News

By Catherine Welch

Providence, RI – The mayor of Central Falls says he and the city council have hired an attorney to fight the property tax hike put into the city's current budget.

The mayor made that statement after a meeting Monday between the state appointed receiver who crafted the tax hike and city residents who questioned it.

Residents packed into City Council chambers, peppering receiver Mark Pfeiffer with questions about how the city got into such debt and whether there was any way besides raising property taxes to clear it up.

By Ian Donnis

Providence, R.I. – Today marks the deadline for filing court appeals against the power-purchase agreement approved earlier this month by the state Public Utilities Commission.

Under the 20-year agreement approved by the PUC, National Grid will buy electricity from Deepwater Wind's demonstration wind farm off of Block Island.

Critics say the decision was flawed, in part, because it was made to benefit a particular company.

By Flo Jonic

Providence, R.I. – The Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a recovering heroin addict who was denied permission to volunteer at her six-year-old daughter's school because of two drug possession convictions.

By Elisabeth Harrison

Providence, R.I. – Parents and school officials in East Providence meet tonight about a controversial policy ending recess before or after lunch. Loss of unstructured playtime is part of a national trend that worries some child development experts. But East Providence officials say they are not trying to do away with playtime.

Providence, R.I. – Listen to the WRNI Morning News Podcast for Monday, August 23, 2010.

By AP

Providence, R.I. – Four Democrats and one Republican who hope to succeed Patrick Kennedy in Congress will meet in a candidates forum in Newport.

The Newport County Chamber of Commerce and The Newport Daily News are co-sponsoring Monday evening's forum at the Community College of Rhode Island's Newport campus.

By AP

Providence, R.I. – Five people charged in a federal corruption investigation in North Providence will be in court this week.

Three former North Providence town council members accused of soliciting bribes are scheduled to be arraigned for a second time on Monday following the release of a new indictment last week charging them with additional extortion schemes.

Raymond Douglas III, Joseph Burchfield and John Zambarano have previously pleaded not guilty.

By Staff report

Providence, R.I. – Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas is still hopeful about the tribe's chances of operating a casino in the Ocean State.

Thomas says he expects legislation to pass in Washington that would put the Narragansetts on a level playing field with other federally recognized tribes. He says that would set the stage for his tribe to work with state officials, and help Rhode Island keep pace with potential gambling expansion in Massachusetts.

Providence, R.I. – Listen to the WRNI Morning News Podcast for Friday, August 20, 2010.

By Flo Jonic

Providence, R.I. – The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped from 12 percent in June to 11.9 percent in July. It was the fifth straight month over month decrease and the lowest rate in a year.

The number of unemployed residents was also down. Just over 68,000 people are willing and able to work but unable to find jobs.

The hospitality industry led the way in hiring, adding 900 jobs in July. Manufacturing also had a good month, with an increase of 600 jobs.