Ian Donnis

Everything pales in comparison to the horrific news today from Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed more than two-dozen people, including 20 children. Governor Lincoln Chafee says state officials have offered to assist their counterparts in Connecticut . . . . Here's my countdown for the week: 

Providence police on Thursday approved, by an 89 percent margin, a settlement with the City of Providence that, the city says, saves $18.5 million in the current budget year and cuts the pension plan’s unfunded liability by at least $170 million. The vote, word which came in via mobile phones as city officials joined reporters for a holiday party at the home of David Ortiz, Mayor Angel Taveras’ press secretary, is the latest in a string of negotiated settlements in Providence.

James Diossa, the mayor-elect of Central Falls, says he hopes to raise the level of investment in the city by restoring confidence in its municipal government.

During an interview broadcast this morning on RIPR, Diossa said:

Governor Lincoln Chafee, as part of a statement following today’s school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, says RI officials have offered their assistance to Connecticut. Here’s the governor’s full statement:

The word “tragedy” is used often these days, but it is difficult to think of a more truly tragic turn of events than what occurred in Newtown, Connecticut earlier today.

On behalf of all the people of Rhode Island, our most sincere condolences and sympathy are with the families of the victims of this horrendous crime.

Gary Alexander, the former director of the state Department of Human Services, is costing Pennsylvania taxpayers thousands of dollars by traveling by car from a home in Rhode Island to his current job as Pennsylvania’s secretary of public welfare, according to a published report.

The Pennsylvania Independent has these details:

Stephen Hourahan, a top adviser to Governor Lincoln Chafee, is leaving the administration for a job as chief advancement officer with Family Service of Rhode Island.

Via news release:

Hourahan left Family Service in 2009 to join the successful Chafee for Governor campaign. He also served as Communications Director for then-Senator Lincoln Chafee and in a variety of positions for the late Senator John Chafee.

James Diossa, the mayor-elect of Central Falls, says EngageRI should disclose its contributors in the interest of transparency.

“I’m all about open [government] and honest and transparency, so I believe it should be open,” Diossa said during a taping this morning of RIPR’s Political Roundtable. The segment will air during Morning Edition at 5:40 and 7:40 on Friday.

Does the General Assembly ever cut its budget? On at least one recent occasion, yes.

The legislature’s spending for the fiscal year that ended June 30 (fiscal 2012) was cut by $3 million, according to information presented during a House Finance Committee meeting Wednesday. House spokesman Larry Berman offered this explanation:

The liberal activist group RI Jobs with Justice is having its latest awards dinner this Thursday, 6-9 pm, at the Cranston Portuguese Club. Former state rep David Segal sent along the following details:

Jobs With Justice is scrappy, but one of the most important and effective activist organizations in Rhode Island.  The campaign they helped lead in support of a living wage ordinance in Providence is one of the reasons I got involved in politics here and decided to run for City Council a decade ago. 

James Diossa won a historic victory Tuesday as the first Latino mayor of predominantly Latino Central Falls. Diossa will lead the state's smallest city as it tries to move beyond bankruptcy.