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« June 17, 2008 | Today | June 19, 2008 » June 18, 2008Tonight: Partial WaterFire lights up ProvidenceYou can catch a partial WaterFire tonight at 8:24 -- sunset. Some two dozen braziers will be lit in Waterplace Park in Providence, and remain burning until about midnight. For information, head to www.waterfire.org Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:10 PM | Comment Lobster truck con man gets 16 years in prison/ Photo
Superior Court Judge Netti C. Vogel also ordered that Kluth would not be eligible for parole until serving 14 years. Vogel, in delivering her lengthy sentence, agreed with a description suggested by Mark L. Smith, Kluth's lawyer, that "Mr. Kluth is the best con man in the state." It is unusual that a judge gets involved in specificying when someone is eligible for parole, but the case came under the habitual offender statute. It requires that a judge stipulate a minimum number of years before parole eligibility. Vogel further ordered there be restitution totaling $7,930 to 27 of the 30 victims in the case. The losses were greater than that, but some people got money back from Kluth or an acquaintance of Kluth's, or for technical reasons, they were not entitled to full restitution. The judge noted the restitution is to be paid from the remaining cash bail still on deposit with the court -- money put there at several points in the past. It was not immediately clear who had posted that cash bail. In March, Kluth was found guilty at trial of 30 counts of obtaining money under false pretenses. Almost all of the counts involved the well-known lobster truck scam. -- With reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith Eight of Kluth's victims took the witness stand to give victim impact statements for the sentencing, including Robert Nyman, retired president and chief executive officer of Nyman Manufacturing, which make paper products, among other things. Nyman said that what Kluth did to him had made him more distrustful of other people. Nyman said he was "embarrassed by having to publicly admit to my gullibility." Kluth addressed the court today as well. "Your honor, I want to own this fully," he said. "I did a terrible thing." Kluth went on to say he has been drug addicted, that this "monkey on my back" and the bad decisions he had made factored into his crimes. "I used people, but I didn't use them the right way," Kluth said. Kluth turned to face assembled victims and said, in at times a quavering voice, that he was "terribly sorry." His face fell as he spoke. Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:53 PM | Comment Debate over illegal immigrants and RIte Care hits HousePROVIDENCE -- There was plenty of shouting over the state budget this afternoon, but there's no way it's all over. The House debate on the plan to close a $425 million state deficit turned fiery over illegal immigration. The raging national issue erupted on Rhode Island's House floor over Article 10 that deals with medical assistance and managed care. It started when Rep. Peter Palumbo, D-Cranston, offered an amendment stating: "No person who is residing in this state as an illegal alien shall be entitled to any benefits under the RIte RIte Care provides families on the Family Independence Program and eligible uninsured pregnant women, parents, and children up to age 19 with comprehensive health coverage. The debate centered around whether a pregnant woman in the country illegally is entitled to the benefits. Palumbo urged colleagues to support the people in their districts, "not illegal aliens." And Rep. Joseph Trillo, R-Warwick, talked -- loudly at times and at length -- in support of his colleague's amendment. But views on the House floor seem to vary on what current law says. Shortly after 4:45 p.m., after about an hour of debate, the amendment failed. Lawmakers have moved on to address more of the 39 sections of the budget called "articles." Some 70 amendments have been drafted by lawmakers wanting to change parts of the budget or create sections. Those amendments have not been released publicly. The debate typically runs well into the night and often into the early-morning. Projo.com plans to provide updates into the night. Return tomorrow morning for a full report.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:01 PM | Comment Health Dept. reopens 2 swimming spots, shuts 2 moreThe state Department of Health today reopened for swimming the Atlantic Beach Club, in Middletown, and Barrington Town Beach after water samples yielded bacteria levels within acceptable limits. The two beaches were among six that were closed yesterday after high bacteria counts. Beaches remaining closed are Warren Town Beach, Camp Grosvenor in North Kingstown, and, in Warwick, City Park Beach, Conimicut Point Beach and Oakland Beach. Meanwhile, because of high bacteria levels, the state health department today closed to swimming the Kent County YMCA in Warwick, and the Saunderstown Yacht Club in the Saunderstown section of North Kingstown. For updates on beach status, go to www.health.ri.gov or for recorded information call (401) 222-2751. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:33 PM | Comment With stop for gas, Bermuda adventurer lands in NewportNEWPORT – Bobby Doe had to pay $8 per gallon of gasoline last night so he could complete a 635-mile passage from Bermuda to Aquidneck Island, alone in an 18-foot dinghy, powered by a 9.9-horsepower outboard motor. The 66-year-old Bermudian adventurer left St. George’s late Saturday afternoon aboard Huckleberry, a modified Bermuda dinghy. It was powered by the tiny four-stroke Mercury outboard. A boat builder and commercial fisherman, Doe made the passage to raise awareness and money for the Lady Cubit Compassionate Association, a charity that helps pay for medical care. The group helped him pay for care in a Boston hospital last year after he suffered a serious heart attack. Soon afterwards, he said, the charity lacked the money to help one of his friends in need of a kidney transplant. “I had to do something,” he said. Doe was also trying to prove that the dinghy he built was seaworthy, safe, and economical. He had 60 gallons of gasoline, but had planned to use only 30 gallons. From the start, however, the wind was on the boat’s bow. Crossing the Gulf Stream, the wind quartered on the bow so he could increase speed, but he faced 20-foot seas. “We were airborne at times,” he said. “You would be up in the air, then BANG! You’d think you were getting a minor concussion because your brain would rattle around.” Sometime during the voyage, one of the fuel tanks began to leak. Doe was unaware of the leak because his cockpit’s forced-air ventilation was so efficient, he couldn’t smell the gasoline. Doe reckons he lost 10 gallons. Resting in still air at the Newport Yacht Club, Huckleberry stank of gas. -- Journal outdoors writer Tom Meade He saw only two other vessels during the three-day passage, a cruise liner early on, and a fishing boat yesterday. “The fishing boat appeared providentially,” he said, “because I had run out of fuel.” The Whitewater II spotted Huckleberry drifting about 18 miles south of Point Judith around 5 p.m. yesterday, and offered assistance. “All kudos to that guy,” Doe said. “He stood by and did all the talking on the radio, because the battery in my hand-held [radio] had run out. He was in a hurry to get out fishing, but he waited until he was sure that I was all right.” Whitewater II summoned Safe/Sea, a marine assistance service, according to the Coast Guard. The company brought 5 gallons of gas and charged Doe $40. He figured he could have made the rest of the way to Newport on a gallon, but was in no position to argue. Doe fired up the little outboard, and arrived in Newport Harbor around 8:30 p.m. He plans to start steaming back to Bermuda Friday morning, ahead of the 1 p.m. start of the Newport Bermuda Race. Posted by Tom Meade at 3:59 PM | Comment Click here if you're training it to the Celts' 'rolling rally'If, after last night's victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, you have found yourself a Celtics fan, and you just have to go to the celebration parade in Boston tomorrow, don’t worry, the Commuter Rail is thinking of you. Tomorrow, trains departing from North Station and Back Bay in Boston will implement special “queuing systems,” aimed organizing and easing what may otherwise be a hectic commute. Trains will still be operating on –– or close to –– schedule. Authorities suggest buying tickets ahead of time and have made special arrangements at North Station and Back Bay. The "rolling rally" will start at 11 a.m. tomorrow to celebrate the Boston Celtics' win over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Sixteen World War II-era amphibious "duck boats" will carry the Celtics players, owners and staff. The team's dancers, former Celtics greats and championship trophies from previous years will travel on two flatbed trucks. The parade will start at the TD Banknorth Garden and wind past City Hall and Boston Common before ending at Copley Square in the city's Back Bay neighborhood. The parade also will be broadcast on a Jumbotron in Copley Square. Click here to find out more about the victory parade. Click below to read how those stations will handle the large crowds, or visit the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Web site. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson North Station Access to the station will be restricted until each train is ready for boarding. Back Bay Back Bay Station will have a queuing system in operation. Please note the East Berkley/Clarendon exit will be closed. Customers will enter through the Clarendon Street entrance into a queue for Franklin, Needham, and Providence/Stoughton Lines. Customers for the Framingham/Worcester Line will be directed to tracks 5 & 7. Please take the increased ridership into consideration when planning your commute on Thursday. We believe these arrangements will provide the best level of service to our valued customers. South Station Please do not arrive at South Station more than 20 minutes prior to your train’s departure time. Upon arrival, please remain in the station and listen for announcements regarding your trains departure. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:48 PM | Comment Update: Diving into the saga of the sunken Russian sub
Navy and Army divers are working together today on a salvage mission in the Providence River. Yes, it’s the Russian submarine. The submarine, which sank last April after a storm, won’t see the light of day today, but, we’re told, it will happen soon. First there are some technical issues to deal with. Today, Spc. David Craig, ND-2 Michael Mahoney and Spc. Paul Riedner stepped off a boat and into the greenish-gray waters of the river to do their part. After their dive, a hydraulic drill was lowered into the water. The three will work together to drill open the missile tubes on the submarine, then fill them with air, according to Chief Warrant Officer Dale Kasztelan. The air will make the craft more buoyant, a great help when the submarine is actually hoisted to the surface. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson But it’s not that easy to drill a hole under water. It’s kind of like a space walk –– the divers push against the ship, it pushes back. So they have to find ways to brace themselves using the ship, the muddy waters and each other. They’ll be underwater for a few hours, Kasztelan said. But it’s not so bad. Sometimes the salvage divers are under water for upwards of six hours. The salvage effort has another purpose, too. It's a way to provide training for the military divers, through the Defense Department's Innovative Readiness Training, which uses community-based projects. Of course this isn’t the end of the sub saga. In a statement released by the Department of Defense, the work will “culminate in the safe recovery of Juliett-484, a.k.a. a sunken Russian submarine from the Providence River sometime this summer.” But not today. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 3:42 PM | Comment Protesters show up for budget vote; lawmakers missingPROVIDENCE -- There are protesters with signs, protesters wearing stickers, protesters just protesting. But missing so far from today’s scheduled budget vote are members of the House. The process was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in the House Chamber, but there are only a few state legislators on hand. Instead, a handful of labor-backed protesters are carrying signs; some that rhyme (“Stop the war against the Poor”) some that don’t (“Tax cuts for the rich, budget cuts for the rest.”) Others are wearing stickers on their T-shirts, with “Article 34” and a red line striking through the characters. Their grievance is with the fifth-to-last article in the proposed budget, which puts limits on municipalities’ ability to negotiate contracts with labor unions. And tens of millions of dollars in savings that are wrapped up in ongoing labor negotiations still have not been finalized, according to Dennis Grilli, executive director of Council 94, the largest state employee union. In all, about 20 protesters –– and the rest of Rhode Island –– are awaiting today’s budgetary discussion and an eventual vote. -- With reports from Steve Peoples, Journal State House bureau Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:52 PM | Comment Photo: Baseball great Ripken spreads the word
Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 2:05 PM | Comment Coming tonight: HSGameTime All-State boys tennisTonight at 6, we begin our coverage of spring All-States by unveiling the 2008 Providence Journal HSGameTime All-State boys tennis team. You can find the first-team and second-team All-State listings as well as All-Division, Scholarship Awards and the SENE co-ed team at HSGameTime. Right now, you can get watch and listen to a multimedia interview with state tennis champion Kyle Burke, from South Kingstown High School. Here is the online schedule for spring All-States. The new teams will be announced at 6 p.m. each day. Today: Boys tennis Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:40 PM | Comment Chinese drug maker ordered to forfeit about $2.7 millionPROVIDENCE -- A Chinese drug manufacturer accused of illegally shipping human growth hormone into the United States has been ordered to forfeit about $2.7 million to the federal government. Genescience Pharmaceuticals and its chief executive, Lei Jin, were indicted on federal charges last year as part of Operation Raw Deal, when more than 120 people were arrested and dozens of underground labs were raided. Prosecutors say Genescience illegally marketed human growth hormone over the Internet to a network of distributors. According to an affidavit, agents based in Rhode Island examined more than 20,000 e-mails sent between Lei Jin and his confederates between 2003 and 2007. Federal agents seized money linked to the alleged illegal shipments from the New York branches of Chinese banks. The U.S. Attorney's office in Rhode Island said today that a federal judge ordered the forfeiture earlier this month. The company's attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment. -- The Associated Press Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:29 PM | Comment 2 Bristol men plead not guilty to child molestationPROVIDENCE -- Two Bristol men who had served as foster parents pleaded not guilty in Providence County Superior Court this morning to multiple felony child-molestation charges. Special Magistrate Joseph A. Keough ordered the couple, Raymond Grenier, 54, and Sedonio Rodrigues, 57, both of 26 Sampson St., to remain held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions, in Cranston. Grenier is charged with three counts of first-degree child molestation, two counts of second-degree child molestation and one count of indecent solicitation of a child. Rodrigues is charged with two counts of first-degree child molestation and one count of indecent solicitation of a child. A Providence County grand jury indicted the men on the charges, which related to the alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy from Sept. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2006, in Bristol. Bristol police had arrested Grenier and Rodrigues last February after the state Department of Children, Youth and Families received an anonymous tip to its child abuse hotline. The DCYF, after a preliminary investigation, determined that the couple’s two adopted children and two foster children were in “immediate peril,” and removed the children from the home. Grenier and Rodrigues had been licensed for foster care since 2001. Both are being represented by court-appointed lawyers. The judge ordered Grenier and Rodrigues to have no contact with the alleged victim. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Sept. 18. -- Journal staff writer Meaghan Wims Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:21 PM | Comment Rocco Mediate: From U.S Open to CVS ClassicRocco Mediate, who took Tiger Woods to a dramatic sudden-death finish in the U.S. Open this past weekend, has been added to the field at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic, June 22 to 24 in Barrington. Mediate will replace Boo Weekley, who has withdrawn for personal reasons. His teammate for the event will be Brandt Snedeker. Mediate is no stranger to the CVS tourney. In fact, he's won it before, in 2003, playing with Jeff Sluman. He's also played in the classic in 2002 and 2004. See who else is playing this year. More to come ... -- With reports from Journal sports writer Paul Kenyon Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:15 PM | Comment Jury selection begins in murder trial of W. Warwick manWARWICK -- Jury selection got underway today in the murder trial of a West Warwick man accused of beating and strangling a woman staying at his house in 2006. Asked how he pleads, Brian Mlyniec, 45, said "absolutely not guilty" in court before Superior Court Judge Edwin C. Gale. Mlyniec is charged with first-degree murder. A jury of 16 will be impaneled to hear the case. Selection is expected to take today and possibly run into tomorrow if necessary. The Journal reported in 2006 that West Warwick firefighters discovered the body of Kelly Ann Anderson, 41, inside Mlyniec's home on the afternoon of June 23, 2006, after getting an anonymous call reporting a possible overdose. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene. She had injuries to her face, throat and neck. Mlyniec denied slaying Anderson, according to a police affidavit, and told police the two had engaged in consensual, violent sexual activities that resulted in the bruises and bleeding. The West Warwick police arrested Mlyniec after the state medical examiner finished an autopsy and reported that strangulation caused Anderson's death, Police Chief Peter T. Brousseau told the Journal in 2006. Gale today said that opening statements from the prosecution and defense will not begin until Monday. He said he expected the case to be difficult, because of the graphic nature of some evidence. The prosecution lists 15 potential witnesses -- people who may be called to testify and people who may be referenced during the trial. They are from the West Warwick police and fire departments, six civilians and a doctor from the state Office of Medical Examiners. Thomas H. O'Brien is the lead prosecutor. Andrew A. Bucci is the defense lawyer for Mlyniec. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford and Journal archival reports Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:11 PM | Comment House to vote on budget today -- and it could be messyPROVIDENCE -- The state House of Representatives will convene today at 2 p.m. to approve a state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The budget -- which consists of at least 39 separate "articles" -- is aimed at closing a $425 million deficit. The massive budget bill includes proposals to transform the state's Medicaid system for the elderly, poor and disabled. Community service organizations like Meals of Wheels and Crossroads stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. And a new tax on health insurers may lead to higher health care costs for residents. The budget debate on the House floor is expected to be messy. Around 70 "amendments" have been drafted by lawmakers wishing to change specific parts of the budget proposal or create new sections. The amendments have not been released publicly. The budget debate typically spans long into the night and often into the early-morning hours. The Journal will be on hand for the entire debate. Check projo.com later today for updates. The Senate -- which has already negotiated key provisions in the budget with House leadership -- is scheduled to vote on the tax-and-spend plan Friday. That's the same day that the Assembly is tentatively set to recess for the summer. Keep track of the House and Senate calendars via the General Assembly's Web site. Read the budget bill that was passed by the House Finance Committee on June 11 and sent to the full House. -- Steve Peoples, Journal State House Bureau Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:04 PM | Comment Cargo plane crashes at Cape Cod airport, killing 1HYANNIS, Mass. -- A cargo plane has crashed on takeoff at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, killing the pilot, who was the only person on board. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Arlence Salac says the plane crashed about 500 feet down a runway about 10 a.m. today. The aircraft was a DeHavilland C6 propeller plane. Salac says the plane's destination and other information including the pilot's identity were not immediately available. The airport has been temporarily closed. Federal investigators will head to the scene to try to determine the cause of the crash. Posted by Jack Perry at 11:30 AM | Comment PawSox to honor 'Iron Man' Ripken for longest gamePAWTUCKET -- Hall of Fame baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. is visiting Rhode Island, where he'll be honored for participating in the longest game in professional baseball history more than 25 years ago. Ripken will be at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket this afternoon. In 1981, the stadium had a marathon game between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings that spanned 33 innings and was played over two nights. Ripken, a longtime shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, played for Rochester at the time. He is known as the "Iron Man" for breaking Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. The PawSox don't play today. They return to the home field tomorrow to play the Columbus Clippers. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 11:01 AM | Comment The story continues: Raising the Russian subIt’s time to raise the sub. Almost. Navy divers and a salvage team are preparing to conduct a salvage of the sunken Russian Submarine, which has rested at the bottom of the Providence River since it sank more than a year ago. For the divers and salvage experts –– the same salvage team that worked on the recovery efforts after the August bridge collapse in Minneapolis –– this is a training exercise. For the rest of us, it’s a tease. The Soviet cruise missile submarine sank during a storm last April. Today's effort is just one of several surveying and salvage operations that have taken place since then. But still, it’s submerged. According to a statement released by the Department of Defense, the work will “culminate in the safe recovery of Juliett-484, a.k.a. a sunken Russian submarine from the Providence River sometime this summer.” But probably not today. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 8:48 AM | Comment Celtics victory parade will be tomorrow in BostonBOSTON (AP) - For the second time in a year, the streets of Boston will be turned into a mobile party. Boston Mayor Tom Menino told WBZ-AM on Wednesday that a "rolling rally" to honor the NBA champion Boston Celtics will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday. The rally is expected to start at the TD Banknorth Garden. where the Celtics clinched their 17th crown on Tuesday night with a 131-92 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The city has held the "rolling rallies" on World War II-era amphibious vehicles to celebrate championships from the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. The last one was on Oct. 30, after the Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the World Series. Posted by Mike McDermott at 8:38 AM | Comment Photo: Printing Celtics' champs shirts in Pawtucket
Posted by Jack Perry at 8:26 AM | Comment Several arrested in Boston after Celts win NBA titleBOSTON -- Boston police arrested several people after stepping up surveillance and security during and after the Celtics' 131-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last night that clinched the NBA championship. Police spokesman Eddy Chrispin says initial reports showed "a handful of people" were detained on charges of disorderly conduct and vandalism after Boston won its 17th NBA title. Additional details were to be released today. Police increased patrols around the TD Banknorth Garden last night and early today and used video surveillance at key areas around the city to control rowdiness. Parking restrictions were in place near the arena, and officials encouraged fans to use public transportation or taxis. Previous New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox championship celebrations have been marred by deaths among revelers. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 8:15 AM | Comment Con man Kluth to be sentenced today for lobster scamA convicted con man who wrangled money from his victims with tales of woe and bad luck is scheduled to be sentenced today, two days after a judge declared him a “habitual criminal.” John P. Kluth Jr., a former Newport lobsterman, was convicted on March 28 of robbing 30 people of cash in amounts ranging from $25 to $5,200. In a hearing Monday, a Superior Court judge declared Kluth to be a habitual criminal, a designation that requires the sentencing judge to add jail time to his sentence for the crimes. The statute also requires her to impose a minimum number of years Kluth must serve before he is eligible for parole. Victims who testified at Kluth’s trial said he approached them with a hard-luck story. His lobster truck had broken down, they were told, and Kluth needed a quick loan to fix it before his lobsters spoiled. Kluth has also been convicted of more than 50 crimes in three other states and served prison time in Massachusetts. He still faces charges in two additional Rhode Island cases as well as “lobster scam” cases in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He'll be sentenced today in Superior Court, Providence. Multimedia: Hear what John Kluth says he did with the money Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:35 AM | Comment Today in history: U.S. declares war on BritainOn this day in 1812, the United States declared war on Britain. Read more about today in history. Watch a video report on today in history. Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment Today's weather: More of the sameThe story starts the same. Let's see how it ends. The National Weather Service is again forecasting some rain, thunderstorms and maybe hail today. They should be isolated, however, so don't feel bad if you don't see one. Otherwise, we'll have partly cloudy skies with temperatures reaching about 77 degrees. There's also a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight, with cloudy skies and a low temperature near 56 degrees. We'll also have mild west winds between 5 and 8 mph. Tomorrow's forecast is pretty much the same as today's; a chance of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures reaching 77 degrees. We'll also have southwest winds, gusting up to 24 mph. See up-to-date forecasts on projo.com's weather page. Posted by Brandie M. Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front page: The Celtics win the championshipToday's front page reports that the Boston Celtics have won their 17th NBA Championship, the team's first in 22 years. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006