BOSTON

Town, group file to join suit to stop tribe’s gambling hall

A town on Martha’s Vineyard and a local community association want to join the state’s lawsuit seeking to block the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe’s plans to build a gambling hall on the island.

In motions filed late Thursday, the town of Aquinnah and the Aquinnah/Gay Head Community Association petitioned to intervene in the state’s suit, in U.S. District Court in Boston.

The two entities said they have “unique legal interests” since they, along with the state, were party to the 1983 settlement that gave the federally recognized tribe ownership of 400 acres on the western tip of the island.

NEWPORT, Vt.

After smashing headlights with ax, doctor enters plea

A Vermont surgeon who was shocked by police with a stun gun after smashing out his former girlfriend’s car headlights with an ax has settled the case by pleading guilty to a charge of resisting arrest.

Jury selection had been scheduled to begin Thursday for Dr. Mark Meredith, 50, of Derby.

The Caledonian Record reported that Meredith’s attorney, David Sleigh, said his client, a surgeon at North Country Hospital in Newport, agreed to the plea as a way to settle the case, but he didn’t accept the state’s version of events.

Meredith’s girlfriend called police in April 2013 after an incident that began because he believed she had stolen a $600 bottle of port wine.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Two admit role in smuggling 6 million cigarettes into state

Two men have pleaded guilty to playing roles in the smuggling of more than 6 million cigarettes into Rhode Island.

Authorities say the scheme cost the state more than $1 million in tax revenue.

Wissam Khalil, 41, of Central Falls and Bassam Khalil 49, of Pawtucket both pleaded guilty to fraud and other charges in U.S. District Court on Thursday.

Authorities said the cigarettes were smuggled from Virginia between 2011 and 2013. They said the men often used a truck with Rhode Island veteran’s plates driven by someone wearing an Army uniform to avoid being pulled over by police.

johnston, R.I.

Man charged after poodle removed from stifling car

A Providence man has been charged under a new state law that makes it a crime to leave an animal in a very hot or very cold car.

David Rodriguez, 48, turned himself in to Johnston police Tuesday, a day after officers removed his poodle from a car at the BJ Wholesale Club. He faces the new misdemeanor charge.

Police said the temperature in the car was 124 degrees and the dog was having trouble breathing.

CONCORD, N.H.

Hassan protests decision to bar Easter Seals from bids

Gov. Maggie Hassan is protesting a decision to exclude New Hampshire Easter Seals from bidding on a contract for a program to help National Guard members and their families after deployment.

Hassan on Friday called it a “baffling bureaucratic decision” by the National Guard Bureau to exclude nonprofits from bidding. She wrote to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Hassan said the program, a “one-of-a-kind partnership” between the Guard, state agencies and Easter Seals, helps Guard members and their families.

—From news service reports

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