By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Wednesday morning!
A dubious honor for Gov. Dan McKee: He’s the first Democratic candidate, and the first running for a state office, targeted by a clean energy super PAC.
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High tide in Newport is at 12:09 p.m. Low tide is at 5:43 p.m. Sunrise is at 6:12 a.m. Sunrise is at 7:17 p.m.
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McKee holds a 10:15 a.m. press briefing at the State House to outline a new budget proposal to continue efforts to increase Medicaid primary care reimbursement rates.
The Public Utilities Commission meets at the Prudence Improvement Association on Prudence Island at 11 a.m. for a public hearing on proposed fare hikes for the ferry serving the island that would more than double the cost of traveling back and forth to the mainland. A one-way adult ticket that now costs $5.50 would rise to $11.65 while round trip fare would increase form $10.80 to $23.30 under the proposed fare hikes.
U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse attend an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s RIde Maintenance Garage, on Elmwood Avenue in Providence to celebrate the arrival of 50 new Model 1 Frontrunner minibus vans for passengers with disabilities.
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint by a nonprofit education group against Rhode Island Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, left, who is president of the National Education Association, but voted to investigate a complaint by a former Foster town councilor against Senate Minority Whip Gordon E. Rogers, right, who is the town’s public works director. (Photos by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission on Tuesday declined to investigate a complaint against Senate President Valarie Lawson over votes a Koch-funded Virginia nonprofit claims benefited the education union she leads. Commissioners did, however, open a separate probe into the chamber’s No. 2 Republican, House Minority Whip Gordon Rogers, over allegations involving his day job as a town public works director.
The end of a 30-second video attacking Rhode Island’s Democratic Gov. Dan McKee that dropped Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, lists the source of the ad as Invest in America’s Future PAC. The primary is Sept. 9. (Screenshot)
By Nancy Lavin
Eight days out from the Sept. 9 primary, Gov. Dan McKee’s reelection campaign is attracting national attention — and not the positive kind. A clean energy super PAC funded by solar developers and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs announced on Monday it is spending $500,000 on a pair of McKee attack ads. The Rhode Island governor is the first Democratic candidate, and the first running for a state office, targeted by the group.
Veterans stand with American flags during an event announcing the future site of a statewide Vietnam veterans memorial along the Providence River in downtown Providence on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Alexander Castro
A grassy parcel of state-owned land on the Providence River in downtown Providence has been chosen as the site for a long-awaited Vietnam veterans memorial to honor the 21,000 Rhode Islanders who served in the Southeast Asian war zone. Gov. Dan McKee told a crowd who assembled at the site for a ceremony Tuesday that he plans to include funding for the memorial’s design in his next state budget proposal. Organizers will also seek private donations for the project.
The U.S. Supreme Court on April 9, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
By Ashley Murray
As public opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court flags amid decisions that have roiled the nation, Democrats renewed calls ahead of the midterms to expand the high court, while House Republicans are considering a constitutional amendment this week that proposes to cap the number at nine.
CBD products grown in compliance with Rhode Island state law in Hopkinton may naturally exceed more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per package, which violates a new federal definition of hemp enacted late last year. (Photo courtesy of Lovewell Farms)
COMMENTARY
By Mike Simpson
Rhode Island’s term-limited Attorney General Peter Neronha signed a recent letter to Congress in support of a hemp product ban that would take effect in November. The founder of Rhode Island’s only USDA-certified organic hemp farm in Hopkinton wants to her what the Democratic AG candidates competing in the Sept. 9 primary think about the new federal restrictions and whether they would support seeking a delay of the ban’s start date or modifications.
ICYMI
Facing public criticism, Rep. Julie Casimiro resigns | Nancy Lavin
Feds and 22 states sue Amazon, alleging deceptive advertising scheme | Alex Brown, Stateline
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey rolls to victory in Mass. Democratic primary | Jennifer Smith and Jordan Wolman, Commonwealth Beacon
Minogue wins GOP primary for Mass. governor, setting stage for matchup with Healey | Jordan Wolman, Commonwealth Beacon
US House clears spending stopgap backed by Trump that averts government shutdown | Jennifer Shutt, D.C. Bureau
USPS whistleblower predicts ‘catastrophic’ effect on elections under Trump vote-by-mail order | Jacob Fischler, D.C. Bureau
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