Achievement unlocked

This project is batshit insane and nobody’s paying attention. $11bn is enough to make good progress on regional rail, moving riders from slow, uncomfortable, high-operating-cost buses to trains. Instead it’s happening in isolation from Gateway/Penn planning, resulting in no major new transit service

Exclusive | Crazy train: MTA, LIRR let $385M fly off the rails, beg Hochul bailout Simply getting the LIRR’s costs and efficiencies to match MetroNorth — which the MTA also runs and is the second-most expensive railroad in the country — would save at least $200 million every year…

Work rule differences between the LIRR and tje Metro-North unions (both railroads run the same trains on the same power systems at about the same speeds serving the same metro area) cost the MTA $200 million a year -- nypost.com/2023/01/16/m...

'This madness needs to stop': RI congressmen respond to Trump's Iran threat A profanity-laced Easter post, and another post April 7 saying Iran will "die" has RI congressmen begging people to speak up against the president.

'This madness needs to stop': RI congressmen respond to Trump's Iran threat

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

if AI asks to read or write my emails for me one more Fing time

New East Bay Bike Path bridges work

Nice to see the formerly enclosed stairs to the platform at Providence station opened up at the top.

From rooftop solar to renewables, Foulkes releases her energy plan for RI Helena Foulkes, Democrat running for Rhode Island governor, unveils her plan to invest in more renewable energy and control ratepayer costs.

On energy policy Helena Foulkes calls Gov McKee's proposal to push back renewable targets to lower bills a "false choice," but says she would probably also push them back

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

He investigated voter fraud for Trump. Now he's running for RI governor. Block, a Barrington software engineer, ran for governor under the Moderate Party banner he founded in 2010 and as a Republican in 2014.

Two-time candidate for governor Ken Block is running again, this time as an independent.

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

38 Studios: The cost to R.I. taxpayers When Rhode Island leaders bet on a retired baseball star in 2010 to help reshape the state's long-troubled economy, questions swirled around the state's commitment to an untested company that had no …

This gets most of the way there www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2...
IIRC there was a settlement after this for like $16M, but then also legal bills ~$10M. Without more research would say in $20M-$25M range.

Bad as it was, tough to imagine a Rhode Island without Studio 38. It's canon

Rhode Island records law faces call for changes after bridge report This year's proposal would prevent the state from labeling documents as "drafts" as a way to keep them secret. Here's why the bill faces long odds.

By @waveelection.bsky.social -- Rhode Island records law faces call for changes after bridge report
www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

My colleague Chris Allen spotted these guys on Dorrance St. in Providence on Tuesday... My theory: Advance Iraqi security checking the city. The Iraqi soccer team qualified for the World Cup last night and will play at Gillette in June.

Either that, or they've come to check out our bike lanes.

Sweden are among the least deserving World Cup qualifiers this century — but they could still be a force The most important goal of Sweden's bizarre World Cup qualifying campaign was arguably scored in UEFA's Nations League in November 2024

🎶Among the least deserving World Cup qualifiers this century🎶 You'll never sing that🎶
#HejaSveriga www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

'It's politics, baby': Has picking RI's judges become too political? Court reformers see signs of ethical backsliding when it comes to picking the state's judges.

Political Scene: Are the 90s back?

An election-year RI Supreme Court opening has turned attention back to the old State House to courthouse pipeline.

"It’s politics, baby. Trader’s choice"

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

No Kings PVD, March 26 edition

Any or all of

Nathan De Cat
Ayyoub Bouaddi
Caleb Yirenkyi
Johan Manzambi

2026 midfield radars

Kratom becomes legal on April 1. One RI lawmaker wants it locked up. The psychoactive substance will be legally for sale in RI starting April 1.

Kratom becomes legal on April 1. One RI lawmaker wants it locked up.

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

Latest RI payroll problem affects union dues. Here's what went wrong The mistake resulted in $220,000 in overpayments to 9,000 state workers the week of Feb. 27, state officials said, blaming human error.

The latest payroll error to hit RI state government last month resulted in $220,000 in union dues inadvertently winding up in employee paychecks

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

RI Lottery probes prediction market sports betting. What to know. Other states have accused sites like Polymarket and Kalshi of hosting illegal betting that eats into government gambling revenue

Rhode Island is investigating sports betting on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi.

Other states, including Mass., have gone to court to try to stop the sites.

Bipartisan legislation that would ban them was introduced in Congress yesterday

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

Ads for preppy store in liberal Newport co-opted by White nationalists The company sells an aspirational image of coastal New England life. Some read more into it.

Political Scene: Ads for preppy store in liberal Newport co-opted by White nationalists.
by @antoniafarzan.bsky.social

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

it's a negotiation over judgeships and whatever other priorities Senate leaders have

the former, I believe

Eight months after the governor nominated him, Stefan Pryor gets a confirmation hearing in the Senate.

In other news: McKee picks former Senate president as Superior Court presiding justice

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

Behind the Story:

Patrick Anderson joins @kimkalunian.bsky.social + me to break down the ethics trial of Jim Thorsen.

Shoutouts + full discussion --> www.wpri.com/behindthesto...

RI's truck toll system is legal, but needs a $19M rebuild to start collecting Before RI's truck tolls can start collecting again, the whole system needs to be rebuilt to tune of around $19 million.

A judge said the law firm representing trucking interests charged "excessive" fees they want RI to pay and overstaffed the case.

She begged both sides to stop making new arguments and appeals in this "intensely litigated" suit.

Both sides appealed

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

RI's truck toll system is legal, but needs a $19M rebuild to start collecting Before RI's truck tolls can start collecting again, the whole system needs to be rebuilt to tune of around $19 million.

It will cost RI at least $19M in new hardware to restart its truck toll network sometime in 2027, plus back office costs for collections ($10M, more?)

And the court fight over legal bills is STILL going on eight years after the lawsuit was filed

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

Nooooooooo

Ex-RI official looks to clear his name from infamous 'Philly trip' Ex-Director of Administration James Thorsen testified before the state Ethics Commission about the now infamous lunch with developers in March 2023.

Thorsen's tale: How a private lunch turned into the notorious "Philly Trip" and meme of Rhode Islanders behaving badly

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...