By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Thursday morning!
Candidates running for state attorney general have had six debates or forums already. The Democrats and Republicans running for governor had their first respective TV debates recorded in the lobby at the Providence Performing Arts Center last night.
But the number is still zero for the time being for the Republicans running for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District seat.
Republican CD2 candidate Vic Mellor finally responded Wednesday to our request for comment on his reason for declining a debate organized by the Rhode Island Republican Party ahead of the Sept. 9 primary.
Mellor called the state’s GOP leaders “the same people who already endorsed my opponent and have been attacking me.” He said he is, however, open to appearing together with his opponent, Dr. Stephen Skoly, for a television debate.
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High tide in Westerly is at 9:55 a.m. and 10:19 p.m. Low tide is at 4:50 p.m. Sunset is at 7:49 p.m.
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The Rhode Island Airport Corporation Board of Directors meets at 9 a.m.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo tour the RI Builders Residential Training Facility in Central Falls at 11 a.m. to celebrate the passage of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which aims to cut through red tape to build more housing.
Gov. Dan McKee, Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore, Special Olympics Rhode Island President & CEO Ed Pacheco, and Special Olympics Team Rhode Island celebrate the success of the state’s 49 athletes in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota at 3 p.m. at the State House. The team earned a total of 25 medals across track & field, bowling, cornhole, powerlifting, swimming, and unified slow pitch softball.
The Rhode Island Continuum of Care Board of Directors meets at 3:30 p.m.
Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Luis Matos takes a question from reporters alongside Gov. Dan McKee during a press conference announcing his nomination to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
Former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi dominated discussion of the open seat on the Rhode Island Supreme Court. But a different applicant made headline news Wednesday as Gov. Dan McKee announced Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Judge Luis Matos as his nominee for the state’s highest court. McKee acknowledged he did not personally speak with Shekarchi before the nomination was made public at a noon press conference.
Gene Valicenti, left foreground, moderates a live, televised debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Elaine Pelino and Aaron Guckian Wednesday. (Screenshot/NBC 10 YouTube)
By Nancy Lavin
It didn’t take long for the first face-to-face of Rhode Island’s Republican gubernatorial candidates to turn combative. Elaine Pelino didn’t finish her first sentence of the Wednesday debate, hosted by NBC 10 and Coastal ABC, before turning to fellow GOP candidate Aaron Guckian to ask for an in-person apology. Her request was cut off by moderator Gene Valicenti, who redirected Pelino to his question about Gov. Dan McKee’s Supreme Court nominee.
Rep. Jason Knight, far left, answers a question during a debate for Democratic attorney general candidates at the Roger Williams University School of Law for a debate Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. Left to right next to him are Joseph Solomon Jr.; Keith Hoffmann and Kim Ahern. (Photo by Corey Welch/WPRI 12)
By Alexander Castro
The four Democratic candidates for Rhode Island Attorney General squared off in their first TV debate Tuesday night at Roger Williams University School of Law, scrutinizing each other's past actions and experience. WPRI 12 reporters Tim White and Ted Nesi had tough questions for each candidate based on their respective records.
The U.S. Supreme Court on April 9, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
By Jacob Fischler | D.C. Bureau
With Election Day less than three months away, the Trump administration on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to quickly step in and decide in a voting case after a federal judge blocked the executive order restricting mail-in voting nationwide.
Students study on laptops inside an elementary school in Farmington, Arkansas, on March 19, 2026. School districts nationwide are grappling with which artificial intelligence tools to invest in. (Photo by Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)
By Robbie Sequeira | Stateline
School districts across the country face growing challenges vetting AI education tools for safety, privacy and effectiveness as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes classrooms.
ICYMI
Mellor declines ‘stunt’ RI GOP debate with Skoly in CD2 primary | Alexander Castro
AnderBois debuts television ad to stand out in crowded lieutenant governor race | Janine L. Weisman
New faces cause a stir in the New Hampshire crustacean community | Molly Rains, New Hampshire Bulletin
Trump press secretary Leavitt to leave White House | Ashley Murray, D.C. Bureau
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