimsPROVIDENCE -- Several polyurethane foam manufacturers have tentatively agreed to pay $30 million to the victims of The Station nightclub fire in settlement of federal civil suits now pending against them in connection with the 2003 West Warwick blaze that killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others. The new settlement offers were filed today in U.S. District Court in Providence. All together, this brings the pool of money offered to victims thus far to $102.815 million. But the settlement offers are only tentative at this point. The fire victims and their families won’t be getting any of the money anytime soon. The foam companies that have offered the new settlements are: Foamex International and General Foam -- a company it acquired in 2001 which lawyers claimed may have manufactured the highly flammable foam that caught fire in The Station; Leggett & Platt; FFNC, Inc., also known as Future Foam of North Carolina; and Wm. T. Burnett & Co., Inc., three other foam manufacturers also sued by the victims. The victims’ lawyers have been conducting tests on the polyurethane foam recovered from the ruins of The Station nightclub in an attempt to determine which company manufactured the foam. They sued several companies they believed could have manufactured it. The settlement agreement as worded does not disclose which of these companies actually supplied the foam that The Station’s owners, Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, installed on the walls and ceiling of their club for soundproofing. All of the companies offering today’s settlement were sued as potential suppliers by the victims. Mark Mandell, a lawyer representing many of the fire victims, said “the settlement documents speak for themselves” and that the only comment the plaintiffs’ lawyers would be making would be in open court. The Derderians bought the soundproofing foam they installed in their club from American Foam in Johnston, another defendant in the civil suits now pending in federal court here. The fire erupted in their nightclub the night of Feb. 20, 2003, when Daniel M. Biechele, the manager for the rock band Great White, set off pyrotechnics at the beginning of the show. Sparks from the fireworks ignited the highly flammable foam that lined the walls and ceiling of the club. The fire spread so quickly that many of the patrons could not escape. Extra: See projo.com's continuing report on The Station fire and its aftermath, including a multimedia piece called Fatal Foam, featuring the results of a burn test conducted for The Providence Journal. -- Journal staff writer Tracy Breton
The suits allege that the foam manufacturers “owed a duty of care to all purchasers and/or ultimate users and/or recipients of the foam product, including plaintiffs, in the design, manufacture, testing, inspecting, producing, selling or distributing of the foam product” but failed to use such care. The victims claim that the foam manufacturers failed to adequately test and research “the effects” of the foam they manufactured; and failed to warn and educate potential and actual users of the foam’s potential hazards. The suits allege that the use and misuse of such foam “is a foreseeable hazard” and that polyurethane foam “used as an interior finish has been the primary fuel load in fatal fires in places of public assembly for decades.” The public, the lawsuits say, is not aware of this and should have been warned. “It was manufactured and sold untreated without any flame-retardant chemicals, ignited too easily, burned too easily once ignited and produced unreasonably dangerous toxic smoke and gases,” the lawsuits allege. Foamex International, a publicly traded company on the OTC exchange, was sued because it took over certain assets of General Foam’s business in 2001. Leggett & Platt is a Fortune 500 company that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The lawsuits allege that Leggett & Platt, doing business as Crest-Hood Foam Company and Crest Hood, manufactured highly flammable and dangerous foam that was installed at the Station. The same allegations were leveled against FFNC, a Nebraska corporation, and Wm. T. Burnett & Co., Inc., a Maryland corporation previously known as Montevideo, Inc. The $30-million settlement offer by the foam manufacturers are contingent on the plaintiffs and Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ronald R. Lagueux agreeing to them. The judge must make a determination that each settlement offer is being made in good faith before any of the money is disbursed. There’s another condition, too: Before any money is put into the pot, the lawyers representing those who want to settle want some assurance that if they pay now, they won’t be on the hook for more money later if the case goes to trial and other defendants who don’t settle are found liable and then try to come after them for part of the verdict. A court-appointed special master is working on a matrix that would be used to determine how much each plaintiff would receive. That also must be approved by the court. Not every plaintiff will share equally in whatever proceeds are given out. The grid being devised by Duke University law Prof. Francis E. McGovern -- who is donating his services to the fire victims -- takes into account such things as severity of injury and number of dependent survivors. Those suing for money damages include those who were injured in the blaze and their family members and the families of those who perished. -- Journal staff writer Tracy Breton Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:38 PM | Comment West Warwick veteran to receive Bronze StarA West Warwick resident and Army Veteran of the Vietnam War is set to receive a host of commendations this afternoon, including a Bronze Star. Joseph B. Machado Jr. will be recognized today “for bravery and valor while serving against an armed enemy of the United States during the Vietnam War,” according to a statement sent from Sen. Jack Reed. Reed, a member of the Armed Services Committee, will present Machado with a Bronze Star Medal, as well as the Purple Heart Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; the Army Commendation Medal; the Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars; the Expert Badge with Grenade Bar; the Marksman Badge with Auto Rifle Bar; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device 1960. The ceremony was set for 2 p.m. today at Reed’s office in Cranston, suite 290. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:14 PM | Comment Update: Higher ed chief Warner does not get Pa. jobPROVIDENCE -- Jack R. Warner, Rhode Island's higher education commissioner, will not become chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which announced today it's chosen a Florida university president for the post. John C. Cavanaugh, president of the University of West Florida in Pensacola, will succeed Judy G. Hample as chancellor of Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities, a Pennsylvania higher education statement says today. Warner was one of three original finalists for the Pennsylvania job. The list winnowed to Warner and Cavanaugh after Richard Wells, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh chancellor, withdrew from consideration on May 2, according to The Patriot News in Harrisburg . Warner became Rhode Island's commissioner in 2002 after more than 30 years' teaching and administration work with the Massachusetts public college system. He earns about $135,000 a year. He advises the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education and runs the Office of Higher Education, which manages and supports Rhode Island’s three public colleges: the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island. “I’m very pleased that the agenda we’ve had in Rhode Island was enough to help make me an attractive candidate to such a large and complex system as Pennsylvania’s,” Warner said today. “I have been happy in Rhode Island and am certainly committed to continue to do the work I have been doing here.” Warner, who was recruited to apply for the Pennsylvania position, said he is not looking for another job. Pennsylvania's current system chancellor is paid about $325,000 a year and is leaving to become the University of Mary Washington president in Virginia. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan and Journal archival reports Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:37 PM | Comment PETA offers free gas, tofu in thinly veiled promotionPROVIDENCE -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, angling for media coverage of their stand on global warming and animal rights, is dangling the promise of two women who will barely be covered at all. Wearing nothing but "strategically placed lettuce leaves," two ladies of animal-rights organization PETA will give out "free Tofurky brand mock-turkey sandwiches" and gift cards for two gallons of gas to the first 50 people at a Providence Shell gas station tomorrow, a PETA news release out today says. It's slated to happen at 457 Benefit St., Providence, from 2 to 3 p.m. But it's not supposed to be about a, um, meat market. PETA is "doing lunch" at the station to let drivers know "the best thing that they can do for the environment is jettison their meat-based diets. Eating meat is a more environmentally harmful habit than driving an SUV," the release states. PETA asserts that eating a pound of meat is the "environmental equivalent of driving more than 40 miles in an SUV" and that University of Chicago researchers found going to a vegan diet is more effective at countering global warming than switching to a Toyota Prius. "In a time of rising gas prices and rising concern for the environment, we're going the extra mile to help Americans fill up on vegan fuel for their tummies and gas for their tanks," Colleen Higgins, identified by PETA as "lettuce lady," said in the statement. The news release offered a Web site for more information. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:17 PM | Comment Lane closures this week on Rte. 95 for more Iway workLanes will be closed on Routes 95 and 195 this week as the state works on the next phase of the relocation of Route 195 in Providence, known as the Iway project. The state Department of Transportation closed one of the Exit 20 ramp's lanes yesterday to make room for a construction zone to build a temporary on-ramp that will bring traffic onto Route 195 East from Hoppin Street. The temporary ramp will replace the Exit 20 ramp, which is scheduled to close later this spring. During the night, today through Thursday, drivers can expect lanes to be closed on Route 95 north and south between Exits 17 and 22, and on Route 195 between Exits 1 and 5, while crews do striping and other work. The DOT says later this month it will announce more Iway construction-related closures. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:30 PM | Comment It's not just gas -- stamps get more expensive tooGas isn't the only thing that got more expensive today. 
The "Forever" stamp
Mailing a letter will now cost you more. That's because the price of first-class mail stamps went up –– again –– to 42 cents. It was just a year ago that prices skipped from 39 cents to 41 cents. The “Forever” stamps, introduced last year for 41 cents, will still work for first-class mail, even after today's rate change. There are rate changes across the board; to see them all, visit the USPS Web site. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:19 PM | Comment Threat spurs backpack searches at Cranston schoolCRANSTON -- An unspecified written threat found in a Western Hills Middle School bathroom at the end of school Friday led to a backpack search of all students and staff entering the school today, according to the principal. Principal Norma Cole would not elaborate on specifics of the threat, but said it had no time element and was in graffiti form typically found scrawled in school bathrooms. Parents on an e-mail list were notified. There have been no problems or incidents today, Cole said. Students were admitted through two entrances, where the checks were done. "Whenever there is anything that is suggestive about a threat we do backpack checks for everybody coming in," Cole said. Students noticed the graffiti at the end of the school day and reported it, she said. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:49 AM | Comment Trial of former CVS executives opens in federal court
Daniel Patelas, a trial attorney from the Justice Department’s public integrity unit in Washington, D.C, said that John R. "Jack’’ Kramer, 75, and Carlos Ortiz, 64, hired Celona as a consultant to draft and influence legislation that would help Woonsocket-based CVS. For more than three years, beginning in the late 90s, CVS paid Celona $1,000-a-month to provide the company with consulting work. "John Celona took actions and deferred from taking actions, in part, because he was being paid by CVS,’’ Patalas said. He said that the government would provide overwhelming evidence that Kramer and Ortiz are guilty of felony charges of bribery, conspiracy and fraud. Kramer and Ortiz were named in a 23-count indictment that charges them with bribery, fraud and conspiring to deprive Rhode Islanders of the honest services of a public official: Celona. Patelas said that Kramer and Ortiz bribed Celona by providing him with choice tickets to Red Sox games at Fenway Park, as well as having CVS pick up the tab for golf trips to sunny resorts in Key Biscayne, Florida, and San Diego. They also are accused of scoring tickets for Celona and his wife to attend the taping of an Oprah Winfrey show in Chicago. Kramer’s lawyer, David B. Fein, of Stamford, Conn., in addressing the jury, said that there was nothing untoward about Celona’s hiring and his relationship with CVS. He said that Celona was hired as a consultant and the professional relationship was above board. "Mr. Kramer did not intend to deceive the public,’’ Fein said. "John Celona told Kramer and Ortiz that he had received approval from the (Rhode Island) Ethics Commission to work for CVS.’’ -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Fein also said that Kramer, as senior vice president of corporate and community relations, knew what he was doing when he hired Celona to help promote the company. "Mr. Kramer was not shy in seeking publicity for CVS,’’ Fein said. He said that Kramer directed the annual CVS Charity Golf Classic at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington and the CVS 5K Classic Road Race, the state’s largest road race that attracts some of the world’s top runners each September. Fein said that Celona decided to plead guilty to cooperate with the government and provide evidence against Kramer and Ortiz when he realized that it could shave 12 months off his prison sentence. He pointed out that it took Celona months to offer up the damaging information against the former CVS executives. The trial began at 9 a.m. with Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi welcoming the jury for the criminal case that is expected to last at least three weeks. The third-floor courtroom was crowded with more than 50 lawyers, reporters and family and friends of Kramer and Ortiz. Celona, who is being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Federal Detention Center in Central Falls, is expected to spend several days in the witness stand this week. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:43 AM | Comment Bunnell trial: Toddler's injuries worse than spankingPROVIDENCE –– A pediatrician who examined Thomas “T.J.” Wright the night he was beaten said the three-year-old homicide victim had injuries far worse than commonly inflicted by a spanking when he was admitted to Hasbro Children’s Hospital barely clinging to life. “What we saw on T.J. was not normal to the discipline of a child. This was excessive force,” Dr. Reena Isaac. Dr. Isaac, who now teaches at the Baylor College of Medicine, offered the testimony this morning on the fifth day of Katherine Bunnell’s trial in Superior Court on charges of murder and conspiracy to murder. Bunell, 24 and her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, are accused of beating three-year-old T.J. to death after the boy, who had been placed in their care as foster parents, made a mess in the living room of their Woonsocket apartment. They are being tried separately because each is expected to implicate the other in the Oct. 30, 2004, beating. Delestre, who, like Bunnell, is being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions, made a videotaped statement in which he said T.J. was injured by a tumble down the stairs. But Dr. Isaac, a pediatrician with a subspecialty in forensic pediatrics and child abuse, said the injuries T.J. suffered were inconsistent with such a scenario. She said that T.J. had showed signs of multiple blunt force trauma when he came into the hospital -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:26 AM | Comment Lt. governor brings health care proposal to PawtucketThis evening Pawtucket residents can learn about and question the lieutenant governor and proponents of her proposed health care package at a public meeting this evening. In the ninth of such meetings, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts and proponents of her proposed eight-bill health-care plan will meet with residents at the library. Roberts has said in a statement that she also wants to hear anecdotes from residents, families or business owners who have had problems dealing with the rising cost of health care. The meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Pawtucket Public Library, at 13 Summer St. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:49 AM | Comment Central Falls park where teen killed gets federal moneyCENTRAL FALLS — Central Falls is receiving thousands of federal dollars to revitalize a park that was the site of a fatal shooting. Sen. Jack Reed was in town today to announce the nearly $200,000 in funding. The money is meant to help clean up and rehabilitate Jenks Park and other areas. Jenks Park is a frequent gathering spot for the city’s teenagers. Nineteen-year-old Helder Tomar was shot to death there on April 26 after he got into an argument with another teenager. Reed’s office says upgrading the park will give children a safer place to play and also could boost the economy by increasing pedestrian traffic and improving property values. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:40 AM | Comment Gasoline, heating oil hit new highs -- againIf you were among those waiting at the gas pumps yesterday, this won't come as a surprise. Gas prices in Rhode Island have increased another 10 cents in the past week to reach another record high, according to AAA Southern New England. The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.709 at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey. That's 57 cents more than drivers were paying at the beginning of the year. Another survey, by the Rhode Island Office of Energy Recourses, had the average price at $3.739 per gallon, a 13-cent increase over the price their survey found last week. Diesel fuel drivers are paying even more, an average of $4.46 per gallon, according to AAA. The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources' survey found diesel selling for $4.539 a gallon. The price of home heating oil averaged $4.309 a gallon, up 32 cents a gallon, The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. The prices in the state survey ranged from $4.549 a gallon to $4.059 a gallon. Special report: How increasing fuel prices are affecting our daily lives. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:13 AM | Comment Trial of former CVS executives to start/ Photo
PROVIDENCE — Opening statements are scheduled today in the federal corruption trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing a Rhode Island state senator. John R. Kramer, 75, and Carlos Ortiz, 64, are charged with bribery and conspiracy to deprive Rhode Islanders of the honest services of a public official, former Sen. John A. Celona, of North Providence. Last week, the prosecution and the defense chose a jury of 12 members, plus four alternates, to hear evidence in the trial, which is expected to last four weeks. Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi has scheduled testimony from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the downtown federal courthouse in Providence, leaving the afternoons free for any issues that the lawyers need to argue outside the presence of the jury. Read a special report on Operation Dollar bill. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton After both sides present their opening statements to the jury, the first witness will take the stand. While the leadoff witness was not announced, the prosecution’s featured witness, Celona, is sitting in a jail cell at the Wyatt Detention Center, in Central Falls, having been moved there last week from a federal prison in Pennsylvania. Celona, who is serving a 2½-year sentence, pleaded guilty to selling his office to CVS, Roger Williams Medical Center and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and has cooperated with authorities in the wide-ranging State House corruption probe known as Operation Dollar Bill. The CVS charges revolve around Celona’s hiring as a $1,000-a-month consultant by the nation’s biggest drugstore chain, ostensibly to help with community relations, but in reality to do the company’s bidding at the State House, prosecutors charge. One of the issues that has surfaced in pretrial skirmishes between the prosecution and the defense is the government’s proposed use of state grand-jury testimony by Ortiz suggesting that Ortiz was not enthusiastic about Celona’s hiring, and that it was more the decision of Kramer, Ortiz’s superior. Kramer’s lawyers object, saying that they would have no way to cross-examine Ortiz unless he takes the stand in his defense. Posted by Jack Perry at 9:49 AM | Comment 3 to be arraigned in Central Falls stabbingCentral Falls police say there was a non-fatal stabbing in that city yesterday. The stabbing took place near the area of Jenks Park, where two weeks ago, Helder Tomar, 19, was fatally shot. The next day, Edelmiro Roman, 16, was shot and killed at the corner of Dexter and Darling Streets. Police said at the time that the two shootings were likely related. Police say three people were involved in the stabbing and are set to be arraigned in District Court today. Their names were not immediately available. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Tatiana Pina
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:38 AM | Comment New fire chief to be sworn in in CranstonMore than 60 firefighters will share the spotlight in Cranston tomorrow -- including the city’s new fire chief -- at a ceremony for the Cranston Fire Department. James Gumbley will be sworn in as Cranston’s new fire chief and 65 firefighters will be promoted at a ceremony at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. It’s the first promotions ceremony for the department in five years. The Cranston High School West Choir will perform the National Anthem; the Cranston Firefighters Color Guard will post colors, and additional music will be performed by the Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipe and Drum. The ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Rhodes. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:20 AM | Comment Robots to the rescue (of commuters)Can Legos help the bus pick up passengers on time? A group of middle school students may answer that and other transportation related questions today at a commuting themed robotics challenge. The competition –– sponsored by the state Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the University of Rhode Island Transportation Center –– is the kick-off event for National Transportation Week, which began yesterday. Fifteen teams from 12 middle schools will be letting loose robots that they built with Lego robotics kits. The machines are charged with carrying out transportation-themed tasks, such as moving disabled vehicles to a garage or picking up passengers at a bus stop. The competition is set to begin at 10 a.m. today in the URI Memorial Ballroom. Click below for a list of participating schools. Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School of Coventry Archie Cole Middle School and our Lady of Mercy School, East Greenwich Barrington Middle School, Barrington Birchwood Middle School and Ricci Middle School, North Providence John F. Deering Middle School, West Warwick Martin Middle School and Riverside Middle School, East Providence Parkview Middle School and Bain Middle School, Cranston Perry Middle School, Providence Winman Junior High School, Warwick Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:02 AM | Comment Request for new trial in smoke-shop case delayedThe Superior Court has put off hearing a request by defense attorneys for a new trial in the case of Narragansett tribe members arrested during a police raid on a tribal smoke shop. The motion hearing was initially scheduled to begin today, but has been rescheduled for June 2. No reason was given for the postponement. The case stemmed from a July 2003 state police raid on a Narragansett Indian smoke shop that was selling cigarettes tax free. The raid on tribal land turned violent, and seven adult Narragansetts were arrested. In addition, the jury found Tribal Councilman Hiawatha Brown of assaulting a trooper and also of disorderly conduct. He was acquitted of resisting arrest. First Councilman Randy Noka was found guilty of disorderly conduct, while being cleared of resisting arrest. The jury cleared four tribal members altogether. Extra: Our full report on the raid and trial Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:19 AM | Comment Trial to start for former CVS executivesPROVIDENCE — Opening statements are scheduled today in the federal corruption trial of two former CVS executives accused of bribing a Rhode Island state senator. John R. Kramer, 75, and Carlos Ortiz, 64, are charged with bribery and conspiracy to deprive Rhode Islanders of the honest services of a public official, former Sen. John A. Celona, of North Providence. Last week, the prosecution and the defense chose a jury of 12 members, plus four alternates, to hear evidence in the trial, which is expected to last four weeks. Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi has scheduled testimony from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the downtown federal courthouse in Providence, leaving the afternoons free for any issues that the lawyers need to argue outside the presence of the jury. Read a special report on Operation Dollar bill. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton After both sides present their opening statements to the jury, the first witness will take the stand. While the leadoff witness was not announced, the prosecution’s featured witness, Celona, is sitting in a jail cell at the Wyatt Detention Center, in Central Falls, having been moved there last week from a federal prison in Pennsylvania. Celona, who is serving a 2½-year sentence, pleaded guilty to selling his office to CVS, Roger Williams Medical Center and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and has cooperated with authorities in the wide-ranging State House corruption probe known as Operation Dollar Bill. The CVS charges revolve around Celona’s hiring as a $1,000-a-month consultant by the nation’s biggest drugstore chain, ostensibly to help with community relations, but in reality to do the company’s bidding at the State House, prosecutors charge. One of the issues that has surfaced in pretrial skirmishes between the prosecution and the defense is the government’s proposed use of state grand-jury testimony by Ortiz suggesting that Ortiz was not enthusiastic about Celona’s hiring, and that it was more the decision of Kramer, Ortiz’s superior. Kramer’s lawyers object, saying that they would have no way to cross-examine Ortiz unless he takes the stand in his defense. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment May: Cold and windy?It looks like rain, and may even feel like rain, but the National Weather Service says we'll probably stay dry today. The big news is wind. We'll be breezy all day with east winds between 13 and 20 mph, gusting as high as 30 mph, and higher at the coasts. We can also expect clouds all day and temperatures reaching just 52 degrees -- about 10 degrees below average. We'll have a cloudy night tonight, with the clouds and the the winds keeping up. The sun makes a return tomorrow with high temperatures in the mid-60s and breezy, north winds between 18 and 20 mph. To keep up with the forecast, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page takes a look at the potential candidates for Rhode Island governor in 2010. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 9, 2008Update: R.I. budget gap, largest in decades, grows againPROVIDENCE -- Ten days after the General Assembly cut local community aid and some health-care benefits to balance this year's state budget, it has an even more ominous task: balancing a larger fiscal 2009 budget deficit that's grown by $50 million to $55 million, according to figures released today. The deficit for the year beginning July 1, which the governor previously put at $384 million, is projected to have grown, though it's not as simple as adding the projected growth to the previous figure, according to officials at a revenue-estimating conference at the State House today. The primary cause was said to be lagging income and sales tax collection because of the weakened state economy. The increase is not surprising given that The Journal reported Tuesday those revenue sources --the state's largest -- are down sharply through the first 10 months of the fiscal year, as lawmakers grapple with closing the largest deficit in nearly two decades. “I was pleased when the General Assembly largely accepted my spending reduction proposals for the current fiscal year,” Governor Carcieri said in a statement late today. “Unfortunately, these new projections leave us with much more work to do. In the coming weeks, I will be meeting with the legislative leadership to jointly develop plans that will resolve the expanded deficit.” Carcieri said that "whatever course we take, we must avoid raising taxes to solve this problem. Rhode Islanders already bear one of the highest total tax burdens of any state in the nation." -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau Economists reported last week that the state is one of nine around the country and the only in New England going through an economic recession. The state's tax administrator said earlier this week that sales tax collections were down $23 million, or 3.1 percent, compared with the same period last year, while income tax revenue is down $9 million, or 1 percent. Should the trend continue through the end of the fiscal year in June, as expected, it would be the first time that the state’s largest two revenue sources collectively fell since the early 1990s. Today's conference included the governor's budget officer and the fiscal advisers for the House and Senate. To close a mere $168 million deficit in this year's budget, lawmakers made cuts to aid to cities and towns, reduced health-care benefits for retired state workers and eliminated subsidized health care for more than 2,800 immigrant children. The plan doesn’t increase any state taxes, but the cuts drew rancorous debate as lawmakers finallly approved the plan. Another debate awaits them. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:00 PM | Comment Derderians to be questioned in federal civil casesPROVIDENCE -- U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Martin today entered an order which clears the way for Jeffrey and Michael Derderian to be questioned under oath by lawyers representing the victims of The Station nightclub fire in the civil cases currently pending in federal court here. Martin noted in his order that the Derderian brothers, who owned The Station the night of the deadly fire there on Feb. 20, 2003, have said in court filings that they “look forward to appearing for their depositions” and that he assumes they will not invoke their right to refuse to answer all questions posed to them based on self-incrimination grounds. However, he also pointed out that there might be a “conceivable question” that they might refuse to answer based on their 5th Amendment privilege. Jeffrey and Michael Derderian both pleaded no-contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter -- one for each person who died as a result of the fire at their nightclub. Jeffrey was spared a prison sentence. Michael Derderian was sentenced to a four-year term at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston, but the Parole Board decided to shave a year off of that term and he is scheduled to be released in October 2009. Because of the state criminal charges that were lodged against the Derderians, the federal court had entered a stay barring the victims’ lawyers from trying to question them. The victims’ lawyers moved to lift the stay late last month and Martin did so today. Read the Journal's full coverage of the Station fire and its aftermath. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:30 PM | Comment Schoolmates play for Scrabble glory in Providence
She furiously figured out word combos with fellow Park View Elementary School teammate Rebecca Rose. She sat at table 20 at the Rhode Island Convention Center where 200 fifth through eighth graders from 23 states began the two-day National School Scrabble Championship. The competition over the popular crossword board game -- now sold by Pawtucket-based Hasbro -- will crown a winning team tomorrow. Darcy and Rebecca spoke Scrabblese -- whispers, nods and head shakes -- as they squared off against two Trinity Bend Christian School boys. Words such as C-R-E-A-T-I-N-G and S-I-E-G-E suddenly multiplied on the Scrabble board. In the end, this round went to the Texas team, which posted what a Park View coach said was a high score. Yes, they said they still play on a board, even when Scrabble or similar/knock-off games are on Facebook.com and other Internet locales. Other competitors said Internet versions only supplement the board game because competing means two players working together shoulder to shoulder. And the competition has gone high tech in one vital area. When a team challenges another's reputed word, the ruling no longer falls to a lady with granny glasses who flips open a dusty dictionary. Each team walked up to a laptop computer, one of several stationed around the convention center ball room, typed in the disputed word, and braced for the news. A message in green letters appeared on screen when a word was OK. A message in red meant the word was bogus. While the event is closed to the public, you can, too, can see the play, round by round, and move by move. Click here for the entry page to the rounds, then continuing clicking to see each team's move -- displayed on an online version of a Scrabble board. You can also take a look at who the teams are, and connect to their standings. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:39 PM | Comment Alert: R.I.'s 2009 deficit now pegged at $430M-plusPROVIDENCE -- The state's fiscal 2009 budget deficit has grown to more than $430 million, based on information released today. The deficit for the year beginning July 1, previously put at $384 million, is estimated to have grown by between $50 million and $55 million. Officials, at a revenue-estimating conference at the State House today, said the primary cause was lagging income and sales tax collection because of the weakened state economy. The conference included the governor's budget officer and the fiscal advisers for the House and Senate. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Steve Peoples of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:37 PM | Comment Photos: Chicks banding together
Zybrowski said last month: "They’re like babies," he said. "They eat, and they poop and they grow. "And they become aware of their environment. They become attuned to the voice of the parents. Then they’ll begin to visually look for the parents to bring food. Then they’ll start to notice each other and things in and around the nest box. They’ll start looking at insects in the box, and then they’ll start looking out of the box, taking in their environment. "Eventually, they get closer and closer to the edge of the nest box. Then they’ll perch on the edge of the box. It’s situated so they can go out to a platform or a ledge where they’ll exercise: It’s jump and flap the wings, jump and flap the wings." Read more of Journal staff writer Tom Meade's earlier report on the falcons, and come back to projo.com for his story of today's banding and more photos. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:50 PM | Comment Twin River sets stage for 24-hour weekend gamingEnergy drinks, coffee, Bloody Marys, breakfast … it's the perfect recipe for an all-nighter. But these goodies, and more, aren’t being offered to late-night study groups. Instead, they're among the offerings from Twin River to gamblers to help usher in the era of 24-hour gaming. Representatives of the second gaming facility affected by the change, Newport Grand, said that its only plan was to “meet with the city” to determine what to do next. Twin River will offer free food and drink samples, valet parking and, more to the point, all areas of gaming –– including video lottery terminals and virtual black jack tables –– will be open through the weekend. According to a statement from the facility, overnight security will be provided by its own security team, as well as the Lincoln police and fire departments. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:47 PM | Comment Photo: The governor stumps for physical fitness
Posted by Jack Perry at 2:35 PM | Comment MLK Day of Service for Providence students tomorrowTomorrow could be just another Saturday, but for dozens of students at a Providence school, it will be a day of cleaning, learning and service to the community. Saturday marks the first Martin Luther King Day of Service, organized by Mayor David Cicilline and MLK Hall of Fame committee Lisa Niebels. Students from the MET School will clean up along Broad Street, and there will be a screening of The Children’s March, a documentary about youths who were arrested and sent to jail in Birmingham, Ala., in the 1960s. “This is about helping our children understand the power they have to change the world,” Cicilline said in a statement. “It’s my hope that the annual MLK Day of Service will help inspire our youth to become catalysts for social change in our community.” The group will meet tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. near the United Methodist Church on Broad Street. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:12 PM | Comment Traffic Alert: 7-car accident on Route 95 downtownA seven-car accident has the highway partially closed downtown this afternoon. The Transportation Management Center is reporting the left and right center lanes are blocked on Route 95 northbound at Exit22A/Downtown. Traffic is backed up north of Kinsley Avenue. The Center's Web cameras are intermittent, but you can still get an idea of the traffic situation. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:46 PM | Comment URI East Farm fest aims to get you gardeningPick a plant. Get gardening. The East Farm Spring Festival offers the opportunity. Tomorrow, rain or shine, the University of Rhode Island’s College of Environment and Life Sciences and its Master Gardeners program present horticultural activities and exhibits, and an array of plants for sale at URI's East Farm. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Strolling musicians and a tent for children's activities are among the offerings, as well as the following workshops: 10:45 a.m.—“Composting in Your Gardening Life” by Nan Quinlan, Master Gardener and Master Composter/Recycler URI East Farm is on Route 108 in Kingston. For more information, call (401) 874-2900 or see the press release from URI. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:11 PM | Comment Not quite as bad as gas, but stamp price going up, tooThere are two reasons to mail your Mothers’ Day card on time: 1) It will make you look good 2) If you wait until Monday, you’ll have to pay more.
The "Forever" stamp
That’s because come May 12, the price of first-class mail stamps is going up –– again –– to 42 cents. It was just a year ago that prices skipped from 39 cents to their present-day 41-cent price. The “Forever” stamps, introduced last year for 41 cents, will still work for first-class mail. And the U.S. States Post Office says it has 5 billion of them in stock, available for 41 cents until Sunday, which will be good beyond the rate change. There are rate changes across the board; to see them all, visit the USPS Web site. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:05 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Child had bruises, slap marks, broken bonePROVIDENCE -- Thomas "T.J." Wright had bruises all over his body, slap marks on his face, large pockets of blood in his skull, and a broken bone in his upper left thigh when a medical examiner did an autopsy on the 3-year-old victim two days after the beating that left him dead. The autopsy results, illustrated with gruesome photographs, were laid out in testimony this morning by assistant medical examiner Peter A. Gillespie today in the trial of Katherine Bunnell, 24, who is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Bunnell, who is accused with her then-boyfriend Gilbert Delestre, 27, of inflicting the injuries, kept her face down and her head on her arms throughout the testimony in Providence County Superior Court. Two jurors broke into tears and T.J.'s mother, Karen Wright, and his grandmother, Mary Bunnell, burst into tears and left the courtroom. Bunnell and her boyfriend, who are being tried separately on the same charges, had custody of T.J. and his two brothers because Wright was in prison for a marijuana charge. A witness at Bunnell's murder trial -- the babysitter she and Delestre hired to watch their two daughers, T.J. and his brothers -- said T.J. was beaten by the couple when they returned to their Woonsocket apartment about 2:30 a.m. from a night out on Oct, 30, 2004, to find a mess on the living room floor. Read Journal coverage of yesterday's testimony, during which Bunnell broke down in court. -- With reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:00 PM | Comment Compromise bill sets guidelines for offshore wind farmsBOSTON — A compromise bill on Beacon Hill would allow offshore wind farms in ocean sanctuaries, but only if they are “appropriately scaled” and subject to a strict ocean management plan. A legislative conference committee agreed this week on the bill, which could go before the full House and Senate next week. Environmentalists and other critics of an earlier House version of the bill said it would have allowed for unlimited renewable energy development in ocean sanctuaries. State Sen. Robert O’Leary, of Barnstable, said the compromise bill recognizes the need to develop renewable energy, but puts the public interest ahead of the private interest. The measure could allow for development of a proposed wind farm in Buzzards Bay, which is one of five protected ocean sanctuaries off Massachusetts. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:50 AM | Comment Senior sports competition coming to Rhode IslandThousands of athletes are coming to Rhode Island this summer to walk, run, swim –– even bowl –– in a sporting championship event that shows that youth is not a prerequisite for strength and endurance. The National Senior Games Festival and Hockey Championship includes 16 events for athletes 50 and older. Rhode Island competed against several cities, including Detroit and Ft. Lauderdale, to host the event, which is expected to bring more than 3,000 athletes to the state. "Proving that 60 really is the new 40," Mayor David Cicilline said in a statement, "the National Senior Games will bring thousands of senior athletes to the great City of Providence for exciting competition. The Games will be a great spectacle, great for the Providence economy and a great inspiration for all of us who want to stay healthy and active throughout our lives." Events, hosted by the National Senior Games Association, are scheduled for Sept. 4-7 in Providence, Warwick and East Providence. The Rhode Island Sports Councilheld a press conference today to announce the event, which the council hailed in a press release as an economic and tourism victory for the state. In addition to the hockey championship, games include billiards, ice hockey, pickleball, team bowling and weightlifting. Competitions will be at the Rhode Island Convention Center and Brown University’s Meehan Auditorium in Providence, East Providence Lanes in East Providence, and Thayer/Warburton Ice Arenas and Boston Billiards Club in Warwick. If you were 50 years old or older by Jan. 1, and want to take part, contact Ray Hoyt or Bethany Krogman at the National Senior Games Association, or Kerry Emmons at the RI Sports Council. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:06 AM | Comment Former Brown grad, Watson fellow dies in AfghanistanA Brown University graduate and former visiting fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies has died while working in Afghanistan, according to a spokeswoman at the Watson Institute. Michael Vinay Bhatia, who graduated in 1999, was working as a social scientist in Afghanistan in consultation with the U.S. Defense Department, according to the institute's Web site. The Web site didn't have any details on the cause of his death. Bhatia, of Medway, Mass., was a doctoral candidate at Oxford University, according to his biography on that school’s Web site. A magna cum laude graduate of Brown in international relations, he was a fellow at the Watson Institute from July 2006 to June 2007. Bhatia had done humanitarian work in areas of conflict across the world, including in East Timor, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, where he interviewed hundreds of combatants for his dissertation: “The Mujahideen: A study of Combatant Motives in Afghanistan, 1978 to 2005.” The author of several books, Bhatia was also a photographer and has published photos from his essay "Shooting Afghanistan -- Beyond the Conflict" on the Globalist Web site. Frederick Melo, a fellow Brown University alumnus and Bhatia’s former roommate, called Bhatia brilliant, but without the sharp edges. “He had heart. He was rarely not smiling, not laughing, not recognizing the beauty in people and in the world,” Melo said in an e-mail. “I love him and I miss him and I can’t stop crying. The world is such a colder place without him.”
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:43 AM | Comment Update: Under a spell: Scrabblers battle here todayPROVIDENCE -- They're playing Round One of the National School Scrabble Championship , held today at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Students from around the country, including Rhode Island, are competing in the board game version of crosswords, trademarked in 1948 and now owned by Pawtucket-based Hasbro. How it works, according to the school Scrabble Web site: Students play in teams of two. Each team plays six games. The games are timed with digital clocks, which will be provided, and each team has a total of 22 minutes per game in which to make all of their plays before incurring an overtime penalty. While the event is closed to the public, you can watch the play online, move by move. Click here for the entry page to the rounds, then continuing clicking to see each team's move -- displayed on an online version of a Scrabble board. You can also take a look at who the teams are, and connect to their standings. The tournament hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Posted by Mike McKinney at 8:38 AM | Comment N.E. grid operator lifts power watchBOSTON -- The operator of New England's power grid has lifted a power watch for Boston and northeastern Massachusetts. ISO-New England issued the advisory yesterday after unexpected outages to a transmission line and a power plant. A spokeswoman for the Holyoke-based company said the outages, combined with scheduled plant shutdowns for spring maintenance, left the grid with a tight electricity supply in the Boston area and the state's northeastern corner. The watch was lifted at 2:30 a.m. today, according to a notice posted on ISO's Web site. The power watch was a notch below a more urgent power warning and did not apply to other areas of New England. No customer outages were reported. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Rain today and tomorrow, but Mother's Day looks betterDon't let the mild morning fool you -- it's about 50 degrees at 6:30 a.m., but the National Weather Service is forecasting a high of just 55. Depending where in the state you are, it may be raining already. We're in for nearly an inch today with winds from the northeast gusting up to 23 mph. The rain should continue into tonight, when the temperature drops about 10 degrees to 45 and winds from the north gust as high as 33 mph. We may get another full inch of rain overnight. But it doesn't stop there. More rain tomorrow morning, with clouds and breezy north winds gusting up to 33 mph. Saturday may clear up, with low temperatures near 45 degrees and mild north winds. Then -- maybe -- some relief Sunday, with sunny skies and a high temperature approaching 70 degrees. Back to iffy weather on Sunday night, with cloudy skies, rain possible and low temperatures in the low 40s. And we'll start the week the way we ended it: clouds, rain and a high temperature not even reaching 50. To keep tabs on weather through the weekend, visit projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about a Newport woman accused of bilking investors out of $7.3 million. There's also a story about which candidate Rhode Island's superdelegates back in the Democrat primary. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 8, 2008Tonight: Motown, rock in Providence; Newport reggaeThe East Side Horns and Mac Odom and Chill play rhythm and blues and Motown at The Hi-Hat, 3 Davol Square, Providence. Call 453-6500, www.thehihat.com. 8 p.m. to midnight. Hard Skin, Invasion and White Load play rock at AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence. Call 831-9327. 9 p.m. $7. All ages. Hot Like Fire plays reggae at The Rhino Bar and Grille, 337 Thames St., Newport. Call 846-0707. 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. See what else is up on the local music scene here. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:08 PM | Comment It's back: Bill seeking legislators to pay health-plan sharePROVIDENCE -- A bill introduced today would require state lawmakers to pay a share of medical, dental and vision plans that the state currently provides to them. Rep. Amy G. Rice, D-Portsmouth, re-introduced the legislation in the General Assembly. “During a time when significant cuts are being made, I find it unfair for legislators to continue to receive free health care,” Rice said in a news release. “It’s time that we, as leaders of the state, set a good example and show that we’re willing to make the same sacrifices that we’re asking others to make.” The state's part-time lawmakers get a stipend; this year, it will be $13,508. They are allowed to enroll in the state employee health, vision and dental insurance programs, either as an individual or in a family plan, without paying anything toward the premium. Lawmakers’ full medical, dental and vision benefits cost taxpayers $5,810 for an individual plan and $16,233 for a family plan, according to the news release. Those costs are projected to go to $6,305 for individuals and $17,620 for families as of July 1. Under the Rice legislation, lawmakers would be required to pay 10 percent of their health care costs. The bill would also ban legislators from receiving any payment for waiving their health insurance benefits. Lawmakers now get a $2,002 stipend for waiving state health insurance. State employees began paying a portion of medical, vision and dental insurance -- either a percentage of wages for most union employees or, for most non-union employees, 9 to 11 percent of the premiums for individual plans and 6 to 11 percent of premiums for family plans, depending upon the employee’s salary -- in January 2005. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:05 PM | Comment Photo: Aiming to spawn cleaner waters
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:34 PM | Comment CEO: APC will stay at S. Kingstown siteSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- After looking into other possible locations for the company’s headquarters, American Power Conversion has decided there’s no place like home. Laurent Vernerey, APC’s president and chief executive officer, announced today that the $3.5 billion company will keep its corporate headquarters at its present location on Fairgrounds Road. APC makes equipment for large corporations and for consumers that make sure computers stay running when the power goes out. The company also makes cooling equipment used to keep computer servers from overheating. Vernerey said that after Schneider Electric purchased APC last year, the company began to investigate whether or not it made sense to move to another location, he said. -- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann One of the reasons APC considered moving was the fact that the Fairgrounds Road facility was built mainly as a manufacturing plant. Since then, the company has moved almost all of its manufacturing elsewhere, leaving it with a large warehouse-like space. Instead of moving, Vernerey said the company will convert the manufacturing space into something more suitable. “After looking at all of our alternatives, we have decided to make a $3 million to $4 million investment in this facility, here, to make it a greater place to work,” Vernerey said at APC’s headquarters yesterday. Besides redesigning the buildings interior, Vernerey said that some of the investment will go towards making the building more energy efficient. The improvements will be made over the next six to eight months, he said. There are 1,100 employees at the facility. Most work in corporate support positions, software engineering, research and development, and sales and marketing, Vernerey said. “Our employees have been waiting for this decision of mine for a while,” he said. “I think for the state of Rhode Island, it’s important you know we will continue to invest." Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:53 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Woman accused in toddler's death sobsPROVIDENCE -- Katherine Bunnell broke down in the court today, interrupting her trial on child murder charges, as the lead investigator read a statement he took from her just hours after 3-year-old Thomas “T.J.” Wright suffered the injuries that led to his death. “I can’t, I can’t,” Bunnell said, and started to sob as retired Woonsocket detective sergeant Todd Brien read the question from the statement, “How many times did you hit T.J.?” and her answer, “Twice, I wouldn’t abuse a kid like that.” Bunnell, 24, is being tried on charges of murder and murder conspiracy. She and her ex-boyfriend, 27-year-old Gilbert Delestre, are accused of fatally beating T.J., a foster child in their care, after they returned home from a night out three and a half years ago and found a mess the toddler had made on their living-room floor. Bunnell’s lawyer, Gerard H. Donley, tried to calm her down, putting his arm around her shoulder and whispering to her. But she continued to sob, and Donley asked for a recess. Judge Gilbert V. Indgelia admonished Bunnell when court reconvened. “I do not in any way want to see a situation where you cannot fully participate in your trial,” Indeglia told Bunnell while the jury was out of the courtroom. However, if there are further outbursts, Indeglia said he would have to consider the alternatives, “including having to remove you from the courtroom.” “You understand what I’m saying?” the judge asked. “Yes,” Bunnell answered tearfully. At that point, testimony resumed. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:11 PM | Comment Update: Newport broker accused of embezzling $7.3MA Newport woman duped investors out of $7.3 million, using some of the money to buy a 65-foot yacht, rent a house in St. Barths and travel to Europe and the Caribbean, according to the Rhode Island State Police. Elizabeth C. Baldwin, 62, of 1 Commercial Wharf, Apartment B26, was arrested Monday after a seven-month investigation. She faces several charges of embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, and fraudulent use of a computer, according to the state police. The state police say Baldwin, acting as an investment broker, used an "elaborate scheme" to dupe 47 investors out of their money. Investigators say she paid off early investors with money from investors she later deceived. In addition to using the money to cover losses, Baldwin used money for personal expenses, including the purchase of Van Ki Pass, a 65-foot wooden yacht. The state police began investigating after receiving a complaint in September of last year from a group of investors from Virginia Beach, Va. According to the state plice, the group gave Baldwin $1,956,650 to invest in futures and commodities. She provided the investors with monthly statements "indicating substantial returns" on their investment, according to the state police. But the investors contacted the state police after Baldwin neglected to provide a withdrawal from the account, the state police said. See the full police affidavit, including descriptions of complaints by investors, here. After her arrest, Baldwin was arraigned in 2nd Division District Court, Newport, and bail was set at $100,000 with surety bail. She was ordered to surrender her passport and forbidden from providing financial advice. She is set to appear in court for a screening next month. Assisting the State Police Financial Crimes Unit in the investigation was the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation and the Newport Police Department. Baldwin also faces a complaint by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which alleges that between 2004 and Nov. 2007, she fraudulently obtained more than $500,000 doing business under the name Newportant Group. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 4:58 PM | Comment Hearing in ex-councilman's sex-assault case delayedA pre-trial hearing for a former Central Falls councilman who faces three charges of sexual assault has been postponed to May 28. Luis Gil was arrested Nov. 12 after Providence police said they found him partially dressed in his car with a 15-year-old boy in the back seat. Gill told police he was the boy’s soccer coach. Further investigation led to two additional charges against Gil, who resigned from his council seat Nov. 23. Third-degree sexual assault, a felony, involves a defendant older than 18 who engages in sexual penetration with someone between 14 and under 16. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:50 PM | Comment Barrington student, 18, accused of molesting girl, 16BARRINGTON -- A high school student has been charged with second-degree sexual assault following allegations that he molested a 16-year-old girl on multiple occasions, some in public. Alex J. Moore, 18, of 30 Washington Rd., was arrested just before school let out on Monday, arraigned on the felony charge at the police station that evening and released on $10,000 personal recognizance, Det. Lt. Dino DeCrescenzo said today. The case has been under investigation for weeks. According to police, the victim's mother came to them at the end of March after learning that officials at the high school had already begun questioning students about Moore's behavior. The 16-year-old told police and the state attorney general's office that Moore had begun touching her at the school and outside the school sometime before Christmas, including beneath her clothing. According to police, one incident allegedly occurred the day before Good Friday on the bench in front of the school as the girl waited to be picked up by her mother. The girl said she pulled Moore's hand out from under her clothing and told him to stop. She alleged Moore responded that he wasn't going to stop until he got what he wanted. Another student subsequently alleged to DeCrescenzo that she had been touched inappropriately by Moore as well and that he stopped after she threatened to have her boyfriend beat him up. Moore is due back in court May 20. -- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:06 PM | Comment Judge wants more information in same-sex divorce casePROVIDENCE — A judge today said she needs to know more before deciding whether to ask the state Supreme Court if the Superior Court can grant Rhode Island’s first same-sex divorce. In December, the Supreme Court ruled that Family Court lacked jurisdiction to grant a divorce to two Providence women who married in Fall River in 2004, shortly after Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But now one of the women wants the high court to determine whether Superior Court — the state’s main trial court — can dissolve the marriage. During a hearing this morning, Superior Court Judge Patricia A. Hurst asked both sides to submit legal memos, and she scheduled another hearing for June 12. “You have caught me off guard with a one-page motion with no supporting memoranda, no analysis,” Hurst told Louis M. Pulner, the lawyer representing Margaret R. Chambers. But the judge did make some initial comments on the request to certify a question to Supreme Court. “Superior Court does not have jurisdiction over divorce proceedings, so the question is whether Superior Court has jurisdiction over proceedings that resolve marital rights without calling a divorce proceeding.” Hurst said. “We do not have jurisdiction over divorce proceedings. Does the court have jurisdiction over two people who want to resolve property interests? That happens every day.” Pulner said Chambers and Cassandra B. Ormiston already have a Superior Court case over property interests. What they want is a divorce, and Superior Court does have jurisdiction to grant them a divorce, he said. Pulner’s motion asks the Superior Court to pose this question to the Supreme Court: “May the Superior Court properly recognize, for the purpose of entertaining a divorce petition, the marriage of two persons of the same sex who were purportedly married in another state?” The motion says that question “is one of extreme public importance, which is capable of repetition but will evade review unless decided by the Supreme Court.” -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Jack Perry at 2:09 PM | Comment Concentration of rare whales has left Cape Cod BayBOSTON — The unusually large concentration of rare right whales that gathered last month to feed in Cape Cod Bay has moved on. The state reported today that the North Atlantic right whales have left, citing aerial surveys and acoustic buoys that listen for the whale. Boaters in the area had been warned to slow down to avoid the animal and stay 500 yards away if they spotted one. About 25 to 50 whales annually migrate to the bay in April, but unusually rich plankton slicks this year drew a bigger crowd. Scientists said 75 to 100 animals were in the bay. That’s roughly a quarter of their population estimated at 350 to 400. Now, they’ve likely moved north and east of the bay to seek greater densities of plankton. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:39 PM | Comment Facebook agrees to add safeguards against predatorsThe Facebook social networking Internet site has agreed to carry out more than 40 safeguards that Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch and 48 other attorneys general said today will better protect children from predators and objectionable content. Facebook will provide automatic warning messages when a child "is in danger of providing personal information to an unknown adult," the news release says, restrict users' ability to change their listed ages, take "more aggressive action" to remove from the site inappropriate content and groups, and mandate third-party vendors to follow Facebook’s safety and privacy guidelines. “It’s significant that another major social networking Web site that attracts millions of young users is stepping up to foster a safer online environment,” Lynch said in the statement. “Just as important, this agreement will foster a better relationship between law enforcement officials and Facebook, thus enhancing our ability to investigate and prosecute Internet crimes.” The release from Lynch's office says the agreement is similar to a pact attorneys general reached with another Web site, MySpace, in January. -- The Associated Press and projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney MySpace agreed to head a task force, which Facebook has joined, to explore and come up with age and identity identification tools for social networking Internet sites. The Internet Safety Technical Task Force reports to attorneys general every three months and will put out a report with recommendations at year's end. Facebook also has agreed to maintain and monitor a list of pornographic Web sites and regularly sever any links with such sites. It will remove groups for violations of its terms of services such as incest, pedophilia, and cyberbullying, and expel individual violators, too. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:05 PM | Comment R.I. Red Cross can funnel donations for MyanmarThe Red Cross' Rhode Island chapter today announced a local address for people to send donations to help those affected by the deadly cyclone that devastated Myanmar. Contributions may be sent directly to: The American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter, 105 Gano St., Providence, RI, 02906. Indicate Myanmar Relief in the memo line of the check. The Associated Press reports that United Nations relief supplies started arriving in Myanmar today, but U.S. military planes carrying aid were denied access by the country's regime five days after the cyclone. The AP says the military junta continues to stall on visas for U.N. teams trying to enter the country formerly known as Burma to ensure aid gets to the victims amid fears that lack of safe food and drinking water could push the death toll above 100,000. Nationally, the American Red Cross will get a $1 million contribution from the U.S. Agency for International Development top help the people affected by the cyclone, bringing the Red Cross commitment to the disaster response to $1.25 million. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:49 PM | Comment Folk or pholk: Ex-Phish singer joins Newport lineupNEWPORT -- Phish-heads and Parrot-heads, unite! Trey Anastasio, the former Phish lead singer, has been added to the Newport Folk Festival, joining Jimmy Buffett, the Black Crowes and Levon Helm. Other new additions include alt-country band Son Volt and 1960s folkster Richie Havens, who performed at Woodstock. It's Anastasio's first time playing the famed festival, and organizers say it'll be his first-ever full solo acoustic show. Phish broke up in 2004, but still have a devoted following and reunited Wednesday evening at the Jammy Awards in New York City. The folk festival lineup also includes Cat Power, Cowboy Junkies and Jakob Dylan. The festival is scheduled for Aug. 1-3 at Fort Adams State Park in Newport. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:36 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Babysitter faces tough cross-examPROVIDENCE -- The babysitter who was there the night that toddler Thomas "T.J." Wright was fatally beaten came under withering cross examination today, as the defense lawyer tried to show that her previous statements were less incriminating than the testimony she's offered at trial. Kayla Roderick, who was 15 at the time, testified yesterday that the 3-year-old boy's face and head repeatedly hit the floor when his aunt and guardian, Katherine Bunnell, was beating him. Roderick, now 18, also testified that Bunnell, still angry about a mess T.J. had made in the living room of Bunnell's Woonsocket apartment, told Roderick she wa going to kill the boy as she drove the babysitter home that night. Bunnell had come home about 2:30 a.m. from a night out 3½ years ago to find the mess on the floor. Today, defense lawyer Gerard H. Donley got Roderick to acknowledge she had omitted the death threat from the hand-written statement she gave Woonsocket police a few hours after the beating on Oct. 30, 2004. Donley sought repeatedly to impeach Roderick's testimony that T.J.'s head hit the floor over and over again when Bunnell dragged him around the apartment, alleging that Roderick did not mention the boy hitting his head when she testified at Bunnell's bail hearing and before the grand jury. The line of questioning was important because prosecutors allege T.J. suffered brain death as a result of head injuries he sustained in the beating. Prosecutor Stacey P. Veroni objected, accusing Donley of quoting selectively from Roderick's testimony at the bail hearing and before the grand jury. Veroni pointed out that while Roderick did omit mentioning the boy's head hitting the floor at certain points in her prior testimony, at other points she stated that as a fact. "There's no inconsistency with her testimony here today," Veroni told Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia. -- With reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Bunnell, 24, is being tried on charged of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Her ex-boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, 27, is expected to stand trial separately on the same charges. Prosecutors allege that Bunnell and her boyfriend beat T.J. so badly that he suffered broken bones, bruises and head injuries so severe his brain shifted inside the skull. The defense argued, in part in opening statements, that the beating that caused the death of the child came from Delestre. Read the Journal's coverage of yesterday's trial testimony. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:07 PM | Comment Germany-based market opens 2nd R.I. storeAldi, a Germany-based chain, opens its second market in Rhode Island today at 1138 Pontiac Ave., in Cranston. Aldi opened its first Rhode Island store in March at 444 Quaker Lane in Warwick. Aldi is smaller than a typical supermarket and carries about 1,300 products, many of them private label. Aldi also says that because it doesn't offer the frills of its larger competitors, its prices are lower. Aldi's world headquarters is in Essen, Germany, and its U.S. headquarters is in Batavia, Illinois. The company has 3,000 stores nationwide, 850 in the U.S. and six in New England. Aldi plans to open other Rhode Island stores in East Providence and in the former Valueland property on Smith Hill in Providence. -- Journal business editor John Kostrzewa Posted by Jack Perry at 11:56 AM | Comment Update: WaterFire dates announced
PROVIDENCE -- The city's popular WaterFire festival will go on strong this year, despite soaring costs and a weak economy, the festival will go on this year, with the same number of full lightings as last year. There will also be four partial lightings, two at the Waterplace Park basin and two between Steeple Street and Providence Place. Earlier this month, WaterFire creator Barnaby Evans said that corporate funding had fallen behind this year, but he called that fact "a concern, not a crisis." The first lighting is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. May 24. Click below for the full list of dates and times. -- with reports from Journal arts writer Bill Van Siclen Saturday, May 24 (8:08 p.m.) Friday, May 30 (8:13 p.m.) Saturday, June 21 (8:24 p.m.) Saturday, June 28 (8:25 p.m.) Saturday, August 2 (8:02 p.m.) Saturday, August 16 (7:44 p.m.) Saturday, August 30 (7:22 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 13 (6:58 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 20 (6:46 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 27 (6:34 p.m.) Saturday, Oct. 11 (6:10 p.m.) WaterFire organizers have also announced four partial lightings, beginning on Tuesday, June 3 (8:16 p.m.) and Wednesday, June 18 (8:24 p.m.) at the Waterplace Park basin. Partial lightings will also be held on Wednesday, Sept. 17 (6:51 p.m.) and Friday, Sept. 19 (6:47 p.m.) between Steeple Street and Providence Place. (Note: additional dates may be added as the WaterFire season progresses.) Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:25 AM | Comment Superior Court hears arguments over FM Global siteLawyers for CapLease, the town of Johnston, and FM Global clashed this morning in Superior Court. CapLease, which owns FM Global's existing headquarters, is pursuing a temporary restraining order to halt all construction at the site of FM Global’s new headquarters building off Central Avenue. CapLease has accused town officials of bias and helping FM Global rush the construction of the building to the detriment of CapLease’s rights during the planning and appeals period for the approval of the project. “They ignored the law to the benefit of FM Global,” CapLease’s lawyer, William Dolan, said. “If you’re FM Global and you’re in Johnston, you get what you want but no one else does.” The town's lawyer, William Conley, argued that many of CapLease's complaints should be handled during appeals hearings before town panels next week. "It's the town's position that most of what was addressed to you is not even properly before the court this morning," Conley said. Public Works Director Makram H. Megalli and Building Official Bernard J. Nascenzi, both named as defendants, were to be cross examined later today. -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds Posted by Jack Perry at 11:24 AM | Comment Hearing today in same-sex divorce casePROVIDENCE -- A hearing is scheduled for Superior Court today involving a same-sex couple who were married in Massachusetts and are trying to get a divorce in Rhode Island. Margaret R. Chambers and Cassandra B. Ormiston married in Fall River in 2004, shortly after Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Providence couple sought a divorce in Rhode Island Family Court in 2006. But in a December 2007 decision that drew national attention, a divided Supreme Court ruled that Family Court lacked jurisdiction to grant the divorce. The majority opinion said that under the law allowing Family Court to handle divorces, the word "marriage" means just one thing: the union of a man and a woman. Last month, a lawyer representing Chambers filed a motion asking Superior Court to pose a different question to the Supreme Court: "May the Superior Court properly recognize, for the purpose of entertaining a divorce petition, the marriage of two persons of the same sex who were purportedly married in another state?" Chambers’ lawyer, Louis M. Pulner, said in an interview that the December decision was based on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the 1961 statute that created Family Court, but there would be no such statute to analyze in determining if the Superior Court can grant the divorce. The motion to certify a question to the Supreme Court is scheduled to be heard before Superior Court Judge Patricia A. Hurst. Meanwhile, the General Assembly is considering several bills involving same-sex marriage, including a bill that would allow same-sex couple to divorce in Rhode Island. Posted by Jack Perry at 9:56 AM | Comment Former councilman in court on sex assault chargesA former Central Falls councilman who faces three charges of sexual assault is scheduled to appear in court this morning. Luis Gil was arrested Nov. 12 after Providence police said they found him partially dressed in his car with a 15-year-old boy in the back seat. The boy was allegedly buttoning his jeans and trying to put on a shirt when police arrived. Gill told police he was the boy’s soccer coach. Further investigation led to two additional charges against Gil, who resigned from his council seat Nov. 23. According to the Attorney General’s Office, Gil allegedly approached the boy last August as the boy was waiting for a bus in Pawtucket. Gil was initially rebuffed, but, according to the state, Gil followed the bus and talked to the boy again. Investigators allege that the two went to the former rectory of the Notre Dame Church, where they had consensual sex. Third-degree sexual assault, a felony, involves a defendant older than 18 who engages in sexual penetration with someone between 14 and under 16. Gil is due for a pre-trial conference today in Superior Court, Providence. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:47 AM | Comment Summer warning: It could be a bad year for ticks
Thomas Mather thinks this summer could be a good one for ticks, and a bad one for us. The problem starts with acorns, Mather says, which were plentiful in 2006. More acorns, more mice. More mice, more Lyme disease, which ticks transmit between the rodents and humans. “The result,” he said, “is that people will be more likely to encounter ticks that can transmit Lyme and other diseases.” Mather, an entomology professor and the director of URI’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease, also thinks the tick season will begin a little early this year –– mid May instead of late May or early June. His predictions rest on the right conditions for tick survival, “The weather could have an impact on how bad the tick season is,” he said “If we have a very dry May and June, my predictions get tossed out the window.” But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Mather suggests checking for tics thoroughly every day; using a pointy tick removing tweezers to safely remove attached ticks; treating clothes with repellent containing Permathrin and wearing treated clothes; keeping yards clear of trash and other litter; hiring a professional pest controller to treat yards. For more information, see the URI Tick Encounter Resource Center, online. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:10 AM | Comment Marine who killed Iraqi gets sentence cut, rank reductionLOS ANGELES -- A Marine from Massachusetts sentenced to 15 years in the brig for killing an Iraqi civilian had his term reduced by four years and was given a dishonorable discharge, the man's attorney and a Marine spokesman said. Lawrence G. Hutchins III was also given a reduction in rank from sergeant to private after his commanding general, Lt. Gen. Samuel T. Helland, reviewed his case, said Lt. Col. Sean Gibson, a Marine Corps spokesman who is traveling with Helland on a tour of the Middle East. As part of the process, an appeal on Hutchins' behalf will automatically be filed, Gibson said. Hutchins, of Plymouth, Mass., was the leader of an eight-man squad accused of kidnapping Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, from his home in April 2006, then marching him to a ditch and shooting him to death. The killing took place in Hamdania, a small village in Al Anbar province. He will serve his sentence at the prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. All eight squad members - seven Marines and one Navy corpsmen - were initially charged with murder and kidnapping, but four lower-ranking Marines and the sailor cut deals with prosecutors in exchange for their testimony and received sentences ranging from one to eight years in prison. Other Marines were acquitted of murder but convicted of lesser charges and freed after their courts-martial. -- The Associated Press Hutchins was sentenced Aug. 3 after being convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, making a false official statement and larceny. He had been charged with premeditated murder, but premeditation was removed from the verdict, meaning Hutchins no longer faced a mandatory life sentence. Rich Brannon, Hutchins' civilian lawyer, said he had not yet seen official paperwork approving Hutchins' sentence reduction, but that he learned of the decision Tuesday from the Marine's legal team at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. "I was pleased to see a reduction, but I would like to see more," Brannon told The Associated Press in a phone call Wednesday from North Carolina. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:06 AM | Comment Download today's front pageNew bridge restrictions and the latest sounding on the Democratic primary lead today's Journal. Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:06 AM | Comment Today's front pageThe weight limit on the Pawtucket River Bridge has been lowered again -- to 18 tons. More vehicles, including some full school buses, will be forced to take a detour. And a Journal's Washington bureau reporter gets the story from a Democratic Party insider on the Presidential Primary Race. Download a .PDF copy of today's front page to read those and other stories. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:02 AM | Comment Less sun, more rain but temperatures steady for nowYou can see for yourself, the warm, sunny days are over for the week. It's still warm, with a high temperature near 74 degrees, but we'll have clouds all day and rain on and off -- likely through the weekend. More rain tonight, with increasing clouds and temperatures dipping to about 49 degrees. Winds may pick up, too, gusting from the west as high as 24 mph. We're in for a big change tomorrow, with steady rain expected and a high temperature of just 53 degrees. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment May 7, 2008Tonight: Drowsy Chaperone on stage in ProvidenceA new musical, Drowsy Chaperone, is onstage at 7:30 tonight at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St. The Journal today said the musical revolves around a musicial-theater fan playing his favorite cast album, which comes to life in his living room. The show runs through Sunday. Tickets are $41 to $68. Call (401) 421-2787 or go to www.ppacri.org. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:50 PM | Comment Fall River man arrested for peeping into home in FosterBOSTON -- A man accused of raping and stalking a mentally disabled man is being held without bail in Bristol County after he was allegedly seen peeping in the window of the alleged victim's group home in Foster. Buddy Smith, 22, of Fall River, Mass., is accused of terrorizing the 25-year-old man, even as his family moved him from place to place to get him away from Smith. Smith is charged with rape, indecent assault and battery on a retarded person and witness intimidation after allegedly sexually assaulting the man multiple times between 2004 and 2006, said Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for Bristol District Attorney Samuel Sutter. Smith was out on $1,000 bail while awaiting a July 21 trial. He was indicted in June 2006. On Tuesday, Smith was ordered held without bail until a May 21 bail revocation hearing after he allegedly tracked the man to a group home in Foster, on the Rhode Island-Connecticut border. Witnesses told police they saw Smith peering into the window of the group home on March 20 and driving by the home on April 9, Miliote said. The man's family told police they have moved him to various group homes in Rhode Island to try to protect him from Smith. "They have moved him around several times," said Miliote. "Mr. Smith allegedly found out where this victim had been moved to, went to this group home and was peering in, looking for him." Smith's attorney, Kenneth van Colen, did not immediately return calls seeking comment today. -- The Associated Press The alleged victim's family said Smith, his uncle, William Senay, 52, of Fall River, and several other men gang raped him multiple times, beginning in 2004. Senay has also been charged with rape and indecent assault and battery on a retarded person, and is scheduled to go to trial July 21. No one else has been charged, Miliote said. Senay's attorney, Kenneth Littman, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. It was not immediately clear if Smith could face charges in Rhode Island. Phone messages left for Tiverton, Middletown and Foster police and an e-mail message left with a spokesman for the state Attorney General's office were not immediately returned. Colleen Lutkevich, executive director of The Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates for the Retarded, said the alleged victim's mother contacted her more than a year ago, saying Smith had repeatedly stalked and threatened her and her son. The alleged victim has mild to moderate mental retardation, Lutkevich said. "He's been following this boy and his family on an almost daily basis," said Lutkevich. "Every time they move him, this guy would find him again." The alleged victim's family said Smith went to the man's house in Tiverton in January 2006, and stalked him repeatedly over the next two years, including at a library in Middletown, R.I., in December, Lutkevich said. The assaults allegedly began in 2004 shortly after the victim met Smith through a friend in Fall River. Smith is accused of taking the victim to a church parking lot in Fall River, where he allegedly raped him. Miliote said prosecutors believe Smith raped the man multiple times. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:46 PM | Comment S. Kingstown bus drivers ratify new three-year contractSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The school bus drivers ratified a three-year contract this afternoon, ending the threat of a strike that hovered over the district over the past week. Members of Teamsters Local 251, the union representing drivers, aides and monitors, voted 46 to 0 to accept the deal, Shop Steward Tracie Warren said moments after the vote “I’m very pleased,” Warren said. “I’m very glad it’s over.” The union voted to strike last week in rejecting a proposal from DATTCO, the bus company. Members agreed to hold off on the strike, however, as long as the parties remained at the table. Talks had been ongoing since. The agreement includes retroactive pay and raises that bring salaries in line with other districts, Warren said. She could not provide specifics, but Cliff Gibson, chief operating officer at DATTCO, said they ranged from 3 ½ to 5 percent a year. In addition, members will be able to contribute to their 401(k) plans for the first time since those accounts were frozen when they unionized in 2001, Warren said. They also received an additional paid holiday in each year of the contract, Gibson said. “I’m glad people stood their ground and got what they wanted,” Warren said. “It’s a good deal,” Gibson said. “We’re very pleased we were able to negotiate a settlement that was good for all parties without an interruption in service.” The 36 drivers and 26 aides and monitors the union represents had been working without a contract since Jan. 1. Read Journal coverage of issues involved during the contract negotiations. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:17 PM | Comment Gov. Patrick: Gambling legislation may be backBROOKLINE, Mass. -- Despite a recent high-profile defeat, legislation to legalize casino gambling in Massachusetts "may yet come back," Gov. Deval Patrick said today. Patrick said he wasn't basing his statement on the possible departure of House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, a gambling opponent, but on a confluence of other factors. The Democrat told a Brookline Chamber of Commerce audience that an unyielding need for property tax relief, the possibility of slot machines at the state's racetracks and ongoing efforts by the Wampanoag Indians to build their own casino will reignite the discussions. "There's a lot of interest in it, and issues that die in one session don't die a permanent death. They tend to come back over time," the governor said afterward. Under one scenario, Patrick said, casino gambling supporters might try to expand the slot machine bill to include the resort-style casinos proposed by the governor. Patrick projected that his plan for three casinos would generate at least $600 million in licensing fees, $400 million in annual tax revenues and 20,000 permanent jobs. -- The Associated Press DiMasi led the effort to kill the plan. The Boston Democrat argued the revenues would be offset by social and economic costs, including lost business at traditional tourist destinations. More recently, though, potential successors have been jockeying for position as the speaker has faced allegations of ethical lapses. DiMasi has said he's not leaving and Patrick answered a flat "no" when asked whether his comments in Brookline were rooted in a suspicion the speaker would leave. Yet on two occasions with his audience, the governor raised the prospect of a renewed gambling debate. Patrick held fast to his support for the plan, despite criticism from one questioner, who labeled casino gambling "predatory." The governor said he once had doubts about casinos, but he felt the gains outweighed the costs. "It may yet come back in the Legislature. I acknowledge it's hard," he said of his plan. Later, when asked about how to provide permanent property tax relief, the governor complained the House had rejected four ideas he proposed. After ticking off his ideas for a 1 percent increases in the meals and hotels taxes, as well as closing a telecommunications tax loophole, he said, "Resort casinos have been rejected for the time being." Moments later, Patrick added: "We've got to think of some better ideas than just moving the same revenues around." A DiMasi spokeswoman refused comment. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:42 PM | Comment A first for high court: Webcast of lead-paint appealWhen the Rhode Island Supreme Court hears arguments next week in the appeals of the state's landmark lead-paint decision, anyone with Internet access will be able to watch and listen. The arguments scheduled for Thursday, May 15, are expected to draw national interest, and the judiciary issued a media planning advisory today saying the state's highest court will Webcast oral arguments for the first time. Chief Justice Frank J. Williams authorized the Webcast "because of the wide national interest in the case," the advisory said. The appeals are from the lead paint case tried in Superior Court. In 2006, a Superior Court jury concluded lead-based paint is a public nuisance in Rhode Island and that three of four paint manufacturers on trial in Providence should be held responsible. The court is readying for a crowd expected at the Licht Judicial Complex in Providence, fielding "many inquiries" from lawyers, brokerage houses and media representatives from around the country. The appeals are the only matter the Supreme Court will hear that day. It's the last hearing date on the court's calendar for this year. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:47 PM | Comment Carcieri shifts MHRH director to new advisory postGovernor Carcieri has removed Ellen R. Nelson as director of the state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals, and appointed her his special adviser on hospital acquisitions and mergers, a newly created position that the governor described as temporary. Meanwhile, Carcieri does not intend to replace Nelson at MHRH. Instead, division heads will report to the deputy secretary of health and human services, Adelita Orefice. Nelson is leaving her post to advise Carcieri on an issue over which he has no statutory authority. The director of health and the attorney general decide whether to allow hospital mergers, and have staff devoted to handling the expected proposal to merge the Lifespan and Care New England hospital groups, which has not yet been filed. The change in Nelson's position was announced by the governor's office today. Asked why the governor needed an adviser on hospital mergers, his spokesman, Jeff Neal, said: “The governor is still the head of state. He is the head of government. He is going to have an important voice in the debate about these potential hospital mergers.” Neal said Carcieri wanted someone outside the formal regulatory process to examine the big policy issues. Both Neal and Nelson said there had been no disagreement between Carcieri and Nelson, who took the helm at MHRH in 2006. Nelson said that the idea for the change came from the governor. -- Journal staff writer Felice F. Freyer With 1,600 employees and a budget of almost $500 million, MHRH is one of the largest and most complex state departments, overseeing the only state-run hospital and the state’s mental health and developmental disabilities programs. When Nelson leaves, which she said would happen probably by Monday, Craig Stenning will move from the Department of Human Services to take charge of developmental disabilities and behavioral health. John Young, currently the Medicaid director, will oversee the Eleanor Slater Hospital. Orefice said that Nelson’s departure provided the opportunity to reexamine the programs at MHRH, along with those at the four other state agencies involved with human services. Her office is looking at consolidating administrative functions and reorganizing services for better efficiencies at those agencies, she said. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:02 PM | Comment Photo: Chatting it up at Centenarian Brunch
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:57 PM | Comment Security contractor fired after shooting at ZambaranoBURRILLVILLE — In the aftermath of a shooting involving a security guard, the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation & Hospitals has cancelled its contract with a company that provided security services to Zambarano Hospital. A security guard for the North Providence company, Industrial Security and Investigators, was in violation of a hospital-mandated weapons ban when he allegedly fired a single shot at a knife-wielding intruder on Sunday evening. The intruder ran away and authorities haven’t been able to find him. The company had been informed of the anti-weapons policy twice prior to the incident, according to an MHRH spokeswoman Laurie Petrone. “We ended our contract with them yesterday,” Petrone said. “What is most important is the health and safety of the patients and the staff up at Zambarano Hospital,” she said. “We view this as a serious matter.” Now, the department is reviewing proposals submitted by other security providers during a recent bidding process. In the interim, MHRH has some security on staff at its facility in Burrillville and both the Capital Police and the State Police will assist with any security issues at the department’s hospital facility in Cranston, Petrone said. -- Journal Staff Writer Mark Reynolds Posted by Jack Perry at 2:44 PM | Comment Man struck, killed on Route 146, ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- The Route 146 exit from Route 95 north was shut down for a time overnight because the police found a man's body on Route 146 after drivers called to report someone in the road. Investigation indicated the male, who was found in the area of the Admiral Street overpass, had been struck by two vehicles, according to the state police. The police have not disclosed the person's name as they want to be sure about notification of family, according to State Police Capt. James Swanberg. The state medical examiner's office came to the scene, but no cause of death has been disclosed. The state police could not say conclusively whether the person jumped from an overpass or walked into the road, Swanberg said. Earlier this morning, at about 1:51, the state police Lincoln barracks did get a phone call from East Providence police saying there was a man threatening to commit suicide by jumping off one of the overpasses of Route 195, Swanberg said. During the next several minutes, police checked the area but did not find anyone. At about 2 a.m., the state police Lincoln barracks got a call from a male who identified himself and stated he was contemplating suicide. At about 2:06 a.m., the Lincoln barracks got a call from a driver stating someone was lying down on Route 146 north, Swanberg said. About a minute or so later, another driver contacted the barracks saying someone was lying on the highway. State troopers responded and found a body in the road. Providence police assisted in closing Route 146 from Route 95 north. The road was reopened at 3:35 a.m. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:50 PM | Comment Update: Weight limit cut again on Pawtucket River BridgePROVIDENCE -- The state Department of Transportation said this morning that it has again reduced the weight limit on the Pawtucket River Bridge, which carries Route 95, from 22 tons to 18 tons. The new weight limit will affect some loaded school buses, among other vehicles, said Kazem Farhoumand, the agency's acting chief engineer. The agency said signs posting the new limit would go up by the end of the day today. Farhoumand said that the bridge remains safe and that the weight limits have been imposed to reduce continued deterioration of the bridge to keep it in service until it can be replaced, not because of a threat of failure. He also said the DOT may repair the damaged beams prompting the new weight limit. Farhoumand said that he does not expect a large impact on truck traffic, and that the detours, set up with the DOT first reduced the weight limit in November, are working well. The DOT has been directing through truck traffic around the bridge, using Routes 146 and 295. More on detours, including maps ... Farhoumand said the reduced limit is a response to the results of an inspection that found increased deterioration of three floor beams, which run across the bridge between its main girders which run lengthwise, parallel to traffic. The bridge is actually two separate structures, one carrying northbound traffic and the other southbound. Two of the problem beams are on the southbound side and the third on the northbound side.
The DOT has already asked the General Assembly for the power to ban all vehicles with three or more axles because overweight trucks continue to use the bridge and because of the difficulty of enforcing a limit that affects many trucks when they are full but not when they are empty. Built in 1958 as part of the original interstate highway system, the bridge carries an estimated 162,000 vehicles per day. Bridge inspections are typically done once every two years, but because of its condition, the Pawtucket River Bridge has a detailed inspection every six months, the DOT says In a press release this morning, RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said, "The Pawtucket River Bridge is safe. However, in an abundance of caution and to further preserve its deteriorating condition until the bridge is replaced, we are lowering the posting of this bridge.” Posted by Jack Perry at 1:15 PM | Comment Study shows many renters losing homes, tooWASHINGTON -- Lease-abiding renters in four New England states are losing their homes to foreclosure as fast or faster than single-family homeowners who default on mortgages. That's the conclusion of a report released today by the Washington-based National Low Income Housing Coalition. The report examines Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, which have large numbers of two- and three-family homes and apartments. The NLIH estimates at least 45 percent of the housing units in the final stage of foreclosure in those four states were occupied by renters whose landlords were behind on payments. The estimate is based on foreclosure data covering all of 2007 and the first three months of this year. The Journal reported today that the state's housing market is plunging, according to information reported by the Rhode Island Association of Realtors. -- The Associated Press and projo.com staff Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:23 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Spilled milk and yogurt, then a beatingPROVIDENCE -- The babysitter whom Katherine S. Bunnell hired to care for her children the night 3-year-old Thomas "T.J." Wright was killed took the witness stand this morning to describe the beating that left the boy within an inch of his life. Kayla Roderick, who was 15 the night of the Oct. 30, 2004, beating, testified in Providence County Superior Court that Bunnell screamed, "What happened to my (expletive) house? What is that all over the floor?" when she returned home around 2:30 a.m. to find some milk, yogurt and a mixing bowl on the living room carpet. Then, according to Roderick's testimony, Bunnell, 24, and her then-boyfriend Gilbert Delestre, now 27, took turns beating T.J. Roderick testified she heard several loud slaps from the upstairs bedroom where Delestre had gone to waken T.J. Then, she said, she saw Delestre carry T.J. down the staircase and push him to the floor at the bottom of the stairs. The testimony was offered on the second day of Bunnell's trial on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She and Delestre each face the same charges but are being tried separately. Both are being held at the ACI. The beating took place in Bunnell's Woonsocket apartment and left T.J. -- who was Bunnell's nephew and one of three children in her custody -- so badly injured that he was declared brain dead and taken off life support at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence the next day. -- With reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci A police officer yesterday testified that Bunnell and Delestre were trying to put blame on the babysitter, who was asleep on the sofa of the apartment when Bunnell and Delestre came home from a nightclub around 2:30 a.m. and flew into a rage, dragged T.J. out of bed and beat him for making a mess on the living room floor. Read The Journal's coverage of the opening statements and initial testimony in the trial yesterday. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:02 PM | Comment CVS shareholders reject executive pay proposal
Generally, a "gross up" payment is given to an executive as the result of the award of a bonus or other such distribution. The executive receives not just the bonus, but also an additional amount -- the "gross up" amount -- to cover the taxes due on the bonus. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) opposes such payments and has submitted shareholder proposals to a number of companies, including Woonsocket-based CVS Caremark, seeking to restrict "gross up" awards. "We support compensation programs that tie pay closely to performance and that deploy company resources efficiently," the AFSCME proposal stated. "In our view, tax gross-ups for senior executives . . . are not consistent with these principles." CVS' board of directors opposed the change, stating its reasons in the proxy sent to shareholders before the meeting. The company does not provide gross-up awards to cover an executive's income tax payments but provides them on a "case-by-case" basis. "Tax gross-ups are used to address limited situations where the compensation intended for an executive might be unavoidably impacted by tax rules," the proxy states. "In these situations, tax gross-ups are often the only effective way to proved the intended benefit to an executive without paying the executive too much or too little." The proposal failed to get a majority of shares voted this morning, with 48.1 percent of the shares voted in favor and 43.9 percent voted against. Another 7.9 percent abstained. -- Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Jack Perry at 12:00 PM | Comment Jane Goodall talks birds to humans in Hopkinton
AP/Photo
Alex the parrot is pictured in a 2006 handout photo. In two decades of studies at MIT, Alex -- who died last September -- rivaled the chimps Koko and Washoe in his grasp of human language.
Look into the eyes of a chimpanzee, and you may see something of yourself. But if you want to hear the shared history of species, you have to turn to the parrot. Today, world renowned primatologist Jane Goodall is turning her attention to that favorite feathered pet. But at the ribbon cutting ceremony at the newest Foster Parrots Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary, she’ll be calling attention to birds that have been abandoned, abused, or even unsuccessfully hunted. The Foster Parrot Sanctuary is relocating from Boston’s South Shore to 15 acres in Hopkinton. It’s already home to about 300 birds, who live in free-flight enclosures with 24-hour supervision and access to medical care. “For me, the sight of a parrot living alone, living in a cage, deprived of flight, miserably bored, breaks my heart,” Goodall said in a statement, “And the parrot’s too, perhaps.” Animal welfare advocate and state Sen. Robert Hedlund, of Massachusetts, will join Goodall and a handful of contributors and associates at the private ceremony today. Goodall is scheduled to give a private talk tomorrow in Newport. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:37 AM | Comment Cheney to speak at Coast Guard Academy graduationNEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Coast Guard Academy says Vice President Dick Cheney will speak at its commencement ceremony May 21. Academy officials say the vice president is set to deliver the keynote address at 11 a.m. at the school's 127th commencement. President Bush spoke at the academy's graduation last year, and portrayed the Iraq war as a battle between the U.S. and al-Qaida. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff addressed cadets at the 2006 graduation. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 11:14 AM | Comment Obama or Clinton? Sen. Reed remains uncommittedAlthough Sen. Barack Obama's near-miss in Indiana and his crushing victory in North Carolina have made Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's pursuit a majority of Democratic convention delegates increasingly implausible, Sen. Jack Reed is one uncommitted party leader who remains unwilling to push her to quit the presidential race. The Rhode Island senior senator is a superdelegate, one of the unpledged party leaders who hold the key to a nominating majority that neither candidate appears able to attain by the close of the caucus and primary season on June 3. "I have not put an internal deadline'' on endorsing a Democrat for president, Reed told an interviewer this morning, "but the reality is we can't go much past the middle of June.'' "I think we've come far enough down the line that we should probably go the course, at least to see how these primaries work out." The senator added that he sees a "growing consensus" that "a logical time to begin to conclude is at the end of the primary season." As for the latest primary, Reed said "I think this has been a race that has featured constantly shifting momentum. It appears that Sen. Clinton had built some momentum. Now that seems to be shifting. That is one of the key factors we have to asses: who has the momentum going into the general election? That has been unresolved based on yesterday." "This is not about selecting a nominee," he siad, "it is about selecting a president.'' Reed remains confident that after the remaining votes are cast, it won't take long for Democrats to unite behind a standard-bearer in the general election contest against Republican Sen. John McCain. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island’s most prominent Clinton supporter, said he hopes she continues running, despite trailing in the race for delegates. “She’s entitled to fight on and I think she has a good message and I think the process is a good one.’’ But when asked what he’d tell Clinton if she called and reported she was mulling whether to stay in or pull out for the sake of party unity and possibly a chance to be vice president, Whitehouse said, “I’d probably tell her that she should do what’s in her heart.’’ He said she has put an enormous amount of work into a fight in which she has faced a hostile media environment and that she has been steeled by “operating in the toxic environment of Republican smear politics.‘’ Whitehouse declared, “I think she knows very well the position that she’s in and I trust her to make that decision.’’ Meanwhile, one of Obama’s best-known supporters, Lincoln Chafee, a former U.S. senator from Rhode Island and Republican-turned-independent, said he believes the Democratic race is over and can’t understand why Clinton doesn’t grasp the math of the competition for delegates. As for Clinton setting off on a fresh round of campaigning today, a baffled Chafee asked, “What is the strategy? It eludes me.’’ -- John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau, and M. Charles Bakst, Journal political columnist Posted by Jack Perry at 10:51 AM | Comment Mass. Gov. says casino bill could 'come back’BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick says a bill to bring legalized gambling to Massachusetts “may yet come back in the Legislature.” And he says he’s not basing his statement on the possible departure of House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, a gambling opponent. Instead, the governor told a Brookline Chamber of Commerce audience today he thinks an unyielding need for property tax relief, the possibility of slot machines at the state’s racetracks and ongoing efforts by the Wampanoag Indians to build their own casino will reignite the discussions. DiMasi led an effort to kill Patrick’s plan for three casinos in the state. Recently, potential successors have been jockeying for position as the speaker has faced allegations of ethical lapses. DiMasi has said he’s not leaving. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:28 AM | Comment System uses sound to find whales, avoid ship strikes
ON CAPE COD BAY, Mass. (AP) — A spotter bangs three times on the boat’s cabin roof, signaling the captain to cut the throttle — now. In the foggy gray of Cape Cod Bay, the reason for the abrupt stop soon becomes apparent: The research vessel is surrounded by rare North Atlantic right whales, their glossy black heads bobbing just above the surface as they feed on plankton slicks. Ship strikes are the top human-related cause of death for these mammals, which are in danger even from this vessel, a slow-moving research boat called the Shearwater. But new technology could soon help safeguard the whales by using sound, not sight, to track the creatures’ movements. “We’re listening to their chatter,” whale expert Christopher Clark said aboard the Shearwater, referring to the grunts and groans whales use to communicate. “They can’t keep their mouths shut.” The right whale was hunted nearly to extinction in the late 18th century, and the death of even one in the estimated population of 350 to 400 is a setback. Since 1986, at least 32 right whales have been killed by ships. Now researchers listen for the whales using 13 underwater microphones attached to buoys off the coast of New England. Eventually, scientists hope to follow their movements closely enough so boats can slow down and post lookouts. -- The Associated Press The slow-moving whale is oblivious to its surroundings while feeding and is frequently at risk while migrating up and down the East Coast through busy shipping lanes and waters laced with fishing gear in which it can get tangled. In the past, tracking whales often depended on inefficient aerial surveys, which were limited by weather and how often the whales surfaced. “The slower the ships go, the lower the risk of killing a whale with a ship,” said Clark, director of the bioacoustics research program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the project’s lead scientist. Kathy Metcalf of the Chamber of Shipping of America said shippers would welcome a listening system because they are currently being asked to reduce their speed despite uncertainties about where the whales actually are. “We’ve been saying all along that if we can get real-time information, we want to avoid them,” Metcalf said. Clark got the idea after a chat in 2001 with fellow whale researcher Moira Brown, who wondered if they could record the whales in Cape Cod Bay and then match the sounds with what scientists were seeing. Clark was shocked to hear the tape loaded with calls even when no one knew whales were present. He started recording more frequently in larger areas and discovered the whales were always around, even when the planes spotted nothing. Clark believes whales use the calls, similar to a grunting “moo” or a high-pitched “whoo,” to communicate who they are, where they are and where to find food. Sound moves much more efficiently in water than air, and the animals can easily talk over several miles on a calm day. Engineers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution developed a thumb-sized underwater microphone attached to a buoy to listen for the whales. Ten of the 13 buoys installed so far are in the shipping lane that runs to Boston through Stellwagen Bank, an underwater plateau at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. Each can detect a whale within a five-mile radius. Computers on the buoys separate the whale calls from other ocean noise, collect that data and periodically transmit the information to the Cornell lab, where researchers can contact navigators or call Clark’s cell phone with their findings. “I get this little beep all the time, that says, ’You’ve got whales,’” he said. When the system is complete, it will send the whales’ whereabouts by satellite to Cornell. From there, the information can be sent to a radio transmitter and broadcast to vessels. Ships operated by Excelerate Energy and Neptune LNG, both shippers of natural gas, must brake to 10 knots in whale areas under the terms of their federal license. Other ship slowdowns are voluntary. A proposed regulation under review by the White House would require all ships to slow to 10 knots if whales are in the area. Clark thinks that is a reasonable limit, but shippers object to the mandate for safety and economic reasons. Container ship lines, they say, operate on tight schedules, so slowing down means adding time to a trip and risking higher costs and lost customers. Metcalf, of the Chamber of Shipping, said reducing speeds to 10 knots can also reduce maneuverability. Her group is pushing for a provision to allow ships to increase speeds in whale areas if needed to safely navigate. “There’s no doubt that anybody on a ship, given sufficient room to do it, would take all the avoidance behaviors in the world” to prevent a strike, she said. On the Shearwater’s recent trip, whales could be seen surfacing amid whitecaps as a team sampled the reddish gooey plankton so researchers could study the whale’s food source. Knowing more about the whales’ feeding habits could eventually help scientists forecast where the animals appear. Meanwhile, Clark retrieved a malfunctioning listening buoy and repaired it. Everything on the boat stopped when a female right whale who had apparently sent out a mating call rolled on her back and waved her flank as several suitors rushed to accept the invitation. It was a hopeful sign, but Charles Mayo of Provincetown’s Center for Coastal Studies cautioned that the species remains on the edge of extinction, despite the sightings of as many as 80 right whales around Cape Cod Bay in the past month. He wonders how many concessions can be pulled out of the shipping companies or the fishing industry, which is struggling to survive. “So we slow vessels down, have we done well? Well, we’ve done as well as we could,” Mayo said. “But will that make the difference? Boy, we don’t know. It’s tough. It’s very tough.”
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:08 AM | Comment Arraignment for murder suspect todayAn arraignment is scheduled today for a man accused of shooting killing an acquaintance last May after an argument. Kelbyn Ramirez, also known as Kelvyn Ramirez, is accused of killing Aneuris Caceres, 21, in Providence. Ramirez left town after the shooting, and police put out a nationwide appeal for his whereabouts, calling him “armed and dangerous.” He was arrested four months later in South Carolina during a traffic stop. Police in that state said he was the passenger in a car in which a drug sniffing dog found four pounds of marijuana in a duffel bag. Ramirez faces murder one, and a firearms charge. According to the court calendar, he is to appear in Superior Court, Providence, in front of Magistrate Joseph A. Keough. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:50 AM | Comment Can good science equal good politics?How is science used in the political sphere? Do the tenants of science and the results of research influence policy in a straightforward way? Or do political motivations interfere with which information is ultimately used to bolster support for legislation? The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is holding a hearing this morning on Science and Environmental Regulatory Decisions, considering allegations that politicians have interfered with science at the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal departments. The hearing (which will be Webcast) will touch on topics such as lead and particulate matter, two topics well known to Rhode Islanders; next week, the state’s Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the state’s long-running case against companies that manufactured lead-based paint. And a federal judge in January ruled that the state could continue with its suit against the federal government for preventing Rhode Island and 16 other states from setting its own vehicle emissions standards. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the committee, is expected take part in the hearing, set to begin at 9:30 this morning, which will include testimony from a range of academics, researchers and industry representatives. Click below for a full list of participants. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Panel I: Dr. Paul Gilman, Chief Sustainability Officer, Covanta Energy Corporation Dr. David Michaels, PhD, MPH, Research Professor and Associate Chairman, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University Panel III: Dr. Roger O. McClellan, Private Advisor, Toxicology & Human Health Risk Analysis Dr. Lorenz Rhomberg, Principal, Gradient Corporation Dr. John Balbus, Chief Health Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:39 AM | Comment Help for families facing foreclosureThe Mayor of Pawtucket and the state's Attorney General are announcing a new program to help families who may be in danger of losing their homes because of foreclosure. James Doyle, Patrick Lynch, and representatives from housing advocacy groups are scheduled to meet this morning in front of a formerly foreclosed, vacant property in Pawtucket to announce details of an upcoming forum sponsored by the Blackstone Valley Foreclosure Assistance Forum. "As the housing crisis deepens and more and more of our homeowners find themselves facing foreclosure," Lynch said in a statement, "it's imperative to provide information as soon as possible to help navigate the myriad challenges ahead." The forum will include seminars on legal, consumer protection and financial issues; participants will also have an opportunity for one-on-one sessions with professionals. The free forum is scheduled for June 7 and will be held at Jenks Junior High School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:02 AM | Comment Visit the Journal's booth at the Business ExpoPROVIDENCE -- From expert advice on decorating your home office to dining etiquette for the busy professional to fine tuning your résumé, several free seminars will be conducted today at The Providence Journal’s booth (#617) at the Business Expo, the Rhode Island Convention Center, downtown Providence. 11:30 a.m., Decorating Your Home Office from A-Z: Find out how to set up a home office that works for you. 1:00 p.m., Dining 101: Etiquette for Busy Professionals: Learn the proper dining etiquette for business luncheons and dinners 2:00 p.m., Tips and Tricks to Fine Tune Your Résumé: Transform your résumé with expert advice The projo’s booth also features giveaways valued at $100 after each seminar, and an opportunity to enter a random drawing for a framed, keepsake projoSports poster signed by the projoSports writers and photographers who covered the Red Sox 2007 Banner year. For more information, go online to projo.com/businessexpo. Posted by Jack Perry at 8:58 AM | Comment Traffic Alert: Traffic at a stand-still on Route 195Traffic on Route 195 in East Providence is snarled this morning after a fuel leak led to lane and exit closures. The accident, on the westbound side of the roadway, has a right lane and exit ramp closed at Exit 6/Broadway/US 44. The road is like a parking lot -- find an alternate route if you can. East Providence fire and police responded to the scene along with the Department of Environmental Management’s hazardous materials team. According to the fire department, an initial investigation points to something on the roadway puncturing an SUV’s gas tank. One fire truck is still on site. To see how traffic is moving along your commute, see the Transportation Management Center's Web cameras. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:40 AM | Comment Airport corp. chief keynotes Business Expo, Day 2PROVIDENCE -- The second and last day of Business Expo 2008 will be held today at the Rhode Island Convention Center, highlighted by a keynote address by Kevin Dillon, newly appointed president and chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation. He will speak at the annual economic outlook luncheon at noon and is expected to discuss improvements at the T.F. Green Airport terminal, as well as the proposed runway expansion and construction of the intermodal facility. Other speakers scheduled for today include: Susan Lisovicz, CNN’s primary correspondent on financial news; Jeffrey Meshel, author of One Phone Call Away: Secrets of a Master Networker; Ian and Shep Murray, founders of Vineyard Vines; and Lisa Bergeron, president of Leading Women Southeastern New England. For more information, visit the chamber’s Web site at www.providencechamber.com A number of other speakers, seminars and panel discussions are scheduled during the expo entitled, “Knowledge, Power, Opportunity.” The event’s structure this year has been redesigned to give exhibitors and attendees more access to speakers and tools to help their businesses in areas such as networking, marketing and customer-focused selling. About 350 exhibitors, representing nearly every industry in Rhode Island, are scheduled to display their goods and services on the showroom floor. One destination booth this year will highlight area companies that are embracing “green technology.” Business Expo 2008 is presented by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, with Bank of America the premier sponsor. Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., Cox Business Services and The Providence Journal Co. are the event’s presenting sponsors. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 8:32 AM | Comment Be prepared: It's almost D-Day for Mother's DayThis Sunday has a special place in the hearts of many women -- it's Mother's Day. Yes, it may be a card-company opportunity, and exploited commercially. But if you know your Mom is into it, then be prepared. To help out, Journal food editor Gail Ciampa has compiled a list of area restaurants serving brunches, buffets and other meals that may sound appetizing to the woman of the house. Take a look at them here. And don't delay if you want to make a reservation. Some may already be booked up. Thinking about buying a gift? Rita Lussier, a contributor to The Journal, has an idea here with a twist. Aiming to say it with flowers? Better get your order in early, because it's a hectic time for florists. And as one local florist told this writer, you may find the price of delivering an arrangement has gone up to help cover the soaring price of gas. And what about those cards? Well, if Mom's on e-mail, you can send an electronic version. Projo.com has a few to pick from here. And to all moms, a happy Mother's Day. (Which, of course, includes my mom, Jill.) Posted by Andrea Panciera at 7:40 AM | Comment Testimony to resume in toddler T.J. Wright's murderTestimony is set to resume today in the trial of a 24-year-old woman who faces murder charges after the beating death of her 3-year-old nephew, who had been left in her care. Katherine Bunnell did slap, drag and pull Thomas "T.J." Wright around the Woonsocket apartment she and her boyfriend shared, her lawyer Gerard H. Donley said in court yesterday. But, he argued in opening statements, the fatal blows were given by Bunnell's boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, who also faces murder charges. Wright was beaten so brutally 3½ years ago that he was declared brain dead and taken off life support. Lt. Normand Galipeau, an officer who went to the couple's apartment the night of Wright's final beating, is scheduled to return to the witness stand today to testify in Superior Court, Providence. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:26 AM | Comment Lawmakers to debate gay divorce legislationPROVIDENCE, R.I. -- House lawmakers plan to debate two bills that would allow gay couples legally united elsewhere to divorce in Rhode Island courts. The House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to hear testimony today on several bills related to gay unions, including a divorce proposal backed by the Democratic majority leader. A vote is not expected. Lawmakers filed the divorce bill after Rhode Island's Supreme Court ruled in December that a lesbian couple married in Massachusetts cannot divorce in Rhode Island, where they live. Massachusetts is the only state to legalize gay marriage. One of those women, Cassandra Ormiston, has said she may relocate to Massachusetts for a year so she can file for divorce there. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment One more beauty before the rainIt's already nice outside, and it's only going to get better. By 6:30, we were already seeing temperatures in the 50s and the National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature near 74 degrees with southwest winds. Tonight may bring some showers late, when temperatures drop to 55 degrees with more mild south winds. There's also a chance that we may see a stop to these perfect days tomorrow with showers in the morning and possible thunderstorms in the afternoon. Otherwise, we'll have cloudy skies and temperatures near 68 degrees with west winds up to 18 mph. To keep an eye on possible thunderstorms, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features coverage of the Democrat primaries with the John Mulligan of the Journal's Washington bureau reporting from Indiana. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 6, 2008Tonight: Third Eye Blind plays ProvidenceAlternative rockers Third Eye Blind, whose debut album in the late 1990s helped established wide fan appeal, play Providence tonight. Third Eye Blind perform tonight at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, with Takota opening the show. The club is at 79 Washington St., Providence. Call 331-5876, 272-5876, www.etix.com. 8:30 pm. $25 advance; $28 day of show; $30 reserved. Over at AS220, performing some jazz are Um with Hal Crook, Bob Gullotti, Dave Zinno and Leo Genovese. It's at 115 Empire St., Providence. Call 831-9327. 10 p.m. $7. All ages. For more of what's happening around our area tonight, see projo.com's calendars. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment Update: Twin River acts fast on gambling-veto overridePROVIDENCE -- Within minutes of the General Assembly's override of Governor Carcieri's veto of legislation allowing weekend and holiday 24-hour gambling, a spokeswoman for Twin River said the Lincoln facility will begin round-the-clock gambling this weekend. Spokeswoman Patti Doyle said Twin River will have an announcement tomorrow about promotions and services it will start offering at 2 a.m. this Saturday. Amy Kempe, representing Newport Grand, said in a statement the only immediate plan is "to meet with the city" to address any of its concerns. The Senate voted 24 to 8 to override shortly after the House voted 51 to 16 to do so. The override -- which had been expected -- paves the way for the two video-slot emporiums to begin offering round-the-clock gambling on weekends and during overnight hours before state and federal holidays. Carcieri, a Republican, vetoed the legislation on Monday that had won approval in the House and Senate of the Democrat-dominated General Assembly. The governor cited opposition by host towns as a key reason. But the legislature pushed past the veto today. It's been estimated that expansion in gambling hours will upward of $14 million in new money for the cash-strapped state. Meanwhile, The Journal reported today that the state's tax revenues have seen a sharp decline. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:55 PM | Comment Donations sought for Audubon boardwalk repairs
Today, a group that includes members of the Audubon as well as representatives from a Florida bridge construction team is heading out to the boardwalk, which winds through a salt marsh, to assess the damage. The Audubon Society hopes to to complete restoration, with the help of the Florida team, by this summer. The Audubon Society is asking for donations from members and other supporters to help defray the cost of repairs to the boardwalk after the April 17 fire. To learn how to help, or make a donation, visit the Audubon's Web site or call at 401-949-5454. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 5:48 PM | Comment Alert: Assembly overrides Carcieri's gambling vetoPROVIDENCE -- The General Assembly has overriden Governor Carcieri's veto of legislation allowing 24-hour gambling on weekends and holidays at Twin River in Lincoln and Newport Grand. The Senate voted 24 to 8 to override shortly after the House voted 51 to 16 to do so. The override paves the way for the two video-slot emporiums to begin offering round-the-clock gambling soon on weekends and during overnight hours before state and federal holidays. Carcieri, a Republican, vetoed the legislation on Monday that had won approval in the House and Senate of the Democrat-dominated General Assembly. The governor cited opposition by host towns as a key reason. It's been estimated that expansion in gambling hours would raise upward of $14 million in new money for the state. -- With reports from Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:10 PM | Comment Alert: House overrides Carcieri veto of 24-hour gamblingPROVIDENCE -- The House voted 51 to 16 late this afternoon to override Governor Carcieri's veto of legislation allowing 24-hour gambling on weekends and holidays at Twin River in Lincoln and Newport Grand. The override is now going to the Senate, which is expected to approve an override as well. Carcieri, a Republican, vetoed the legislation on Monday that had won approval in the House and Senate of the Democrat-dominated General Assembly. The governor cited opposition by host towns as a key reason. It's been estimated that expansion in gambling hours would raise upward of $14 million in new money for the state. -- With reports from Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:59 PM | Comment Derderians willing to be questioned under oath, but ...PROVIDENCE -- Jeffrey and Michael Derderian say they are willing to submit to questioning under oath by lawyers representing victims of the disastrous 2003 fire at their Station nightclub. But the brothers say they want to retain their right to refuse to answer questions that might incriminate them. The two are insisting on being allowed to retain their right against self-incrimination because, their lawyer says, it is not certain that additional federal or state charges won’t be brought against them based on what they tell the victims’ lawyers. Lawyer Anthony Demarco concedes in the newly filed court papers that “while there has been no indication to date” that any more charges will be brought, “this does not mean that the defendants cannot, if necessary, assert their 5th Amendment right.” On Sept. 29, 2006, the brothers were sentenced in Superior Court after pleading no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter -- one count for each of the 100 patrons of their club who died from the fire. Jeffrey Derderian was spared a prison sentence. Michael Derderian was sentenced to a four-year prison term and is scheduled to be paroled, on early release, in October 2009. Extra: Special report on The Station nightclub fire and its aftermath. -- Journal staff writer Tracy Breton Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:54 PM | Comment Attleboro man charged with assault, intent to murderATTLEBORO, Mass. -- An Attleboro man was charged with assault with intent to murder after the police investigated the case of a male with multiple stab wounds early this morning. Manuel A. Mendez Jr., 49, of 20 Falmouth St. was arrested at home, a police news release says. He was also charged with home invasion and resisting arrest. Attleboro police Capt. David Proia said in an interview that the police do not believe it was a random attack; indications are the suspect and victim were acquainted. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Hill The police went to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, in Attleboro, to investigate a male with multiple stab wounds at about 4:04 a.m. The police, who did not identify the male, said they learned he was stabbed a short time earlier at his 103 Park St. residence, Attleboro. He was driven to the hospital, where the incident was reported to police. The male was "undergoing treatment" at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence at the time of the news release, received this afternoon. Proia had no more information on the male's condition. Mendez is being held at the police station and is slated to appear in Attleboro District Court tomorrow. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:14 PM | Comment Update: State shuts pharmacy after owner chargedThe state Department of Health has shut down Prime Drug Pharmacy in Providence, whose owner is one of two elderly men charged in federal court today with multiple counts of illegally distributing pain killers and expensive HIV drugs. "Because of the potential impact on public health," a health department news release says, Dr. David R. Gifford, the state health director, today issued suspensions for three pharmacy employees: Domenic Colarusso, pharmacist in charge; Carmine A. DeTomasis, pharmacist; and, Carmine D. DeTomasis, pharmacy technician. A summary suspension was also issued for the pharmacy's license, closing it. The pharmacy is located at 613 Cranston St. in the city’s West End. “We have no way of knowing that prescription medications coming from Prime Drug are the correct, prescribed dosage, that they have not expired, or that they have been kept at safe temperatures," Gifford's statement said. Gifford said pharmacy customers should not take any prescription drugs they have from the pharmacy, even if they look safe. The state Department of Health has posted information, in English and Spanish, for patients at the pharmacy’s location at www.health.ri.gov. There are also information line staff available to answer additional questions, in English and Spanish, at 1-800-942-7434 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DeTomasis, 73, a licensed pharmacist and co-owner of the pharmacy, and Louis Romanelli, 81, of Victoria Street, in Providence, were each charged with distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and distributing misbranded drugs. -- With reports from Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Adi Goldstein, an assistant U.S. Attorney, said that an undercover agent from the federal Food and Drug Administration sold Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and drugs to combat HIV to Romanelli on several occasions over the past year. In turn, she said, Romanelli sold the drugs to DeTomasis, who peddled them to his customers. Goldstein told the court that the HIV drugs alone were sold to Romanelli for $16,000. The meetings between Romanelli and the undercover agent were recorded on video and audiotape, she said. Federal and state investigators raided the drug store last night. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:00 PM | Comment Clerk: Stroke shouldn't affect Judge Lageuex' caseloadPROVIDENCE -- Despite suffering a minor stroke last week, Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald R. Lagueux is expected to continue handling cases such as a lawsuit alleging widespread abuse of children in state foster care and litigation stemming from The Station nightclub fire, a court official said today. “At this point, it doesn’t appear it will have an impact on his caseload,” Clerk of the Court David A. DiMarzio said. “If it does, we will notify counsel.” Lagueux suffered a minor stroke on Thursday and is now “resting comfortably” at home, DiMarzio said. “We were very, very lucky that it was a minor stroke,” he said. “He appears to be making a full recovery.” Lagueux, 76, of East Providence, was appointed to the U.S. District Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 after serving 18 years on the Rhode Island Superior Court. In November 2001, he went into semiretirement, assuming “senior status,” but he has continued to handle high-profile cases such as the civil cases stemming from the West Warwick nightclub fire, which claimed 100 lives in February 2003. -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:56 PM | Comment Rollins, Hancock, Botti among Newport jazz fest starsSonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock and Chris Botti are among the headliners of this summer's JVC Jazz Festival Newport, which announced its lineup today. A lot of musicians are pulling double duty at the festival, the first run by the Festival Network, which took over operations of the Newport folk and jazz festivals last year. The Friday-night opening concert, Aug. 8 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino, features Botti, with the R&B/jazz singer Ledisi opening. Then on Saturday, Aug. 9, the festival moves to Fort Adams with a main stage bill of Botti; the Wayne Shorter Quartet; the quartet of Dave Holland, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter and Eric Harland, and Ledisi. The Holland quartet will also headline the second stage, along with a trio including Charlie Haden and Paul Motian; and the dynamite New Orleans trumpeter Christian Scott returns to the third stage. On Sunday, Aug. 10, the festival concludes with Rollins, Hancock, neo-soul singer Anthony Hamilton’s Blues Project and George Wein and the Newport All-Stars (with Anat Cohen, Howard Alden, Esperanza Spalding and Jeff Ballard) on the main stage. Highlights of the side stages include Guillero Klein y Los Gauchos on the second stage and Spalding on the third stage. -- Journal pop music writer Rick Massimo Trombonist Fred Wesley, who has worked with James Brown, Prince and more, will do double duty during the festival, sitting in with the funk-jam bands Lettuce on Saturday and Soulive on Sunday. One band will be chosen to play at the festival’s third stage on Sunday based on a public vote from ensembles submitting tracks to www.ourstage.com/go/newportjazz. Tickets for the festival will go on sale Thursday at 9 a.m.; prices will be announced. They will be available at www.festivalnetwork.com, by calling (877) 655-4TIX or at the Festival Network Ticketing Offices, at 770 Aquidneck Ave., in Middletown. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:43 PM | Comment Traffic Alert: Accident on 95Two lanes on Route 95 are blocked this afternoon after an accident just south of Providence. The accident is on the northbound side of the roadway at Exit 15/Jefferson Boulevard. See updated photos of traffic throughout the state on the Transportation Management's Center's Web cameras. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:53 PM | Comment The other race in Indy
Race driver Danica Patrick prepares to practice today for the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. –– For a key demographic in the heartland this election year, how about NASCAR kids? Instead, they marched behind the stands overlooking Gasoline Alley and chanted in solidarity for the first lady of American racing. No, not Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House. Rather the multi-racial field trip group chanted, “Danica! Danica!” for the leading woman in an equally urgent drama hereabouts: race car driver Danica Patrick in the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500. The big race is not until May 25, but the pre-race festival is in full swing. Checkered flags adorn the yards in surrounding neighborhoods, with banners declaring “Welcome, race fans.” Hundreds of carloads of fans rolled onto the infield parking lots to take in the practice day laps, which yesterday featured rookies but today brought big shots like Patrick to the Yard of Bricks. As for the kids on field trips, one group from another school in another outlying town, was able to answer a tour guide’s challenge to name all of the females who competed in the Indy 500 before the redoubtable Patrick. -- John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:29 PM | Comment Photo: Business on Broadway
Sometime Tuesday morning, this banner was secured to the Broadway Street overpass in Providence.
Just after 1 p.m. today, the sign was taken down by a Department of Transportation official. According to the DOT, overpass signs are prohibited. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:24 PM | Comment Former bank chairman to run R.I. FoundationThe Rhode Island Foundation today announced that is has named Neil Steinberg, a former bank chairman and current chief of Brown University's money-raising campaign, to be president and chief executive officer. A foundation news release said the the board of directors picked Steinberg after a four-month national search by an eight-member committee. Steinberg takes up duties on Aug. 15. Steinberg has been vice president of development and campaign director at Brown since 2004 and is a former chairman and CEO of Fleet Bank-Rhode Island. During the past three years, Steinberg has headed up Boldly Brown, a campaign that raised almost $1.2 billion toward a $1.4 billion goal. He was also on the transition teams for Governor Carcieri and Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and was chairman of the group that reviewed Providence Public Library’s financial situation in 2006, according to the news release. The Rhode Island Foundation was founded in 1916. It has assets of $600 million and distributed $25.4 million in grants last year. Housing, economic development, health care, public eduction and the arts are among the areas it has supported. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:01 PM | Comment Pharmacist, 73, Providence man, 81, face drug chargesPROVIDENCE -- Two elderly men, including an owner of Prime Drug, were charged in federal court today with multiple counts alleging that they illegally distributed pain killers and expensive HIV drugs from the pharmacy on Cranston Street in the city’s West End. Carmine DeTomasis, 73, a licensed pharmacist and co-owner of the pharmacy at 613 Cranston St., and Louis Romanelli, 81, of Victoria Street, in Providence, were each charged with distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and distributing misbranded drugs. Adi Goldstein, an assistant U.S. Attorney, said that an undercover agent from the federal Food and Drug Administration sold Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and drugs to combat HIV to Romanelli on several occasions over the past year. In turn, she said, Romanelli sold the drugs to DeTomasis, who peddled them to his customers. Goldstein told the court that the HIV drugs alone were sold to Romanelli for $16,000. The meetings between Romanelli and the undercover agent were recorded on video and audiotape, she said. The state police arrested Romanelli on similar charges last November. He is awaiting trial on those felony counts. U.S. District Court Magistrate ordered Romanelli to have an electronic monitoring bracelet on his ankle as he awaits trial on the new federal charges. He also said that no one other than his wife and children are allowed to visit his home. Goldstein expressed concern that Romanelli ran an illegal drug operation out of his home and several of the people named in the sealed indictment could continue to visit him. Bail for DeTomasis was set at $150,000 with surety, meaning that he must post $15,000 to gain his release. His lawyer, James Howe, told the court that the state Department of Health had shut down Prime Drug and it had revoked DeTomasis’s pharmacy license. -- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:44 PM | Comment Bunnell trial: Placing blame for toddler's deathPROVIDENCE -- Three-and-a-half years after a 3-year-old boy was brutally beaten to death in Woonsocket, a prosecutor sought today to blame the beating on his 24-year-old aunt and her boyfriend. In his opening statement at Katherine Bunnell's murder trial, prosecutor Scott Erickson said Bunnell dragged Thomas "T.J." Wright, a child in her care, out of bed, slapped him, and struck him repeatedly because she was angry about the mess he had made in the living room of her Diamond Hill Road apartment. "What is this mess? What is going in on in my house?" Erickson said Bunnell said as she dragged the crying toddler around the first floor. Bunnell repeatedly pushed T.J. to the floor, picked him up and pushed him down again, Erickson said. She hit him over and over again, then dragged him into the kitchen and poured a container of milk over his head. The beating took place in front of T.J.'s 15-year-old babysitter after Bunnell, her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, and Delestre's cousin, Jose Santiago, returned to the apartment after a night at a Milford, Mass., bar. T.J., one of three children placed in Bunnell's care after her sister -- T.J.'s mother -- was imprisoned for marijuana possession, was taken by ambulance to Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, then to Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence. Erickson said T.J.'s injuries were so severe a day and a half after the beating that he was found to be brain dead, taken off life support and allowed to die. Bunnell is being tried separately from Delestre who, like her, is being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston. Each is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. But in his opening statement, Bunnell's lawyer, Gerard H. Donley, said that while Bunnell did push, drag and slap T.J., Delestre caused the injuries that led to the toddler's death. "The evidence will show that the slaps, the pulling, the dragging, and the pouring of the milk, however objectionable that was, wasn't the cause of the death of this child. A vicious beating was, and the evidence will show who did it," Donley said. The first witness to take the stand was a Fire Department rescue worker, Lt. Edward Bertholic, who administered first aid to T.J. He is scheduled to return to the stand this afternoon. Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:36 PM | Comment Wind farm site off Fairhaven, Mass., scrappedA company proposing an offshore wind farm in Buzzards Bay is dropping one of three locations it was considering. Patriots Renewables said it’s no longer proposing a cluster of wind turbines off the Fairhaven shoreline because of the area’s high boat traffic and population of endangered roseate terns. The company, associated with Jay Cashman Inc., of Quincy, says it’s still studying locations off Dartmouth and Naushon Island. Patriot Renewables said the project’s goal still is to generate 300 megawatts of electricity. -- Journal Business Editor John Kostrzewa Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:19 PM | Comment Ambulances get meds, equipment to protect vs. attackThe state Emergency Management Agency, partnering with the state Department of Health, has begun delivering $533,000 worth of equipment and medications for licensed ambulances to protect patients and emergency workers in an attack or hazardous materials incident. Equipment includes powered air purifying respirators, chemical protective clothing, gloves and boots, and tape. Medical supplies include 280 cyanide antidote kits and 2,250 nerve agent antidote kits. Federal grants are paying for the equipment/supplies and the EMA is delivering the materials in partnership with the state Department of Health, according to an Emergency Management Agency news release, The materials "provide a significant upgrade to our Homeland Security Program" in Rhode Island, the release says, adding that the materials are "critical to protect responders and patients" were there an attack using weapons of mass destruction or an industrial hazardous materials incident. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:16 PM | Comment Trial starting for woman accused of killing nephew, 3PROVIDENCE -- Opening statements are expected to begin shortly in the conspiracy and murder trial of Katherine Bunnell, the 24-year-old Woonsocket woman accused with her boyfriend of beating to death a 3-year-old foster child in their care. Bunnell and Gilbert Delestre are being tried separately and are each charged with murder and conspiracy to murder in the death of Thomas J. Wright, who was Bunnell's nephew. They were serving as guardians for Thomas, whose mother was in prison. Potential jurors were asked by prosecutor Stacey Veroni during the process known as voir dire whether they could remove from their minds any speculation when reaching a verdict. Bunnell's lawyer, Gerard H. Donley, asked potential jurors whether they could return a fair verdict. A potential jury of six men and eight women was sworn in after a day of selection before Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia in Providence County Superior Court. Both Bunnell and Delestre have been held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston since their arrests. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Castellucci Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:01 PM | Comment Visit Journal's booth at Business ExpoPROVIDENCE -- Free, expert business advice. That’s what you’ll get when you visit The Providence Journal’s booth at this year’s Business Expo, today and tomorrow, at the Rhode Island Convention Center, downtown Providence. From how to finance a small business to taking great pictures with your digital camera, you’ll find a wide assortment of informative and engaging seminars at the projo’s booth – right on the Business Expo show floor. Here's what's on tap today. 12:30 p.m., How to Finance Your Small Business: Expert advice on funding your business 2:00 p.m., Taking Great Pictures With Your Digital Camera: Learn to shoot better business photos with help from a veteran photo editor. The projo’s booth also features giveaways valued at $100 after each seminar, and an opportunity to enter a random drawing for a framed, keepsake projoSports poster signed by the projo sports writers and photographers who covered the Red Sox 2007 Banner year.. Stop by The Providence Journal booth (#617) and get in on the action. For more information, go online to projo.com/businessexpo. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:54 AM | Comment Crews on scene at Central Falls fireFire crews from Central Falls and a rescue team from Pawtucket are on the scene at a Central Falls Fire. The scene, at 36 Clay St., was described as a “small fire” by Central Falls police. More information to come. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:52 AM | Comment Too early, too close to call in IndianaSPEEDWAY, Ind. –– Indiana’s crucial Democratic presidential primary is too close to call –– at least if there’s any trend to be gleaned from random chats with the voters of this relatively conservative town, the home of the famous auto-racing track, inside the city limits of Indianapolis. A sampling of Democratic voters at St. Christopher’s Roman Catholic Church was split down the middle early this morning. That leaves much suspense as to whether Sen. Barack Obama can effectively wrap up his party’s presidential nomination with big victories in Indiana and North Carolina –– or alternatively, whether Sen. Hillary Clinton will score another in her string of wins in big, industrial states in the nation’s heartland. Click below to read what two voters have to say on primary day –– a sunny spring day of blooming lilacs and red buds with high temperatures expected in the low 80s and high turnouts expected. -- John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau Vicki Jarrett, 54, who is white and a junior high school science teacher: “I voted for Hillary because I’m a teacher and I’m for doing away with No Child Left Behind” – or at least for retooling the federal program of mandatory testing in public schools. Jarrett allowed that she thinks Obama’s position on the education issue is similar to Clinton’s, “but he hasn’t said a whole lot about it.” From that specific issue, Jarrett drew the general observation that “Hillary is being down to earth on the issues and she’s being professional,” whereas “Obama has done a lot for the theatrics.” “It’s like he’s the second headliner for a rock concert when he’s got all these people here to see Stevie Wonder,” as the presidential front runner did last night at a mass rally that drew thousands to downtown Indianapolis. But Jarrett questioned whether Obama’s star power can translate into practical, political action. Wayne Bosman, 45, who is black and a fast food restaurant worker: “I was for Clinton but I just changed my mind and went to Obama because he is really going to get the troops home from Iraq.” Bosman said he believes that Clinton takes a similar position on the war, “but she didn’t really talk too much about it. I think he wants to do something and I’m not sure about her.” Bosman said he agrees with an Obama argument that the nation’s anti-terrorism focus should have stayed on the threat of al-Qaeda and Afghanistan and never should have strayed into Iraq. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:12 AM | Comment At the Expo: A showcase of Hispanic businessesLocal businesses in the Ocean State are owned by Rhode Islanders who’ve settled here from around the world. The annual Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo is partially reflecting that this year, with the Hispanic Business Showcase. More than 10 set to participate in this year’s showcase, sponsored by Sovereign Bank and Rhode Island Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce. Guatemalan natives Densil, Byron and Ronan Lurssen own this year’s featured business, La Paz Wholesale, which sells foods from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to local markets. Other confirmed participants include Alicia’s Art; Hispanic Technology and Education Programs; Izulec Beauty Salon; Xzito Creative Solutions; RI Marketing & Advertising; Directorio Hispano: Hispanic Yellow Pages; PC Repair Software and Network; JM Painting and Plastering; and Erick R. Photography. The Showcase is set to begin today at 10 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. It will be at destination booth 101 of the Business Expo. Download a .PDF flier to get information about special events, including a 1 p.m. meet and greet special guests. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:18 AM | Comment Trial continues for woman accused of killing toddler
Journal file photo Katherine Bunnell of Woonsocket, aunt and legal guardian of 3-year-old T.J. Wright, at her 2005 arraignment in Providence County Superior Court in the beating death of Wright. PROVIDENCE -- The trial is set to continue today in Superior Court for Katherine Bunnell who is accused of killing her 3-year-old nephew Thomas J. Wright more than three years ago. Bunnell, who is being represented by Gerard H. Donley, was in court yesterday. Judge Gilbert Indeglia told potential jurors not to draw conclusions about guilt or innocence because Bunnell had not been able to raise the funds to post bail. Bunnell and her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, face one count of murder and conspiracy to commit murder while serving as guardians for Thomas J. Wright, whose mother was serving time in jail. Prosecutors say that Bunnell and Delestre beat Thomas so viciously in their Woonsocket apartment, they cracked his skull and femur, killing him in the early hours of Halloween day of 2004. -- Journal staff writer Tatiana Pina, with reports from Journal archives. The couple was initially charged together but soon split up as lawyers for each of them blamed the other for the attacks on the boy. Delestre is in prison, awaiting his trial. The defense had asked for postponements of Bunnell's trial on several occasions. It's anticipated her trial will take about two weeks. Assistant Attorney General Stacey Veroni and Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson are prosecuting the case for the state. From its beginning, the high-profile case raised questions about the state’s system of screening prospective foster parents, putting the Department of Children, Youth and Families in the spotlight. An independent investigation launched by the Office of the Child Advocate determined that DCYF missed as least five opportunities to rescue Thomas from the couple’s Woonsocket home. The advocate issued another report in 2006, saying the state had failed to make some of the most important changes that a review panel called for following T.J.’s death. Mostly notably, the state had not held caseloads to recommended levels. Then, last June, Child Advocate Jametta O. Alston filed for class-action status on behalf of the 3,000 children now in state custody, aiming for an overhaul of Rhode Island’s child-welfare system, which the suit portrays as overburdened and mismanaged. That suit is still in U.S. District Court. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:51 AM | Comment More info on federal drug raid to comePROVIDENCE -- More information will be released today on last night's raids by federal and state officials on a Providence drug store and a Cranston home, according to a U.S. Attorney's office spokesman. The target of the investigation was Prime Drug, a pharmacy at 613 Cranston St. The operation occurred between 7 and 8 p.m. Tom Connell, the spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office, said that two people had been arrested in connection with the raid but would not release their names. He said that all details connected to the federal case being investigated are under a court seal. The lead investigator in the case is the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation. The primary local contact is the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Postal Inspection Service and the Rhode Island State Police are also assisting. After the operation, a man in handcuffs was led out of the drug store while investigators in DEA and state police jackets stood by. Connell said that more details on the case will be forthcoming today. -- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:49 AM | Comment Today: Business Expo 2008The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce's 2008 Business Expo is hosting more than a dozen workshops and lectures with local and international appeal to help business owners thrive. From CNN Financial News correspondent Susan Lisovicz to Jack Templin, co-founder of the Providence Geeks, help will be on hand to help your business attract more clients, expand outside of your neighborhood or sell your wares around the world. And the Providence Journal will be on hand, too, with Food Editor Gail Ciampa offering tips to save money at the dinner table and Michael Delaney, managing editor, photography and graphics, sharing tips to take better digital photographs. The Expo begins today at 10 a.m. and events are free with a business card. Register for specific events throughout the two-day expo online, or you can download a .PDF file of events sponsored by the Journal.
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:02 AM | Comment Nearly perfect weather, times twoLook out for a bit of fog this morning before 9, aside from that, we can expect a nearly perfect day with mostly sunny skies, calm south winds and a high temperature near 72 degrees. Clouds are set to roll in tonight, with a low temperature near 47 degrees and mild south winds becoming northwest as night goes on. Tomorrow, nearly perfect, again, with partly sunny skies, mild southwest winds and a high temperature headed toward 75 degrees. For updates, check projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about a sharp decline in state revenue and coverage of the Democrat primary in Indiana by John Mulligan of the Journal's Washington Bureau. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 5, 2008Tonight: Rockers at AS220 and jazzers at RICComing to AS220 in Providence tonight are rock bands Off Target, Animals Amongst Men, Bill and People of Color. The club is at 115 Empire St. Call 831-9327. Show starts at 9 p.m. $6. All ages. Or you can head over the Rhode Island College for Swing Into Jazz 2008: The RIC Concert Jazz Band featuring Phil Wilson. The show is at Sapinsley Hall, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence. Call 456-8144. Things get started at 8 p.m. Check out projo.com's other club listings. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:58 PM | Comment Photo: Height runs in the family
Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:57 PM | Comment Update: Carcieri vetoes 24-hour gambling legislationPROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri has vetoed legislation that would allow 24-hour gambling on weekends and holidays at the state’s two video-slot emporiums in Lincoln and Newport. In the veto message he issued late this afternoon, Carcieri repeated his reservations about the state forcing expanded gambling on communities that don’t want it. The Newport City Council unanimously passed a resolution objecting to round-the-clock-gambling; Lincoln voters overwhelmingly rejected the concept during a non-binding referendum last fall. “As I have said repeatedly since debate over this legislation started last year, the host communities should have some say when it comes to deciding the hours of operation for these two facilities. Twin River and Newport Grand are very large entities, attracting thousands of people on a daily basis, and whle the state generates significant revenue from their operation, Lincoln and Newport and forced to bear the burdens of having such facilities in their communities.’’ “It is generally the prerogative of cities and towns to set the hours of operations for restaurants, bars grocery and convenient stores and other businesses,’’ Carcieri said. ‘Under the scheme passed by the General Assembly, the people of Lincoln and Newport are at the mercy of large-scale gambling facilities, with no recourse.’’ If support holds for the legislation introduced in the House by Rep. William San Bento, D-Pawtucket, the House and Senate will be able to easily muster the three-fifths vote required to override the governor’s veto. Not long after the governor issued his message, General Assembly leaders weighed in with one of their own. Saying they are "disappointed and confused" by the governor's decision, House Speaker William J. Murphy and House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox said, “Given the state’s fiscal crisis and the fact that we must maximize the revenue from our existing facilities, we will strongly consider overriding the governor’s veto in the coming days.” -- Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau, with projo.com reports Carcieri has presided over a massive expansion of video gambling activity at Twin River and Newport Grand, including the addition earlier this year of virtual Blackjack, without local or statewide voter approval. "But he drew a line at this proposal, which Twin River sought, and lawmakers are counting on to raise at least $14.1 million in additional revenue annually for the state. He served notice last week that he would “most likely” veto the legislation because the two communities had objected and because he has “serious reservations and concerns” about the “inflated” revenue projections. Murphy and Fox said in their message today, "While we appreciate the importance of local input, we don’t believe it can be the deciding factor when state interests are at stake. We believe that such parochial thinking has hampered the state’s economic development opportunities in the past." Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:40 PM | Comment Update: Jury selection begins in trial of ex-CVS execsPROVIDENCE -- Jury selection got under way today in federal court in the corruption trial of two former CVS drugstore executives accused of bribing a Rhode Island state senator. John Kramer and Carlos Ortiz are charged with bribery and conspiracy to steal the honest services of former state Sen. John A. Celona of North Providence, who is serving a 2-1/2 year prison term after admitting to selling his office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Roger Williams Medical Center. Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi told prospective jurors that the trial could last four weeks. Opening arguments are scheduled for next Monday, giving lawyer for the prosecution and the defense this week to choose a jury from about 112 prospective jurors. To aid in the screening process, the court sent out 18-page questionnaires to would-be jurors about five weeks ago. The questionnaires not only asked whether jurors knew any of the key players in the case, but also probed their feelings about the high cost of prescription drugs and their general knowledge of corruption in Rhode Island. ``The health-care industry is such a profit center, there should be reform,’’ one prospective juror told the judge today. Nevertheless, she said that she could be impartial. Many prospective jurors said that they were generally aware of the allegations involving Celona, Woonsocket-based CVS -- the nation's biggest drugstore chain -- Blue Cross, Roger Williams, and two other legislators who have been linked to CVS, former House Majority Leader Gerard Martineau and former Senate President William Irons. But they said they didn’t know specifics, and felt that they could keep an open mind in weighing the evidence. At least three jurors, asked about corruption in general in Rhode Island, alluded to the corrupt reign of Buddy Cianci, the former felonious mayor of Providence, who was convicted in the same Providence courthouse. One elderly woman, asked if she could provide specific examples of Rhode Island corruption, replied, ``No, because there’s just too much.’’ -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Posted by Jack Perry at 6:18 PM | Comment Aquidneck group forms to oppose R.I. wind farmA group of Aquidneck Island residents has assembled the first organized opposition to Governor Carcieri’s plan to develop a large-scale wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island. The group has an unlikely name -- the Rhode Island Alliance for Clean Energy -- which might be more fitting for a group that supports wind farms. And it has an unlikely leader: Anthony G. Spiratos, a young Newport real estate developer who was once a Carcieri supporter and campaign donor. And the group has a Web site, called www.saveourstateri.org. The problems with the wind farm, as the alliance sees it, are similar to those presented by those who oppose the Cape Wind project, a proposal to build a similar-sized wind farm in Nantucket Sound: That a massive wind farm would hurt tourism by detracting from the natural beauty of Newport and other coastal areas; it would devastate recreational sailing and the fishing industry; that it would pose a threat to national security; that construction would be noisy; and that residents who live nearby may become ill from “wind turbine syndrome” -- an illness the groups says leads to headaches and nausea among those who live within three miles of the turbines. The group's arguments contain many factual errors, said Lefteris Pavlides, a professor of architecture at Roger Williams University, and a supporter of large wind installations. For example, the group says that an offshore wind farm would have more than 300 wind turbines. That has never been proposed, Pavlides said. The proposal made by Carcieri calls for about 105 wind turbines. -- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann The group also points out the problems associated with a wind farm built in the 1970s at Altamont Pass, Calif. The relatively small turbines had fast-turning blades that proved to be deadly to several types of birds. Andrew Dzykewicz, the governor's chief energy adviser, said wind energy technology has improved dramatically since that wind farm was built. "No one would build a wind farm like Altimont Pass today," he said. "A lot of that stuff is irrelevant." Today's wind turbines are much higher and the blades turn much more slowly, which has virtually eliminated bird kills, he said. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:00 PM | Comment Providence board to decide on SNM Liquors license
Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman SNM Liquors owner Sean Merilan listens as two Barrington teenagers testify before the Board of Licenses today. PROVIDENCE -- The Board of Licenses will decide within 10 days whether to punish the license holder for SNM Liquors, the city store where Barrington teens bought alcohol that another Barrington teen drank before the car crash that killed 16-year-old passenger Jonathan Converse. During the hearing today, prosecutor Steven L. Catalano, an assistant city solicitor, established through the testimony today of a 17-year-old Barrington boy and Kurt Grusmark, 18, of 7 Lamson Road, Barrington, that they obtained alcohol from SNM Liquors Catalano established from the 17-year-old, who was 16 at the time of the purchase, that he made the buy on Nov. 5 last year at the counter while Grusmark, who was 17 at the time, hung back inside the store. The 17-year-old, during the hearing, identified the person who sold him the alcohol as Shawn Merilan. Merilan is the sole owner of the company that holds the liquor license for SNM Liquors, which is on Douglas Avenue. Testimony was that Merilan sold three 30-packs of Busch Light beer and one pint bottle of Kharkov vodka. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Testimony also established that some of the alcohol was shared with Michael J. Silveira of Barrington. Silveira and a small group of teens spent the evening of Nov. 5 drinking Busch Light. The car he was driving that night sped down New Meadow Road and crashed, killing Converse. In December, Silveira pleaded no contest to driving under the influence with death resulting and was sentenced to serve two years at the state Training School. His full sentence was seven years, with five of those suspended. The 17-year-old and Grusmark at the time were Barrington High School students and played on the school's hockey team. Grusmark is now a senior at the school. The younger teen is a junior at Ocean Tides School in Narragansett and testified he is there under the auspices of Family Court as a result of having been charged with possession of alcohol by the Barrington police in connection with the transaction that came before the licensing board today. Catalano asked the board to permanantly revoke the store's liquor license. Defense lawyer Stephen DiLibero asked that it not be permanently revoked. Board chairman Andrew J. Annaldo said the board would decide what, if any, punishment to mete out within 10 days. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:58 PM | Comment R.I. sales and income tax receipts are down sharplyPROVIDENCE –– The state’s largest revenue sources –– income and sales taxes –– are down sharply through the first 10 months of the fiscal year. This is a further sign that Rhode Island’s fiscal problems are mounting as lawmakers struggle to shape a balanced budget facing the largest deficit in nearly two decades. Economists reported last week that Rhode Island is one of nine states experiencing an economic recession. State Tax Administrator David M. Sullivan supplied data today detailing the effect of widespread job losses, stagnant wages and weak consumer confidence. Sales taxes are down $23 million, or 3.1 percent, compared to the same period last year, Sullivan reports, while income taxes are down $9 million, or 1 percent. Should the trend continue through the next two months, as expected, it would be the first time that the state’s largest two revenue sources collectively fell since the early 1990s. “As far as I’m concerned we’re in a recession,” Governor Carcieri said in an interview today with the radio station WSAR, 1400 AM.
Posted by Peter Phipps at 3:54 PM | Comment Justice Sandra Day O'Connor hears R.I. case in BostonBOSTON -- Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, this morning began a two-day stint on the federal appeals court in Boston, delving into issues ranging from the murder of a former priest in Massachusetts to a dispute over property in Barrington. O’Connor, 78, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2006, is sitting by designation on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at the invitation of a federal judge from Providence, Senior Circuit Judge Bruce M. Selya. With her familiar bob of white hair, O’Connor joined Selya and Chief Circuit Judge Michael Boudin in peppering lawyers with questions in a half-dozen cases, including the Rhode Island case of James H. Reyelt v. William B. Danzell and Louisa F. Beenker Danzell. So how did it feel to appear before the woman who is arguably the world’s best-known judge? “It was a very cool thing,” said Dana Curhan, a Boston lawyer who represented Reyelt. “I am honored,” said Marc DeSisto, a Providence lawyer representing the Danzells. “I think it’s great when a senior Supreme Court judge lends a hand to circuit courts. It’s a great benefit to the court. It’s a great benefit to the bar. And it generates a lot of interest.”
Both Curhan and DeSisto have handled many appeals and appear before the 1st Circuit four or five times a year. So, Curhan said, the identity of the judges really doesn’t come into play once an experienced lawyer gets up at the podium and begins making a client’s case. And DeSisto said he didn’t prepare any differently than he normally does. “You have to be prepared,” DeSisto said. And even when you are prepared, the judges can fire unexpected questions at your, so “you have to concentrate on the core issues,” he said. When there is a need, federal judges from the Supreme Court, circuit courts and district courts can sit by designation on appellate courts such as the 1st Circuit, Deputy Circuit Executive Susan J. Goldberg has explained. And the 1st Circuit has been short-handed since Selya assumed senior status on Dec. 31, 2006, she said. The 1st Circuit regularly uses visiting judges from other circuits and from district courts within the 1st Circuit, which includes Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Puerto Rico. But the 1st Circuit has never had a visiting judge as well known as O’Connor, Goldberg said. Besides being the first female Supreme Court justice, O’Connor was for many years the pivotal vote on the high court, and she has traveled extensively, making her well known in other parts of the world, she noted. O’Connor will hear arguments in another Rhode Island case Tuesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald C. “Skip” Lockhart will argue for the federal government in a case involving Anthony Lipscomb, a Providence man who has been sentenced to 16 years and 3 months in prison for cocaine trafficking and firearms offenses. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:52 PM | Comment U.S. Judge Lagueux suffered a minor strokePROVIDENCE -- U.S. District Judge Ronald R. Lagueux suffered a minor stroke on Thursday, April 24, the federal court disclosed this afternoon. A court statement said Lagueux is "doing very well at this time and is expected to make a full recovery." Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:40 PM | Comment Recycling: It's good business too, DEM saysEarlier this year, the Department of Environmental Management put local businesses on notice: It's time to start following the state’s recycling rules. Tuesday the DEM and the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, which operates the central landfill in Johnston, will be on hand at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo with a friendlier message: Recycling is cheap, easy, and good for business. The two authorities are launching their “Green Zone” Web site, where business owners can determine if they have to recycle (yes), whose responsibility recycling is, what can and can’t be recycled, and a host of other information. The site has a frequently asked questions page, tips to help business owners get started recycling, and contact information for people who need more help. "The Business Expo is the perfect opportunity for us to kick-off the Green Zone, a collaborative effort with Resource Recovery," W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D. Director of DEM said in a statement. "Providing Rhode Island's business community with a one-stop resource for business recycling solutions is a key component to help improve Rhode Island's commercial recycling rates." For more information, visit the Green Zone Web site, or contact Alyson Silva, commercial recycling coordinator at DEM 222-4700 x7134, , or David Bordieri, waste prevention coordinator at RIRRC 942-1430 x110. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:38 PM | Comment Judge scolds driver in crash that seriously hurt teenSOUTH KINGSTOWN — A Superior Court judge today ordered the woman police say was driving drunk when she hit a teenager changing a tire to surrender her license after her urine tested positive for amphetamines. Judge Stephen P. Nugent also demanded Heidi Harrall submit to a urine screening immediately after learning she missed two tests in the last few weeks. “This isn’t acceptable,” Nugent said, adding “Frankly, I’m this close to locking her up.” The police say Harrall’s 1994 Audi was traveling 90 mph. when it crossed Route 1 and struck Sylvia M. Bogusz, then 17, as she waited on the side of the road for her mother to help her with a flat tire last June 23. Bogusz suffered broken bones in her pelvis, vertebrae and right arm and leg, as well as a head injury. Bogusz, now 18, was hospitalized for months and continues to undergo rehabilitation. Extra: Read about Sylvia's recovery -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney A Washington County grand jury indicted Harrall, 45, of West Side Road, in March of driving under the influence and driving to endanger. Harrall pleaded not guilty to the charges. Robert Mann said after today’s court appearance that Harrall, his client, had a prescription for the amphetamines, but would not be more specific. Harrall surrendered her license to the court. Nugent denied a request that she be allowed to drive home, saying he was troubled that her urine showed drugs one week after she attended her first group session for substance abuse. “No driving,” Nugent said. Harrall is due to return to court for a review May 12. She remains free on $10,000 cash bail. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:32 PM | Comment Sox-Yankees argument leads to murder charge in N.H.
"She never braked, and she accelerated at a high speed for about 200 feet. She went directly at this group of people," prosecutor Susan Morrell said of Ivonne Hernandez, who is charged with reckless second-degree murder in the death early Friday of Matthew Beaudoin, 29. Authorities won't describe the argument beforehand in Slade's Food & Spirits, but witnesses said it heated up when Hernandez identified herself as a New York Yankees fan. Like the rest of New Hampshire, Nashua, 45 miles northwest of Boston, is Red Sox country. Bartender Tanya Moran said the argument spilled outside, and at least one person in a group that included Beaudoin began chanting "Yankees suck!" when they saw a Yankees sticker on Hernandez's car. Hernandez, 43, allegedly gunned her car and struck Beaudoin and his friend Maria Hughes, 21. Hughes had only minor injuries, which Beaudoin's sister Faith said was because her brother shielded his friend. Hernandez, of Nashua, was arrested at the scene. She acknowledged she had been drinking and refused to take a breath-alcohol test, said Morrell, a senior assistant attorney general. Hernandez said she had been in an argument with the group. "She indicated to police that she wanted to scare this group of people. She thought they would get out of the way," Morrell said. -- The Associated Press Hernandez was ordered held without bail after being arraigned toay in Nashua District Court. The charges, including aggravated drunken driving, are felonies, so Hernandez could not enter a plea. Her public defender, James Quay, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Beaudoin died of massive head trauma at a hospital, Morrell said. Moran told The Telegraph of Nashua during the weekend that Beaudoin came to the bar regularly to socialize, sing karaoke and have fun. "He came to hang out. He didn't really drink much," she said. Chris Lovett, a disc jockey at Slade's, told the New Hampshire Union Leader that Beaudoin kept to himself and "wasn't an instigator." Faith Beaudoin said her brother, who lived in Nashua, was a 1997 graduate of Nashua High School who worked dealing poker at Sharky's in Manchester and Nashua. She said his organs, including his heart, live and kidneys, were donated in hopes of saving other people's lives. "He was always helping people when he was alive, and he's still saving lives," she said, choking back tears during the weekend. Posted by Jack Perry at 2:21 PM | Comment Business Expo 2008 begins tomorrowThe Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce's 2008 Business Expo is hosting more than a dozen workshops and lectures with local and international appeal to help business owners thrive. From CNN Financial News correspondent Susan Lisovicz to Jack Templin, co-founder of the Providence Geeks, help will be on hand to help your business attract more clients, expand outside of your neighborhood or sell your wares around the world. And the Providence Journal will be on hand, too, with Food Editor Gail Ciampa offering tips to save money at the dinner table and Michael Delaney, managing editor, photography and graphics, sharing tips to take better digital photographs. The Expo begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. and events are free with a business card. Register for specific events throughout the two-day expo online, or you can download a .PDF file of events sponsored by the Journal.
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:01 PM | Comment Jury selection begins for aunt accused in toddler's death
Journal file photo Katherine Bunnell of Woonsocket, aunt and legal guardian of 3-year-old T.J. Wright, at her 2005 arraignment in Providence County Superior Court in the beating death of Wright. PROVIDENCE -- Jury selection began in Superior Court today for the trial of Katherine Bunnell who is accused of killing her 3-year-old nephew Thomas J. Wright more than three years ago. Bunnell, who is being represented by Gerard H. Donley, was in court today. She had her hair combed in a bun and wore a black jacket and pants and a white shirt. Judge Gilbert Indeglia told potential jurors not to draw conclusions about guilt or innocence because Bunnell had not been able to raise the funds to post bail. Bunnell and her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, face one count of murder and conspiracy to commit murder while serving as guardians for Thomas J. Wright, whose mother was serving time in jail. Prosecutors say that Bunnell and Delestre beat Thomas so viciously in their Woonsocket apartment, they cracked his skull and femur, killing him in the early hours of Halloween day of 2004. The couple was initially charged together but soon split up as lawyers for each of them blamed the other for the attacks on the boy. Delestre is in prison, awaiting his trial. The defense had asked for postponements of Bunnell's trial on several occasions. It's anticipated her trial will take about two weeks. Assistant Attorney General Stacey Veroni and Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson are prosecuting the case for the state. From its beginning, the high-profile case raised questions about the state’s system of screening prospective foster parents, putting the Department of Children, Youth and Families in the spotlight. An independent investigation launched by the Office of the Child Advocate determined that DCYF missed as least five opportunities to rescue Thomas from the couple’s Woonsocket home. The advocate issued another report in 2006, saying the state had failed to make some of the most important changes that a review panel called for following T.J.’s death. Mostly notably, the state had not held caseloads to recommended levels. Then, last June, Child Advocate Jametta O. Alston filed for class-action status on behalf of the 3,000 children now in state custody, aiming for nothing less than an overhaul of Rhode Island’s child-welfare system, which the suit portrays as overburdened and mismanaged. That suit is still in U.S. District Court. -- Journal staff writer Tatiana Pina, with reports from Journal archives. Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:33 PM | Comment Gas goes up a penny in R.I., to another record highGasoline prices in Rhode Island inched up another penny yesterday to average $3.609 a gallon, setting another record. A survey of local dealers by the state’s Office of Energy Resources found the prices ranged from $3.549 a gallon to $3.699 a gallon for regular unleaded gas. In another survey, AAA Southern New England says the price jumped 2 cents this week. That's a lot less that last week, when the price increased 15 cents. The price of a gallon of gas is up 25 percent from this time last year, when it averaged $2.87 per gallon, according to AAA. Since March 31, prices have risen sharply by 40 cents a gallon. The price is now 71 cents a gallon higher than a year ago. Nationally, the average price for regular gasoline rose about 15 cents in the last two weeks, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 stations nationwide. The average price of self-serve regular gasoline on Friday was $3.62 a gallon. Mid-grade was at $3.74 and premium was $3.85. Of the cities surveyed, the cheapest price was in Cheyenne, Wyo., where a gallon of regular cost $3.39, on average. The highest average was in San Francisco at $3.95. Across California, the statewide average for a gallon of regular was $3.90, mid-grade was at $4.01 and premium at $4.11. The state Office of Energy Resources survey also reported that diesel fuel was selling at $4.429 a gallon. The price of home heating oil averaged $3.989 a gallon, and ranged from a high of $4349 to a low of $3.709 a gallon.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:14 PM | Comment Conn. man, 80, dies in collision in FosterFOSTER -- An 80-year-old Connecticut man was killed and four other people injured in an accident yesterday afternoon on Route 6, the police said. Charles F. Dunn of Danielson was apparently turning onto Route 6 from Boswell Trail when his vehicle was broadsided by a car heading east on Route 6, which is also known as Danielson Pike. Police received a call about the accident at 3:10 p.m. Emergency personnel had to remove Dunn from his 2002 Saturn sedan using an extrication device. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence where he died soon after, according to Police Chief Robert Coyne. The driver of the other car, Inthava Dupont, 32, of Lowell, Mass. and her three passengers -- a 68-year-old female, a 7-year-old girl, and a 2-month-old boy -- suffered minor injuries and were also taken to Rhode Island Hospital. The intersection of Boswell Trail and Route 6 is a “T” with one-way stop on Bosworth. Drivers on Route 6 have the right of way, and the speed limit on the road is 45 mph. Coyne said it is unclear whether Dunn stopped at the intersection or in which direction he was heading. Coyne said an investigation is ongoing. Police do not believe speed or weather conditions, which were overcast that afternoon, were a factor. -- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:44 PM | Comment High schoolers: Register now, vote laterAs the nation gears up for two more Democratic presidential primaries, here in Rhode Island, students are getting a lesson in civics that may help them determine the outcome of the eventual presidential election. Secretary of State Ralph Mollis begins a voting registration drive at area high schools today, stopping at Burrillville High School first. “Students who register to vote are more likely to become active and informed citizens of this state,” Mollis said in a statement. “Some of these young people will be our leaders of tomorrow. Now is the time to engage them.” The registration drive moves to North Providence High School on Wednesday, North Smithfield and Chariho Regional High School May 14, Ponagansett High School on May 21 and Warwick Veteran’s High School later in the month. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:15 PM | Comment Federal housing money coming for homeless veteransThe Providence Housing Authority will get $266,713 in federal money to provide "permanent supportive housing" to about 35 homeless veterans, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., announced today. Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (VASH) awards, administered through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, provide local housing agencies with rental-help vouchers targeted to homeless veterans, Reed's office said in a news release. Housing and Urban Development will also link local agencies with VA Medical Centers to offer services and case management to eligible homeless veterans. The money was included in the fiscal 2008 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Bill. Reed's office cites the National Alliance to End Homelessness as saying at least 175 veterans experienced homelessness in Rhode Island in 2005 and 2006. “Our veterans have sacrificed greatly to serve our country, and it is especially important to honor our commitment to them when they come back home," Reed said in the statement. "This critical federal funding will help provide dozens of Rhode Island’s veterans with a place to sleep and important services to get them back on their feet." Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:04 PM | Comment Spring cleaning in Providence's Ward 15It’s time for spring cleaning in Ward 15. That means throwing out the trash, recycling, taking care of boarded up houses, and even doing something about those unsightly scofflaws. Tomorrow evening, residents of the ward, which represents the Silver Lake Annex, Olneyville, West Broadway and Valley neighborhoods, can meet with city officials to talk about those issues and how to improve the neighborhoods as the weather takes a turn for the better. Representatives have been invited from the Providence Police Department, public works, code enforcement, environmental control and the fire department. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow at the Webster Avenue Elementary School cafeteria on Webster Ave. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:01 PM | Comment 3 charged with felonies in peace worker assaultPROVIDENCE -- Three men were charged with felony assault this morning for the vicious attack of a streetworker for the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence outside a downtown nightclub over the weekend. Nicholas Nalle, 26, Sophea Chao, 21, and Michael Leng, 22, all of Fall River, Mass., were arraigned in District Court on charges stemming from the beating and stabbing of Sareth ``Tony’’ Kim, 32, the streetworker, who the police say was ambushed in parking lot near the intersection of Clifford and Dorrance street. The police said that a beef between the Fall River men, who are members or associates of the Original Bloods gang, and a group of Providence men with ties to the Providence Street Boys gang started in the Level 2 nightclub on Richmond Street and spilled into the street. Investigators allege that Nalle struck Kim in the head with a baseball bat. Kim also suffered multiple stab wounds in the brawl. Nalle was charged with assaulting Kim with the bat, and with possession of a dangerous weapon, the baseball bat. Chao was charged with assault for kicking Kim, and Leng was charged with a felony assault for allegedly participating in the beating. Judge Joseph Ippolito set bail for Nalle at $30,000 surety, or $3,000 cash, while bail was set respectively for Chao and Leng at $20,000 and $10,000 surety bail. They were also ordered to refrain from having any contact with Kim. Meanwhile, Kim is recovering from his injuries at Rhode Island Hospital. Extra: A special, multimedia report on the gangs of Providence. -- By Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Posted by Jack Perry at 11:25 AM | Comment Big ideas in nanotechnologyThe keys to finding answers to some of the big problems may lie in understanding the nature of the very small. To that end, Brown University has created the Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation, a new center of study that draws intellects from across the spectrum of knowledge to focus on some of the tiniest particles used in engineering. Today marks the first of a three-day Nanoscience Forum to inaugurate the institute. Speakers from some of the top universities in the country –– including Harvard, Johns Hopkins and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology –– will get together on College Hill to discuss topics from ethics to the environment, using nanoparticles in batteries and for human tissue growth. Fifty-five faculty members from departments as varied as molecular biology to sociology will be directly affiliated with the institute, which has divided research into three areas: the Center for Advanced Materials Research; the Center for Nanoscience and Soft Matter; and the NanoHealth Working Group. In addition to the academic speakers, the forum will feature a keynote speech by Mihail Roco, the director of the National Nanotechnology Initiative at the National Science Foundation and a roundtable discussion on nanotechnology policy and safety with representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, IBM, and other public and private research groups. Download a .PDF file with detailed schedule information. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:16 AM | Comment See Providence tomorrow todayYou may love your neighborhood, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Residents of the Fox Point, College Hill and Wayland neighborhoods will get the chance this week to talk about what they think would make the areas nice. In the fifth of a series of neighborhood get-togethers known as Providence Tomorrow, residents and municipal workers will discuss themes on a range of topics from parks and open space to the 1-195 relocation project. Sessions will be held today through Thursday; today's and Tuesday's evening discussions will be more general, touching on visions and aesthetics for the neighborhoods. Daytime programs will be held at the First Unitarian Church on Benevolent Street; evening workshops at the Lincoln School, on Butler Ave. Click below for a schedule of sessions and topics. Monday 11:30 am – 1:30 pm The Nuts, Bolts & Finishing Touches (plantings, infrastructure) Tuesday 9:00 am – 11:00 am Parks/ Open Space / Recreation 9:00 am – 11:00 am Historic Preservation Thursday 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Final Presentation
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:06 AM | Comment Update: Zambarano guard shoots at alleged trespasserBURRILLVILLE -- A security guard at the Zambarano Hospital says he fired a gun at someone who came at him with a knife last night in an abandoned building on hospital grounds, according to the Rhode Island State Police. The guard was identified by O'Donnell as Todd Brown, 37, of Warwick, who the major said had a permit to carry a gun and, as a supervisor, was qualified to. The hospital had called the police earlier in the evening to complain about a vagrant on the property, O'Donnell said, and investigators are trying to determine if the shooting is related. O'Donnell said the state police received a call from the state-run chronic-disease hospital at about 8:15 p.m. about suspicious activity, flickering lights, in an abandoned building on the hospital grounds. A hospital dispatcher told the state police that the hospital had already contacted its own security company, Industrial Security Investigations of North Providence, and the Burrillville police. About eight minutes later, the hospital called the state police again to report that a gun had been fired. The guard told the police that the man fell down a small set of stairs, then came back up toward him with what appeared to be a rusty knife, the state police said. The security guard said he fired once at the man, who then ran away, O'Donnell said. While the state police don't believe the man was struck, they have contacted area hospitals to see if anyone sought treatment of a gunshot wound, O'Donnell said. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:59 AM | Comment Funding will help establish community policing programPolice departments are about to get some support from the federal government and local schools and universities for community policing programs. The Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy is getting a $188,000 boost to establish a Center for Community Policing & Cultural Diversity to be run in conjunction with the University of Rhode Island and the Community College of Rhode Island. The program will focus on training officers for community policing, especially in diverse settings. Some of the money will also be used for retraining officers who are returning from military deployment. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy will present the academy with a check today at 10 a.m. at the CCRI Flanagan Campus in Lincoln. Kennedy, who helped secured the funding, will be joined by Chief Anthony Silva, the academy’s director, and Chief George Kelley of the Pawtucket Police Department, who will represent the Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training. Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Gov. Carcieri and Roger Williams University President Roy Nirschel are among the invited guests. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:00 AM | Comment The race (before the race) continues in IndianaINDIANAPOLIS, Ind. –– After what he called “a rough couple of weeks,” including a big loss in Pennsylvania and a flare-up over damaging remarks by his former pastor, Sen. Barack Obama is attacking Sen. Hillary Clinton on easier ground –– the sagging economy –– in this factory and farm state and what he calls his rivals’ pandering plan to suspend the federal gasoline tax. But in pointed TV ads and back-to-back speeches before party insiders here last night, Clinton suggested that Obama is the candidate of lofty rhetoric, while she would be a president who takes action to help people. The presidential primaries tomorrow in North Carolina and Indiana constitute yet another opportunity for Obama, of neighboring Illinois, to put a stop to Clinton’s run of upsets in big, heartland states. For Clinton, it’s essential to win the neck-and-neck Indiana primary and perhaps draw close to Obama in North Carolina, if she is to continue the Democratic presidential race in which he has a persistent lead in nominating delegates. After months of inter-party squabbling that has taken some of the glow off Obama’s candidacy, some of his supporters are anxious for the contest to end. “The party," said Rick Fledderman, the mayor of Batesville, a small manufacturing city the state's conservative southeast region, "is beginning to fray around the edges." -- John Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau Despite some national polls suggesting that Obama’s strength as a candidate in the general election has been eroded by the uproar over last week’s comments by his long-time Chicago pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, polling of likely voters in Indiana’s primary suggests that the race could go either way. Random interviews of potential voters on a high spring weekend in and around the capitol city suggest, moreover, that Hoosiers are more concerned about the loss of manufacturing jobs and the price of gasoline. Obama has sought an opening here in attacks on Clinton’s proposal for a summer holiday from the 18.4 cent a gallon federal gasoline tax which he asserts would save drivers only about 30 cents a day. “That’s the same proposal that John McCain makes,” Obama told 2,300 Democrats last night at the party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at a downtown convention center. Besides tying his rival to the Senate colleague who is the Republican presidential candidate, Obama also positioned himself as a foe of the petroleum industry. “Does anybody here really trust the oil companies to give you savings” from a gas tax break? Obama demanded. But there are some hints that New Yorker Clinton is breaking through to voters who are hungry for a candidate who appears to be doing something –– even something modest –– for them. “I think anything to bring down the price of gas, even if its only a cup of coffee’s worth a day, is a move in the right direction,” said Kaylen Barcus and Indianapolis bus driver who has twice voted –– now with some regret –– for George Bush and plans to vote tomorrow for Clinton. “At least she sows an attitude that she’s going to do something for us,” said Barcus. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:25 AM | Comment Feliz Cinco de Mayo
Today is not Mexican Independence Day. It’s instead a celebration of the unlikely victory of what might be considered an inferior army over French troops. After the Mexican-American War, which ended in 1848, the French began an occupation in Mexico. On May 5, 1862, an advancing French army was held off, and then driven out by an ill-equipped army of about 5,000 Mexicans. The battle became known as the Batalla de Puebla, and now, we know it as Cinco de Mayo, the Fifth of May. According to the University of California, the festival is celebrated more robustly in the United States than in Mexico. So put on some red, green and white, try your hand at rolling up some tamales, and celebrate the past victory of our neighbors to the south. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:23 AM | Comment Trial to start for 2 ex-CVS execs' corruption casePROVIDENCE -- Jury selection was set to begin today in the trial of two former CVS executives accused in a widespread federal probe into corruption at the State House. John Kramer and Carlos Ortiz, both former vice presidents at the Woonsocket-based pharmacy company, have pleaded not guilty to fraud, bribery and conspiracy charges. They're accused of paying former state Sen. John Celona $45,000 and other gifts to defeat bills the company opposed and take other action on the company's behalf. CVS has since changed its name to CVS Caremark Corp. The company has not been charged. Opening statements in the trial are scheduled for May 12. Both men have been free on bond. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment The dry side of springCheck this out: Cloudless, sunny skies. Temperatures approaching 70 degrees, and mild winds from the southeast. Sounds like the good side of spring. Tonight the temperature will drop to about 45 degrees, but skies should stay clear, and mild winds continue from the south. Tomorrow we'll see clouds, but temperatures will surpass 70, settling in the mid 70s with calm north winds. To keep up with forecast changes, see projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features coverage of the makeover of the Silva family's home in Warwick. It was featured last night on the ABC television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 2, 2008Tonight: Celtics play the Hawks for championshipThe Boston Celtics, leading their series with the Atlanta Hawks 3 games to 2, play game six tonight at 8. The game, at Philips Arena in Atlanta, is sold out. Catch the game on Comcast Sports Net and ESPN. Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:05 PM | Comment NTSB: Bad weather take-off blamed in Block Island crashBLOCK ISLAND -- A pilot’s poor decision to take off in bad weather likely led to the plane crash that killed three people here in July 2006, investigators have concluded. White Plains, N.Y., surgeon William P. Homan, his wife, Valerie, and mother, Betty, died July 5, 2006, when Homan’s Piper Cherokee Arrow crashed through the trees shortly after take-off about a half-mile from Block Island State Airport. The plane was bound for Westchester County Airport in New York in stormy weather shortly after noon with William at the controls. National Transportation Safety Board investigators concluded in a March 31 report that Homan’s “inadequate preflight decision making” and failure to clear trees near the airport probably caused the crash. Low hanging clouds, rain and thunderstorms were name as contributing factors. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Air controllers in Providence cleared Homan for take-off at 12:06 p.m. after advising him of moderate rains over the airport and heavy precipitation to the south and west, the report says. He was flying in instrument conditions in which the ceiling was lower than 1,000 feet and visibility less than three miles. A witness told investigators that he saw the plane depart amid thunder and very heavy rain. He lost sight of it in the rain and clouds when it climbed to 300 feet. Moments later, a man working on his boat nearby heard a plane engine followed by a ripping sound. Police officers found the wreckage followed by a trail of debris in a wooded area at 3:05 p.m. Only a 12-year-old Maine coon cat, Sebastian, survived. The report shows that an autopsy determined Homan, 58, had recently taken bupropion and fluoxetine -- prescription antidepressants -- and oxcarbazepine, a mildly-impairing anti-seizure medication used to treat pain and manic depression. The FAA would not typically approve the use of any of the medications, investigators said, and Homan did not indicate their use or a diagnosis for which they would be used in his most recent application for an airman medical certificate. Homan held a private pilot’s license for single-engine planes, with a rating that allowed him to fly using instruments. He logged about 1,125 hours of flight time, 230 in instrument conditions. The plane had been inspected two months earlier. A White Plains native, Homan was a renowned surgeon who specialized in treating morbidly obese patients with stomach-bypass surgery. He was director of the bariatric surgery program at White Plains Hospital Center in New York. The Homans owned a house on Mill Pond Lane on the island. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:27 PM | Comment Newborn harbor seal rescued off North KingstownMYSTIC, Conn. -- Mystic Aquarium officials say they have rescued a newborn harbor seal pup off the coast of Rhode Island. It is the aquarium's first pup rescue of the season. The female pup was discovered Thursday in North Kingstown, and is believed to be less than 3 days old. It had the umbilical cord still attached and weighed about 17 pounds. Aquarium officials say because of its young age, the pup will be closely monitored. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:42 PM | Comment Bristol man pleads guilty to business kickback schemeA Bristol man today pleaded guilty in federal court in Connecticut to filing a false tax return in connection with what prosecutors say was a kickback scheme involving his Pawtucket business. Louis G. Xifaras, 57, waived his right to a grand jury weighing whether to indict him and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford, according to a news release from Connecticut acting U.S. Attorney Nora R. Dannehy. The IRS's Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. Xifaras owns Innovative Network Solutions of Pawtucket, a provider of Internet services including server installations. In 1999, a Southwestern Bell Communications employee approached Xifaras with a proposal to ensure Innovative Netowrk Solutions got subcontracting work from SBC in exchange for kickbacks being paid to the SBC employee, the new release says. The kickbacks were paid to the SBC employee by putting the employee's wife on Internet Network Solutons' payroll as a “no-show” employee. Innovative Network Solutions falls under a ccorporation category that means the company pays no income tax, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The company’s income and expenses are reported on the owner’s income tax return. Xifaras in 2002 reported $968,070 income, deducting $272,882 that INS paid to the SBC employee’s wife. But kickbacks "disguised as salary for a no-show job are not deductible business expenses," the news release said, so Xifaras should have reported taxable income of $1,240,952, not $968,070. Xifaras is slated for a July 21 sentencing and faces a maximum of three years in prison and up to a $100,000 fine. He must cooperate with the Internal Revenue Service and pay all taxes, interest and penalties for 2000 through 2004. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:38 PM | Comment Weaver's Cove suit against R.I., Mass. DEMs dismissedA federal appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by LNG developer Weaver’s Cove Energy against the environmental management agencies of Rhode Island and Massachusetts in which the company argued that the agencies were taking too long to evaluate its application to dredge sections of the Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit concluded this afternoon that Weaver’s Cove had not been hurt by the agencies’ inactions and that the company’s dispute may be with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, not the state agencies. James Grasso, a spokesman for Weaver’s Cove, said the company was still reviewing the decision and had not formed a response yet. Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, whose office argued the case before the three-judge panel in Washington, D.C., issued a statement: “Weaver’s Cove Energy, the Court found today, cannot bypass or short circuit this mandatory review by rushing to a Court that has no jurisdiction,” Lynch said. Weaver’s Cove Energy is the company owned by Hess LNG that is seeking to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in Fall River, Mass. The LNG vessels that would bring the super-cooled fuel to the terminal are so large that parts of the Mount Hope Bay in Rhode Island and the Taunton River in Massachusetts would have to be dredged for the ships to pass. Weaver’s Cove needs permission from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management as well as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to dredge the waterways. The company filed a lawsuit with the appeals court, arguing that the agencies took longer than the one-year review period allowed by the federal Clean Water Act. Weaver’s Cove asked the court to declare that the state agencies missed the deadline and have therefore waived their right to deny permission to dredge. -- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:35 PM | Comment Update: Marchers head to State House for labor rallyPROVIDENCE -- Banners and drums in hand, members of various workers unions and others are on the march, heading slowly toward the State House in a show of solidarity against what they view as unions coming under increasing attack. The marchers are flowing past the Providence Place mall and the GTECH building, headed to the Capitol -- so drivers passing through the area should expect delays even for a typical Friday rush hour. Around 4 p.m., marchers gathered near the Rhode Island Convention Center late this afternoon to ready for the march. It's expected union members, joined by Jobs With Justice members attending their national convention this weekend in Providence, will protest what they see as attacks on longtime benefits, from health care to pensions to college tuition waivers. The number of marchers has grown to several hundred, a reporter on scene estimated, among them representatives of the Teamsters and various fire departments. For a time, drumming sounded outside The Journal's downtown building, near the gathering. Among those preparing for the march were members of the Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipes and Drums. There are "Jobs With Justice" signs and a banner proclaiming "public education: a promise that must be kept." Marchers also were handing out buttons, stickers and postcards. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:59 PM | Comment A call for peace amid sorrow at shooting victim's funeral
“My son is leaving me, my good son is leaving me,” Helder’s mother, 55-year-old Virignia Tomar, said over and over again in Creole as friends and family members went up to the coffin to bid farewell to him. “You’re leaving everybody behind and you have a lot of friends and family around you today,” Mrs. Tomar said. A tall, distinguished-looking woman whose hair is streaked with gray, Mrs. Tomar emigrated to the country from Cape Verde with her husband, Paulo, in 1990 to make a better life for their seven children. She kept her composure through most of the hour-long service at the Merrrick R. William Funeral Home on Smithfield Avenue. But when the time came to close the coffin and take her dead son to Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery for burial, she and others in the room began to wail. Helder Tomar, 19, was shot to death in a fight that broke out last Saturday afternoon in Jenks Park with 19-year-old Anthony Strobert, who has been charge with murder. The day after the shooting, 16-year Edelmiro Roman of Central Falls was shot down on Dexter Street and and killed. Police say they believe that Roman, whose family is from Puerto Rico, was killed in retaliation for Tomar’s slaying. Addressing the crowd of young people who packed the funeral home this morning, lay preacher Marco De Barros called for peace. -- Journal staff writer John Castellucci “Death is part of life, but it’s supposed to be natural, not by violence, not by strife,” said De Barros, a 1996 graduate of Shea High School, where Tomar was a student. “My question, young people is ‘What now? What are you going to do with this experience? I believe we are at a crossroads. We have a choice to make.” He urged the crowd to choose peace over continued violence. “If we keep living this way –– an eye for an eye –– all of us will be blind.” Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:16 PM | Comment Barrington teen charged with murder admits bail breachPROVIDENCE -- Ryan Greenberg, the Barrington teenager accused of second-degree murder in his friend's boating death, was ordered held at the Adult Correctional Institutions for 60 days, including time served, after admitting he violated bail when he and others were found with alcohol last month. Under the agreement between the defense and prosecution, Greenberg, 17, is slated to be back in court on June 23 for another hearing. Special Magistrate Joseph A. Keough indicated in Providence County Superior Court this afternoon that if Greenberg stayed out of trouble he would most likely be put on home confinement and $100,000 surety bail. That means he would need to put up 10 percent cash or the full amount in property. Under such confinement, Greenberg would be limited to attending school, having medical treatment and meeting with his lawyer. No witnesses were brought forward today because of the defense-prosecution agreement. Greenberg had been ordered to stay away from drugs and alcohol, submit to random drug testing, and be of good behavior when he was released on Jan. 2. During the pre-trial phase, Keough said in court today, Greenberg had passed all 32 alcohol and drug screening tests to which he had been subjected. But the police said that on April 19 he was part of a group that a Barrington officer found while on party patrol in the town's Brickyard Pond area. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr. Last month prosecutor Christian Capizzo said in court that Greenberg refused to take both a field sobriety test and a breath test. He was also charged with underage possession of alcohol, although that charge was filed in Family Court. Greenberg is one of the so-called "gap kids," the 17-year-olds who were treated as adults when they were originally arrested after the General Assembly changed law it has since repealed. The state continues to wrestle with whether teens who fell into the category should be tried in adult or Family Courts -- a matter that goes before the state Supreme Court May 13. Greenberg was originally arraigned as an adult on the murder charge in the death of Patrick Murphy last July and on other charges related to Murphy’s death, so Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch's office brought him into Superior Court as a bail violator. Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:26 PM | Comment 2 Burrillville students charged with arson in school fireBURRILLVILLE -- Two 18-year-old students were held without bail after they were accused of burning a T-shirt and a roll of toilet paper in a locker room at the town's high school, the police said today. Joshua Haffner, 47 Litzen Rd., North Smithfield, and Elias Richardson, of 314 Chestnut St., Uxbridge, Mass., were charged with first-degree arson yesterday, according to Burrillville police Lt. Kevin SanAntonio. The youths used a lighter to ignite the shirt as it sat atop a locker and to set the toilet paper on fire in a bathroom stall, SanAntonio said. The fires around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday caused some damage to the ceiling and stall area, but they had stopped burning by the time they were discovered by a school janitor. They were arrested yesterday following an investigation by the police officer assigned to the school, David Beauchemin, SanAntonio said. The suspects were arraigned in District Court, Providence, today. Judge Frank J. Cenerini ordered them held without bail in advance of a bail hearing on May 9, San Antonio said. “This is an occupied school,” he said. “You’re putting people’s lives in jeopardy. It’s a very serious offense." -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:19 PM | Comment Clean, walkable cities touted as goal at summit / Photo
Bruce Katz, director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, told the audience that the nation’s cities are the key to its prosperity, and a new federal partnership needs to be formed to help strengthen city economies and create a strong, well-educated workforce Patrick MacRoy, executive director of the Alliance for Healthy Homes, called on planners and city officials to make local populations healthier by encouraging clean, walkable cities. -- Journal environmental writer Peter B. Lord Posted by Jack Perry at 3:05 PM | Comment School drivers in South Kingstown put off strikeSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- School buses will roll Monday as negotiations between the drivers union and DATTCO, the bus company, continue. Members of the Teamsters Local 251 voted to strike Wednesday, when they rejected DATTCO’s contract proposal 29-17. The strike had been planned for Monday, but the union has agreed not to take action as long as talks are under way, said Cliff Gibson, chief operating officer for DATTCO. “The union has assured me no job action as long as bargaining continues,” Gibson said. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney The Teamsters forwarded DATTCO a proposal around 11 a.m. today, Gibson said. He expected to exchange proposals to “bargain out the final points” over the next few days. Another round of talks is scheduled for Wednesday morning. “We’re very glad we’re still at the bargaining table,” Gibson said. It was unfortunate the drivers “contemplated job action without finishing negotiations.” Shop steward Tracie Warren and Teamsters business agent Brian Carroll did not return phone calls today. The union represents 36 drivers and 26 aides and monitors. Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:55 PM | Comment Man accused of robbery, stealing Fall River police carFALL RIVER, Mass. – A Kingston, Mass., man is facing a host of charges after police say he robbed a convenience store at knifepoint, assaulted a police officer, and stole a police cruiser. Police in Fall River received a 911 call at 5 a.m. today about a robbery at a 7-11 at 1040 North Main St. According to a police report, when an officer arrived, he saw a man fitting the suspect’s description, running down the street. Officer Michael Digangi yelled at the suspect to stop. When he didn’t, according to the police report, Digangi approached the suspect and the two began to struggle. The suspect was able to break away, and got into the police cruiser. Dignangi tried to pull the suspect out, but the car spun out and the suspect was able to drive away –– fast. Officer Keith Strong arrived as the suspect drove away. Strong, in his cruiser, chased the suspect to Burns Street; the suspect bailed out of the car near 183 George St., where police say they ultimately found Michael Coyle –– hiding in the basement. Digangi said in the report that he recognized Coyle as the suspect who had taken off in his police cruiser. And, according to the report, money was found on the floor near where Coyle hid. -- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandie M. Jefferson Police also determined that there was another person involved in the robbery. Ultimately, Richard John Cabral, 48, of 183 George St., Fall River, was also arrested after police initially questioned and released him. Coyle, of Kingston, Mass., faces charges, including assault and battery on an officer, carjacking, shoplifting and assault with a dangerous weapon. Cabral faces one charge of armed robbery. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:43 PM | Comment New defense bill is worth $196 million for R.I. companiesRhode Island companies and contractors would receive $196 million in defense and military construction funding under a Department of Defense Authorization Bill approved yesterday by the Senate Armed Services Committee. The funds are in addition to the funds proposed under the Department of Defense’s budget. “This funding...will help create manufacturing and technology jobs in Rhode Island and ensure that Rhode Island’s defense industry remains on the cutting edge," said U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. Rhode Island’s defense industry employs about 16,000 people throughout the state and contributes $1.6 billion annually to the local economy. The defense authorization bill would provide a 3.9 percent across-the-board pay raise for all uniformed personnel, a half a percent more than President Bush requested, add more than $120 million for various nonproliferation efforts, and include legislative provisions to improve our ability to reduce or respond to threats of WMD both abroad and at home. Now that the bill has been approved by Committee, it goes to the full Senate for consideration. Under the Congressional budget process, once the authorizations are in place, funding for the agencies, programs, or activities is then provided separately in annual appropriation spending bills. --Journal business editor John Kostrzewa Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 1:50 PM | Comment Lunch for seven, please -- with watermelons for threePROVIDENCE -- Rebekah Gudaitis, her two little girls and a friend had lunch in the city today -- with three elephants. Around 12:30 p.m., at one end of the tunnel dividing the Rhode Island Convention Center and the Westin Hotel, Juliana Gudaitis spoke with awe about watching three circus elephants consume. "I liked it when they smashed the watermelons," Juliana said, recalling the moment when each elephant stepped on a watermelon laid before it, turning melon to moosh suitable for eating. "It was awesome," said Alyssa Gudaitis, who had a friend with her. The Gudaitis family, of Burrillville's Pascoag section, had won a radio station contest to have lunch with elephants, who are in town as part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circus. A crowd gathered as the trio put on the greatest show of lunch-time, if not quite the "greatest show on earth." (That show -- the circus's familiar trademark -- is in the middle of a five-day run at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Sabin Street). After their appetites were satisfied -- with a police car keeping traffic in check -- the elephants crossed the street and headed away. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:28 PM | Comment Hearing today for Barrington teen facing murder chargeA bail violation hearing is set today for a Barrington teenager who faces a second-degree murder charge in the summer boating death of his friend Patrick Murphy. Police say Ryan Greenberg was found with a group of friends and alcohol on April 19 near Brickyard Pond. Greenberg, 17 at the time of the boating incident, had been free on bail since his arrest, and ordered to stay away from drugs and alcohol, submit to random drug testing and be on good behavior when he was released Jan. 2 to await trial. He was sent to the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston to await today's hearing. Last month, a patrol officer said he found more than a dozen beer cans on the ground, a 30-pack with more empty cans on the ground, and more than 15 full cans of beer in backpacks, along with a couple of bottles of Gatorade that apparently contained vodka. Greenberg is set to appear in front of Special Magistrate Joseph A. Keough in Providence County Superior Court at 2 p.m. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:28 PM | Comment Kennedy, colleagues back bill vs. genetic discriminationThe United States has laws prohibiting against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin and age. But what about discriminating against you? As the scope of protection grows the characteristics by which discrimination is possible shrinks. And right now, it ends with genetics. Yesterday, Congress voted to approve the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, a bill that puts restrictions on how genetic testing and the influence its results can have on health insurance. “There is nothing more personal and more deserving of protection than the genetic make-up of each and every individual in our nation,” Rep. Patrick Kennedy, one of the bills 224 co-signers, said in a statement.” “Just as our nation does not allow discrimination based on race or disability, we must not allow discrimination based on our own genetic identity.” The aim of this bill is to prevent health insurers from canceling, denying, refusing to renew, or changing the terms or premiums of coverage based solely on a genetic predisposition toward a specific disease. It also will bar employers from using any available genetic information when making hiring, firing, promotion, and other employment-related decisions. Genetic testing allows for the investigation into proteins, chromosomes and even individual genes to check for mutations or irregularities. Finding irregularities in certain spots can alert doctors to a propensity for some diseases –– such as some types of cancers or neurological disorders. The testing, however, cannot inform a person whether or not he or she will develop a disease. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 12:06 PM | Comment Newport mansion tours to be offered in ChineseNEWPORT -- The Newport Preservation Society is looking to attract more Chinese speakers to the city's famed mansions. It's announcing an initiative today to team with Bryant University in Smithfield to offer tours in Mandarin for Chinese tourists. Under the agreement, Bryant's U.S.-China Institute will translate the society's tour scripts into Mandarin. It also will provide a Mandarin speaker for Chinese tour groups at the mansions. Denise Schweren of Bryant says the initiative will help welcome more Chinese tourists to Newport. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 11:11 AM | Comment Workers set to march to State HouseJobs with Justice is holding its national conference in Rhode Island, but it's not all cheese plates at the convention center. The group of workers' rights advocates is also marching alongside Working RI to the State House today to rally for what it calls "a vision of Rhode Island that will protect and promote the dignity of every Rhode Islander." Joining the rally will be the secretary and treasurer of the state AFL/CIO, George Nee; the executive director of the National Jobs with Justice Sarita Gupta, and a handful of local advocates. The group is set to leave from the Westin Ballroom at 4 p.m. and speak at the State House Lawn at 5 p.m. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:33 AM | Comment This weekend: Jobs with JusticeJobs with Justice is coming to Rhode Island. The coalition of labor organizers, students, religious groups and community activists is holding its national conference in Rhode Island today through Sunday at the Rhode Island Convention Center. This year the group is focusing on health care, organizing with student workers and fair treatment of immigrant workers with a series of workshops on issues such as Exploring Root Causes of Migration and the impacts of Economic Justice; Exploring the history of relationships of Faith and Labor in the Movement for Social and Economic Justice; and Green Jobs with Justice. For registration information, visit the Jobs with Justice Web site. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 9:16 AM | Comment Block Island residents pay state's highest gas pricesNEW SHOREHAM -- Residents of Block Island enjoy beautiful views and a slower pace than the mainland. Now they have something else to boast about: the state's highest gas prices. The price of a gallon of regular unleaded hit $4.14 a gallon at the island's only gas station on Thursday. A gallon of premium is up to $4.39 per gallon, and diesel is up to an eye-popping $4.80 per gallon. AAA Southern New England says the average price of a gallon of regular in the Ocean State is $3.62 per gallon. Gasoline has to be brought onto the island by ferry, so that adds an extra cost to the price. Of course, motor travel is limited on the tiny island, though summer visitors swell the demand for gas. Extra: How are high gas prices impacting Rhode Islanders? See projo.com's special report. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 8:35 AM | Comment Newport erects marker to memorialize fallen officersNEWPORT -- A new granite marker outside Newport's police station pays tribute to city police officers killed in the line of duty. The memorial is scheduled to be dedicated in a ceremony Monday attended by Police Chief Michael G. McKenna, city officials and others. The marker bears the names of the three officers who have been killed while on duty in Newport: Eugene Barker in 1884, Robert C. Scott in 1922 and Patrick J. Clune in 1938. Barker and Clune were both shot to death. Scott was on a traffic post when he was hit and killed by a car. The memorial includes the names of the officers, their dates of death and the words: ``In Valor There is Hope.'' -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment What do May showers bring?May is looking like April this weekend. We've got rain until early afternoon today with a high temperature just reaching about 51 degrees. Winds should be mild from the east. Tonight we may see more rain with temperatures dropping to the low 40s. We'll have clouds all night with a mild east wind. Tomorrow we can expect more rain in the late morning with cloudy skies all day and temperatures reaching the mid-50s. The wind continues calmly from the east. Another chance of showers tomorrow night with more, overcast skies and a low temperature in the mid-40s. East winds may pick up a bit to 11 mph. And Sunday -- guess what? -- rain, clouds and east winds. But winds may pick up, gusting as high as 25 mph. Temperatures may rise slightly, topping off near 60. Sunday night, more rain, more clouds temperatures should dip to 48 degrees. Back to Monday, we'll see clouds, temperatures in the mid-to-high 40s, and, yes, a chance of rain. Cross your fingers and look for changes in the forecast on projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story about Governor Carcieri's signing a supplemental budget that implements widespread cuts to close a $168 million gap this fiscal year. Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment May 1, 2008Update: Cicilline proposes 'working family tax credit'PROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline has presented a budget proposal to the City Council that features a "Working Family Tax Credit" targeted at owner-occupied single-family homes valued under $200,000 and owner-occupied multi-family properties valued under $275,000. Cicilline said about 6,500 homeowners would see a $250 credit on their tax bill, under the proposal for next fiscal year. "That will amount to a much-needed property tax cut," Cicilline said in remarks prepared for delivery. Cicilline said in his remarks: "We know that economic times are growing more difficult for many Providence families. But for some, the pressures are pushing them to the breaking point. For some families, the threat of prices rising any higher is putting them at serious risk." So, the mayor continued, his first request is for the City Council to join him in "providing real help to working families who need it most" through the proposed tax credit. Cicilline said two General Assembly lawmakers have already agreed to sponsor legislation to enable the city to carry out the credit. The mayor’s aides have spent the last months hashing out the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. While acknowledging that cuts in the city's schools budget are "the most difficult of all," Cicilline also said he could not avoid proposing cuts in that department, which represents half of the entire budget. "I cannot responsibly propose a cut to any academic programming. These programs have already been reduced drastically," he said. "Therefore, in this budget, I propose a reduction in the operational side of the school budget by three million dollars. These savings will be achieved by overhauling our crossing guard system, our transportation system, or both, but will not reduce academic programs for our children." -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Cicilline said "we must make cuts" because of the financial situation but at the same time "our residents can't afford a crippled government." They need police to be "even more effective" as economic problems create conditions for increased crime. He proposes a 10 percent across-the-board cut a city grants program. He also said every city department has come up with "difficult, additional cuts." And Cicilline said he proposes four-day mandatory furlough for all of the city's management and non-collective bargaining employees. He said this would be the second year he has "directed this action." The budget calls for a 3.75 percent levy increase that, when the city's tax base growth is factored in, will translate to a tax icnrease of slightly less than that percentage, according to Cicilline. "I fully understand the hardship that any tax increase causes," his prepared remarks say. "But it would simply not be responsible to propose a zero tax increase in this budget climate." However, Cicilline added, families who would received the proposed taxed credit would have no tax increase and "most will see a reduction in their property taxes." Cicilline, a Democrat, put the onus of expected tough economic times for the city on national forces. He cited "fallout" from a "failed admininistration in Washington," a "national recession" and what he called "significant cuts" in federal money to the states. That has a domino effect on Rhode Island, which in turn, the mayor asserts, leads to "major shortfalls" at the local level. Continuing that theme, Cicilline said the costs of all that are "intellectual property challenges" at the federal level, "moral and political challenges" at the state level but, when they reach Providence's neighborhoods they "represent survival challenges." Cicilline said the budget is based on a prediction of a 15 percent cut from what the General Assembly provided to Providence this fiscal year. Read Journal staff writer Daniel Barbarisi's advance on the budget. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:05 PM | Comment Cullion Concrete to begin dismantling half-built plantCRANSTON -- Cullion Concrete Corp. will begin dismantling its controversial, half-built batching plant off Pontiac Avenue as soon as next week, a lawyer for the company said today. The announcement came a day after the City Council gave final approval for a $1.9 million buyout of the Cullion land. Mayor Michael T. Napolitano, who negotiated the buyout with Cullion, welcomed the developments. “I’m very, very happy that Cullion has been settled and solved for the people of Cranston,” he said. And City Council member Emilio L. Navarro, who represents the area surrounding the plant, said he was glad the city had “protected the neighborhood.” The plant stirred sharp opposition from neighbors concerned about the potential for traffic, noise and pollution. And residents voiced relief today that the long fight against the project is finally over. -- Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg But not everyone is pleased with the resolution. City Council President Aram G. Garabedian, who cast the lone vote against the deal Wednesday night, said he was upset that the city never got a chance to contest a disputed building permit for the project in a zoning board hearing or before a judge. He also argued that $1.9 million is too much to pay for the 17.7-acre plot of land. Some neighbors have raised concerns about plans to build affordable housing on a portion of the land, once it is in city hands. John O. Mancini, the Cullion lawyer who announced plans to dismantle the plant, said owner Mark Cullion has “lukewarm” feelings about pulling out of Cranston. “He wanted his plant,” Mancini said. “But unfortunately, life takes you in different directions.” The city, under the terms of the deal, will put up $600,000 now and pay the balance by the end of the year. The administration is working to secure grant and loan funds from the state and federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to pay off the final $1.3 million. Mancini said Cullion has been looking for an alternative location for the plant somewhere outside Cranston. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:50 PM | Comment Alert: Senate OKs, Carcieri signs supplemental budgetPROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri this evening signed into law a package of spending cuts to close this year's at-least $168-million budget deficit. “I’m pleased that both the House and the Senate have acted on this important fiscal austerity measure,” Carcieri said in a statement. “Approving the revised budget for the current fiscal year is the first step to solving the state’s fiscal crisis.” The governor signed the package, known as the supplemental budget, after the state Senate late this afternoon approved it, 25-11. The vote comes after a key Senate committee last night narrowly endorsed the package. It passed the House of Representatives last week. The deficit fix will not raise taxes, but opponents have said it will cuts aid to cities and towns, reduce retired stated workers' health-care benefits and eliminate subsidized health care for more than 2,800 immigrant children. State lawmakers will still have to grapple with an evene larger projected deficit for next year. See the full deficit plan here. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:52 PM | Comment Hundreds rally against crackdown on illegal immigrationPROVIDENCE -- About 400 people are at an immigration rally outside the State House late this afternoon, asking that state lawmakers not support Governor Carcieri's executive order cracking down on illegal immigration. People chanted, in English and Spanish, "The people united will never be defeated." Speakers rallying the crowd shouted messages. Thousands of chanting, flag-waving immigrants and activists rallied in cities across the country today, attempting to reinvigorate calls for immigration reform in a presidential election year in which the economy has taken center stage.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:32 PM | Comment Deported drug dealer gets time for illegal re-entryPROVIDENCE -- A previously deported convicted drug dealer was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States. Domingo Enrique Lorenzo-Ferrera got 41 months in prison from U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi, who rejected Lorenzo-Ferrera’s assertion that he was a shoe salesman. Lisi "took note" of evidence collected by federal agents that Lorenzo-Ferrera, 40, is a drug dealer, according to a news release issued by U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office. Prosecutor Peter F. Neronha, in a sentencing memorandum, disputed Lorenzo-Ferrera’s claim that he earned $100 a week selling shoes by providing evidence agents seized last August from an apartment Ferrera used on Linwood Avenue, Providence. Agents found in the apartment $1,030 in cash, a trace amount of cocaine, marijuana, a digital scale, a sifter, a box of sandwich bags, a heat sealer, and two empty bottles of a material that traffickers use to cut the strength of cocaine, "all suggesting that Lorenzo-Ferrera was in the drug-trafficking trade," according to the prosecution. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Lorenzo-Ferrera, a Dominican Republic citizen, was convicted in Washington D.C. in 1987 of cocaine trafficking and sentenced to prison. He was deported in 1995. State Police detectives assigned to a drug-trafficking task force, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, arrested Lorenzo-Ferrera on a charge of illegal reentry after using a search warrant at the Linwood Avenue apartment on Aug. 6. He pleaded guilty to the charge in February, the U.S. Attorney's office said. After his prison sentence, Lorenzo-Ferrera, will again be subject to deportation. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:12 PM | Comment Hope High's turn for police roll callPROVIDENCE -- Members of the Providence police department held a public roll call in front of Hope High School at dismissal today, part of an ongoing effort to increase the force’s presence in the community. Police Chief Dean Esserman said that the department began holding roll calls in neighborhoods last spring and the public response was so positive that the chief decided to continue them this year. The department has already held at least three outdoor roll calls during the past 10 days, including one at Mount Pleasant High School on Wednesday. “The rationale is nothing more than to increase our visibility in the community,” Esserman said, “and to send a message that we are here.” Last year, one of the district substations held a roll call in front of the Davey Lopes Recreation Center. High schools are a natural choice because they are places where large numbers of students and teachers congregate, according to Maj. Paul C. Fitzgerald, head of the patrol bureau. The district commanders decide when and where to stage the roll calls. -- Journal staff writer Linda Borg Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:58 PM | Comment Somerset asks: Can Gov. Patrick ban new LNG plan?SOMERSET, Mass. -- The Board of Selectmen has asked Gov. Deval Patrick if he has authority to ban the new Weaver’s Cove LNG project proposed for the middle of the Mount Hope Bay. In a letter to the governor signed Wednesday, the three say that when an offshore LNG terminal was proposed for Gloucester, Mass., ``we understood that former Governor [Mitt] Romney had the authority to veto that project.’’ Board members are hoping that Patrick has that authority, and that the governor will shoot down the new plan, which calls for parking supertankers in Somerset waters and piping the liquefied natural gas four miles to a storage tank at the Weaver’s Cove site in Fall River. The LNG would travel through an insulated pipeline that would run just of the town’s waterfront and be buried in the sediment. All three selectmen oppose the project. In their letter, they say they are ``concerned about this new proposal in Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River given the sensitivity of the fragile marine environment. There are also public safety concerns as well, raised by the Board of Selectmen and the residents of our town.’’ Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:48 PM | Comment Warwick man claims $200,000 Powerball ticketA Warwick man today claimed a $200,000-winning Powerball ticket that he bought at Parkway Convenience & Deli, 1154 Narragansett Parkway, Warwick. The man, not identified by Rhode Island Lottery, "was unaware of the big win" until he returned to that same store yesterday evening to check his ticket, a lottery news release said. It was the second $200,000-winning ticket from last Saturday's Powerball drawing. The other was claimed this week by co-workers at a Johnston-based company calling themselves the "FMG Fab Fourteen." Check lottery numbers at powerball.com. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:42 PM | Comment Suit accuses Johnston officials of favoring FM GlobalJOHNSTON -- A lawsuit filed in Superior Court accuses Mayor Joseph M. Polisena and other town officials of a biased attempt to help builders rush the construction of FM Global’s next headquarters in violation of the town’s zoning laws. Filed yesterday by CapLease, the company that owns FM Global’s existing headquarters building, it says the local officials’ scheme repeatedly blocked access to important public documents and issued building permits for the project prior to any final approval vote by the Planning Board. Named as defendants are Building Official Bernard J. Nascenzi and Public Works Director Makram H. Megalli. The suit alleges a scheme to “delay and hinder CapLease’s ability to obtain documents and understand the project, thus leaving the project unchallenged in any meaningful manner.” This prevented CapLease from temporarily stopping construction of the $60 million structure by appealing the board’s decision and triggering an automatic stay provided in the law, the suit says. FM Global is trying to build a new headquarters building in time to move out of CapLease’s building before the tenant’s lease expires next summer. -- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds The town officials agreed to issue the permits prematurely in exchange for FM Global’s promise to protect the municipality from “the illegality of its own conduct,” says the suit, which cites a letter in which an FM Global lawyer promises to indemnify the town from a certain type of legal claim. The letter specifies a legal claim challenging the town’s policy of permitting construction before the official time period for appealing the planning board’s decision had elapsed. “…it is readily apparent that the town, faced with the perceived threat that FM Global might leave town, chose at the outset to do FM Global’s bidding in derogation of the town’s legal obligations and public trust,” says the suit. In past practice, the town has made builders wait until any appeals, or pending appeals, were resolved before giving the go-ahead for construction, says the suit. In this case, officials have let FM Global finish the foundations despite CapLease’s appeals, which were filed last month and will be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals on May 14. A stop-work order issued on April 21 also allows construction crews to backfill around the foundations. The suit quotes Polisena’s published comments on the importance of retaining FM Global. “This isn’t a grand slam,” Polisena said last year. “It’s the World Series times 10.” Polisena said today that he feels very comfortable by what the town did. Polisena said he still hasn’t gone through the document, but he’s confident in the decisions made by planning officials and the building official and reviewed by the town’s lawyer. He acknowledged the indemnity agreement saying the neighbors were “on board so to speak” and he wanted to help FM Global make its construction deadlines. “We said, sure, no problem,” Polisena said. He added: “I’m just amazed at what length they’re going through to try to keep FM Global in their building.” Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:17 PM | Comment Smokey fire in PawtucketFirefighters are on the scene of a fire in Pawtucket where black, billowing smoke has sent at least one firefighter to the hospital. “It’s a pretty stubborn fire," Chief Timothy McLaughlin said. "Its in the walls, our guys are chasing it." The fire is at 175 West Forest St., a residential neighborhood with tightly packed Capes and two-story houses. McLaughlin said the fire started in the basement and worked its way through the house. It's still burning in the stairwell. The two-story home was not occupied when the fire broke out, but officials have said one firefighter was taken to Miriam Hospital with chest pains. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Grimaldi Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:55 PM | Comment Photo: Pinning the badge on his brother
Posted by Jack Perry at 2:43 PM | Comment Firefighters pull man from Providence River/ Photo
PROVIDENCE -- Something didn’t seem right to Bob Iuliano. The lawyer was leaving the J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex today when a man came up to him and asked if he was an attorney. Then, the man took his jacket off and threw it to the ground. Why did you do that?, Iuliano asked. “Because I’m hot,” the man replied, adding that he just didn’t want the jacket anymore. He then walked from the court building toward the Providence River and, Iuliano said, he “slid right in,” eventually getting into the water up to his knees. So, at about 11:15 a.m., Iuliano called 911, because he was afraid of how the man would react to the cold water. When rescue arrived, Iuliano’s concern proved legitimate. The man had swum to a pier and was just holding on against the current. Acting Battalion Chief David Soscia said the man was initially combative when officials tried to get him out of the water and did not want to return to the shore. “Finally,” Soscia said, “The temperature of the water settled him down a bit.” The man, whose name was not released by fire officials, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from projo.com staff writer Mike McKinney and Journal staff photographer Bill Murphy Posted by Jack Perry at 2:23 PM | Comment S. Kingstown bus drivers vote to go strike, pending offerSOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The union representing the district’s bus drivers has voted to go on strike Monday, if the bus company doesn’t present them with a new contract proposal by tomorrow night, according to the shop steward. The strike vote came last night when Teamsters Local 251, at a meeting at the American Legion hall, rejected a contract proposal from DATTCO, the bus company, 29 to 17, said Tracie Warren, the steward. “No one wants to do this, obviously,” Warren said. “If it has to be done, it has to be done.” Cliff Gibson, senior vice president and chief operating officer at DATTCO, did not return a phone call immediately. Supt. Robert Hicks said today that he had been assured by Teamsters representative, Brian Carroll, that the drivers would not strike as long as talks were under way and that he’d been told the union had forwarded DATTCO a proposal this morning. “I am hoping and expecting that people will keep talking and that reasonable heads will prevail and the education of our children will not be disrupted,” he said. Warren said she was not aware of such conversations, repeating that the union representing 36 drivers and 26 aides and monitors had voted to strike. Hicks said he would keep parents informed through the telephone alert system. He added that he had received calls that drivers of the district’s 42 buses had told children about their intentions to strike. Hicks objected to students being used to communicate the drivers’ positions. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney According to Warren, a major sticking point was that DATTCO presented them with a four-year deal, when a majority of members did not want to enter into a contract longer than three years. They also sought an unpaid personal day and a paid snow day, and to contribute to their retirement plans, she said. Their 401K accounts were frozen when members voted to unionize in 2002, she said. They have not been able to contribute to their retirement since. “We’d like to contribute to our retirement,” Warren said. “We’re looking for respect from the company. We just feel we don’t receive respect.” While DATTCO’s proposal brought local salaries more in line with neighboring town, it still came in slightly shy of other districts, she said. She criticized DATTCO for being willing to pay fill-in drivers more than its full-time drivers. She attributed the driver shortages the district has experienced in the past year to low wages and paltry benefits being offered by the company. The contract proposal would not have given raises to its new drivers for a year, she said. Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:08 PM | Comment R.I. law firm, one of nation's oldest, to closeLaw firm Tillinghast Licht, with roots dating to 1818, announced today that it will wind down business in the next few months, with six key lawyers joining Adler Pollock & Sheehan on May 19. "The decision to close the firm stems in large part from the fact that in recent years the firm has become somewhat smaller, and the partners believe its current size could impact its ability to remain a full-service law firm," the firm said in a statement today. The Tillinghast Licht lawyers joining Adler Pollock & Sheehan include former Lt. Gov. Richard A. Licht and former House Speaker Joseph DeAngelis, Adler Pollock & Sheehan said in a statement. Other Tillinghast Licht lawyers will join other firms or set up their own offices to concentrate on their specialties, the Tillinghast Licht statement said. -- Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker Posted by Jack Perry at 11:54 AM | Comment EZPass coming to Pell Bridge next yearEZPass is coming to Rhode Island. The State has announced a bid has been accepted to install the EZPass toll collection system on the Pell Bridge, linking Jamestown and Newport.The work is expected to be finished by 2009. Castea Technologies, Inc. –– which has designed and installed the system in new York –– won the bid at $1.8 million. Last November, Rep. Patrick Kennedy secured a half-million dollars in federal money to help offset the cost of the implementing the new system for the span, which opened in 1969. The EZPass system uses a chip attached to your car with information about your account. When a driver goes through an EZPass facility, a radio antenna is used to read your account information and note that your car passed through the facility. The toll is collected from a prepaid account. Currently, drivers pay $2 in cash for a one-way trip on the bridge. Tokens are also available. “In light of the difficult budget issues, both locally and nationally, we are very grateful that Congressman Kennedy was able to secure these funds,” Earl Croft, Executive Director of RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority, said in a statement. “This funding will help us to defray the costs of EZPass implementation.” Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 11:54 AM | Comment Senate due to take up budget plan aimed at deficit gapPROVIDENCE -- The state Senate is slated today to take up a deficit-avoidance plan aimed at closing this year's $168 million budget gap. The spending-cuts package -- known as a supplemental budget -- cleared the House last week and, yesterday, got the Senate Finance Committee's OK over labor unions' objections. The plan does not raise taxes, but opponents have said it cuts aid to cities and towns, reduces retired state workers' health-care benefits and does away with subsidized health care for more than 2,800 immigrant children. Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:49 AM | Comment Woonsocket hospital ends open-heart surgery programThe Health Department is allowing Landmark Medical Center to close its heart-surgery program while continuing to offer angioplasty, effective June 1. The decision marks the end of Landmark’s ambitious but unsuccessful effort to offer, in cooperation with a Boston hospital, a high-end medical service at the Woonsocket community hospital. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center worked with Landmark to develop its heart-surgery program, which started three years ago. But the program never attracted enough patients to be financially viable. The Health Department ruling, made late yesterday and announced this morning, grants Landmark a waiver from rules that require anyone offering angioplasty to also have a heart-surgery program as backup in emergencies. Angioplasty is a procedure in which doctors thread a slender tube into the heart to open clogged arteries. Landmark is now required to develop a relationship with a hospital that offers heart surgery and an ambulance company so patients can be quickly transferred in an emergency. Meanwhile, the hospital will maintain its ability to provide emergency heart surgery but is no longer doing elective heart surgeries, said spokesman Bill Fischer. Landmark did only 80 open-heart surgeries last year. But its angioplasty program has been more successful, with close 400 last year, and with the waiver, that program can continue. -- Journal medical writer Felice J. Freyer Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:20 AM | Comment Photo: A "Newfie" way to walk
Read a full story on the show. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:32 AM | Comment Update: Barrington teen's hearing postponedA bail violation hearing has been postponed for a Barrington teenager who faces a second-degree murder charge in the summer boating death of his friend Patrick Murphy. Police say Ryan Greenberg was found with a group of friends and alcohol on April 19 near Brickyard Pond. Greenberg, 17 at the time of the boating incident, had been free on bail since his arrest, and ordered to stay away from drugs and alcohol, submit to random drug testing and be on good behavior when he was released Jan. 2 to await trial. He was sent to the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston to await today's hearing. Last month, a patrol officer said he found more than a dozen beer cans on the ground, a 30-pack with more empty cans on the ground, and more than 15 full cans of beer in backpacks, along with a couple of bottles of Gatorade that apparently contained vodka. Greenberg is set to appear in front of Special Magistrate Joseph A. Keough in Providence County Superior Court tomorrow at 2 p.m. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 10:15 AM | Comment CVS reports hike in first-quarter profitsWoonsocket-based CVS Caremark Corp., the largest U.S. drugstore chain by number of stores, said first-quarter profit increased after it acquired pharmacy-benefits manager Caremark RX Inc. last year. Net income climbed to $748.5 million, or 51 cents a share, from $408.9 million, or 43 cents, a year earlier, CVS said today. Sales rose to $21.3 billion, trailing analysts' estimates. Rising gasoline costs kept shoppers closer to home to fill their prescriptions, benefiting CVS. Contracts to administer pharmacy benefits, including one concluded with AT&T Inc. last month, will propel growth, Matt Kaufler, a portfolio manager with Clover Capital Management in Rochester, New York, told Bloomberg News. “Their future is increasingly tied to that,” said Kaufler, whose firm manages $2.6 billion in assets. -- Journal Business Editor John Kostrzewa Posted by Jack Perry at 8:17 AM | Comment Group to protest Carcieri's order vs. illegal immigrantsA group of Rhode Islanders is getting together today for another in what has been a string of rallies decrying an executive order issued by the governor to identify and remove illegal immigrants from the state. The groups involved say in a statement that immigration reform is the responsibility of the federal government, not the state. “We are calling on the governor and legislators to rescind the executive order," the statement reads, "and put an end to anti-immigrant legislation built on stereotypes and misinformation.” While the order targets illegal immigrants, opponents have said enforcement could lead to profiling all immigrants. The groups involved include Immigrants in Action Committee, Ocean State Action, the Rhode Island Mexican-American Association and the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy. The rally is set for 4:30 p.m. today on the lawn of the State House. Download a .PDF copy of the Governor's Executive Order. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:07 AM | Comment New R.I. state senator to take officePROVIDENCE -- A new state senator gets ready to take office. Senator-elect Roger Picard, of Woonsocket, will take the oath of office during a ceremony this afternoon at the State House. Picard won a special election in April to fill a seat held by Senator Roger Badeau, who died in January. Picard was elected a state representative in 1992. He resigned yesterday from the House so he could take his new seat in the Senate. Picard's seat in the House will remain vacant until a successor is elected in November. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Frost possible early then warming to 60Some spring. Look out for frost this morning. The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory until 7 a.m., which shouldn't be a surprise if you've been outside already. It's still at the freezing point -- and colder -- around the state. As the day goes on, expect more clouds and rising temperatures, ultimately hitting 60 degrees with northwest winds up to 13 degrees. There may be rain late tonight, with clouds and a low temperature near 40. We may have more rain tomorrow before noon. Otherwise, expect clouds, southeast winds and a high temperature near 63 degrees. Check projo.com's weather page to see if the sun will make a comeback this week. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story on the effect of a curfew called in Central Falls after the fatal shootings this weekend of two teens. There's also a continuing report on the impact of high gas prices. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006