Rhode Island, Providence | featured news

Von Bulow was embroiled in one of America's most notorious criminal cases after he was indicted in the attempted murder of his wife, Martha "Sunny" von Bulow, on successive Christmas vacations in 1979 and 1980 at their seaside mansion in Newport. The heiress, who slipped into comas on both occasions, spent almost 28 years in a vegetative state after the second incident, which two of her children claimed had been deliberately caused by Claus von Bulow.

PROVIDENCE -- Expect a lof of sunshine and a high near 77 degrees today in Providence, but there's a chance of showers this afternoon, the National Weather Service says."Abundant sunshine and warm temperatures today, however there is the threat of a locally heavy downpour as sea-breezes develop and push onshore," the Weather Service says in its forecast discussion.The weekend looks mostly but there's a risk of showers Saturday evening into Sunday. Both days look [...]

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Eight contestants were named co-champions at the National Spelling Bee on Thursday night in an unprecedented competition that went to 20 rounds. The eight finalists bested 565 other contestants ranging in age from 7 to 14 in the prime-time finals that ran past midnight. The result is the first time more than two co-champions were named and came as the Bee has become increasingly competitive, with contestants training with coaches and some parents [...]

NEW CANAAN, Conn. — As authorities continued to search a local park Thursday for missing New Canaan mother Jennifer Farber Dulos, the contentious two-year divorce with her estranged husband continued, unabated, with his lawyer’s plea to a judge for custody of their children, now holed up under armed guard in his mother-in-law’s New York City apartment.Connecticut state police were continuing their search in Waveny Park in New Canaan on Thursday. Police said in a [...]

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a surprise announcement that could derail a major trade deal, President Donald Trump says he is placing a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports, effective June 10, to pressure the country to do more to crack down on the surge of Central American migrants trying to cross the U.S. border.He said the percentage will gradually increase — up to 25% — "until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied."The decision showed the administration going [...]

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire judge has denied a request to reconsider a lawsuit against a man who relatives say killed his millionaire grandfather for inheritance money.Judge David King upheld his dismissal Wednesday. He had ruled John Chakalos lived in Connecticut, even though he had a New Hampshire driver's license and house, and was registered to vote there.The lawsuit was filed by Nathan Carman's aunts, who don't want Carman to get any of Chakalos' money. [...]

PROVIDENCE (AP) — The Rhode Island Senate has passed a bill to prohibit life insurance companies from denying or limiting policies for people with a prescription for an opioid overdose-reversal medication.Democratic Senate President Dominick Ruggerio sponsored the measure, which passed his chamber on Thursday and now advances to the House.Ruggerio says it removes a barrier to accessing the life-saving medication. Senate spokesman Greg Paré says the issue came to [...]

PAWTUCKET — A probationary police officer has been fired after being charged in Johnston with second degree sexual assault.According to the Johnston police, 24-year-old Thomas J. Cahill, of 67 Bishop Hill Rd., Johnston was arrested on Thursday. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves identified the officer as Cahill as a police officer on probationary status, and said he had been fired. According to the Johnston police, a woman reported that someone had touched her [...]

LINCOLN — Police are seeking help finding a 29-year-old Chepachet man who ran away after his car was stopped Friday morning.A Lincoln police officer working a seat-belt detail pulled over a white Chevrolet SUV on Twin River Road, near Route 146, around 10 a.m., according to a news release. The driver was Jefferey Joergensen, and the vehicle's owner was in the passenger seat. The officer approached the pair, then returned to his vehicle to check information, when he saw [...]

The following was originally published on the website of the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, and is printed with permission from that organization. What is the Open Meetings Act?The Open Meetings Act is a Rhode Island law that gives the public the right to be present for [...]