By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Thursday morning!
Thank you to WPRI 12’s Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian for welcoming our summer intern, Nolan Page, on “Behind the Story” Wednesday afternoon. The show highlighted Nolan’s busy few weeks so far covering stories for our website. Among them, his story on the challenges independent gubernatorial candidates face in collecting 1,000 signatures from registered voters for their nomination forms in a short amount of time. If you missed it, you can watch the interview here.
* * *
As of late Wednesday afternoon, the Rhode Island Department of Health recommended closing City Park Beach in Warwick, Third Beach in Middletown, and Sandy Point Beach in Portsmouth to swimming due to high bacteria counts. Here’s where you can check to see the status of the beach you want to go today.
* * *
High tide in Wickford is at 4:12 p.m. Low tide is at 8:55 a.m. and 9:59 p.m. Sunset is at 8:21 p.m.
* * *
Gov. Dan McKee attends the launch of Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation’s Mission Kitchen mobile food trailer, which will be serving a donated lunch to children with developmental disabilities, at 11 a.m. at the John Rollins Recreation Center in Providence.
The State Crime Laboratory Commission meets at 12:30 p.m.
Helena Buonanno Foulkes’ campaign released a new 30-spot on Tuesday, July 8, 2026, accusing Gov. Dan McKee of ‘lying’ about her record at CVS. (Screenshot/Helena for RI)
By Christopher Shea
With just over two months to go before Rhode Island's Sept. 9 primary, spending on television ads by the top two Democratic candidates for governor is now well-above the $1 million mark. Two-thirds of that spending came from Helena Buonanno Foulkes in her campaign to unseat Gov. Dan McKee, according to a review of purchase forms filed by Rhode Island’s local broadcast stations and cable providers to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The Most Rev. Bruce Lewandowski, bishop of Providence, leads a ‘Rosary of Migration’ for our migrants detained inside the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Philip Eil/Rhode Island Current)
By Philip Eil
The volunteer chairperson of the governing board for Rhode Island’s only privately-operated detention facility has resigned after six years, citing the demands of his new job as chief of staff at the Rhode Island Department of Administration. James J. Lombardi III submitted his resignation from the Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation to Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera on May 5. His departure was made public Monday, July 6, at the corporation’s first board meeting since April.
U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner claims victory in the Democratic primary during a watch party in Blue Hill on June 9, 2026. (By Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)
By Emma Davis | Maine Morning Star
Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropped out of Maine’s U.S. Senate race on Wednesday, two days after an accusation of sexual assault tanked support from his party. His exit clouds Democrats’ hopes of winning back the U.S. Senate majority, as Maine’s seat long held by Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is seen as crucial for that aim. The state party is tasked to replace him in just a few weeks time.
President Donald Trump faces a decision by 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 11, on a bipartisan housing bill passed by large majorities in Congress. In this photo, Trump attends a meeting at the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
By Jacob Fischler | D.C. Bureau
If President Donald Trump does not sign or veto a bipartisan bill meant to lower housing costs by making it easier to build, it would become law at 12:01 a.m. Saturday under a provision of the Constitution that gives the president 10 days, excluding Sundays, to sign or veto a bill. Trump has said he would not sign the bill to pressure the U.S. Senate to pass the SAVE America Act.
ICYMI
RI elections board approves early voting regulations | Nancy Lavin
Thanks for reading Swell. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.