By Christopher Shea | Reporter
Hiya,
Move-in weekend continues at the University of Rhode Island. This brings back memories of my own dorm move-in in Minnesota, when an air conditioner leak in my assigned building forced me to spend a night in another one and set up my actual room without my family.
I will say, it was easier than I thought to get a minifridge and all my clothes up two flights of stairs.
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Gov. Dan McKee is scheduled to stop by Festival Pier in Pawtucket at 9:30 a.m. Saturday for the 25th Annual Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival.
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Here’s your look at the week that was:
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.
Rep. Julie Casimiro has resigned from her House District 31 seat representing North Kingstown and Exeter after the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General asked her to explain how she could legally stay in office after moving to South Carolina. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
Rep. Julie Casimiro is ending her final term in office early, confirming in a three-paragraph email Monday afternoon to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office that she would be resigning at the close of the day. The resignation comes amid mounting pressure for Casimiro to give up her seat — and legislative salary — after moving full-time to South Carolina.
Providence Republican mayoral candidate Dave Talan speaks with a woman outside Bell Street Chapel on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, before a mayoral forum. Talan, a board member of the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel, joined the group’s rally against Question 7, a divestment proposal on the November ballot. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
By Alexander Castro
Question 7, a November ballot measure that would limit the city of Providence’s investments in countries committing severe human rights violations, names no countries. But supporters and opponents say it targets Israel. The question that came about through a petition drive by the Providence for Palestine coalition that collected over 6,000 signatures from eligible voters is “expertly written,” a Pennsylvania State University business and international law professor who studies public pension divestment mandates said.
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission has dismissed a complaint by a nonprofit education group against Rhode Island Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, left, who is president of the National Education Association, but the panel voted to pursue an investigation of a complaint filed by a former Foster town councilor against Senate Minority Whip Gordon E. Rogers, right, a Foster Republican who is the town's public works director. (Photos by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission on Tuesday declined to investigate a complaint against Senate President Valarie Lawson over votes a Koch-funded Virginia nonprofit claims benefited the education union she leads. Commissioners did, however, open a separate probe into the chamber’s No. 2 Republican, House Minority Whip Gordon Rogers, over allegations involving his day job as a town public works director.
Rhode Island Energy customers will see service fees increase Sept. 1, following a nine-month review by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
Rhode Island utility regulators have authorized a series of extra charges and discounts to energy bills starting Sept. 1 under a $138 million revenue plan. The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission finalized Rhode Island Energy’s distribution rate increases under a series of unanimous votes on Aug. 21, though final bill impacts were not publicly available until Monday. Refunds beginning Oct. 1 will mostly offset fee hikes, with additional discounts contemplated for January.
An Instagram ad by Keith Hoffmann, a Democrat running for Rhode Island attorney general, criticizes rival Kim Ahern’s tenure leading the state Cannabis Control Commission (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
By Christopher Shea
Rhode Island’s Democratic primaries for attorney general and lieutenant governor turned increasingly combative over the past week as candidates trade attacks and undecided voters prepare to head to the polls on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
ICYMI
2026 Primary Voter Guide | Rhode Island Current staff
Rhode Island rabies cases reach 34 after two Warwick raccoons test positive | Christopher Shea
A dam owner drained this secluded pond. Connecticut state officials wants it restored | John Moritz, Connecticut Mirror
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