By Peter B. Lord ... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Some legislators argued the Deepwater wind farm off Block Island is going to be a longterm financial drain on the state electric ratepayers; others insisted it will be an economic engine that will power Rhode Island into the future ... After midnight, following a debate of more than three hours, the House finally voted 56-15 for a bill that is designed to set the wind project back on course by setting the standards for it to be reviewed by the state
By Steve Peoples, Randal Edgar, and Katherine Gregg ... Journal State House Bureau ... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Racing to meet a self-imposed deadline to adjourn for the year, Rhode Island's General Assembly plowed through hundreds of proposed laws Wednesday on issues ranging from fireworks to wind farms during a chaotic session that stretched deep into the night ... But it became clear around midnight that lawmakers had abandoned any hope to conclude their business in one marathon session. The
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- State General Treasurer Frank Caprio, a Democratic candidate for governor, unveiled a job creation plan focused on small business at a news conference at the Promet shipyard on Allens Avenue Wednesday morning ... The plan calls for boosting the state's small business loan fund by $50 million and streamlining the loan application process, creating a new state office focused on small businesses, offering a new state tax credit to encourage small businesses to offer employees
A Senate committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on a bill that could jumpstart Deepwater Wind’s offshore wind farm project amid continued opposition to the measure from the attorney general and good-government groups ...
State officials have asked the Obama administration for more information before deciding whether to create a state-run temporary high-risk insurance pool for Rhode Islanders subsidized by the federal government under the new health reform law ...
Recruitment ... Perhaps you've seen the ads ... Perhaps you've seen the ads: ... Wanted: Mayor. Start Date: January 1, 2011 ... must inspire intelligent and transparent decision-making across all arms of city government and deliver services that support the well being of all residents ... A local group calling itself "Uncaucus" has posted them on Craigslist pages all across the country. But no, enticing as it may seem, they aren't really looking to recruit a far-away hero to come rescue
Chins Up Dept ... Seven or eight years ago, with the state's economy aflutter and Providence in ascendance, Scott Wolf thought Rhode Island was finally starting to shed its inferiority complex ... Seven or eight years ago, with the state's economy aflutter and Providence in ascendance, Scott Wolf thought Rhode Island was finally starting to shed its inferiority complex ... But alas, he says, the Great Recession has the body politic engaged in the old ritual of self-flagellation: we are, once
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A Scituate contractor was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison this morning for failing to pay $2.1 million in employment taxes for two of his companies ... Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi imposed the sentence for Steven Allard, 47, who had earlier pleaded guilty to felony counts of tax evasion and bankruptcy fraud ... The government, in an earlier plea hearing, argued that Allard directed income generated from one of his businesses, Builder Resources
Rhode Island College's student radio station, WXIN-FM (90.7), will host a 24-hour "radiothon" to benefit Haitian earthquake relief from 9 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 17 to Feb 18 ... The event will be broadcast live on 90.7 FM and online at http://ricradio.org/wxin, with a simulcast on Anchor TV, RIC's student television station ... Members of RIC's Student Community Government and several student clubs have volunteered to help ... All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund ...