Amid word from the state police that further arrests are expected in the probe related to alleged drug-dealing by three Providence police officers, Mayor David Cicilline maintains the department is vastly improved from the time when he took office in 2003.

Bill Lynch and David Cicilline, for now at least, remain the only declared Democrats in the race to succeed US Representative Patrick Kennedy -- and they each face particular challenges as this race moves to November.

Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee says he hopes to make his decision on whether to run for the congressional seat being vacated by Patrick Kennedy in the next few days.

The decision is particularly important for Bill Lynch, one of the two Democrats in the hunt, since McKee would cut into Lynch's base in the Blackstone Valley towns north of Providence, thereby aiding David Cicilline.

Former ProJo staffer Mark Arsenault scored one of the best media coups in recent history with his detailed Rhode Island Monthly explanation of US Representative Patrick Kennedy's decision to leave office. Even more amazing is how Arsenault had the story in hand three weeks before word started leaking about Kennedy's planned departure.

This ample campaign season will allow for a lot of interaction with candidates, and here are two events of note this week:

-- Drinking Liberally resumes its 2010 candidate series tomorrow night when First Congressional District hopeful Bill Lynch appears at the Wild Colonial (8 pm). Democratic rival David Cicilline is slated to make a subsequent appearance.

It's not surprising that candidates in this season of anti-incumbent anger are trying to wrap themselves in the concerns of average voters. So expect to see a lot more of this type of thing as Bill Lynch and David Cicilline duke it out in the Democratic fight to succeed Patrick Kennedy:

Less than 24 hours after news broke last Thursday night that Patrick Kennedy wouldn't be seeking reelection, Providence Mayor David Cicilline and G. Patrick Gould, his recently hired political director, decided to go their separate ways. The move comes barely three months after Gould, a veteran lobbyist in Washington, DC, came aboard to lead the two-term mayor's political operation.

Talk about one degree of separation in Little Rhody: fundraising consultant Amy Gabarra -- who helped propel gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio to his steady frontrunning fundraising totals -- has signed on to help raise campaign cash for the Congressional campaign of Bill Lynch, the brother of Caprio's Democratic primary rival, Patrick Lynch.

Rhode Island Monthly has rushed online an article by old friend and ex-ProJo scribe Mark Arsenault offering the most detailed explanation yet on why Patrick Kennedy isn't seeking reelection:

DEVELOPING -- US Representative Patrick Kennedy, the last member of the Kennedy family in national office, is not seeking reelection, WRNI's Scott MacKay has learned.

Kennedy has won eight terms since 1994. He is being challenged this year by Republican state Representative John Loughlin of Tiverton.

Andy Miga of the AP had this update at 10:26: