Advocates for more effective sentencing are celebrating a victory that has been four years in the making as S0039aa and its companion bill H5007aa became law this month, effective without the Governor’s signature, after passage with overwhelming support in the General Assembly on October 29th.
This step is an [...]
I'm not really sure anyone remembers this, but we had a bit of a financial crisis last fall. Remember that? Banks too big to fail, but they failed anyway? Financial armageddon avoided via all-weekend meetings in New York and DC. Sunday evening announcements about who'd get billion-dollar bailouts the next [...]
I was great to see how much of a twist was caused by my last post. Let's see what more fun we can have with Property Tax facts, at least as presented by the Tax Foundation.
So, here is an interesting facet of the debate [...]
Everyone should check out Ian Donnis's "Ten Things about Frank Caprio."
On Wednesday, November 25 starting at 7pm at The Wild Colonial, Drinking Liberally will host the second part of its three-part countdown to Election 2010 with special guest host General Treasurer Frank Caprio. The event is FREE.
PLEASE NOTE: [...]
photo courtesy PHS
The Portsmouth High School production of "Twelve Angry Jurors" (né "Twelve Angry Men") ends its run this weekend with performances at 7pm tonight and tomorrow at the PHS auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults.
This is a really good show, which you'll know' [...]
Earlier this year, Mayor Cicilline unveiled plans designed to make Providence a "creative capital" for the 21st century. Granted, it has been focused on the arts, but all the uproar about the City's new recycling program and the contentious City Council meeting last night make it pretty [...] Apparently we've not given enough blood and treasure to get 'er done.
US lawmakers: New tax should pay for Afghan war
Influential US lawmakers on Thursday called for levying a new income tax to pay for the war in Afghanistan, warning its costs pose a mortal threat to efforts [...]
UPDATE: Marina Peterson called N4N to say that she cannot yet publicly discuss her ouster from the Rhode Island Tea Party. But she says she has been informed by the other two leaders of the group, Colleen Conley and Nan Hayden, they are planning to vote her out of the triumvirate. [...]
State Senator Leo Raptakis is again filing his Inspector General legislation (his previous bill floundered in the Senate Finance Committee). Raptakis justifies this legislation as follows:
“The fact that $75 million in taxpayer funds were lost in a sinkhole of corruption and mismanagement at the Central [...]
There is a new report out by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) called Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All 50 States. As you may have guessed, it analyzes each state’s tax system in relation to the burden placed on the [...]
One of the many things I learned about on a quick trip to DC this week was about a new project by American Rights at Work. The project launches at 10 AM today: here are details and a link from The Hill:
Labor group launches 'Twitter flash mob' [...]There was a meeting last night of about 30 Portsmouth citizens to form an organization called the Island Park Crime Watch Committee, and according to multiple sources who were present, a slate of officers was elected and bylaws were approved.
Full disclosure up front: Members of this group have been involved [...]
The Gov just released a statement on his veto of basic civil rights for people who lose a loved one. Sadly, it appears his arrogance is now forcing him to lash out at those who would dare to call him out on his bigotry. From the Projo:
In the [...]
UPDATE: Jim Taricani had a great story on Channel 10 about the issue:
Most people don't know it, but one of the largest food distribution centers for needy people in Rhode Island is hosted at the Open Table of Christ church building in Providence. Late last week, the church was [...]
If you've been on the northern part of East Main Road in Portsmouth, you've probably noticed new construction going on at the old gas station next to Pizza Hollywood, and according to Director of Business Development Bill Clark, it will be a new gas station.
"The old service station and underground" [...]
With Scott Slater’s impressive victory in the District 10 election earlier this month, he became the newest Representative-Elect. His swearing-in ceremony will be held on Monday, November 23 at 4:30pm, in the House of Representatives Chamber.
Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis will administer the oath of office [...]Sen. Jack Reed will be hosting his 19th annual college financial aid workshop this coming Monday, Nov 23, at the Lincoln campus of Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), according to an e-mail from his office. The 90-minute workshop will feature Q&A and panelists from the RI Higher Education Authority, [...]
The Rhode Island Tea Party, attempting to move from protest vehicle to political force, has scheduled an open meeting November 24 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Warwick Public Library.
As I wrote in a cover story in the Phoenix a few weeks back, part of the challenge for the movement [...]
Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts will convene the Small Business Advocacy Council on Friday, November 20, at 8:00 a.m. to help small business owners get answers to their questions about Rhode Island’s stimulus plans. Small business owners who have questions about what stimulus programs they can apply for, who to [...]
There was an article in Tuesday’s Boston Herald about a report commissioned by Deval Patrick regarding the immigrant community living in Massachusetts.
The 56 page report, called Massachusetts New Americans Agenda, details 131 recommendations to better integrate immigrants (both authorized and unauthorized) and refugees into the Bay [...]
There's been speculation here and elsewhere that Carcieri's trying to line up a post-gubernatorial gig with the RNC or another national-level tentacle of the Republican Party. If there's truth to those rumors, does the funeral rights veto -- and all of the terrible national exposure that's come with it -- [...]
As far as I can tell, the "good jobs accomplishments" section of Gov. Don Carcieri's website hasn't been updated since before the 2006 election. That is telling.
Perhaps the web editor was laid off?
PS. If the website is taken down for any reason, you [...]
The tricky part everyone keeps bringing up in greening the economy is the investment required, and how we fund changes required in our public infrastructure, such as our power grid and roads.
Geek Night tonight provided some insight into a local company building out a powerful platform for exactly [...]
This is the first of a two-part blog on Queer Action of RI's meeting with Governor Donald L. Carcieri. Part II will go into detail about what we said to the Governor and what he said to us.
So you've read the papers, watched the TV news, and listened to the [...]
The Glen Ridge (alpaca) farm is on the agenda at the Planning Board tonight, and the Preserve Portsmouth folks will be attending, according to a note sent to supporters this afternoon.
There is a very important meeting this evening in regards to the Glen Ridge Farm decision. Please do your very [...]
On Nov. 2, 2009 the City of Newport’s Water Division filed an application with the RIPUC to changes its existing rates. The impact on customers will vary based on customer class, but a typical residential customer could see a decrease of $18.20 in their annual bill (or a decrease [...]
photo by Jack McDaid
by Karen McDaid
Scampi Restaurant in Portsmouth had a full house last evening for a "Spirit of New Orleans" dinner to benefit a humanitarian trip by local high school students.
Sylvia Wedge, Cynthia Perotti, and Marilyn King were on hand from the School [...]
Congressman Bart Stupak announced on Fox that if his Stupak Amendment does not remain intact in the final version of the Healthcare Reform Bill that "at least 10" Democrats may not vote for the final Healthcare Reform Bill to be passed. Is Congressman Langevin one of those 10-20 "democrats" [...]
On Tuesday November 10, 2009 Governor Carcieri killed a bill that would allow non-married couples the right to plan the funerals of their deceased partners.
Please join in solidarity for a vigil and funeral procession this Thursday in protest of Carcieri's veto.
Vigil and Funeral Procession [...]
Today, the Organizing for America campaign selected a video to be its flagship ad for healthcare reform. According to David Plouffe (President Obama's campaign manager), there were nearly 1000 videos submitted from ordinary Americans, and this was the one selected.
See if you can guess what two words are missing from [...]
A fine video documentary by Scott Kingsley and/or David DelP about Thundermist Health Associates. It was my first job in 1991. How they’ve grown. [...] Just an FYI: there will be a City Council meeting tonight at 700pm. They are looking to put a stop to the program until there is further education. I have sent a letter to the council regarding my opinion and can't see how after all the free PR they have [...]
An interesting controversy brewing over Newsweek's new Sarah Palin cover. The image, of Palin in running shorts next to an American flag, accompanies an article titled "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sarah?: She's Bad News for the GOP, and for Everybody Else, Too."
The photo originally appeared in Runner's World. [...]
As noted on RIFuture and the Huffington Post, Stephen Colbert took aim at Governor Carcieri last night for vetoing burial rights for domestic partners. It's a witty little bit and, less noticed, the host takes a swipe at Rhode Island media, too. Pretty amusing stuff. Embedded video at [...]
Tip o' the hat to Hard Deadlines for pointing out that Stephen Colbert took Rhode Island's Republican Governor - Don Carcieri - to task last night for his awful veto of a bill allowing domestic partners to have funeral rights.
The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c[...]Thanks for coming out of the closet:
While many pundits whistle past the graveyard of the Nov. 3 elections, the political professionals know the truth: There has been a stark shift of independents away from the Democrats.
Finally we get an acknowledgement that you are [...]
