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Rhode Island Current
U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a […] The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that effectively bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public […] The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump debated at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday night, the first showdown of the 2024 general election season for the presumptive presidential nominees. The debate was heated, with candidates accusing one another of lying about their and their opponent’s positions on the debate stage. Both presidential […] The post Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Presidential election seen as climate turning point as CO2 hits record
WASHINGTON – Despite policies the Biden administration has championed to target climate change, recent findings show carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high, raising the stakes for November’s presidential election among advocates for aggressive climate action. Recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere […] The post Presidential election seen as climate turning point as CO2 hits record appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
13 states with Republican governors opt out of summer food program for kids
A new, permanent summer grocery program will help nearly 21 million kids across 37 states get enough to eat this year while school’s out. But 13 states with Republican governors have opted out of the federal program, citing their opposition to what they deride as “welfare” and their unwillingness to cover administrative costs. Under the […] The post 13 states with Republican governors opt out of summer food program for kids appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate
Immigration occupies center stage in the 2024 presidential campaign and also was a major focus during the first presidential debate Thursday night between President Joe Biden and the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald J. Trump. Immigration is a top issue for voters and for Trump, while the Biden administration has struggled to deal with the largest […] The post Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump pitched to undecided voters Thursday night during the first debate of the presidential campaign — trading insults over their policy differences, immigration and who represents a threat to democracy. During the debate from CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, the two men argued over who would be better for […] The post Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
U.S. Supreme Court ruling reinstates ability to perform emergency abortions in Idaho under ban
Emergency abortion care can continue in Idaho without fear of prosecution of physicians now that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision Thursday remanding a case about emergency abortions in the state back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The 2022 case came soon after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that June that overturned […] The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling reinstates ability to perform emergency abortions in Idaho under ban appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Latest census reveals 35% increase in unhoused people in Rhode Island
The number of unhoused Rhode Islanders has risen 35%, according to the state’s latest Point in Time census released Thursday. At least 2,442 individuals across the state were counted when volunteers from the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness conducted the annual survey on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, as part of an annual snapshot it […] The post Latest census reveals 35% increase in unhoused people in Rhode Island appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Gov. McKee vetoes bills on kratom, nursing homes and non-compete clauses
Some bills never make it to a floor vote in the Rhode Island General Assembly. Some never even make it to a committee vote. So the bills that do make it to Gov. Dan McKee’s desk are something like chosen ones, seemingly destined to succeed. But five pieces of legislation — including one which would […] The post Gov. McKee vetoes bills on kratom, nursing homes and non-compete clauses appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor resigns
Rhode Island’s housing department is losing its second cabinet head in less than three years, Gov. Dan McKee’s office announced on Thursday. Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor will be stepping down in two weeks for an unspecified private-sector job, Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for McKee’s office, said in an email. An interim secretary will be named […] The post Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor resigns appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
House Speaker Johnson, Betsy DeVos lead attack on Title IX rule that protects LGBTQ+ kids
WASHINGTON — Prominent members of the GOP on Wednesday strongly criticized the Biden administration’s final rule for Title IX, including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. As the fate of a key Biden administration effort to protect LGBTQ+ students from […] The post House Speaker Johnson, Betsy DeVos lead attack on Title IX rule that protects LGBTQ+ kids appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Connecticut’s smog problem gets no relief from U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday halted, at least temporarily, a Biden administration rule that would have helped moderate Connecticut’s longstanding summertime smog and other air quality problems. The rule would dramatically cut Midwestern and Western power plant and industrial emissions that travel east into Connecticut and contribute to the state’s high asthma rates and […] The post Connecticut’s smog problem gets no relief from U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Mass. high court dismisses challenges to MCAS ballot question info
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday dismissed two challenges to the description of a ballot question eliminating the 10th-grade MCAS as a high school graduation requirement. The challenges, one from supporters and one from opponents of the question, took issue with the title and one-sentence statements summarizing what yes and no votes would mean. […] The post Mass. high court dismisses challenges to MCAS ballot question info appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
U.S. Supreme Court sends Idaho abortion case back down to lower courts
As expected after the court said it inadvertently uploaded the opinion prematurely on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision Thursday remanding a case about emergency abortions in Idaho back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for now. The decision was 6-3, with conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissenting. […] The post U.S. Supreme Court sends Idaho abortion case back down to lower courts appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
A caring community makes all the difference for LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers
In difficult times, a caring community can make all the difference. But for people living with a serious illness, and their caregivers, life can feel very lonely. For individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, which includes me, it can be even lonelier. Even if you know where to reach out for support, you may find yourself […] The post A caring community makes all the difference for LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Cooler states now forced to grapple with extreme heat fueled by climate change
NEW YORK — As temperatures soared into the 90s, the heat and humidity hit the concrete in Astoria, Queens, and bounced into the air. People moved along the scorched sidewalk slowly, their clothes drenched with sweat. Elianne Alvarado, 44, who was raised in New York City and has lived here for most of her life, […] The post Cooler states now forced to grapple with extreme heat fueled by climate change appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
U.S. House Democrats push for federal gun reform following surgeon general advisory
WASHINGTON – Democratic U.S. House members pushed for legislative action to address gun violence Wednesday, the day after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared the issue a public health crisis. Murthy released a 40-page advisory Tuesday. It called gun violence the leading cause of death for children and adolescents, causing just over 4,600 deaths in […] The post U.S. House Democrats push for federal gun reform following surgeon general advisory appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Incumbents are unopposed in nearly half of General Assembly races
Former Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt will not attempt a comeback run for the Rhode Island Legislature this year, despite commissioning a voter survey and telling local news outlets she was considering challenging Rep. Jon Brien, an independent, for the seat she once held. In an emailed statement Wednesday afternoon, mere hours before the 4 p.m. […] The post Incumbents are unopposed in nearly half of General Assembly races appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Document leak indicates U.S. Supreme Court will punt Idaho emergency abortion case for now
A document inadvertently uploaded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s website on Wednesday appears to indicate the court will send a case regarding emergency abortion care in Idaho back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rather than make a decision, according to reporting from Bloomberg Law. Rather than rule on the merits, the unofficial opinion, […] The post Document leak indicates U.S. Supreme Court will punt Idaho emergency abortion case for now appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
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The Rhode Island Current is an independent, nonprofit digital news site dedicated to bringing readers a steady stream of high quality, nonpartisan reporting about state government and public policy in the Ocean State. We are committed to exploring the ways policy decisions affect how we live and learn, work and play, and plan and prosper. We believe in holding those in power accountable for their actions — and their inertia — on matters that impact the lives of Rhode Islanders. We do so without regard to party or ideology. Our focus will always be on providing unbiased, fact-based information and ethical journalism essential to our democracy. We also believe in seeking out diverse perspectives. That’s why you will find a lively mix of commentaries and op-ed pieces on our site. You will find no ads on our website. Nor will you find any paywalls. Our coverage is free to share and publish under the Creative Commons license. For information about republishing, email info@rhodeislandcurrent.com. Rhode Island Current is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Current retains full editorial independence.
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