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Rhode Island Current
Congressional panel debates who should foot the bill for rebuilding Baltimore bridge
Conservative members of Congress at a hearing on Wednesday raised questions about using federal dollars to pay for rebuilding a state tollway, as the head of the Federal Highway Administration reiterated that the Biden administration is seeking congressional approval to reimburse 100% of the costs of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Congress […] The post Congressional panel debates who should foot the bill for rebuilding Baltimore bridge appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Five-year FAA bill clears U.S. House, boosting flights into Washington, D.C.
The U.S. House voted 387-26 Wednesday to clear a bill to reauthorize $105 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration for the next five years — and to finalize a hotly debated deal adding flights at busy Washington Reagan National Airport. Advocates for the bill, which won votes from every ideological corner of the often-divided House, […] The post Five-year FAA bill clears U.S. House, boosting flights into Washington, D.C. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
The friendships forged in a governors group chat
Originally published by The 19th In Meghan Meehan-Draper’s first years with the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), she noticed something startling: “We had more governors named John than we had governors who were women,” Meehan-Draper, now the executive director of the DGA, told The 19th. A few years later, DGA launched the Women Governors Fund, which has […] The post The friendships forged in a governors group chat appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
A gust of hope in Searsport, Maine, with promise of new jobs, economic boost from wind port
James Gillway remembers when chicken was king in his corner of the Penobscot Bay. Chicken coops were scattered in yards all across Searsport — the town of 2,800 he has managed for almost 20 years — because of the processing plant just up the road in Belfast. For those who didn’t work with poultry, there […] The post A gust of hope in Searsport, Maine, with promise of new jobs, economic boost from wind port appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Conn. gets 18-year head start promoting ‘baby bonds’
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut’s first “baby bond,” an innovative benefit promised to every baby born on Medicaid since July 1, 2023, won’t be payable until the summer of 2041. But Treasurer Erick Russell already is doing outreach. In effect, Russell is leaning into an aspect of the program that makes it a long-term experiment: Will […] The post Conn. gets 18-year head start promoting ‘baby bonds’ appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
CNN sets first Biden-Trump presidential debate for June 27 in Atlanta
WASHINGTON — CNN announced on Wednesday morning that it will host a debate between President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the network’s Atlanta studios on June 27. CNN said there would be no audience present for the debate and moderators will be announced later. A second debate will be hosted […] The post CNN sets first Biden-Trump presidential debate for June 27 in Atlanta appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
What’s possible by taking a calculated risk? Her college students find answer can be transformative
Editor’s note: Vanessa Volz delivered the commencement address at Rhode Island College’s Advanced Degree Ceremony on May 9, 2024, in the college’s Murray Center. This is a lightly edited version of the speech. Class of 2024, I invite you to engage in outrageous acts. You didn’t hear me incorrectly, and I didn’t mis-speak. I just […] The post What’s possible by taking a calculated risk? Her college students find answer can be transformative appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
The number of births continues to fall, despite abortion bans
Births continued a historic slide in all but two states last year, making it clear that a brief post-pandemic uptick in the nation’s birth numbers was all about planned pregnancies that had been delayed temporarily by COVID-19. Only Tennessee and North Dakota had small increases in births from 2022 to 2023, according to a Stateline […] The post The number of births continues to fall, despite abortion bans appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
GOP politicians rush to Manhattan to line up behind Trump as hush money trial continues
WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers are taking turns supporting former president and presumed 2024 GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump in his trial in Manhattan criminal court, where he is charged with covering up payments intended to silence porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Dressed alike in navy blue suits and red ties, North […] The post GOP politicians rush to Manhattan to line up behind Trump as hush money trial continues appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Mass. transportation secretary seems more like her old self in Chamber of Commerce talk
Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt has found her voice again. After an “unfiltered” speech on April 10 that got her into hot water with Gov. Maura Healey, Tibbits-Nutt largely went silent. She attended remotely and barely spoke at an MBTA board meeting in late April. And she kept a low profile at other events since […] The post Mass. transportation secretary seems more like her old self in Chamber of Commerce talk appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Citizens Bank commercial space in East Providence eyed for state offices
The Rhode Island Department of Administration is looking to acquire a 210,000-square foot building in East Providence from Citizens Bank for use as state offices. Built in 1979 and renovated in 2010, the property at 115 Tripps Lane in the Riverside section of East Providence includes a 60,000-square foot state-of-the-art data center that makes it […] The post Citizens Bank commercial space in East Providence eyed for state offices appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Citizens Bank commercial space in East Providence eyed for state offices
The Rhode Island Department of Administration is looking to acquire a 210,000-square foot building in East Providence from Citizens Bank for use as state offices. Built in 1979 and renovated in 2010, the property at 115 Tripps Lane in the Riverside section of East Providence includes a 60,000-square foot state-of-the-art data center that makes it […] The post Citizens Bank commercial space in East Providence eyed for state offices appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
In Massachusetts, are 15 regional transit authorities ready for prime time?
The Massachusetts Senate proposal for the coming fiscal year calls for directing $214 million to the state’s 15 regional transit authorities, including $40 million so they can eliminate fares on all of their bus routes and $10 million to promote routes connecting regions. It’s a bold plan, one that has been hailed as a big […] The post In Massachusetts, are 15 regional transit authorities ready for prime time? appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
New list rates the most bipartisan members of Congress — and the least
WASHINGTON — Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick were the most bipartisan members of Congress last year, according to a newly released analysis from the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. The least bipartisan House lawmaker was Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, while Alabama’s Katie […] The post New list rates the most bipartisan members of Congress — and the least appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Undergrads are unionizing, in a sign of labor’s resurgence
Junior psychology major Erin Green works part time at the children’s preschool at Sonoma State University, caring for university employees’ kids ages 1 to 5. Some of the non-student workers in her center belong to a union. But she didn’t, until just a few weeks ago. Green, a 49-year-old returning student who works 20 hours […] The post Undergrads are unionizing, in a sign of labor’s resurgence appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
And then there were seven: RIPTA narrows down potential sites for Providence bus hub
PROVIDENCE — After months of keeping mum on the number of potential locations to build a new state-of-the art transit center, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) finally announced Monday it has narrowed its list down to seven sites. RIPTA unveiled the picks during a public workshop in the lobby of the Amica Mutual […] The post And then there were seven: RIPTA narrows down potential sites for Providence bus hub appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Feds: R.I. child welfare agency warehoused vulnerable kids in hospital for months, even years
She did not leave the hospital. She never stepped outside its grounds. She did not attend school. She rarely saw family or friends. This young girl who is nonverbal and has developmental disabilities spent a year at Bradley Hospital — one of 527 vulnerable children held at the East Providence psychiatric hospital, most far longer […] The post Feds: R.I. child welfare agency warehoused vulnerable kids in hospital for months, even years appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Star witness in Trump trial tells of plot to conceal porn star hush money payments
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s former fixer took the stand in a Manhattan courtroom Monday and told jurors that Trump was well aware of a scheme to hide the repayment of money intended to silence porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness, told the jury that he […] The post Star witness in Trump trial tells of plot to conceal porn star hush money payments appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Keith Stokes to lead state diversity office, including minority business contracting program
A familiar face in Rhode Island government has returned to Smith Hill, this time leading the state division charged with overseeing its minority business contracting program. The Rhode Island Department of Administration announced Keith W. Stokes as new associate director of its Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) on Monday. “We are pleased to […] The post Keith Stokes to lead state diversity office, including minority business contracting program appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Let the jockeying begin: Revenue review identifies $58M more in state surplus funds
An extra $58 million is hardly pocket change. But in the context of a proposed $13.7 billion fiscal 2025 state budget and a rapidly rising sticker price for the demolition and rebuild of the Interstate-195 westbound Washington Bridge, the surplus cash expected to pad out state coffers isn’t exactly a game changer. Or at least, […] The post Let the jockeying begin: Revenue review identifies $58M more in state surplus funds appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
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