By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Monday morning!
Enjoy this Labor Day.
You can give your mind a break from keeping up with the rising cost of living by heading to the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket, which has its annual free Labor Day Open House from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
See the final day of the museum’s special exhibit, “How Immigrants Became Icons: The History of Soccer in Rhode Island” and view the premiere of filmmaker Christian de Rezendes’ “Union Village,” a new documentary exploring the experiences of Rhode Island's Quaker community during the American Revolution.
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High tide in Jamestown is at 5:36 p.m. Low tide is at 10:54 a.m. Sunrise is at 6:17 a.m. Sunset is at 7:08 p.m.
A phone displays a text message from Dynata inviting the recipient to participate in a ‘short survey’ on Aug. 10, 2026. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
As participation in public opinion polling plummets, researchers are still figuring out ways to collect representative sample data about elections. Candidates like Gov. Dan McKee say their methods are inaccurate.
WJAR NBC 10’s Gene Valicenti, left, moderates the first and last debate between the two Republican candidates in the 2nd Congressional District race on Friday at the station’s Cranston studio on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. At center is Dr. Stephen Skoly. At right is Vic Mellor. (Photo courtesy of WJAR NBC10)
By Alexander Castro
With just five days to go before the primary, the two Republican candidates hoping to seize Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District seat in November met for their first, and last, debate that saw them mostly abstain from the acrimony that has characterized the race over the summer. Vic Mellor, 56, and Dr. Stephen Skoly, 70, joined moderator Gene Valicenti to tape a roughly half-hour debate at WJAR NBC 10’s Cranston studio on Friday afternoon. It will air twice over the holiday weekend.
Members of Virginia Professional Firefighters association hold signs during their biannual convention in May to protest Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s veto of collective bargaining legislation. New research found a significant spike in labor union membership, but growth is highly dependent upon state politics. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)
By Kevin Hardy | Stateline
Labor union membership continues to climb in the United States, though the increase remains sharply divided by the politics of individual states. The nation added over 411,000 union members in 2025 — the largest annual growth since 2008, according to a new study by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At the end of last year, more than 14.6 million American workers belonged to a union — about 10% of the workforce, the study said.
Gov. Dan McKee, shown at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s Highway & Bridge Maintenance Headquarters in Warwick, declared a state of emergency and ordered a travel ban on the afternoon of Sunday Feb. 22, 2026, ahead of the storm that dumped over 3 feet of snow on the state. (Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor)
By Christopher Shea
Gov. Dan McKee and Rhode Island’s congressional delegation are blasting the Trump administration after the Federal Emergency Management Agency again rejected the state’s request for $19 million to cover recovery costs associated with February’s historic blizzard.
The Rhode Island Elections Project website aims to help the state’s voters better understand the candidates for the General Assembly and the issues facing the state. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
COMMENTARY
By Nicolas Labriola and Fabio Muscianisi
Rhode Island’s legislative elections are becoming less competitive, leaving many voters with few meaningful choices. The Rhode Island Elections Project, developed by two University of Rhode Island graduate students, aims to make election data more accessible.
By Rhode Island Current staff
Wednesday, Sept. 9, is the day when Rhode Island voters will decide who should win the competitive Democratic primaries for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general and the Republican races for governor and the 2nd Congressional District. Here’s our guide to find out where the candidates stand on the issues and what you need to know to cast your ballot.
ICYMI
‘The knives are out’ as candidates make final sprint to the primary | Christopher Shea
As the Trump administration dismantles Temporary Protected Status, Salvadorans may be next| Ariana Figueroa, D.C. Bureau
Judge criticizes Trump pressure on prosecutors on reflecting pool vandalism charges | Ariana Figueroa, D.C. Bureau
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