Roger Williams Park Zoo Cuteness Index Up 20%
Good news for local bunnies: The Roger Williams Park Zoo has teamed up with biologists from around the state to help save the New England Cottontail Rabbit. Back in September [WPRI] reported that the bunny was bordering on extinction . Researchers could only find one in the entire state. Here’s the problem. Why would a [...]
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Additional Thoughts on the Cranston Prayer Banner
After reading the comments regarding the prayer banner in Cranston, I would like to add a few comments. To begin: any sentence that contains “the founding fathers believed/thought/said/wanted/intended/were, etc is necessarily wrong. Yes. wrong. The founding fathers were not a monolithic bunch. Exactly the opposite. They were a group of men, many of whom had [...]
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Will Rep. Bob Watson’s 2nd Drug Arrest in 9 Months End His Political Career?
The Providence Journal (and everyone else) is reporting that Rep. Bob Watson was arrested again for possession of marijuana early Sunday morning. When the police arrived, they saw a white Volvo sedan in the lot, with its rubber tire missing from the rim on the front driver’s side. The driver’s side door was open and [...]
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Eleven Shocking Facts About Campaign Finance (or Why We Need Publicly Funded Elections)
Over at The Nation, they have a list of Eleven Shocking Facts About Campaign Finance (and they’re not pretty): The amount of independent expenditure and electioneering communication spending by outside groups has quadrupled since 2006. [Center for Responsive Politics] The percentage of spending coming from groups that do not disclose their donors has risen from 1 percent to 47 percent since [...]
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February 16: 5th Annual Budget Rhode Map Conference
Register now for The Poverty Institute‘s 5th Annual Budget Rhode Map Conference ”From Poverty to Progress“ to hear from leading experts about the economic vitality of Rhode Island and its residents. Thursday, February 16, 2012 8:30 am: Registration and Continental Breakfast 9:00 am – 12:30 pm: Conference Rhodes on the Pawtuxet 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston, RI 02905 $35 per [...]
Drinking Liberally Tonight at 8pm
Some number of us will be gathering at 8pm on Wednesday at the Wild Colonial in Providence. (And we’re looking for new folks to help organize Drinking Liberally — if you’re interested, please come by and let us know.)
Apple: The Company No American Should Be Proud Of
When most Americans think of Apple, they think of the hip commercials, the latest must have gadgets, and the industry leading innovation. What most do not realize is the untold story of how Apple has perfected stealing the seeds of American ingenuity and harvesting them under a complex system of third world slave labor. Throughout [...]
What Can’t Brown Do for You?
Was with Occupy Providence to the City Council meeting on Thursday night and the City Council distributed the following flier about how the wealthy Brown University refuses to pay their fair share in Providence — even after teachers, firefighters, police officers and city workers did their fair share, the taxpayers did theirs and even after [...]
Hard Talk About an Ugly Economy
After several months of more-or-less positive jobs numbers in RI, the last two months have been anything but. And the December numbers were, frankly, horrific. While it is certainly true that a wonk could parse [spin] the recent down-turn toward neutral, the same could be done with the previous up-cycle. As the wonk that could [...]
“Since Roe”: the decision that made all the difference still needs support
On January 22, 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the landmark Roe v. Wade case. The decision ensured that the right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution permits a woman to choose whether to continue a pregnancy or to have a safe and legal abortion. This historic ruling recognizes that women [...]
Racial Profiling Prevention Act
Have you or anyone you know ever been racially profiled? Sick and tired of police abusing their power? Well the Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) has been working very hard on the Racial Profiling Prevention Act since last fall. To gather support, the Racial Profiling Coalition is holding a press conference on this Wednesday, Jan. 25th at 3:00pm inside [...]
Help put President Obama on the ballot in Rhode Island!
UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, the signature gathering canvass has been RESCHEDULED for Sunday, January 22nd from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Volunteers will meet at OFA-RI HQ — 151 Broadway, Providence, RI 02903 (Suite 310). You can RSVP here for the event. This morning Obama for America – Rhode Island volunteer Jeff P. filed President [...]
This Week at the General Assembly
A highlight and discussion of some of the notable pieces of legislation going through the General Assembly this week. Education aid advance bill passes Assembly, becomes law - The General Assembly approved and the governor signed legislation requested by the East Providence Budget Commission to allow the city to receive its state education aid early to prevent [...]
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