By Dan Yorke, WPRO
OKLAHOMA DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION
And our prayer, this week. It is just inconceivable to see what little can be done when a tornado that powerful comes ripping through a community. There are just no words over the loss of life…and the horror of it all for the families and those precious children. They must be at the right hand of God.
Amazing how few shelters are in place in a tornado belt. Seems that crisis reaction is just the way it always has to be.
IN WASHINGTON
When Lois Lerner hit and ran she poured gasoline on an already burning fire. Not sure what the legal strategy was in the tax exempt leader’s blurting out a self-serving statement before claiming the fifth. Seems she canceled out that option and should be heading back under force of subpoena to a house hearing very soon.
And if you’re the president, you change the conversation with anti-terrorist/drone speech and Q and A. Always go back to national defense when the domestic politics are crumbling around you.
THE RHODE ISLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Board holds off on a new deal for Commissioner Deb Gist. The squeaky wheels of the teacher union may cause the Chaffee crowd on the board to offer tempered support for renewal. Anything less than the three years Gist is looking for will send a weak enough signal that will send her looking. We see this type of passive/aggressive politics all the time. And Lincworld perfects it. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile the board approves the concept of arming campus police. Makes perfect sense and has for a long time. That gun scare weeks ago at URI served this purpose, at least. The decision will be made by the brass at each college.
THE TOLL EQUIPMENT
It’s being erected on the Sakonnet River Bridge. Now we are just weeks away from the implementation of the tolls, which at their cheapest will run locals $30 per month for unlimited travel. What a screwing the people of the east bay and island are getting here. Myopic government and provincial constituents (“I don’t use the bridge so I don’t care”) will cause economic hardship for motorists and small business. The damn bridge is nothing more than an expensive overpass…a local road. It’s wrong to toll it. Period.
TABLE GAMES AT TWIN RIVER
On site coverage of the trucks delivering the gaming tables at Twin River is weird, and sad. Give the gaming guys credit for working the local press into a cheer leading role as they call the play by play of table assembly. Why not? What other economic development story is there to cover? Crickets.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Sorry to see the P-Bruins lose a three game lead and the series. Don’t feel the same way about the big boys since my offensive anemic Rangers are still battling with last night’s win. Game five Saturday afternoon. Should end there, but you never know…
Make sure you thank a veteran and pause to remember the sacrifice of our military throughout history this weekend. And enjoy the first weekend of the summer season.
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Dan Yorke
