Flo Jonic

Brown University was the target of an animal rights demonstration Sunday.

About a dozen people picketed Brown carrying signs saying “Stop Testing on Animals Now.”  The demonstration was organized by the group “In Defense of Animals.” Organizer Christen Baker says the animal experimentation going on at Brown and other universities is unnecessary.

"There are alternatives that need to be explored. They’re safer. They’re cheaper and they’re accurate."

This promises to be a pivotal week in the long-fought battle for same sex marriage in Rhode Island.  The House is expected to tweak the bill approved last week by the state Senate and send it off to Governor Lincoln Chafee for his signature. 

Aaron Coutu works not one but two library jobs. But Sunday, his mind was not exclusively on books. Coutu, who with his partner, Ray Daignault, became the first Rhode Island couple to engage in a civil union two years ago, now plan to get married once it becomes legal to do so August 1st.

A Newport woman who lost her left foot as a result of the Boston Marathon bombings says she’s received so much support she hasn’t had much time to feel sorry for herself.  Heather Abbott gave her first press conference Thursday from a hospital gurney at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. 

Doctors spent a week trying to save Heather Abbott’s foot. In the end, it was her decision to have it amputated. Abbott told reporters her doctors made the options clear.

A family’s worst fears have been realized. The Rhode Island Health Department confirms a body found in the Providence River Tuesday is that of missing Brown University student Sunil Tripathi.

Members of the Brown University crew team found the body in waters off India Point.  Dental records confirmed they are the remains of 22-year-old Sunil Tripathi, who vanished from his Providence apartment March 16th. His family reported he was despondent.

A cause of death is pending further study. The family has been notified.

The gallery of the Senate erupted in cheers when the chamber voted by a margin of two-to-one to legalize same sex marriages.  The House overwhelmingly approved the same legislation in January. Senate bill sponsor Donna Nesselbush of Pawtucket who is openly gay called it an issue of historic importance.

"To each and every senator in this room," Nesselbush said, "the eyes of the nation are upon us and we are poised to become the 10th state in the nation to join the force for equality that is sweeping our great nation."

Rhode Island is on track to become the 10th state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriages.  The state Senate has overwhelmingly approved two nearly identical bills that would legalize such unions. The bill could go to the governor for his signature as early as next week.

It’s been about six weeks since Brown University philosophy major Sunil Tripathi disappeared. For a few hours he was erroneously linked to the Boston Marathon bombings. His family was horrified that he was rumored to be involved. 

Sunil’s brother, Ravi Tripathi, stopped by our studios to talk with Rhode Island Public Radio’s Flo Jonic.

Sunil "Sunny" Tripathi is six-foot tall, last seen wearing a black ski jacket and black hat with a Philadelphia Eagles logo. Anyone with information should call the Providence or Brown University police.

The Rhode Island widow of Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev has issued a statement through her attorney. Her lawyer said she is doing everything possible to assist with the investigation.

Her husband’s apparent involvement in the Boston Marathon bombings came as an “absolute shock” to his wife, Katherine Russell Tsarnaev, according to a statement from her attorney, Amato DeLuca.

Senator Jack Reed and Governor Lincoln Chafee are urging Congress to pass the  Marketplace Fairness Act. The bill would require online merchants to pay state sales taxes. Chafee and Reed say it’s a matter of fairness.

Reed and Chafee stood side by side in a West Warwick furniture store to urge Congress to allow a vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act.  Chafee said the bill – which would require online merchants to pay state sales taxes – would add $70 million a year to the state treasury.

The older of the two Boston bombing suspects worked out at a boxing gym in Providence a couple of years ago, but no one noticed anything strange about him.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev worked out at the Big Six Boxing Academy in Providence several times in the latter half of 2011.  Gym owner Roland Estrada said there was nothing unusual about the young man, who two years later would allegedly bomb the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring scores more.

"No inclination of what he was going to do," Estrada said. "You know, it’s not the same person."