Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Reports, audits, forms, contracts among documents to be posted for public.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, January 16
Gov. Lincoln Chafee presented the state's new public access "transparency portal" Jan. 10, demonstrated during a technical briefing led by Chief Digital Officer Thom Guertin, a Woonsocket native. The portal is part of Chafee's Transparency and Accountability Initiative to provide the public with an increased level of information about the operation and management of government and ensuring the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars. With the launch of the site, Rhode Islanders have access to a number of documents that have already been uploaded to the Rhode Island state government Transparency Portal. Over the next 18 months, the state will continue to add financial reports, audits, forms, and other financial information such as …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Supreme Court to decide whether to hear Chafee's challenge of federal custody over accused murderer on Friday.
Lawyers for accused murderer Jason Pleau are asking US District Court Judge William Smith to dismiss elements of the indictment against him to eliminate the possibility of a death sentence. Pleau has been the subject of a struggle between federal authorities and Gov. Lincoln Chafee for nearly a year because he could face the death penalty in federal court. He is charged with the murder of David Main during a night deposit robbery at Citizen's Bank in 2010. In August, Gov. Lincoln Chafee asked the Supreme Court to review the May court decision ordering the state to turn Pleau over to federal custody. The Providence Journal reports the Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the case on Friday. The ACLU has filed a brief urging the …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
City native to upgrade, manage online government services.
Woonsocket native Thom Guertin, current executive director for business technology solutions at The Boston Globe and New York Times, is about to bring Rhode Island's online government services into the modern age. Yesterday Gov. Lincoln Chafee named Guertin Rhode Island's first Chief Digital Officer (CDO) after a three-month, nationwide search to fill the position. Guertin will launch the Office of Digital Excellence (ODE), created by the General Assembly as part of the FY13 Appropriations Bill, to expand and improve the quality of online services provided to Rhode Islanders. Guertin will work on major technology capital upgrades, e-government and e-licensing initiatives, website design, and social media/mobile technology strategy …
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Fairness, permanent record concerns pitted against public safety arguments.
The Senate and House have both approved bills eliminating the criminal charge for carrying an ounce or less of marijuana, which Gov. Lincoln Chafee said he's inclined to pass during a WPRO interview. The legislation passed the House in a 50 to 24 vote and passed the Senate in a 28 to 6 vote. Each bill must now pass in the opposite chamber in order to become law. If enacted, Rhode Island would become the 15th state to decriminalize marijuana. The legislation could save the state millions of dollars each year, clean the judicial dockets for more serious issues and take away the criminal stigma from an otherwise youthful indiscretion, Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), a sponsor of the House bill, said. Woonsocket …
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With today's ceremonial opening of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation's renovated Material Recycling Facility, there's a new way to recycle in Rhode Island.
This morning, Gov. Lincoln Chafee and a group of state and local officials are scheduled to ceremonially open the renovated Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) on the grounds of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation at the Central Landfill in Johnston. The event formally kicks off the new "Recycle Together RI" program, which will allow Woonsocket residents to combine recyclables in the bins they already have, instead of separating the paper from plastic. But there's more to the new system than just being able to throw milk jugs in with old newspapers — according to the RIRRC's new website about the program, residents can now recycle more kinds of plastic containers and paper, including: Some of the items that cannot be recycled …
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Governor says he'll continue to appeal case to U.S. Supreme Court.
After a nearly year-long contest between RI and the federal government, Gov. Lincoln Chafee says he'll hand accused murderer Jason W. Pleau over to federal officials today. Gov. Lincoln Chafee confirmed this morning that he plans to allow accused murderer Jason Pleau to be turned over to federal court this afternoon — though he added that the state will continue to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Pleau has been the subject of a struggle between federal authorities and Chafee for nearly a year because he could face the death penalty in federal court. He is charged with the murder of David Main during a night deposit robbery at Citizen's Bank in 2010 On Tuesday, the Providence Journal reported a U.S. District Court judge in …
42.00564
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City of Woonsocket Police Dept
242 Clinton St, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/chafee-to-turn-pleau-over-to-federal-custody
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Thursday, May 10, 2012
Sister of David Main says legal fight is preventing proper prosecution.
This morning, Gov. Lincoln Chafee responded to Deborah Smith, sister to David Main, who says he's preventing just prosecution of Jason Pleau, accused of killing her brother in a 2010 robbery. Pleau, 34, was one of three suspects arrested for the murder and robbery of David Main, which took place at Citizens Bank on Diamond Hill Road in Woonsocket in September of 2010. WPRI.com reports that Smith sent a letter to Chafee May 8 asking him to stop "obstructing justice" by fighting for custody over Pleau. Pleau, who has been the subject of a custody struggle between federal authorities and Chafee, could face the death penalty in federal court. In state court, Pleau would face a maximum sentence of life in prison. The governor has refused to …
Chafee says he's confident in next stage of legal contest.
Governor Lincoln Chafee has decided he'll appeal the U.S First Circuit Court of Appeals ruling telling him he must turn over accused murderer Jason Pleau to federal custody. Pleau, who has been the subject of a custody struggle between federal authorities and Chafee, could face the death penalty in federal court. In state court, Pleau would face a maximum sentence of life in prison. The governor has refused to turn Pleau over to federal authorities for the last 10 months, invoking Rhode Island's long-standing objection to the death penalty and the state's sovereignty. In a release sent out at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Chafee wrote: "After reviewing the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals en banc opinion, and weighing the state’s considerable …
42.00564
-71.50974
City of Woonsocket Police Dept
242 Clinton St, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/chafee-to-appeal-court-order-to-turn-over-pleau
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Under the governor's budget plan, the restaurant tax would go from 8 percent to 10 percent next year.
When it comes to Gov. Chafee's proposal to increase the restaurant tax from 8 percent to 10 percent, restaurant owners in Rhode Island have strong feelings. “This is a second restaurant tax,” said Matt Wronski, owner of Tio Mateo’s and Greenwich Bay Gourmet in East Greenwich. “First they added a percentage point that was going to be temporary,” he said, referring to the increase from 7 percent to 8 percent in 2003, when Gov. Carcieri was governor. That 1 percent, which is still collected, goes back to cities and towns. Chafee's 2 percent increase would go to funding education on the local level. “Once they get their fingers in your pocket, they don’t let go,” said Wronski. “I’m from Detroit. I’ve seen this movie and it doesn’t turn out …
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee is hosting a 'holiday tree' lighting next week, despite objections.
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee is calling the 17-foot spruce tree that will be lit inside the Statehouse rotunda a "holiday tree," even though the General Assembly passed a resolution calling it a "Christmas tree" earlier this year. According to The Providence Journal, the governor is defending his use of the term, saying it honors Rhode Island's heritage as a refuge for religious tolerance three centuries ago. Some state lawmakers criticize his position, and an Associated Press story on the issue has been picked up across the country. News outlets such as The Washington Post, MSNBC and the Huffington Post have all run with the story. Earlier today, the Providence Journal also released the findings of a PolitiFact review, which found …
Andy Fuller
10:27 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
You have no clue how upset this whole situation makes me. First off, this proves the death penalty does serve as a deterrent. But what really gets me is how the person elected to the top job in the state thinks protecting this piece of work is more important than any of the major issues facing this state. The two reasons for most not liking the death penalty is the possibility of an innocent man … more ›