Top stories this week: Missing Warwick woman; Cranston councilman arrested; Raimondo's mom
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Here's a look at some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of May 14, supported by your subscriptions.
You might never set eyes on the costliest public works project in Rhode Island history: a $1.7-billion subterranean tunnel network to capture overflows of polluted stormwater and sewage that would otherwise foul Narragansett Bay. But after reading this piece by Journal environmental writer Alex Kuffner, with photos and video by Kris Craig, you'll understand how the massive, decades-long project has led to astounding improvements in the Bay's water quality — although at a steep price for ratepayers that some call burdensome.
What set North Kingstown's Bernard Sirr — husband, father, engineer and Army veteran — on an extremist path that led him to take part in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol? In sentencing documents, his lawyers blame a "distorted mindset" created by President Donald Trump's claims of a stolen election, amplified by Sirr's membership in a local Proud Boys chapter.
Looking for a different kind of deli? Food editor Gail Ciampa describes the innovative delights that await at Downtown Tilly in East Greenwich. They had me at the Toast Tasting Board.
For the latest high school and college sports news, and coverage of the Celtics' Eastern Conference finals series against the Heat, go to providencejournal.com/sports.
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Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com:
Charlotte Lester disappeared from Warwick a year ago. Her family fears the worst
The way Charlotte Lester's family tells it, the bubbly, free-spirited Warwick woman had found happiness in her mid-40s.
Her motto was "Twenty good deeds a day," says Kathy Wilson, who has spoken for Lester's mother and siblings since she disappeared in May 2022. "She was happy. She liked her life."
Police have not provided any definitive evidence pointing to Charlotte's demise, nor have they accused anyone of perpetrating any crime against her. But Lester's family believes she is no longer alive and was the victim of foul play.
Missing person: Charlotte Lester disappeared from Warwick a year ago. Her family fears the worst
Cranston council member resigns following drug arrest
A Cranston City Council member arrested on a drug possession charge Monday has resigned.
Republican Matthew R. Reilly, 41, resigned from his Ward 6 seat on Thursday, and on Friday the state Supreme Court granted an emergency petition suspending his license to practice law and appointing a Special Master to take possession of his clients' case files. A special election will be held to replace him.
Reilly was arrested Monday after the Cranston police found him in a parked SUV with what the police allege was two crack pipes and a "white, rock-like substance" containing crack cocaine and fentanyl.
Government: Cranston council member resigns following drug arrest
As RI legislators near session's end, compromise on expensive proposals looks inevitable
PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island's part-time legislators kicked into high gear this week with votes on abortion funding, a new captain at the helm of the state's $3.6-billion health and human services super-agency, and free meals for every public school child.
The sudden burst of activity reflects an unspoken target date of June 16 for the end of this year's legislative session. It also reflects the time when the state's Revenue Estimating Conference delivered the sobering news about how much the state has to spend. That happened last week with a $64-million reduction in the revenue expectations underlying Gov. Dan McKee's record $14-billion tax and spending proposal.
The news served as a warning that the legislators may not be able to fill everyone's spending requests.
Government: As RI legislators near session's end, compromise on expensive proposals looks inevitable
Patinkin: Former RI Gov. Gina Raimondo's mom, Josephine, left a true American legacy
It was the kind of obituary emblematic of Rhode Island’s fabric. An Italo-American mother and grandmother named Josephine — maiden name Piro — passed on from this world recently at 91.
She was the kind of soul, and from the kind of stock, that is a backbone of the state — a daughter of Italian immigrants who never forgot their roots and worked hard so the next generation could have more than they did.
Josephine did the same for her three children. One of them, Thomas, became a doctor, and is now a pulmonologist in Warwick. Another, Marianne, earned a Ph.D. and is today dean of the business school at Rhode Island College.
Finally, there is her other daughter, Gina, who doesn’t have a doctor title in front of her name, but she’s done OK nevertheless. Gina was the state’s treasurer and governor and is now the U.S. secretary of commerce. She’s even been mentioned on the long list of potential presidential candidates.
Patinkin: Former RI Gov. Gina Raimondo's mom, Josephine, left a true American legacy
Providence basketball looks primed and ready after a busy offseason
Providence College did the unexpected this offseason.
Modern college basketball generally sees a roster splinter after the head coach leaves. Ed Cooley departing the Friars for Big East rival Georgetown could have done the same to a program that has reached seven NCAA Tournaments since 2013-'14.
That didn’t happen, owing to a collective effort by new coach Kim English, his staff and the school’s athletic department. The Friars now can pivot to competing in what should be a monster of a league in 2023-'24.
Sports: Providence basketball looks primed and ready after a busy offseason
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal top stories: Missing woman; councilman drug arrest
