By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief
Good Monday morning!
OK, who put their heat on this weekend? I wore gloves on my mid-day walk Sunday.
The Providence forecast calls for sunny with a high of 61 today.
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High tide in Barrington-Warren is at 3:04 p.m. Low tide is at 7:57 a.m. and 8:54 p.m. Sunrise is at 7:02 a.m. Sunset is at 5:57 p.m.
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The special legislative commission studying the design and planning of a Vietnam Memorial in Providence meets at 11:30 a.m.
Rhode Island Republicans hold a “RI First: Time to Unify and Take Rhode Island Back” rally on the front steps of the State House at 5 p.m. hosted by Glocester Town Council President William Worthy.
Independent gubernatorial candidate Ken Block shakes hands with spectators on Atwells Avenue in Providence during the annual Federal Hill Columbus Day Parade on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (Courtesy of Block campaign)
By Nancy Lavin
Battling against entrenched party politics as an independent candidate for governor with only modest name recognition and even less campaign cash, Ken Block looks to polling as proof he can beat his Democratic opponent. The Barrington software engineer and former Republican hopes his focus on pragmatism over partisanship will win over voters.
Dave Wolczak, left, of Cranston, shows his sign to Terri Anderson, of Johnston at a No Kings community event at the Hope Street Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)
By Nancy Lavin
Over 15,000 Rhode Island voters have already cast ballots since early voting began in the state on Wednesday, Oct. 14. But volunteers fanned out at the Hope Street Farmers Market Saturday morning as part of No Kings events nationwide to make sure more folks know about early voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), center, speaks with reporters after an unannounced visit to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New England headquarters on Oct. 16, 2026. U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) is at left, and U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) is at right. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo’s Office)
By Christopher Shea
U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo and two other New England Democrats made an unannounced visit Friday to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regional headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts, to follow up on reports of detainees being housed there for multiple days and sleeping on concrete floors with limited food available.
Work continues on the new QTS data center in Eagle Mountain, Utah, on April 17, 2026. Today’s data center buildout has become the largest industrial boom since the railroad era of the 19th century, with $10 trillion in investment and almost twice the economic impact. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
By Tim Henderson | Stateline
The sheer size of investment in data centers is drawing concern as it surpasses all other historical booms and crowds out other more job-creating ventures. Until now, no industry had driven the U.S. economy with such force since the railroad expansion of the late 1800s, when titans battled one another to lay the transcontinental tracks that would connect America from coast to coast.
Leviton Dual Language School Principal Jennifer Walker interacts with a third-grade student in the cafeteria of the Providence school on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
COMMENTARY
By Julia Steiny
Leviton Elementary School in South Providence is gaining recognition for its Spanish-English dual-language program, dedicated educators — more than two-thirds of whom are Hispanic — and leadership under principal Jennifer Walker. The school rates three stars in Rhode Island’s one-to-five-star system for student performance. Walker is aiming to catch a fourth one.
ICYMI
On Connecticut bear hunt, Gov. Lamont and GOP challenger Fazio find common ground | John Moritz, CT Mirror
Trump back on the road as analysts see more congressional races shifting in Dems’ favor | Shauneen Miranda, D.C. Bureau
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