Gun claims examined by PolitiFactRI often misfire

The push for tougher gun control legislation continues in the General Assembly Tuesday, April 9, as state officials hold a news conference at the State House to promote a package of bills covering such issues as background checks, firearms safety, weapons sales and modifying penalties for existing gun laws.

By C. Eugene Emery Jr. :: Published on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

PolitiFact Rhode Island's Top 10 for 2012

Over the last 12 months, PolitiFact Rhode Island issued 117 Truth-O-Meter rulings, on claims ranging from Obamacare to school prayer to foreign aid. All had some Rhode Island connection, but many of the most-read items -- based on traffic on our PolitiFact Rhode Island website -- focused on issues far beyond the state’s borders. Thanks to the reach of the Internet, many have remained popular long after publication, in part because PolitiFact, with affiliates in 11 states, has become a go-to reference for people seeking to separate fact from fiction. So as a farewell to the year, we thought we’d share with you the PolitiFact Rhode Island Top Ten Most Widely Read rulings for 2012:

By Tim Murphy :: Published on Sunday, December 30th, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.

PolitiFact's guide to Thanksgiving dinner

At Thanksgiving dinner, there's probably a good chance you'll end up sitting beside your uncle. You love your uncle, but you could do without all those chain e-mails that he forwards to you, the ones that claim the government is forcing you to get rid of your light bulbs, that "Obamacare" is going to put a tax on home sales and that President Barack Obama fits the biblical description of the Antichrist. (Note to uncles:     We're not really singling you out. Chain e-mails get forwarded by aunts, grandparents and plenty of other relatives.)

By Bill Adair :: Published on Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 at 4:36 p.m.

Before you vote, check the Truth-O-Meter

Over the last several months, candidates have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build themselves up and knock their opponents down. There have been attacks and counterattacks, scary TV ads, robo-calls and oversized campaign fliers clogging our mailboxes -- in other words, the fuel that sent our Truth-O-Meter into overdrive. Just in the weeks since the September primary, we issued two dozen rulings on claims made by candidates for federal and statewide offices. Not surprisingly, many were way off base. And -- perhaps surprisingly -- many were true. With the election just two days away, we decided to take a look back at some of our campaign rulings to help voters make up their minds.  Here’s a sampling from key races:

By Tim Murphy :: Published on Sunday, November 4th, 2012 at 9:22 a.m.

Before you vote Tuesday, check the rulings

  The lively and occasionally bizarre primary fight between U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline and business man Anthony Gemma in the 1st Congressional District has generated enough claims and counter-claims to keep our Truth-O-Meter spinning for weeks. But because the primary vote is Tuesday, we have taken a short break on fact-checking until the dust clears and the winners are picked. Meanwhile, as voters make up their minds, we thought we’d reprise some recent rulings in the 1st District race. Here’s a sample:

By Tim Murphy :: Published on Sunday, September 9th, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.

Checking the Truth-O-Meter readings for Cicilline, Gemma

The first major debate of Rhode Island's 2012 election season takes place Tuesday night at Rhode Island College as Democrats David Cicilline, the incumbent from the 1st Congressional District, and Anthony Gemma, the businessman making his second try for the seat, go head to head in an event co-sponsored by WPRI-TV and The Providence Journal. The PolitiFact Rhode Island team decided to use the occasion to revisit how the two candidates have scored on the Truth-O-Meter.

By C. Eugene Emery Jr. :: Published on Monday, August 27th, 2012 at 6:09 p.m.

It's True! We're two years old!

Believe it or not, it's been two years since we published our first PolitiFact Rhode Island Truth-O-Meter ruling. On June 25, 2010, we joined a partnership with PolitiFact.com that has grown to include eleven states. Since then, we’ve published 230 Truth-O-Meter rulings, checking claims from politicians, talk-show hosts, bloggers, e-mailers, labor leaders and even a billboard.  Our goal remains the same: to help readers separate fact from fiction in the public discourse. For the record, here’s our scorecard so far: True: 44. Mostly True: 30. Half True: 37. Mostly False: 32. False: 55. Pants on Fire: 32. Remember, If you see or hear a claim you’d like us to check, please send it to politifact@providencejournal.com.

By Tim Murphy :: Published on Monday, June 25th, 2012 at 1:59 p.m.

The 38 Studios controversy: Of software sales and film credits

Curt Schilling's 38 Studios and his deal with the Rhode Island  Economic Development Corporation are in the news amid questions about whether the fledgling software company is in financial trouble. One option the company is reportedly seeking is taking advantage of the state's tax credit system for movie, television and video game productions. PolitiFact Rhode Island has examined claims made about the EDC deal and film tax credits in the past.  In light of the debate, we thought it might be useful to remind readers what we found.

By C. Eugene Emery Jr. :: Published on Thursday, May 17th, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.

Super Bowl legends explored and exposed

We've all heard the myths about Super Bowl Sunday. Half-time flushes disable sewage plants. It's the worst day of the year for domestic violence. It's the best day of the year for pizza and beer sales. Because Super Bowl mania has swept New England, we decided to take a closer look at some of the claims. Turns out, most are out of bounds.    

By Alex Kuffner :: Published on Sunday, February 5th, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.

PolitiFact's guide to Thanksgiving dinner

Find yourself sitting beside a relative who has sent you lots of chain e-mails? Here's our guide on what to say. Stash it under the green bean casserole until you need it.

By Bill Adair :: Published on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 at 9:12 a.m.

The Rhode Island pension debate: Truth is in short supply

As the debate over Rhode Island’s pension crisis intensified in recent months, PolitiFact Rhode Island was paying close attention to what public figures were saying about it. More often than not, we found misstatements, misinterpretations and outright falsehoods. We examined 11 statements related to pensions, dating to August 2010. The Truth-O-Meter scorecard: one True, one Mostly True, two Half True, three Mostly Falses and four Falses. As a service for readers –– and the legislators who will vote on the pension overhaul legislation Thursday –– we’ve assembled all our pension-related rulings. Here’s what you need to know about COLAs, hybrid plans, annuity charts, life expectancy and more.

By Tim Murphy :: Published on Thursday, November 17th, 2011 at 12:01 a.m.

Mailbag: 'Change your name to PolitiOpinion'

Readers had plenty to say about our item about an Occupy Providence protest sign. Let's just say on this ruling, we were the 1 percent and the readers were the 99 percent.

By Tim Murphy :: Published on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at 12:00 a.m.

A change in the meter: Barely True is now Mostly False

After an overwhelming response from readers, we're changing the Truth-O-Meter. Barely True will now be called Mostly False.

By Bill Adair :: Published on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 at 8:00 a.m.

Happy birthday to us!

It's been one year since we joined the growing PolitiFact family. Since then, we've revved up the Truth-O-Meter 121 times. But the fibs, half truths, exaggerations and, yes,  the ridiculous Pants on Fire claims keep coming.

By Tim Murphy :: Published on Sunday, June 26th, 2011 at 12:02 a.m.

Film tax credit controversy rises again

Is the state's film tax credit worth the cost to the state? There was plenty of debate in the House Finance Committee over the question Thursday in the wake of Gov. Chafee's proposal to eliminate it. The Chafee administration says the money could produce 100 times more economic activity if it were spent elsewhere. Supporters say the film tax credit is a good investment and has already created over 4,000 jobs. When we looked at the controversy last December, we found that different reports gave very different analyses. The matter is so contentious, we were unable to apply the Truth-O-Meter. But you can get a sense of the debate and follow the links to the reports -- and their varying conclusions -- by clicking on our analysis here.

By C. Eugene Emery Jr. :: Published on Friday, March 25th, 2011 at 1:28 p.m.