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Rhode Island residents gathered for watch parties across the state, including at Brown, Roger Williams National Memorial, Tiverton Public Library, and at the University of Rhode Island. Many held impromptu eclipse parties, gathering near the Providence’s pedestrian bridge and surrounding park, which drew an informal crowd of more than 100 people. Sunny skies and warm temperatures called for what felt like a 3 p.m. statewide exodus outside.
In Rhode Island, the partial eclipse began around 2:15 p.m., and the eclipse reached 91 percent coverage at around 3:29 p.m, when temperatures dropped and the light resembled that of the golden hour. Seagulls squawked agitatedly overhead, swooping over Providence’s pedestrian bridge.
“It’s very exciting,” said Robyn Smith, who watched from downtown Providence with her twin daughters.
“It’s my first eclipse,” said Alailah Smith.
“It’s really amazing,” added Alanah Smith.
At Brown University, spectators could try using sunspotters and telescopes that were peppered throughout the Main Green. Brown’s physics department hosted the event in collaboration with the NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium and LunaSCOPE, and student volunteers were on hand to answer questions.

Providence residents Bill and Linna Kite decided to walk down the hill to Roger Williams National Memorial to watch the eclipse, where the National Park Service held an event with free glasses, music, and activities for kids.
“We thought we’d drive down the hill and enjoy the eclipse with other people,” Linna Kite said as she soaked in the afternoon sun.
Chip Martin and her fiance Dwayna Inniss were in town from Virginia Beach, and stumbled onto the watch party at the Roger Williams National Memorial on their way to the airport.
“Everything lined up perfectly,” Martin said. “We wanted to find glasses anyways.”
Sparkle Bryant, a National Park Service ranger, reflected on the partial eclipse many got to see in 2017, and how the weather wasn’t as ideal then as it was Monday.
“I remember it was a really cloudy day,” Bryant said of the 2017 eclipse.
Brown University student Lila David also remembered the partial eclipse from seven years ago.
“The fact that we get two in a short period of time is very special,” David said.

Bill Samos and his colleagues experienced a different kind of eclipse day: 200 feet under the city of Pawtucket, in a tunnel they’re building to improve the area’s sewage system.
“A bunch of disappointed guys down here,” Samos said in a telephone interview a little after 2:30, just as the moon was starting to partially obscure the sun.
Samos is a tunnel inspector for contractor Pare Corp. on the Narragansett Bay Commission’s massive combined sewer overflow project. The job involves taking an elevator down and then taking a train-like shuttle for about 40 minutes to get to the worksite. The eclipse that none of the 18 or so tunnel workers would see was the topic of conversation the whole ride in, Samos said.
“It’s just something that happens very rarely,” said Samos, a North Providence resident. “Some generations go without ever seeing it.”
The next chance to see a full eclipse in Rhode Island will be in 2079.
“If nature’s going to provide us a show, we’re here for it,” said Kevin Klyberg, who watched from Roger Williams National Memorial.
Brian Amaral and Steph Machado contributed to this report.
Brittany Bowker can be reached at brittany.bowker@globe.com. Follow her @brittbowker and also on Instagram @brittbowker.
Local News
A Rhode Island husband and wife in their 50s were identified as the two people killed in a Swansea car crash Friday night.
Carlolyn Carcasi, 54, and James Carcasi, 53, of Bristol, Rhode Island, were killed in the Feb. 27 crash, the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a press release Monday.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 6 in Swansea, Quinn’s office said.
Police in Cranston, Rhode Island identified the driver who allegedly hit the couple as Demitri Sousa, 28. Sousa allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island nearly four hours before the crash, Cranston police said.
At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said previously.
The couple was driving southbound on Route 136 when the Sousa crashed into the side of a Subaru Ascent. Both cars had “catastrophic damage,” and the Subaru was engulfed in flames, Swansea fire and police officials said.
Both occupants of the Subaru were declared dead at the scene, Swansea officials said.
Sousa was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. He is expected to live and will be held in Cranston police custody until he is medically cleared, police said Sunday.
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CRANSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday.
The event was held at the Cranston Public Library at 9 a.m.
Reed and other leaders of WFRI hosted a panel discussion with women leaders in environmental and agricultural advocacy, education, community resilience, housing, finance, workforce development, and more, officials said.
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday. (WJAR)
“Women have played a critical role in this process, most often without any recognition,” Reed said. “Today’s panel brings together an extraordinary group of women who are addressing the challenged of sustainability from various angles and I want to thank you all for your great efforts.”
The panelists highlighted their experiences, shared insights and tips on lifting up women’s voices, provided strategies for sparking change and more.
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According to officials, some of the panelists included Executive Director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council Nessa Richman, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Rhode Island College Kim Bright, Newport Housing Authority Executive Director Rhonda Mitchell and more.
Local News
A Seekonk man is accused of murder after he allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island before causing a car crash in Swansea that killed two people last week, police said.
Demitri Sousa, 28, is charged with murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, the Cranston Police Department said.
The shooting occurred Thursday night in Cranston, police said in a press release.
That night, Sousa allegedly arrived at the Cranston home of Javon Lawson, 35. Sousa began banging on the side door of the home, police said.
When Lawson approached the door, he was hit by gunfire from outside, police said.
First responders transported Lawson to the Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Cranston police said.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, the motive is believed to be a dispute between the suspect and the victim over a mutual female acquaintance. Detectives are continuing this investigation to gain more insight, as well as to collect and analyze evidence,” Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of Cranston police, said in an emailed statement to Boston.com.
Neighbors gave police video footage that “showed a male subject wearing dark clothing and a mask walking toward the residence moments before the shooting and fleeing immediately afterward,” Winquist said.
The suspect was also seen running to a white Infiniti sedan which then drove off, the Cranston police chief said.
Shortly after the shooting, a license plate reader captured the vehicle driving southbound on Route 10, and then later in Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts. The sedan’s license plate was registered in Sousa’s name, Winquist said.
At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said.
Just moments later, Sousa allegedly “crashed into the side of another vehicle, a blue 2022 Subaru Ascent that had been traveling southbound on Route 136,” Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley and Fire Chief Eric Hajder said in a joint press release.
Both vehicles had “catastrophic damage,” and the struck car was engulfed in flames, the Swansea officials said.
The driver and passenger of the hit car — a man and a woman — were declared dead at the scene, they said.
“Swansea Police had been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle. However, Swansea Police were not involved in the pursuit and were not pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash,” the Swansea chiefs wrote. Swansea official have not announced charges related to the fatal crash.
Sousa had been driving the Infiniti and appeared to be suffering from serious injuries, Winquist said. Inside the car, police found a pistol and “additional .22 caliber ammunition was recovered” from Sousa at Rhode Island Hospital, Winquist said.
Police arrested Sousa and transported him to Rhode Island Hospital. Sousa is expected to survive, Winquist said. Sousa will be held in Cranston police custody until he is conscious and medically cleared, Winquist said.
“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea,” Winquist said.
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