« June 3, 2008 | Today | June 5, 2008 »

June 4, 2008

Tonight: Clapton in Mansfield and other gigs

A man whose nickname during the '60s was none other than "God" will make a visit to the Tweeter Center -- make that the Comcast Center -- tonight.

Eric Clapton, who with Jimi Hendrix helped forge the template for rock and modern blues guitar, will launch the summer concert season at what will now be called the Comcast Center, formerly the Tweeter Center, in Mansfield, Mass.

The Center can accommodate 19,900 people and hosts about 35 to 40 concerts yearly.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 with Robert Randolph & the Family Band opening.

Clapton rose to prominence during the '60s as guitarist for Cream, the power trio with drummer Ginger Baker and bass player Jack Bruce that some consider the first super group, given the reputations the three brought to the band -- as players with chops. Clapton, for instance, had played with the Yardbirds and with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers.

If you don't have a ticket or can't get one, there's music here in Rhode Island for which tickets may prove easier to acquire.

Tapemasters Inc., The Lox, Jadakiss, Styles P., Sheek Louch and Tyga perform rap and hip-hop at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, 79 Washington St., Providence. Call 331-5876, 272-5876, www.etix.com. 9:30 pm. $25.

Check out projo.com's Club Calendar for tonight.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:50 PM | Comment

Settlement in jeopardy for injured illegal immigrant

PROVIDENCE -- A groundbreaking settlement for an injured Mexican illegal immigrant was put in jeopardy today when the man’s former employer, Warwick tree-service owner William J. Gorman Jr., fired his lawyer and told a judge that the agreement “was a total lie. I’ve never even seen it to this day.”

Gorman’s lawyer, Michael St. Pierre, reached the $30,000 settlement agreement with lawyers for Edgar Velásquez, the injured worker, in January.

Just prior to withdrawing from the case today, St. Pierre told Workers’ Compensation Judge Bruce Q. Morin that he indeed had informed Gorman of the agreement, including sending him “very lengthy, detailed letters” outlining the terms.

Velásquez sustained injury in 2006 when a chainsaw kicked back and slashed his face to the bone. At the time, he was working for Gorman, owner of Billy G’s Tree Care. Velásquez is now in Mexico.

Though state law entitles undocumented immigrants to pursue workers’ compensation claims, Velásquez was arrested outside the courthouse on the day he first tried to bring his case against Gorman. Velásquez and his lawyers said they believed Gorman notified immigration authorities.

Today, nearly two dozen representatives of Fuerza Laboral (Power of Workers) and the Mexican-American Association of Rhode Island sat in the courtroom, in support of Velásquez.

-- Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:55 PM | Comment

House debating renewable energy

The Rhode Island House of Representatives this afternoon is debating a major energy bill that supporters say will help move the state away from its dependence on electricity generated by fossil fuels.

The Senate passed the same bill yesterday.

If passed, the bill would require National Grid to enter into “commercially reasonable” long-term contracts with renewable-energy developers to purchase their electricity. That requirement would give assurance to prospective developers that there would be a buyer for the electricity produced by the project. Such assurance, the developers have said, is needed to borrow money to build renewable energy projects.

The utility company would have to enter into contracts that total 90 megawatts of average generating capacity. That total is arrived at after accounting for the fact that the wind turbines will only produce electricity some of the time (when the wind blows faster than a certain speed) and the fact that the solar panels won't produce much power when it's cloudy.

Here is what that 90 megawatts really means and how it relates to a typical household's energy consumption:

First, one needs to figure out how much power that is, expressed in the number of kilowatt-hours. 90 megawatts x 8,760 hours in a year = 788,400 megawatt-hours, or 788.4 million kilowatt-hours over the course of one year.

National Grid supplies Rhode Island with about 6.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year.

So that means that 788,400 megawatt-hours of renewable energy would represent about 12 percent of all electricity consumed in the state.

How many homes would that power? If the average home uses 500 kilowatt-hours per month, that’s 6,000 kwh per year. 788,400,000 kwh / 6,000 kwh = 131,400 homes.

Ronald Gerwatowksi, vice president of distribution regulatory services for National Grid, confirmed the calculations but cautioned that other variables should be taken into account.

First, he said, it's likely that some of the renewable energy projects-- with which National Grid contracts -- may not be built, "due to siting and other project development difficulties."

"Thus, signing contracts to that level is not likely to result in as many megawatt-hours as you assume in the analysis," Gerwatowksi said. "It will be something less."

Secondly, he said the legislation relies on rules set by ISO New England that estimate the actual amount of electricity a renewable energy project would produce. He said those rules may be overly optimistic.

"For that reason, as well, it is hard to be certain about how many megawatt-hours actually will be produced," he said.

-- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann

Posted by Tim Barmann at 5:45 PM | Comment

Hospital campuses to go smoke free Nov. 20th

On Nov. 20, the Great American Smokeout will take on extra meaning for nine Rhode Island hospitals. Today they announced plans to become smoke free on that date.

The hospitals already restrict smoking throughout most of their buildings. But starting Nov. 20, they will also forbid it on their grounds and in their parking lots. Hospitals that provide “smoking shelters” now, will remove them by then.

The goal is to have a healthier workforce and workplace. To assist smokers, the hospitals plan to offer free medication and smoking cessation clinics.

At the same time, they will not force any employees to quit.

“As health care organizations, hospitals have a responsibility to take a leadership role on this important issue,” said Kathleen C. Hittner, president and CEO of The Miriam Hospital and chairwoman of the board of trustees of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island.

The ban is being imposed by the Landmark Medical Center, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, The Miriam Hospital, Newport Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center, St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island, South County Hospital, and The Westerly Hospital.

-- Journal environment writer Peter Lord

Your turn: Do you support the hospitals' smoke-free campus policy?

Posted by maria caporizzo at 5:10 PM | Comment

Morning fire damages a sawmill in Foster

FOSTER -- A fire early this morning damaged Winsor Forest Products, a sawmill at 55 Winsor Rd.

Foster Police Lt. Robert Bolger said the fire broke out early this morning and was reported by a motorist at around 6:45 a.m. No one was at the sawmill at the time of the fire.

The town’s three volunteer fire departments -- Foster Center, South Foster and Moosup Valley fire companies -- as well as departments from Scituate, responded.

Bolger said that when emergency personnel arrived, the 5,000-square-foot metal and steel sawmill was engulfed in flames.

To combat the fire, firefighters had to truck in water from a nearby river because, like the rest of town, there are no fire hydrants. The fire was contained by 8 a.m. Firefighters remained on the scene putting down hot spots until about 10:30 a.m., Bolger said.

The sawmill is next to some residences and is near the State Police Training Academy. Its contents were destroyed while the badly burned steel building remained standing. A number of lumber and mulch piles on the property, as well as a front end loader, also were destroyed.

The State Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the fire, which Bolger said is not considered suspicious at this point.

It was not the first fire to ravage the sawmill, which has been in continuous operation for 36 years, according to The Journal's archives.

In August 1999, a fire in the mill’s main structure caused nearly $80,000 in damage; at the time, the company was not insured, according to the police. While firefighters saved the steel mill building, most of the equipment inside was destroyed.

-- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:55 PM | Comment

Top R.I. Clinton supporters swinging over to Obama

Several high-placed Rhode Island supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign said today they are ready to support Sen. Barack Obama, who clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday.

Three major Clinton supporters, William Lynch of Pawtucket, the Democratic state chairman and brother of Attorney General Patrick Lynch, an Obama supporter; Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, and Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline, all showed up Tuesday night at an Obama victory event attended by more than 100 supporters of the Illinois senator at the Local 121 Restaurant in downtown Providence.

"We are all good Democrats,'' said Lynch. "We have to put the good of the country before personal feelings.''

Lynch said he and other Clinton supporters are ready to begin working for Obama in an attempt to forge a unified Democratic campaign.

"It isn't as easy as switching on a light switch, there are feelings involved,'' said Lynch. ``It was a hard-fought race. But for most of us this will be a seamless transition. I intend to work as hard as I can for him.''

-- Journal staff writer Scott MacKay

Said Roberts, "I'm much happier when Democrats are united than when they are divided.''

"I think we have the opportunity to take the excitement of both the Clinton and Obama campaigns and use that excitement to build a campaign that elects a Democratic president,'' she said.

Cicilline said he will "do anything they (Obama campaign) asks...campaigning, raising money, talking to other mayors, whatever it takes.''

"I think he'll be a great president,'' said Cicilline. "I think that whatever our differences they are small in comparison to the huge differences between their (Republican) nominee and our nominee.''

Lynch said there will be party unity because there are not major differences on issues between Obama and Clinton. "They are the same on most issues,'' said Lynch.

Posted by maria caporizzo at 4:54 PM | Comment

Children's foundation benefits from new Tim Hortons

WARWICK -- A Tim Hortons opened with an official ribbon cutting today and the day's coffee sales will go to help the restaurant chain's children's foundation.

Fifty children from the Providence area will attend one of the six foundation camps at no cost, according to a news release.

The Tim Hortons, at 63 Airport Road, opened at 6 a.m. and will give a year's free breakfasts to the first 100 customers who came in today.

All of today's coffee sales at Tim Hortons locations go to support the Tim Hortons Children Foundation.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:11 PM | Comment

Projection equipment spared in Rustic Drive-In fire

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- A fire that broke out today in a two-floor building at the Rustic Drive-In -- Rhode Island's only drive-in theater -- damaged the first-floor concessions area but not the second-floor projection room, according to officials.

It is not clear whether the theater will be able to keep to its regular Friday through Sunday showtimes schedule this weekend.

Joel Jillson, chief of the North Smithfield Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire, which has been put out, started at about 11:49 a.m. in the first-floor kitchen of the concession stand.

The fire, which was reported by a neighbor who saw smoke, was brought under control in about 45 minutes. Jillson said firefighters were able to prevent it from spreading to the second floor and the projection room.

The Rustic has a Friday through Sunday showtimes schedule, but Jen Chenail of the Boston Culinary Group, which owns the theater, said it is not clear whether the theater will be open as scheduled this Friday.

"We're waiting," she said. "We've got to see what they tell us and go from there."

Town building inspector Robert Benoit said damage had been limited to a few roof rafters and wall studs. He said the building was structually sound.

Fire damage was confined to one corner behind the concessions stand, though the entire concessions area was covered with pink insulation that firefighters had pulled down while putting out the blaze.

The two-story cinderblock building is centrally located in the Rustic's parking area, roughly equidistant from the three movie screens. The theater on Route 146 has been around since the early 1950s.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Hill

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:03 PM | Comment

Gianquitti denied bail in murder of neighbor

WARWICK -- Bail was denied today for Nicholas Gianquitti, the neighbor accused of shooting and killing his neighbor, Cranston firefighter Lt. James A. Pagano, after the defense failed to convince the judge that the charge should be manslaughter and not murder.

District Court Judge Elaine Bucci refused to buy the argument by Gianquitti's lawyers that the shooting was not premeditated, and therefore the crime was manslaughter.

A murder charge requires "malice aforethought." A manslaughter charge under state guidelines requires that bail be allowed.

Bucci, however, agreed with the state prosecutors, who argued that the shooting was indeed a case of murder.

In doing so, the judge cited the 911 tape played at the bail hearing yesterday in which Gianquitti gets on the phone and calmly says he shot Pagano. The judge also noted that Pagano was shot in the back as he walked away, which she said constituted malice.

The decision concluded three afternoons of testimony, including from Pagano's family members, both children and adults, in the bail hearing.

Gianquitti, who briefly served as a Providence police officer, is accused of murdering Pagano on May 18 after a dispute started by a child's stray tennis ball.

Yesterday, Gianquitti cried in court as he listened to the 911 call that his wife placed while Pagano was dying from a single gunshot wound.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg

Gianquitti also came on the phone, saying his neighbor had come to his house and had pushed him down the stairs.

“I drew my weapon and I shot him,” he told the 911 operator.

“I was afraid for my life,” he said.

“He’s on my property,” he said. “I’m in the right.”

According to testimony, before the shooting, Gianquitti had sworn at children, who were playing a ballgame outside, after a foul ball struck his car.

James Pagano had been holding a birthday party at the Pagano home. He, with his 72-year-old father, came over to Gianquitti's house to confront Gianquitti.

Words were exchanged and, according to testimony, James Pagano took a swing at Gianquitti, who stumbled down some stairs and drew a handgun from his waistband.

Gianquitti fired at Pagano and chased him from the house, firing again, according to testimony.

Extra: Read continuing coverage of the Cranston shooting.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:59 PM | Comment

Shire Corp. manager accused of hacking DOT computer

A construction manager for the Shire Corporation, a major bridge contractor for the state, was arrested by state and federal authorities today on charges that he illegally gained access to a state Department of Transportation computer to give his company a competitive edge.

Anthony G. Mesiti, 41, of 45 Basil Crossing, Cranston, was charged with access to a computer for fraudulent purposes and unlawful access to a computer, according to the Rhode Island State Police.

His arrest followed an investigation launched by state police after receiving a complaint from the DOT in April that their construction management computer system had been unlawfully accessed, according to the state police.

The state police said their investigation traced the intrusions to the business offices of Shire Corporation, 7 Starline Way, Cranston. On May 22, the state police and federal agents executed a search warrant at the business office of Shire Corporation. State police say they uncovered additional evidence that Mesiti was responsible for the computer intrusions.

Extra: Read the search warrant papers, which include an affidavit supporting the warrant request.

Police have said in court filings that information about other contractors’ projects and DOT internal documents and communications gave Shire a big advantage in dealing with the DOT, in part by helping it incur cost overruns to the company’s advantage.

Mesiti was arrested by members of the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit and special agents from the Federal Department of Transportation/Office of Inspector General,
The federal Department of Transportation investigated along with the state police.

Mesiti was arraigned today in District Court, Providence, on both felonies. Bail was set at $25,000 personal recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in Providence County Superior Court for arraignment on Aug. 13.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:54 PM | Comment

Young Indonesian movers and shakers come to RI

A group of young politicians and policy makers from Indonesia are coming to Providence tonight to learn about state and local governments in the United States, and to teach our politicians how politics are handled in a country made up of more than 17,500 islands.

The delegation is part of the American Council of Young Political Leaders which, despite its name, is an organization made up of young people involved in government in more than 90 countries across the world.

During their 11-day tour, the delegation will visit Washington, D.C., Rhode Island and Nebraska to learn not just about politics, but also to get a taste of American culture and to make contacts with movers and shakers around the world.

The delegates, who are between the ages of 25 and 40, will be meeting with some of Rhode Island’s top officials, including Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams and the Democratic and Republican Party chairmen.

Local leaders are also taking part, including Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, who has been an ACYPL delegate to Brazil and the Philippines.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:59 PM | Comment

Crews battle fire at North Smithfield drive-in

North Smithfield crews are at the scene of a fire at the Rustic Drive-In, the only drive-in theater in Rhode Island.

The fire is in the concession stand, according to officials.

The theater, on Route 146, has been around since the early 1950s.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:31 PM | Comment

Boston shows significant job growth; R.I. dips again

Rhode Islanders who can't find a job in their home state may have better luck in nearby Boston.

The Boston metro area is ranked as having the fourth-highest job growth nationally, tied with Washington, D.C., according to a report released today by the federal Department of Labor Statistics.

In April, jobs in the Boston metro area rose by 24,400 from the same month last year, a one-percent increase, the data shows.

Nationally, job growth was slower at 0.3 percent.

In the Boston area, education and health services in April gained 11,400 jobs compared to April of last year, the highest growth rate of any sector, the agency reported. Education and health services accounted for nearly half of the total job gains recorded in the Boston area. The second largest job growth sector during the period was professional and business services, which added 6,900 jobs.

Rhode Island last month shed another 700 jobs, the fourth consecutive monthly decline, and the state unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.1 percent, a government jobs report released today shows.

During the first four months of this year, Rhode Island has lost lost 6,300 jobs, and its payroll employment has fallen to its lowest level since June 2003, according to the state Department of Labor and Training.

-- Journal staff writer Lynn Arditi

Posted by Lynn Arditi at 12:19 PM | Comment

Power failure hits Amgen facility in W. Greenwich

Amgen’s biotech manufacturing facility in West Greenwich, along with more than 800 additional customers, lost electricity this morning after a power line came down in Coventry.

Amgen, which is set up to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, lost service at 8:04 a.m. today, according to National Grid spokesman David Graves. Service was restored 50 minutes later.

The power lines that caused the problem were on Tiogue Avenue in Coventry; one line knocked down another, Graves said.

Eight hundred-twenty-six additional customers, mostly in Coventry, also lost power, Graves said. It was returned in stages, and power was fully restored to those affected by 10:10 a.m.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:04 PM | Comment

Judge lets FM Global continue with new headquarters

PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge has refused to halt construction at the site of FM Global's new heaquarters building in Johnston, but he warned that the insurance company could be forced to tear down the project at a later date.

The ruling of Judge Michael A. Silverstein keeps the project alive, but it casts a pall over the municipal permitting process that allowed construction to get underway earlier this spring.

The owner of FM Global’s existing headquarters, CapLease, has accused Johnston town officials of violating town zoning and planning regulations in a biased attempt to grease the skids for the project, which is regarded as one of the state’s most important economic development initiatives.

The landlord’s appeal of local zoning and planning decisions was filed in Superior Court last month. CapLease also asked Silverstein to halt the project while the court deals with the appeals.

In today’s ruling, Silverstein denied the requested stay, saying that CapLease had failed to present evidence showing that the continuation of construction at the site off Central Avenue would inflict irreparable harm.

Nonetheless, he warned FM Global that it might have to reverse its project if it decides to press on.

“The court simply will say the plaintiff has shown some likelihood of success with respect to the ultimate issues that likely will be before the court as it deals with the appeals,” Silverstein said.

-- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:00 PM | Comment

In Westerly, large brush fire knocked down overnight

WESTERLY -- Firefighters flanked and knocked down a large brush fire early this morning that was moving rapidly toward residential areas, according to the fire chief.

The fire, reported at 9:30 last night, was knocked down at about 2:30 this morning. It gorged on about 6 1/2 acres, part of a 160-acre northern area of town bounded by High Street, Route 3, Old Hopkinton Road, and Hope Street, said Fire Chief David Sayles.

Three Westerly fire trucks responded, and the Ashaway Fire Department from the neighboring village in Hopkinton sent two trucks.

Firefighters took up right and left flanking positions to fight the blaze.

Sayles said that at this time the fire is not thought to be suspicious, but it remains under investigation.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:54 AM | Comment

Tweeter Center now called Comcast Center

Starting with tonight's kickoff of the summer concert season, the name of the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Mass., will be changed to the Comcast Center.

Comcast, a cable television provider in Massachusetts, and Live Nation, the owner of the entertainment and concert venue, this morning announced a 10-year partnership that gives Comcast the naming rights.

Terms were not disclosed.

Beginning with tonight’s Eric Clapton concert, the signs at the outdoor amphitheater will be changed to Comcast Center to reflect the facility’s unique wooded setting.

“We are excited to join with Live Nation to place our name on one of the most-loved entertainment venues in New England,” said Randy Waddell, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Comcast’s NorthCentral Division.

The Comcast Center can accommodate 19,900 people and hosts approximately 35-40 concerts per year.

-- Journal Business Editor John Kostrzewa

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:35 AM | Comment

Update: No problems for exit 20 Iway closure/ Photo

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Motorists drive past the closed Exit 20 on Route 95 North as a light rain falls this morning.

PROVIDENCE _ The state closed a major highway exit in the city this morning without disrupting traffic.

Exit 20 on Route 95 northbound, the ramp feeding traffic to Route 195 eastbound, was closed as part of the Department of Transportation's relocation of a section of Route 195 and its intersection with Route 95.

Much of the traffic using Exit 20 to reach Route 195 eastbound had already shifted to the new Exit 19 and the new section of highway, which the DOT has named the Iway.

This morning's change cut the remaining northbound traffic off from some exits on the old section of Route 195 near downtown. The DOT suggested a variety of detours, including continuing north on Route 95 to other Providence exits and leaving the highway at Allens Avenue and following that north to downtown.

Early this morning, most of the northbound traffic appeared to be continuing past the closed exit and taking later exits to reach the city.

Frank Corrao III, the DOT's deputy chief engineer in charge of construction management, said this morning that "There really has been no problem with the traffic." He said the exit was

The earlier element of the traffic shift, when the new section of highway opened in November, caused an enormous traffic jam that continued for days starting at Route 195 eastbound where the DOT had reduced the highway from three lanes to two.

Traffic backed up on Route 195 and then onto Route 95 southbound all the way to the Massachusetts line, and the DOT had to open a new entrance ramp to the highway ahead of schedule to relieve the jam.

This morning's exit closing was different in that drivers unaware of the change were forced to continue north on Route 95, take a later exit and find their way back to their destination.

A description and maps of the suggested detours are on the DOT's Web site.

-- Journal staff writer Bruce Landis

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:30 AM | Comment

State: R.I. high school grad rate lower than thought

Rhode Island’s high school graduation rate is 19 percentage points lower than previously reported, and at 70.1 percent hovers just under the national average of 70.6 percent, according to a new, more accurate method of tracking students.

Under the old formula, the state Department of Education reported that slightly more than 89 percent of the Class of 2007 had graduated. But, under the new formula, the percentage plummeted.

The new figure means about 3,000 students who should have received diplomas last year dropped out over a four-year period.

State education officials say that the old method for calculating graduation rates counted students who took longer than four years to graduate, while the new method, which is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Governors Association, does not, resulting in a 6 percentage point increase in the dropout rate.

In addition, many students who left school were previously recorded as “unknown” and were not counted as dropouts. The new system requires those students to be included in the dropout category.

-- Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan

Chart: Newly Calculated Graduation Rate for the Class of 2007

Several urban schools reported new graduation rates well below 60 percent, including Central Falls High School, with 45.9 percent graduating, and Tolman Senior High School in Pawtucket graduating just 45.7 percent.

“Adopting this new calculation was a critical part of our efforts to bring greater transparency to our education system,” said Gov. Carcieri in a statement.

“In order to improve Rhode Island’s schools, the public needs an accurate understanding of the challenges we face and how we compare with other states. …. Now that we have a more accurate formula for calculating our graduation rate, we have a better chance of designing the necessary reforms to improve our outcomes.”

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:10 AM | Comment

Graduation ceremony for English learners

When Alemy Mondestin came to the United States from Haiti, he realized he’d have to go back to school to be able to get a job in the field he had worked in back home -- civil engineering.

So when he arrived in Rhode Island, he worked outside of his field, took English classes and volunteered at the Genesis Center in Providence. He will earn his (second) civil engineering degree next year, and hopes to again work in his chosen field.

Today Modestin will receive the Genesis Center Graduate and Independent Man award, and he’ll deliver the commencement speech for this year’s English for Speakers of Other Languages graduating class.

Today’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Providence. The event is free and open to the public.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 9:35 AM | Comment

Cape Cod lighthouse thought destroyed found in Calif.

WELLFLEET, Mass. -- Local historians for decades thought the 30-foot tall lighthouse that once overlooked Wellfleet Harbor had been taken down and destroyed in 1925.

Turns out, it had just been moved to the California coast.

The fate of the cast iron tower was uncovered last year by lighthouse researchers. Colleen MacNeney reported the find in this month's edition of Lighthouse Digest.

MacNeney tells the Cape Cod Times that it was her most exciting discovery.

Wellfleet historian Helen Purcell says the discovery of the light at Point Montara at the southern end of San Francisco Bay was a genuine shock.

MacNeney says she discovered correspondence that proved the lighthouse, first erected in 1881, had been moved by the Coast Guard from Wellfleet to Yerba Buena, Calif., and eventually to Point Montara.

The lighthouse is still used as a navigation aid and a hostel.

-- The Associated Press

(Information from: Cape Cod Times, http://www.capecodonline.com)

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:28 AM | Comment

Hearing continues for ex-cop accused of killing neighbor

The bail hearing is set to continue today for a former Providence police officer accused of fatally shooting his neighbor.

Yesterday, Nicholas Gianquitti cried as he listened to the 911 call that his wife placed while their neighbor James Pagano was dying from a single gunshot wound.

The hearing is set to continue for the third day today, with testimony from Dr. Alexander Cherkov, the assistant state medical examiner, who conducted Pagano’s autopsy.

Extra: Read the Journal's continuing coverage of the Cranston shooting

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:41 AM | Comment

Hurricane preparedness: This is only a test

Don’t be alarmed, it’s only a test.

Hurricane season began June 1, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts more than a dozen of the storms this year.

To prepare for a possible storm, the Providence Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security is leading an emergency evacuation drill today for tenants along the Port of Providence.

The exercise will simulate a chemical spill caused by strong wind and waves. It will test the port businesses’ evacuation plans and the first responder reverse 911 system.

In addition to the Providence police and fire departments, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will take part, busing evacuees to a staging area at the Johnson and Wales Hospitality Center.

Today’s drill, scheduled for 10 a.m., is one of several events planned this month to test hurricane preparedness, including a damage assessment exercise and a hurricane barrier test.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:30 AM | Comment

This day in history

On June 4, 1989, Chinese army troops stormed Tiananmen Square in Beijing to crush a pro-democracy movement; hundreds - possibly thousands - of people were killed.

Read what Henry Ford, the Supreme Court and Bruce Springsteen did on this day in history.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:06 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Barack Obama has secured the Democratic nomination for president. See how Rhode Islander's react on today's front page.

Also, read about the 911 call made after a Cranston firefighter was fatally shot.

Download a .PDF copy of the page.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:02 AM | Comment

Could be better, could be worse

Yes, there's rain. Yes, there are clouds. Yes, the temperature will hover in the 60s today. But it doesn't look so bad.

The National Weather Service is forecasting rain all day, but mostly a drizzle in the Ocean State. The temperature should reach a comfortable 66 degrees with south winds between 8 and 13 mph.

More showers are in the forecast for tonight, until about 9:00. Skies will remain cloudy, with temperatures dropping to the mid 50s and calm northeast winds

Tomorrow may start off with early clouds and showers, but as the day goes on, the clouds will part, the sun will appear and we'll be on our way to a high temperature near 70.

See what's in store for the second half of the week on projo.com's weather page.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment