Rhode Island governor Don Carcieri will be meeting with the president-elect and other governors tomorrow in Philadelphia.
The National Governors’ Association plans to discuss the tanking economy. Rhode Island’s serious economic troubles parallel the nation’s, as experts say the unemployment rate in the state could soon surpass ten percent.
-EJ
Secretary of State: Hillary Clinton
President-elect Obama describes her as a woman with “extraordinary intelligence and toughness” who will “command respect” in capitals around the world.
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s nomination as secretary of state marks another milestone for a former first lady who was the first to win elective office, the first to run for president herself and now the first to be chosen for a Cabinet position.
At the Chicago news conference where Obama introduced her and the rest of his national security team, Clinton thanked Obama and said she was “proud” to join his team.
She said by electing Obama, the American people are demanding an effort to “renew America’s standing in the world as a force for positive change.” Ticking off a list of challenges facing the
world, including global warming and the threat of terrorism, she said the U.S. would not be able to solve any of them without the rest of the world, and that the world cannot solve them without America.
Photo courtesy Obama campaign flickr account, licensed under Creative Commons.
Gas prices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts have dropped seven cents in the past week.
AAA of Southern New England says the average price for regular unleaded is $1.85 in the Rhode Island and $1.84 in the Bay State. Gas prices haven’t been this low in the region since January 2005. Diesel is also down, by four cents a gallon to $2.92.
The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources’ survey of gas prices, released Monday, showed average prices of $1.88 per gallon of gas, and $2.95 for diesel.
Experts have said the continuing decline in price is due to decreased demand for gas as drivers spend less time on the road to save money.
-EJ
World AIDS Day is being recognized around the world today to reduce the international stigma surrounding the disease. In China, the government has long denied AIDS was ever a problem and dozens of AIDS activists were put under house arrest or surveillance just before the Olympics. In South Africa, people stopped for a moment of silence in recognition of World AIDS Day. The government of South Africa, a nation particularly devastated by the disease, has also denied the severity of the problem in the past.
If you want to adopt a family this holiday season, the deadline is coming up quick for sponsoring one of the 380 families still needing help. The Adopt-a-Family program says 848 out of the 1100 families that applied this year have been matched with donors so far. Last year, there were 1,056 families. The program reaches out to all types of people, including those who have lost jobs, crisis or abuse victims, and families who have lost everything due to disasters such as fire or flood. Adopt-A-Family volunteers will be wrapping gifts starting the week of December 7th. For more information, e-mail adoptafamily@cox.net or call 401-766-2291.
The State House Finance Committee is holding three meetings this week to discuss both high unemployment and the budget deficit. The full General Assembly probably won’t return to act on the financial situation without a supplemental budget proposal from Governor Carcieri. House Fiscal Advisor Michael O’Keefe says the state’s financial situation is bound to get worse, with a potential 770-million-dollar hole by fiscal year 2010. O’Keefe says there are only seven months left to achieve the needed savings or increase in funding in this year’s budget.
Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama will formally announce his picks for six top
posts this morning in Chicago. After weeks of discussion, Democratic officials say New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is slated to be Obama’s secretary of state while Defense Secretary Robert Gates will continue at the Pentagon. Other Cabinet picks include Eric Holder for attorney general, and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to run the Department of Homeland Security. Outside the Cabinet, Susan Rice, who was a foreign policy adviser during the campaign, is Obama’s pick for U.N. ambassador and Retired Marine Gen. James Jones will be put up for national security adviser.
Space shuttle Endeavour’s crew will reunite with families today in Houston after being forced to
land in California due to poor weather in Florida. Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts touched down safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California after a nearly 16-day mission to repair and upgrade the international space station, adding a new bathroom, kitchenette, two sleeping quarters, and more. The mission is being called ambitious and extremely successful.