Search - Ocean State Media

Article

Health

Three Rhode Island Health Insurers Pay Over $1 Million in Fines for Lapses in COVID Coverage

June 13, 2025

·

Alexander Castro

The damaged Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown is shown on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the date of a devastating fire believed to have been accidental.

Article

Community

Lawmakers Approve Outdoor Dining Change to Help Matunuck Oyster Bar After Devastating Fire

June 13, 2025

·

Nancy Lavin

Both chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly approved increasing the state’s minimum wage by a dollar a year through 2027, voting mostly along party lines.

Article

Economy

Rhode Island General Assembly Backs Hourly Minimum Wage Hike to $16 in 2026, Then $17 in 2027

Under newly passed legislation, the state’s minimum wage will rise by $2 over two years, as Democrats tout a “measured approach” amid pushback from business groups and Republican lawmakers

June 13, 2025

·

Nancy Lavin

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., leaves the chamber as Republican senators meet to find a way to help President Donald Trump cancel $9.4 billion in spending already approved by Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Article

Politics & Justice

House Approves Trump’s Request to Cut Funding for NPR, PBS and Foreign Aid

The vote was 214-212

June 12, 2025

·

Kevin Freking

Article

Washington Bridge

Contractors Say State Hid Decades-Old Warnings About Washington Bridge Defects

Barletta and Aetna, sued over the bridge’s emergency closure, claim Rhode Island failed to disclose a 1992 report that flagged serious structural concerns—raising new questions about RIDOT’s oversight

June 12, 2025

·

Jeremy Bernfeld

Karen Read, who is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022, during her murder trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.

Article

News + Culture

Defense Rests Case in Second Trial of Karen Read for Boston Police Officer Boyfriend’s Death

June 12, 2025

·

Patrick Whittle

An entrance to the Arizona PBS offices in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix is photographed, May 2, 2025.

Article

News + Culture

House Will Vote on Trump’s Request to Cut Funding for NPR, PBS and Foreign Aid

Republicans aim to rescind $9.4 billion in previously approved spending, targeting public broadcasting and foreign aid, as part of a broader push to align with Trump’s “America First” agenda and showcase fiscal discipline

June 12, 2025

·

Kevin Freking

Article

Arts & Entertainment

How a Rhode Island Artist Turned Local Maps and Laser Engraving Into Viral Ornament Art

From bathymetric maps of hidden bays to a Washington Bridge detour ornament that took the internet by storm, Coastal Carve Engravings is blending storytelling, humor, and community in every carved creation

June 12, 2025

·

Dewey Raposo

Sports

Rhode Island High School Grads Shine in Sports, Leadership and Legacy in Class of 2025

From championship tennis dynasties in Barrington and La Salle to Moses Brown’s standout field hockey captain, these inspiring graduation stories highlight the passion and promise of Rhode Island’s newest alumni

June 12, 2025

·

Mike Szostak

Article

Health

Centurion Pushes Forward With Bond Sale to Acquire Rhode Island Hospitals Amid Market Uncertainty

Despite delays and investor hesitation, the nonprofit remains committed to financing its $160 million takeover of Roger Williams and Fatima hospitals — a deal state leaders say is critical to avoiding a health care crisis

June 12, 2025

·

Ian Donnis