Federal judge rejects DOJ lawsuit against Rhode Island over voter rolls • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island is now the fifth state to reel in what a federal judge in Providence on Friday morning called a “fishing expedition” by President Donald Trump administration’s to obtain sensitive voter…

ICYMI: Trump administration now 0-5 in legal fight against 29 states to obtain sensitive voter roll information after Rhode Island federal judge on Friday dismisses the DOJ's case against Secretary of State Gregg Amore. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social

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Smiley unveils proposed FY2027 Providence budget with lowest spending growth in at least five years • Rhode Island Current Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget would grow 1.75%, keep property tax rates flat, and add funding for schools, housing and city services.

In his 3,549-word speech, Smiley named President Donald Trump four times and hammered blame on the feds for actions which he said have worsened food insecurity, education, immigration and climate programs. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/04/15/s...

Bill would mandate more school librarians in Rhode Island. But how to pay for it? • Rhode Island Current Students from Alfred Lima Elementary School in Providence students came to the State House to champion legislation that would mandate a dedicated library and certified school librarian in every public...

Bill would mandate more school librarians in Rhode Island. But how to pay for it? By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/04/14/b...

As Smithfield moves to ban data centers, Smith Hill is still debating how to define them • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island lawmakers are weighing competing data center bills as town officials in Smithfield consider a local ban tied to a possible business park near the historic Hanton City area.

Local and state officials have yet to agree on what a data center is and how they should be regulated in a state with little room for large-scale facilities. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/04/13/a...

Lawmakers seek permanent funding for referral hotlines connecting families to mental health care • Rhode Island Current A bill heard by a Rhode Island Senate panel last week would fold funding for telephone hotlines used by pediatricians and family doctors to connect kids and parents to mental health treatment hotlines...

Lawmakers seek permanent funding for referral hotlines connecting families to mental health care. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/04/06/l...

The internet is putting kids at risk. These mom lawmakers want to force tech firms to make it safer. • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island lawmakers are pushing a six-bill package aimed at protecting children from digital harms tied to social media, school tech and AI chatbots.

Three House lawmakers (who are also moms) are pushing for a slate of platform-regulating bills to succeed this year.
rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/04/01/t...

401Gives: 36 hours to make a difference and help nonprofits stay the course • Rhode Island Current Online fundraising for 401Gives, Rhode Island’s day of giving, opens at 6 a.m. Tuesday and will remain open for 36 hours — about as long as the tumultuous period experienced by some participating nonp...

Federal funding changes and subpar reimbursements from local or state governments means increased financial pressure for community-based providers. But #401Gives is a bright spot they can count on to boost their fundraising efforts. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/30/4...

Providence federal judge grills DOJ lawyer over reasons for demanding RI’s voter data • Rhode Island Current A U.S. Justice Department lawyer admitted in court Thursday that if Rhode Island hands over unredacted voter rolls, that data will be shared with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to check citi...

The DOJ wants the data, it says, to ensure the state’s compliance with voting integrity laws. But Rhode Island is one of 24 states pushing back against the Trump administration’s nationwide request. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/26/p...

Portsmouth rep wants kratom locked up behind sales counters • Rhode Island Current The psychoactive herb kratom can be legally sold in Rhode Island starting April 1 after winning the General Assembly’s approval last June. But Rep. Michelle McGaw, a Portsmouth Democrat and pharmacist...

Portsmouth lawmaker and pharmacist wants kratom locked up behind sales counters come April 1. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/20/p...

What’s inside the Rhode Island Senate’s 2026 health care bill package • Rhode Island Current A 17-bill Rhode Island Senate package for 2026 targets behavioral health crisis care, AI chatbot safeguards, pharmacy benefit managers and the state’s primary care workforce.

The Rhode Island Senate's 17-bill health care package for 2026 is almost double the size of last year’s collection, which sported nine pieces of legislation. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com?p=28932

Lawmakers consider bill that would keep private keys private in Rhode Island • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island lawmakers are again weighing a bill to limit when courts and government agencies can compel disclosure of private keys tied to digital assets, identities and accounts.

For the third consecutive year, Rhode Island lawmakers are considering a bill that would draw firmer boundaries around one of the most sensitive pieces of digital life: private keys. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/09/l...

Maine lobster haul down again in 2025 • Rhode Island Current Maine lobstermen landed 78.8 million pounds in 2025, maintaining the largest fishery in the state, even as the haul is down again from the year before.  According to preliminary data from the Maine De...

Data shows that Maine lobster harvesters took 12,000 fewer fishing trips in 2025 than the year before, an almost 10% decline in fishing effort. Via @mainemorningstar.com rhodeislandcurrent.com/briefs/maine...

Ethics panel sets hearing date as supervisor during infamous Philly trip fights to clear his name • Rhode Island Current The Rhode Island Ethics Commission will hold a rare adjudication hearing on March 17 to publicly litigate findings of probable ethics violations by Jim Thorsen, the state's former director of administ...

Former state administration director Jim Thorsen, who faces up to $52K in fines for ethics violations over the infamous Philly trip scandal, finally gets his day in adjudication before the Rhode Island ethics Commission on March 17. By @nancyklavin.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/02/e...

Lieutenant governor’s race expands as Khamsyvoravong kicks off campaign • Rhode Island Current Newport City Councilor and former mayor Xaykham “Xay” Khamsyvoravong on Monday officially announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor, ending weeks of speculation. His campaign account has the lar...

At-large Newport City Councilor and former mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong intends to focus on strengthening primary health care in Rhode Island in announcing his bid for the lieutenant governor's office. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social

rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/02/l...

Rodenticides kill more than rodents. Providence lawmaker sponsors bill to ban their use. There’s more than one way to poison a rat.But not all poisons are created equal, and some of the most popular rodenticides can wreak havoc higher up the food chain, killing the birds and mammals that…

There’s more than one way to poison a rat.

But not all poisons are created equal, and some of the most popular rodenticides can wreak havoc higher up the food chain, killing the birds and mammals that feast upon vermin.

via @rhodeislandcurrent.com

Hasbro shareholders drop suit alleging toymaker overprinted Magic: The Gathering card sets • Rhode Island Current Two Hasbro shareholders have voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit in Rhode Island federal court which accused executives of misleading investors about Magic: The Gathering printing and overproduction. The…

ICYMI: Case brought by Hasbro shareholders against company executives for alleged overprinting of Magic: The Gathering cards was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it can be refiled again. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/23/h...

RI Supreme Court lets municipalities off the hook for cost of some students in residential care • Rhode Island Current A 3-1 Rhode Island Supreme Court decision in favor of Cumberland and Newport settles a seven-year dispute over the interpretation of a state law amended 25 years ago governing the financial responsibi...

RI Supreme Court lets municipalities off the hook for cost of some students in residential care rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/24/r...

37.9(!) at TF Green
Over 3 feet

www.providencejournal.com/live-story/w...

Reading Across Rhode Island 2026: ‘This story reminded me why I love books.’ • Rhode Island Current “Happy Land,” Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s historical fiction novel tracing an African American community in the hills of western North Carolina, is the 2026 statewide read for Reading Across Rhode Island w...

Good day to read.... Reading Across Rhode Island 2026: ‘This story reminded me why I love books.’ HAPPY LAND author Dolen Perkins-Valdez interviewed right here by @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/12/r...

FM buys IGT building in downtown Providence for $68.5M • Rhode Island Current Johnston-based insurance giant FM is buying the downtown Providence building that houses the state’s lottery contractor formerly known as IGT, Fidelity Investments Inc. and The Capital Grille. The 202...

One of the state’s top employers, with a 1,500-person workforce housed mostly at its 8-acre campus in Johnston, is expanding into downtown Providence. By @nancyklavin.bsky.social

rhodeislandcurrent.com/briefs/fm-bu...

Providence rent stabilization plan draws standing room only crowd at first public hearing • Rhode Island Current Tenants, landlords, and Providence city officials on Wednesday night debated costs and consequences of a proposed rent stabilization ordinance that would cap annual rent increases at 4% during a heari...

For over five and a half hours Wednesday night, fans and foes of a Providence ordinance that would cap rent increases at 4% annually sparred passionately during the first public hearing on the matter at City Hall. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/19/p...

Pawtucket police chief asks for respect for family after tragedy at ice rink • Rhode Island Current With a large contingent of state and local elected officials standing by, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves Tuesday released the names of the mother and son killed in the shooting at an ice rink i...

Pawtucket police chief offers update on hockey rink shooting; governor announces online mental health hub with resources for domestic violence and suicide prevention. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social and @krish-eh.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/17/p...

Auditors showed up unannounced at 3 independent pharmacies. This RI law was ready for them. • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha used the newly strengthened Pharmacy Audit Act to halt unannounced on-site audits by Prime Therapeutics at three independent pharmacies in the state, after ...

The office of RI AG @peterneronha.bsky.social stepped in to crack down on PBMs that don’t follow the rules under an updated state law. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/16/a...

Smiley releases ‘full and complete response’ to flood of records requests on Brown shooting • Rhode Island Current Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said Monday that bodycam video, audio files, fire and police incident reports, and logs of phone calls now posted on the city’s website will be the final collection of re...

A spokesperson for Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said the city had 67 requests for public records related to the shooting — “the highest volume of requests the City has received for a single event during the Smiley Administration.” By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/09/s...

Beacon Mutual hit by ransomware attack • Rhode Island Current The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, a state vendor and major provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Rhode Island, has confirmed it was the victim of a cyberattack in January.

Beacon Mutual Insurance Company in Warwick says its live systems remain safe from harm as investigation into potential data affected by January cyberattack continues. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/05/b...

Shareholders sue Hasbro over allegedly printing too many Magic: The Gathering cards • Rhode Island Current Two Hasbro shareholders claim the Pawtucket-based toy giant printed too much product for its most lucrative holding, the trading card game Magic: The Gathering, while misrepresenting its strategy, acc...

ICYMI: Two Hasbro shareholders are claiming the Pawtucket-based toy giant printed too much product for its most lucrative holding: Magic cards. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/30/s...

McKee’s proposed FY2027 budget drops GLP-1 drugs for weight loss from Medicaid • Rhode Island Current Gov. Dan McKee’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget would remove GLP-1 drugs from Rhode Island’s Medicaid formulary for weight loss, saving $6.3 million in general revenue. Coverage of the drugs for wei...

McKee’s proposed FY2027 budget drops GLP-1 drugs for weight loss from Medicaid rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/27/m...

Rhode Island releases its roadmap for AI. Some boundaries have yet to be drawn. • Rhode Island Current The Governor’s AI Task Force on Wednesday released its first report offering a blueprint for how Rhode Island can stay competitive and use artificial intelligence responsibly and wisely.

In new report released Wednesday, the Governor’s AI Task Force recommends forming cross-industry and cross-region partnerships and an AI for Rhode Island virtual and physical hub. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/28/r...

Rhode Island arts council approves nearly $2.75 million in cultural facilities grants from 2024 bond • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island’s state arts council is awarding $2.75 million in matching cultural facilities grants to 17 arts and culture organizations, with funding from a $10 million bond voters approved in Novembe...

Accessibility and safety upgrades and even some new masonry and roofing will be among the facility improvements arts and culture organizations will be able to make this year thanks to Rhode Island voters.
rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/21/r...

Ready or not, the Providence City Council is pursuing rent stabilization • Rhode Island Current The Providence City Council’s much-anticipated measure to regulate apartment prices has finally entered into public view, two days ahead of its formal introduction at Thursday's upcoming council meeti...

ICYMI: Rent stabilization? Rent control? Whatever name you choose for the Providence City Council’s much-anticipated measure to regulate apartment prices, the ordinance has finally entered into public view. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/20/r...