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By Christopher Shea | Reporter

Hiya,

The new cove-side dog park at Haines Memorial State Park in Barrington will officially be named Saturday in honor of Christine Conrad Lane, who died alongside her 16-year-old son Spencer in last year’s midair crash over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Gov. Dan McKee is scheduled to join state and local officials for a 12:30 p.m. ceremony where he will sign legislation designating the park in Lane’s memory.

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Here’s your look at the week that was:

Environmental Scientist Olivia Chatowsky with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Shellfish Water Quality Program collecting a water sample for testing. (DEM photo)

After 50 years, DEM reopens Portsmouth shellfishing grounds

By Nancy Lavin

A 462-acre shellfishing area along the Portsmouth coastline will reopen Saturday for the first time since 1975 thanks to a Fall River wastewater treatment project. But area harvesters want more protections and reliable state funding for their industry to guard against recurrent sewage spills.

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green speaks at an event in Providence in February 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

‘It was time.’ Infante-Green says she’s ready to hand back keys to Providence schools

By Christopher Shea and Alexander Castro

In a surprise move, Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angélica Infante-Green is recommending that Providence regain control of its public schools this summer after nearly seven years of being subject to a state turnaround plan.

Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council Chair Ray Coia, left, is one of six nominees submitted by Gov. Dan McKee for the revamped coastal panel. At right is Jeff Willis, CRMC executive director. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)

McKee unveils 6 picks for revamped CRMC. Critics are underwhelmed.

By Nancy Lavin

Gov. Dan McKee’s six nominees for the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, all men, had their initial confirmation hearings before the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture Wednesday — nearly three months after the March 1 deadline for new appointees to join the volunteer council under last year’s law to reform the troubled agency. Its current chairman made the list.

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)

Shekarchi will be one of five interviewed for RI Supreme Court opening

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.

The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Rhode Island Office of Child Advocate’s petition for emergency relief, clearing the way for the release of medical records for transgender youth treated at Rhode Island Hospital. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Boston appeals court rejects RI child advocate’s emergency relief petition

By Alexander Castro

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston refused to block the initial transfer of anonymized medical records for transgender youth from Rhode Island Hospital to a Texas federal court. The three-judge panel rejected an emergency motion filed by the Rhode Island Office of Child Advocate arguing that even anonymized sharing would constitute harm.

Kalshi's website displays odds of which political party will win the 2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

What are the odds? Dueling lawsuits filed on prediction markets in state and federal courts.

By Christopher Shea

Prediction market operator Kalshi preempted Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha by filing a lawsuit against the state in U.S. District Court Thursday. Four hours later, Neronha hit the company and Polymarket with a suit in Providence Superior Court.

ICYMI

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