Rhode Island

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee nominated policy director Steve Hartford for director of administration to replace Richard Licht, who will become a judge.

Rhode Island will hold another referendum in November asking voters if they want to expand gambling at the Newport Grand casino.

Moses Afonso Ryan agreed to pay $4.37 million to settle with Rhode Island over the state's lawsuit for its role as a 38 Studios bond deal advisor.

James Diossa, 29, is the new face of Central Falls as the 19,000-population Rhode Island city recovers from bankruptcy.

Former Providence, R.I., Mayor Buddy Cianci, who served five years for racketeering, said he will launch a third effort to reclaim City Hall.

Fitch Ratings, countering a state-sponsored report, said a failure by Rhode Island to pay 38 Studios moral obligation bonds not drag Rhode Island's GOs to junk level.

Public Financial Management Inc. points to municipal clients that have avoided state oversight, some receiving bond-rating upgrades, as signs of progress in its nearly three years in Rhode Island.

Moody's upgraded formerly bankrupt Central Falls, R.I., to Ba3 from B1 and changed the city's outlook to stable from positive.

Despite a recent vote for the state to make a bond payment, intrigue and controversy surround continue to surround the saga of the failed 38 Studios economic development deal in Rhode Island.

Standard & Poor's removed Rhode Island from credit watch negative after state lawmakers approved a $12.3 million 38 Studios bond payment.

Paying the moral obligation debt the state guaranteed for the failed 38 Studios will strengthen Rhode Island's image in the capital markets, Gov. Lincoln Chafee said in an interview.

Rhode Island's Senate sent an $8.7 billion budget to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who said he would sign the plan, which includes a payment on bonds the state agreed to back for the failed 38 Studios firm.

Bleary-eyed Rhode Island House members shortly after midnight approved a revised $8.7 billion budget bill that included a $12.5 million payment toward 38 Studios moral obligation debt.

Debate over the 38 Studios bond fiasco reheated late into the night as a Rhode Island lawmaker offered a bill to ban a $12.5 payment on moral obligation debt a state agency issued on behalf of the failed video game maker.

Catherine Taylor will resign as Rhode Island director of elderly affairs, effective June 20, to run for lieutenant governor.

Fitch removed the GO rating of West Warwick, R.I., from rating watch negative and assigned a stable outlook while affirming its just-above-junk BBB-minus.

It's yes to 38 Studios debt and no to Sakonnet River Bridge tolls as Rhode Island House Finance Committee approved a revised $8.7 billion budget.

S&P revised its outlook to positive from stable for its long-term and underlying A rating on Cranston, R.I., general obligation debt to positive from stable.

S&P revised its outlook on Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority revenue bonds to negative from stable while affirming its A-minus rating on the bonds.

Frank Caprio, if he regains the Rhode Island treasurer's office, wants to go after the bond rating agencies as controversy simmers over 38 Studios.