The Trump administration has signed off on $220 million in previously appropriated federal grants to help replace the westbound Washington Bridge, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee announced during a hastily arranged late afternoon news conference at the Statehouse on Thursday. The governor thanked President Trump and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “The full funding for […]
DAN MCKEE
Posted inLocal, Transportation
Who’s responsible for the Washington Bridge failure?
More than one year after the westbound Washington Bridge was abruptly shut down, critical questions remain unanswered. “Folks really want to know why did this happen?” said state Rep. June Speakman (D- District 68). She represents constituents in Bristol and Warren, on the east side of the bridge. The westbound Washington Bridge carried traffic on […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for March 21, 2025
April 1 is approaching, so don’t let yourself get Rickrolled along the way. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: As we roll into the […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Politics
RI House GOP leader raps ‘culture of secrecy’ on cost for pallet shelter
Rhode Island House GOP Leader Michael Chippendale says Gov. Dan McKee’s administration is stonewalling the release of public records explaining why the Echo Village pallet shelter in Providence wound up costing close to $5 million. Chippendale used an image of a Winnebago on social media last month to make a point — how pallet shelters […]
Posted inLocal
Rhode Island Democrats say Brown Medicine doctor deserves her day in court
Rhode Island’s top elected officials are keeping a close eye on the Trump administration’s effort to deport a Lebanese transplant physician with ties to Brown University. Dr. Rasha Alawieh was detained at Boston Logan International Airport last week and sent back to Lebanon on the grounds that she may be sympathetic with the Lebanese militant […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Via video, Gov. McKee declares his campaign for re-election
On the fourth anniversary of the day when he inherited Rhode Island’s top political office, Gov. Dan McKee used a video announcement to tout his record and ask voters to give him another four years in office. The two-minute video paints a contrast between conditions when McKee became governor — when the Covid pandemic was […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Feb. 28, 2025
The Providence Newspaper Guild Follies are gone, but Rhode Island politics remains the gift that keeps giving. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: Despite […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Feb. 21, 2025
I was dreamin’ when I wrote this/Forgive me if it goes astray/woke up super-early for Lively/hence my acuity is on the wane today. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Feb. 7, 2025
When it comes to the Super Bowl, I am mostly there for the nachos — and the harbinger of baseball drawing closer. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. […]
Posted inBusiness, Local, Politics
Hasbro said to be moving closer to a decision on new HQ
Can an almost-free offer for a prime riverfront parcel in Providence’s long-touted, semi-developed I-195 District compete with the razzle-dazzle of new-money energy in Boston’s Seaport District? That’s the choice facing Hasbro, the venerable Pawtucket-based toymaker-turned-entertainment company, as it narrows in on a future home. Rhode Island’s effort to retain the headquarters of Hasbro is seen […]
