Politics

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has ordered flags in the state lowered to half-staff in remembrance of the six people killed during an assassination attempt on Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Chafee on Monday ordered flags lowered until sunset on Friday to honor the dead and the 14 injured outside a supermarket in Tucson on Saturday.

Chafee calls it an unthinkable tragedy that has brought him and all Rhode Islanders great personal sadness.

By FLO JONIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – "Shocked and devastated." That was Congressman Jim Langevin's reaction to the shooting of Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. But Langevin says he will do nothing special to enhance his personal security.

They sat together on the Armed Services Committee and Congressman Jim Langevin calls Gabrielle Giffords a good friend. He was horrified to hear she was shot while meeting with constituents at a Tucson grocery store.

By ALEX NUNES and IAN DONNIS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A state lawmaker from Cranston is renewing his push to legalize same-sex marriage in Rhode Island.

Democratic state Representative Arthur Handy says he will introduce legislation today to make legal same sex marriage in the Ocean State. This is the ninth year Handy has introduced the measure, but he says he's more optimistic given the swearing in of independent Governor Lincoln Chafee.

By MEGAN HALL

Providence, RI – Last night more than a thousand people gathered at the Rhode Island Convention Center to celebrate the inauguration of Providence's new Mayor Angel Taveras.

Supporters danced, cheered, and drank at the free event, which featured bilingual speeches and music for the city's first Latino mayor.

Taveras' sister, Dinora Dominguez, switched effortlessly between English and Spanish as she introduced her brother.

By WRNI STAFF

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The swearing in for statewide office holders is still a day away but officials in several Rhode Island cities will be taking the oath of office today.

In Providence, Angel Taveras will become the city's first Latino mayor during a swearing in ceremony on the steps of City Hall this afternoon.

In Pawtucket, Donald Grebien will be sworn in as mayor this morning at City Hall. He'll replace the city's longest serving mayor, James Doyle.