After decades, Warwick is getting ready to wrap up a $25 million sewer line project. City Councilman Ed Ladouceur says it’s solving a daily problem for residents in the Bayside neighborhood

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Lots of debate over the 50/50 sidewalk program at tonight’s Providence City Council meeting. A motion to pass for the first time failed 5-8. 2 abstained.

Many had an issue with how equitable the program really was.

Background: wpri.com/news/local-new… WPRI 12

The tax deal known as '8-law' has become a point of intense debate inside Providence's city government. Alexandra Leslie and Eli Sherman break down the controversy. trib.al/MvbQguM

Providence council decided against voting to override Mayor Brett Smiley’s veto of their 8-Law ordinance.

Smiley’s team whipped enough votes to block the 10 needed for an override.

Council leadership will go back to the drawing board

Cumberland’s Phoenix Witt announces campaign for RI House

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NEW w/Eli Sherman: An attorney is expected to present an offer to the Providence City Council tonight. If accepted, it'd resolve the dispute over a controversial tax deal with a downtown developer.

The case has divided city leaders in court.
wpri.com/target-12/prov… WPRI 12

“He’s got his own problems.” Former state Rep. Jim McLaughlin is considering a run against Senate Majority Leader Pearson, and he may shift parties to do it WPRI 12
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RIPEC’s new report finds that the governor relied on surplus funds and remaining federal pandemic relief dollars to pay for operating expenses, thereby sidestepping more difficult spending choices, and contributing to budget deficits in FY26 and beyond.

Shoutout to Minority Leader Rep Mike Chippendale for making a good case for early voting (a quarter of the General Assembly didn't vote in the Primary): '...going forward when I am expecting a tightly scheduled day, I will consider early voting as not to repeat my experience this spring.'

NEW: Rhode Island’s presidential primary last month saw anemic voter turnout statewide.

And the lack of interest even extended to the State House where more than a quarter of lawmakers skipped the polls wpri.com/target-12/more…

East Providence officials reported $522,828 has been billed to RIDOT for Washington Bridge police details since the initial closure in December.
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Here are Gov. Governor Dan McKee's (D) Q1 numbers:

- Began the quarter with $206.5K
- Raised $105K from individuals, $18.3K from PACs
- Spent $76.6K ($25K was a repayment of loan)
- Has $251K cash on hand.

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.Eli Sherman reports on the R.I. Ethics Commission's investigation into allegations of nepotism against Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins: ⤵️ trib.al/r2XbcM7

NEW: A dozen contractors who have worked on the Washington Bridge have been sent letters the lawyers preparing a lawsuit, inviting the firms to inspect the bridge before it's demolished and warning not to destroy any records that might become evidence
bostonglobe.com/2024/04/30/met…

'Your cooperation is expected': A dozen firms connected to Washington Bridge work notified they may be sued
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“Aaron Thomas maintains his innocence and looks forward to his day in court.'

The former North Kingstown coach's attorneys react to today's ruling in the naked fat-test case
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The R.I. Ethics Commission has launched an investigation into allegations of nepotism against Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins, who is currently running for re-election wpri.com/target-12/ethi…

Worth noting the 2021 clash between Tony Silva and Mayor Mutter over a controversial wetlands deal that spurred a state police investigation and Silva resigning as McKee's chief of staff wpri.com/target-12/mcke…

NEW: The criminal case against former NK High School basketball coach Aaron Thomas can move forward, after judge denies defense's motion to dismiss. w/ Eli Sherman
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Great beat reporting here by New Bedford Light, looking at the tension between the mayor and the city's retirement board over annual COLA increases for retirees

Also points out New Bedford and Fall River are in the bottom 5 for pension funding statewide newbedfordlight.org/new-bedford-ma…