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1540 WADK.com Updates Archives for 2016-07

RI delegates meet with Sanders, touched by Clinton remarks

Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders has met with a receptive Rhode Island delegation to the Democratic National Convention to thank them for his victory in the state, encourage them to vote for Hillary Clinton, and to work for more change.

Sanders spoke to applause Wednesday morning, calling Republican Donald Trump a demagogue and "the worst candidate for president in the modern history of this country."

Also Wednesday, state party Chairman Rep. Joe McNamara says delegates were touched by the remarks of former President Bill Clinton about longtime friend and Rhode Islander Mark Weiner who died Tuesday.

Clinton told the convention crowd that he and his wife cried together upon learning of Weiner's death.

McNamara calls his death a tremendous loss, and says members of the delegation feel a profound sorrow.

Providence board reviews lawmaker's residency

A report that a Rhode Island state lawmaker asked police to give him parking tickets outside his Providence home won't be part of a hearing to determine if he lives in the legislative district he represents.

The two-member Providence Board of Canvassers deadlocked Wednesday on a request to seek more documents from Democratic Rep. John Carnevale before a Thursday hearing on whether the city should challenge his voter registration.

The board was also split on whether to invite testimony from the police lieutenant who says Carnevale asked to be ticketed earlier this month for parking violations. Chairwoman Claudia Haugen says the police report isn't relevant.

Carnevale has insisted he lives in Providence since news station WPRI-TV found that he owns a house in Johnston he hadn't declared on ethics filings.

RI to receive $13M for commuter rail station

Rhode Island has been awarded a $13.1 million federal grant to build a new commuter rail station to provide service to Pawtucket and Central Falls.

Rhode Island's congressional delegation announced the award Wednesday. It's offered through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant program.

Officials say Pawtucket and Central Falls have been seeking to restore passenger rail service to the area since it ended in 1981.

The new facility will be built between Dexter and Conant streets in Pawtucket at an estimated cost of $40 million. The two cities will provide a match of $3 million. The next phase of planning and acquisition is slated to begin this winter.

The state Department of Transportation will work with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to provide service at the station.

Regulators to revisit saving southern New England's lobsters

Regulators are taking another look at potential strategies to revitalize southern New England's lobster population, which scientists say has sunk to its lowest levels on record.

The lobster management board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is planning to discuss possible solutions to the problem Aug. 4 in Alexandria, Virginia, near where the commission is based.

The commission's members have expressed a desire to find new management options to increase egg production in southern New England lobsters by 20 to 60 percent.

Among the options being considered are reducing traps and shortening the fishing season so lobsters have time to reproduce. The population has declined in the face of warming oceans.

Lobster supply to consumers remains strong. Catch off of Maine and Canada have been consistent in recent years.

Ex-presidential candidate Chafee skips Democratic convention

Former Democratic presidential candidate Lincoln Chafee is skipping the Democratic National Convention.

A spokeswoman for the former Rhode Island governor says he is out of the country this week on a long-planned family trip. She did not give details.

Asked about his absence, the state Democratic Party said Chafee is not a sitting governor or member of Congress and did not run as a delegate.

Chafee spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, when he was still an independent. He later became a Democrat. Earlier in his career, he was a Republican U.S. senator.

Chafee's daughter, Louisa, is competing in the Olympics in Rio. The U.S. Sailing team says she will arrive Friday. Her father is expected to be there to watch her compete. Competition starts Aug. 8.

Congressman asks Obama to keep classified intel from Trump

A Rhode Island congressman says he's asking President Barack Obama to withhold classified materials and briefings from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the interest of national security.

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Obama on Wednesday.

At a news conference hours earlier, Trump said he hoped that Russia would find emails deleted by Hillary Clinton from her time as secretary of state. He said: "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing."

Cicilline says Trump's "call for hostile foreign action" goes beyond partisan politics and "represents a threat to the republic itself."

Since 1952, Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have traditionally received intelligence briefings after securing their party's nomination.

Providence board to hold hearing on lawmaker's residency

Tenants of Rhode Island state Rep. John Carnevale could testify in a hearing where city officials are trying to determine whether the lawmaker really lives in the legislative district he represents.

The Providence Board of Canvassers plans to hold a hearing Thursday to decide whether it should challenge the Democrat's voter registration.

Carnevale has insisted he lives in Providence since an investigation by news station WPRI-TV found that he owns a house outside his district that he hadn't declared on ethics filings.

The city's elections board has disagreed over how to proceed with the case because it currently has only two members.

The state Republican Party says it might appeal to the state Board of Elections if the city doesn't challenge Carnevale's registration. State police are also investigating him.

Bicyclist struck from behind by car, critically hurt

 

Police are investigating after a car struck a Massachusetts bicyclist, leaving her critically injured.

Police say the Cheshire, Massachusetts, woman was riding her bike on Route 1 in South Kingstown on Tuesday when she was hit from behind by a BMW driven by an 88-year-old woman.

The 22-year-old bicyclist was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries.

Police don't believe alcohol played a role in the crash. No charges have been filed as of Wednesday and no names have been released.

RI labor department warns of job recruitment scam

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training says a job-recruitment scam on the state's EmployRI job board is under investigation by the agency and state police.

The agency is warning people not to be fooled by text messages urging them to interview for a job via Skype, a follow-up email offering a job before the interview and a FedEx package containing a check for $3,000 that users are urged to deposit immediately to buy software for the job.

Spokesman Michael Healey says one job seeker was targeted this month but wasn't fooled and alerted police.

Healey says examined resumes were traced back to an account in an Ohio company's name. But he says there's no evidence the company sent any of the communications.

AG asks to argue 1982 slaying case with high court again

Rhode Island prosecutors are asking the state's highest court to revisit a decision granting a new trial to a man convicted of beating a Woonsocket woman to death 34 years ago.

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin's Office has filed a petition to re-argue the case of Raymond Tempest.

The motion comes after the state Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that Tempest was entitled to a new trial. The court found that Tempest was denied some evidence by prosecutors that could have been used to impeach witnesses.

The state is disputing the value of evidence the court determined had been withheld.

Tempest was convicted in 1992 of second-degree murder in Doreen Picard's 1982 death. He was sentenced to 85 years in prison but has always maintained his innocence.

White House drug official visits RI prison program

A new Rhode Island prison program that provides medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction is getting attention from the Obama administration's top drug official.

White House Director of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli toured the state women's prison in Cranston on Tuesday.

The state budget that was passed last month adds $2 million to a pilot program treating inmates with methadone and other medications to reduce their dependence on opioids.

Botticelli says providing good treatment in prison makes people less likely to commit crimes and less likely to overdose when they're released. He wants Rhode Island's program to be replicated nationwide.

The state Department of Corrections has had a limited medication-assisted treatment program since the 1990s, but it's being significantly expanded this year to reduce the state's fatal overdose crisis.

RI state agency deletes political tweet

The Rhode Island Department of Health has deleted a message on its Twitter account that said several speeches at the Democratic National Convention were inspiring.

A spokesman for Gov. Gina Raimondo says the message was posted accidentally by a junior staff member who thought she was logged in to her personal account.

The tweet sent Monday read: "Inspired. Thank you Sen. Corey Booker, first lady Michelle Obama, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Bernie Sanders for your service."

A Raimondo spokesman did not publicly identify the staffer, but said she immediately deleted the tweet after realizing the mistake.

He says he spoke with her Tuesday and she knows it would never be appropriate for a state agency to make a political statement. He says that was not her intent.

Man surrenders for alleged attack on niece over 'Pokemon Go'

A Rhode Island man who is accused of attacking his niece because he was upset over how she was playing the game "Pokemon Go" has surrendered to police.

Cranston police say Kalada Fubara turned himself in Tuesday. He's expected to be arraigned on charges of felony domestic assault and disorderly conduct Tuesday afternoon. Fubara said he had no comment when reached by phone.

Police say the 44-year-old Fubara met his 22-year-old niece at a virtual room called a Pokemon gym and became upset when she entered the gym because he didn't want her to.

Police say Fubara became infuriated when his niece told him it was just a game. They say he punched her, pulled her out of the car, pulled out her hair and kicked her in the ribs.

New controller appointed in Rhode Island

Peter Keenan has been named controller for the state of Rhode Island.

Department of Administration Director Michael DiBiase announced Keenan's appointment in a statement Tuesday.

As controller, Keenan will oversee the state's Office of Accounts and Control within DOA.

Keenan took over as acting controller in May 2016 after serving as the state's associate controller for more than 10 years.

Previously, Keenan served as the chief financial officer of the state Department of Children, Youth and Families.

He has also held positions at KPMG, the Lincoln School Department and the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Keenan holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and an MBA from Providence College.

Major Democratic fundraiser, Clinton friend Mark Weiner dies

A major Democratic fundraiser, Clinton supporter and provider of merchandise to the Democratic National Convention has died in Rhode Island. Mark Weiner was 62.

Former Providence Mayor Joe Paolino says Weiner died Tuesday morning in Newport as he prepared to head to the convention, where his wife and son were delegates.

Weiner's cause of death wasn't immediately known, but he'd been treated for years for leukemia.

Weiner was supposed to be a delegate at this year's convention, but the state party said he was replaced by his son because of his poor health.

Weiner's company, Financial Innovations, has since 1980 provided the official campaign merchandise such as T-shirts and buttons for the DNC.

He is a longtime friend of the Clintons and was involved in Democratic presidential campaigns since 1976.

This story has been corrected to show Weiner was supposed to be a delegate to this year's Democratic National Convention but was replaced because of poor health.

Gas prices continue to drop in RI, to $2.21

Gas prices continue to fall in Rhode Island, to an average $2.21 per gallon.

AAA Northeast says its weekly survey released Monday found the average price of a gallon of self-serve, regular gas has fallen one penny since last week. AAA says the price is the lowest it has been during the month of July since 2004.

The price is significantly lower than it was at this time last year, when gas was averaging $2.71 per gallon in Rhode Island.

The price is five cents above the national average of $2.16.

AAA says it found self-serve, regular gas selling for as low as $1.99 per gallon and as high as $2.36.

Roman Catholic bishop in Rhode Island criticizes Kaine

Rhode Island's Roman Catholic bishop says many of Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine's views conflict with "well-established Catholic teachings."

Kaine, a Catholic, was chosen as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's running mate Friday.

Bishop Thomas Tobin in a Facebook post Saturday took issue with Kaine's positions on abortion, same-sex marriage, gay adoptions and the ordination of women. Tobin says it's apparent Kaine's faith is not "central to his public, political life."

His spokeswoman said Monday he had nothing to add.

In 2009, Tobin asked then-U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy not to take Communion because of the Democrat's views.

Kaine's bishop in Richmond issued a statement Friday that didn't mention Kaine but said they encourage Catholic leaders to protect human life and dignity in all decisions.

Kaine's spokeswoman didn't immediately return messages Monday.

Work at first US offshore wind farm enters final phase

Construction at the site of the nation's first offshore wind farm is entering its final phase.

Deepwater Wind is building a five-turbine wind farm off Block Island, Rhode Island.

Gov. Gina Raimondo visited the Port of Providence on Monday to see the main components for the turbines before they're brought offshore.

Raimondo says Rhode Island is leading the way in the new U.S. offshore wind industry and that she "loves it" when Rhode Island is first.

She says it's helping the state's economy.

Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski says the final components should be arriving from France in about a week.

Grybowski says the wind farm should be operational this fall, a "momentous occasion."

The cabling was recently completed.

The wind farm is expected to power about 17,000 homes.

Lawmakers voice opposition to rail line through Old Lyme

Members of Connecticut's all-Democratic Congressional delegation are urging federal railroad officials to meet with residents of Old Lyme before moving forward with plans to route a new rail line through the city.

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. Joe Courtney sent a letter Monday to the Federal Railroad Administration reiterating their opposition to a route through the historic city.

In the letter, they call on the FRA to attend a public forum in Old Lyme and speak with community leaders.

The lawmakers say the FRA has begun a multi-million dollar undertaking to meet the future passenger rail needs of the Northeast. One proposal would shift the main rail line north of the Old Saybrook Station and run it through several Connecticut and Rhode Island shoreline communities.

Single-family home sales in RI slightly up in June

The sales of single-family homes in Rhode Island ticked up slightly in June, as did the median sales price.

The Rhode Island Association of Realtors said Tuesday that the number of sales rose to 1,122 in June, an approximate 2.5 percent increase from the same period last year. The median price of a single-family home sold in June was $245,000, up by about 3.5 percent from June 2015.

The number of multi-family homes sold was about the same as last year, while the median sales price rose 8.8 percent, to $185,000.

Condominium sales rose 22 percent from June 2015, while the median sales price fell more than 5 percent, to $207,900.

Arthur Yatsko, the group's president, says the market lost a bit of momentum in June.

Demoted cop reaches settlement with city, restored to rank

A Cranston police officer who sued the city on claims he was tricked into accepting a demotion will be restored to his former rank.

Patrolman Matthew Josefson has settled his lawsuit against the city, Mayor Allan Fung and other officials for $215,000.

The agreement has been entered as a consent decree in a Providence federal court. It calls for Josefson to be reinstated to the rank of sergeant, effective Monday.

Josefson sued after a state police investigation previously concluded that he was pressured and swindled into accepting a demotion from sergeant to patrolman over trumped-up or trivial transgressions that were based on non-existent policies.

Fung's director of administration, Robert Coupe, says the resolution will allow the city and police to avoid a "very expensive legal battle."

US Naval War College welcomes a new president

The U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island is welcoming a new president.

Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley became the college's 56th president during a ceremony Monday at the Newport campus. He succeeds Rear Adm. P. Gardner Howe III.

Harley previously served as assistant deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy.

Harley says he's grateful to Howe for his tireless leadership of the college and he's delighted to carry on the institution's work and contributions.

Howe has been nominated to be promoted to vice admiral and assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency as the associate director for military affairs.

Howe was the first Navy SEAL to serve as the college's president. He says it's a "superb command" and he's proud to have been a member of it.

Newport Jazz Festival gets new vision with Christian McBride

Leadership is changing at the Newport Jazz festival, where festival founder George Wein is turning over artistic direction next year to virtuoso bassist Christian McBride.

McBride has performed regularly at Newport since 1991 and appears Friday in a trio with pianist Chick Corea and drummer Brian Blade. But he's also planning to spend some time walking around as an audience member to get himself ready for next year, when he'll be picking the lineup for the first time.

Wein, now 90, founded Newport as the world's first outdoor jazz festival in 1954. He says he expects McBride will give the festival a bit of a different look, which is a good thing.

Other acts performing during next weekend's festival include Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Galactic and Angélique Kidjo.

Tourism bureau publishes Pokemon Go walking map

A tourism bureau in Rhode Island is capitalizing on the Pokemon Go craze by publishing a guide to help players hunt imaginary monsters on their smartphones as they walk around.

The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau has begun mapping out locations in the city of Providence where pedestrians can discover rare Pokemon or replenish the virtual items they need to capture them.

The first segment in the online blog series is a Pokemon-themed tour of downtown Providence's Riverwalk, which the bureau describes as a good place to find rare creatures that can only be caught near bodies of water. It was published Friday at GoProvidence.com/PokemonGo.

The GPS-powered augmented reality game invites players to visit Pokestops, which are located at real-world historic sites, public works of art and other landmarks.

RI Foundation awards $30k to Newport Jazz

The Rhode Island Foundation has awarded $30,000 to help add a third day of music to the Newport Jazz Festival.

This is the third straight year the historic festival will add a third day of performances after a two-decade hiatus from doing so. The festival takes place July 29 through 31 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and at Fort Adams State Park overlooking Narragansett Bay.

Newport Jazz Festival producer George Wein says the grant will help to build a local audience and to give young people a chance to experience the festival. He says the additional day is a "perfect platform for nurturing the future of jazz."

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island.

Fire at Block Island power leads to rolling blackouts

Rolling blackouts were in effect on Block Island after a fire at the island's only power plant.

Block Island Power began implementing two- to three-hour rolling blackouts following the fire that broke out early Saturday.

Block Island Power Chief Operating Officer Clifford McGinnis says a piston on one of the engines shot through the engine block, causing hot oil to spill and sparking the fire. That generator was destroyed and two others seriously damaged.

Two replacement generators were in transit to the island.

I-195 rollover sends 4 to hospital; charges expected

Authorities say a rollover crash on Interstate 195 in Providence has sent four people to the hospital.

It happened around 1 p.m. Sunday at Exit 2. State police say a car moving eastbound was cut off and struck by a van, causing the car to roll over multiple times.

The car's four occupants were taken to Rhode Island Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

Police say the van fled the scene and was picked up a few miles away in East Providence. The driver was questioned, but a search is underway for the second occupant believed to have been a passenger in the van.

Police say charges against the driver are pending. No one was immediately identified.

The crash remains under investigation.

Evidentiary hearings to be held on proposed power plant

Evidentiary hearings will be held in Rhode Island this week on a proposed gas-fired power plant in the town of Burrillville.

the first round of hearings are set to run Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the state Public Utilities Commission in Warwick.

The hearings will focus on whether the regional electric grid needs the 900-megawatt plant in the town's village of Pascoag. Expert witnesses will testify and lawyers for the involved parties will cross-examine them.

Chicago-based Invenergy LLC put forward the $700 million project and has argued that the facility will reduce electric rates in the state. Environmental groups say Invenergy is overestimating the benefits.

Proposal would allow selfies at RI polling places

Rhode Island elections officials are weighing a proposal that would allow voters with cellphone cameras to prove they voted by taking a selfie photo.

The Board of Elections' legal counsel says the proposal would modify regulations to allow voters to photograph themselves, but not others, at polling places statewide.

The proposal is one of several under consideration by the board. Another potential change would allow bake sales in the general area of polling places.

The selfie proposal is backed by the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

But John Marion, the executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, says the restrictions are in place to prevent vote selling, and proof of voting through a selfie could make it easier to sell votes.

RI buys 590 new voting machines

Rhode Island is acquiring 590 new electronic voting machines that will be used for the fall elections.

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea on Thursday unveiled the new equipment, which replaces machines from the 1990s.

The Democrat says the vote-scanners will be secure and report results quickly because they use wireless technology.

The paper ballot will be different from what Rhode Island voters have used for many years. Voters will now fill in ovals instead of connecting arrows.

Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software made the machines, known as the DS200. The state is paying $9.28 million for the equipment and maintenance through an 8-year lease, with option to purchase.

Municipalities will also get new printers allowing poll workers to print ballots if they run out on the day of the election.

RI unemployment grows slightly to 5.5 percent

Rhode Island's unemployment rate grew slightly in June to 5.5 percent, the highest level of joblessness so far this year.

Numbers released on Thursday by the state Department of Labor and Training show that unemployment rose by one-tenth of a percentage point after holding steady for six consecutive months.

The national unemployment rate also went up in June, to 4.9 percent.

About 400 more people were unemployed in the state, even as the number of jobs grew by 1,700.

The retail trade created the largest number of new jobs, followed by the health industry, manufacturing and professional sectors. Information jobs also increased because of the return of Verizon workers from a strike that began in mid-April and continued through May.

Construction jobs continued to decline.

Ahead of Trump speech, RI delegate goes home

In the waning hours of a dramatic and contentious Republican National Convention, not everyone was sticking around for the headliner.

Giovanni Cicione is flying home to Rhode Island on Thursday, disheartened by what he has seen in Cleveland this week.

The former head of the Rhode Island Republican Party was a delegate for U.S. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who was booed Wednesday after declining to endorse nominee Donald Trump.

Cicione says he's disturbed by the nationalist fervor of Trump supporters and decided to skip Trump's acceptance speech. He was a member of the platform committee and says he tried unsuccessfully to make it more inclusive.

The state's other Cruz delegate, Rob Sullivan, stayed to show unity against presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Most of the other delegates are Trump supporters.

Trial against Brown University in sexual assault case starts

 

A trial in a lawsuit filed against Brown University by a student who was suspended after what he says was a consensual sexual encounter, but which a fellow student reported as a sexual assault, is underway.

The bench trial before U.S. District Judge William Smith began Tuesday.

The student was suspended for two years under a Title IX process he argues is unfair. He wants to be reinstated and seeks to stop Brown from handling complaints using the current process.

Brown says the procedure was fair and the hearing panel had a rational basis for its finding.

Universities around the country have faced similar lawsuits from men who say they were falsely accused amid a push by federal authorities aimed at getting schools to better address sexual assaults on campus.

Port operator, environmentalists reach accord: no filling

The operators of the Port of Providence have reached an agreement with an environmental group over a $20 million state-financed proposal to expand the city's deep-water seaport.

ProvPort announced Tuesday that it is changing its plans to address concerns raised by Save The Bay.

The port operator is abandoning plans that would have filled up to 31 acres of Narragansett Bay and will instead restrict its proposed expansion to existing land.

ProvPort also says its land acquisition won't benefit owners of the Rhode Island Recycled Metals scrap yard, which has been repeatedly cited for environmental violations.

Save The Bay Executive Director Jonathan Stone says he's pleased that ProvPort listened to the group's concerns.

Rhode Island voters are being asked to approve the bond proposal in November.

Officer pleads guilty to stealing from evidence room

A longtime Providence police officer has admitted to stealing a gun and more than $9,000 in cash from the department's evidence room.

63-year-old Michael McCarthy pleaded guilty Tuesday in Providence Superior Court to embezzling more than $100. He was sentenced to one year of home confinement.

Charges of larceny and receiving stolen goods were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea.

McCarthy, of Warwick, is a 36-year veteran officer. He was suspended after his arrest in 2014.

Providence police launched an investigation in 2014 after a diamond ring recovered from a theft disappeared. An audit of the evidence room revealed that other items were missing.

McCarthy was assigned to the evidence room for several years. Prosecutors say he embezzled cash from 2005 through 2014.

Lawmaker in residency flap requested parking tickets

Rhode Island officials say a lawmaker who's been questioned about his residency asked a police officer to write him parking tickets at his Providence home.

Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare confirmed Tuesday that Democratic Rep. John Carnevale had contacted a police lieutenant, who "feels uncomfortable with the request."

Pare says it's "highly unusual" for someone to ask for a parking ticket.

The issue comes up after a monthslong news station investigation revealed Carnevale owns a Johnston home he hadn't declared on ethics filings. The station never found him at the Providence home where he says he lives.

Carnevale is a retired Providence police sergeant. A message left for his attorney hasn't been returned.

The Providence Board of Canvassers is reviewing Carnevale's residency. State police also are investigating him.

State officials warn of toxic algae in pond

Rhode Island officials are advising residents to avoid contact with water in a pond where a toxic blue-green algae bloom has been detected.

The Health and Environmental Management departments said Tuesday people should not ingest water or eat fish from Melville Pond in Portsmouth. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink the water or swim in it.

Officials say Aquidneck Island's public drinking-water supply is not at risk because Melville Pond is not used for drinking water.

The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

Skin contact with the algae can cause irritation of the nose, eyes and throat, and swallowing the water can cause diarrhea, vomiting and nausea and more rarely, serious complications.

People are advised to avoid bright green water or algae they may see elsewhere.

Warwick police dog to receive protective vest

A Rhode Island police dog will be safer on the job, thanks to a bullet-resistant vest donated by a charity group.

The Warwick Police Department say the German shepherd named Fox will receive the vest from Vested Interest in K9s, a nonprofit group based in Taunton, Massachusetts.

The protective equipment is sponsored by Cranston resident Libby Distasio. It will be embroidered with the phrase "In Memory of D'Strong" in honor of Dorian Murray, an 8-year-old Westerly boy who died in March after battling a rare form of pediatric cancer.

The vest will be ready in about two months.

Vested Interest in K9s has provided more than 1,900 protective vests for dogs across the country since 2009. A $1,050 contribution allows the group to donate one vest.

Driver, man injured after car slams into building

Two people were injured after a car has smashed into a building in South Kingstown Tuesday.

According to police, the car was traveling down Southwinds Drive and crossed Kingstown Road around 1:18 p.m. The Ford Fusion reportedly passed over two lanes of traffic, went into the driveway of Kingston Auto Sales and Service and continued into the side of the building.

One victim was the elderly driver and the other was a customer inside the store.

The driver was transported by ambulance and the man inside the store was flown by LifeStar helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital.

Gov. Raimondo hires new chief of staff

Rhode Island's governor has hired a Providence city administrator to be her top aide.

Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Monday that Brett Smiley will be her new chief of staff beginning after Labor Day.

Smiley has been Providence's chief operating officer since Mayor Jorge Elorza took office last year. He also ran for mayor in 2014 before dropping out of the Democratic primary to support Elorza.

Raimondo says she chose him for his financial and managerial experience, including his work handling Providence's budgets and structural deficit and overseeing a construction boom.

He replaces former Chief of Staff Stephen Neuman, who left last month to work on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in Michigan.

Raimondo's acting chief of staff, David Cruise, a former state lawmaker, will become a senior adviser.

RI gas prices fall 2 cents, to average $2.22

Gas prices have fallen slightly in Rhode Island, to an average $2.22 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

AAA Northeast says its weekly survey released Monday found the average price of a gallon of gas had fallen 2 cents since last week.

Nationally, the price was averaging $2.21 per gallon.

The price is significantly lower than it was at this time last year, when gas was averaging $2.73 per gallon in Rhode Island.

That price is 51 cents higher than today, or 23 percent more.

Judge tosses lawsuit over nation's 1st offshore wind farm

A federal judge in Rhode Island has dismissed a lawsuit brought over the nation's first offshore wind farm.

The lawsuit was filed last year by plaintiffs including the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association. It argued utility National Grid's deal approved in 2010 to buy power from the wind farm violated federal law and would result in a significant increase to their electric bills. It sought to block the power purchase agreement.

The five-turbine wind farm is being constructed by Deepwater Wind just offshore from Rhode Island's Block Island.

The manufacturers' group sued National Grid, Deepwater Wind and members of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. Deepwater had called the complaint baseless.

U.S. District Judge William Smith on July 7 found the lawsuit was filed after the statute of limitations had expired.

RI, CT. lawmakers favor new disposal site

The Connecticut and Rhode Island congressional delegations have reached out to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in support of a proposed rule to designate a dredged material disposal site in Eastern Long Island Sound.

The lawmakers sent a letter to the EPA Monday expressing the importance of "preserving and protecting the environment" in the region.

They argue that transporting dredged materials to other sites, like the Rhode Island Disposal Site, will increase carbon emissions from ships and the risk of dredged material spills.

The EPA determined a new site was necessary in the Long Island Sound region following a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan issued in January. Two dredging disposal sites in the area will be closed.

The periodic dredging of harbors and channels is essential to safe navigation.

Powerboat catches fire, sinks in Providence River

Fire officials say a small powerboat caught fire and sank off India Point Park in the Providence River.

Acting Providence Battalion Chief Stephen Capracotta says the flames engulfed the boat around 9 p.m. Monday.

Providence and East Providence Firefighters extinguished the blaze and most of the powerboat sank below the surface just off rocks along the waterfront.

The Coast Guard says the boat's owner wasn't on board during the fire. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

RI's tallest building, now vacant, opens for tours

Rhode Island's tallest building is opening for free public tours.

The so-called "Superman Building" has been vacant for three years. The owner, Massachusetts-based High Rock Development LLC, has been pushing to get public money to help pay to redevelop it.

High Rock announced on Monday that five 90-minute tours were scheduled from July to September.

High Rock's David Sweetser says he wants Rhode Islanders to be able to enjoy the views from the 26-story building and appreciate the architecture and history of the building.

Within hours of the announcement, all the tours were booked. A High Rock spokesman says they plan to add more.

The Art Deco-style skyscraper opened in 1928 as the Industrial National Bank Building.

The tour will include the vault, the banking hall and the 25th floor.

Audubon Society calls for volunteer osprey nest monitors

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island is looking for volunteer osprey nest monitors in Westerly and other southern Rhode Island communities.

There are approximately 12 nests in Westerly and only a handful of monitors.

This summer, a total of 100 volunteers are watching 246 nests. That's 25 more nests than in 2015.

Officials say monitoring the nests provides valuable information on population trends and also on the population health of fish and conditions of local waters.

The osprey population has rebounded since DDT, an insecticide that weakened the shells of their eggs, was banned in 1972. The large fish-eating raptors are now common summer residents of Rhode Island and Connecticut. They typically migrate to South America in the winter.

More music on horizon for Newport jazz and folk fests group

The group that runs the famed Newport jazz and folk festivals is expanding.

The Newport Festivals Foundation has acquired Bridgefest, which spans the week between the folk and jazz festivals. Organizers say they hope to add local music and some bigger names to the weekday festival and give music lovers reason to stay in Newport for the week.

Jill Davidson, festival director for the folk and jazz festivals, says they hope to expand the festival over the coming years and to make it more of a weeklong celebration.

The three-day Newport Folk Festival starts Friday and features acts including Patti Smith, Alabama Shakes, Elvis Costello and Flight of the Conchords. The following weekend, Chick Corea, Norah Jones and Angélique Kidjo headline the jazz fest.

Housing agencies given grants to help low-income residents

Housing agencies in Rhode Island have been awarded a total of nearly $1 million in grants to help low-income residents gain job skills and financial independence.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed announced the "Family Self-Sufficiency Program" grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The funding was awarded to housing authorities in Central Falls, Coventry, Cumberland, East Greenwich, East Providence, Narragansett, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence and Warwick.

Reed says the investment will help people gain skills and increase their earning power, while reducing the need for rental subsidies or other public assistance.

Public housing agencies will work with community partners to help assisted housing residents find work, access job training resources and achieve financial independence.

Rhode Island Housing is also receiving nearly $200,000.

$11.7M in unclaimed property returned to nearly 9,000 people

The state treasurer's office says that a total of $11.7 million in unclaimed property was returned to nearly 9,000 Rhode Islanders in the last fiscal year.

The office of General Treasurer Seth Magaziner oversees more than $265 million in property that's waiting to be reclaimed.

The office returned $11.7 million in unclaimed property to 8,860 people in the 2016 fiscal year.

Magaziner says his office is working hard to reunite people with their money and property. Many of the claims processed average a few hundred dollars.

He asks people to visit the office's website to reclaim property.

Unclaimed property can include money left in old bank accounts and safe deposit boxes, uncashed paychecks, unused gift certificates, unreturned utility deposits, uncollected insurance payments and forgotten stocks and dividends.

Drivers with improperly mounted E-ZPass to be charged more

Drivers who don't have their E-ZPass mounted properly will soon be charged more to cross the Newport Pell Bridge.

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will charge the fee when a transponder isn't properly mounted and a toll booth employee needs to raise the gate, beginning today.

RITBA says it's making the change because of safety concerns and unnecessary traffic delays.

Rhode Island residents with an E-ZPass are currently charged 83 cents to cross the bridge. Non-residents and drivers without an E-ZPass are charged $2 per axle.

The fee for an improperly mounted transponder is $2 per axle. RITBA may charge repeat offenders a $25 administration fee, plus the toll cost.

RITBA says it repeatedly had over 1,000 motorists per month needing assistance because of improperly or unmounted transponders.

Amazon looking for employees ahead of Fall River opening

Amazon is coming to Massachusetts and looking for potential employees across the region.

Three information sessions will be held this week in Rhode Island. The first one will take place Tuesday morning at the Providence netWORKri Career Center. A morning session and an afternoon session will be held Thursday at East Bay Community Action in East Providence.

Amazon is scheduled to open a 1.2-million-square-foot fulfillment facility in Fall River on Sept. 21.

Bristol County Training Consortium Deputy Director Holly Hill-Batista says looking outside of Massachusetts will provide the Seattle-based online retailer with more potential employees.

Hill-Batista says a total of nine information sessions will be held throughout the region this week.

Several information sessions were previously held in Fall River.

Providence city councilman indicted on embezzlement charges

A Providence city councilman has been indicted on charges he misused campaign funds and embezzled more than $127,000 from a youth organization he founded.

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin said Kevin Jackson was indicted Wednesday on two counts of unlawful appropriation, one count of embezzlement and related crimes.

Prosecutors say Jackson unlawfully appropriated campaign finance contributions and used them for personal use between October 2014 and July 2015. He's also accused of filing false campaign finance reports with the state Board of Elections.

Investigators allege Jackson embezzled $127,153 from the Providence Cobras, a youth track and field organization, between 2009 and 2016.

Jackson's attorney declined to comment on the charges.

The Democrat resigned from his position as majority leader in May after his arrest but kept his seat on the council.

Yacht club makes historic change to men-only policy

The Westerly yacht club is making a historic change to its men-only policy.

Members voted Wednesday night to change the policy at the nearly century-old club and allow women as full members. It passed by a 79 percent margin, satisfying a two-thirds majority as required by club bylaws.

This was the second vote within about a month.

In June, members voted to uphold the policy, but decided to reconsider after dealing with fallout from their decision.

The old policy allowed wives as associate members, but they couldn't vote. Women who were not married to a male member couldn't join, even as associate members.

The new policy takes effect immediately. The club says anyone can apply, and their names will be added to a waiting list.

University awarded $39k to study historic battlefield site

Salve Regina university has been awarded a $39,000 grant from the National Park Service to conduct a site documentation project on a historic battlefield in South Carolina.

A spokesman for Salve says students in the Cultural and Historic Preservation program will study the Sadkeche Fight, a battle associated with the Yamasee War. The goal is to identify the probable location of the battle.

The war began in April 1715 as members of the Yamasee tribe attacked English settlers in colonial South Carolina.

Assistant Professor Jon Marcoux says a battlefield from the Yamasee War has never been located.

The grant is one of 20 awarded nationally. It's administered by the NPS's Battlefield Protection Program to support work that safeguards and preserves significant American battlefield lands.

Providence, Cranston to get $18M total to hire firefighters

Rhode Island's congressional delegation has announced a total of $17.8 million in federal funding to help Providence and Cranston hire and train new firefighters.

A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat, says the funding will help fill a total of 95 firefighter positions that were vacated due to normal attrition and left empty because of economic hardship.

Providence will receive approximately $15 million to hire 80 firefighters. The rest will go to Cranston to hire 15 firefighters.

The funding is provided through the competitive Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

The federal grants will cover the cost of the new hires for the next two years.

Providence man gets life term in killing of man in hotel

A Providence man has pleaded guilty in the killing of a South Carolina man in a Middletown hotel.

Forty-one-year-old Todd Sollo waived indictment Wednesday in Newport and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Mark Lussier of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Sollo was sentenced to life in prison under the plea agreement. A Newport woman charged in Lussier's death still faces a trial.

Authorities say Lussier, formerly of Exeter, was found partially submerged in a hot tub at the Quality Inn in Middletown on March 1.

Authorities say the three were drinking together all day on Feb. 29, then went back to Lussier's room. They say Sollo beat Lussier to death and left his body in the tub.

Authorities ID man found dead following Newport fire

Authorities have identified a 57-year-old man found dead following a small fire in a Newport building.

The flames were reported just before 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Newport Tradesman Center. Police say the state medical examiner's office identified the body found as Luke Walker of Middletown.

Officials say the fire was controlled in about 10 minutes and was contained to one unit. They don't know what started the fire or what caused Walker's death, however, they don't believe the fire was suspicious.

Investigators were back at the scene on Wednesday.

Group: Providence port expansion could lead to bay filling

A Rhode Island environmental group is opposing a $20 million state-financed proposal to expand the city's deep water port.

Save The Bay says the Port of Providence expansion could lead to filling in 31 acres of Narragansett Bay.

The group says the plan seems to be based on an expansion plan that includes land acquisition, infrastructure upgrades, and filling in the shoreline for new ship berths.

The group says the plan could also benefit the owners of the Rhode Island Recycled Metals scrap yard, which has been repeatedly cited for environmental violations.

Lawmakers last month added the ProvPort bond to a $50 million bond for a pier project in North Kingstown. Voters are being asked to approve it in November.

ProvPort spokesman Bill Fischer says the plan may not require shoreline filling.

City ordered to pay street musician's $22,000 in legal fees

A Rhode Island city has been ordered to pay more than $20,000 in legal fees racked up by a saxophone player who challenged its policies on street performers.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island filed a lawsuit last year on behalf of Manuel Pombo alleging Providence violated his right to free speech by arresting him for playing his saxophone on a public sidewalk. A settlement reached in January allows Pombo to perform on public property and solicit donations, called busking.

Lawyers for the ACLU were seeking nearly $28,000 in legal fees. The city filed a motion contesting that amount. A federal magistrate ordered payment of nearly $22,000.

Tourism officials say new campaign will go live this month

Rhode Island tourism officials say a new campaign to draw visitors to the Ocean State is poised to go live later this month.

The Commerce Corporation is asking residents to continue submitting photos via Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #myRIstory to be used in the campaign. Digital advertisements are scheduled to go live July 25.

The state reached out to Rhode Islanders after a botched announcement in March for its multi-million dollar tourism campaign, including a slogan, "Cooler & Warmer," that was rejected by state residents.

Soon after, it was revealed a scene from a promotional video for Rhode Island mistakenly featured a clip from a concert hall in Reykjavik.

RI DOJ names criminal chief, deputy criminal chief

 

 

The Rhode Island Department of Justice has named a new federal criminal chief and deputy criminal chief.

U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha on Tuesday announced the appointments of Assistant U.S. Attorney William Ferland to the position of criminal chief and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Hebert to the position of deputy criminal chief.

Neronha said in a statement that Ferland and Hebert are "experienced, talented attorneys with sound judgment and excellent leadership skills."

Ferland joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in May 2010, after having served as a Rhode Island state prosecutor for more than 20 years.

Hebert joined the office in June 2006, after having served as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Texas and as an officer in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.

Providence deputy chosen as Woonsocket police chief

A Providence deputy police chief has been chosen as the new police chief in Woonsocket.

Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt on Tuesday introduced Thomas Oates as the department's new head. Oates was selected out of five finalists for the job. The 36-year Providence Police Department veteran is expected to take the position by early August.

Oates says he's looking forward to getting to know the city's residents and its police officers. He will oversee 90 officers and 16 civilian workers in the department.

The chief position had been vacant since Chief Thomas Carey retired in February.

Man found dead following fire in Newport building

Authorities say a man was found dead following a small fire in a Newport building.

Fire officials say the flames were reported just before 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Newport Tradesman Center.

Officials say the fire was controlled in about 10 minutes and was contained to one unit. The state medical examiner took the man's body from the scene. He wasn't immediately identified.

Newport police and fire departments, state police and the state fire marshal are investigating.

Driver arrested after SUV strikes Warwick police officer

A police officer in Warwick is recovering after he was hit by an SUV while trying to direct traffic during a late-night power outage.

Warwick Police Capt. Brad Connor said the driver of the vehicle that hit the officer on Sunday night has been charged with driving under the influence and refusing to submit to a chemical test.

Connor says the driver, Warwick resident Thomas Horne, was taking a left onto Warwick Avenue from Sandy Lane when he crossed into the direction of oncoming traffic and struck the officer.

It's unclear if Horne has a lawyer who can comment on his behalf.

The officer was treated for a leg injury and released from the hospital several hours later on Monday morning.

Investigation into prep school abuse opened in Mass.

 

A district attorney's office in Massachusetts is conducting a preliminary investigation based on information it received from the Rhode Island State Police about sexual abuse allegations at a prestigious boarding school.

The state police investigation into dozens of allegations of abuse of students at St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island, concluded in June with no criminal charges.

Police say they turned over some of their information to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office in Massachusetts and the Waynesville Police Department in North Carolina.

The Suffolk County district attorney's office says it has undertaken a preliminary investigation based on the referral, but can't comment further.

Waynesville police didn't immediately comment.

Gas down 3 cents per gallon in RI

The price of a gallon of gasoline in Rhode Island has dropped three cents in the past week.

AAA Northeast reports Monday that its weekly price survey found self-serve, regular selling for an average of $2.24 per gallon.

That's 1 cent per gallon above the national average and 51 cents lower than the Rhode Island price a year ago.

AAA found self-serve, regular selling for as low as $2.15 per gallon and as high as $2.60.

No West Nile found in latest mosquito tests in RI

State environmental officials have not found West Nile virus in the latest round of mosquito tests in Rhode Island.

The state Department of Environmental Management said Monday that 133 mosquito samples from 33 traps set statewide on June 27 tested negative for both West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis.

Results from additional samples collected from 36 traps set on July 5 are pending.

The agency says the best prevention against mosquito-borne illness is avoiding bites.

Residents are urged to use mosquito repellent but with no more than 30 percent DEET, put screens on windows and doors and eliminate areas of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

The agency traps mosquitoes weekly and tests them at the state health laboratories. Weekly advisories on test results are issued from late June through September.

McKee named chairman of National Lt. Governors Association

Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee has been named chairman of the National Lt. Governors Association.

The Democrat was nominated Friday at the group's annual meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

As chairman, McKee will lead the association's 17-person executive committee in directing policy discussions and setting the group's general business agenda.

McKee called the nomination a tremendous honor, saying he looks forward to "working with lieutenant governors from both parties and every region."

McKee has been chairman of the group's Policy Resolutions Committee since July 2015.

The NLGA is the professional association for lieutenant governors in all 50 states and five U.S. territories.

The group's website says it aims to foster interstate collaboration and improve the efficiency of state and territorial administration.

Work underway on T.F. Green Airport runway extension

Officials have broken ground on a $90 million project to extend the runway at the T.F. Green Airport in Warwick.

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation celebrated the start of the project Monday morning with a ceremonial groundbreaking and remarks from Gov. Gina Raimondo, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

The plan to extend the runway 1,500 feet had been under study for more than decade before it was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2011.

Airport President Peter Frazier says the extended runway will eliminate the need for weight restrictions on airplanes leaving T.F. Green. He says it also gives the state the opportunity for long-haul service.

The deadline for testing the new runway is December 2017, with the official opening date to be announced.

Protesters gather in Newport after week of violence in US

More than 150 people gathered in downtown Newport in support of the Black Lives Matter movement after a week of violence across the nation.

The group marched on Saturday afternoon to call for changes after the police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota this week.

Speakers urged the crowd to get involved in grassroots efforts to improve law enforcement across the country.

Seneca Pender, of Middletown, organized the rally. He told the crowd that the senseless killings of black people "have to stop."

Pender also thanked law enforcement officers who provided security at the rally in Newport and denounced the deadly attack Thursday on police officers at a Black Lives Matter rally in Dallas that left five officers dead.

RI fundraising: Clinton vastly outraises Trump

As his fundraising begins picking up ahead of the Republican presidential convention, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump has a lot of catching up to do in Rhode Island.

Federal campaign records show he raised just over $13,000 from Rhode Island residents through the end of May, compared to $786,000 donated to Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Democrat Bernie Sanders beat Clinton in the state's April 26 primary but was second in contributions, raking in $368,600.

The average donation to Sanders was $39.50, not quite the $27 national average that Sanders regularly touted on the campaign trail but far smaller than his competitors. Clinton's average was $226, and Trump's $321.

Even long-shot Democratic candidate Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard professor who dropped out last fall, has pulled in more Rhode Island cash than Trump.

RI offers new specialty license plates

License plates commemorating farm labor leader Cesar Chavez, the Rocky Point park along Narragansett Bay and the Lupus Foundation could be showing up on Rhode Island cars.

Among 45 bills signed into law Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo are several allowing specialty license plates.

The plates cost $40 each. Proceeds are split between the state and the special cause. Proceeds from the Chavez plates go toward a scholarship in his name affiliated with the Rhode Island Foundation.

One law allows special plates for Brown University, Providence College and other private Rhode Island colleges and universities.

This year's state budget also expands the use of "Gold Star Parent" plates for residents who lost a son or daughter on military duty. It drops some fees and creates a new plate design.

Grant awarded so homeowners near airport can block out noise

Homeowners near the T.F. Green Airport will receive new windows and doors, duct work and other systems to help block out jet noise, thanks to a federal grant.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed says $9.3 million was awarded for jet noise mitigation near the airport in Warwick.

The airport's main runway is currently being extended by 1,500 feet, to a total of 8,700 feet. It's scheduled to be operational in late 2017.

Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, says that about $900,000 of the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation may be used to buy three homes from people seeking to relocate.

The remaining funding will be used for sound insulation mitigation.

About 750 residents in 76 single family homes, 142 condominiums and 82 apartments are expected to benefit.

Opponents challenge US decision granting tribe casino lands

Casino opponents are heading to federal court in their bid to block the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe's plans to build a resort in southeastern Massachusetts.

Lawyers for 25 Taunton residents opposed to the project are expected to argue Monday in Boston federal court that the U.S. Department of Interior wrongly placed 151 acres of land in trust for the Cape Cod-based tribe.

The group argues in its February lawsuit that the department's decision was based on a faulty interpretation of the Supreme Court's ruling in a 2009 case involving the Narragansett Indian tribe in neighboring Rhode Island.

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, which isn't a party in the suit, broke ground on its First Light Resort and Casino in April. It hopes to open the first phase next summer.

No West Nile found in latest mosquito tests in RI

State environmental officials have not found West Nile virus in the latest round of mosquito tests in Rhode Island.

The state Department of Environmental Management said Tuesday that 119 mosquito samples from 33 traps set statewide on June 20 tested negative for both West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis.

Results from additional samples collected from 33 traps set on June 27 are pending.

The agency says the best prevention against mosquito-borne illness is avoiding bites.

Residents are urged to use mosquito repellent but with no more than 30 percent DEET, put screens on windows and doors, and eliminate areas of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

The agency traps mosquitoes weekly and tests them at the state health laboratories. Weekly advisories on test results are issued from late June through September.

Gas prices in RI down 3 cents, to average $2.27

Gas prices in Rhode Island are down three cents this week.

AAA Northeast found in its weekly survey released Monday that the average price of a gallon of self-serve, regular gas has dropped to $2.27 in the Ocean State. That's three cents lower than last week's average.

Rhode Island's price is the same as the national average.

The in-state price at this time last year was 52 cents higher, at an average $2.79 per gallon.

AAA found self-serve, regular gas selling for as low as $2.15 and as high as $2.36.

AAA says it's unusual for gas prices to decrease after Memorial Day.

Raimondo: Clinton email use 'careless,' pleased by outcome

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo says she's pleased and not surprised that the FBI won't recommend criminal charges against Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server while secretary of state.

The Democratic governor says that "everybody agrees it was careless" for Clinton to use the private email server.

Her words echoed those of FBI Director James Comey, who on Tuesday called Clinton's actions "extremely careless" but said criminal charges are not appropriate.

Raimondo has long backed Clinton's presidential campaign.

She says Clinton has to continue to work on building trust but that she expects her to win the election in November.

Raimondo says Clinton is the only candidate in the race who is qualified and fit to be president.

Bait shortage could impact lobster industry

Maine regulators are considering intervening to help fix a bait shortage that threatens to affect its signature business, the lobster-fishing industry.

Lobstermen typically use herring for bait, and regulators and members of the fishing industry say there's a shortage of them.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources met Tuesday afternoon to discuss what role it can play. A spokeswoman says that it anticipates passing rules based on Tuesday's discussion.

Members of the fishing industry say the problem is that not enough herring are being caught on Georges Bank, a key fishing area off Massachusetts. The lack of bait is a problem for lobstering in all the New England states.

State Police withhold prep school abuse investigation report

Rhode Island state police won't release their report into dozens of sexual abuse allegations at a prestigious boarding school because the matter is being investigated in other states.

The investigation into allegations of abuse of students at St. George's School in Middletown concluded in June with no criminal charges.

Police denied a request by The Associated Press for the investigative report on Tuesday.

The denial says police determined the report isn't releasable under state law because of ongoing investigations in other state jurisdictions.

Attorney Eric MacLeish represents some of the victims. He says he's aware of potential criminal cases that could be brought in North Carolina and Massachusetts against former St. George's staff members.

Providence-Newport ferry carries more than 1,000

The numbers are in from the inaugural weekend of the new Providence-to-Newport ferry service.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation says more than 1,000 people took advantage of the service over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Officials say from July 1 through July 4 approximately 1,300 people took the ferry from Providence to Newport. All of the morning trips to Newport were sold out, and all but one of the midday trips reached capacity.

The new service is a pilot program, and will run seven days a week through Labor Day. Officials will look at the numbers at the end of the season to make a determination on the service for next year.

Fares are $10 for adults each way and $5 for children, seniors and those with disabilities.

Crews recover small plane that crashed off RI

Crews have recovered a small plane that crashed off the coast of Rhode Island.

The plane carrying an AT&T banner went down Monday in the Bonnet Shores area of Narragansett Bay, and was lifted out of the water Tuesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will now examine the plane to try to determine why it crashed.

The pilot, identified as 26-year-old Jeremiah Coholan, of North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, suffered only a small scratch and declined medical treatment.

This is not Coholan's first plane mishap. In January, he was flying a different plane when he was forced to make an emergency landing on a snow-covered field near Rochester, New York.

Financial adviser to plead guilty to $21M Ponzi scheme

Authorities say a Rhode Island financial adviser has agreed to plead guilty to orchestrating a $21 million Ponzi scheme.

The U.S. Attorney's office on Tuesday announced that court documents indicate that Patrick Churchville, of Barrington, will plead guilty to five counts of wire fraud and one count of tax fraud stemming from crimes authorities say he committed between 2008 and 2011.

Prosecutors say the 47-year-old Churchville used $2.5 million of investors' funds to purchase his home in Barrington and failed to pay more than $820,000 in personal federal income taxes.

He's also accused of misappropriating approximately $21 million dollars of investment money to operate his business, ClearPath Wealth Management, LLC.

Churchville is also a defendant in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil matter.

RI agencies warn of possible rabies exposure

Two Rhode Island agencies are warning the public of a possible exposure to rabies after a report of an animal biting several customers at a Walmart in Westerly.

Officials from the state Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management say at least two customers were reportedly bitten by the animal on Monday between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Officials say the two individuals haven't come forward to seek treatment.

The departments say that anyone who had physical contact with a small black mammal inside or around the store should contact the DOH for an assessment. The animal has not been tested but officials are operating under the assumption that it could have rabies.

The agencies say that once symptoms appear, rabies is fatal in people and animals.

Man injured in explosion while making fireworks in garage

A Rhode Island man was injured in an explosion after officials say he was trying to make his own fireworks over the July Fourth holiday.

The explosion happened Sunday afternoon in West Warwick.

The state Fire Marshal's office says the Coventry resident was tampering with fireworks in a garage when it happened.

The man went to the hospital before officials arrived on the scene. His condition wasn't immediately available on Monday. No other injuries were reported.

A bomb squad conducted a controlled explosion of the remaining fireworks after deeming them unsafe to dispose of or move from the scene. The garage sustained major structural damage as a result of both explosions.

Officials say the victim may face charges for tampering with the fireworks.

The investigation is ongoing.

RI outlaws sale of powdered caffeine to minors

A new Rhode Island law bans the sale of powdered caffeine to minors.

It was one of dozens of bills signed into law by Gov. Gina Raimondo in late June.

People who are under 21 years old and are convicted of possessing powdered caffeine could face up to a $500 fine. The maximum penalty for people convicted of selling it to minors would be $3,000 or up to three years in prison for multiple offenses.

Concentrated caffeine powder is far more potent than coffee. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises consumers not to use it.

The FDA says two young men in Ohio and Georgia died after using the product. Ohio has since outlawed it.

Program receives grant to help prisoners find jobs

A new program in Rhode Island is getting a $500,000 federal grant to help people being released from prison find jobs and reintegrate into the community.

The Providence/Cranston Workforce Development Board will use the U.S. Department of Labor grant to launch the RHODES to Employment Program.

The program will provide work readiness, career counseling, employment, educational and case management services for people who will soon be released from the Adult Correctional Institution in Cranston to reduce recidivism.

They can continue to use the services after their release.

About 120 participants will be selected based on need.

The state's congressional delegation recently announced the funding.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, says people who have paid their debt to society should have opportunities to successfully transition to the workforce.

Call center for unemployment claims hits summer peak period

The Rhode Island labor department is warning people filing unemployment claims that this is one of the busiest times of the year for its call center.

The Department of Labor and Training says claims filed by bus drivers, substitute teachers and school food-service workers increased substantially when the school year ended.

The department says it expects to receive 5,000 claims during its peak summer period.

The department recommends filing online instead of calling and gathering all relevant information before doing so.

It also recommends keeping handy the confirmation number that's provided after filing a claim, to quickly locate and check the claim's status later.

Mondays and Tuesdays are the call center's busiest days, while Thursdays and Fridays are the least busy.

The center does not take calls on Wednesdays.

Coventry woman killed, husband injured in mobile home blaze

Authorities say a woman is dead and her husband remains hospitalized after a fire broke out at their mobile home in Coventry.

Crews arrived at the scene Monday night for a report of a gas grill explosion. They arrived and found the trailer engulfed in flames.

Police say officers managed to rescue the husband but were unable to reach his wife in time. Her body was found inside the home after firefighters contained the blaze.

Police say the husband was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with injuries that don't appear to be life-threatening. Two police officers were taken to Kent County Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The couple's names are being withheld pending family notification. The State Fire Marshal's office is investigating.

Small plane carrying AT&T banner crashes off RI

A small plane carrying an AT&T banner has crashed off the coast of Rhode Island.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the crash Monday afternoon in the Bonnet Shores area of Narragansett Bay.

The Coast Guard says a nearby boater rescued the 26-year-old pilot, Jeremiah Coholan, of North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, from the water. The pilot was evaluated by emergency crews on land and received only a small scratch.

There's no word on why the single-engine propeller plane plunged into the bay.

The Coast Guard says it is monitoring the crash site and will help to salvage the wreckage.

Agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

RI company gets national award for soldier support

The U.S. Department of Defense has honored a Rhode Island manufacturer for its support of National Guard and Army Reserve employees.

Hope Valley Industries was one of 15 employers out of nearly 2,500 nominees to receive the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The North Kingstown manufacturer was cited for giving a service member deployed to Afghanistan a pre-departure gift of $1,000 to help with last-minute expenses. The company also provided a six-month plan for recovery upon the injured service member's return home from deployment.

Three other companies in the state have been selected for the award in the last 20 years. Citizens Bank won in the 1990s. Cardi's Furniture received the award in 2006 and CVS in 2015.

New flight connects Azores to RI

A new flight service is connecting the Azores to Rhode Island.

Gov. Gina Raimondo was among the officials celebrating at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick when the inaugural flight landed Thursday.

It was the first of Azores Airlines' weekly summer flights to and from Ponta Delgada, on the island of Sao Miguel. The service on a 222-seat Airbus 310 will continue through Sept. 1.

The nonstop flight is meant to appeal to tourists visiting the Portuguese islands in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, including many families in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts with Azorean roots.

It's the third international service offered from the Providence area in the past year. The others are year-round flights to Cape Verde and seasonal service to Frankfurt, Germany.

Gov. Raimondo vetoes bill on foreign driver's licenses

Rhode Island's governor has vetoed her second bill.

Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo rejected a bill that would have changed the way the state recognizes foreign drivers' licenses.

The bill would have affected international students and others in the state on temporary academic or work visas, as well as some immigrants with permanent legal residency using licenses from their home countries.

Raimondo says it was well-intentioned legislation but foreign students can already freely drive in Rhode Island using a valid foreign license.

By making them apply to the state DMV and certify the validity of their licenses, Raimondo says the legislation was at odds with an international road traffic treaty signed by the United States.

It's only the second bill Raimondo has vetoed since taking office last year.

CVS to pay $3.5M over allegations of forged prescriptions

CVS Pharmacy has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle allegations that dozens of its Massachusetts pharmacies violated federal law by filling forged prescriptions for addictive painkillers and other controlled substances.

U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz announced the settlement with the Woonsocket based drugstore chain Thursday.

CVS says it entered into the agreement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of further legal proceedings.

Ortiz's office says the settlement resolves two investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration after reports of forged oxycodone prescriptions. One involved hundreds of forged prescriptions at 40 CVS stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The other involved 120 forged prescriptions at 10 CVS stores in and around Boston.

CVS says it has tightened its policies and procedures to help its pharmacists determine whether a prescription is legitimate.

White officer's firing over racial remark upheld

A judge has upheld a decision to fire a white Rhode Island police sergeant who made racially offensive remarks about a black officer.

Superior Court Judge Alice Gibney on Thursday found Providence Sgt. David Marchant's remarks were "hurtful, demeaning, degrading, and racist."

The incident happened in December 2014, when Marchant responded along with a black patrolman to a suspicious package at Brown University.

When Marchant was asked by his supervisor later if he followed proper protocols, he said he had the black officer handle it and if the black officer got sick it wouldn't be a problem because "he's a black guy anyway."

Marchant was fired following a disciplinary hearing in November 2015.

Marchant says the remark was a joke. He argued the firing was unfair.

Providence to Newport ferry launches for holiday weekend

Ferry service between Providence and Newport is launching just in time for the holiday weekend.

The new route begins Friday morning and lasts through the tourist season, until Sept. 5.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is running the service.

Gov. Gina Raimondo says the ferry will offer a new way to beat the traffic, enjoy Narragansett Bay and connect the state's two most popular cities for tourists. RIDOT Director Peter Alviti says it's also a great way for families to see the bay without a private boat.

The service costs $10 one-way for adults and $5 for children, seniors and those with disabilities.

The trip takes one hour, and the ferry includes bar service.

RI State Police to step up enforcement over holiday

Rhode Island State Police say they are stepping up traffic enforcement over the holiday weekend.

Col. Steven O'Donnell says that there will be a substantial number of additional troopers out on the roads during the July 4th holiday weekend. He says they will be targeting speeders, aggressive drivers, seat belt violators and impaired drivers.

The police say the Fourth of July is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunken driving crashes.

O'Donnell is also encouraging people to designate a sober driver or call a taxi or someone else for a ride if needed.

They ask that people call 911 if they see someone who is driving and appears to be impaired.

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