News

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts' campaign committee did not pay federal taxes for two years and has filed amended returns to reflect it owes about $300 in taxes.

Dan Meuse, a spokesman for the Democrat seeking a second term, told The Associated Press he sent the returns Monday for about $2,200 of interest income in 2008 and 2009. The campaign reviewed its records after an AP inquiry.

By IAN DONNIS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The two gubernatorial frontrunners, independent Lincoln Chafee and Democrat Frank Caprio, traded charges Monday over which of them would be more fiscally responsible.

Caprio has repeatedly criticized Chafee's proposal to add a one percent sales tax on currently exempt items. During a Providence news conference, Chafee says that's hypocritical since Caprio backed a series of tax and fee increases during his long legislative career.

By MEGAN HALL

Providence, RI –

Ten staff members went to the hospital and one patient felt light headed after hydrogen sulfide leaked into the state's mental health hospital this morning. The toxic gas came from insulation disturbed during construction on the roof of Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston.

Chief operating officer Paul Despres says the problem has been corrected.

By CATHERINE WELCH

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Superior Court judge has upheld the constitutionality of the law that paved the way for the Central Falls receivership.

In a 48-page decision, Judge Michael Silverstein ruled that the state's receivership law quote, "does not have a permanent effect on a municipality's form of government."

Silverstein also wrote that the law guards against arbitrary and unconstrained actions.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Listen to the WRNI Morning News Podcast for Monday, October 18, 2010.

By FLO JONIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – By now most Rhode Islanders are familiar with the four major candidates running for governor. But there are other, lesser known candidates you may not be familiar with. WRNI's Flo Jonic introduces us to two of them.

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

By SCOTT MACKAY

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For those who don't remember, some political and banking slights of hand left hundreds-of-thousands of Rhode Islanders in financial turmoil and tax payers got stuck cleaning up the mess. This week, political analyst Scott MacKay dips into the history books for a reminder of just how deeply politicians can get into our pocketbook.

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

By FLO JONIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Monday to celebrate the completion of a new home for the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non violence.

Rhode Island's entire congressional delegation will be on hand for the grand opening of the new quarters of the Institute for the Study and Practice of nonviolence.

By FLO JONIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence tourism industry appears to be on the rebound. Sixty-four percent of hotel rooms have been full on average so far this year, compared to 57 percent at this time last year.

The statistics come from the Providence Convention and Visitors Bureau whose spokeswoman, Kristen Adamo, says the hotel industry is back to pre-recessionary levels.

By CATHERINE WELCH

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse says security has vastly improved in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Whitehouse has just returned to Rhode Island from a week-long tour of the region. He says Kandahar in Afghanistan and Ramadi, Iraq are both starting to look less like war zones and more like bustling cities. Although he says there's still tension along the Iraq, Kuwait border.