Blogger files ethics complaint against Carcieri

A local political activist has filed an ethics complaint against Governor Carcieri over state tax breaks. According to WPRI, a writer for the Rhode Island’s Future blog cites a Poverty Institute study that’s challenging many 2008 business community tax breaks. The Institute says 88 out of 118 of the breaks were not found in [...]

Providence women’s cancer screening program out of money

A federally funded program that provides free cancer screenings for Rhode Island women without health insurance has run out of money until July. Officials say demand for the Women’s Cancer Screening Program has soared during the recession. In July, program doctors will start screening patients every other year, instead of annually.

URI president proposes student-business alliance

(Metro) The new president of the University of Rhode Island wants to forge tighter bonds between the school and businesses in the state. President David Dooley says his initiative would enlist URI students to participate in the Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension
Service to assist companies that need help raising competitiveness and profitability. Dooley says the partnership, [...]

The Daily Beast says Providence is America’s third-craziest city

Which city is America’s craziest? According to The Daily Beast, it’s Cincinnati, Ohio. But Providence, Rhode Island has earned the coveted (or not) #3 spot.
The Beast’s “study” was based on four criteria: psychiatrists per capita, stress, eccentricity and drinking. They also cite a Guinness Record-breaking strand of red and white beads made by a group [...]

Obama Nominates Rhode Island Lawyer for Federal Bench

A Rhode Island lawyer has been nominated for a federal judgeship. President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Jack McConnell for a seat on the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. McConnell is a managing partner of the Providence office of the Motley Rice law fir, and has been involved in lawsuits against tobacco companies. He [...]

Patrick Kennedy blasts Afghanistan policy

U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy attacked U.S. policy in Afghanistan as “shameful” and called the national press as “despicable” for what he portrayed as its “cynicism” and its insufficient coverage of the issue. Raising his voice in a House floor speech on a resolution to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, the Rhode Island Democrat [...]

Mayor Cicilline tables drug tests for police

Providence Mayor David Cicilline says he will table an order for random drug testing of the city’s police officers. Today, Cicilline said he would table the proposal and that the police would work to develop its own drug testing policy. Cicilline on Monday had called for the testing following the arrests last week of three [...]

Would proposed Liquid Natural Gas project for Fall River help or hurt?

The CEO of a global energy company says the region would benefit from a liquid natural gas project. Eric Johnson has more:

Transcript:
The long-debated Weaver’s Cove project would install a port for natural gas tankers in Fall River.
Gordon Shearer, the CEO of Hess Liquid Natural Gas, told a Rhode Island Senate task force yesterday that the [...]

Cicilline drug testing plan rejected

Mayor Cicilline’s plan to conduct random drug testing on police officers has been rejected by a Providence Police Union. The Fraternal Order of Police said the Mayor’s plan breaks state law and that the state attorney general’s office agrees with their opinion. Mayor Cicilline’s order comes after three Providence officers were charged with [...]

Meeting to Discuss Mass Firings of Central Falls Teachers Cancelled

A meeting to discuss the mass firing of Central Falls teachers has been canceled. Central Falls Superintendent Frances Gallo said the meeting was cancelled because the scheduled venue didn’t meet handicap-accessible standards. Both teachers and the school administration have been willing to discuss the firings, but, at this point, the meeting has not [...]