Rhode Island | featured news

PAWTUCKET — Two occupants on the third floor of a multifamily home in Pawtucket were taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation from an overnight fire, according to a city spokesman.WPRI reported that a firefighter was injured rescuing a person from the fire on Central Avenue.The American [...]

PROVIDENCE (AP) — A Pawtucket man who fled a traffic stop as federal investigators were about to arrest him during a drug investigation has pleaded guilty to fentanyl and cocaine trafficking charges.Authorities say 24-year-old Luis Leon faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday.Police conducting surveillance at Leon's Pawtucket home in early April saw someone entering carrying a large duffel bag. A short time later, Leon left the residence carrying the [...]

NEWPORT — The reprieve was good while it lasted. The lane closures throughout the summer and fall of 2017 that accompanied the Pell Bridge deck-replacement project were not repeated last year, but motorists must brace for their return this August.The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority held a sparsely attended community meeting Tuesday night in the auditorium of the Community College of Rhode Island's Newport County campus to tell the public what to expect. Here’s [...]

PROVIDENCE — A reputed full member of the state chapter of the Hell's Angel Motorcycle Club admitted this week to firearms and drug-trafficking charges.Douglas Leedham, 54, of North Providence, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to deliver; possession of cocaine with intent to deliver; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He faces 5 to 40 years in prison at his sentencing [...]

NARRAGANSETT — The Democratic and Republican Town Committees in Narragansett have issued a joint statement calling on members of the Town Council to level-fund the Mary Loontjens Memorial Library and allow the library to move into the former Belmont market.The move was approved by town voters in 2016, and the town purchased the former supermarket last year. The results of the November election, however, resulted in opponents of the project having a majority on the nonpartisan [...]

CRANSTON — State police investigators arrested a corrections officer Tuesday and charged him with having sex with three female prisoners over a year.Collins Umoh, 40, of 24 Clayton Road, Warwick, was charged with seven felony counts of having sexual relations with inmates and released on personal recognizance bail, state police say. The charges are punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000.Umoh has been an corrections officer for 11 years. Police [...]

PROVIDENCE -- A former Foxy Lady dancer whose arrest in December helped spark a battle over the future of the Chalkstone Avenue strip club and a debate over the decriminalization of prostitution was found not guilty of offering sex for money Wednesday.Lindsay Hoffmann, 30, of Connecticut, who was one of three dancers arrested at the club on [...]

PROVIDENCE — A Warwick man who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography was sentenced Wednesday to 42 months in federal prison, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman.Prosecutors say that 34-year-old Stephen P. Langlois Jr. used bitcoin to to subscribe to an overseas-based child pornography website, where he acquired more than 100 videos, some of which included sadistic depictions of sexual activity. They say he concealed the videos in a music folder on [...]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A self-driving shuttle got pulled over by police on its first day carrying passengers on a new Rhode Island route.Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements says an officer pulled over the odd-looking autonomous vehicle because he had never seen one before.The bus-like vehicle operated by Michigan-based May Mobility was dropping off passengers Wednesday morning when a police cruiser arrived with blinking lights and a siren.It was just [...]

NEWPORT — Looking for your 15 seconds of fame? Or maybe just some cheese fries? Either way, your best bet may be at this weekend's food truck festival at Fort Adams State Park.Chef Kevin Des Chenes from Food Network posted on Facebook Wednesday "Chef Kevin Des Chenes from Food Network will be hosting Food Truck Festivals of America Newport Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival Episode! They will be filming May 18 so get your Tickets, VIP & VIB packages to be a part of the [...]