By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Thursday morning!
They come in threes. Gov. Dan McKee and his main Democratic rival Helena Buonanno Foulkes are all in for three debates before the September primary. No word on when and where just yet.
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High tide in East Greenwich is at 7:46 a.m. and 8:02 p.m. Low tide is at 1:10 p.m. Sunrise is at 6:03 a.m. and 7:27 p.m.
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Gov. Dan McKee speaks at 3:30 p.m. for CCRI Day at the State House.
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action hold their annual Advocacy Day at the State House starting at 1 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., a “Gun Sense Candidate Panel” features Rep. Jennifer Boylan, a Barrington Democrat, and Sen. Bridget Valverde, a North Kingstown Democrat, along with North Kingstown Town Councilors Matt McCoy and Linnea Drew.
The House Committee on State Government & Elections meets at about 5 p.m. to hear testimony on several bills related to voting, including the Rhode Island Voting Rights Act, which would establish procedures to prevent discrimination in the voting process. Another would change the primary election to Wednesday on years when it falls after Labor Day and no longer mandate, but rather allow, local boards of election to have voter registration drives at high schools.
Helena Buonanno Foulkes has challenged Gov. Dan McKee to three debates before the September Democratic gubernatorial primary. The reply from McKee’s campaign: Bring it on. (Photos by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
Keep your calendars open. Gov. Dan McKee has agreed to debate his Democratic challenger, Helena Buonanno Foulkes, three times before early voting begins in August. The verbal deal reached within a single business day comes as the rivals continue to trade barbs over policy and public polling while pursuing donations and endorsements ahead of the September Democratic primary.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley unveils his proposed fiscal 2027 budget in the City Council chambers Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Alexander Castro
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s fiscal year 2027 budget aims to continue his administration’s regimen of restraint. The $635.7 million proposal released Wednesday boasts no property tax increase and represents a 1.75% increase over last year — the lowest year-over-year spending increase in at least five years, and among the lowest in the past decade. On the wish list: a new zookeeper.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi speaks during the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce 2026 Legislative Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Rhode Island Convention Center. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
The proposed millionaire's tax took center stage during the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce legislative luncheon on Wednesday, as Laurie White, chamber president, unsuccessfully pushed Democratic lawmakers to commit to pause review of the controversial tax proposal.
Rhode Island’s federal court will allow out-of-state attorneys to represent immigration detainees pro bono without joining its bar following a request by legal groups amid a surge in habeas corpus petitions. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
Rhode Island’s federal court will allow out-of-state attorneys to represent immigration detainees pro bono without joining its bar following a request by legal groups amid a surge in habeas corpus petitions. Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. on Monday temporarily suspended a rule requiring local counsel for cases brought by lawyers not admitted to the federal bar challenging federal immigration detentions.
Maritza Montejo, a Liberty Tax Service office manager, helps Aurora Hernandez, left, with her taxes at a Liberty Tax Service office on the last day to file taxes on April 15, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
By Ashley Murray | D.C. Bureau
The 2026 tax filing season closed Wednesday with the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill hailing success under last year’s massive tax cuts law, while Democrats said any benefits have been wiped out by skyrocketing gas prices, inflation and more. More than 53 million Americans claimed at least one new benefit, averaging a tax cut of $800, under the tax cuts and spending package passed by congressional Republicans and enacted by President Donald Trump on July 4.
An Amazon Web Services data center is shown situated near single-family homes. A new report found that 14 states do not disclose how much revenue they lose to data center tax breaks. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
By Kevin Hardy | Stateline
Though public scrutiny of data centers is growing, 14 states do not disclose how much revenue they lose to data center tax breaks, according to a new report from a watchdog group that focuses on economic development incentives. The lack of disclosure comes as other states record mounting losses in tax revenue to data center subsidies. Three states — Georgia, Virginia and Texas — report losing $1 billion or more per year to data center incentives.
ICYMI
How Republicans in Congress could fully fund ICE for years to come — and maybe do more | Jennifer Shutt, D.C. Bureau
COMMENTARY: Child abuse prevention starts long before a crisis | Marcy Shyllon
State lawmakers push to expand laws allowing guns on college campuses | Amanda Watford, Stateline
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