Rhode Island Current

07/01/2025

Five and a half weeks after a fire ravaged the Matunuck Oyster Bar, the popular South Kingstown restaurant reopened Monday thanks to a revision of Rhode Island’s outdoor dining law.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation Monday morning at a ceremony in South Kingstown amending the state’s outdoor dining law, allowing the Matunuck Oyster Bar to offer outdoor dining this summer after a May 20 fire shut down the restaurant.

06/30/2025

17 statewide anti-domestic and sexual violence coalitions have asked a Rhode Island federal judge to halt the Trump administration’s new restrictions for grants administered by an office within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Violence Against Women Act.

Seventeen statewide anti-domestic and sexual violence coalitions have asked a Rhode Island federal judge to halt the Trump administration’s new restrictions for grants administered by an office within the U.S. Department of Justice under the Violence Against Women Act.

06/30/2025

Rhode Island’s plan to bring in more offshore wind power appears at risk of washing away after a fourth delay to a scheduled contract signing between Rhode Island Energy and SouthCoast Wind. By Nancy Lavin

After after a fourth delay to a scheduled contract signing, Rhode Island Energy has for the first time acknowledged that a tentative agreement to buy power from the SouthCoast Wind project could be canceled due to uncertainty over federal directives on offshore wind.

06/30/2025

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation will waive landing and parking fees for the New England Patriots' two jumbo jets at T.F. Green through July 2030. In exchange, the Patriots will provide the Warwick airport with advertising worth millions of dollars to boost the airport’s regional branding.

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/06/30/one-dollar-two-jets-and-a-bunch-of-ads-patriots-stick-with-t-f-green-as-official-airport/

06/30/2025

Louisiana recently passed a law to stop third parties from selling restaurant reservations without permission from the restaurants. Other states also have been working to crack down on black-market reservations, which can go for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Via Stateline

Louisiana recently passed a law to stop third parties from selling restaurant reservations without permission from the restaurants. Other states also have been working to crack down on black-market reservations, which can go for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

06/28/2025

Gun homicides fell for the second year in a row, according to new report. But su***des involving a firearm reached a record high in 2023. Via Stateline

A new report finds more people in the United States died by gun su***de in 2023 than any year on record — more than by gun homicide, accidental shootings and police shootings combined.

06/28/2025

U.S. Senate Republicans appear ready to take an initial vote on their “big, beautiful bill” as soon as Saturday.

U.S. Senate Republicans appear ready to take an initial vote on their “big, beautiful bill” as soon as Saturday, which would set up final passage within a couple of days — though Majority Leader John Thune called the timeline “aspirational.”

06/27/2025

Thousands of Rhode Islanders covered by UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans may have fewer choices at more cost after contract expires Monday.

The soon-to-expire Medicare Advantage plan contract between Brown University Health and UnitedHealthcare has spawned three separate informational websites about what happens next for thousands of covered seniors and people with disabilities. But it's still unclear if affected patients can keep seein...

06/27/2025

Construction may be the next ICE target since it's where the bulk of immigrant workers are employed, more than 2 million. Via Stateline

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/06/27/if-trump-wants-more-deportations-hell-need-to-target-the-construction-industry/

06/27/2025

A revised fiscal 2026 budget seeks a proposed tax levy hike of 5.85% instead of the 7.5% proposed in April by Mayor Brett Smiley and the maximum cap of 8% authorized last week by the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Providence city officials on Thursday announced a revised fiscal 2026 budget that seeks a proposed tax levy hike of 5.85% instead of the 7.5% proposed in April by Mayor Brett Smiley and the maximum cap of 8% authorized just last week by the Rhode Island General Assembly.

06/27/2025

Only 12% of the more than 2,500 bills and resolutions introduced across both sides of the State House rotunda survived the six-month 2025 legislative session.
Here are five losers.

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/06/27/five-losses-from-rhode-islands-2025-legislative-session/

06/27/2025

Here are five wins you might have missed from the 2025 Rhode Island General Assembly.

Housing production, cat welfare and the Rhode Island Attorney General's office were clear winners of the 2025 legislative session. Meanwhile, state Republicans are trying to turn the "L" on assault weapons restrictions into a win for 2026, and one state representative celebrates a short-lived floor....