Rhode Island composers have until August 10 to apply for $30,000 fellowships from the Rhode Island Foundation, with three grants available to emerging and mid-career musicians looking to advance their work.

The grants come through the Foundation’s Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund and are unrestricted — meaning recipients can use the money however best serves their artistic growth, whether that’s creating new work, purchasing equipment, traveling, researching, or training in new technologies and techniques.

Applicants must have lived in Rhode Island for at least 12 months before the deadline. Current high school and college students, graduate students enrolled in degree programs, and composers at advanced levels of career achievement are not eligible. Submissions may be in any genre, including chamber, choral, contemporary, electronic, experimental, jazz, opera, musical theater, symphonic, and world music.

Recipients are selected by a panel of out-of-state industry professionals managed by the Artist Communities Alliance. Previous fellows include cellist Adrienne Taylor, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Courtney Swain, and electroacoustic composer Kristina Warren.

The MacColl Johnson Fellowships rotate among composers, writers, and visual artists on a three-year cycle; next year’s round will go to writers. The fund was established in 2003 in honor of Rhode Islanders Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson, both devoted to the arts throughout their lives.

More information and applications are at artistcommunities.org.

LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) — First responders in Lincoln conducted an extensive search of the waters at Lincoln Woods Beach Sunday evening.

Officials say they received a credible call about a possible drowning. The response caused multiple boats in the water and crews also deployed a drone.

Divers were also seen on the beach and in the water. Multiple departments responded.

The Rhode Island DEM was also on scene.

Access close to the beach was blocked off. Some nearby roads were also blocked off within the park.

After a near four hour search, officials determined there was no one in the water.

Officials stressed the importance of water and swim safety during the summer months.

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Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents have been charged after a report of a naked woman at a department store.

According to police, on Tuesday, at just before 7:30 p.m., the Milford Public Safety Communications Center received a call from an employee of Target, located at 250 Fortune Boulevard in Milford, reporting an intoxicated and nude female inside the store. During the call, the employee stated the female had put her clothes back on and exited the store on foot, with blood visible on her clothing. 

Upon arrival, officers began checking the area for the female before locating a red Subaru Forester occupied by a male operator and two female passengers, one of whom matched the suspect description provided by store employees, in the nearby vacant Best Buy parking lot. 

Officers identified the occupants of the vehicle as Benjamin Mahler, 50, of Uxbridge; Elizabeth McCusker, 36, of Franklin; and Alisha Chmiel, 32, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. 

During the interaction, police officers discovered the vehicle and its occupants possessed crack cocaine and fentanyl. 

Alisha Chmiel was charged with Possession of a Class A Substance (Fentanyl) Obstruction of Justice, and Five Active Warrants for Arrest. She is being held on $1,000 cash bail.

Benjamin Mahler was charged with Possession of a Class B Substance (Crack Cocaine) and was released on personal recognizance.

Elizabeth McCusker was charged with Possession of a Class A Substance (Fentanyl) and Disturbing the Peace. She was issued a summons and has not yet been arraigned.