Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | News | Brain Scientist and Landlord Battle Over Providence’s “Last Great Estate”
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
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On one side of a growing legal battle is Newton Howard — a man that has attracted press attention from the New York Times, Washington Post, and Business Insider for his wealth, scientific accomplishments, and quirkiness.
On the other side is Dustin Dezube, a controversial landlord and developer that some Providence housing activists call a “slumlord.”
The two are battling over what GoLocal deemed in 2021 as “The Last Great Estate” in Providence — located on the corner of Blackstone Boulevard and Rochambeau Avenue, surrounded by an 8-foot-tall wall on all sides.
Dezube asserts he won an auction and rightfully owns the property, and Howard, in part, disputes that the auction house was properly registered in Rhode Island thus the sale should be voided.
The home was designed by Eliezer B. Homer in 1915 for the Rhode Island School of Design instructor William Bridgham and his wife Clara. The expansive grounds include multiple structures with approximately 10,000 square feet of living space.
The estate is unmatched in the city of Providence.
Business Insider calls Newton a billionaire. Forbes does not. But the scientist who has moved from the estate Providence to his full-time residence in the tony Georgetown section of Washington, DC makes news all the time, for one thing or another.
Howard is a scientist’s scientist and his CV is 13 pages long and features, among other things, his 30 U.S. and seven international patents. One of his U.S. patents is titled, “Device for monitoring activities of daily living and physiological parameters to determine a condition and diagnosis of the human brain and body.”
Newton initially put the Rochambeau estate up for sale in 2021, and then it was marketed for auction by a New York-based Concierge Auction — a firm specializing in high-end properties.
Legal Battle, Thousand Pages of Legal Filings
In March of 2022, Dustin Dezube had the highest bid and court documents show a signed purchase and sale agreement at a price of $4 million.
Prior to the auction, the property was on the market with an asking price of $7.9 million.
The auction was just the beginning of a legal battle that sparked over 50 court filings totaling hundreds of pages — between Newton, Dezube, and Concierge Auction.
Dezube, maybe Providence’s most controversial landlord, has been slammed by criticism for the condition of his rental properties. Uprise RI reported on protests against Dezube.
On nearly the exact same day in 2021 when Dezube was the high bidder for the “Great Estate,” protesters were marching on Dezube’s office on Wickenden Street.
“Organizing as the Providence Living Tenants Union, at least 22 renters experiencing terrible conditions in apartments throughout Providence created a list of demands. Joined by allies, they marched to the Providence Living offices at 296 Wickendon and taped the demands to the door [of] Providence Living,” reported Uprise RI.
Dezube now wants to tear down his Wickenden Street office building — the location of the protests — and replace it with a new five-story apartment complex. That proposal brought out dozens of neighbors who testified against Dezube’s project.
Legal Battle in Georgetown Over Transformers
And, while Newton is knee-deep in litigation in Rhode Island, he has also been battling with his neighbors in the Georgetown section of Washington, DC over his giant Transformers on his property.
Yes, giant Transformers — the Hasbro toy tied to the movie series.
Howard’s conflict in DC has attracted both governmental regulatory action and press coverage — local, national, and even international. In March of 2021, the DCist first wrote about the dispute.
“The neighborhood commission — ANC 2E, which covers Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale —unanimously rejected Newton Howard’s request for a permit to keep two large sculptures of the iconic Transformers in front of his $4 million home on Prospect Street NW. They stand just a few blocks from Georgetown University, where he works as a research professor in computational neurology and functional neurosurgery. (That’s brain science for the rest of us),” wrote the DCist.
The legal battle has raged for years over the fate of the Transformers.
While Newton is embroiled in litigation, he declined to respond to questions for this article, as did Dezube and his attorney.
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Rhode Island
RI Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 24, 2024
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 24, 2024, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 24 drawing
11-14-38-45-46, Mega Ball: 03, Megaplier: 3
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 24 drawing
16-22-24-43-47, Lucky Ball: 11
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 24 drawing
Midday: 0-9-5-1
Evening: 2-0-2-3
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 24 drawing
08-21-26-33-38, Extra: 36
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Rhode Island
When will Santa Claus be in RI? Follow the 2024 Santa Trackers from NORAD and Google
How NORAD tracks Santa on Christmas Eve
Every year, for the past 68 years, NORAD tracks the global progress of Santa and his sleigh. John Cornelio from NORAD explains how they track this highly anticipated mission.
It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, the children were wondering where’s that guy Claus?
If you’re looking to track Santa Claus’s flight over Providence and Rhode Island’s other cities and towns this Christmas Eve, there are a few ways you can track the big guy with nearly the same accuracy as a late Amazon package.
The military is on it with the NORAD Santa Tracker, and Google, which often feels all-knowing, is also on the case with its own Santa Tracker.
Check out the trackers to see Santa’s location:
See Santa’s location with the NORAD Santa Tracker
NORAD is the most reliable name in Santa tracking. On the job since 1955, when a young child from Colorado Springs accidentally called in (he meant to call a number advertised by a local department store), they’ve been following Santa’s journey using their radar technology ever since.
Now, NORAD, the joint U.S.-Canada command responsible for protecting the skies over both nations, staffs up for the big night, with a number available for children to call for status reports and an online tracker.
When does the NORAD Santa Tracker start?
On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, of course.
How do I follow Santa’s journey with the NORAD tracker?
Santa is on the move, as you can see below. If it doesn’t load, it can be found at www.noradsanta.org
You can also call NORAD directly at +1 (877) HI-NORAD.
See Santa’s location on the Google Santa Tracker
In 2004, Google started tracking Santa as well, because, well, there’s a lot of interest in Old St. Nick. Google has a website. While you’re waiting around for Santa, Google’s guide includes a family guide, quizzes and various Christmas-themed games to play.
Why might the NORAD Santa Tracker and Google Santa Tracker disagree?
All of our tracking technology is made for mere mortals, but Santa is magic, and he likes to create a little bit of mystery. It wouldn’t do for children all over the world to be catching him as he comes down the chimney to deliver presents. He would never get any work done! So sometimes, to keep the magic alive, he throws off the trackers, just a little bit.
Rhode Island
Up to $5,000 reward offered for tips on who dumped emaciated dog’s body in trash bag in Rhode Island
Lincoln, RI – PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction on cruelty charges of the person(s) responsible for dumping a dead dog at Barney’s Pond on Smithfield Avenue.
On December 14, the Lincoln Police Department responded to a report of a dead animal in a trash bag in the parking lot of the pond and discovered the body of a severely emaciated dog with visible signs of trauma. They believe the body was left between the evening of December 13 and the morning of December 14. A white Toyota RAV4 may be connected to the case and is considered a vehicle of interest.
Police are searching for this vehicle of interest, a Toyota RAV4. Photo: Lincoln Police Department
No leads or suspects have been identified, so PETA is asking for the public’s help.
“This poor dog was apparently starved, abused, and then dumped on the side of the road like garbage,” says PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “There may be other animals in the perpetrator’s possession, so PETA asks anyone with information to come forward immediately—other lives may depend on it.”
Anyone with information about the deceased dog or the vehicle should contact Detective Lieutenant Brad Stewart at 401-333-8485.
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