By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge says Rhode Island’s gun permit system, which requires residents to show “a need” to openly carry a firearm throughout the state, does not violate the Second Amendment. In a ruling handed down Friday, U.S. District Judge William Smith granted Rhode Island Attorney General […]
State House
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island lawmakers propose increasing eligibility and maximum credit for circuit breaker tax credit
A new bill has been introduced that would raise the eligibility limit and maximum credit for the circuit breaker tax credit. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Linda Ujifusa and Rep. Megan Cotter. Currently, the circuit breaker tax credit is only available to households making $35,000 a year or less. The credit is also limited […]
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Rhode Island Ethics Commission dismisses complaint against Gov. McKee filed by state GOP
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Rhode Island Ethics Commission has dismissed a complaint filed by the state Republican party against Democratic Gov. Dan McKee alleging he violated state campaign finance laws after a lobbyist picked up a tab for lunch. An investigative report submitted to the commission found McKee “acted reasonably and in good faith […]
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Rep. Lauren Carson releases 2024 Constituent Survey
Rhode Island House Representative Lauren Carson has released her 2024 constituent survey, which will be available online through February 9. Rep. Carson says, “I love speaking with my constituents throughout the year and listening to their concerns about our city and state. Hearing individual feedback is very important to me, and once a year I […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Legislation introduced that would allow the Town of Jamestown to give a tax break to volunteer firefighters
STATE HOUSE –Sen. Dawn Euer and Rep. Alex Finkelman have introduced legislation that would allow the town of Jamestown to give a tax break to volunteer firefighters. “Our neighbors on the volunteer fire department are true heroes,” said Senator Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown). “This was demonstrated again so clearly last weekend when they extinguished a structure […]
Posted inCity & Government
House OKs Carson bill to support environmental justice in implementation of Act on Climate
STATE HOUSE – The House of Representatives today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Lauren H. Carson to help ensure the implementation of environmental justice provisions of the Act on Climate, the landmark environmental legislation she sponsored last year. The legislation (2022-H 7611A), which now goes to the Senate, adds an environmental justice advocate to the membership of […]
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Lt. Governor candidate State Rep. Ruggiero joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation
State Rep. Deb Ruggiero, who announced last week that she was running for lieutenant governor, joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Monday at 1 p.m. Note – This conversation has been moved to 1:30 pm on Wednesday, April 13. Ruggiero, who represents District 74 (Jamestown and Middletown), is aligned with the House […]
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Aquidneck Island Climate Caucus to meet virtually Sunday, marking the first anniversary of Act on Climate
Sunday is the first anniversary of the signing of Rhode Island’s landmark Act on Climate, and the Aquidneck Island Climate Caucus, led by Rep. Lauren H. Carson and Rep. Terri Cortvriend, will mark the occasion with a discussion on decarbonizing buildings. The virtual event, titled “How can Rhode Island set a path for decarbonizing our buildings?,” […]
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Rep. Ruggiero bill would create an incident response team for cybersecurity breaches at state agencies
Sometime between Aug. 3 and 5 last year, a hacker stole a sensitive file from the computer of a payroll clerk at the offices of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. But it wasn’t until Dec. 21 that a letter was sent about the breach to the more than 17,000 state employees whose Social Security numbers, names, […]
Posted inCity & Government, Opinion
Opinion: 2022 Legislative Session an opportunity for transformational change
As the Rhode Island Senate convenes this month, I plan for us to embark upon a transformational session for our state. The federal relief funds distributed to Rhode Island offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reinvest in our state and its people. Universal Pre-K The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated existing learning gaps. Our children – […]
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Rhode Island Legislators return to State House on Tuesday
The House and the Senate will return to session Tuesday at the State House to finish up several matters from the 2021 session and begin the 2022 session. Both the House and the Senate are scheduled to meet Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 2 p.m. in their respective chambers on the second floor of the State House. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Gubernatorial race shaping up to be an Ivy League competition
The Ivy League will be on full display in Rhode Island’s Democratic gubernatorial primary election – Brown, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale. This week’s announcement by Helena Foulkes, a former CVS top executive and former CEO of the parent company of Saks’ 5th Avenue, assured this to be among the most elite group of candidates to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Representative Ruggiero sponsors bill for 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030
Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) is sponsoring legislation to require that 100 percent of Rhode Island’s electricity sold at retail comes from renewable sources by 2030. “As the Ocean State, Rhode Island must make a bold commitment to clean energy to slow the effects of global warming and the rising sea levels that […]
Posted inCity & Government
Legislation sponsored by Rep. McGaw would prevent approval of carbon-polluting power plants
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Michelle E. McGaw would require the state’s Energy Facility Siting Board to deny applications for power plants that would have adverse effects on Rhode Island’s ability to meet its carbon-emissions-reduction goals. “We set carbon reduction goals in state law because there is a climate crisis, one that is directly impacting our own […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor – Rep. Carson: Thank you, Newport
Thank you, Newport, for your continued support of my efforts and hard work in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. I will not let you down. Even though I ran unopposed this year, I do not take my voters and constituents for granted. My congratulations to all the Newport winners and I look forward to working together […]