Columnist Walker arraigned in OUI

Globe columnist Adrian Walker was arraigned yesterday in Dorchester District Court on a charge of operating under the influence. Walker, who entered a plea of not guilty, was arrested early Sunday morning by Transit Police in Dorchester while driving a company vehicle, which was impounded. Walker said he had taken the car to an interview Saturday afternoon, but had not returned it to the Globe. The paper's policy allows its vehicles to be used for work purposes only. According to the police report, an officer followed the vehicle speeding on the Southeast Expressway before stopping the car on Morrissey Boulevard. The report alleges that Walker failed field sobriety tests and says he declined a breathalyzer test. Walker told police he had been at Silverstone Bar & Grill in Downtown Crossing. The case was continued until later this month.

Eighteen Boston elementary schools have been selected to participate in the Healthy Schools Program, an initiative by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation that seeks to make schools healthier. Representatives from each school traveled yesterday to the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark., for a kickoff event, where schools received training and resources. The Healthy Schools Program aims to help schools counter childhood obesity by updating school menus, increasing physical education, and establishing staff wellness programs. Local school participation was funded by a grant from local philanthropists Howard and Michele Kessler.

A man who defrauded his clients at a Needham modeling agency was sentenced yesterday to 2 1/2 years in jail after pleading guilty to larceny and fraud charges. Edriss Farazi of Framingham, the 29-year-old former owner of Marvel Models, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of larceny over $250 and several other charges, including unemployment fraud and workers' compensation fraud. A Norfolk judge ordered him to serve six months, while suspending the remainder of his sentence. Prosecutors said Farazi stole approximately $10,000 from 13 aspiring models by charging them fees while misleading them to believe the agency was larger and more successful than it was. Codefendant Kevin Caruso, 30, formerly of Natick and now of Houston, pleaded guilty to four counts of larceny and received two years of probation.

A child's birthday party at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant was cut short when a fight broke out between two mothers. Natick police said the mother of the 9-year-old boy celebrating his birthday apparently became enraged because the other woman's son was taking too long at an arcade game. Sergeant Paul Thompson said Catherine Aliaga, 38, and Tarsha Williams, 33, both of Boston, would be summoned into court to answer charges of simple assault and battery stemming from the scuffle. (AP)

Up to 700 people were evacuated from a building at the University of Rhode Island after a report of a bomb threat yesterday, a school spokesperson said. The state's fire marshal and a bomb squad rushed to the campus, where students, faculty, and staff were warned to stay away from Independence Hall. Several university streets were also closed. Authorities began searching the building at 12:50 p.m. There were no reports of a bomb being found. University police received a call just after noon from a person who had overheard a conversation about a bomb threat at Independence Hall, said Linda Acciardo, a URI spokeswoman. A campuswide alert was sent via text message, voice mail, and e-mail. Classes on the rest of campus were not canceled.

The trial of seven Narragansett Indians arrested during a 2003 raid on a tribal smoke shop has been put on hold after a juror fell ill. Jurors in Superior Court in Providence were expected to hear testimony yesterday from a State Police detective who led the investigation. Opening statements were given Friday. The seven Narragansetts, including Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, are accused of resisting arrest or fighting with state troopers as they raided the shop to prevent it from selling cigarettes without collecting state taxes. Defense lawyers say the troopers used excessive force and acted overzealously. (AP)