On Politics

State Senator Stephen Archambault (D-Smithfield) believes the "marriage equality" bill backed by same-sex marriage proponents will emerge from the Senate Judiciary Committee and receive overwhelming support in the full Senate.

"I expect it will go to a [committee] vote, and I'm confident it will pass," Archambault says of the same-sex marriage bill introduced by state Senator Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket).

Thoughts to ponder while watching March Madness: This is the best time of the year for the college basketball junkies among us. What is more thrilling than wall-to-wall televised hoops generously salted with upsets, buzzer beaters and the endless arguments (and bets) over brackets, conferences and the Final Four. All played out in the college atmosphere of  the NCAA tournaments with all the trappings of student cheers, painted faces, pompoms, cheerleaders, crowds fully clad in team colors and the inevitable prancing mascots. Even President Obama fills out his brackets!

Anya Rader Wallack, who as chairwoman of the Green Mountain Health Care Board has led Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin’s ambitious state health care overhaul, is leaving the post and moving back to Rhode Island.

Rader Wallack, one of New England’s leading health policy gurus, is leaving Vermont because her family, which is based in Little Compton, does not want to move to the Green Mountain state, she said.

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras unveiled a 20-point economic plan Wednesday morning during a meeting of the Providence Foundation. The mayor's repeated rhetorical emphasis -- how Providence has bounced back from the financial abyss thanks to collaboration and shared sacrifice -- sounded like one message he'll wield next year during an expected Democratic run for governor.