Public Service

A Thought on Minimum Manning

By Justin Katz | February 16, 2009 |

I know and trust Lieutenant Michael Morse of the Providence Fire Department, and he certainly makes some persuasive points on minimum manning: From my seat I witness Providence’s manpower used beyond the breaking point daily. Day after day, we are forced to tap resources from surrounding communities to answer 911 calls. Crews from Cranston, East…

Is There Anyone in New England with a Dimmer Understanding of the Principles of Regulation than Christopher Dodd?

By Carroll Andrew Morse | February 8, 2009 |

Keven Rennie‘s column in today’s Hartford Courant forces the reader to wonder if Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd is incredibly dim-witted, or incredibly dishonest (h/t Instapundit). I don’t think there’s any other choice. Or maybe there’s no need to choose…Sen. Christopher J. Dodd went one contrivance too far last week at his carefully choreographed press event…

“A Fussy and Difficult Student”

By Justin Katz | December 14, 2008 |

There’s a familiar face on the front page of the Providence Journal today: From the beginning, the relationship between William Felkner and the Rhode Island College School of Social Work has sounded like the screech of chalk on a blackboard. … Felkner has filed a lawsuit against Rhode Island College that revives arguments from conservatives…

A Little Charity Is All It Takes.

By Justin Katz | September 28, 2008 |

I’ve been neglectful in not responding to requests from the International Medical Corps to direct Anchor Rising readers to the American Express Members Project via which American Express members can vote for a charity to receive up to $1.5 million. My understanding is that IMC is currently #5 on the list, which makes it eligible…

RIP, Tony Snow

By Donald B. Hawthorne | July 12, 2008 |

Tony Snow died today, at age 53, of cancer. We remember his family in our prayers as we pay tribute to the memory of a wonderful man. Some tributes: Cal Thomas Byron York Shannen Coffin Kathryn Jean Lopez Michelle Malkin Fox News Several selections from Snow’s writings about Reagan, Parting Thoughts on the Ultimate Sacrifice,…

But Didn’t He Play an Integral and Witting Role in the Alleged “Culture of Corruption”

By Monique Chartier | May 29, 2008 |

Former White House Press Secretary (2003 – 2006) Scott McClellan has published his memoir, “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception”. Why, all of a sudden, if he had all these grave concerns, did he not raise these sooner? … This is 1 1/2 years after he left the administration.…

You Have Been Warned

By Justin Katz | April 25, 2008 |

URI professor Tom Mather is officially warning Rhode Islanders that Lyme disease–bearing ticks will be especially prominent this year: Based on his research of the tick population last year, University of Rhode Island professor Tom Mather predicts the number of ticks infected with Lyme disease will be unusually high this year, requiring extra caution from…

What the F@%#?!?!?

By Carroll Andrew Morse | April 24, 2008 |

From an Alisha A. Pina report in the Projo…EAST PROVIDENCE — A Molotov cocktail thrown through a window of the Rumford fire station sparked a brief fire late Tuesday night. A similar device was tossed on a nearby church’s walkway. No one was hurt in either incident.I have no idea what the ratio of maliciousness…

The State as Bizarro Company

By Justin Katz | February 27, 2008 |

Is it me, or is there just something fundamentally bizarre about this construct: The pressure comes as the authority is already having trouble carrying a large influx of riders. More Rhode Islanders are taking the bus since the spike in gas prices that began after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Public transportation provides a reasonable check…

Details on Heroism

By Justin Katz | October 23, 2007 |

The details of Firefighter Third Class Robert Thurber’s receipt of recognition at last night’s Tiverton town council meeting prove me to have understated Mr. Thurber’s merit: Firefighter Third Class Robert Thurber III was awarded a Medal of Valor, second class, by Fire Chief Robert Lloyd for his attempt to save two people from a car…