By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Tuesday morning!
It doesn’t hurt to ask, right?
But it doesn’t mean the Rhode Island Supreme Court will say yes and then provide an opinion should the Rhode Island Senate vote to ask the high court for one.
This year could see a rare moment for the legislative branch to reach out to the judicial branch as lawmakers consider a bill that would revive expired claims of sexual abuse against institutions such as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. A resolution the Senate Committee on Judiciary will take up on Thursday would seek an opinion on the bill’s constitutionality. But one legal expert doubts the Supreme Court would be able to do so before the end of the legislative session in June, Christopher Shea reports.
High tide on Block Island is at 4:44 p.m. Low tide is at 10:21 a.m. and 11:21 p.m. Sunset is at 7:53 p.m.
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The State Properties Committee meets at 10 a.m. On its agenda, approval of a license agreement for the U.S. Coast Guard’s tall ship Eagle to use of Pier 9 in Newport fromJuly 31 through Aug. 3. The Coast Guard would offer public viewing and tours of the 295-foot barque-rigged tall ship in partnership with the Secretary of State's RI 250th celebrations.
Gov. Dan McKee speaks at 4 p.m. at the 61st Commencement Exercises for the Community College of Rhode Island at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence.
SEIU Local 580, the union representing Department of Children, Youth & Families employees, holds a 12:15 p.m. protest outside the department’s Friendship Street headquarters in Providence objecting to approximately $4.6 million in proposed staffing cuts.
The House Committee on Finance meets at about 4:45 p.m. to hear testimony on several pieces of legislation. Among them is a bill that would direct the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority to design a safety barrier or netting system on its bridges and another to set up a fund within the state health department for women's, maternal, and infant health and birthing services at Newport Hospital.
The Coastal Resources Management Council meets at 6 p.m.
Community residents filled the Quonset ‘O’ Club for a scheduled meeting of the Quonset Development Corporation on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (Photo by Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
The Rhode Island Office of Attorney General has reaffirmed Quonset Development Corporation’s defense that it complied with the law in advertising and conducting the November 2024 meeting in which its governing board reviewed and approved a long-term lease with QSS Biosolids to open a sludge processing plant. The AG’s office also said the complaint was submitted beyond the statute of limitations for challenges to Open Meetings Act violations.
The Rhode Island Senate Committee on Judiciary on Thursday, May 14, will consider a resolution to ask the state’s Supreme Court whether legislation reviving previously expired civil sexual abuse claims against institutions is constitutional. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
For the first time in 20 years, the Rhode Island Senate may ask the state’s Supreme Court to give its opinion on legislation lawmakers are considering. The Senate Committee on Judiciary on Thursday will consider a resolution asking the Rhode Island Supreme Court whether it would be constitutional to revive previously expired civil claims of sexual abuse against institutions such as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.
The conclusion of the biannual Revenue and Caseload Estimating Conference on Friday found another $233 million in revenue for lawmakers to factor into the fiscal 2027 budget. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
Rhode Island lawmakers will have an extra $233 million to work with in crafting the state's fiscal 2027 budget thanks to higher-than-expected revenue projections adopted at the biannual Revenue and Caseload Estimating Conference on Friday.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in December 2025. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)
By Jonathan Shorman
President Donald Trump has raged on social media, cajoled Republican lawmakers and unleashed the Department of Justice on his political enemies as he tries to assert power over U.S. elections, But six months before the November midterm elections, the Trump administration’s quest to exercise authority over the contests and impose sweeping restrictions on voters has proven largely unsuccessful.
ICYMI
Supreme Court extends stay allowing telehealth abortion | Sofia Resnick
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