News

By Flo Jonic

Providence, R.I. – Supporters and opponents of same sex marriage held clashing rallies at the State House yesterday. Although they got to within a few feet of each other there was no violence.

The rally was initially called by the National Organization for Marriage, which is on a 19 state tour to drum up opposition to gay marriage. Queer Action Rhode Island heard about it, and decided to crash it.

So on the south steps of the State House the two groups -- each numbering about 150 --
shouted each other down.

By AP

Providence, R.I. – Moderate Party candidate Ken Block is emerging as a potential spoiler in the Rhode Island governor's race.

Political observers say he could siphon votes from any of the other candidates, but the one he may most need to differentiate himself from is Lincoln Chafee, the former Republican senator who is running as an independent.

Block, an entrepreneur, founded the Moderate Party in 2008 on a platform of four "e's" _ economy, ethics, education and environment.

By AP

Providence, R.I. – Flights are returning to normal following a security breach at T.F. Green Airport.

Jim Fotenos, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, says a person passed through a security checkpoint at the Warwick airport without being fully screened.

He says the person was taken into custody, though it's unclear whether the passenger will face any charges. Officials did not identify the passenger.

Providence, R.I. – Hear the daily morning podcast for Friday, July 16, 2010.

Providence, R.I. – The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority has approved a bus fare hike in an attempt to close a $3.7 million budget deficit.

RIPTA's board on Wednesday approved a measure that will raise the basic fares by 25 cents to $2. The increase is expected to bring in about $1.2 million annually. The new fares take effect on Sept. 1.

The board did not take any action of service cut proposals after hearing from groups representing the elderly and disabled.

By Megan Hall

Providence, R.I. – More than 60 women have joined a class-action suit after it was discovered that 10 Rhode Island practices implanted un-approved IUDs in them. The doctors allegedly obtained the cut-rate birth control devices on line from Canada.

Coventry, R.I. – Federal environmental officials say 26 parties have agreed to help clean up the Great Lakes Container Corp. site in Coventry.

Under the settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency, the parties will investigate and remove soil contaminated with hazardous substances at a cost of about $2 million.

The 27-acre site on Arnold Road was used from 1961 to 1980 as a drum reconditioning business, in which drums containing waste chemical and oil residues were cleaned and the waste disposed of at the site.

By Sarah Forman

Providence, R.I. – State Attorney General Patrick Lynch is giving up his candidacy for governor, and is instead backing General Treasurer Frank Caprio. He says that by competing with Caprio - now the lone Democrat in the race - he would waste valuable resources and leave the state vulnerable to electing the wrong man for the job.

Providence, R.I. – Rhode Island is moving forward with plans to bring to the state a gaming company founded by ex-baseball pitcher Curt Schilling.

The state Economic Development Corporation is offering a $75 million loan guarantee to 38 Studios, a game company currently located in Maynard, Mass. The company says it could ultimately offer 400 jobs at an average salary of $70,000.

The EDC board met behind closed doors on Thursday to discuss terms and conditions of the agreement.

By AP

Providence, R.I. – A person close to the gubernatorial campaign of Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch says Lynch plans to announce his departure from the race in a videotaped message he'll post on his website.

The person says Lynch will post the message on his website Thursday at noon. The person wasn't authorized to speak ahead of the announcement and did so on condition of anonymity.

Lynch has badly lagged in fundraising behind fellow Democrat Frank Caprio, who has a $1.7 million campaign war chest.