“Most weeks, if the weather is good, City Councilman James Taylor goes hunting in his neighborhood, Ward 8.

His quarry? Mattresses.”

providencejournal.com/story/news/loc…

Another state agency involved in tear down/rebuild of Washington Bridge:

The Lesley Stahl profile of Secretary Gina Raimondo will air this Sunday night

The latest from @ricurrent's library correspondent (i.e. me): Public libraries don't buy ebooks; they buy licenses. And licenses aren't cheap. “Normally a state or municipality would never spend money on something that’s going to disappear.”
rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/04/18/bil…

First graduation ceremony in 11 years. Much faster than undergrad. 10/10 would recommend National Press Foundation

NPF’s Women in Politics Fellows visited the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality Monument (National Mall NPS) — home to the National Woman's Party for more than 90 years.

Pearson's visit to Ruggerio is said to have happened not long after this joint appearance

In the wake of our story today about the health of Dominick Ruggerio, the Senate president, and a rumored coup, he issued the statement below.
Our story: providencejournal.com/story/news/pol…

Through 9 months, state revenues for current year are now slightly up--by 0.4%, according to DOR. If trend holds, $21 million more dollars would be available and potentially more next year. Personal income tax projections down 4.4%, but largely offset by bump in business taxes.

'I know I'll get by this': Senate President Ruggerio breaks silence on health, rumors of a coup providencejournal.com/story/news/pol…

New: Went through years of contracts, inspections, structural analyses, bids, change orders and emails to try to figure out what went wrong on the Washington Bridge.

Here's what I found:

A report warned the state about the Washington Bridge in 2015.

providencejournal.com/story/news/pol…

FULLY UPDATED Divided U.S. Supreme Court wrestles with case of Pennsylvania man who joined Jan. 6 mob written by Ashley Murray for News from the States DC / Pennsylvania Capital-Star penncapital-star.com/justice-the-co… via Pennsylvania Capital-Star

PVD’S fave foodie is back at it. This time Jamie Lee Curtis gushing over Seven Stars.

From media gaggle with Governor Dan McKee today:
*No ETA for 'forensic analysis'
*Accidents on the Washington Bridge 'are up almost 3x/averaging about an accident a day over 90d period/we need to make sure that we keep people safe,keep people off their phones&keep people in the lanes'

'The company and its 42-year-old leader, who mentions his six-pack abs and his $12,500 monthly mortgage in employee training videos available on YouTube...'

Was not expecting so many gems in this excellent solar panel scam story by Nancy Lavin

Obligatory Rhode Island in DC photo.

State lawmakers want to tame the Wild West of solar panel retail sales while Peter Neronha has filed a lawsuit against Smart Green Solar, whose door-knocking sales staff is led by a charismatic CEO. Former customers are defending him too. By Nancy Lavin

rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/04/16/acc…

Scenes from the district

'What good is a marketing campaign going to do for me?' says this East Providence restaurateur denied SBA loan of Governor Dan McKee’s proposed state relief package for businesses impacted by the Washington Bridge closure. By Nancy Lavin.

rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/04/15/hel…

Commentary by Rhode Island General Treasurer James A. Diossa and Professor Darrick Hamilton -- Baby bonds are a transformational investment to help Rhode Island prosper bostonglobe.com/2024/04/11/met… via The Boston Globe