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 […]
Ryan Pearson
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 inLocal, Politics
Behind the scenes battle rages for control of R.I. Senate
A frenetic two-way fight for the presidency of the Rhode Island Senate is playing out behind the scenes following the death of state Sen. Dominick Ruggerio at age 76 on Monday. The battle is taking place through ongoing phone calls, as the contenders — Majority Leader Val Lawson (D-East Providence) and Sen. Frank Ciccone (D-Providence), […]
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 […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Pearson urging fellow RI senators to keep him as majority leader
After losing the support of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson is trying to rally backing from fellow senators to keep him in the chamber’s second-ranking post. Pearson did not respond when asked to identify his level of support from fellow senators. But the Cumberland Democrat reiterated his view that health challenges […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
R.I. Senate President Ruggerio wants to sack his majority leader
After months of speculation, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio has gone public with his support for replacing his number two, Majority Leader Ryan Pearson, with Senate Democratic Whip Val Lawson. “Val is a vital member of our leadership team,” Ruggerio said in a statement. “She has provided valued guidance and leadership on every aspect of the […]
Posted inLocal, Political Roundtable, Politics
RI Senate Democratic Whip Val Lawson on Washington Bridge, East Providence and the future of the Senate
Valarie Lawson has enjoyed a rapid rise in the Rhode Island Senate. Lawson was first elected in 2018 and she is now the third-ranking member in the chamber. The East Providence Democrat may climb even higher. Senate president Dominick Ruggerio is 75. If he wins re-election this year, Ruggerio is expected to pass the Senate […]
Posted inLocal, Political Roundtable, Politics
RI Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson on Washington Bridge, McKee’s budget, RIPTA and more
Legislative Oversight committees plan to hold a joint hearing Monday to examine the crisis involving the Washington Bridge. For now, motorists continue to wrestle with congested traffic at peak times and the ripple effect sometimes extends beyond Interstate 195 into the streets of Providence, East Providence and other communities. If the westbound Washington Bridge needs […]
