Storm watches issued for RI, MA as Hurricane Earl approaches

A hurricane watch has been issued for part of Cape Cod and the islands, and a tropical storm watch is in effect elsewhere along the Rhode Island and Massachusetts coasts.
As Hurricane Earl heads north, emergency officials are preparing for the worst. Forecasters think the Category 4 storm will pass 50 to 100 miles off [...]

Angry driver attacks fellow motorist with an ax in Warwick

In Warwick, police say a man was sent to the hospital yesterday when an angry driver attacked him with an ax.
The apparent road rage incident ended with Joseph Gallagher receiving head and thigh wounds. Gallagher’s injuries are not considered life-threatening, but police say his attacker is still at large. They’re looking for two men driving [...]

How to protect yourself from EEE-positive mosquitoes in RI

Health officials in Rhode Island say mosquitoes in Westerly have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a rare but dangerous virus. To protect yourself from mosquitoes carrying EEE, the state Department of Health has issued the following advice:

Use bug spray with DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Make sure that bug spray does not have more than 30% [...]

Providence Chipotle gets its liquor license

[AP] – A restaurant opening near Brown University has been granted a liquor license after the university withdrew its opposition.
Brown had objected to Chipotle Mexican Grill’s application for a liquor license that would have allowed the restaurant to serve beer, wine and mixed drinks until 2 a.m.
Brown withdrew its opposition when Chipotle agreed to [...]

Congressional hopefuls gear up for second TV debate

[AP] – The four Democrats vying to replace Patrick Kennedy in Congress are having their second TV debate ahead of the September 14th primary.
The 8 p.m. debate between Providence Mayor David Cicilline, former Democratic Party Chairman Bill Lynch, businessman Anthony Gemma and state Representative David Segal airs on WLNE-TV.

St. Laurent wife, son plead guilty

The mob really is a family business. The wife and son of reputed mobster Anthony “The Saint” St. Laurent have pleaded guilty to extortion. Dorothy St. Laurent and Anthony St. Laurent, Jr. entered the pleas yesterday as part of a deal with prosecutors. They’re accused of taking “protection money” from bookmakers on behalf of [...]

Two plead not guilty in N. Providence corruption case

The middlemen in the North Providence corruption scheme say they’re not guilty, either. Robert Ciresi and Edward Imondi pleaded not guilty to federal extortion, bribery, and conspiracy charges. They’re also charged with pocketing part of the bribes they allegedly delivered to three former North Providence councilmen. That trio all resigned from council in the wake [...]

Student fights downloading fine

One local student is fighting back against heavy fines for illegal downloading. Joel Tenenbaum – a Boston University grad student and Providence native – is appealing the federal ruling that fined him $67,500 for downloading music. He has admitted to downloading illegally between 1999 and 2007. A judge already reduced the fine by ten [...]

Mayoral candidates focus on finances

City finances were the hot topic at last night’s Providence Mayoral debate. In their first televised debate, all five people running for the seat claimed they’d be best to handle the city’s grave financial situation. Whoever wins will take on a city facing a 52 million-dollar deficit for the 2011 fiscal year. The candidates also [...]

Some MA police turn blind eye to marijuana

Having a small amount of weed might not even get you a fine. Some towns in Massachusetts are giving up on enforcing the law that decriminalized possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Under that law, an ounce or less brings just a 100-dollar fine – instead of six months in jail or [...]