Your State

Joseph Caramadre believed he had found the Holy Grail for investors, a risk-free way to speculate in financial securities — all upside with little or no downside. All he needed to make it work were people who would soon be dead. Yesterday, in a federal courtroom in Rhode Island, the scheme ended with a six-year prison sentence for Caramadre.

Rhode Island's governor has vetoed legislation to authorize a "Choose Life" license plate that would have raised money for a Christian crisis pregnancy center that opposes abortion.

Wednesday, the Rhode Island Senate approved legislation that would end the denial of marriage to same-sex couples in Rhode Island. The House of Representatives approved similar legislation in January by a vote of 51 to 19. The bill will return to the House for minor changes before it is sent to Governor Lincoln Chafee, who has promised to sign it. After years of effort, over 1 million residents will soon be added to the ranks of state-level marriage equality.

"The freedom to marry is sweeping the nation, as Rhode Island becomes the 10th state in the union with marriage for all, in the same week that France became the 14th nation worldwide with equal marriage rights," said Cathy Marino-Thomas, Marriage Equality USA Board Co-President. "The momentum from coast-to-coast and around the world is unstoppable."