News

Spare Change?

At the 100-day mark, Barack Obama still doesn't have a clear mandate for sweeping reforms
A tension lies at the heart of the Obama presidency. After 100 days in office, the public still seems uncertain how to interpret the historic nature of the election last November.

By STEVEN STARK | April 28, 2009

Eyes on the prize

Hold on, Linc Chafee! Dems Frank Caprio, Patrick Lynch, and Elizabeth Roberts would also like to be governor in 2010
We interrupt the Lincoln Chafee buzz fest to bring you this little nugget of news: there are a few Democrats who'd like to be governor, too.

By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | April 22, 2009

A bad development

Citywatch
The most telling thing about this week's report on the R.I. Economic Development Corporation may be how many people didn't want to talk about it

By MARION DAVIS | April 22, 2009

C.J. Chivers's real journalism

Plus, it's time for same-sex marriage, the PPL on the brink, and some unusual tomes
Phillipe and Jorge were absolutely stunned by the astounding and chilling story on the front page of the April 20 Urinal

By PHILLIPE and JORGE | April 22, 2009

The shovel-ready lessons of the New Deal

Action speaks!
Action Speaks!, AS220's always-engaging panel discussion series, is back. "So soon?" you ask. Why, yes.

By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | April 22, 2009

Dumb College Edition

Uber-PC at Beige University. Plus, too many sad farewells
Phillipe and Jorge have words of wisdom for Brown University's idiotic, uber-politically correct faculty members who voted to drop Columbus Day and substitute a "Fall Weekend" at the behest of student group called Native Americans at Brown.

By PHILLIPE and JORGE | April 15, 2009

Our local heroes

Working behind the scenes
Working behind the scenes

By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ and DAVID SCHARFENBERG | April 15, 2009

Man bites newspaper

The genesis of the newspaper problems can be traced to Richard Nixon.
It's not news that newspapers are in huge trouble — victims of technological change and a mini-depression. What is news is the unadorned glee that is greeting the demise of newsprint.

By STEVEN STARK | April 19, 2009

Equal rites?

Why has Rhode Island lagged behind the rest of New England on same-sex marriage legislation?
New England has made a pretty good case, in recent years, for America's capital of queer.

By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | April 08, 2009

Death by handgun

A public-health crisis; plus, gay marriage advances
A couple of weeks ago, David S. Bernstein wrote about the growing "state sovereignty" movement backed by anti-government conspiracy theorists and gun-rights extremists, and touted on the syndicated radio show and Web site of deranged agitator Alex Jones.

By EDITORIAL | April 08, 2009

Blue Balls

The word on the street is that sports are recession-proof — think again
It's one of the great myths of modern American life that, no matter what travesties befall us, sports will carry on unfazed.

By STEVEN STARK | April 15, 2009

Cheap jokes R us

Plus, the Times discovers Jamestown, the Globe in peril, and casino hypocrisy
Phillipe and Jorge's esteemed columnist friends from the Urinal, Bob Kerr and Edward Fitzpatrick, both picked up last week on the new bright orange "P" that is now meant to be the symbol of Providence to the outside world

By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | April 08, 2009

Cutbacks loom as need for homeless assistance grows

Social crisis
They're not clustering on the streets, so you may not see them. But right now, Jim Ryczek, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, says Rhode Island has more homeless people than ever.

By MARION DAVIS | April 08, 2009

RISD takes to the streets to show 'What We Do'

Bursting the bubble
"What We Do," an unprecedented, student-run event on April 11 at the Rhode Island School of Design, aims to capture, in a frenzied six hours at six locations, the spirit of Providence's most creative and offbeat college.

By MARION DAVIS | April 08, 2009

Fighting the good fight

DARE faces major changes and challenges
As Rhode Island's poor and working-class citizens face a shrinking job market, social program cuts, and an avalanche of home foreclosures, a leading low-income advocacy group faces major changes.

By STEVEN STYCOS | April 01, 2009

Why local TV news will suck

Plus the return of the Remains, judging the judges, and best wishes for Charlie
For the past few weeks, the phones at Casa Diablo have been ringing off the hook with word of what was about to transpire at Channel 10/WJAR-TV.

By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | April 01, 2009

Pink Rides Providence, peddling a plan for a bike-sharing program

Alternate routes
Pink Rides Providence , a bike-sharing program born out of two RISD juniors' desire to share the joys of cycling with their fellow students, is scaling up.

By MARION DAVIS | March 25, 2009

Providence's pianos play happily, thanks to a tuner

The 88s
You might not know David Cutler, but you know his work. If you've played a piano in Providence over the last 15 years — from the dusty upright in Hudson Street Market to a posh baby-grand on the East Side — it's likely the city's go-to piano technician was there before you, tweaking the strings to make "Rocket Man" and "Für Elise" sound just right.

By PHILIP EIL | March 25, 2009

Giles is one tough cookie

Plus economic outrage, the clueless Pope, and listening to 'The Angry Man'
Phillipe and Jorge could not be more pleased to hear that President Barack Obama has nominated Cynthia Giles, the director of Rhode Island's branch of the Conservation Law Founda-tion.

By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | March 25, 2009

How much do lobbyists pay to get their way?

Special interests are big spenders at the State House
In 2008, corporations spent more than $3 million to hire lobbyists to protect their interests at the Rhode Island State House.

By STEVEN STYCOS | March 18, 2009