PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline spent a day wearing a New York Giants jersey to settle a Super Bowl bet he made with U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth, of New York.

Cicilline, a Democrat, bet Hayworth, a Republican, that the New England Patriots would beat the New York Giants. Each agreed the loser would wear the winning team's jersey for a day.

"Last week, when I made this bet, I never imagined that I'd end up wearing an Eli Manning jersey on Capitol Hill," Ciclline said. "But as much as it pains me to put on Giants blue, I'm a good sport and I want to congratulate Congresswoman Hayworth and Giants fans on their victory. Rest assured, I'm looking forward to seeing the Pats come back next fall."

South Kingstown Police Dept. photo

ROBERT WATSON

District Court Judge Mary McCaffrey Thursday agreed to seal details about where the East Greenwich Republican is being treated at the request of Watson's lawyer, Timothy Williamson, according to Terrence Simpson, South Kingstown solicitor.

Watson is scheduled to be arraigned March 1 on a marijuana-possession charge stemming from his arrest last month after a plow operator reported an erratic driver.

It was Watson's second arrest for drug possession in the past year. He is awaiting trial in Connecticut after pleading not guilty to marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence charges.

Executive Director Kate Brewster says the organization, founded in 1999, decided to change its name to "reflect the reality that we have become advocates not only for those living in poverty, but for the growing number of middle-income Rhode Islanders struggling to make ends meet."

She says the group's mission remains the same: "The institute is still the voice for low- and modest-income Rhode Islanders."

The name change -- which will become official next week -- comes as the institute is set to host its fifth annual "Budget Rhode Map Conference" on Feb. 16.

The Bristol Democrat had been the victim of cyber stalking by a high-ranked teacher's union official during the 2010 campaign and ultimately lost that election

Gablinske supported proposed language making "online impersonation" a felony crime punishable by a prison sentence of up to three years and a fine of up to $2,000.

He also urged the committee to consider stiffer fines for the proposed misdemeanor cyber-stalking and cyber-harassment charges.

"This law will go a long way in reining in these despicable acts," Gablinske said.

Providence Journal 2003 file photo

MARTHA McSALLY

McSally confirmed on Wednesday her intentions to join the Republican primary. She made her decision after analyzing whether running would be feasible, whether she is electable, and whether she felt called to run, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

McSally, who was the first woman to command a fighter squadron in combat, is also known for successfully suing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in 2001 over a policy that forced military women in Saudi Arabia to wear Muslim religious garb when off base.

She is the fifth Republican to declare for the GOP's April 17 primary.

Murphy, who will earn $50,000 a session, will probably oppose legislation discussed at a Wednesday news conference that seeks to rein in high interest payday loans.

Last year, Murphy was retained by Advance America to serve as a "consultant," apparently playing a role in stalling a House vote on the measure.

The West Warwick Democrat served in the House for 18 years, presiding as its speaker from 2003 to February 2010, when his chosen successor, then-House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox, assumed the post.

Jeremy Blais, a 25-year-old pharmacist from South Kingstown, won $250,000 Wednesday during an appearance on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

With fellow Rhode Islander Meredith Vieira asking the questions, Blais answered nine questions in round one (he jumped over one question) and one in round two. He choose to stop at $250,000, rather than risk the $500,000 question, which would have left him with just $25,000 had he answered incorrectly.

The $500,000 question: "In the famous painting 'Washington Crossing the Delaware,' what future U.S. President is depicted holding the flag?" His choices were John Quincy Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe or James Madison. The audience lifeline chose Jefferson, but Blais decided not to go with it and rest on his winnings. The correct answer was Monroe.

Blais is the son of former state Sen. Leo Blais of Coventry and his wife Beverly. They were in the studio audience along with his sister Leanne during the show's taping. He is a 2005 graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School and a 2011 graduate of the University of Rhode Island.

The House voted 53-to-15 in favor of the measure Wednesday.

Current state law defines hate crimes as any crime motivated by prejudice involving race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, homelessness or disability. The bill would add gender identity and gender expression to the list.

It also would require the state police to compile statistics on assaults, murders and other crimes motivated by gender-identity prejudice. The state police already track other hate crimes.

The bill would not increase the penalties for such crimes.

Gardiner, a Providence attorney, criticizes Langevin both for his support of President Obama's healthcare reform law and economic stimulus plan as well as the congressman's focus on Internet security issues.

"The incumbent has in recent years aggrandized himself in a 'town crier' role in 'cyber security' and ignored the real problems, like the housing market and supported expensive gimmicks like 'cash for clunkers' and green energy job credits that went to political contributors and wasted billions of dollars," Gardiner says.

That means that Doherty has met certain criteria, including fundraising targets, that the committee sets in order to evaluate a candidate's prospects for a successful run. If Doherty, who seeks the seat held by Democratic Rep. David N. Cicilline, continues to clear such hurdles in the Young Guns program, the National Republican Congressional Committee may give money to his campaign.

For now, the committee is giving Doherty such help as instructions on how to improve fundraising.

Journal photo/ Kathy Borchers

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras answers questions from the media after meeting with Governor Chafee to discuss the capital city's fiscal problems.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Mayor Angel Taveras and his staff briefed Governor Chafee, key General Assembly members and Providence's state representatives Monday on Providence's near $30-million deficit and why the city is on the brink of bankruptcy.

They discussed legislative proposals and other alternatives to bail the city out. The two major options discussed include suspending costly cost-of-living adjustments for Providence's retirees and getting tax-exempt institutions to make higher voluntary payments.

The mayor characterized the meeting as positive, and said it is helpful to know he "is not alone."

"There is a deep commitment here," he said in a news briefing after the one-hour session.

Taveras also said city officials will meet with credit-rating agencies soon.

Courtesy of South Kingstown police

Robert Watson

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- The South Kingstown police will not file additional charges against Rep. Robert Watson in connection with an incident in that town last month.

Watson was charged with a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana, first offense, following an incident on Jan. 21.

"The department considered pursing an additional charge of driving under the influence," the South Kingstown police said in a news release. After consulting with the state Attorney General's Office, the department said, it determined "the evidence presented significant legal issues that would have made a successful prosecution unlikely."

Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is visiting the East Providence Senior Center and St. Martin de Porres Senior Center in Providence on Tuesday to tell voters how to obtain a free voter ID. His office says voters who attend the events will be among the first to receive state-issued voter IDs.

A measure signed into law last year requires poll workers to ask voters to show government-issued identification when they show up to vote. The first test of the law will be the presidential primary. Voters without the proper ID will be allowed to cast provisional ballots.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

Lammis Vargas, of Cranston, speaks with candidate Brendan Doherty at the campaign kickoff event in Cumberland, where Doherty lives.

CUMBERLAND, R.I. -- About 200 supporters and volunteers turned out Sunday morning for a campaign rally at the Lusitana Club on behalf of Brendan P. Doherty, the former Rhode Island State Police superintendent who is now a Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat held by Democrat David N. Cicilline.

Doherty never mentioned Cicilline by name, but in his speech he called attention to Cicilline's role as former mayor of Providence, a city now on the verge of bankruptcy.

"Leadership is about taking responsibility about what happens on your watch. We didn't see that happen 14 months ago in the city of Providence," he said.

Rep. Peter Martin, D-Newport, has crafted legislation with Democratic Attorney General Peter Kilmartin that would make it a felony to view another person's confidential information even if nothing is done with the material.

The bill would also outlaw online impersonation, and make it illegal to electronically send pornography to a minor or disseminate compromising photos of another person without their consent.

Kilmartin says social-networking sites, smartphones and other evolving technologies are giving criminals new ways to exploit their victims. He says laws must adapt to keep up.

A legislative committee will review the bill next week.