Central Falls

Central Falls Expands City Hall Hours on Tuesdays

Flo Jonic — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:22:12 +0000

The city of Central Falls has taken steps to be more accessible to residents. Starting next Tuesday and continuing on the second and last Tuesday of every month, Central Falls City Hall will be open until 7:00pm.

On the same Tuesdays, Central Falls Mayor James Diossa will hold “office hours” where city residents can come to his second floor office and meet with him. The office hours will be from 4:30 to 7:00 pm.

Diossa said he is making the changes to accommodate the busy schedules of the city’s hard-working residents.

Central Falls Chess Players Make Top 10

Elisabeth Harrison — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:03:19 +0000

Chess teams from Central Falls High School and Calcutt Middle School finished in the top 10 at this week’s Chess Supernationals in Nashville, Tennessee.

Coach Frank DelBonis, who is also a history teacher at Central Falls High School, reports the high school team ranked 8^th overall, out of 64 teams from around the country. The middle school team finished in a tie for 7^th and 9^th places out of 54 teams.

RI Mayors Urge Passage of Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Ian Donnis — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:47:37 +0000

A group of mayors from around Rhode Island called Monday for the state Senate to legalize same-sex marriage. It remains unclear when the Senate will take up two competing same-sex marriage bills.

The advocacy group Rhode Islanders United for Marriage says the mayors of six communities support same-sex marriage: Providence, Warwick, Pawtucket, North Providence, Central Falls and Cumberland. Providence Mayor Angel Taveras calls same-sex marriage a matter of equality and something that will give Rhode Island an economic boost.

CF Charter Schools Get Cash Infusion

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:02:30 +0000

Charter Schools in Central Falls, Pawtucket and Cumberland will have $10 million to make building improvements, thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Foundation is providing the money in the form of low or no-interest loans, to increase the number of charter schools seats available for Central Falls students.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Lydia Rogers — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:57:02 +0000

Another snow storm is on its way. The new state Board of Education has all its members in place now. These stories and more on the RIPR Morning News Podcast.
Plus in this week’s This I Believe—Rhode Island essay, writer and actress Janine Weisman talks about the importance of community.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

Central Falls Lands $10M Gates Grant to Upgrade Schools

Flo Jonic — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:08:59 +0000

Central Falls schools are in for a major facelift thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Central Falls is one of 16 cities across the country to receive generous grants from the Microsoft mogul.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made a $10 million grant to the Central Falls District-Charter Collaboration Compact. That’s a coalition of Central Falls public schools and five nearby charter schools. The money will be used to upgrade and build schools. Central Falls superintendent Fran Gallo says the funds will be put to good use.

Sunday Voter Registration Deadline for Central Falls Special Election

Jehane Samaha — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:55:00 +0000

Since James Diossa’s swearing in as Mayor of Central Falls, his former seat on the City Council has sat empty. Steven Corrales is running unopposed for this seat in a special election this March 26^th. As Rhode Island Public Radio’s Jehane Samaha reports, time is running out for Central Falls voters to register.

Neronha calls Moreau a reminder of warped political ethics in Rhode Island

Ian Donnis — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:36:48 +0000

US Attorney Peter Neronha says the sentencing this week of former Central Falls mayor Charles Moreau is a stark reminder of a blinkered view of public service held by a string of corrupt Rhode Island politicians.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Lydia Rogers — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:43:10 +0000

Former Central Falls mayor Charles Moreau is being sent to prison. Plastic grocery bags may be banned in Rhode Island. These stories and more on the RIPR Morning News Podcast.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

Former Central Falls mayor sentenced to 2 years in prison

Flo Jonic — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:32:42 +0000

Former Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau has been sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine for accepting gifts from a man who received lucrative city contracts. Moreau will leave behind a wife and two young sons when he reports to prison March 4^th.

Charles Moreau’s hands trembled as Judge Jack McConnell handed down his sentence: 24 months in a federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a hefty fine.