News

By Flo Jonic

North Providence, R.I. – The three former North Providence town councilors accused in a corruption case this morning entered "not guilty" pleas in U.S. District Court.

Former councilors Joseph Burchfield, Raymond Douglas III and John Zambarano appeared before Magistrate Judge Davis Martin.

The trio is accused of having accepted a bribe of $25 thousand in exchange for voting in favor of a zoning change for a retail development project.

The three defendants remain free on unsecured bond.

By Elisabeth Harrison

Central Falls, R.I. – One of two new principals chosen to lead Central Falls High School through a series of state-ordered reforms overstated some accomplishments on his resume.

Sonn Sam, a principal since 2006 at the Met School in Providence, said he raised math scores on standardized state tests by 79 percent.

In fact, math scores at the Met have been flat since 2007, and just 4 percent of students reached proficiency last year.

By Flo Jonic

Warwick, R.I. – Warwick police have arrested two men for the vandalism last week of Temple Am David after a Jewish police officer provided the break in the case.

The officer heard talk last week of who might be responsible for painting a swastika and a racial epithet on the Jewish synagogue, and he turned the information over to Warwick Police.

Last night, police arrested 20-year-old Ryan Johnson and a male teenager who is too young to be identified.

By WRNI and Trinity Rep

Providence, R.I. – Hear a live recording of Trinity Rep Radio Theater.

By Flo Jonic

Providence, R.I. – State Sen. John Tassoni could be known as Senator Humane. He's gotten legislation passed that requires the spaying and neutering of shelter pets and has abolished the use of gas in euthanizing pets. But he's having a tough time with another issue: the tethering of dogs outdoors.

By AP

Hartford, Conn. – The National Weather Service has canceled a tornado watch for much of New England and says the storm is over.

The tornado watch had been in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday for all of Connecticut and Massachusetts except Cape Cod and the islands, all of Rhode Island except Block Island, southern Vermont and southern New Hampshire.

The National Weather Service says there had been reports of funnel clouds in the region but no confirmed sightings of a tornado.

By AP

Providence, R.I. – Rhode Island's gubernatorial candidates are facing off this week in their first live televised debate.The candidates will meet Thursday evening at the University of Rhode Island in a debate airing on WPRI-TV.

They're vying to replace Republican Gov. Don Carcieri who is barred by term limits from seeking another four-year term.

By Flo Jonic

Providence, R.I. – When Eleanor Dove Harris wants to get away she doesn't go far from her Charlestown home. She and her husband camp out at Burlingame State Park, just 20 minutes away.

"My husband and I came to a place not too long ago where we realized we lived in this vacation destination Mecca and as often as we want to go elsewhere we've learned we have beautiful oceans and parks right here," she said.

By Trinity Rep Radio Thetater

Providence, RI – Resident acting company members Angela Brazil, Janice Duclos and Joe Wilson,
Jr. join /Curt Columbus join and host Bob Seay. Recorded LIVE at Trinity Rep
on May 24, 2010.

By Ian Donnis

Providence, R.I. – The House budget reduces the state's car-tax exemption from $6,000 to the first $500 of a car's value. The budget also gives cities and towns the ability to tax the cars of their residents after that initial $500 in value. Rep. Roberto DaSilva of East Providence says it's unfair to target cars worth a few thousand dollars when there's no similar tax on yachts.