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June 23, 2008

Tonight: Start gearing up for July 4 with Bristol concert

It's almost Fourth of July celebration time in Bristol -- an event that people trek to from all over.

Tonight, get a start on it. Catch a free concert in Bristol in Independence Park on Thames Street. Gerry Grimo and the East Bay Jazz Ensemble performs at 7:45 p.m. The event is part of the town's 223rd annual Fourth of July Celebration. It will be held rain or shine, according to the Bristol Fourth of July Web site.

If you get there early, you might catch the end of a concert in the same location by The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble. It was scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

For more concerts in tune with the annual celebration, click here for a schedule.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:04 PM | Comment

Carcieri again vetoes minimum sentencing, voting bills

PROVIDENCE – Governor Carcieri has once again vetoed bills to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for drug-dealers and allow 16- and 17-year-olds to “pre-register’’ to vote.

With a flood of bills headed his way from the General Assembly session that ended on Saturday night, the veto messages that Carcieri issued today on these two bills raise all the same issues he raised before when he voted earlier versions of the same bills.

The drug sentencing bill introduced in the House by Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence, and in the Senate by Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence, would not only eliminate the current 10-year minimum sentence, it would also lower the maximum allowable prison term -- life in prison -- for people convicted of manufacturing, selling or possessing “with the intent to manufacture or distribute’’ illegal drugs from life in prison to 20 years.

The argument: The Reagan-era law has ruined lives, and contributed to the disproportionate number of minorities behind bars.

“Whether intended or not,’’ the Republican Carcieri said, “the practical import of this legislation is that the General Assembly is directing the judiciary to ease up on sentences for serious drug offenses.’’

As to why he again vetoed the so-called teen pre-registration bills introduced in the House by Rep. Edwin Pacheco, D-Burrillville, and Sen. Rhoda Perry, D-Providence, he said state law already allows 17-year-olds to register if they will be 18 by the next election. He said the law has worked well and in his opinion “it creates no impediment, nor dissuades anyone eligible to participate in the political system from doing so.’’

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal State House bureau

Worse, he said there could be counter-productive if the state, which has invested time and money cleaning up the state’s voter rolls, was now “forced to add thousands of names – all people ineligible to vote.’’ His argument: “Adding people to a voter list who are not eligible to vote defeats the purpose of having the list in the first place.’’

In a press release hailing the passage again this year of the pre-registration bill, the sponsors anticipated Carcieri’s objections. In it, both Pacheco and Perry said they didn’t see “any reason pre-registration would be any more susceptible to fraud or confusion that regular registration.’’

They said it would make it more likely that students “who might be away at college when they turn 18’’ would return to vote. They also argued that giving youngsters a “personal link to the voting process at a younger age would increase the likelihood that they will vote now and in the future.’’

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:54 PM | Comment

Update: RAF jets pass on State House flyover today

PROVIDENCE -- If you looked up in the sky at the appointed time, and didn't see the Royal Air Force jets stream by -- it wasn't because you missed them.

Instead, the team was forced, after several delays, to drop its plan to fly over the State house. Instead, the jets went to the aiport at Quonset, where they've already landed.

The planes were initially scheduled to screech over the State House with smoke trails and all at about 12:30 p.m. But bad weather along the way has led to several schedule changes. The latest announced at around 2:30 p.m., saying they would attempt a 3:45 p.m. arrival.

At fault, Lt. Col. Denis Riel of the Rhode Island National Guard said earlier, was a storm in Virginia, from where the jets were taking off, and a low cloud cover here in New England.

The jets may try another flyover later this week.

And you'll still have a chance to catch the Royal Air Force when the team performs in the Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show, which is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 4:12 PM | Comment

Update: Ex-legislator Mesolella's daughter dies in crash

The daughter of Vincent J. Mesolella Jr., a prominent former state representative from North Providence, was killed Sunday morning in a head-on car crash in Port Washington, N.Y.

The Nassau County Police Department said that alcohol appeared to be a factor in the accident leading to the death of Desiree Mesolella, 19, of Lincoln, an aspiring model, clothing designer and student at Adelphi University in nearby Garden City on Long Island.

Mesolella was a passenger in a 2007 Honda Civic that was driven by Ansaf G. Imbrahim, 21, of Port Washington. The police said that Imbrahim was driving north on Port Washington Boulevard at 8:29 a.m. when she crossed the center line and crashed into a Toyota heading in the opposite direction.

The impact of the collision forced the Toyota to collide with another car, a 2006 Honda. The drivers of those cars -- a 30-year old woman, and a 44-year old man -- were transported to local hospitals and treated for minor injuries.

Mesolella and Imbrahim were brought to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. Less than three hours later, at 10:54 a.m., Mesolella was pronounced dead. It was not known whether she was wearing a seatbelt.

Mesololla’s father, now a developer, was unavailable for comment today.

Imbrahim, whose injuries, the police said, were described as non-life threatening, was arrested at the hospital and charged with second-degree manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and the aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

-- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski, with reports from projo.com staff writer Brandie Jefferson

She was expected to be arraigned today in her hospital bed, or in First District Court in Hempstead, Long Island. A spokeswoman at Adelphi said that Imbrahim was not a student at the university.

Desiree Mesolella was a 2006 graduate of St. Mary Academy-Bay View in East Providence. She had been a past contestant in the Miss Rhode Island Teen USA pageant, gaining recognition in the "evening gown’’ portion of the 2005 contest.

Colleen Gribben, principal of St. Mary Academy-Bay View, learned of Mesolella’s death on Sunday afternoon, and the news left her shocked. She said that Mesolella came to the Catholic school in the fourth grade and stayed through high school. She was a cheerleader and her parents were supportive of "Manhattan,’’ an annual fund-raising cabaret.

"She was great,’’ Gribben said. "She was a very happy kid. She was very social and very outgoing.’’

Last summer, Mesolella was recognized on a local Web site, 4Zero1.com as "Model of the Month.’’ In response to a series of questions on the site, she said that she was taking college business courses and she was interested in owning a clothing boutique in Manhattan. She also said that she loved Las Vegas, Rhode Island beaches and "definitely coffee milk.’’

In the fall of 2006, Mesolella enrolled as a freshman at Adelphi University, largely a commuter school with more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Its campus is about 20 miles west of New York City.

Bonnie Eissner, Adelphi’s communications director, said Mesolella had recently declared art as her major, and she was wrapping up a summer session of studies that began last month.

"We at the university are saddened by the news,’’ Eissner said. "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this most difficult time.’’

Mesolella’s father was deputy Democratic majority whip for former House Speaker John B. Harwood, D-Pawtucket. Over the past 14 years, he has been chairman of the Narragansett Bay Commission, the state’s largest sewage-treatment agency.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 3:40 PM | Comment

State gets more money for crime victims

A Rhode Island fund that is used to compensate victims of crime for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses has just received a boost from the federal government.

The Crime Victims Fund, which is financed through fines paid by people convicted of federal crimes, is allocating $891,000 to the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund, which reimburses victims up to $25,000 for expenses not covered by insurance or court-ordered restitution.

“The last thing a crime victim should have to worry about is how they are going to make up for lost wages or cover their medical expenses," Sen. Jack Reed said today in a statement. Reed is a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds Department of Justice Programs.

“For years,” he said, “Rhode Island’s Crime Victims Fund has played a vital role in helping crime victims heal their wounds, both physical and emotional, and get back on their feet.”

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:18 PM | Comment

Gloucester mayor: No evidence of pregnancy pact

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) -- The mayor of Gloucester said Monday there is no evidence a group of young girls made a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together, seeking to dispel an explosive theory put forth by the high school principal.

"Any planned blood oath bond to become pregnant - there is absolutely no evidence of," Mayor Carolyn Kirk said Monday after a closed-door meeting with city, school and health leaders.

Conspicuously absent from that meeting was Gloucester High School Principal Joseph Sullivan, who has not responded to repeated requests for comment after he was quoted last week in a Time magazine story saying the girls planned to get pregnant together. The story made headlines around the world.

The mayor, who also sits on the school committee, said she was not comfortable having Sullivan at the meeting.

Kirk cited privacy concerns in refusing to answer many questions about the 17 girls who had become pregnant this school year - more than quadruple the number who generally become pregnant at the school.

Kirk said she and Superintendent Christopher Farmer have been in touch with Sullivan, and that he was "foggy in his memory" about how he came to believe there was a pact.

"When pressed, his memory failed," Kirk said.

Authorities have talked to school and health officials who work most closely with the children and, Kirk said, "The people that worked with the children on a daily basis have said there has been no mention whatsoever of a pact."

Kirk said the spike in pregnancies is in keeping with similar spikes in other cities.

-- Associated Press

Farmer said there was a "distinct possibility" that the girls who found themselves in similar, challenging situations later decided to "come together for mutual support."

He said the Time magazine piece did not distinguish between "a pact to become pregnant or a pact because we are pregnant."

Farmer also said it was clear some of the girls were not trying very hard not to become pregnant. The principal had said some girls gave high-fives and planned baby showers while others were sullen if their pregnancy tests at the high school clinic came back negative.

Farmer defended Sullivan saying, "I don't believe anyone has acted in particularly bad faith here."

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 2:06 PM | Comment

Big Dig contractor files for bankruptcy protection

BOSTON — Big Dig contractor Modern Continental Co. has filed for bankruptcy protection, the first business day after federal prosecutors charged the company with lying about its work on the massive project.

The contractor made a Chapter 11 filing Monday in federal bankruptcy court in Boston. The bankruptcy petition lists debts of $500 million to $1 billion, and assets of $100 million to $500 million.

The Boston Globe reports Modern Continental’s board voted June 11 to seek protection from creditors.

On Friday, federal prosecutors charged the Big Dig’s biggest contractor with lying about the quality of its work on two areas of the tunnel system. Those include a section where a ceiling collapse killed a woman.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:44 PM | Comment

Bay fish count: Menhaden up, flounder still floundering

JAMESTOWN -- Many fish populations in Narragansett Bay are improving this year, with menhaden showing another big upswing.

But fish such as winter flounder that live on the Bay’s bottom continue to do badly. And the Bay’s temperature continues to warm while its ecology is changing.

Those were some of the biggest conclusions announced in a press conference today at the state’s fisheries laboratory at Fort Wetherill in Jamestown. State and federal scientists used the occasion to thank the state’s congressional delegation for appropriating $916,000 to continue the unusual federal-state-private effort to monitor the health of the Bay.

The so-called Bay Window partnership was initiated in 1997 by the late U.S. Sen. John H. Chafee in response to the North Cape oil spill off Rhode Island in January 1996. See the data online.

-- Journal environmental reporter Peter B. Lord

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:42 PM | Comment

Governor waiting for Senate leaders to transmit budget

PROVIDENCE -- For those wondering why Governor Carcieri has not yet signed the new $6.9 billion state budget, this is the answer: He can’t, because as of late this morning, he still didn't have it.

The bill cleared its last legislative hurdle on Thursday, but Senate Democratic leaders have not yet “transmitted’’ the bill.

The fiscal year does not end until June 30, so the delay has not yet caused any financial problems.

Lawmakers adopted most of Carcieri's cost-saving proposals, including $67 million in Medicare “reforms’’ and $90 million in personnel savings that have yet to be fleshed out. The new budget preserves the income tax cuts lawmakers promised the state’s wealthiest taxpayers in a rosier year, while cutting hundreds of people from the state’s health and welfare rolls, and millions of dollars from the state colleges and university and a tuition scholarship program.

Said Carcieri last week: “This budget represents a watershed moment in the recent history of Rhode Island state government. In the face of a severe fiscal crisis, we have worked together to reduce spending and balance the budget without raising taxes. In particular, the House of Representatives has approved most of the spending reduction plans I and the House Republicans proposed earlier this year. As a result, it’s a huge win for Rhode Island taxpayers.”

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau

Posted by maria caporizzo at 1:26 PM | Comment

Coming tonight: HSGameTime All-State girls lacrosse

Tonight at 6, we continue our coverage of spring All-States by unveiling the 2008 Providence Journal HSGameTime All-State girls lacrosse team. You can find the first-team and second-team All-State listings as well as All-Division and All-Academic teams, at HSGameTime. Right now, you can get watch and listen to a multimedia interview with All-State Chloe Schmitz, from the Division I champion Moses Brown team.

Here is the online schedule for spring All-States. The new teams will be announced at 6 p.m. each day.

Online now: Boys tennis, golf, boys volleyball, softball
Today: Girls lacrosse
Tomorrow: Boys lacrosse
Wednesday: Girls outdoor track
Thursday: Boys outdoor track
Friday: Independent stars
Saturday: Baseball

Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:59 PM | Comment

Update: Defense: Entwistle's wife killed baby, herself

WOBURN, Mass. -- A defense attorney for a British man accused of killing his wife and 9-month-old daughter has told a jury that the defendant's wife shot the baby and then committed suicide.

Neil Entwistle's attorney said Entwistle decided to "protect" his wife's honor and cover up her actions after he found Rachel and their daughter, Lillian, dead with his father-in-law's gun on the bed.

Lawyer Elliot Weinstein told jurors in closing arguments today that Entwistle took the gun and drove more than 50 miles from his home in Hopkinton, Mass., to his father-in-law's house to return it because he was "committed to not betraying Rachel's memory." The police later determined it was the gun used to kill mother and daughter.

Prosecutors are expected to give their closing later today.

-- The Associated Press

The defense rested Monday without calling any witnesses after jurors heard a recorded interview of Entwistle asking how quickly they died.

Prosecutors claim Entwistle, 29, was despondent over heavy debt and dissatisfied with his sex life.

Entwistle told police he returned home from running errands on Jan. 20, 2006, and found his wife and daughter dead in a bed in the master bedroom. He said he flew to his native England the following day because he wanted to be consoled by his parents.

Prosecutors rested their case Monday after playing a 45-minute recorded conversation Entwistle had with a state trooper on Jan. 26, 2006, five days after he returned to England. In the phone conversation, State Police Sgt. Robert Manning told Entwistle that the state medical examiner had ruled his wife and daughter died of gunshot wounds.

Entwistle had told the same trooper in an earlier conversation that he thought his wife and daughter had been shot, but left the house without calling for an ambulance because it was “obvious” they were dead.

“When I saw Lilly, you know, that’s when I could see what happened,” Entwistle said.
Entwistle asked Manning if the medical examiner was able to determine how quickly they died.
“I can’t tell you that, but I can probably tell you that it was probably quick,” Manning said. “I don’t think they suffered much.”

Entwistle choked up when he asked about his daughter.

“It was just the state of Lilly,” Entwistle said. “The blood on her looked like it was more than just a shot.”

Closing arguments were expected late Monday morning, followed by the judge’s instruction on the law to the jury.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:25 PM | Comment

Pawtucket man sentenced to 13 years for drugs, guns

PROVIDENCE -- A Pawtucket man has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking and gun offenses.

Timothy Falcon, 44, was sentenced to the 157 months by Judge Mary M. Lisi on Friday in U.S. District Court, Providence, according to a news release today from U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente's office.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Pawtucket police last September found more than a half-kilogram of cocaine in two Pawtucket residences linked to Falcon, the U.S. Attorney's office said.They also found a loaded handgun in the trunk of Falcon’s car and another in a safe.

Falcon pleaded guilty in March to four charges.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Prosecutor Sandra R. Beckner said at the plea hearing that the government could show that, in September 2007, DEA agents and Pawtucket police got search warrants for apartments on Denver and Prospect streets in Pawtucket. While agents were doing surveillance outside the Denver Street apartment, Falcon left in his car, spotted the surveillance and tried to flee. Agents stopped the car, detained Falcon and a passenger, and found about seven grams of cocaine in the passenger compartment, and a loaded .22 caliber pistol in the trunk.

In the Denver Street apartment, agents found two bags containing about two ounces of cocaine, a scale and a safe. Agents found in the safe a loaded .45 caliber pistol and $17,000. In the Prospect Street residence, which Falcon owned, agents found 565 grams of cocaine in a kitchen drawer. The total cocaine seized was about 627 grams. Falcon told agents he had been selling cocaine at a rate of about 100 grams per week for the past year.

Lisi sentenced Falcon to 97 months in prison for two drug-trafficking offenses and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and another 60 months for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:19 PM | Comment

Reed, Frank help spur housing market rescue bill

WASHINGTON -- Despite a veto threat from President Bush, the Senate is prepared to press ahead this week with a sweeping rescue of the housing market that could protect hundreds of thousands from foreclosure.

With Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., in the lead on the House side, work on a compromise between the two versions of the bill could begin as early as tomorrow, when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has scheduled a key parliamentary vote in the Senate.

If it succeeds, full Senate passage could come swiftly. The goal would then be to reconcile the House and Senate bills and get a final version on the president’s desk well before Congress goes on its August recess.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who helped craft a financing mechanism to bridge differences between Democrats and Republicans on this issue, said the measure would address a housing crisis in Rhode Island that has become acute.

"You can have renters who are doing all they can and paying every month and suddenly the owner is foreclosed upon – they’re out of the house. So where do they go?’’ Reed said. Foreclosures can thus have a snowball effect on neighborhood blight, he said.

The Rhode Island Democrat’s contribution to the bill is a permanent housing assistance fund, financed by fees on the mortgage industry, that in its first year would go largely to address the mortgage foreclosure crisis. But as the mortgage rescue function phases out, the fund would become principally an affordable rental housing program for low-income families.

"Good housing is essential to families, not just for shelter but for whether have a chance to live decently, whether they can hold a job, how they can hold a job with a permanent address, whether the kids can do well in school. It’s hard if you go to two of three different schools moving house to house,’’ Reed said.

-- John Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 12:14 PM | Comment

Tim O'Shea named men's hoops coach at Bryant

Bryant University today announced that former URI assistant and Ohio University head coach Tim O'Shea is the new head coach of its men's basketball program. O'Shea succeeds Max Good, who has left Bryant to take the head coaching job at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. Bill Reynolds was at the news conference, and we'll have more from him later today.

Here's a link to the Bryant news release announcing O'Shea's hiring.

And here's the link to Kevin McNamara's story last week, which anticipated the choice of O'Shea.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:07 PM | Comment

EMT: Place a mess, woman was dead on floor / Photo

Journal Photo/ Kathy Borchers
Bryan Mylniec, left, with his attorney Andrew Bucci, listen while prosecutor Thomas O'Brien gets testimony from West Warwick police Sgt. Scott Thornton.

WEST WARWICK -- When rescue crews arrived at Brian Mlyniec’s home two years ago, the living room was a mess, with plants overturned, and clothes and food on the floor. In the middle of the room was Kelly Ann Anderson -- obviously dead, according to Eric Galloway, an EMT.

Galloway was the state’s first witness in Mlyniec’s murder trial in Kent County Superior Court today. The 45-year-old West Warwick man faces a first-degree murder charge in 41-year-old Anderson’s death by strangulation.

Prosecutors in the case today gave opening statements, telling jurors that they would eventually hear two videotaped statements that Mlyniec made to police after his arrest.

“At the end of the case,” John Corrigan, of the Attorney General’s Office, told jurors, “You’re going to have evidence before you so you can call this death exactly what it was: Murder in the first degree.”

The defense reserved its right to make an opening statement later instead of today. Previously, Mlyniec had said that he and Anderson had consensual, violent sex. He pleaded "absolutely not guilty" last week.

Galloway said when he entered Mlyniec’s home, he saw a room in disarray with Anderson on the floor. The state showed pictures, which led some in the courtroom to cry quietly and cover their faces.

Anderson’s shirt and jeans were unbuttoned, and, Galloway testified, Mlyniec was hovering over her and said, “Oh, she’s moving.” But, Galloway testified, it was immediately evident to the EMTs that Anderson was already dead.

The state medical examiners office later determined that the cause of death was strangulation.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:58 AM | Comment

Newport police keeping an eye on cyclists

The Newport police are stepping up enforcement of bicycle laws this summer after receiving complaints from the community, according to a statement.

The main focus will be on helmet and sidewalk violations. Anyone 15 or younger is required to wear a helmet and riders 13 and older are prohibited from city sidewalks.

The police will also use message boards to remind cyclists of the laws. The police have held bicycle safety classes for young riders to make sure they know what the rules are and how to ride safely.

And don’t forget. Stop at stop signs and red lights and always obey the rules of the road, whether you’re on two wheels or four.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:31 AM | Comment

Reporter's query: Seeking carpoolers into saving gas

Have you recently begun carpooling to work as a way to save on gasoline costs? We're interested in hearing from you for a possible Providence Journal story.

Please contact The Journal's energy writer, Tim Barmann at tbarmann@projo.com.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 10:35 AM | Comment

West Warwick man faces murder charges

WARWICK -- A West Warwick man accused of beating and strangling a woman is scheduled to go on trial for murder today.

In Kent County Superior Court last week, Brian Mlyniec, 45, pleaded “absolutely not guilty” before Superior Court Judge Edwin C. Gale.

Mlyniec is accused of killing his house guest, Kelly Ann Anderson, 41. Anderson was found inside Mlyniec’s house in June 2006 with injuries to her face, throat and neck. According to the state Medical Examiners autopsy report, she died of strangulation.

Mlyniec said that the two had engaged in consensual, violent sex that resulted in bruises and bleeding.

The prosecution is expected to begin its case today. Lawyers for the state have a list of 15 potential witnesses. They include West Warwick police and fire officials, six civilians and a doctor from the state Office of Medical Examiners.

-- with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:27 AM | Comment

R.I. gas prices drop for first time since March

Gasoline prices in Rhode Island have dropped by one cent this week, according to AAA Southern New England.

It's not much, but it follows 12 straight weeks of price increases, for a total of 93 cents, according to AAA.

AAA’s survey of prices found self-serve, regular unleaded averaging $4.099 per gallon in Rhode Island.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:02 AM | Comment

Good vibrations: Brian Wilson joins folk fest lineup

NEWPORT -- The Newport Folk Festival is picking up good vibrations.

The festival producers plan to announce Monday that Brian Wilson, a founding member of the Beach Boys, is joining the festival's lineup. He'll headline an evening performance on Friday, Aug. 1 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The festival continues Aug. 2-3 at Fort Adams State Park.

Wilson is the latest big-name act added to the festival, which already includes Jimmy Buffett, Trey Anastasio, the Black Crowes and reggae artists Stephen and Damian Marley.

The festival is under new management and has branched out beyond more traditional folk this year. Organizers are hoping their roster of popular performers can produce a sellout.

The festival marks its 50th anniversary next summer.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:57 AM | Comment

CVS charity golf tournament tees off today

Golfer Rocco Mediate, who lost the U.S. Open to Tiger Woods last week in a dramatic playoff, will be among the most watched golfers when the CVS Caremark Charity Classic tees off this morning at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington.

Twenty of the world's top golfers will compete for $1.55 million in the event, which raises money for children's charities throughout southern New England.

About 20,000 fans are expected to attend.

Read more coverage of the tournament.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:20 AM | Comment

Alligator found, rescued on Cape Cod

HYANNIS, Mass. — See you later, alligator.

Residents of a Cape Cod neighborhood are saying goodbye to an unwanted guest after a 3-foot alligator turned up beneath a parked car in Hyannis.

Barnstable Natural Resource Officer Thomas Murray used a pole with a noose to remove the alligator Sunday afternoon, then placed the 60-pound reptile into a large plastic carrier.

The alligator was being picked up today by staff from New England Reptile and Raptor Rehabilitation in Taunton.

Murray said he thought the reptile might have been an escaped pet, though it’s illegal under Massachusetts law to own an alligator.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:52 AM | Comment

Today in history: Nixon discusses obstruction

On this day in 1972, President Richard Nixon and White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman discussed a plan to use the CIA to obstruct the FBI's Watergate investigation.

Watch a video report from today in history.

Read more about today in history.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:03 AM | Comment

Today's front page: Housing recover looks bleak

Today's front page features a look at the prospects for a housing recovery.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment

Rain, hail, lightning ... Happy Monday

Depending on where you were this weekend, you may not have felt a single rain drop. But you likely won't be so lucky today.

The National Weather Service is forecasting scattered showers and thunderstorms today with heavy rain, hail, lightning and flooding all possible. We'll have cloudy skies all day with temperatures reaching about 78 degrees and south winds between 6 and 11 mph.

More of the same for tonight, with a slightly lower chance of rain and thunderstorms. Temperatures should drop to about 63 degrees with winds becoming west.

And tomorrow? Rain. Showers likely in the later afternoon with temperatures reaching 83 degrees and west winds between 5 and 14 mph.

Keep an eye on the meandering thunderstorms on projo.com's weather page.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment