Elisha Aldrich
A good year for Grow Smart?
Scott Wolf, the executive director of Grow Smart Rhode Island, said there were some big wins for sustainable and equitable development in the last legislative session. RhodeMapRI was not one of them, he acknowledged. “A lot of the economic development proposals that we thought were good for smart growth passed,” Wolf said. “Those are embodied […]
How the smallest state got the smallest uninsured rate
A recent Gallup poll revealed that Rhode Island has the lowest uninsured rate in the country, at 2.7 percent, as well as one of five states that saw its uninsured rate decline by 10 points or more. But, how did that happen? Anya Wallack, director of HealthSourceRI, was able to provide some answers. “You come […]
Progressive Dems call out conservative Warwick mayoral candidate
What was supposed to be a casual meet and greet for the Warwick Progressive Democrats quickly went downhill when Sam Bell, the state coordinator for the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats, called out Democratic Warwick mayoral candidate Richard Corrente’s merits, saying that he’s an embarrassment to the party. Corrente’s campaign has been an all around unorthodox […]
RI ACLU calls behavior detection testing at T.F. Green ‘junk science’
The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has come out in opposition to the behavioral testing conducted at T.F. Green Airport by the Department of Homeland Security. The field test is for a “behavior detection” program that is meant to determine whether or not passengers have “mal-intent.” Steven Brown, the executive director […]
Rep. Serpa pre-files bill to provide financial relief to storm victims
Representative Patricia Serpa (D- District 27) is already preparing for next year’s legislative session, as she today announced that she will prefile legislation designed to assist home and business owners that were harmed by the storm on Aug. 4. Serpa is the chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, as well as a representative for […]
Raimondo tours East Providence screen-printing shop, talks jobs plan
Nelson Silva, the owner of Graphic Ink, a screen-printing and embroidery shop in East Providence, likes to joke that he normally works half days- 6 am to 6 pm. That’s what he told Governor Gina Raimondo Wednesday afternoon when she toured Graphic Ink in an effort to spread information about her different economic initiatives, and […]
Judge Licht allows medical marijuana discrimination case to move forward
Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Richard Licht refused to dismiss a case in which a University of Rhode Island graduate student alleged that she was denied employment due to her status as a medical marijuana user. The case, which was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in November of 2014, concerns URI grad student […]
SEIU, Raimondo reach agreement to improve early childhood education
Last week, Governor Gina Raimondo and SEIU District 1199 New England reached an agreement concerning family childcare providers that are part of the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. This agreement was made in part due to legislation from 2013, which established collective bargaining rights for family childcare providers. The SEIU unanimously approved the two-year agreement. […]
Coalition of women bring new voting equipment to RI
As Americans celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act Thursday, Governor Gina Raimondo and Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea observed the historic Act’s passing in their own way – by signing into law legislation that will update Rhode Island’s voting equipment for the first time in 20 years. Bills S999 and H6312, sponsored […]
Protestors combat fracking in Rhode Island with Burriville power plant
The plant, called the Clear River Energy Center, would utilize fracking to generate energy with natural gas. Fracking is a process that involves drilling into the earth, and then shooting a high-pressure water mixture at the rock to release the natural gas inside… the process uses huge amounts of water that must be transported to the site. Second, many worry that dangerous chemicals used in the process may contaminate groundwater around the site. There are also concerns that fracking causes small earthquakes.
Rep. Abney selected for prestigious legislative leadership program
State Representative Marvin L. Abney (D- District 73) has been chosen to become one of the Council of State Governments’ Henry Toll Fellows for 2015. The Toll Fellowship is a leadership development program, named for the founder of CSG, Henry Walcott Toll. Each year, the program selects 48 officials from all three branches of government, […]
ABLE Act gives disabled children funds for their future
Only a few days after the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rhode Island instituted a new law that will allow families of children with disabilities to create a tax-free investment account to help financially support them when they reach adulthood. Governor Gina Raimondo signed the “Achieving a Better Life Experience,” or ABLE […]
Disability forum exposes inaccessibility, discrimination across state programs
If you thought that riding RIPTA, or receiving food benefits was difficult, imagine trying to do it with a disability. That’s what was talked about Tuesday afternoon when the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities held a public forum at the Warwick Public Library, where those in the disabled community could voice their concerns about accessibility across […]
Cicilline introduces LGBT protection bill in Congress
Congressman David Cicilline (D- RI) announced historic legislation to expand upon the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and provide protections for the LGBT community in several areas, including public accommodations, housing, employment, federal funding, education, credit, and jury service. Announced in Washington, D.C., the bill, known as the Equality Act, has been introduced in both […]
RI Women’s Fund opens applications for policy learning program
The Women’s Fund of Rhode Island has officially begun the application process for its 2015-2016 Women’s Policy Institute. The institute, which began in 2011, works to increase the number of women leaders that are involved in state policy creation. Members will first be trained, and then will work to draft and support legislation concerning women’s […]
Children’s Cabinet convenes for the first time in 8 years, plans to increase child well being
For the first time since 2007, Governor Gina Raimondo convened the Children’s Cabinet to set a plan in order to promote opportunities for Rhode Island children, by establishing policies and budget plans directed towards children and their needs. National data from KIDS COUNT, an organization that helps to mold better futures for children who are […]
Office of Energy Resources proposes $14 million for clean energy investments
The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources has announced a plan to invest in clean energy, as well as reduce energy costs, by distributing $14 million in proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auctions. RGGI, which was launched in 2009, allowed participating states to establish a cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil […]
Raimondo signs executive order for state healthcare reform
After the successes of Governor Gina Raimondo’s Reinventing Medicaid task force, today, at the Kent County YMCA, she announced a new initiative to overhaul the state’s healthcare system as a whole. Titled the Working Group for Healthcare Innovation, the group, under the leadership of Elizabeth Roberts, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, seeks to […]
Whitehouse helps to overhaul federal education law with Every Child Achieves Act
The United States Senate passed the Every Child Achieves Act Thursday, which eliminated many of the provisions set forth in former President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind law. While No Child Left Behind was criticized for pressuring educators to teach to a test, the Every Child Achieves Act encourages communities to improve schools […]
RI Latinas graduate from civic leadership program
The Latina Leadership Institute (LLI), a program designed to engage Rhode Island Latinas in their communities, celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2015 at the State House on Thursday evening. Offered by the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund (RILCF), the goal of the program is to create and inspire Latinas to take leadership positions […]
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