When UMass Dartmouth began renting the Star Store in 2001, the university entered into a public-private partnership that dazzled the city of New Bedford with promises of economic renewal. With an annual earmark of $2.7 million in the state budget, the Massachusetts legislature created a new college campus for the arts in the heart of […]
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Posted inEn Español, Immigration, Local, Stories
ACLU de Rhode Island insta a los municipios a promulgar protecciones más fuertes para los inmigrantes
Click here to listen and read in English. La Unión Americana de Libertades Civiles de Rhode Island instó a los ayuntamientos a promulgar una ordenanza para proteger a las comunidades inmigrantes de lo que la organización llamó “acciones y pronunciamientos federales constitucionalmente dudosos”. En una carta dirigida a los 39 municipios del estado, la organización […]
Posted inImmigration, Local, Politics
ACLU of RI urges municipalities to enact stronger immigrant protections
Haga clic aquí para leer en español. The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island on Monday urged city and town councils to adopt an ordinance to protect immigrant communities from what they called “constitutionally dubious federal actions and pronouncements.” In a letter to the state’s 39 municipalities, the organization emphasized that “local officials have […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
RI officials object to Trump administration block on transportation aid
State officials say the Trump administration is blocking billions of dollars in previously awarded federal transportation aid, including hundreds of millions planned for the Washington Bridge and other needs in Rhode Island. “We don’t know the answer to the likelihood of getting it or not getting it,” House Speaker Joe Shekarchi said in an interview […]
Posted inHousing, Local
Behind the Point-In-Time count: Measuring homelessness in Rhode Island
Last week, the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness conducted its annual Point-In-Time count, measuring how many people are experiencing homelessness across the state on a given night. Last year’s count showed a 35% increase over the previous year. Jennifer Barrera, chief strategy officer for the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, was among the […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Jan. 24, 2025
It’s always coldest before the approach to spring training. 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: President Trump’s use of an executive order to try […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, Local
Can Trump really shut down the offshore wind industry?
President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to shut down the offshore wind industry. Before he even took office, the region saw an impact. Last Friday, a company announced it was abandoning plans to build a factory in Somerset that would’ve supplied undersea cables to American offshore wind farms. Then, on Monday, during his first […]
Posted inImmigration, Local, Politics
Refugee Dream Center loses funding and staff after Trump immigration orders
Haga clic aquí para leer en español. Immigrants and local groups that support them are feeling the impact from President Trump’s flurry of executive actions this week. The Refugee Dream Center in Providence says it has already lost federal funding and laid off some of its staff members as a result. The non-profit helps resettle […]
Posted inImmigration, Local, Metro Desk
Providence holds off on stronger immigrant legal protections for now
Providence officials are slowing down the process of passing an ordinance that seeks to codify protections for immigrants who lack legal status to be in the U.S. The change of course comes in response to a slew of executive orders this week from the federal government and threats to prosecute local officials who resist federal […]
Posted inImmigration, Local, Politics
McKee says he stands with RI immigrants lacking legal status
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said he will stand with Rhode Island residents here without legal status, even as they face heightened immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. State police, however, will continue to work with federal law enforcement officials on criminal matters. “We’re going to continue what we’re doing. If there [are] people who […]
