By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Thursday morning!
Today’s the last day for state agencies to submit their fiscal year 2028 budget requests. There are 45 such entities in all, more than two-thirds of them with budgets over $15 million from all funding sources.
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High tide in Little Compton is at 11:37 a.m. Low tide is at 5:52 p.m. Sunrise is at 6:41 a.m. Sunset is at 6:26 p.m.
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U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner holds a 1:30 p.m. press conference in his Warwick office on his efforts in Congress to lower energy costs, including restoring clean energy tax credits.
The campaign to “Preserve Rhode Island’s History” kicks off at 4 p.m. at the Rhode Island State Archives on Broad Street in Providence. Secretary of State Gregg Amore joins community and labor leaders to urge voters to vote yes on Question 4 and borrow $50 million, with $45 million going toward the construction of a new State History Center. The remaining $5 million would support the State Preservation Grants Program, which provides matching grants for capital preservation, renovation, restoration, and rehabilitation projects.
Democrat Helena Buonanno Foulkes, left, and Republican, Ken Block, right, both said they supported a line-item veto during a gubernatorial forum at Roger Williams University School of Law on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (Photo by Brianna Frissora/ Roger Williams Hawks’ Media)
By Nancy Lavin
In the first head-to-head of the gubernatorial general election cycle, Democrat Helena Buonanno Foulkes and independent Ken Block both emphasized government transparency and cost-of-living solutions at Roger Williams University School of Law Wednesday night. Subtle differences emerged on questions related to government spending and taxation, while Republican Aaron Guckian skipped the event, broadcast live on Ocean State Media.
The Providence skyline is seen across the Providence River. The U.S. Conference of Mayors is moving its 2027 annual meeting from Providence to Atlanta after a change in mayoral leadership. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Alexander Castro
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley lost the Democratic Primary for the city’s mayorship earlier this month to challenger and state Rep. David Morales. And now the capital city has lost its status as host of the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting next June to Atlanta.
Rhode Island Medicaid is making several changes affecting coverage and health care spending beginning Oct. 1. (Photo illustration by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Alexander Castro
Changes to Medicaid starting Thursday, Oct. 1, will affect eligibility for some noncitizens as well as coverage of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss for Rhode Islanders enrolled in the joint federal-state health insurance program for people with low incomes and older adults and people with disabilities.
Rhode Island residents have through Oct. 4 to register to vote for the November general election. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
Rhode Islanders must be registered to vote 30 days before an election to participate. That puts the deadline to update your voter record or register to vote before the Nov. 3 general election at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.
A section of the the ramp connecting Route 10 to Interstate 95 North was closed for over a week after a concrete barrier collapsed on to the train tracks below on the evening of April 24, 2026. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
The quality of Rhode Island's highways and bridges R.I. bridges have improved significantly after billions in state spending in recent years. But an analysis published Wednesday by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council found other state-maintained roadways are still the worst in the country.
Solar energy panels hang from a residential apartment balcony in Erfurt, Germany. Balcony solar systems have become popular in Germany, and some state lawmakers believe the technology has huge potential in the United States. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
By Alex Brown | Stateline
Over the past year and a half, a dozen states have embraced small, cheap solar panels that can be hung from a balcony or porch, be plugged into a standard wall outlet and take a dent out of residents’ utility bills. Rhode Island is not one of them, but could have been. These systems, known as balcony solar or plug-in solar, can be installed without permits, contractors or large investments.
ICYMI
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