Politics

Colin Kane, chairman of the I-195 redevelopment commission, joins us on Bonus Q+A to talk about development, Providence, and what's next for the land made available by the relocation of Interstate 195.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee has signed an executive order aimed at increasing the number of minorities in the state workforce.  It’s the fulfillment of a pledge he made in his “state of the state” speech back in January.  Chafee said it’s important for the state workforce to reflect Rhode Island’s changing demographics.

“I think America always has just been evolving, and this is just another ramification, it’s nothing really new it’s just more people of color of other nationalities.”

A state commission formed to preserve and expand defense-related businesses in Rhode Island holds its latest meeting Thursday.

The Defense Economy Planning Commission was created in 2010. The 25-member panel includes state legislators, as well as representatives of private businesses, the National Guard, chambers of commerce, and branches of state government.

As immigration legislation makes its way through the Senate, Rhode Island Public Radio’s Scott MacKay talks with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse about the immigration bill, and what happened to the gun bill that went down in the Senate.

Foreign nationals would be able to get driver’s licenses under a bill being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon.

One of the cosponsors of the legislation, Democratic Senator Juan Pichardo of Providence, said offering licenses to undocumented residents makes sense.

“By granting a driver’s license for undocumented that will give them the ability to register their vehicles and then pay taxes, therefore having some state revenues,” said Pichardo, “but will also provide a safety measure for many residents.”