by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentApril 2, 2026 A Barrington software engineer who searched for voter fraud on behalf of the Trump campaign — and found none — is making his third attempt to run for the governor’s office. This time, Ken Block is running as an independent candidate. “My flavor of politics doesn’t align […]
Christopher Shea
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council sends stern message to McKee: No cruise ship fee hike
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentMarch 10, 2026 Newport city officials say Gov. Dan McKee never consulted them in crafting his plan to raise fees on visiting cruise ships, a move they say could put the city by the sea at a serious disadvantage compared to other regional ports competing for tourism dollars. That’s why […]
Posted inCity & Government
Cannabis retail license distribution poses challenge for commission
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentFebruary 16, 2026 State cannabis regulators have yet to decide how they will handle the awarding of up to 20 cannabis retail licenses to applicants chosen by lottery as early as May. The state had planned to award 24 licenses but reduced the number based on the distribution of applicants […]
Posted inCity & Government
Hegseth touts speed and innovation in tour of Quonset Point facilities
by Christopher Shea and Laura Paton, Rhode Island CurrentFebruary 9, 2026 NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — On his first official visit to Rhode Island Monday morning to celebrate and inspire workers at America’s shipyards and defense manufacturing facilities, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth kept about 250 of them standing around waiting for him. Hegseth was […]
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Senate Majority Leader Ciccone prepares legislation to lay down the law on ICE tactics
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentFebruary 2, 2026 Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone III says he will soon file legislation to protect Rhode Islanders from the examples of unconstitutional conduct by federal immigration officers making headlines in other states. “Look at what’s taking place across the country, we don’t want that to happen here,” Ciccone […]
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Two years later, life goes on for Rhode Islanders as they wait for Washington Bridge rebuild
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentDecember 11, 2025 Mitchell Check Jr. had just gotten off the phone after ordering a new shipment of white carnations for his family’s Taunton Avenue flower shop in East Providence Wednesday morning when he was asked how business has been going. “Things haven’t been horrible, but they haven’t been better,” […]
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T.F. Green spared from federal flight cuts, but airport warns travelers to stay alert
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport officials are urging travelers to check with their airlines, even as the Warwick airport so far remains unaffected by the Trump administration’s plan to cut flights starting Friday to ease pressure on unpaid air traffic controllers during the federal shutdown. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday the Federal […]
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Rhode Island’s congressional delegation asks to forgo pay during shutdown
All four members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation have asked to have their congressional pay withheld for the duration of the federal government shutdown in a show of solidarity with federal workers.Democratic U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Reps. Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo all announced Wednesday afternoon that they intend to […]
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R.I. homelessness is down, but more people are out in the cold? New data says it’s true.
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current July 10, 2025 For the first time in half a dozen years, the number of unhoused people in Rhode Island is on the decline. But the good news comes with a caveat: More people were without shelter when volunteers from the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness conducted its […]
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R.I. leaders are planning their next move after feds withhold $30M in K-12 funding
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current July 9, 2025 State leaders are considering their next steps as they face the potential loss of nearly $30 million in federal education funding halted by the Trump administration — a cut that could devastate afterschool programs, multilingual learning, and adult education in Rhode Island. The funding is part […]
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R.I. Turnpike & Bridge Authority to pay $515K for State Police patrols over three years
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentJuly 7, 2025 Rhode Island State Police will continue 24/7 patrols of the four bridges owned by the Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority (RITBA) for another three years, according to an agreement reached between the two agencies in mid-June. The memorandum of understanding calls for RITBA to pay the […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
DEM keeps hush on promotion of quiet July 4 fireworks in Jamestown
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current July 2, 2025 Much like the sound level from across the bay on the Fourth of July, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) isn’t making noise about the opportunity for viewing fireworks from Beavertail State Park in Jamestown. DEM spokesperson Kimberly Keough confirmed to Rhode Island Current […]
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Coast Guard’s plan to remove 38 R.I. buoys raises concerns among mariners
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current May 19, 2025 A bright red buoy near the entrance to Sakonnet Harbor has long served as a waypoint for lobsterman Gary Mataronas when sailing back to Little Compton on foggy days. “It’s a tremendous aid to navigation,” Mataronas, a Little Compton town councilor, said in an interview. The […]
Posted inElection
Mock ballots in Portsmouth lead to complaints from GOP Senate campaign
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentNovember 6, 2024 Rhode Island Republican Rep. Patricia Morgan’s unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate on Tuesday claimed Democratic volunteers and candidates in Portsmouth allegedly distributed altered sample ballots, but the complaints don’t appear to have enough merit for state officials to look into. Morgan, a West Warwick Republican, shared an […]
Posted inCity & Government
R.I. voters almost evenly split on whether to hold a constitutional convention, new poll finds
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentSeptember 23, 2024 Voters appear split on a ballot question asking if the state should hold a constitutional convention, according to a new poll released just after a new digital ad campaign launched urging them to reject it. A coalition urging Rhode Islanders to vote no on Question 1 posted […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Washington Bridge rebuild project wins federal funding, but not as much as officials wanted
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentSeptember 20, 2024 Rhode Island will receive $125.4 million in federal grant funding to replace the westbound Interstate 195 Washington Bridge — nearly $100 million short of its initial ask, and one-third of preliminary cost estimates for the project. The award was announced Friday morning by Gov. Dan McKee’s office […]
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Turnout cracks nearly 10% in a R.I. primary with very few contested races
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentSeptember 10, 2024 With very few contested races on the ballot, Rhode Island’s state and local primary races didn’t drive voters to the polls in droves. Just before polls closed at 8 p.m. there were 77,376 votes cast, representing just over 9.9% of the more than 781,000 total registered voters. […]
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Sold-out Newport event with Walz exceeds expectations for Democratic fundraisers
by Christopher Shea & Janine L. Weisman, Rhode Island CurrentAugust 15, 2024 NEWPORT — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posed for photos before delivering a 17-minute speech focused on bringing joy back to American politics at a private fundraiser on the campus of Salve Regina University Thursday afternoon. The Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee spoke to […]
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Walz to visit Rhode Island Thursday
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentAugust 12, 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will make an appearance in Rhode Island Thursday, Rhode Island Democratic Party Chair Liz Beretta-Perik confirmed Monday. Walz, who was selected as Kamala Harris’ running mate Aug. 6 is expected to appear in Newport late Thursday afternoon, as first reported by […]
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When is Walz coming to R.I.? Event planners still ironing that out
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentAugust 9, 2024 Democratic party fundraisers appear to be still looking for a venue to host Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the coming weeks, and it’s unclear just how long the guest of honor could stay at such an event. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is invited to attend […]