By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Thursday morning!
The Providence forecast calls for a sunny day with a high of 80. Enjoy the day!
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High tide on Block Island is at 4:05 p.m. Low tide is at 8:40 a.m. and 10:48 p.m. Sunset is at 8:12 p.m.
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Gov. Dan McKee announces emergency relief for Rhode Island households from a double-digit winter electricity price spike coming from Rhode Island Energy at 12:45 p.m. at United Way of Rhode Island.
The Board of Elections meets at 1:30 p.m.
The Rhode Island Continuum of Care Board of Directors meets at 3:30 p.m.
Another Providence mayoral debate is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rochambeau Library in Providence. Mayor Brett Smiley and his Democratic challenger Rep. David Morales, and Republican Dave Talan accepted the invitation to participate.
Chinsareth Hong wears a T-shirt advocating for the release of his brother Chansareth, who was detained by federal immigration officers on July 22, 2026. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
Chansareth Hong, 50, a Cambodian refugee and caregiver who has lived in Providence since he was an infant, was detained after a scheduled check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Warwick Wednesday and moved to the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls. His detention comes despite widespread calls from state and local leaders to halt his removal, sparking protests and a legal challenge.
Independent gubernatorial candidate Ken Block, left, tried unsuccessfully to get the Rhode Island Board of Elections to eliminate Jasjit ‘Jay’ Gotra from the Nov. 3 ballot because the nomination papers turned in by Gotra’s campaign. (Photos by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
The Rhode Island Board of Elections rejected an attempt by Rhode Island independent gubernatorial candidate Ken Block to oust one of his competitors, Jay Gotra, from the November ballot. Yet the question of whether voters have to print their own names and addresses on candidate nomination papers remains unresolved.
The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles office on Valley Road in Middletown. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
The same company behind the motor voter system in New Jersey where a software glitch mistakenly registered thousands of noncitizens to vote provides drivers licenses and ID cards for the state of Rhode Island. In a conference call Wednesday, representatives for Idemia assured officials from the state Department of Revenue and its Division of Motor Vehicles that "the Rhode Island system differs enough from the New Jersey system that RI DMV is not at risk for the same issues that NJ DMV is experiencing.”
The State Properties Committee approved a search for transitional office space for newly elected general officers at its meeting on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. (Photo by Nolan Page/Rhode Island Current)
By Nolan Page
State law requires Rhode Island's newly elected general officers to have available state-funded space for their transitional staff in the two months before they are officially sworn in. The State Properties Committee on Wednesday authorized the Department of Administration to seek temporary office space.
The ACLU of Rhode Island says remote access to public meetings has improved in some communities since 2023, while other local councils and school committees continue to offer limited options. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Alexander Castro
A new ACLU of Rhode Island report finds 29 of 34 school committees and 34 of 39 councils livestream meetings. But many of these public bodies still lack an option for members of the public to participate remotely, despite modest improvements since 2023 and calls for greater government transparency.
Gov. Dan McKee and members of Teamsters Local 251 pose for a group photo after the union endorsed McKee’s reelection campaign. (Photo by Teamsters Local 251)
By Nancy Lavin
The endorsement lists are growing for both Gov. Dan McKee and his Democratic gubernatorial challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes with less than one month until early voting begins. McKee won backing of the 10,000-member Rhode Island Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Tuesday. Foulkes recently secured the backing of the Jamestown Democratic Town Committee, the Rhode Island Troopers Association, and the Providence Streets Coalition.
ICYMI
Inspector general search panel has only just begun. Already the end is near. | Christopher Shea
Hoffmann launches first TV ad in Rhode Island attorney general race | Christopher Shea
‘Urgent requirements’ for US military funding cited by GOP as Hegseth estimates war cost | Jennifer Shutt, D.C. Bureau
US House approves joint measure to curb Congress’ stock trading, require voter ID | Ashley Murray, D.C. Bureau
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