Shoreline access has been a hot-button issue for many communities in Rhode Island as legislators seek to adopt rules to assure Rhode Islanders’ access to beaches, protect homeowners, and strengthen the organization that oversees the state’s shoreline. That was the motivation behind the legislation proposed by Senator Victoria Gu, D-Dist. 38 (Charlestown, Westerly, South Kingstown) […]
Politics
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Schools: Meeting the challenge with less money
Will the governor’s proposed budget ease challenges for schools across the state that are bracing for lost COVID funds and the Rhode Island Department of Education no longer forgiving districts for declining enrollment? Add to the lost federal and state funds, there are concerns in some communities that town or city councils will level fund […]
Posted inCity & Government
Democrat Gabe Amo one win away from being 1st person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress
By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press For generations, the political face of Rhode Island was often Italian or Irish American. But that is changing. The latest shift came Tuesday when Gabe Amo, who grew up in Pawtucket the son of Ghanaian and Liberian immigrants, topped a crowded Democratic primary field for the state’s 1st Congressional District special election. […]
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Watch: A conversation with Gabe Amo, Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District
Former White House aide Gabe Amo could become the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress after his win Tuesday in the crowded Democratic primary for the state’s 1st Congressional District. Amo, a Pawtucket resident, will square off against Jamestown resident Gerry Leonard, a U.S. Marine veteran and political newcomer who defeated […]
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Current and former Newport leaders endorse Sandra Cano for Congress
Current and Former Newport leaders, including School Committee Members Stephanie Winslow and Kendra Meunter, former School Committee Member Aida Neary, and former Mayor and City Councilwoman Jamie Bova, today announced their support and endorsement of Sandra Cano in the race for Congressional District One. “These Newport leaders join the ever-growing diverse coalition that has now […]
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Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals endorses Senator Sandra Cano for Congress
The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP) today announced the endorsement of Senator Sandra Cano in her effort to be elected to Congress from Rhode Island Congressional District One. The RIFTHP Executive Council, after a comprehensive vetting of many qualified candidates, voted to support Senator Cano in the primary election on Tuesday, September 5th. “For […]
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Watch: A conversation with Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1 candidates
Between July 20 – August 3, What’sUpNewp hosted live virtual video conversations with candidates for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional district. During the interviews, we learned more about the candidates, found out why they are running in this special election, and discussed what they believe sets them apart from their opponents. A special primary for the […]
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27 senators are up for reelection—which, if any, are 'progressive' relative to the political lean of their states?
Over the past three decades, Democratic Party voters have shifted more to the left than voters in the Republican Party have to the right, according to a report by the Brookings Institution. Gallup Poll data shows that since 1994, the share of Democratic voters self-identifying as “liberal” has more than doubled, growing from 25% to […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Stephen Casey, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Stephen Casey, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 2 pm on Thursday, August 3, 2023. During the interview, we learn more about Stephen, find out why he’s running in this special election, and discuss what he believes sets him apart from his opponents. […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Walter Berbrick, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Walter Berbrick, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. During the interview, we learn more about Walter, find out why he’s running in this special election, and discuss what he believes sets him apart from his opponents. […]
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WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Sandra Cano, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Sandra Cano, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, will join What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Thursday, July 31, 2023, at noon. During the interview, we learn more about Sandra, find out why she’s running in this special election, and discuss what she believes sets her apart from her opponents. […]
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WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Aaron Regunberg, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Aaron Regunberg, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at noon on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. During the interview, we learn more about Aaron, discover why he’s running in this special election, and discuss what he believes sets him apart from his opponents. Watch or […]
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Rhode Island Ethics Commission opens investigation into Gov. Dan McKee’s lunch with lobbyist
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Dan McKee will be investigated by the state Ethics Commission in order to establish whether or not a free lunch violated state campaign finance laws. The commission voted Tuesday after a complaint was filed by the state’s Republican Party last month. Jeff Britt, a lobbyist representing urban […]
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WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Sabina Matos, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Sabina Matos, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 2 pm on Tuesday, July 25. During the interview, we learn more about Sabina, find out why she’s running in this special election, discuss last week’s issue around signatures, and hear what she believes sets […]
Posted inCity & Government
RI Department of State launches online application for voters to request a mail ballot
Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore and the RI Department of State Elections Division today launched a new online application portal for registered Rhode Island voters to request a mail ballot. “Today’s announcement is an important step forward in our work to modernize and strengthen our elections system,” said Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Matos breaks silence on signature scandal, pledges to remain in the race
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentJuly 21, 2023 Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos condemned fellow candidates for using the signature fraud scandal surrounding her campaign for their own political gain, while affirming her commitment to the race, and to voters. Her comments – breaking silence on the allegations that began swirling earlier this week – came […]
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WUN-ON-ONE: Stephanie Beauté, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1, sits down with What’sUpNewp
Stephanie Beauté, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 11 am on Thursday, July 20, 2023. During the interview, we learn more about Stephanie, discover why she’s running in this special election, and discuss what she believes sets her apart from his opponents. Visit […]
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Middletown School Bond moves towards November Special Election
By Matt Sheley, Town of Middletown MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JULY 17, 2023) – A proposed $190 million new middle-school is one step closer to voters. At a meeting Monday night in Town Hall, the Town Council unanimously approved submitting a resolution for the project to the Secretary of State for inclusion on the Nov. 7 special election […]
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Jamestown police investigating Matos campaign for alleged signature fraud
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentJuly 18, 2023 The Jamestown Police Department is investigating potentially fake signatures submitted by Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos’ campaign in the 1st Congressional District race. The police investigation was spurred by the island community’s Board of Canvassers, which asked police to look into the signatures on a candidate’s nomination papers […]
Posted inCity & Government
House District 1 candidates begin filing signatures, hopeful of qualifying for the ballot
(This story is an update as of 11 p.m. today, July 14) At what appears to be the close for filing nomination papers, 15 of the 34 candidates who declared for the District 1 House of Representatives race filed papers with a sufficient number of signatures to qualify for the ballot. The signatures still need […]
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Zip codes donating the most money to Donald Trump in Rhode Island
In November of last year, former President Donald Trump announced his plans to run for president again in 2024. Despite potential complications presented by his indictment over falsifying business records in March and a jury finding him liable for defamation and sexual abuse in civil court in May, Trump has not announced any changes to […]
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State to soon seek proposals to convert URI Providence campus for housing or commercial use
The Rhode Island Department of Administration (DOA), which in January had announced it was seeking to repurpose the Shepard Building in downtown Providence, a University of Rhode Island campus for some 23 years, is close to publicly asking for proposals for the future use of the building, which not only houses URI, but also the […]
Posted inNews, Politics
First woman elected Massachusetts governor sworn in
By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Maura Healey, the first woman and first open member of the LGBTQ community to be elected governor of Massachusetts, was sworn into office at the Statehouse Thursday, pledging to lead “with empathy and with equity.” Healey’s elevation to governor signals a political shift in the state’s top elected office […]
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Legislators Carson, Finkleman share plans for 2023 legislative session
With the 2023 legislative underway, hundreds, maybe thousands of bills will be introduced with the intention of solving some of the state’s most pressing issues. What’sUpNewp reached out to legislators from the Newport County area and on the South Shore, asking for their vision for this upcoming legislative session. There are clearly similarities in the […]
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Watch or Listen: Our WUN-ON-ONE conversations with the 2022 candidates
Over the last several weeks, What’sUpNewp has sat down with dozens of candidates across Aquidneck Island and Rhode Island These one-on-one interviews will introduce you to the candidates, allow the candidates to talk about their platform, and allow us to ask the questions that are important to voters. Every candidate for every local race and […]