This Just In: Another Rhode Islander charged in Capitol riot investigation

Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. It's a nearly perfect afternoon weather-wise, which means it's a great day to cross the Verrazzano Bridge to Conanicut Island. With four new restaurants, Jamestown has become a culinary hotspot, and food editor Gail Ciampa has all you need to know if you'd like to check out the new places.

A second Rhode Island man is now facing charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol. FBI agents this morning arrested Bernard Joseph Sirr, a state employee who works at Rhode Island's only nuclear reactor, in North Kingstown on a felony charge of civil disorder and related misdemeanor counts. Sirr is accused of joining in a group of rioters who repeatedly assaulted Capitol police officers in a tunnel on the lower west terrace of the Capitol.

A man and a woman are facing felony counts in the Jan. 1 death of 17-year-old Olivia Passaretti. A statewide grand jury has returned indictments against Aramis Segura on charges of driving to endanger, death resulting; and leaving the scene of an accident, death resulting; and against Segura's girlfriend, Alicia Peckham, on charges of charges of leaving the scene of an accident, death resulting, as an aider and abettor; harboring a criminal; misprision of a felony; and obstructing an officer in execution of their duty. Passaretti's family had been calling for Segura to be charged with second-degree murder based on social-media posts that suggested he had planned to drink and drive the night of the crash.

For nearly a decade, employees at National Grid cheated on the state's energy-efficiency program to earn the company higher incentive payments at the expense of local ratepayers. The practice directed between $1.4 million and $2.2 million worth of overpayments to National Grid before the company sold its Rhode Island holdings. The head of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission says he hasn't ruled out asking the attorney general's office to investigate whether criminal charges are warranted.

Writing that officer Jeann Lugo brought "dishonor, discredit, embarrassment, and reputational harm to the Providence Police Department" with his actions while he was off duty at an abortion-rights protest, Police Chief Hugh Clements Jr. is recommending that Lugo be fired.

Today is the final day for candidates to declare that they're in for the September primary election, and it appears that there will be a large and diverse group vying for seats in the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Rhode Island's coronavirus case decline appears to have stalled. Today the Department of Health reported no new coronavirus-related deaths and 347 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 3,776 negative tests, for an 8.4% positive rate. Rhode Island has reported an average of 274 new cases a day over the last seven days, up 5% from a week ago and down 16% from two weeks ago. It was the first time in more than a month that the seven-day average was up from the previous week. There were 63 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, down from 66 reported yesterday, with fewer than five in intensive care.

Summertime means speed cameras have been turned off in four Rhode Island cities (Providence, Pawtucket, East Providence and Central Falls). How many tickets did they generate this school year? Wheeler Cowperthwaite has some answers.

Today was supposed to be the day the first nonstop cross-country flight took off from T.F. Green International Airport for Los Angeles. Now it turns out the flights won't happen until at least next year.

A gas station in Smithfield will be offering 10 free gallons to the first 200 Rhode Island veterans who show up between 10 a.m. and noon tomorrow, thanks to the generosity of three local business owners.

If high gas prices have you considering taking the bus, this might help: starting Sept. 1, the state's most heavily used RIPTA line will be fare-free for seven months.

And starting next week, new incentives will be available for Rhode Islanders who purchase an electric car.

Members of a union that represents about 200 employees at Bally's Twin River Casino have voted to authorize a strike over staffing and wage issues.

And finally, a tribute to a man who changed Rhode Island's dining landscape. Normand Leclair founded the Red Rooster in North Kingstown in 1969, at a time when continental cuisine and fine wine were not well appreciated. But by providing exceptional food and service, and steering clear of pretense, Leclair helped refine the state's collective palate. He died Sunday, and took a piece of Rhode Island history with him.

Have a great night. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, please encourage a friend to sign up.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: This Just In: Another Rhode Islander charged in Capitol riot