Six Newsrooms Band Together to Strengthen Local News Coverage Editor’s Note: The following is a press release announcing the launch of Rhode Island News Collaborative (RINC), of which The Providence E...

... development group picked to buy Providence … 1 day ago. Video · SPORTS ... No new U.S. Attorney appointed for Rhode Island. Genre / 1 day ago. Providence ...

In 2025, Rhode Island passed a pioneering law expanding pregnancy accommodation provisions to require employers to provide accommodations for menopause symptoms, marking a significant advancement in workplace rights and civil liberties for women experiencing menopause.

Washington Trust plans to open its 29th full-service retail branch at 433 Broadway in Pawtucket, RI, in fall 2026, expanding access to financial services including deposit products, loans, business banking, and wealth management in a fast-growing community.

Demonstrators, including Peter McGonagle (left), lined Wakefield’s Main Street on March 4, protesting the Trump administration, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. The protest was o...

Rhode Island is suing 13 companies involved in the design, inspection, and repair of the Washington Bridge. This legal action reflects government efforts to address potential issues with infrastructure, which can impact community safety and individual rights.

On August 4, 2025, Rhode Island Governor McKee is scheduled to sign a new law at the State House that will raise the state's minimum wage from $15 to $17 over a two-year period. This legislative action reflects ongoing efforts to improve worker compensation and economic conditions in Rhode Island.

On August 18, 2025, Rhode Island Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced she is co-leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general in suing the Trump Administration for illegally conditioning access to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants on states' participation in extreme immigration enforcement efforts. The lawsuit challenges the administration's attempt to withhold funds used to support crime victims unless states comply with its immigration agenda. AG Jennings emphasized that this move threatens vital services for victims and overburdens social workers, police, and prosecutors. Governor Matt Meyer also expressed support for protecting these federal funds as essential for safety and justice.

Grebien confirms 3-percent tax increase, more housing construction in FY 27 budget ... Property transfers in northern Rhode Island · Phantom Farms scores winery ...

A Parking enforcement officer with the Providence Police Department has been charged with two felonies, including one involving a firearm.

The former Rehoboth fire chief, Mark Haskell, was fired by the town's Board of Selectmen in a 4-1 vote on April 21, 2026, and is now considering legal action against the town over his removal. A public meeting is scheduled for April 27 to discuss the future of the Rehoboth Fire Department.

On April 17, 2026, Lansdale officials issued a statement clarifying that local police will not engage in federal immigration enforcement, focusing solely on public safety. The policy emphasizes protecting the rights and dignity of all residents regardless of immigration status, avoiding inquiries into immigration status during routine interactions, and not sharing sensitive personal data except as required by law. This move aims to build community trust and ensure fair policing.

The Rhode Island state court system has begun piloting facial recognition technology to analyze security camera footage at courthouses, notifying security if 'monitored attendees'—deemed threatening or disruptive—enter. The ACLU of Rhode Island raised concerns about privacy risks, potential misuse by ICE, and lack of public input before implementation, highlighting civil liberties issues.

The RI Coalition for Reproductive Freedom (RICRF) expressed strong support for a $600,000 grant allocation to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) as part of H 7127 Article 1 Section 1, discussed in the House Finance Committee on March 25, 2026, advancing reproductive rights in state budgeting.

The ACLU of Rhode Island has raised concerns over the state judiciary's rollout of a facial recognition pilot program in courthouses, arguing that existing security measures are sufficient to maintain building safety without the technology, which raises civil liberties issues.

Rhode Island lawmakers and nonprofit leaders are advancing legislation to abolish life without parole sentences for individuals who commit crimes when they are 21 years old or younger. State Rep. Julie Casimiro (D-North Kingstown, Exeter) introduced the bill in the state House of Representatives on January 15, emphasizing that young people lack complete brain development and should not receive such sentences. The bill has been referred to the state House Judiciary Committee for an open hearing. Steven Brown, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, supports the measure and hopes it will be retroactively applied to the four individuals currently serving life without parole sentences in Rhode Island who committed crimes before age 22.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University Law Prisoners’ Rights Clinic filed a lawsuit on behalf of five Native American prisoners at the Adult Correctional Institutions, alleging the Rhode Island Department of Corrections denies them access to religious ceremonies, spiritual guidance, and items. This is the third such lawsuit in three years, claiming Rhode Island lacks policies for Native American religious practices that are standard in other prisons.

Centurion missed the January 15 bankruptcy court deadline to close the acquisition of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital from Prospect Medical Holdings, prompting Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha to announce upcoming state actions in consultation with leaders. Centurion secured verbal commitments from four investors but demands state funding amid ongoing financial turmoil.

In a data breach notice from KIOTI, Rhode Island residents are informed of their right to obtain a police report and request a security freeze on their credit files with consumer reporting agencies. They may need to provide personal information and identification to place the freeze. Contact information is provided for the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903, phone (401)-274-4400, www.riag.ri.gov, for information on preventing identity theft.

Residential Properties Ltd. announced the sale of 2 Cherry Lane in Bristol for $1.28 million. RPL Sales Associate… This real estate transaction represents a significant business development in Rhode Island's housing market.

Rhode Island has entered a new financial agreement placing the state on the hook for $60.22 million in bonds to refinance the Pawtucket minor league soccer stadium. According to a recent S&P rating report, the state now guarantees these bonds, marking a significant shift from previous arrangements. This commitment involves annual appropriations in the state budget starting fiscal year 2027 to cover debt service, effectively making Rhode Island responsible for financing a private sports facility it neither owns nor controls. The bond refinancing package is over $6 million higher than the 2024 issuance, reflecting increased financial exposure for the state.