PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- State Rep. Doreen Costa, R-North Kingstown, is leaving her sales job at WPRO-radio for a new full-time job as the state Republican Party's finance director.

Costa said she gave her notice on Thursday, and expects to start her new job -- pay yet to be determined -- the last week in June.

As she envisions the job, she will be "out in the community'' fundraising, "rebranding the party'' and telling people: "I am the Republican party and we are not taking your Medicare away.''

By driving up in her 2007 Hyundai Tiburon with 160,000 miles, she said, she hopes that will also convey that not all Republicans are rich, and "If they want to say Republicans are rich, I will bring my last bank statement ... [to show] I live paycheck to paycheck. This is what we are.''

Providence Journal video by Kris Craig

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. -- Heather Abbott of Newport, a Boston Marathon bombing survivor, went in for her regular physical therapy session on Friday morning, but brought with her the new prosthetic leg she had custom fitted during a 5-hour session on Thursday.

Wearing the temporary prosthetic leg, she and her physical therapist, Bert Reid, co-owner of Olympic Physical Therapy in Middletown, started work on retraining her body to move again.

Providence Journal video by Glenn Osmundson

CRANSTON, R.I. -- Every third Thursday of the month, except in the summer, the Riviera Bingo Hall in Cranston hosts Gay Bingo with Miss Kitty Litter.

It is full of vulgarity, fun and laughs, and it definitely is not your grandmother's bingo.

Hundreds of people, gay and straight, have been enjoying the fun for years, and it raises money for AIDS Care Ocean State. This month, there is a special Bingo, June 13, for Rhode Island Gay Pride.

There is an area flood watch for Rhode Island in place today, with a river flood warning for the Pawtuxet River. There are also wind and high surf advisories in effect along the coast.

Morning showers and downpours should mostly end by 8 a.m. Expect a cloudy start, then partly sunny, warmer and drier. There's the slight chance of another shower or t'storm by early evening, though most of the day looks dry. High 75-80 degrees. Winds will be out of the west to southwest aT 10-15 mph with some higher gusts.

Saturday evening wll be partly cloudy, mild and dry with temperatures in the .60's.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- The remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea moved quickly through Southern New England on Saturday morning after bringing strong winds, soaking rains and isolated flooding to the region.

3.7 inches of rainfall was reported in both Woonsocket and Westerly as the storm's impact was felt throughout the area before showers began to taper off early Saturday.

The National Weather Service updated its forecast Saturday morning to predict moderate flooding along the Pawtuxet River in Cranston. The river was at 9.6 feet, past flood stage, at 7:45 a.m. and is predicted to reach near 12.2 feet by Saturday evening before falling below flood stage Monday morning.

The Woonasquatucket River also flooded, as did urban streets and some small streams, slowing driving in some areas.

The Weather Service also issued a High Surf Advisory for ocean-facing beaches in Rhode Island and Cape Cod from midnight Saturday through midnight Sunday, with dangerous waves and strong rip currents possible.

Andrea, the first named storm of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1, caused no major damage reported along the Eastern Seaboard.

T.F. Green Airport reported receiving 4.11 inches of rainfall from Thursday evening through Saturday morning -- more than the usual average rainfall for the month of June, which is 3.63 inches.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- An advocacy group is hailing a Senate committee's passage of legislation to require reviews at least once every three years of what Rhode Island has gotten in return for the tax incentives it has doled out.

"Given all of the areas where we need to invest to create jobs - education, transportation, and health care for example - it's more important than ever that tax breaks receive the same scrutiny as spending through the state budget,'' said Kate Brewster, executive director of The Economic Progress Institute.

As stated in the leadership-backed bill now headed to the full Senate for a vote: "Rhode Island relies on a number of tax incentives, including credits, exemptions, and deductions, to encourage businesses to locate, hire employees, expand, invest, and/or remain in the state...[but] The state needs a systematic approach for evaluating whether incentives are fulfilling their intended purposes in a cost-effective manner.''

Brewster noted: Rhode Island is among the 25 states that have done the least to evaluate whether state tax incentives are achieving their intended goals, according to a 2012 study by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The Economic Progress Institute - formerly known as The Poverty Institute - is a nonpartisan research and policy organization focused on "the economic well-being'' of low- and modest-income Rhode Islanders.

AP photo/ Michael Dwyer

Pedestrians in Boston brave Friday's heavy rain from the remnants of tropical storm Andrea.

A weakened Andrea shifted away from New England on Saturday morning with winds gusting up to 45 mph. The storm was expected to reach Canadian waters by Sunday.

After bringing rain, strong winds and tornadoes to Florida, Andrea lost most of its tropical characteristics late Friday into Saturday. But it brought record rainfall for the date of June 7 for many cities and towns in the Northeast.

Andrea dumped 6.64 inches of rain on Gales Ferry, Conn. The 4.16 inches that fell on New York City's Central Park was more than double the previous record for the date, set in 1918. The 3.5 inches of rain that fell at Philadelphia International Airport doubled the 1.79 inches that fell in 1904. Newark, N.J., saw 3.71 inches, breaking the previous mark of 1.11 inches set in 1931.

Elsewhere, cars were submerged in floodwaters on Long Island, and about 50 residents were displaced by a rising stream in Chester, Pa. A retaining wall collapsed early Saturday in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood, sending an avalanche of rubble sliding into an apartment building and leaving three families homeless. The storm was blamed for one traffic-related death in Virginia.

Late Friday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami discontinued all tropical storm warnings but cautioned about possible coastal and localized flooding from New Jersey to New England.

Officials in the Mid-Atlantic region and Northeast had prepared for it Friday night. New York City activated its flash flooding plan, and heavy rainfall resulted in flash floods, causing some sections of roadways to be closed throughout Long Island.

Providence Journal photo/ Andrew Dickerman

The Boston Red Sox have selected Lincoln High School star Nick Zammarelli in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball draft, with the 833rd overall pick.

Zammarelli is a 6-2, 195-pound, left-handed hitter who plays shortstop for Lincoln but is probably considered a third or first baseman by pro scouts. Lincoln's lead-off hitter, he hits for both average and power.

He has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Elon University in North Carolina.

The National Weather Service has extended a flood warning for areas along the Pawtuxet River in Cranston and Warwick and parts of southern Rhode Island, urging motorists to avoid flooded roads and warning parents to keep children from playing near swollen rivers.

The weather bulletin emphasized that streams and rivers in Rhode Island, including the Pawcatuck River in Westerly and the Pawtuxet River in Providence County and Kent County, are swollen from as much as 5 inches of rain over the past 24 hours.

The Pawtuxet River was at 10 feet, a foot less than the level that would lead to the flooding of homes in certain low-lying sections of Warwick and Cranston.

The Pawcatuck River, still rising, could exceed flood stage, according to the weather service, which warned motorists that flood waters can be far deeper than they might appear.

The flood warning for central areas of Washington County will remain in effect until 8:30 p.m., the service said late Saturday afternoon.

The National Weather Service reported minor flooding Saturday evening of the Pawtuxet River in Cranston and the Pawcatuck River in Westerly.

Both were still rising around 9 p.m., expected to crest overnight and then recede by sometime Sunday, meteorologist Hayden Frank said.

The Pawtuxet was expected to go as high as 11.1 feet, above its flood stage of 9 feet, which would result in moderate flooding. The Pawcatuck was expected to rise as high as 7.2 feet, just above flood stage of 7 feet, producing "very minor flooding," Frank said.

Rainfall totals in Rhode Island ranged from a high of 5.32 inches in Charlestown to a low of 1.58 inches in Chepachet, according to the latest weather service data.

Sunday is expected to be dry, but more rain is forecast for Monday night into Tuesday, which will bear watching, Frank said.

"A lot of times, when we get major flooding in New England, it's usually we have an event -- a big rain event -- and then a couple days later, we have another big event," he said. "Usually the first one primes you and the second pushes you over the edge."

RICHMOND, R.I. -- The Rhode Island State Police arrested a 24-year-old Warwick woman early Saturday and charged her with domestic assault with a deadly weapon, reckless driving and eluding police after an incident in Warwick, according to the police.

Nasstassja Hampton, of 13 Fairview Rd., was arrested at 2:57 a.m. on Route 95 south in Richmond. The state police report that the Warwick police had been investigating a report of a domestic assault and an assault with a deadly weapon when a pursuit of the suspect began.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Coast Guard and area police crews are searching the waters of the Seekonk River, by India Point in Providence, after a report of a man who may have fallen into the water.

A nurse from a nearby nursing facility called emergency crews around 6 p.m. to report that she had seen a man slip off the rocks and into the water in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge, Coast Guard spokesman John Harland said about 10 p.m. Saturday.

The Coast Guard initially had two boats searching the water but had just pulled one back for the night, Harland said. Providence and Pawtucket police and the marine task force were searching as well, bringing the total to about 15 or 20 people searching the water, he said.

The Coast Guard has not received any reports from someone that a person is missing, and they're working now to determine how long they'll search. The search will continue at least a couple more hours, he said.

The Coast Guard is asking anyone with information about a missing person or if someone had fallen into the water but has since gotten out safely to call Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at (508) 457-3211.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Public transportation was one of the topics when Abel Collins, program manager for the Rhode Island chapter of the Sierra Club, was a guest on the June 2 edition of "10 News Conference."

Collins, an unsuccessful independent candidate for Congress in the 2nd District in 2012, said one goal of his organization is to cut pollution by getting better funding for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, which operates the state's bus system.

"They're stuck. They have declining revenues and increasing demand. And RIPTA has really some of the fullest buses for its transit agency size around the country," he said.

PolitiFact Rhode Island examined his claim and ruled it Mostly True. Read the complete analysis here.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Anyone who wants to comment on state's proposed plan for dealing with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders is invited to read it here.

Public comment will be taken until June 20. Feedback can be emailed to the office of Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts or phoned to her office at (401) 222-2371.

In a series of listening sessions, Roberts and Elderly Affairs Director Catherine Taylor heard "rich and deep information" about how Alzheimer's disease affects Rhode Island families.

"This public comment period is an opportunity for Rhode Islanders who haven't been involved in the process so far to ensure their experience and concerns are reflected in the report," Taylor said.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Firefighters contained to one level a back porch fire in a three-story wood-frame dwelling Wednesday at 14 Curtis St., Deputy Assistant Chief Joseph Desmarais said..

All 8 adults, 2 children and one dog who were home at the time managed to get out safely, Desmarais said. Repairs will have to be made before the electricity can be turned back on and the residents can return.

No one was injured, and the fire was out in about 20 minutes. The cause has not yet been determined.

Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

New England Patriots continue mini camp Wednesday at the practice facility at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Tim Tebow, left, shares a laugh with Tom Brady, right, during practice.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Watch out for scams relating to summer rentals and vacations, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin cautioned in a news release Wednesday.

He issued the following tips:

-- Use reputable travel agents and websites.
-- Get a phone number if the transaction is by Internet.
-- Verify and clarify details in writing. Double check property information, date guarantee, total price, what is included and cancellation and refund policy. Read the fine print.
-- Ask for references.
-- Check with the Better Business Bureau.
-- Pay with a credit card instead of wiring money or sending a money order.
-- Never give out personal information.
-- Be cautious of hard-to-verify, far-away properties.
-- Beware of hidden costs or high-pressure sales talks in nearly-free, all-inclusive packages.

If you believe you are a victim of consumer fraud, call the consumer protection unit at (401) 274-4400, email or download a consumer complaint form.

By DENISE LAVOIE
AP Legal Affairs Writer

BOSTON (AP) -- A federal prosecutor said in opening statements Wednesday at James "Whitey" Bulger's racketeering trial that the reputed mobster was at the center of "murder and mayhem" in Boston for almost 30 years, while the defense attacked the credibility of the government's star witnesses.

JAMES 'WHITEY' BULGER

Prosecutor Brian Kelly told jurors that Bulger headed the violent Winter Hill Gang that "ran amok" in Boston for nearly three decades, killing 19 people, extorting millions from drug dealers and other criminals, and corrupting police and FBI agents.

"At the center of all this murder and mayhem is one man -- the defendant in this case, James Bulger," Kelly said.

Bulger's lead attorney, J. W. Carney Jr., went after the prosecution's star witnesses, including hit man John Martorano, who admitted killing 20 people and has agreed to testify against Bulger.

Martorano served 12 years in prison for his crimes, in what Carney called an "extraordinary benefit" for his cooperation with prosecutors.

"The federal government was so desperate to have John Martorano testify ... they basically put their hands up in the air and said take anything you want," Carney said.

Other once-loyal Bulger cohorts who will likely testify against him include Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, Bulger's former partner, and Kevin Weeks, a former Bulger lieutenant who led authorities to six bodies.

The government plans to show the jury a 700-page file they say shows that Bulger, while committing a long list of crimes, was also working as an FBI informant, providing information on the New England Mob -- his gang's main rivals -- and corrupting FBI agents who ignored his crimes.

Kelly says Bulger's gang succeeded by instilling fear in other criminals and corrupting law enforcement officials who tipped them off when they were being investigated.

"It was part of a strategy they had, and it worked for them," Kelly said.

Carney denied that the FBI ever tipped off Bulger.

"James Bulger never ever -- the evidence will show -- was an informant," Carney said.

Carney acknowledged that Bulger was involved in illegal gambling and drugs but told the jury that Bulger paid law enforcement to protect him from prosecution.

Bulger, now 83, was one of the nation's most wanted fugitives when he fled Boston in 1994 after receiving a tip from his former FBI handler, John Connolly, that he was about to be indicted. He was finally captured in 2011 in Santa Monica, Calif., where he had been living with his longtime girlfriend in a rent-controlled apartment.

Connolly was convicted of racketeering for warning Bulger and later of second-degree murder for giving information to Bulger that led to the slaying of a Boston businessman in Miami.

Bulger's lawyers have indicated that they will argue that Connolly fabricated informant reports in Bulger's lengthy FBI file.

The defense may also present another side of Bulger seen by some residents of South Boston, where he was known for years as a kind of harmless tough guy who gave Thanksgiving dinners to his working-class neighbors.

Prosecutors, however, plan to call one family member of each of the 19 people prosecutors allege were killed by Bulger and his gang. Among the victims were two 26-year-old women who Bulger is accused of strangling.

The trial is expected to last three to four months.

An earlier version of this report was published at 12:29 p.m.

CRANSTON -- Three small children and seven sick pit bulls were rescued during a drug raid Monday from a home caked in excrement and buzzing with flies.

Cranston narcotics detectives had been investigating Renick Noel Johnson, 27, and Arcangela M. Calamita, 26, for alleged drug-dealing at 59 Preston Drive.

Amid a stench so bad that the detectives needed to wear masks during the search, police found crack cocaine and a bottle of Vicodin, according to a police report.

The seven dogs appeared to be diseased and suffering. Calamita's children, ages 9 and 2, and two-months, were living amid garbage, feces, and maggots, the police said.

Johnson and Calamita were arraigned Tuesday on several felony charges including drugs and child neglect, and ordered held without bail.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The jury in the trial of a defense lawyer accused of bribing a witness not to testify went home Wednesday without a verdict.

Providence Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach

Criminal defense lawyer Gerard Donley.

Superior Court Judge Robert Krause asked the jury of seven women and five men around 4 p.m. whether they wished to make a fresh start Thursday. Looking weary, they responded yes.

The jury has been deliberating about a day and a half in the trial of criminal defense lawyer Gerard Donley.

Prosecutors say Donley conspired with lawyer Donna Uhlmann to bribe convicted felon Michael Drepaul not to testify against the man who allegedly stabbed him, Donley's client Jamaal Dublin.

Donley testified Monday that he delivered $6,000 to Drepaul's girlfriend, Nicole "Coco" Brown, to avert more violence and to compensate Drepaul for his injuries.