WQRI News– The 88 Second Update

CAMPAIGN 2008… 

Chelsea Clinton appearing on the Roger Williams campus today, campaigning for her mother, Hillary, ahead of Rhode Island’s March 4 presidential primary. The former first daughter will take questions from students in The Hawk’s Hangout just after 3. 

Clinton’s father, Bill, in the Ocean State yesterday on behalf of his wife, rallying with a crowd of thousands at Bryant University. 

The other Democratic contender, Barack Obama, coming to town Saturday. He’ll appear at Rhode Island College around noon. 

A celebrity supporter of Obama’s, actor Kal Penn, paid a visit Thursday to Roger Williams and a host of other colleges in the state. We caught up with the star of “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle” fame after his appearance. That interview coming up on The Rock and Roll Weekend, 3 to 6 on WQRI. 

Seven people hospitalized after a toxic substance is found in a Las Vegas motel. Police say a package tested positive for ricin. (RICE-IN). The FBI and Homeland Security were called in. They say they don’t believe the package was meant for an attack. 

The British Army announcing it will pull Prince Harry out of Afghanistan. He has been on the front line with an army unit and now officials are concerned he could become a “high-value target” for Islamist militants. News of Harry’s whereabouts was leaked earlier this week. 

WQRI SPORTS 

Roger Williams men’s basketball over Gordon College Thursday, 67-66. 

WQRI FORECAST 

Sunny but chilly today in southern New England. High 30, low 20. 

Rain and snow mixed tomorrow, about an inch of accumulation. Highs in the 40s. 

Looks sunny but windy Sunday. 

More news on the hour. 

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Lorin Richardson WQRI News

RWU News: Last night, Former Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon spoke at 5:30 pm with the topic of “Prospects in the Middle East”.

National news: Experts say that the gas cost is climbing up the charts- now 2nd highsest in history with the average rate of $3.15 a gallon. By Spring it could hit four dollars.

In politics today, Obama and McCain are debating over the issues in Al-Queada. Obama is arguing the McCain had an influence in the decision to go to war over Iraq, and McCain is urging that: “. Where is the audacity of hope when it comes to backing the success of our troops all the way to victory in Iraq? What we heard last night was the timidity of despair.”

A gunman in Los Angeles fired into crowd at the bus stop near a middle school about 3 p.m. yesterday, injuring 7 civilians. He says to be targeting one of the victims.

Four Colombian lawmakers arrived in Venezuala after bieng released from a jungle group that had held them in captive for more than six days.

Weather report: A few flurries possible early. Partly to mostly cloudy. High 28F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight, mostly cloudy skies- Low 11F, winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.

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The man who lit the pyrotechnics that started the 2003 Station nightclub fire will be released from prison next month. Daniel Biechele has been in prison since May 2006 for his role in the West Warwick fire that killed 100 people and injured twice that many.

Former president Bill Clinton set to visit Bryant University in Smithfield Thursday. He’ll campaign for his wife, presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton at 3:15, just ahead of Rhode Island’s March 4 primary.

A firey debate in Cleveland Tuesday night between Hillary Clinton and the other democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama. Clinton accused Obama’s camp of distorting her record on health care, calling it disturbing. Obama claimed Clinton has used the same tactics against him, he just hasn’t whined about it.

A fire at an electrical substation triggers a power outage for nearly one million people in Florida Tuesday. Hospitals were forced to work off of generators for several hours while authorities tried to fix the problem.

And news that could deliver a major blow to the pharmaceutical industry–antidepressants don’t help. That’s the word from British researchers who say the drugs work no better than placebos in many patients, with the exception of those who are severely depressed.

WQRI SPORTS

Men’s basketball 62-59 over Colby Sawyer College Tuesday night, onto the quarterfinals.

Not so good for women’s basketball, which ended the season Tuesday with a loss to Endicott College, 67-46.

WQRI FORECAST

Cloudy early, sunny skies as the day goes on, high 42.

Temperature down to about 20 tonight.

Partly cloudy and 30 on Thursday.

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Dee DeQuattro

WQRI News 

Tommorrow night in the recreation center gymnasium, former Isreali ambassador Daniel Ayalon will speak to RWU. The festivities start at 5:30 so get there early to grab a good seat.

Professor Dick Amaral is launching a television program hosted by RWU students on local programming. This is the first time RWU has produced a student run program for the local community.

RWU’s Mens basketball team takes on number 7 in the state Colby sawyer college in the TCCC quarter finals. Be sure to support your favorite basketball team tonight!!!

Mike Huckabee visited Rhode Island yesterday. He spoke on several radio stations as well as visiting the community prepotory school. He says he hopes to win R.I.

A top Pakistani general was killed by a suicide bomber yesterday. Another incident yesterday also involved a bomb killing three workers at Plan international a Birtish agency in Pakistan.

It is going to be cloudy with occasional rain showers today with a high of 43. Snow and sleet may mix in and the winds will be five to ten miles an hour.

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Today’s update from Ana Malone-Oliver, WQRI News

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee in Rhode Island today, appearing at a rally at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick at 6 p.m.

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton stopped in Sunday. Her husband, former president Bill Clinton, expected to pay a visit Thursday. More details later on WQRI News. 

Hillary Clinton angrily accused her Democratic rival Saturday of deliberately misrepresenting her positions on NAFTA and health care in mass mailings to voters, adding, “Shame on you, Barack Obama.”  Obama defended the mailings as accurate and rejected Clinton’s complaint as a political ploy.  Obama has won 11 straight primaries and caucuses, and some of Clinton’s supporters have said she must win both Ohio and Texas a week from Tuesday to keep her hopes alive of winning the party nomination. Recent polls show Ohio is close, and Texas even closer.

Cuban lawmakers meet to name a new head of state for the first time in nearly a half-century on Sunday, five days after an ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro relinquished power. His 76-year-old younger brother Raul Castro, as first vice president and constitutionally designated successor, is widely expected to be picked as president of the ruling Council of State. 

Seven Narragansett Indians accused of scuffling with State Police who raided a tribal smoke shop have filed a last-minute appeal and want to delay next week’s trial.  They are asking the top court to delay the criminal trial so a computer expert can scour State Police computers for e-mails about the raid that might have been deleted. 

Johnson and Wales Student Amy Scott, reported missing last week after borrowing a friend’s car to run errands, has been found along with Daniel Querzoli.  Amy has returned home, and Daniel, located in a stolen car, has been arrested on criminal charges. 

Weather:

Today is mostly sunny with only a few clouds.  High near 45.  Low at 31.  Winds 5 to 10 mph.   Tomorrow, expect rain showers with a high of 44, low 35.  And Wednesday, snow showers are excepted, so bundle up and hope for spring.

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NOTE TO DEEJAYS: Hey everyone. Thanks a lot for keeping up with the updates. I appreciate you playing them on your shows. All I ask is at least once per show, at the beginning of an hour. If you want to do more, knock yourselves out. Keep it up! Remember: you can play the recorded version, but you always have the option to read the updates yourselves. IF YOU DO, please look over the text a couple of times before you go on air with it. That way, you’ll be familiar with it by the time you go live. It’s written to sound like it’s NOT being read, like it’s just rolling off the tongue. It requires the right inflection and pauses to pull that off. Adapt it to your own style. Read it like you know it, not like you’re reading it. It can be tough, but try your best. Plus, it will make people think you just pulled all of it right from your brain, making you super-smart.  

The snow is sticking out there today, becoming steadier by late afternoon. 1-3 inches along the East Bay and into Southeastern Massachusetts, about 5 or 6 inches in central Rhode Island, and 8 inches inland, mixing with sleet and rain later tonight. Back over to snow after midnight. Your full forecast in just a moment.

The snow causing numerous problems for drivers out there, so take it slow. Parking bans in effect in the capital and in Bristol, where on-street parking is banned until noon Saturday. Sparring between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama at last night’s Democratic debate. Clinton said Obama represents “change you can Xerox,” commenting on speeches he apparently shared with Mass. Governor Deval Patrick. Obama said the attack represents politics as usual, adding he wants to build up, not tear down.

The Clinton camp setting up shop in Rhode Island. Hillary expected to visit Rhode Island College Sunday afternoon, and another event later in the day. No details yet on that. Former president Bill Clinton will visit the state next Thursday.

Republican frontrunner John McCain’s campaign saying it’s pleased with how the Arizona Senator responded to that New York Times article earlier this week alleging he had inappropriate relations with a lobbyist.

The wreckage of a plane that went missing over Venezuela Thursday night found in the mountains. All 46 people on board were killed.

A 6.0 earthquake shakes California and Nevada Thursday. A lot of damage but no deaths reported.

WQRI SPORTS

Boston Bruins over the Florida Panthers Thursday, 5-4.

Men’s and women’s basketball at Eastern Nazarene College Saturday, 3 and 7 p.m. respectively.

Men’s lacrosse in a scrimmage with Bowdoin at 12:45 Saturday.

Wrestling championships at the University of Southern Maine tomorrow too.

WQRI FORECAST

Snow clears out tomorrow morning. Nice treat on Sunday and Monday with some sun. Heating up into the 40s and 50s next week. For now, we have the snow. Highs in the mid 30s, lows in the 20s today and tomorrow.

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WQRI NEWS UPDATE

Lorin Richardson

Steven Kazmierczak’s girlfriend admits that he takes three drugs prescribed to him by his therapist: Xanax, used for anxiety, Prozac an antidepressant, and a sleeping pill Ambien. He had been off of Prozac three weeks prior to the Valentine’s Day shooting at NIU.

Obama is booming back into the race as Hilary Clinton is trying to stop him for winning 10 consecutive states. “We need to make a choice between speeches and solutions, because while words matter greatly, the best words in the world aren’t enough unless you match them with action.” 

The last Lunar ecplise until another five years was last night from 7 to 10 p.m. 

Weather today: Mostly sunny skies early/ A few snow showers developing later in the day. High near 35 F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%

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Roger Williams will be the first college in the state to try out a new emergency alert system. Campus Guardian is a GPS tracking system that would alert campus security to a caller’s whereabouts after an emergency cell phone call. It will be up officially in the fall but the college says it will try it out this spring.

Five years to the day after a West Warwick nightclub fire killed 100 people, survivors and loved ones remember the fourth deadliest blaze in AMERICAN history. They’re also finding hope in plans for a permanent memorial to go on the site of the former Station nightclub.

Presidential candidates Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain victorious in Tuesday’s Wisconsin primary.

Sen. Obama’s campaign turning its attention to the Ocean State today. Obama’s wife, Michelle, is expected to rally at Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick at 5:45. The rally is free and open to the public.

The US Navy will try to shoot down a spy satellite loaded with toxic fuel over the Pacific Ocean tonight. Mariners have been warned to steer clear of the waters west of Hawaii between 9:30 and midnight eastern time.

It’s bound to be a busy night in the skies regardless of whether that satellite comes down. The last lunar eclipse until 2010 happening tonight. Skygazers will also get a rare glimpse of Saturn’s rings.

WQRI SPORTS

Women’s and men’s basketball at Curry College tonight, 6 and 8 respectively.

WQRI FORECAST

Partly cloudy today and 35 degrees, light snow hitting mid afternoon and continuing through the night. Little accumulation.

Thursday looks clear, mostly sunny. High 30.

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By Dee DeQuattro

WQRI News

It’s a big win for the opposition in Pakistan. The opposition took lead over the incumbent party this morning. Following the outstanding win for the opposition, riots and celebration hits the street. The incumbent party congratulated the opposition and vowed to continue to oppose them in order to strengthen the democratic system.

Serbia has recalled it’s ambassadors from Washington. The act was done in protest of the U.S. recognition of Kosovo as an independent nation. The prime minister of Serbia also threatened to  withdraw ambassadors from other nations that have recognized Kosovo. France, The UK, Germany, and Italy have all recognized Kosovo as a new state.

Amtrak Boosts security. Passengers will now be subject to random bag screening. The new security initiative will also include armed officers and bomb sniffing dogs paroling platforms. These are the first visible security changes to Amtrak since 9/11.

Voters in Wisconsin, Hawaii, and Washington head to the polls today. The democrats are running a tight race where Barack Obama is trying to increase his lead over Hillary Clinton. For Republicans John Mccain is expecting to knock his final remaining opponent, Mike Huckabee, out of the race.

The internet is expanding its grip on college students. A new site known as juicycampus.com allows students to anonymously post comments about anyone online. The website has launched on 7 major college campuses and will be expanding to fifty more in the weeks to come. The site has been met with outrage from college officials but the founders say it simply allows free speech.

The search for missing JWU students continues. The students disappeared Friday night after borrowing a roommates car.  The students are a young couple and parents are shocked by their behavior.

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Sen. John McCain rolled the Straight Talk Express into Rhode Island Thursday, speaking at a rally in Warwick. The Republican presidential frontrunner got the biggest cheers from the crowd of 200 or so when he said he’ll get alleged 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden, even if he has to follow him to the gates of hell. 

Gov. Don Carcieri endorsing McCain at the rally, saying he can unite the Republican party. Former Massachusetts Governor/ex-presidential candidate Mitt Romney endorsed McCain in Boston. Meanwhile, former Rhode Island Republican Senator Lincoln Chaffee endorsed Democratic Senator Barack Obama. 

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is expected to visit the state next week in advance of the March 4 primary. More details to follow on WQRI. 

Seven people killed at Northern Illinois University Thursday when a former student dressed in black opened fire in a crowded lecture hall. That death toll includes the gunman who committed suicide. At least 15 more injured. The shootings appear to be random. Police say there’s still no word on a motive. 

And the government announcing plans to shoot down a spy satellite the size of a mini-van, claiming its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere could put lives at risk. President Bush says he wants to avoid a potentially deadly leak of toxic gas from the 5,000-pound satellite’s fuel tank. 

WQRI SPORTS 

A busy weekend for Roger Williams. Women’s swimming and diving championships at UMass Dartmouth all weekend. 

Women’s and men’s basketball at Regis College tomorrow. 

WQRI FORECAST 

Beautiful out there today. Partly cloudy and 51. Low in the teens tonight. 

Sunny tomorrow and a high of 30. 

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