News

By Catherine Welch & Megan Hall

Providence, RI – Landmark Medical Center and Caritas Christi Health Care met their latest deadline and submitted a signed purchase agreement Friday to a Superior Court judge.

A court-appointed special master has been running the financially troubled Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket for two years now. And Landmark has been exclusively negotiating with the Massachusetts-based Caritas Christi Health Care for nearly half that time.

By Alex Nunes

Providence, R.I. – A man federal prosecutors say is the leader of a violent street gang has pleaded not guilty after being indicted on firearms charges and charges he conspired to distribute drugs.

Twenty eight-year-old John Polanco is allegedly the head of the local affiliate of the Trinitarios, which began a few decades ago in a New York prison. Prosecutors say they have FBI video of Polanco leading a meeting of the Trinitarios.

By Ian Donnis

Providence, R.I. – The impact of Race to the Top money. That's part of the discussion this week on Political Roundtable. Here's our host, WRNI Political Reporter Ian Donnis.

By Catherine Welch

Providence, R.I. – Rhode Island's first public charging station for electric and hybrid vehicles goes officially online today. The charging station outside Cardi's Furniture Superstore in West Warwick is the first piece in an electric car infrastructure that advocates say is already outpacing the rest of New England.

Providence, R.I. – Listen to the Morning News Podcast for Friday, August 27, 2010.

By Ian Donnis

Providence, R.I. – The impact of Race to the Top money. That's part of the discussion this week on Political Roundtable. Here's our host, WRNI Political Reporter Ian Donnis.

By Flo Jonic

Providence, R.I. – Earlier this week, investors were shocked by news that there had been a 27 percent drop in the sale of single family homes in July. Now we're learning that in Rhode Island the collapse was even worse.

Rhode Island home sales fell 34 percent in July, seven percent more than the national decrease. But the median price increased eight percent because far fewer distressed properties are on the market.

By AP

Somerset, Mass. – A practical joker in Somerset has taken advantage of recent shark sightings in the region.

Police say about 50 people were drawn to Fox Hill Cove on Wednesday night after someone reported seeing a shark fin in the water.

Police tell the Herald News of Fall River that several 911 calls came in to Somerset and Swansea police.

Responding officers soon realized that the ``shark'' was just a piece of Styrofoam cut into a fin shape, wrapped in gray duct tape and weighted down.

By AP

Boston, Mass. – Senator Edward Kennedy's family marked the one-year anniversary of his death in Massachusetts with a Mass and the renaming of a community health center in his honor.

Family members, including Kennedy's widow Victoria Reggie Kennedy, began Wednesday with a memorial Mass at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville near their Cape Cod home.

Kennedy's son, Edward Kennedy Junior, spoke later in Worcester at the renaming of the Great Brook Valley Health Center for his father.

Providence, RI – Listen to the Morning News Podcast for Thursday, August 26, 2010.