Catherine Welch

Chafee Urges State to Pay Off 38 Studios Bonds Following Downgrade

Catherine Welch — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:47:54 +0000

Gov. Lincoln Chafee says Moody’s is sending Rhode Island an important message by downgrading the state’s bonds for its failed deal with 38 Studios.

The credit rating agency downgraded the bonds by two notches and put the state on notice that the rest of its obligations are under review for a possible downgrade.

Lawmakers are debating whether to default on the moral obligation bonds used to float the failed video game company. Chafee said as Moody’s has shown, that’s a bad idea.

Windfall Expected From Table Games Opening at Twin River

Catherine Welch — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:30:44 +0000

Rhode Island expects to pocket six-and-a-half million dollars just from table games in the next fiscal year.

Fred Carstensen is an economist at the University of Connecticut who has been studying casino gambling in that state. He said as casinos open in Massachusetts, Rhode Island should expect to get a smaller piece of the casino pie.

"It’s not a bottomless pit, you’re shifting money away from other activities and frankly it doesn’t really create value," said Cartensen.

RI Transitioning Into a Greener Fleet of State Vehicles

Catherine Welch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:02:56 +0000

While kicking off a push to install a network of 50 electric vehicle charging stations, Gov. Lincoln Chafee announced the state will replace much of its fleet with hybrid and electric vehicles. Chafee made the announcement at Roger Williams University, where the first charging station was unveiled.

Director of Administration Richard Licht said the program started this spring, and so far the state has replaced 30 gas-fueled vehicles with hybrids. He notes that a waiver will be given to agencies, such as law enforcement, that can’t find a comparable substitute.

Gov. Chafee Shrugs off Bloomberg Fundraiser for Treasurer Raimondo

Catherine Welch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:23:42 +0000

Gov. Lincoln Chafee is shrugging off news that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is holding a fundraiser this week for state Treasurer Gina Raimondo.

Bloomberg stumped for Chafee in the 2010 governor’s race calling him one of the nation’s most effective leaders. Channel 12 reports that Bloomberg is hosting a fundraiser Thursday for treasurer Gina Raimondo, who is expected to run for governor.

PUC Will Hear From Public on Providence Water Rate Hike Request

Catherine Welch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:19:00 +0000

The public is invited to comment Tuesday on a proposed rate increase by the Providence Water Supply Board. Because Providence sells its water to other municipalities, the rate increase would affect residents in nearly 60 percent of the state.

It’s the first rate hike in four years, and for city residents it means a 24 percent increase. The water board says that’s an additional $6.00 for the average customer.

For the cities of Warwick and East Providence, and for the Kent County and Bristol County water authorities, rates would go up 32 percent.

RI Gas Prices Hold Steady for Third Week in a Row

Catherine Welch — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:28:16 +0000

For the third week in a row, gas prices remained unchanged in the Ocean State. Drivers are seeing prices holding steady at $3.59 a gallon for regular unleaded, according to the latest survey from AAA Southern New England.

That’s up two cents from how much a gallon of gas cost Rhode Island drivers last month. And it’s almost a dime more than drivers in Massachusetts are paying.

Bay State drivers are paying an average $3.50 a gallon for regular unleaded. That’s up a penny from last week.

Rivers Rising Across Rhode Island

Catherine Welch — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:20:39 +0000

All eyes are on the Pawtuxet and Pawcatuck rivers as they are expected to rise even higher Friday night. The Blackstone River is also rising.

Two inches of rain fell between Thursday and Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. It came in what was already a soggy week in Rhode Island. All the rain has pushed the Pawtuxet River to more than a foot above flood stage. The National Weather Service expects it to crest at 11 feet and remain high through Saturday night.

Hockey Fans will Hear Rhode Islander During Stanley Cup Finals at TD Garden

Catherine Welch — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:00:24 +0000

When the Bruins host the Chicago Blackhawks for games three and four of the Stanley Cup finals, a voice from Rhode Island will be part of the games.

When Jim Martin’s working his day job, he’s the spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Providence. But during hockey season, his night job is being the public address announcer for TD Garden in Boston. Martin’s been announcing there for almost 20 years. Two years ago, he announced in his first Stanley Cup game.

DOJ Settles Probe into Segregation of Disabled Student Workers

Catherine Welch — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:28:00 +0000

The Justice Department calls this “a new day” for the Rhode Islanders with developmental disabilities that were moved into segregated workshops and paid well below what they should have earned. The Department of Justice has settled with the state and city of Providence in a case involving some 200 workers.

Stolen Civil War Sword on its Way Back to Brown University

Catherine Welch — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:20:00 +0000

Nearly 30 years after it disappeared from the university’s collection, a federal judge in Virginia has ruled that the Civil War sword must be returned to Brown.

The sword belonging to Col. Rush Hawking was reported stolen back in 1977.

The ruling tracks the sword’s journey over the decades through at least four private collections.