By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Wednesday morning!
The Providence forecast calls for mostly sunny and hot today, with a high near 93. There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m.
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High tide in Wickford is at 11:38 a.m. Low tide is at 5:02 p.m. Sunset is at 8:02 p.m.
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The Senate Committee on Education meets at 4 p.m. to consider the reappointment of Patricia DiCenso, Marcy Reyes, David A. Caprio and Mary K. Barden to the state Board of Education. Then the panel hears testimony on legislation to end the state control of Providence public schools. The bill would allow a different minimum salary schedule for Providence public school teachers who could earn a bonus or raise for taking on greater responsibilities as well as provide a process for the dismissal and demotion of teachers.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture meets at 4 p.m. to consider Gov. Dan McKee’s nominees for six appointments to the downsized Coastal Resource Management Council. Their terms expire May 31, 2029.
The House Committee on Finance Committee meets at 4 p.m. to hear testimony on several budget amendments on state leases, human services and the impact of the February blizzard.
A federal court fight over a U.S. Department of Justice subpoena for transgender youth medical records from the hospital continued Tuesday in the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Alexander Castro
A Rhode Island Hospital spokesperson said Tuesday night that the hospital would turn over some medical records of transgender youth, with identifying information redacted, to a federal judge in Texas ahead of a midnight deadline. That’s even though Rhode Island’s Office of the Child Advocate was awaiting emergency relief from a Boston appeals court to stop the documents’ sending.
A new WPRI-TV poll shows Helena Buonanno Foulkes with 40% support among 565 likely Democratic voters surveyed compared to 20% in favor of Gov. Dan McKee. (Left photo by Alexander Castro; Right photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
Helena Buonanno Foulkes has a commanding 20-point lead over Gov. Dan McKee in a new WPRI-TV 12 poll published Tuesday. The former CVS executive outperformed McKee in nearly every demographic category, including all age groups, both genders, and union households. The survey also showed three-quarters of prospective Democratic primary voters were undecided in the four-way race for attorney general.
Judicial Nominating Commission Chair Zachary Mandell says all five applicants for an open seat on the Rhode Island Supreme Court will be interviewed. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
Former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi has made the cut for a formal interview to join the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Shekarchi was among five applicants for the vacancy created by the March 27 retirement of Associate Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg. Following two hours behind closed doors Tuesday, the state’s Judicial Nominating Commission selected all five to be interviewed.
Providence School Board President Ty’Relle Stephens, left, and Superintendent Javier Montañez attend a school board meeting at Providence Career and Technical Academy, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
A leaked memo detailing a possible transition plan for Providence schools sparked backlash between state Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and Providence School Board President Ty’Relle Stephens over the future of local control to the capital city.
A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland challenges a portion of the incoming federal student loan system overhaul that establishes stricter loan caps for students in postbaccalaureate degree programs that do not fall under the department’s “professional” classification. (Photo by Courtney K/Getty Images)
By Shauneen Miranda | D.C. Bureau
Rhode Island joined a coalition of Democratic attorneys general and governors that sued the U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday over forthcoming regulations imposing new borrowing limits for students pursuing certain advanced degree programs.
ICYMI
Rhode Island state employees file suit over payroll problems | Christopher Shea
Trump drops IRS suit in trade for $1.7B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund decried by Dems | Ashley Murray, D.C. Bureau
Miscarriage patients have fewer treatment options in states with abortion bans, study shows | Kelcie Moseley-Morris
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