The Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education voted on Thursday to seek comment from the public on a protocol that Education Commissioner Deborah Gist wants to use to take action against failing schools. The document was used to identify six of the state’s worst schools, including Central Falls High School, the site of the mass teacher firing that took place in February. Improving schools is a top priority for the school board, since Rhode Island schools could be eligible to receive millions in federal dollars for schools serving low-income students.

Farmers’ markets around the state opened this week, offering customers the change to put their money towards local food and environmental sustainability. Farm Fresh Rhode Island, a food nonprofit, estimates that over 40 farmers’ markets will operate in Rhode Island and Massachusetts this year.

North Providence Town Council President Joseph Burchfield resigned Friday amid allegations of bribery in the construction of a Stop & Shop supermarket. Burchfield is accused of accepting a $25,000 bribe from a developer in return for permitting the construction of the supermarket across from a high school. Burchfield is one of three councilmen implicated in the case.  His resignation marks the end of the embattled councilman’s 13 years in public service.

Ever have one of those moments, in the libes and ostensibly doing work, when you realize you’ve somehow gotten to, like, the 142nd photo in your roommate’s sister’s boyfriend’s Spring Break album on facebook? Does the mere existence of the internet and all its various distractions, seriously call into question your ability to get anything done, ever?

Behold, SelfControl: a free, easily downloadable application (for OS X) that will actually block certain sites from your browser for a predetermined period. You choose the sites and the time limit, and the miracle of technology does the rest. And just in time for finals! Best of all, there’s absolutely no cheating allowed — even uninstalling the application won’t let you back on YouTube until the timer runs out. So basically what this means is the internet may actually save you from the internet. Sweet.

Four stretches were spotted in front of U. Hall today, a step up from the DPS segways we usually see out and about…

Out stepped a fully dressed troop, partaking in a cutesy alum tradition. Going to the (Manning) chapel and we’re gonna get married…

First and foremost, go see “Babies” again. It’s so worth it.

“Glee” feat. Ursa Minors and Jabberwocks
8:00 P.M., Sayles Hall

Bear Necessities Arch Sing
11:P.M., Wayland Arch

There is SO MUCH a cappella happening this weekend coming week, it’s fairly ridiculous. I am personally intrigued by the Glee-themed concert in Sayles Hall tonight, but Sue Sylvester had better be there or I’m gonna be a little disappointed.

Samagam
6:35 – 8:30 P.M.
List 120
Free Kabob and Curry if you get there at the start!! And then, after the face-stuffing portion of the evening, a dancer from New Delhi — Nehha Bhatnagar— will be there to perform a classical dance and talk about cultural diplomacy.

Now that exams are upon us, there’s no better trend to embrace than sweatpants. Recently on the runways designers have been pairing laid-back sweatpants with leather accessories, giving the old classics a touch of glamor. It’s a bit silly, yes, but gray fleece can look surprisingly chic and flattering when paired with something other than tennis shoes. Try mixing and matching with these athletically-inspired pieces!

1. Cropped top with epaulets by Topshop; 2. and 4. Unisex items by American Apparel; 3. Luxe pleated sweatpants by Oak

As always, see your stylish friends and more trends at collegehillrags.com. Happy spring!

It’s finally happened.  The unthinkable: BrownFML is down.  In the middle of reading period.  Let the primal screams of frustration commence.

SPACE Gala

BABIES

Trust me on this one, the kids in the wind symphony know how to put on a good show. There probably won’t be any Lady Gaga medleys, but surely you can survive without them for one night.

Three North Providence councilors were busted by the FBI on Thursday under charges of extortion. The arrested include Council President Joseph Burchfield and two other council members, John Zambarano and Raymond Douglas III. A fourth council member turned them in by filming a conversation between the councilmen and a real estate developer named Richard Baccari; the footage shows Zambarano promising $25,000 in exchange for votes on building a Stop & Shop across the street from North Providence High School.

Good news! Apparently budget officials at the State House think that Rhode Island’s rising unemployment, foreclosure rates and shrinking consumer confidence will taper off soon. This is all in spire of the floods last month.

A Rhode Island woman is a bit unnerved after finding out that Faisal Shahzad, the man who confessed to the attempt to place a car bomb in Times Square on Saturday, used to live right around the corner from her. Deborah Bashar has had brushes with suspected terrorists in the past — while house hunting, the tenant in the home she was looking at turned out to be Mohammed Y. Mullawala, who was under investigation for terrorist activity himself and arrested in 2006.

What’s that you say? You’re sick of studying for your finals? You missed both Star Wars Day (May the fourth be with you!) AND Cinco de Mayo because you were working?* You finally finished that sixteen thousand page paper and you’re looking for a way to reward yourself? Well, look no further, we got you covered.

High and ‘Stoned

8:00-9:00 P.M., Macmillan 117, $2

The Higher Keys and Brown’s Tones (‘stone for the purpose of the event title) are getting together for one of their final concerts of the semester and they promise that it will be “a smoking good time!” There are also rumors of baked goods available after the show AND a brand-spanking-new Lady Gaga medley from the Tones. They better be careful, though. The US Army has set the bar pretty high on that one.

STUDY BREAK

10:00 P.M., Sci Li Plaza

Pizza! Music! Glow sticks! If you haven’t left the Sci Li in three days or if you just come for the study break, you should be there for this.

Rafiki Party

10:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M., Bravo (123 Empire St), $5

The proceeds from this party, hosted by Rafiki Ya Maisha, go to to building a vocational training school in Chepkanga, a small village in Kenya. So basically, not going to this party means you’re a terrible, selfish human being.

*This is not actually a justifiable excuse for missing Cinco de Mayo.

It’s a slow news day, but you can always count on Banner to provide some entertainment. Updating your address for the summer? You have lots of flexibility—like having your mail sent back to the 1980s.

Wait, maybe The Simpsons was on to something.