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Bishop Bruce Lewandowski led a small crowd of parishioners in reciting a “Rosary of Migration” outside the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls.

Article

Immigration

Providence bishop leads ‘Rosary of Migration’ prayer outside Wyatt Detention Facility

Bishop Bruce Lewandowski led prayers outside the facility that houses some ICE detainees in part to protest the recent killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis

January 12, 2026

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Paul C. Kelly Campos

Big Red is the gallinaceous mascot used to share details about Rhode Island’s state payroll modernization on a state website. After six years of planning, the new software system is off to a rocky start.

Article

Technology

State employee unions demand accountability for paycheck errors amid new software rollout

Complaints pile up as R.I. Department of Administration rolls out new payroll system after six years of planning

January 12, 2026

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Alexander Castro

Technology

January 12, 2026

A police car sits outside the Providence Public Safety Complex on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

Article

News + Culture

Providence police clocked over half a million in overtime costs after Brown shooting

More than 7,250 overtime hours were logged between Dec.13 and Dec. 23 by city police

January 12, 2026

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Christopher Shea

Families leave the Island Oasis with bags of food, clothing and more. The pantry, located inside Middletown High School, has a freezer full of frozen meat and seafood, a fridge with milk and eggs, pantry staples like rice and beans, and plenty of snacks.

Article

Education

Is Rhode Island’s school funding system due for a major overhaul?

An expert commission recommends that the state take on hundreds of millions of dollars in costs currently borne by local school districts

January 12, 2026

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Luis Hernandez

Speaker Joe Shekarchi addresses the General Assembly.

Article

Politics + Justice

TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Jan 9, 2026

Budget uncertainty, high-profile elections and fallout from DC are top of mind as Rhode Island zips into 2026

January 9, 2026

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Ian Donnis

A blue shark swims past a scientist affiliated with the Atlantic Shark Institute during a shark free-diving session.

Article

Climate + Environment

‘Ocean State: Rhode Island’s Wild Coast’ is a ‘love letter’ to the state’s marine life

The new four-part docuseries produced in partnership with Ocean State Media was inspired by a spontaneous Rhode Island snorkeling experience by filmmaker Tomas Koeck

January 8, 2026

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Luis Hernandez

Amy Glidden said that the Rhode Island Transit Riders think staying in Kennedy Plaza would be perfectly fine.

Article

Transportation

RIPTA budget cuts tied to sharp ridership drop, advocates say

Ridership was down across RIPTA’s routes, according to a year-over-year study by the Save RIPTA Coalition

January 8, 2026

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Ben Berke

Ocean State: Rhode Island’s Wild Coast

Ocean State: Rhode Island’s Wild Coast is a four-part Ocean State Media documentary series exploring Rhode Island’s diverse marine habitats, wildlife, and conservation efforts—from the shores of Block Island to the depths of the Atlantic—through stunning cinematography and storytelling by award-winning filmmaker Tomas Koeck.

January 8, 2026

The Superman building in downtown Providence has sat empty since 2013. State legislation headed to the Rhode Island Senate Wednesday would allow the owner to qualify for a sales tax waiver on construction materials.

Article

Politics + Justice

Providence mayor unveils New Year’s resolutions in legislative package

Mayor Brett Smiley will be asking for an increase in the PILOT base rate and a new authority to take over the Crook Point Bridge

January 8, 2026

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Alexander Castro