WQRI News– The 88 Second Update

Look for new and improved audio updates starting Monday, Oct. 1. Improved meaning they have been shortened and edited to pack in more information in 88-120 seconds.

DJs: Thank you for playing the updates the last two weeks. I hope you continue to use them as part of your shows as we launch new additions to WQRI news throughout the semester.

Stay tuned to this blog for major updates in text form throughout the day.

Contact the news director Phil at newsdirector_wqri@hawks.rwu.edu.

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A couple of Roger Williams students are OK after getting trapped inside an elevator at King Philip Apartments Monday. They managed to escape safely from the stuck elevator, which covers about five floors. But this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. In the next edition of The Hawk’s Herald, hear from the students who got stuck and learn about other times elevators have broken down around campus. The Hawk’s Herald hits stands Friday.

Two parts of the Patriot Act have been ruled unconstitutional. A federal judge struck down Wednesday on conditions that allow the government to conduct searches and surveillance without permits. The Patriot Act expanded the authority of law enforcers to investigate suspected acts of terrorism.

All but two of the Democratic presidential hopefuls say it’s unlikely they would withdraw US troops from Iraq during their first term as president. CT Sen. Chris Dodd and NM Gov. Bill Richardson are in the minority, both claiming at a televised New Hampshire debate Wednesday that they would get the job done. The eight candidates also addressed health care and lowering the drinking age.

Legendary record producer Phil Spector is a free man after a mistrial was declared in his Los Angeles murder case Wednesday. Spector was on trial for the killing of struggling actress Lana Clarkson at his home more than four years ago. The prosecutor said he would seek a retrial.

WQRI SPORTS

Women’s volleyball won 3-1 Wednesday over Eastern Nazarene College.

Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics, 11-6.

WQRI WEATHER

Partly cloudy today, high near 80.

Rain tonight with the low near 65.

Showers tomorrow morning, clearing up by midday, high 75.

If you see news happening or have an idea for a story, send it to us at newsdirector_wqri@hawks.rwu.edu.

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There is no audio update today. Deejays: Check the bulletin board for any new announcements from the news department. Updates will resume Thursday.

I realize updates have been running overtime, the result of some misjudgement and a recording-timer that speaks lies. Effective Thursday, updates will run between 88-120 seconds (that’s maximum 2 minutes). Days updates run closer to two minutes will be the exception, not the rule.

This still is in experimental phase, so if you have feedback, please let us know.

Thanks all.

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CLICK PLAY BUTTON BELOW THIS ENTRY. MAKE SURE DJ DELL IS ON. 

Gas prices across Southern New England have increased for the first time in 10 weeks. AAA Southern New England says a gallon of self-serve regular unleaded gas averages $2.67 in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. That’s 2 cents more than last week’s average and 13 cents below the national average. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he was insulted and treated unfairly during an appearance at Columbia University Monday. The school’s president sharply criticized him before a large crowd for behaving like a “petty and cruel dictator,” taking him to task over Iran’s human rights record and Ahmadinejad’s reported denial of the Holocaust. The Iranian president brought controversy to the Columbia forum when he questioned the official version of the 9/11 attacks. He got a laugh from the crowd when he denied the existence of homosexuals in Iran. The US government has recently accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons and helping Shiite militias in Iraq target US troops. Iran has denied the claims.

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CLICK PLAY BUTTON BELOW THIS ENTRY. MAKE SURE DJ DELL IS ON. 

883 WQRI, Roger Williams University radio. With your 88 Second Update for Sept. 24, I’m ____.

Roger Williams begins a quest today for something it hasn’t had in more than 50 years as an institution of higher education–a fight song. And the school is looking for inspiration from students, staff, faculty and alumni. The Dept. of Student Programs and Leadership has opened a competition that will culminate in December with the selection of the school’s official fight song. People are encouraged to write and record submissions, which will be posted on myRWU and judged by members of the school community. More information and a complete listing of submission guidelines are available at fight song.rwu.edu. The deadline is October 22.

About 175 members of the Rhode Island National Guard are heading to Iraq to work as military police and provide security. A National Guard spokesman said the troops will depart next week.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in New York Sunday to dozens of protestors outraged by his visit. He is expected to appear at a series of events in the coming days, including the UN General Assembly and a forum at Columbia University. His much-hyped visit to America appears aimed at presenting his views directly to a US audience amid talk of war between the two nations. The US government has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons and helping Shiite militias in Iraq target US troops. Iran has denied the claims.

Police continue to search for the gunman who shot two students at Delaware State University Friday. Meanwhile, details of the shooting that left two people hospitalized in stable and serious condition and the events leading up to it emerged over the weekend. Students told the Associated Press there were altercations between rival groups of friends from New Jersey and Washington DC the week before the shooting. Police questioned and released two students described as persons of interest. They have not labeled either person a suspect. No arrests have been made.

UPDATE: Dover police spokesman says a suspect is in custody in the shooting of two Delaware State University students, the AP reports.

WQRI SPORTS

A busy weekend for Roger Williams

Men’s soccer earned their third win of the season Saturday, beating Colby-Sawyer College, 5-0.

Women’s soccer also shut Colby-Sawyer out Saturday, 1-0, to tie for first place in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

You might notice a theme here. Women’s tennis defeated Colby-Sawyer Sawyer Saturday, 5-4, their fourth straight win this season.

Voleyball nabbed two wins in their matches against Wheaton College and Umass Dartmouth on Saturday.

And men’s cross country finished 19^th at the Connecticut College Cross Country Invitational.

Red Sox lost to Tampa Bay Sunday, 5-4.

FORECAST

Sunny today with the high near 80.

Cool tonight, perhaps a bit windy, low 60.

Sunny and windy tomorrow with the high around 85.

With your 88 Second Update, I’M ____ on WQRI.

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CLICK ‘PLAY’ BUTTON BELOW THE TEXT IN THIS ENTRY TO LAUNCH UPDATE. MAKE SURE DJ DELL IS LIT UP ON BOARD AND ADJUST VOLUME ACCORDINGLY. 

883 WQRI, Roger Williams University radio. With your 88 second update for September 21, I’m ______.

Studies suggest women are more vulnerable to being raped their freshman year of college. That’s according to peer educators at Roger Williams, who set up a display called the Red Zone in the Campus Recreation Center earlier this week. The lobby display consists of yellow caution tape wrapped around banisters and statstics on violence pasted to the wall. Peer Educators with Expertise in Referrals, or PEERS, say the display is part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness about domestic violence and provide students with resources to make healthy decisions. It runs through October 1.

In the latest edition of The Hawk’s Herald, across campus today: Now that they have had a few weeks to soak in the new campus main entrance, complete with reflecting pool and water spouts, students and faculty react to the spruced-up main gate with both positive and negative reviews.

And a closer look at plans to build a new residence hall on campus, that would make off-campus housing at King Philip and Founder’s Brook obsolete.

All that and more in this week’s Hawk’s Herald.

The Senate passed a bill Thursday that would block political influence in ongoing investigations at the Justice Department, just days after former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales left the job in a firestorm of controversy. The legislation was authored by Rhode Island’s US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who said the Justice Department has lost credibility under the Bush administration. He said he hopes the bill will restore national confidence in the justice system.

Sen. Whitehouse spoke at Roger Williams Monday, Constitution Day, the same day President Bush announced his pick for the next Attorney General–former judge Michael Mukasey. Gonzales was forced out over allegations he lied to Congress about ongoing surveillance programs.

Church bells across Rhode Island were scheduled to ring for five minutes at noon today in observance of the International Day of Peace. The Rhode Island State Council of Churches said the goal is to echo hopes and prayers for nonviolence in the Ocean State and throughout the world. The International Day of Peace was started by the United Nations in 1981 as a day of global ceasefire.

2006 Tour de France champion Floyd Landis must forfeit his title, after test results showed he used performance-enhancing drugs on the famous bike trek. The ruling leaves him with one way to potentially keep his title–an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The American-born Landis claims he is innocent and said he is weighing his legal options.

Rapper Snoop Dogg was sentenced to 160 hours of community service and three years probation Thursday after pleading guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon. Snoop Dogg was arrested in September 2006 after officials found a collapsible baton in his luggage at a California airport. He said it was a prop for a music video he was filming in New York.

WQRI sports:

Roger Williams volleyball lost a road match to Gordon College Thursday. They next face Wheaton College and UMass Dartmouth Saturday at UMass Dartmouth.

And the Red Sox are hoping to bounce back from a losing streak this week to the Toronto Blue Jays. Tonight at 7 they face the Tampa Bay Devil Rays down at Tropicana Field.

WQRI weather:

Sunny today with the high near 80.

Mostly clear tonight with the low of 60.

Partly cloudy Saturday with the high near 80 again and sunny on Sunday.

With your 88 second update, I’m _____ on 883 WQRI.

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CLICK PLAY BUTTON AT BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY TO PLAY NEWSCAST. FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE TEXT BELOW IF YOU WISH… MAKE SURE DJ DELL IS LIT UP ON BOARD IF PLAYING THIS OFF OF THAT COMPUTER. 

883 WQRI, Roger Williams University Radio. With your 88 Second Update for Sept. 20, I’m _______.

Roger Williams could be closer to installing a wind turbine on campus, thanks to the efforts of Students for Renewable Energy and Environmental Preservation. The newly-formed campus group says it’s working with CLF Ventures, a non-profit environmental advocacy organization to make the plans a reality. Turbines rely on wind power to generate electricity. The student group says it also has plans to build a green roof on the New Academic Building, an effort to make the campus more eco-friendly. For more on the plans of this and other environmental groups on campus, pick up the Sept. 21 edition of The Hawk’s Herald across campus Friday.

News legend Lou Dobbs has cancelled a much-publicized appearance at Roger Williams, citing medical reasons. The host of CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight was scheduled to speak on campus September 27 about current events and his experience in broadcast and online journalism. The university said it plans to reschedule Dobbs’ appearance for early 2008.

The man whose pyrotechnics started a blaze that killed 100 people at a West Warwick nightclub has been granted parole, just 16 months into his four-year prison sentence. The state’s parole board decided unanimously to release Daniel Biechele in March on good behavior. Biechle, former tour manager for rock band Great White, lit pyrotechnics during the band’s February 2003 concert at The Station nightclub. Sparks from the explosives quickly filled the crowded building with flames, leaving hundreds of patrons scrambling to escape. In 2006, Biechele pled guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the fire.Survivors and victims’ families have been divided on Biechele’s parole. Some said his punishment was too lenient. Others commended him for taking responsibility for his actions. The two club owners also were convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Michael Derderian was sentenced in September 2006 to four years in prison. His brother, Jeffrey, was sentenced to community service and probation.

Democrats’ efforts to challenge President Bush’s Iraq policies were dealt a blow in the Senate Wednesday after they failed to scrape together enough support to pass anti-war legislation. The vote fell four short of reaching the 60 it needed to advance. The bill would have required that troops spend as much time at home training with their units as they spend deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. The legislation was hailed as the Democrats’ best shot because of its pro-military premise.

Bats have infested one residence hall at Texas Southern University, temporarily forcing more than 200 students into nearby hotels. Now health officials are concerned those students may have been exposed to rabies. They planned to meet with the displaced students this week to determine whether any would need vaccinations. One student said he killed dozens of bats but didn’t know if anyone was bitten.

WQRI sports:

Women’s tennis had reason to celebrate Wednesday as they clinched their third straight win of the season, this time against Salve Regina University, 6-3.

Mens soccer also did well Wednesday, earning their second straight conference win over Nichols College, 2-0.

This has not been a good week for the Red Sox, though. Wednesday, they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays for the third straight night, 6-1. They next face the Tampa Bay Devil Rays away Friday at 7 p.m.

WQRI Weather:

Partly cloudy today with the high near 80.

Clear tonight with the low around 60.

Sunny tomorrow with the high near 80, looking good straight through the weekend.

With your 88 second update, I’m _______ on 883 WQRI.

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 CLICK ‘PLAY’ BUTTON AT BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY TO PLAY NEWSCAST.

NOTE: I realize the audio is a bit staticky. Some like that, some don’t. Eventually, we’ll work out a way to make it clearer but I’ve got it to a point where it’s not unbearable

 883 WQRI, Roger Williams University Radio. With your 88 Second Update for Sept. 19, I’m _____.

Roger Williams has unveiled plans to move residents of King Philip and Founders Brook onto campus. Architectural firm Perkins and Will proposed several ideas to Student Senate Monday that would expand the campus north, freeing up room for a new residence hall capable of housing about 400 students. Under the plan, the residence hall would combine suites and apartments similar in size to those at Bayside Courts, only with better use of kitchen and bathroom space. The firm also was considering plans to include a common area, convenience store and café in the residence hall. The new living space is the latest in a series of proposed changes the university plans to carry out over the next twenty years. In May 2008, the New Academic Building also known as the Old Student Union in the heart of campus will be demolished to make room for a bigger academic building with a sleeker design. For more details on these changes, pick up the Sept. 21 edition of The Hawk’s Herald, across campus Friday.

Roger Williams President Roy Nirschel is expected to address the coming changes, among other things, today at 3 p.m. in his State of the University address at The Commons. Nirschel said the address is a faculty and staff event. He said he expects to address students in October at a forum sponsored by Student Senate.

OJ Simpson faces arraignment today for his role in the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia collectors. The former football star could face life in prison after being charged Tuesday with five felonies, including kidnapping and suspicion of assault and robbery with a deadly weapon. Simpson was arrested Sunday after a collector claimed a few armed men charged into his Las Vegas hotel room and took several items Simpson claimed were his. According to the charges, Simpson prevented one of the collectors from calling 911 while his accomplices pointed handguns at him. Three other men have been charged in the incident. Simpson said he was not armed, and that he only wanted to retrieve stolen property.

UPDATE: O.J. Simpson was released from jail Wednesday after posting $125,000 bail in connection with the armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors at a Las Vegas hotel, the Associated Press reported today.

A University of Florida student was Tasered by campus police and arrested Monday night, after loudly and repeatedly trying to ask Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry questions at a campus forum. Andrew Meyer, 21, was charged with disturbing the peace and resisting an officer. Videos of the incident circulating online show campus police pulling Meyer away from the microphone after he asks Sen. Kerry whether he and President Bush were members of the secret society Skull and Bones at Yale University. He also questions why Bush has not been impeached. As four officers remove Meyer from the room, he screams for help and eventually is Tasered. Kerry claimed he wanted to answer Meyer’s questions. A school spokesman said Meyer was removed from the room because he refused to comply with a strict time limit.

WQRI sports:

Roger Williams womens soccer beat Nichols College Tuesday, 8-0, their largest victory so far this season.

Sailing team enjoyed a busy weekend, placing twelfth at the US Merchant Marine Academy’s Nevins Trophy, and sixteenth in a regatta sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

And the Red Sox suffered another loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, 4-3. They face Toronto again tonight, away at 7:00.

WQRI Weather:

Partly cloudy and cool today with the high near 70.

Clear with the low around 40 tonight.

Partly cloudy again tomorrow with a high around 80.

With your 88 Second Update, I’m ______ on 883 WQRI.

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Due to a couple of factors, there is no audio update today. Check the booth for other news, and check back tomorrow for a full update. Thanks.

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CLICK PLAY BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY TO PLAY THE NEWSCAST. 

You’re listening to 883 WQRI, Roger Williams University Radio… With your 88 Second Update for September 17…

The town of Bristol now has an additional $150,000 in its annual budget, thanks to an agreement signed last week by Roger Williams President Roy Nirschel and Town Council Chairman Kenneth Marshall. Under the pact between the university and the town, the school will pay this fee annually for the next twenty years in exchange for the town’s emergency services. The agreement calls for Roger Williams to provide a total of $42 million to fund civic activities and scholarships for Bristol high school students. President Nirschel said that this will not lead to a hike in tuition.

As President Bush announces the replacement for US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Rhode Island’s US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is slated to speak on the topic at noon today in the Roger Williams Law School. The former Rhode Island District Attorney has recently authored a bill requiring the Justice Department to limit political meddling in ongoing investigations. Gonzales was forced out over allegations that he lied to Congress about ongoing surveillance programs. Senator Whitehouse says the Justice Department has lost its credibility under the Bush administration.

Michael Mukasey was confirmed by the Associated Press as the President’s pick for Attorney General. He has handled terrorist cases in the US legal system for the past ten years, and presided over the trial of Jose Padilla, who was convicted last year of conspiracy to detonate a dirty bomb.

Saturday’s massive anti-war protest in Washington resulted in the arrest of 190 people for jumping a barricade near the White House. Organizers estimated the size of the crowd to be over 100,000. About 1,000 counter-protesters gathered near the Washington Monument to show their support for the troops and the conflict in Iraq.

The Sopranos won big at the primetime Emmys Sunday night, nabbing the award for best dramatic series. James Spader took home the best dramatic actor prize for Boston Legal and Sally Field won best dramatic actress for Brothers and Sisters. Best Comedy series went to 30 Rock. Ricky Gervais was named best comedic actor for Extras, and America Ferreira received the best actress honor for Ugly Betty.

In WQRI sports:

Roger Williams men soccer landed its first victory of the year Saturday, 1-nothing over Endicott College.

Also Saturday, Women’s Cross Country finished eighth and Men’s Cross Country finished tenth at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational.

And the Red Sox lost to the Yankees Sunday night, 4-3.

Today’s weather:

Sunny, cool and dry with the high near 70

Clear tonight with overnight lows in the 40s.

Sunny and pleasant again tomorrow with a high in the low 70s.

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