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Rhode Island Current
U.S. Sen. Menendez convicted of bribery, all other charges in federal corruption trial
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted Tuesday of taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen to do favors for Egypt and Qatar and to meddle in two criminal investigations, bringing an end to a wide-ranging case that one prosecutor said revealed “shocking levels of corruption.” The jury’s verdict of guilty on all counts came on […] The post U.S. Sen. Menendez convicted of bribery, all other charges in federal corruption trial appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Neighborhood, UnitedHealthcare to share $3B state Medicaid contract
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc. will share a coveted contract to run Rhode Island’s more than $3 billion Medicaid program for the next five years, the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday. The two private health insurers were among the four vendors […] The post Neighborhood, UnitedHealthcare to share $3B state Medicaid contract appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
R.I. congressional incumbents maintain strong fundraising edge over election challengers
The three members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation facing reelection this year continue to enjoy significant financial advantages over their challengers, according to second-quarter reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who has represented Rhode Island since 2007, sits atop the biggest pile of cash: $3.7 million as of June 30, […] The post R.I. congressional incumbents maintain strong fundraising edge over election challengers appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Red-state cities and suburbs are becoming more diverse
Growth in Asian, Black and Hispanic communities is transforming cities and suburban counties, especially in red states such as Florida, Indiana and Texas, according to a new Stateline analysis. The presidential swing states of Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania also were among the fastest-changing states. Nationally, the share of the non-white population grew in 47 states […] The post Red-state cities and suburbs are becoming more diverse appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
New task force to create road map for AI usage in Rhode Island
It’s been roughly two years since AI (artificial intelligence) became an inescapable topic of everyday conversation — much of it focused on the spectacular creative powers of generative AI, from making absurd images to college students’ essays. But the rapidly emerging set of technologies offers much more than novelty: In fact, Gov. Dan McKee thinks […] The post New task force to create road map for AI usage in Rhode Island appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
R.I. Superior Court judge sides with property owners in shoreline access law dispute
The Rhode Island General Assembly overstepped its bounds in drawing a line in the sand on shoreline access, a Washington County Superior Court judge ruled. The pair of decisions issued Friday, July 12, by Associate Justice Sarah Taft-Carter offers a win for beachfront property owners in South Kingstown and Westerly, who in separate complaints argued […] The post R.I. Superior Court judge sides with property owners in shoreline access law dispute appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
On eve of GOP convention, faith leaders warn against white Christian nationalism
It was nearly two hours into a long afternoon rally Sunday when Rev. Dr. Kevin Shaw took the podium in a packed auditorium on Milwaukee’s Northeast Side. It was not, he reminded the audience, a church service, but from his cadences, the message might have been from a pulpit. “We must understand that democracy is […] The post On eve of GOP convention, faith leaders warn against white Christian nationalism appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
‘We are here now’: Back to the future in NYC
I recently spent a few days in New York City, visiting two neighborhoods that are part of my personal history: the central Brooklyn neighborhood where I was born, and the Lower East Side of Manhattan where I lived for over a decade of childhood. New York catches a lot of shade from those whose experience […] The post ‘We are here now’: Back to the future in NYC appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Biden says ‘no place for this kind of violence in America’ after shooting at Trump rally
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden denounced political violence during brief remarks Saturday night after a shooting abruptly ended a campaign rally that Donald Trump was holding in Pennsylvania and injured the former president. One spectator was killed and two more were critically injured, according to a statement on X posted by the Secret Service. A […] The post Biden says ‘no place for this kind of violence in America’ after shooting at Trump rally appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Rhode Island officials react to Trump rally shooting
Strong condemnation and prayers were the reactions among political leaders from Rhode Island after learning that former President Donald Trump had been wounded Saturday night at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. “Political violence of any kind is abhorrent and inexcusable,” Gov. Dan McKee posted on X. “Praying for the safety of former President Trump […] The post Rhode Island officials react to Trump rally shooting appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Proposed first-ever federal standards for maternal care met with mixed response from hospitals
As part of President Joe Biden’s initiative to reduce maternal mortality rates and improve health outcomes in underserved communities, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced new policy proposals that would require hospitals to adhere to more rigorous maternal care standards or risk losing their ability to participate in Medicare. According to the proposed […] The post Proposed first-ever federal standards for maternal care met with mixed response from hospitals appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Hearing set for public to weigh in on proposed health insurance rate increases for 2025
A virtual town hall meeting will allow the public to provide feedback on rate increases ranging from 2.5% to 22.7% proposed by Rhode Island’s health insurers. The meeting will be Monday, July 15, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. over Zoom. Further rules for submitting comments on the proposed rate increases are available from the Office […] The post Hearing set for public to weigh in on proposed health insurance rate increases for 2025 appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Candidates’ race against time to submit nomination forms is over. Now we wait.
Rhode Island Sen. Alana DiMario, a Narragansett Democrat, already exceeded the minimum 100 voter signatures required for her nomination forms two days before Friday’s 4 p.m. submission deadline. DiMario, running for her third term, had turned in 136 signatures as of the 4 p.m. deadline, according to the Secretary of State’s website. Signatures are validated […] The post Candidates’ race against time to submit nomination forms is over. Now we wait. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
R.I. Superior Court judge shuts down Providence scrapyard pending fire prevention review
A south Providence scrapyard can’t reopen until its court-appointed supervisor submits recommendations for preventing and mitigating fires, Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Brian Stern ordered on Friday. Stern’s granting of a temporary restraining order comes two days after a fire broke out at Rhode Island Recycled Metals LLC, choking the air with smoke and […] The post R.I. Superior Court judge shuts down Providence scrapyard pending fire prevention review appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
How Connecticut is leading the charge in sustainable wind energy
Those who have taken trips to the New London, Connecticut, area over the past year may have noticed a foreboding outline on the horizon. One of my friends, a Lord of the Rings fan, even compared it to the Eye of Sauron. Slowly, this strange structure is transforming into “Revolution Wind.” It is set to […] The post How Connecticut is leading the charge in sustainable wind energy appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
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