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Rhode Island Current
Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether presidents enjoy total criminal immunity, delaying one of the most consequential legal decisions in U.S. history and likely closing the door on former President Donald Trump facing his federal election interference trial before November. Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee who is entangled […] The post Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Providence to host for annual conference of mayors in 2027
Mayors from across the country will come to Providence in June 2027 for a national conference. Rhode Island’s capital city will be home to the 95th annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley announced Wednesday. The conference draws mayors from cities with populations of at least 30,000. Approximately 1,400 […] The post Providence to host for annual conference of mayors in 2027 appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Department of Administration looks to move more state offices into downtown Providence building
The state plans to consolidate more offices into the historic former Shepard Company building in downtown Providence after negotiating a new lease with the University of Rhode Island (URI). URI occupies a combined 17,000 square feet on two floors of the six-story building situated between Westminster and Washington streets, with a child-development center on the […] The post Department of Administration looks to move more state offices into downtown Providence building appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
U.S. House GOP to file suit over Biden audio tapes, as ‘inherent contempt’ vote looms
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Republican Conference will file a lawsuit against the Department of Justice next week as it attempts to gain access to the audio tapes of special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden. House Speaker Mike Johnson made the announcement Wednesday during a press conference after being asked about Florida […] The post U.S. House GOP to file suit over Biden audio tapes, as ‘inherent contempt’ vote looms appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Sailing away on the Block Island Ferry will cost more for fast ferry users
Bad news for travelers to and from Block Island: the fare for taking the high-speed ferry between Point Judith and Block Island is going up starting Thursday. The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved new rates for the 30-minute fast ferry trip in a meeting Wednesday morning. The new rates, which take effect the […] The post Sailing away on the Block Island Ferry will cost more for fast ferry users appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Biden to pardon vets discharged for same-sex relationships
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will pardon U.S. military veterans who were discharged or convicted under military law for consensual same-sex relations, the administration announced Wednesday. The White House could not provide an exact number of veterans who will be pardoned, but the administration estimates thousands were convicted over several decades and may be eligible. […] The post Biden to pardon vets discharged for same-sex relationships appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Calm, conservative, confident: What GOP senators want in Trump’s vice presidential pick
WASHINGTON — Republican members of the U.S. Senate striving for a takeover of their chamber in the November elections have a wish list for what they’d like to see in Donald Trump’s running mate. A “little calmer” than Trump. Confident. Conservative. Military experience. Good relationships with senators. Ready to take over as chief executive if […] The post Calm, conservative, confident: What GOP senators want in Trump’s vice presidential pick appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
One potential primary challenger so far for Ruggerio; none yet for Shekarchi on second filing day
The field of political office-seekers continued to grow Tuesday on the second day of Rhode Island’s three-day declaration of candidacy period — including potential challenges against General Assembly leadership. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, 170 statewide and federal candidates had filed declaration papers for the upcoming primary and general elections. You can see the latest […] The post One potential primary challenger so far for Ruggerio; none yet for Shekarchi on second filing day appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will get a crucial opportunity to reach undecided voters and set the terms for the 2024 presidential campaign at Thursday night’s debate in Atlanta. Partisans on either side have already made up their minds about which candidate they’ll support. And with this year’s race serving as a […] The post Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that four states will launch voluntary pilot programs in the days ahead to test bulk milk tanks on dairy farms for bird flu — a move that’s aimed at making it easier for farmers to ship herds across state lines and for public health officials to […] The post Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Ethics panel launches investigation into corrections department director
Less than two weeks into the job, Rhode Island’s Department of Corrections director is under investigation by the state ethics panel. The Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to open a probe into Wayne Salisbury, Jr. over alleged ethics violations related to omitted out-of-state travel on his annual financial disclosure forms. The complaint […] The post Ethics panel launches investigation into corrections department director appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Ethics panel rules Patrice Milos must leave R.I. Life Science Hub board to be its interim president
An appointed member of the new Rhode Island Life Science Hub board can take on a temporary role as the agency’s interim president as long as she gives up the board seat, according to the state ethics panel. The Rhode Island Ethics Commission’s unanimous vote on Tuesday affirms the already-awarded contract to Patrice Milos, who […] The post Ethics panel rules Patrice Milos must leave R.I. Life Science Hub board to be its interim president appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Surgeon general issues first-ever gun violence advisory
The U.S. surgeon general has issued an unprecedented warning about the deadly and far-reaching effects of gun violence, a move that could draw resources to the issue and influence public policy. Dr. Vivek Murthy’s advisory on June 25 marks the first time that the Office of the Surgeon General has issued a publication focused on […] The post Surgeon general issues first-ever gun violence advisory appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
New poll shows R.I. likely voters back inspector general. But Gov. McKee has some work to do.
Twice as many likely voters back a state inspector general than their own governor, according to a new survey published Tuesday by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University. Nearly three-quarters of the 1,450 likely voters surveyed from June 5 to 14 support a new Rhode Island Office of the Inspector General to root out […] The post New poll shows R.I. likely voters back inspector general. But Gov. McKee has some work to do. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Racist slurs and death threats: The dangerous life of a Georgia elections official
Editor’s note: This story contains profanities and racist slurs. DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — When Milton Kidd leaves work at the end of the day, he slips out the back door of the domed Douglas County Courthouse, avoiding the public entrance where people might berate him or demand his home address. He never takes the same route home […] The post Racist slurs and death threats: The dangerous life of a Georgia elections official appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Over 120 statewide and federal candidates declare to run on first day to file for 2024 elections
Monday marked the official start to the 2024 election season as the state opened up its three-day period for local, state and federal candidates to declare their intention to run for office. And candidates were quick to declare, as over 120 statewide and federal office seekers filed their papers as of Monday evening. You can […] The post Over 120 statewide and federal candidates declare to run on first day to file for 2024 elections appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Deal or no deal? Roger Williams, Fatima owner may negotiate ‘non-negotiable’ hospital sale terms
“Non-negotiable” was how Attorney General Peter Neronha described the long list of conditions set by his office in its June 20 decision approving sale of two local “safety net” hospitals. But the private equity firm looking to offload Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center might not have gotten the memo. In […] The post Deal or no deal? Roger Williams, Fatima owner may negotiate ‘non-negotiable’ hospital sale terms appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
SurveyWorks results examine Rhode Island public schools from different viewpoints
More Rhode Island public school teachers are satisfied with having enough professional development activities at their schools, according to the results from the annual survey of school engagement by the state education department Approximately 41% of teachers responded favorably to questions about the frequency of professional development activities at their schools. That was a 7 […] The post SurveyWorks results examine Rhode Island public schools from different viewpoints appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Only two vendors submit bids to tear down the western Washington Bridge
Only two companies are vying to demolish the western Washington Bridge — and one of them is among the contractors that worked on the now shuttered span. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s (RIDOT) public bid portal Monday revealed bidders responding to the state’s request for proposals to tear down the bridge by March 2025 […] The post Only two vendors submit bids to tear down the western Washington Bridge appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
The Dobbs effect today: Abortion ballot initiatives, expected higher mortality, more litigation
In Arizona, the state’s highest court upheld a Civil War-era abortion ban. Florida and South Carolina moved to restrict abortion to six weeks — before many people know they are pregnant. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “children,” temporarily throwing fertility treatments, such as IVF, into uncertainty and igniting a national debate. […] The post The Dobbs effect today: Abortion ballot initiatives, expected higher mortality, more litigation appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
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