On Politics

A nine-point plan intended to reduce gun-related violence and reduce the threat of a school shooting in Rhode Island was unveiled by leading elected and public-safety officials at the Statehouse Tuesday afternoon. Legislative leaders repeatedly called the proposal a starting point for discussion, raising questions about what exactly will meet with General Assembly muster before the legislature ends it session in June.

The YWCA Rhode Island is out with its 5th annual Women Holding Office Celebration. This year the YWCA will honor two path-breaking Rhode Island women political figures with the Isabelle Ahearn O’Neill award. Republican Susan L. Farmer, who in 1982 became the first woman elected to a statewide office in Rhode Island when she was elected secretary of state, and Kathleen S. Connell, who became the first Democratic woman to win statewide office when she was elected secretary of state in 1986.

The YWCA Rhode Island is out with its 5th annual Women Holding Office Celebration. This year the YWCA will honor two path-breaking Rhode Island women political figures with the Isabelle Ahearn O’Neill award. Republican Susan L. Farmer, who in 1982 became the first woman elected to a statewide office in Rhode Island when she was elected secretary of state, and Kathleen S. Connell, who became the first Democratic woman to win statewide office when she was elected secretary of state in 1986.

With state officials due to release their proposal Tuesday for curbing gun violence, Republican House lawmakers are inviting gun makers to relocate to Rhode Island in response to changes in Connecticut and Maryland. A legislative news release says the changes render those two states as "hostile territory":

If April is the cruelest month, as T.S. Eliot wrote, perhaps it's due to the chilly weather greeting the start of the baseball season. Welcome back to my weekly column. Your thoughts and tips are always welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's get to it.