Keith Hoffmann, who worked in a series of different roles in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, formally announced Tuesday his campaign to be the state’s next attorney general. Hoffmann, 38, until recently served as director of policy in current Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office, and before that as chief of the civil and community […]
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Posted inArts And Culture, Local
Why Rhode Island Latino Arts fought the Trump administration in court
The Providence-based nonprofit and three other arts organizations won a lawsuit, with the help of the local ACLU, against the Trump administration’s campaign targeting ‘gender ideology.’
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local, Politics
Rhode Island’s big swing at police reform is slow to make change
Around the time of George Floyd’s murder in the spring of 2020, Providence had its own incident that fueled protests and allegations of police brutality. Joseph Hanley, a Providence police sergeant, was filmed kicking a Black man, Rishod Gore, as he laid face down on the ground in handcuffs. Providence publicly announced it was firing […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Local
What’s on in October at the Community Libraries of Providence
Afternoon host Mareva Lindo talks with Cheryl Space, library director of the Community Libraries of Providence, and Michelle Freeman, library supervisor at the Knight Memorial Library, about what’s happening at the Community Libraries of Providence in October. Hispanic Heritage Month highlight: Encuentro Literario Cheryl Space: It will be at the Knight Memorial Library on Oct. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local, Politics
State Rep. Robert Craven announces run for Rhode Island attorney general
At least three Democrats will compete in the September 2026 primary State Rep. Robert Craven (D-North Kingstown), a long-time lawmaker and former state prosecutor, announced Monday his run to be Rhode Island’s next attorney general. Craven, 69, was first elected to the House in 2012 and he currently chairs the House Judiciary Committee. According to […]
Posted inHealth, Local
With food insecurity on the rise in Rhode Island, local food banks struggle to meet the demand
The number of Rhode Islanders who lack access to enough food has reached a five-year high; over a third of state residents are experiencing food insecurity, according to a recent report from the Brown University School of Public Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island. Local food banks across the state say they are […]
Posted inEconomy, Local
Forensic analysis of Washington Bridge failure says officials should have been aware of the problems
Rhode Island officials should have been aware of the problems that eventually led to the abrupt closure of the westbound Washington Bridge, according to a detailed forensic audit of decades of the bridge’s inspection reports and other documentation. The 64-page analysis by engineering firm Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. is dated April 2024, but was […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Sept. 26, 2025
 The real menace in baseball is less robot umpires and more the relentless stream of sports-betting ads between innings. 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? Sign up right here *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: […]
Posted inEconomy, Local
Union representing workers at Providence’s ABC6 calls for boycott of Channels 6 and 10
The union representing workers at ABC6 is calling for a boycott of the station and NBC 10 in response to how WJAR-TV’s owner, Sinclair Broadcast Group, recently acquired the non-signal operations for WLNE-TV. Meteorologist Kelly Bates is among workers who lost their jobs at Channel 6 as part of the change in management. She said […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, South Coast Bureau
City Council sues New Bedford’s mayor over police chief appointment
The New Bedford City Council filed a lawsuit against Mayor John Mitchell last week, asking a Bristol County Superior Court judge to clarify that the mayor must seek council approval to appoint a new police chief. Mitchell appointed John Thody as the city’s new police chief on June 24. Council president Shane Burgo said that […]
