
By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Wednesday morning!
King Charles III on Tuesday became the second British monarch to speak in front of the U.S. Congress during his state visit, after his mother did so in 1991.
Rhode Island’s U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, who is co-chair of the Congressional UK Caucus, met with Charles and Queen Camilla for a private audience, before leading them into the House Chamber for the historic address to a Joint Meeting of the Congress.
Amo also introduced a resolution recognizing the enduring relationship between the United States and United Kingdom as the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of independence from the United Kingdom.
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High tide in Wickford is at 7:09 a.m. and 7:28 p.m. Low tide is at 1:08 p.m. Sunset is at 7:41 a.m.
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State and local officials will join the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority at 10 a.m. at Innovate Newport to celebrate the pilot expansion of 231 Flex On Demand service to northern Aquidneck Island. Sen. Louis P. DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat, and Rep. Terri Cortvriend, a Portsmouth Democrat, will be there.
The Public Utilities Commission meets at 10:30 a.m.
The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council presents its Economic Prosperity Scorecard at 11 a.m. at CIC Providence.
The House Committee on Finance meets at 4 p.m. to hear bills including another attempt to establish an Office of Inspector General as an independent agency to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner holds a telephone town hall at 6:30 p.m. for his 2nd Congressional District constituents. To dial in, call 833-380-0511.

A general view of the soccer pitch inside Gillette Stadium prior to the MLS match between New England Revolution and FC Cincinnati on March 15, 2026. The stadium is only about 25 miles away from downtown Providence. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
By Christopher Shea
Extended bar hours, state-funded shuttles, and a downtown fan zone are among the ways Rhode Island officials hope to attract some of the millions of visitors expected to descend on southern New England when the FIFA World Cup arrives in less than two months. And where can you find the “best party south of Foxboro”? Why at the PVD Fan Zone.

Gov. Dan McKee addresses supporters during an event to mark the opening of his campaign headquarters on West Exchange Street in Providence on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Courtesy of McKee’s reelection campaign)
By Nancy Lavin
Political scientists say the collapse of the Route 10 on-ramp in Cranston means bad news for Gov. Dan McKee's reelection prospects, which already appeared dim in a string of new polls underscoring voter frustrations with state infrastructure.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks during a press conference at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Standing center is Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and at right is Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
By Jennifer Shutt | D.C. Bureau
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to make changes to a Senate-passed bill that would end the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, a move that will further delay funding and prolong the stalemate that began in mid-February.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., applaud as Britain’s King Charles III and and Queen Camilla arrive before he addresses a Joint Meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on April 28, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kylie Cooper-Pool/Getty Images)
By Ashley Murray | D.C. Bureau
King Charles III did not name President Donald Trump Tuesday when he acknowledged before a joint session of Congress the transatlantic tension between the United States and the United Kingdom, but stressed “America’s words carry weight and meaning” as he reflected on decades of diplomatic ties.
ICYMI
Trump administration proposes rolling back gender identity protections in federal housing | Robbie Sequeira, Stateline
‘Glock switch’ bill is driving up gun sales in Connecticut, dealers say | Sasha Allen and Angela Eichnorst, Connecticut Mirror
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