News.WBRU

URI and Rhode Island College Propose Joint Nursing School

News — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:00:35 +0000

Image licensed under Creative Commons, courtesy of flickr user ♥ellie♥

The University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College have proposed building and sharing a new $60 million nursing school in downtown Providence. Both public colleges have strong nursing programs and both are proposing new facilities on their campuses to address their current cramped and outdated quarters. If approved by the General Assembly, a bond question will be put to voters in November and construction could start in 2012.

Pawtucket Man Convicted of 2006 Murder

News — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:39:33 +0000

Image licensed under Creative Commons, courtesy thesituationist.wordpress.com

A Pawtucket man has been convicted of fatally shooting a woman in 2006. A Providence Superior Court jury deliberated for less than two hours yesterday before finding Deaven Tucker guilty of first-degree murder for killing Jennifer Duarte. As he was led from the courtroom Tuesday, Tucker could be heard telling Duarte’s family that they would never see her again. Attorney General Patrick Lynch said Tucker deserves to be imprisoned for life. He said he would make the judge aware of Tucker’s remarks to Duarte’s family.

Gov. Carcieri Signs Legislation Allowing More Charter Schools

News — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:54:01 +0000

Photo licensed under Creative Commons, courtesy of flickr user Rob Shenk

Gov. Don Carcieri has signed legislation allowing more charter schools to operate in
Rhode Island. State leaders hope the new law enacted yesterday will boost the state’s chances of winning millions of dollars in federal education aid. The legislation approved by lawmakers raises the cap from 20 charter schools to 35. It also strikes a law preventing the schools from serving more than 4 percent of the school-age population.

State of Emergency Declared in Cranston

Stan Sundel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:09:50 +0000

Mayor Allan Fung has declared a state of emergency in Cranston. Roads in the city that are still closed include Pontiac, Capuano, Perkins, and Wellington avenues; Fletcher Avenue has been reopened. The mayor is meeting with FEMA and Rhode Island Emergency Management this afternoon.

State Commission Recommends Decriminalizing Marijuana

Stan Sundel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:08:55 +0000

A state Senate commission is recommending the decriminalization of marijuana. The Providence Journal reports that the panel voted this afternoon on a proposal that would have anyone 18 or older who is caught with an ounce or less would be required to pay a $100 fine. But they would be sparred a criminal record. The report now goes to the full senate for confirmation.

Providence Firefighters Get Raise

Stan Sundel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:06:00 +0000

City Firefighters will be getting raises. Mayor David Cicilline announced today that the raises will be retroactive to 2006 under the terms of an arbitration award. Cicilline has said that contract talks are continuing and that the two sides had agreed to refrain from public comment.

YouTube Tuesday: Chuck Norris Fights a Bear Edition

Eric Johnson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:00:32 +0000

Hello, and welcome to YouTube Tuesday, WBRU’s weekly roundup of the best in online videos!

This week, we’ve got a gifted young Spider-Man-in-training, the coolest guy ever on ChatRoulette, a lovable 20-foot python, evil teddy bears, Christopher Walken, Jack Nicholson and CHUCK NORRIS!!1! Ahem. Let’s begin.

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Skip to video: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, throwback
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Number 5: Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Boy

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This silent but flexible kid is damn impressive. And I promise, nothing awful happens at the end…

Number 4: Piano Improv with ChatRoulette

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It takes a lot of skill to come up with songs off the top of your head. And it takes a lot of balls to brave the--well, the omnipresent male genitalia on random-stranger-with-webcam-finder ChatRoulette. But one audacious dude had the right stuff to bring us this brilliant video…

(warning: NSFW language)

Number 3: Boy’s Death Could Have Happened To Any Family with a 20-Foot Python

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Oh, The Onion. Sometimes, given the choice between family humor and dark humor, they spit on both and dish out the blackest stuff their staff can stomach. It seems this week was one of those weeks…

Number 2: Invasion of the WTF Teddy Bears

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There are no words that accurately summarize this video, apart from the fact that it comes from an animator named cyriak, who I can only assume lives in a bizarre, f**ked up, totally awesome universe parallel to our own. Seriously, it’s weird. But it’s worth it…

Number 1: Walken & Nicholson in Willy Wonka

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What would happen if Christopher Walken and Jack Nicholson starred in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? We may never know, so we asked some guy who can do a great impersonation of both those actors. The epic scene that follows could only be made better by the addition of Danny DeVito as an Oompa-Loompa…

(warning: lots of NSFW language)

This Week’s Throwback: Chuck Norris Fights a Bear

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This is a clip from Walker, Texas Ranger. In it, Chuck Norris fights a bear. It is good and you should watch it. That is all…

Professor finds Shakespeare’s “lost play”

Tom Jarus — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:41:15 +0000

A professor at the University of Nottingham says an 18^th century play is probably the work of William Shakespeare. After studying “Double Falsehood,” a play that was based on Shakespeare’s lost “Cardenio,” the professor says he is sure that there is a relationship between the two. Arden, a company that publishes Shakespeare’s work, released an edition of “Double Falsehood” on Monday.

Licensed under Creative Commons, courtesy of flickr user UGArdener

President Obama pushes for Democratic votes

Tom Jarus — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:58:58 +0000

President Obama is trying to win additional Democratic support for his health care overhaul. Two Democratic representatives who voted against his plan last year have not decided whether to support his proposal this time around. And since some are expected to oppose the health care plan because of a provision that allows for the federal funding of abortion, every vote will count. The House is scheduled to vote later this week.

The Fed joins Facebook

Tom Jarus — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:02:28 +0000

Social networking sites have a new member: the Fed. Undercover law enforcement agents are using Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, and Twitter to gather information on their suspects. Though some fear that there is no way to regulate government activity on these sites, the Justice Department says that their actions are legal and that their officers follow internal rules.

Licensed under Creative Commons, courtesy of flickr user adobemac