Legislation mandating abortion care under Medicaid and the state employee health plan sailed through the Rhode Island Senate Thursday, and was quickly signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee.
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Posted inArticle, Criminal Justice, Metro Desk
Bail reform advocates block jail bus from leaving RI courthouse
At a rally Thursday, activists with Direct Action for Rights and Equality demanded a change to a Rhode Island rule that prevents people who violate probation from receiving bail.
Posted inArticle, Politics
McKee makes his picks for RI’s Cannabis Control Commission
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee has made his three nominations to form the state Cannabis Control Commission, more than 10 months after they were due. McKee picked his deputy chief of staff, Kim Ahern, to chair the commission that will oversee the regulation, licensing and control of adult-use cannabis and medical marijuana in the state. […]
Posted inArticle
Who is Victor Wembanyama? The NBA is about to get the answer to that question
The Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes now has a winner. It’s the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA draft lottery was Tuesday night in Chicago. The Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Spurs all had the best chance of winning the lottery and getting the No. 1 pick. But the Spurs prevailed. While Wembanyama isn’t officially a member of the Spurs yet, it’s all but a foregone conclusion that he’ll be selected by San Antonio in June with the first pick in the draft. He could be with his new club for summer league games in early July.
Posted inArticle, Criminal Justice, Local, South Coast Bureau
Excessive force trial begins for Fall River cop with long rap sheet
Opening arguments are scheduled to begin Monday in the trial of Michael Pessoa, a police officer accused of beating a man and arresting him on false charges four years ago. Prosecutors said Pessoa has a history of “utilizing his authority as a police officer to engage in violent behavior towards individuals engaging in lawful behavior and lying about it to cover up his illegal actions.”
Posted inArticle, South County Bureau
Ethics Commission issues opinion on ethics questions around Westerly Town Council president, but issues in shoreline access case remain unresolved
A legal fight over a town-designated path to the beach has put the town council president’s connections to the Watch Hill resort community in the spotlight.
Posted inArticle, Politics
Bill to extend abortion coverage in Rhode Island faces one more hurdle
The top two Democrats in the Rhode Island Senate made the difference Tuesday, as the Senate Judiciary Committee narrowly approved a bill extending abortion coverage for women receiving Medicaid or who are on the state employee health plan.
Posted inArticle, Health
R.I. lawmakers weigh stricter gun storage requirements
Rhode Island is considering legislation to enact one of the country’s strictest firearms storage laws
Posted inArticle, Criminal Justice, Metro Desk
A Rhode Island rule keeps people on probation stuck in a cycle of reincarceration. A new bill could change that
In Rhode Island, it’s up to judges to decide whether people who violate probation can be released on bail. That rule keeps many people stuck in a cycle of reincarceration, including one woman who spent the last few months of her life in state custody.
Posted inArticle, Education
Brown students who fled from Afghanistan advocate education for girls and women
As part of the largest U.S. airlift in history, Maryam Khademi came face-to-face with the Taliban on August 28, 2021. The scene at Kabul’s airport was chaotic with thousands fleeing the traumatic violence. “They had guns on their shoulders pointed towards us,” said Khademi, now a Brown University student. When she got closer to the […]