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Rhode Island Current
New legislative panel will study potential for a URI medical school
Would a second medical school in Rhode Island, based out of its flagship public university, help fill the shortage of primary care physicians? This is among the questions a 21-member legislative panel will seek to answer over the next year-and-a-half. The not-so-succinctly named Special Commission to make a Comprehensive Study of Rhode Island’s Healthcare Workforce […] The post New legislative panel will study potential for a URI medical school appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Florida U.S. Rep. Luna changes course in campaign against attorney general
WASHINGTON — Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna plans to force a vote as early as next week to invoke the House’s rarely used power of “inherent contempt” to levy a daily fine against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in an attempt to obtain audio tapes from a Justice Department special counsel’s interview of President […] The post Florida U.S. Rep. Luna changes course in campaign against attorney general appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Enjoy quiet fireworks viewing July 4th at Beavertail State Park in Jamestown
People who are sensitive to loud noises can still enjoy fireworks from a distance. So Beavertail State Park in Jamestown offers an ideal vantage point to watch the city of Newport’s annual Fourth of July display, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) says. DEM’s Division of Parks and Recreation is organizing “Quiet Fireworks” […] The post Enjoy quiet fireworks viewing July 4th at Beavertail State Park in Jamestown appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Texas U.S. House member calls for Biden to withdraw amid debate fallout
WASHINGTON — Texas U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett called for President Joe Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee Tuesday, becoming the first congressional Democrat to do so after Biden’s poor performance in last week’s presidential debate that has sent the party reeling four months before the November presidential election. Biden has acknowledged a shaky debate […] The post Texas U.S. House member calls for Biden to withdraw amid debate fallout appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
As bird flu spreads on dairy farms, an ‘abysmal’ few workers are tested
Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three dairy farmworkers — two in Michigan and one in Texas — as well as in cattle in a dozen states. The farmworkers’ symptoms were mild, and researchers have not found that the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, […] The post As bird flu spreads on dairy farms, an ‘abysmal’ few workers are tested appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
R.I. Supreme Court rules ‘Mario’s Law’ namesake can seek parole
The namesake of a 2021 state law that gives offenders convicted before their 22nd birthday the chance for parole can now seek a hearing for his own possible release after serving over 20 years in prison. The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled 4-1 Tuesday that 40-year-old Mario Monteiro, along with three other offenders convicted of […] The post R.I. Supreme Court rules ‘Mario’s Law’ namesake can seek parole appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling
WASHINGTON — A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision absolves him. New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could […] The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Declaration of Independence on view at Rhode Island State Archives on July 4th
Squeeze in a slice of history between the holiday parades and hot dogs with a stop at the Rhode Island State Archives in Providence. The state’s three copies of the Declaration of Independence will be front and center on July 4 during limited holiday hours, 10 a.m. to noon, Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg […] The post Declaration of Independence on view at Rhode Island State Archives on July 4th appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
To insure or self-insure? The question homeowners must answer amid impact of climate change
No matter where you live, there’s a good chance the weather’s getting wilder. In just the past few weeks, tornadoes have wreaked havoc on Midwest and Southern states, and large swaths of southern Florida were flooded. Globally, 2023 was the hottest year on record. In addition to harming life and property, weather-related catastrophes have caused […] The post To insure or self-insure? The question homeowners must answer amid impact of climate change appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses
WASHINGTON – Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation. In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the […] The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
More states consider voter ID laws amid conflicting research on their impact
Nevada voters may decide in November whether they should join three dozen other states in requiring voters to present valid identification before casting a ballot. And Maine may not be far behind, as the push for voter ID requirements grows nationwide despite conflicting studies over their effects. Conservative organizers in Nevada say they have gathered […] The post More states consider voter ID laws amid conflicting research on their impact appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
‘No kings in America’: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity
Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening. Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the country’s founding — set to be celebrated […] The post ‘No kings in America’: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Hurricane season is here. Smiley outlines how Providence is prepared for whatever comes.
With blue skies, mild temperatures and a slight breeze, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and other city officials stood near the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier Monday with their eyes set on the southern portion of the Atlantic Ocean. “We have a beautiful morning here this morning, but it is also the time to get prepared for […] The post Hurricane season is here. Smiley outlines how Providence is prepared for whatever comes. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
U.S. House Judiciary files suit to obtain audio tapes of Biden special counsel interview
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Judiciary Committee Monday filed suit against Attorney General Merrick Garland, in an ongoing effort to obtain audio recordings from President Joe Biden’s interview with a special counsel during an investigation of the president’s handling of classified documents. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, […] The post U.S. House Judiciary files suit to obtain audio tapes of Biden special counsel interview appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Smallest businesses comprise 90% of R.I. firms. So why isn’t the state tracking them?
Rhode Island’s smallest businesses are the backbone of its economy, according to a new report by the Economic Progress Institute. But you wouldn’t know it just by looking at the Rhode Island Department of State business database. More than 90% of 100,000 state businesses in 2020 were micro businesses, defined as those with 10 or […] The post Smallest businesses comprise 90% of R.I. firms. So why isn’t the state tracking them? appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case
WASHINGTON — U.S. presidents enjoy full immunity from criminal charges for their official “core constitutional” acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, sending former President Donald Trump’s election interference case back to the lower courts. The justices left open the question of how far the boundaries of such official acts […] The post Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Wanted: Rhode Island legislative candidates
Advisors attempted to dissuade Sam Bell from challenging longtime state senator Paul Jabour in the 2018 Democratic primary. Despite his political activism as former leader of the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats, Bell was a first-time candidate. Jabour was a Smith Hill veteran, with three decades in the General Assembly. Another challenger, former Rhode Island Commerce […] The post Wanted: Rhode Island legislative candidates appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Calls for funding the arts and humanities in R.I. should be more focused and inclusive
Here’s a strategy unlikely to succeed: “We need this money and don’t much care where it comes from.” And yet it was employed by supporters of two bills to fund arts and cultural organizations in Rhode Island in our state Legislature this spring. Each bill authorized $18 million to be distributed to 14 identified organizations, […] The post Calls for funding the arts and humanities in R.I. should be more focused and inclusive appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing
Violent crime in the United States dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to the FBI’s Quarterly Uniform Crime Report released earlier this month. The FBI’s data, collected from nearly 12,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 77% of the country’s population, suggests violent crime dropped by […] The post Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
‘We’re flying blind’: CDC has 1M bird flu tests ready, but experts see repeat of COVID missteps
This story appeared in KFF Health News, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. It’s been nearly three months since the U.S. government announced an outbreak of the bird flu virus on dairy farms. The World Health Organization considers the virus a public health concern because of its potential to cause a […] The post ‘We’re flying blind’: CDC has 1M bird flu tests ready, but experts see repeat of COVID missteps 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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