By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Friday morning!
Who will be first on the ballot? The Rhode Island Department of State Elections Division conducts a lottery to determine the ballot position for candidates in the Sept. 9 statewide Primaries and the Nov. 3 General Election at 5 p.m. at its office at 148 West River St., Providence.
The lottery will determine the order in which unendorsed candidates for federal and state offices will appear on the Primary ballot when there is more than one unendorsed candidate for an office. It will also determine the order in which political parties, Democrat and Republican, will appear on the ballot for the General Election and the order for races with multiple independent candidates appearing on the General Election ballot.
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High tide in Warwick is at 11:08 a.m. and 11:29 p.m. Low tide is at 4:17 p.m. Sunset is at 8:17 p.m.
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WPRI 12 tapes a Democratic primary debate between Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and challenger Rep. David Morales this morning. It will premiere at 6:30 p.m. on Fox Providence and then air several times over the weekend, including Sunday at 10 a.m. on Fox Providence.
Gov. Dan McKee ceremonially signs legislation (H7020/S3180) allowing veterinary telemedicine in Rhode Island at 2:30 p.m. on the South Steps at the State House.
Candidates for Rhode Island attorney general participate in a forum hosted by Sojourner House at the Lincoln School in Providence on July 16, 2026. From left: Kim Ahern, Alan Gordon, Keith Hoffmann and Jason Knight. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
In their first public forum Thursday morning, four of the five candidates running or Rhode Island Attorney General mostly found common ground on issues like gun safety and immigration. The one Republican candidate, Alan Gordon, presented an idea: a voluntary $2-per-pay-period withholding for all working men to fund shelter operations for domestic violence nonprofits.
Amy Nunn, executive director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute, speaks at a press event to celebrate the extension of Eat Well, Be Well at the State House on Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Photo by Nolan Page/Rhode Island Current)
By Nolan Page
More than 140,000 Rhode Islanders receiving SNAP benefits will have another year of access to fresh produce discounts at select grocery stores thanks to funding in the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget that extends the Eat Well, Be Well program.
Passengers walk to board a Amtrak Northeast Regional train bound for Washington D.C. at New Haven Union Station on Monday, July 13, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Gordon/CT Mirror)
By Tran Chau | Connecticut Mirror
Amtrak has launched a two-year study of rail improvements between New Haven and Providence, aiming to boost capacity and reliability while promising greater public input after opposition to earlier Northeast Corridor proposals.
A potential Republican budget reconciliation package would provide up to $60 billion for the Department of Defense. Shown is an aerial view of the Pentagon. (Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brittany A. Chase/Department of Defense)
By Jennifer Shutt | D.C. Bureau
Republicans on the U.S. House Budget Committee approved their budget resolution Thursday, marking one small step forward in the complicated process that could allow the party to enact a third party-line bill. The 20-14 vote followed hours of debate over amendments from Democrats that sought to roll back pieces of the earlier Republican packages and change how the upcoming process would work. None of the Democratic changes were approved.
ICYMI
Smiley and Providence City Council remain a house divided over rental policy | Alexander Castro
US House Republicans take ‘first step’ toward dismantling Department of Education | Shauneen Miranda, D.C. Bureau
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