Democrat Stefano Famiglietti scored a lopsided win Tuesday in the race for the Rhode Island state Senate, getting almost 83% of the vote in a matchup with Republican Alexander Asermely, according to unofficial results. “I am extremely humbled to have been elected as the District 4 state Senator to serve the community in which I […]
RI Senate
Posted inLocal, Politics
RI Senate President Lawson and GOP team up to deal possible death-blow to ‘assault weapons’ bill
The tiny four-member Republican caucus in the Rhode Island Senate made the difference in a vote Thursday that may have killed a proposed “assault weapon” ban in the current General Assembly session. On a 20-to-17 vote, senators effectively rejected an effort by Sen. Pam Lauria (D-Barrington) to move the AWB bill from the Judiciary Committee […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Ethics Commission says Ciccone can vote on gun bill
On an eight-to-one vote, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission said Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone — who holds a federal firearms license — can debate and vote on a proposed ban on new sales of assault-style weapons. Ciccone (D-Providence) was first elected to the Senate in 2002. He sought an ethics advisory opinion after becoming […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for May 2, 2025
It’s go(al) time for the Pawtucket debut of Rhode Island FC. 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: After Val Lawson won election Tuesday as […]
Posted inLabor, Local, Politics
Lawson wins R.I. Senate presidency while retaining prominent union role
After Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader Val Lawson won a lopsided vote Tuesday to lead the chamber following the recent death of Dominick Ruggerio, she downplayed potential conflicts stemming from her work as the president of one of the state’s largest teachers’ unions. Lawson (D-East Providence) easily outpaced rival Sen. Ryan W. Pearson (D-Cumberland) on […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 25, 2025
Considering the torrents of news, is it time to measure the first 100 days of a new presidential administration in dog-years? 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 […]
Posted inHealth, Local, Politics
New RI Senate package aims to promote healthcare affordability and access
The Rhode Island Senate unveiled Wednesday a package of nine bills meant to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability in the state. The effort marks the second consecutive year that the Senate has emphasized the need to address challenges in local healthcare, and lawmakers say it builds on actions including a study examining whether to create […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Jan. 3, 2025
It’s a shiny new year, brimming with possibilities. 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: The Rhode Island Senate remains the more fractious of Smith […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Nov. 8, 2024
With the 2024 election in the books, we’re on the fast-track to the holidays … and the quiet phase of a statewide election looming in 2026. Welcome back to my weekly column. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Oct. 25, 2024
The bumper crop of autumnal acorns could be used as fill to inch out the borders of the Ocean State. Welcome to the return of my weekly column. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in […]
