Top stories this week: Cicilline surprise; Vietnam vets' homecomings; big cookie news

Journal Staff
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Here's a look at The Providence Journal's most-read and most compelling stories for the week of Feb. 19, supported by your subscriptions.

  • The possible closing of Foundations Academy, a school in Smithfield for 80 students with social, emotional and developmental challenges, is a frightening prospect for those who see it as a crucial alternative to a public school system ill-suited to meet their needs. Rising tuition costs, paid for by participating school districts, might force the school to close or scale back. With a decision looming in the week ahead, Amy Russo talks with educators and anxious parents.

  • Woonsocket's "Blight and Density Reduction" program has spent roughly $2 million since 2015 tearing down at least 30 buildings — mainly apartment buildings, triple deckers and other multi-family homes. But some are questioning the wisdom of replacing derelict buildings with vacant lots at a time when housing needs are so dire.

Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com:

Just how much do RI's nonprofit leaders make? Here's what we found.

One of the most surprising pieces of Rhode Island news to come out this week was that U.S. Rep. David Cicilline will be resigning his seat in Congress in order to lead the Rhode Island Foundation.

The second-most surprising piece of news: He'll likely more than triple his salary by doing so, making him one of the highest-paid philanthropic leaders in the state. But plenty of other nonprofit executives are also pulling in six-figure salaries, as The Journal's Antonia Noori Farzan reports.

Philanthropy: Just how much do RI's nonprofit leaders make? Here's what we found

With Cicilline stepping down, who might run for RI's 1st Congressional District seat?

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, D-RI, talks about the American Rescue Plan Act during a March 2021 news conference in Providence.
U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, D-RI, talks about the American Rescue Plan Act during a March 2021 news conference in Providence.

The imminent opening of one of Rhode Island's two congressional seats with news of Rep. David Cicilline stepping down sent shockwaves of excitement — and ambition — through the ranks of the state's past, present and future political wannabes — with silence so far from some of the state's political giants.

The unexpected move, effective June 1, will trigger a special election in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District. Journal political reporter Katherine Gregg has been keeping a close eye on the evolving field of possible contenders. Find out the latest on who's in, who's out and who's still on the fence.

Politics: With Cicilline stepping down, who might run for RI's 1st Congressional District seat?

FBI hauls truckloads of items from longtime Providence metals recycling company

FBI agents secure a truckload of materials seized from Accurate Converter off Branch Avenue in Providence on Thursday.
FBI agents secure a truckload of materials seized from Accurate Converter off Branch Avenue in Providence on Thursday.

The FBI on Thursday removed truckloads of items from the premises of a Providence company that recycles catalytic converters.

Accurate Converter, described on its website as "a full service catalytic converter recycler, for the recovery of platinum, palladium and rhodium," was the focus of the investigation, which also involved police departments from Providence and Cranston.

Some of the materials in converters are precious metals, and the value of those metals has skyrocketed in recent years. In 2022, thefts of catalytic converters nationwide jumped 540% from their level in 2020, according to BeenVerified.

Law enforcement: FBI hauls truckloads of items from longtime Providence metals recycling company

The dark side of America’s welcome home: Vietnam vets recount harassment and disrespect

Bert Guarnieri of North Providence carried an M-60 machine gun for most of his Vietnam tour with the 1st Cavalry Division. He was assigned to the famed Seventh Cavalry, General Custer’s old unit.
Bert Guarnieri of North Providence carried an M-60 machine gun for most of his Vietnam tour with the 1st Cavalry Division. He was assigned to the famed Seventh Cavalry, General Custer’s old unit.

The Journal's Veterans Voice columnist, Frank Lennon, said he was not prepared for the number, quality and intensity of responses he received after requesting homecoming recollections from Vietnam vets.

Lennon shares many of those painful reminiscences of being harassed, heckled and spit upon, of being called "Nazis" and facing discrimination from prospective employers. But for most, the worst reaction was something far more insidious — indifference — sometimes complicated by divisions within their own families over support or opposition to the war.

Veterans Voice: The dark side of America’s welcome home: Vietnam vets recount harassment and disrespect

RI High School Hockey Coaches Assoc. seeks more severe punishment for Portsmouth

A video was posted of Portsmouth High School hockey players drinking in the locker room after a game earlier this month.
A video was posted of Portsmouth High School hockey players drinking in the locker room after a game earlier this month.

The Rhode Island High School Hockey Coaches Association issued a statement on Feb. 16 asking for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League to hand down a heavier punishment on the Portsmouth High School hockey players who filmed and posted a video of themselves drinking in the locker room.

The association writes that the Portsmouth players “are without question guilty on all accounts and their punishment is not reflective of their actions” and later asks the RIIL to “sanction these boys properly.”

“Take the rest of their season away and teach all of our student-athletes that this behavior will not be tolerated and uphold the morals and values that we talk about all the time.”

Sports: RI High School Hockey Coaches Assoc. seeks more severe punishment for Portsmouth

Crumbl Cookies has fans nationwide, and it's finally opening in RI

Crumbl draws from a rotation of 275 cookie varieties, with six types available per week, announced each Sunday via social media.
Crumbl draws from a rotation of 275 cookie varieties, with six types available per week, announced each Sunday via social media.

Crumbl Cookies opened its first Rhode Island store in East Greenwich on Feb. 24, sweet news for the chain's many fans who have been waiting for a shop to open here and serve up the company's famously huge cookies in pretty pink boxes.

It's a family affair for owners Beth and Paul Nardozzi, whose daughter Grace tipped them off about the cookie company that she'd been following on social media. One taste on a family trip to California was all it took to convince them to secure a franchise.

Food editor Gail Ciampa tells you all about Crumbl's 275 varieties of cookies, and how to order.

Food: Crumbl Cookies has fans nationwide and it's finally opening in RI. See what's on the menu

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal top stories: Cicilline resigns; Portsmouth hockey