Every Friday, GoLocalProv's Russ Moore breaks down who is rising and who is falling in RI politics, business, and sports.
Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island media, both for newspapers and on political campaigns. Send him email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @russmoore713.
Related Slideshow: Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - April 3, 2015
The Congressman has proposed a bill that would make it illegal for states to pass laws like the bill recently passed in Indiana that makes it legal for businesses to discriminate against individuals by citing "religious freedom." Let's face it: discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation is a hallmark of ignorance--not religious freedom.
The State Senator from North Kingstown was among the first of a chorus of legislators calling to end the gag order in place concerning the pension lawsuit settlement. Sheehan rightly pointed out that Judge Sarah Taft-Carter's gag order seems a lot like censorship.
The Governor smartly came out against Indiana's recently passed law that allows businesses to discriminate against individuals on the basis of religious freedom. Rhode Island is a welcoming and inclusive place, and the Governor does not support policies that would allow businesses to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
"Not only do we recognize marriage equality in Rhode Island, but we have comprehensive anti-discrimination laws on the books that cover sexual orientation," Marie Aberger, Governor Raimondo's Press Secretary, told GoLocalProv. "We are working to strengthen our economy in Rhode Island by attracting innovative companies to invest and grow here. Being open, inclusive, and tolerant is an important ingredient in building a 21st century economy – and being a place people are proud to call home."
The Governor also appointed 12 members to the long vacant Commission on Women this week. The commission will focus on women's issues, particularly the issue of increasing pay equity for women when compared to men with similar jobs.
Though the official settlement deal's details continue to trickle out (thanks to the gag order), the fact that the vast majority of the workers and the administration have agreed to settle the suit is a positive thing as it locks in most of the savings and avoids any risk of losing the case. Now, it's up to the legislature to vet the deal and make sure it works well for their constituents
GoLocalProv reported earlier this week that John Prince, who filed a complaint with the Providence Police Department earlier last autumn after two Providence Police Officers confiscated his phone that he was using to tape the officers after they followed him to his home, was found to have a valid complaint by the police department. Two officers were disciplined for their actions, according to a spokeswoman for the Public Safety Commissioner.
There is magic in Friartown after all. Just over one week after a disappointing end to the men's basketball season, the men's hockey team scored a dramatic victory in the NCAA Hockey tournament and a berth to the Frozen Four--their first since 1985--which takes place next weekend.
The retired Supreme Court Chief Justice receives an annual pension worth roughly $146,000 a year, but Rhode Island taxpayers will be expected to fork over even more cash to him, as wpri.com reported that Williams will be paid by the State of RI and the public sector unions due to his ongoing efforts to settle the pension lawsuit as "Special Master." If you thought that Williams was volunteering as a favor to the taxpayers who have treated him so well during his career, you were badly mistaken.
Of course, nobody knows how much Williams will be paid, because Taft-Carter has shrouded the proceedings around the pension lawsuit and potential settlement in secrecy. Taft-Carter's attempt to keep the people of Rhode Island in the dark about such an important issue that will be vital to Rhode Island's financial footing going forward has been nothing short of disgraceful.
Maybe the move to outsource the copy editing of the Providence Journal to Texas wasn't a smart move? The paper accidentally published the social security number of a family member of a Warwick student who is trying to decide what college to attend in it's recent Sunday edition. Yikes.
It's surprising to see that the mayor's top level staffers are exclusively white as was reported by GoLocalProv on Wednesday. One would have expected Elorza to appoint a cabinet that more properly reflects the diversity of our capital city.
Following the on heels of a Facebook post last week that harshly compared Christianity to Islam, GoLocalProv reported last Saturday that a Woonsocket Zoning Board member shared a highly offensive Facebook post of a Marine pointing a gun at President Obama's head. How can the city of Woonsocket keep this person on the zoning board?
Rhode Island is the worst state for doctors according to Wallethub, a personal finance website. The website found that RI ranked very low in doctor annual pay and high in malpractice payouts.
