The Latest Breaking News from Rhode Island

Rhode Island legislators restrict immigration enforcement near polling places, enact 18 other election bills in 2026 session

The Rhode Island General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on June 11 after passing 20 election-related bills. Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed all 20 bills between March and June.

Ballotpedia · Aug 3

Americans throw away 50,000 mattresses every day that can take 80 to 120 years to decompose but what happens to these old beds after they leave your home may surprise you

Americans throw away around 50,000 mattresses every day, but the waste doesn't simply disappear. Some old mattresses can take 80 to 120 years to decompose, while much of their steel, foam, wood and fibers could potentially be recycled and reused. Only 4 US states, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Oregon…

The Economic Times · Aug 2

Federal Court Rules Against Rhode Island Town's Use of Eminent Domain for NIMBY Purposes

The local government sought to use eminent domain to block a housing project local NIMBYs objected to.

Reason · Aug 1

‘Master yachtsman’ who fled 2005 trial for sexual assault arrested off US coast

Ronald Fischer, 70, was sentenced to life in his absence after telling lawyer he planned to ‘enjoy life in another country’

The Guardian - US · Jul 17

Rhode Island enacts three-year charter school moratorium

On June 18, 2026, Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee (D) signed identical bills (S 2787 and H7415) to prohibit the state's Council on Elementary and Secondary Education from approving the creation or expansion of any district charter schools through the 2028-2029 school year. The bill also reduced the allowed number…

Ballotpedia · Jul 15

Captain Cook's famous shipwreck RI 2394 finally found after a 26-year search in Rhode Island

For more than 250 years, nobody knew exactly where Captain James Cook's famous ship, HM Bark Endeavour, had ended its journey. The vessel is famous for carrying Cook on his historic Pacific voyage between 1768 and 1771. After returning to England, however, the ship quietly entered a new chapter of…

The Times of India · Jul 14

Rhode Island Is Regulating Grocery Checkout Lines Now

A new law requires grocery stores to keep one staffed checkout open for every three self-checkout stations.

Reason · Jul 9

Trump Denies £170 Million Blizzard Aid To Four Democratic States While Approving £634 Million For Republican-Led States

President Trump denied blizzard recovery aid to four Democratic-led states while approving funds for Republican states, sparking allegations of partisan bias in disaster relief decisions.

International Business Times UK · Jul 9

Trump Disaster Aid Gap Revealed: Rhode Island Denied at 10 Times the Threshold as Red States Got Approved

Trump denied $227 million in blizzard aid to four Democratic-led states days after approving relief for Republican states with far smaller damage claims.

International Business Times UK · Jul 9

‘Taylor Swift tax’ goes into effect in Rhode Island. Here’s what it means

IN FULL

The Independent UK · Jul 3