Archive for February 4th, 2010
Scott Brown sworn in as US Senator, ending Democrats’ supermajority
Scott Brown, the Republican who upset Democrat Martha Coakley in Massachusetts’ recent special Senatorial election, is now a United States Senator.
Brown’s swearing-in this afternoon caps off weeks of anxiety and finger-pointing for Democrats who had previously held a supermajority in the Senate. This fillibuster-proof majority was thought to be critical for the passage of divisive [...]
MA house passes cell phone bill
House lawmakers have approved an amendment to restrict cell phone use by MA drivers. The proposal would ban all cell phones except hands-free models with voice-activated dialing. It also requires vision tests for drivers over 75 and allows doctors to report to patients they feel can no longer safely drive. The Senate has [...]
Will RI decriminalize pot?
Small amounts of marijuana could soon be decriminalized in Rhode Island. A state Senate panel is looking into the effects of a bill that would punish possession of small amounts of the drug with a fine instead of jail time. A former narcotics cop who’s against prohibition told the panel a drug conviction haunts [...]
Pepper caused salmonella outbreak
Pepper was the source of last month’s salmonella outbreak. A Rhode Island-based meat company recalled more than a million pounds of salami after people across the country said they’d eaten it before they got sick. Now state health officials say they’ve found the same strain of salmonella in pepper containers at the plant. Federal [...]
