NARRAGANSETT, R.I.

New law gives squid dish official state appetizer status

Calamari is now the official state appetizer of Rhode Island.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed legislation that gives the squid dish an official status in a ceremony Friday at the town dock in Narragansett.

Rep. Joseph McNamara and Sen. Susan Sosnowski both sponsored bills to honor the squid this year, to recognize the importance of the squid fishing industry and promote the state’s food and tourism industries. An effort to do so last year stalled in the Senate.

Friday’s ceremony naturally ended with calamari being served.

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Rhode Island chefs saute squid with thin slices of pickled hot peppers and sometimes serve it with marinara sauce on the side.

SEEKONK, Mass.

Hidden locker room camera captures culprit on video

Massachusetts police say they were able to identify a man who hid a video camera in a women’s locker room because he captured himself on video while setting up the camera.

Police said the camera was discovered in a 24-hour Planet Fitness health club by a member Wednesday. The camera had been recording for 21 minutes when it was found.

Officers who examined the video said it shows the man setting up the hidden camera in the club at Seekonk. Gym employees identified the man as a club member.

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SALEM, Mass.

Mom admits driving drunk on train tracks with son, 5

A Salem mother of five has been sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to driving drunk along train tracks for a half-mile as her young son begged her to stop.

Michelle LeClair this week pleaded guilty to drunken driving and driving to endanger.

Prosecutors say the 46-year-old got into an argument with her boyfriend after dinner and drinks on the night of Oct. 25 and stormed out. At some point, she turned onto the commuter rail tracks in Beverly.

The Salem News reported that her then 5-year-old son told police that he pleaded with her to get off of the tracks because a train might be coming. She eventually crashed.

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BURLINGTON, Vt.

New laws against smoking will go into effect Tuesday

Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen says he’s hopeful a series of new laws will encourage more people to quit smoking.

Starting Tuesday, Vermont will be the seventh state to outlaw smoking in cars that are carrying children younger than 8.

Vermont will become the sixth state to ban smoking in hotel rooms.

The law will also ban smoking on all state property, including property of hospitals or secure residential recovery facilities owned or operated by the state.

It also bans tobacco products at schools and child care centers.

—From news service reports


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