In one of the first large protests at Brown University this year, more than 100 Brown University students poured onto the Main Green Friday to demand that school leaders refuse to comply with demands they expect are coming from the Trump administration. Over the past several months, the Trump administration has used the prospect of […]
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Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 18, 2025
Is it too much to yearn for a major motion picture about Buddy Cianci and a cool indie about the Dorr Rebellion? 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 inEnvironment, Local, South Coast Bureau
Massachusetts communities that bet big on wind face uncertainty
Since taking office in January, President Trump has worked to fulfill a campaign promise to shut down the young offshore wind industry in the U.S. He stopped all federal permitting, and this week, his administration issued a stop-work order to a project under construction off the coast of New York. These actions have sent a […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Local, Newport Bureau
A new chapter at America’s oldest synagogue
In the Jewish community of Newport, Passover this year is bittersweet because of a major change at Touro Synagogue. A unanimous ruling by the Rhode Island Supreme Court cleared the way for the eviction of the Newport congregation that has worshipped at Touro for generations, bringing closure to a long legal dispute at North America’s […]
Posted inEconomy, Local, Politics
Amid tariff battle, support for Trump remains strong in his best Rhode Island community
Don Fox has a front row seat to the trade war between the Trump administration and China. That’s because his Burrillville, Rhode Island-based company, Alashan Cashmere, imports cashmere sweaters made in China. Now, tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump threaten to bring Fox’s business to a standstill for the fall season. The tariffs on the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local, South Coast Bureau
Conflict escalates at top of Fall River Police Department
When former police chief Paul Gauvin was clearing out his office this fall, he thought he was coming back in a few months as a captain. But because of the items he left behind, the former chief was fired instead. Along with office junk like paper clips and push pins, Gauvin left a knife and […]
Posted inEconomy, Local, Metro Desk
Smiley outlines tax increases for property owners
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley on Tuesday released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2026, which begins on July 1. “This year’s City budget was exceptionally difficult to balance,” he said. According to the mayor, the city had to dig into its finances this year to find funding for its public schools, due to a lawsuit […]
Posted inLocal, On Sports, Stories
Farewell to Jay Fluck, a giant for Brown Rugby
Jay Fluck was so average in physical stature that you would not have given this Brown University alumnus a second glance if you passed him on the downtown streets in Providence, where he worked in commercial real estate. But in the world of rugby extending far beyond College Hill, Jay Fluck — pronounced fluke — […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Reed, Magaziner say GOP plan is to slowly kill Social Security
While Republicans have long accused Democrats of using scare tactics to fan fears about Social Security, two Rhode Island Democrats say the GOP’s planned cuts to the taxpayer-funded retirement system speak for themselves. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner were among those who spoke Tuesday at a midday news conference at the St. […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Business, Local
Mystic Disc proudly analog and still booming
The fact that Saturday, April 12, is National Record Store Day might leave reasonable people scratching their heads. Why, in an era when you can have instant access to almost any song at the click of a button, do record stores still exist? We visited Mystic Disc to find out. The one room shop has […]
