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Backers of ‘compassion centers’ come up short

Medical Marijuana
If proponents thought that the state’s approval of medical marijuana two years ago signaled broad support for legal distribution of the drug, the General Assembly’s defeat of legis-lation to create “compassion centers” shows otherwise.

By A.J. PACITTI AND IAN DONNIS | June 25, 2008

Communion shouldn’t be based on politics

Religion
Catholic priests call themselves “vicars of Christ,” so those giving communion need only recall Christ’s forgiveness of a thief on an adjacent Calvary cross, and ask, “What would Jesus do?”

By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | June 18, 2008

Plan languishes for garage at Garrahy courthouse

Parking Wars
The Providence Foundation and some other boosters have been championing a plan to create a multi-story parking garage behind the Garrahy Judicial Complex in downtown Providence.

By IAN DONNIS | June 18, 2008

Legislators push for local action on global warming

Environment
The impetus du jour on Smith Hill? Renewable energy.

By AJ PACITTI | June 11, 2008

Traces of the Trade advances the discussion

Race + Reconciliation
Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North charts the early history of the DeWolfs, a prominent Bristol family whose first three generations were prosperously involved in the slave trade.

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | June 11, 2008

Almost Famous: Micah Salkind

Providence Black Repertory Company
"You can’t throw a stone here without hitting an artist."

By FRANK MULLIN | June 04, 2008

A shopper’s experience of the recession

Consumerism
I went to the mall for a lesson in economics. America’s bad times were palpable there.

By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | June 04, 2008

RI-style problems discovered in Saipan

Small world
Saipan is part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands — a US protectorate that has been politically connected with Uncle Sam since the end of World War II — and it has problems.

By ARIN GREENWOOD | May 28, 2008

Campaign continues to cut diesel emissions

Pollution
Diesel vehicles may be a familiar part of any city, but the pollutants left in their wake can take a serious toll, particularly on the residents of Rhode Island’s capital.

By KATE MAYHEW | May 28, 2008

The Double standards

Women get screwed in sex scandals — and men get a free pass
Women get screwed in sex scandals — and men get a free pass.

By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | May 21, 2008

Should 'Plantations' be removed from the state name?

Race
Eight years after an effort began to remove the word “plantations” from Rhode Island’s official state name, a related bill has not made it out of committee.

By MATT JERZYK | May 14, 2008

New push: add at-large seats to Providence City Council

Talking Politics
In the ward-based politics of the Providence City Council, it’s the rare councilor who publicly criticizes anything beyond the confines of his or her own turf.

By IAN DONNIS | May 14, 2008

Activist leads criminal-justice reform festival

Justice or just us?
When Bruce Reilly was released from the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in 2005 he had serious plans for how he intended to make up for lost time.

By ARIEL WERNER | May 08, 2008

Progressive union coalition gathers in Providence

Annals of labor
If there was an “intelligent designer” who could design a coalition to unify the disparate, passionate elements of the American left, the result would resemble Jobs with Justice (JwJ).

By MATT JERZYK | May 08, 2008

Why care for me, but not poor RI kids?

Priorities
On weekdays this spring, I’ve been driving from my home in Newport to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, where I lie under a fabulous machine that’s saving my life.

By BRIAN C. JONES | May 08, 2008

Avedisian, Trillo challenge Manning for GOP post

Talking politics
Since the RNC is “basically a seniority-based organization,” he says, a change in the post would mean “we’re going to [have to] start all over again.”

By IAN DONNIS | April 30, 2008

How private are your medical records?

Technology watch
Let’s face it: the worldwide Web is making privacy obsolete.

By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | April 30, 2008

Pie-tossers renew free speech debate at Brown

Uncivil liberties
“A lot of people are talking about whether this was outrageous, or justified, or laudable, or totalitarian.”

By ARIEL WERNER | April 30, 2008

The Avery springs to life

Nightlife
John “J.R.” Richard realized the dream of many a nightlife veteran with the opening last week of his stylish new lounge on Providence’s West Side, the Avery.

By IAN DONNIS | April 23, 2008

PETA’s Dan Mathews says all animals are equal

Activism
With its boldest gambit yet — offering $1 million to the person who can create “commercially viable” fake meat — PETA continues to push boundaries in its fight for animal rights.

By KATE MAYHEW | April 23, 2008