Rhode Island

On Earth Day, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-RI) are leading a bipartisan group of New England members of Congress in announcing the introduction of legislation to bar offshore drilling along the New England coast.  The New England Coastal Protection Act is cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), […]

By KATHY McCORMACK Associated Press Dominick Ruggerio, Rhode Island’s longest-serving legislator at nearly 44 years and its Senate president since 2017, died Monday, his office said. He was 76. Ruggerio, a Democrat, died at Fatima Hospital in North Providence, said Greg Pare, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Senate. He was hospitalized last week. Ruggerio […]

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) released its response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) March 20 letter today (April 21). The letter recommended that RITBA conduct a risk assessment on the Newport Pell Bridge and requested a response within 30 days. RITBA says that it has engaged an engineering firm to […]

by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current April 21, 2025 Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, the “dean” of the chamber who married an uncanny listening ability with shrewd negotiation strategy, died early Monday morning from his third battle with cancer, according to a statement from his office. He was 76. “It is with deepest sorrow that we […]

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — President Donald Trump’s executive order to boost the U.S. commercial fishing industry drew praise from commercial fishing groups and condemnation from environmental organizations who said they fear cutting regulations will harm fish populations that have already dwindled in some areas of the oceans. The order represents a dramatic shift in federal […]

Newport City Council’s next Regular Council Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Newport City Hall. Here’s a look at what’s on the docket; See the docket here and below. apr23_25dkDownload

The Pentagon welcomed 18 high school students and faculty from St. George’s School in Middletown on Tuesday. The group, part of the Rogers Scholars program, got an inside look at the Department of Defense’s global operations. During their visit to Washington, D.C., the students toured the Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs and […]

Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa and Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi have introduced two bills to address problems faced by those with mental health or substance abuse problems: lack of parity between mental and physical health care insurance coverage, and denial of prior authorizations by insurers. “Despite a 2008 federal law that requires insurance coverage for mental […]

Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, the state’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health, has closed on a $3,887,450 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan with 100% principal forgiveness (e.g. a grant) to the Prudence Island Water District for the installation of a new chlorination […]

The League of Women Voters Newport County (LWVNC) is launching an initiative to attend and monitor public meetings of the city and town councils and school committees throughout the County.  League members in Tiverton, Little Compton, Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown, and Jamestown have agreed to serve in the LWVNC “Observer Corps,” and will carry out a […]

Save the date; it’s almost time to cut the ribbon on the new Rogers High School. Newport Public Schools today (April 11) announced that the new high school’s ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on August 22 at 10 a.m. “Our beautiful new, state-of-the-art Rogers High School is coming together and we continue to offer students […]

By MARC LEVY Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A new executive order from President Donald Trump that’s part of his effort to invigorate energy production raises the possibility that his Department of Justice will go to court against state climate change laws aimed at slashing planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution from fossil fuels. Trump’s order, signed […]

Rep. Patricia A. Serpa and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma have introduced legislation to bring fairness to Rhode Island’s bidding process for entities who contract with the state. The Rhode Island Bid Rigging Act (2025-H 6173, 2025-S 0945) would make it unlawful for any person to knowingly conspire, collude, combine, or agree with another to commit or […]

Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined all ten of their Senate colleagues representing New England states in seeking answers about reports that the Trump Administration is considering eliminating certain Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regional offices, including the Region 1 office that serves Rhode Island.   In a bipartisan letter, the […]

The City of Newport is inviting civic-minded residents to apply for positions on a number of its Boards and Commission, including three newly created groups aimed at shaping the future of local governance and engaging the next generation of leaders. Created by the City Council last month, these three new volunteer groups include: The Standing […]

Newport’s City Council is gearing up for a busy meeting on April 9, 2025, with a full agenda covering liquor licenses, special events, and more. The meeting kicks off at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on Broadway. Residents can share their thoughts on city matters during the Citizens’ Forum, with each speaker getting […]

The last time the federal minimum wage was raised it was July of 2009 – Barack Obama had just been elected president, iPads hadn’t come out yet, and the world was experiencing a global recession.  Since then, corporate profits have risen as has the costs of goods, but the federal minimum wage — which is […]