Rhode Island
Rhode Island football shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s what they did vs. Maine
URI football coach Jim Fleming talks about Rhody’s 7th win of season
Rhode Island beats Maine, 24-14, to improve to 7-1 on the season, 4-0 in the CAA, as the Rams keep rolling along.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A second full month has passed in this college football season, and the University of Rhode Island still shows no signs of slowing down.
Saturday afternoon was the latest measuring stick at Meade Stadium, a Homecoming that felt in danger of being spoiled for a few brief minutes. The Rams managed what has become a customary response in 2024, and the result was never really in doubt over the final 12 minutes.
Malik Grant’s rushing touchdown put the hosts in front to stay. The defense handled matters from there in a 24-14 victory over Maine, a result that helped No. 15 URI continue to rewrite its record books.
More: Rhode Island football continues to climb the CAA weekly poll; where the Rams stand now
The Rams hadn’t started 7-1 or better since 2001. That was also the last time URI won its first four conference games, and it came before a move from the Atlantic 10 to the Coastal Athletic Association. The next milestone year often referenced is 1985, and this was another step toward an FCS playoff berth last achieved in that magical season.
“We’re going into November with a very challenging schedule, but tremendous belief – and a good football team,” URI coach Jim Fleming said. “It’s just going to be one week at a time.”
Brian Santana-Fis capped a short drive with a 4-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. That drew the Black Bears into a 14-14 tie and sent some nervousness through the sellout crowd of 5,450 fans. Maine was a defensive stop and another effective possession from taking its second advantage of the afternoon.
The Rams didn’t allow that chance. Devin Farrell connected with Greg Gaines III for a first down and with Tommy Smith on a 46-yard bullet down the middle. That gave URI first and goal inside the 10, and Grant slipped his way 1 yard around right end to give the Rams a 21-14 lead.
“Every game we’ve started slow,” Farrell said. “The guys just keep working through it, and I’m so grateful to have them on my side.”
The Black Bears punted, turned it over on downs and ran out of time while coming up empty on each of their final three possessions. Maine was driving into a stiff breeze on what was otherwise a postcard day, and URI cranked up its aggression down the stretch. Devin Hightower’s sack on fourth down with 2:54 left just about finished it.
“Just trusting our offense that they’re going to do their part,” URI defensive back Emmanuel Gomes said. “We’re going to do our part.”
The Rams just might be making some of their own luck as well. Ty Groff’s insurance field goal was set up by a Farrell pass to the right that bounced off Omari Walker’s hands and right foot before sailing high in the air. Smith raced over in time to make a catch in traffic and Groff was good from 35 yards with 6:04 left.
“The ball’s bouncing right,” Fleming said. “Let’s keep it that way.”
Farrell’s pair of touchdown runs in the opening half came from 1 and 6 yards. URI (7-1, 4-0 CAA) overcame an early 7-0 deficit and took a 14-7 edge into the break. The Rams picked up all but one of their 24 first downs in the final three quarters, and Farrell closed with 221 total yards of offense.
“I would say the big guys up front – I believe 100% in those guys,” Farrell said. “They get it done when we need to get it done.”
The Black Bears (4-4, 2-3) were 5-for-6 on third down in the early going before slumping to a 3-for-11 finish. URI found a spark in the second quarter when Gomes thumped Jaharie Martin on a fourth down rush inside the Rams 30 to turn the ball over on downs. Maine was on the verge of asserting itself in a 7-0 game before Gomes changed the tone, with URI driving the other way to get on the board for the first time.
“Every fourth down is a big spark in the game,” Gomes said. “To be able to get a stop, you could say it’s a big spark.”
The Rams welcome Monmouth next Saturday, extending a span of three home games in four weeks. URI would clinch a winning record in conference for the second time in three years and continue to force the hand of the selection committee with another victory. That determination served the Rams well in the second half of this one against the Black Bears.
“What we had to do was keep the hammer on,” Fleming said. “Keep the pressure on. At some point they would break.
“And that’s not a negative on them – that’s just the game of football. Our kids have been very strong-willed.”
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On X: @BillKoch25
Rhode Island
Silver Alert issued for missing man in Cumberland, RI
Police in Cumberland, Rhode Island, issued a Silver Alert for a missing 83-year-old man they say is endangered.
John “Jack” Thornhill was last seen around 7:30 a.m. Thursday at his home in the Branch Avenue neighborhood, police said. He is believed to have left on foot.
Thornhill is described as having white hair and brown eyes with glasses.
When he was last seen, Thornhill was wearing a red sweatshirt, grey gym shorts and Crocs.
Anyone with information is asked to call 401-333-2500 or dial 911.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s TF Green airport to add flights to Cabo Verde in May – The Boston Globe
“The return of this service is a meaningful addition to PVD’s non-stop portfolio, which is now at 39 destinations,” Iftikhar Ahmad, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, said in a statement. “Rhode Island has one of the strongest Cabo Verdean communities in the United States, and this service creates a direct, convenient connection between families, cultures, and economies.”
Initial operations of the year-round flight will include a Monday afternoon arrival in Rhode Island with an immediate return flight to Cabo Verde, according to the airport.
“The airline is also evaluating the addition of a second weekly frequency later in 2026, which would further expand access for both leisure travelers and the Cabo Verdean community and position PVD as a key U.S. gateway to the archipelago,” the airport said.
According to officials, additional schedule details and booking information will be released by TACV Cabo Verde Airlines in the coming weeks.
Breeze Airways began offering service to Cancun, Mexico, earlier this year, restoring international service in Rhode Island after BermudAir concluded a short-lived, twice-weekly direct flight last summer.
When the Cancun service was announced in September, it was described as an eight-week trial route that was expected to conclude in mid-April 2026.
In an email on Thursday, Ryne Williams, a spokesperson for Breeze, confirmed the nonstop service ends on Saturday but will return on Dec. 19.
This story has been updated to include comment from Ryne Williams.
Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.
Rhode Island
R.I. grandparents fighting for visits with 4-year-old granddaughter rest their case – The Boston Globe
Naso’s in-laws, Dr. Siavash Ghoreishi and Dr. Jila Khorsand, took him to Family Court in July 2024, three months after their daughter, Shahrzad “Sherry” Naso, died from metastasized breast cancer.
Naso had refused to let them see Laila, their only grandchild of their only daughter, saying he wasn’t comfortable with their behavior and was alarmed by their medical care of Sherry and Laila.
The retired physicians used a little-known state law that allows grandparents whose children have died or divorced to petition the Family Court for the right to visit with their grandchildren.
It’s led to a bitter trial that began in October and has continued off and on over the last six months, with testimony about medical negligence, abuse, and control.
Naso, a Middletown narcotics detective, accuses his in-laws of prescribing dozens of medications and providing poor medical care, which he believes contributed to Sherry’s death and sickened Laila. Ghoreishi and Khorsand deny any wrongdoing.
“We love that child with every fabric of our beings and have never harmed her in any way or shape,” Khorsand testified in October. “I love that child to death and would never do anything to harm her. … Why would she be deprived of this love?”
Naso has argued that the expense of the trial and the state law allowing grandparents to sue parents for visitation violates his constitutional parental rights.
But Gill said on Monday that the state law was “narrowly tailored” to respect the constitutional rights of parents, and he denied Naso’s motions to dismiss or stay the ongoing trial.
Now that Michael Ahn, the lawyer for Ghoreishi and Khorsand, has rested his case, Naso’s lawyer will argue that the grandparents haven’t met their burden under the law and the case should be dismissed.
Veronica Assalone told the judge that she will argue for the dismissal on Thursday.
If her motion is denied, and the Supreme Court justices reject the emergency motion, the trial proceedings will resume, with at least a dozen witnesses expected to testify on Naso’s behalf.
On Wednesday, the court heard more testimony from Cheryl Allspach, the former longtime office manager for Ghoreishi’s pediatric practice and a close friend of the family. She had testified glowingly on Tuesday about Ghoreishi and Khorsand’s relationship with Laila.
She also testified about Ghoreishi’s recordkeeping at his practice and his medical treatment of Scott, Sherry, and Laila Naso, and explained the process for billing and filing for insurance claims.
Assalone questioned her about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s payment policy, since 2009, regarding self-treatment and treatment of immediate family members. The insurer’s policy follows the American Medical Association code of ethics, which warns physicians not to treat or prescribe medications for themselves and close family members, and does not cover those services.
Allspach read the two-page policy aloud for the court. “Why did you bill?” the judge asked when she concluded.
“I just did it as part of normal billing, and truly I didn’t realize that,” Allspach said. “If I realized, I would have said to [Ghoreishi], ‘you cannot treat your family members.’”
The judge quickly stopped more detailed questions about billing practices, chart-keeping, and whether Allspach was aware that it was a felony for physicians to prescribe narcotics to relatives.
“It’s a grandparent visitation case, not a medical malpractice case,” Gill snapped at Assalone. He added that she should take her claims about illegal prescriptions to the state police, “not here.”
Julie Emmer, the owner of Strengthening Family Foundations, testified that Naso had alleged “serious things” about his in-law’s medical care when she was handling the supervised visits between Laila and Ghoreishi and Khorsand.
Emmer testified that Naso told her “there were prescriptions in different names for his late wife” and that his in-laws were being investigated by the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the state police.
“He thought they shouldn’t have visits,” Emmer said. “He thought they were responsible for what happened to his wife.”
Emmer began supervising visits in September 2024, after then-Family Court Judge Debra DiSegna temporarily ordered one-hour supervised visits every other week. The visits continued until late January 2025 and were suspended after Naso filed a complaint with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The investigation was closed, but Naso has refused to resume visits.
Emmer supervised nine visits, all at public places, and performed a home inspection at the grandparents’ condo in Jamestown at Ahn’s request in December 2023. They wanted to visit with Laila at their home, but Naso refused, Emmer said, and he is the custodial parent.
Emmer testified that the grandparents abided by the court order not to give Laila any gifts or medication.
Khorsand played with the little girl, while Ghoreishi stayed in the background, filming them or taking pictures, Emmer said. (Some of the photos and videos have been entered as evidence in the trial.)
Emmer said she noticed over time that Laila was anxious at the start of the visits and said she didn’t want to go. During one visit, she said, Laila whispered to her over and over “they are bad people.” At another visit, Laila was late because she vomited on the way over, she said.
She told the court that Laila would eventually warm up to her grandparents.
Emmer said she saw Naso crying and shaking, but that he was careful to compose himself so Laila didn’t see him becoming emotional. She testified that she didn’t hear him make any derogatory comments about his in-laws in Laila’s presence.
She said that Laila was reluctant to leave her father during the visits, but he encouraged her to go. “He often made comments, ‘Go have fun with Miss Julie. You’ll be safe,’” she said.
Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her @AmandaMilkovits.
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