Alexander Castro

What’s inside the Rhode Island Senate’s 2026 health care bill package • Rhode Island Current A 17-bill Rhode Island Senate package for 2026 targets behavioral health crisis care, AI chatbot safeguards, pharmacy benefit managers and the state’s primary care workforce.

The Rhode Island Senate's 17-bill health care package for 2026 is almost double the size of last year’s collection, which sported nine pieces of legislation. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com?p=28932

Lawmakers consider bill that would keep private keys private in Rhode Island • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island lawmakers are again weighing a bill to limit when courts and government agencies can compel disclosure of private keys tied to digital assets, identities and accounts.

For the third consecutive year, Rhode Island lawmakers are considering a bill that would draw firmer boundaries around one of the most sensitive pieces of digital life: private keys. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/09/l...

Maine lobster haul down again in 2025 • Rhode Island Current Maine lobstermen landed 78.8 million pounds in 2025, maintaining the largest fishery in the state, even as the haul is down again from the year before.  According to preliminary data from the Maine De...

Data shows that Maine lobster harvesters took 12,000 fewer fishing trips in 2025 than the year before, an almost 10% decline in fishing effort. Via @mainemorningstar.com rhodeislandcurrent.com/briefs/maine...

Ethics panel sets hearing date as supervisor during infamous Philly trip fights to clear his name • Rhode Island Current The Rhode Island Ethics Commission will hold a rare adjudication hearing on March 17 to publicly litigate findings of probable ethics violations by Jim Thorsen, the state's former director of administ...

Former state administration director Jim Thorsen, who faces up to $52K in fines for ethics violations over the infamous Philly trip scandal, finally gets his day in adjudication before the Rhode Island ethics Commission on March 17. By @nancyklavin.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/02/e...

Lieutenant governor’s race expands as Khamsyvoravong kicks off campaign • Rhode Island Current Newport City Councilor and former mayor Xaykham “Xay” Khamsyvoravong on Monday officially announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor, ending weeks of speculation. His campaign account has the lar...

At-large Newport City Councilor and former mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong intends to focus on strengthening primary health care in Rhode Island in announcing his bid for the lieutenant governor's office. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social

rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/03/02/l...

Rodenticides kill more than rodents. Providence lawmaker sponsors bill to ban their use. There’s more than one way to poison a rat.But not all poisons are created equal, and some of the most popular rodenticides can wreak havoc higher up the food chain, killing the birds and mammals that…

There’s more than one way to poison a rat.

But not all poisons are created equal, and some of the most popular rodenticides can wreak havoc higher up the food chain, killing the birds and mammals that feast upon vermin.

via @rhodeislandcurrent.com

Hasbro shareholders drop suit alleging toymaker overprinted Magic: The Gathering card sets • Rhode Island Current Two Hasbro shareholders have voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit in Rhode Island federal court which accused executives of misleading investors about Magic: The Gathering printing and overproduction. The…

ICYMI: Case brought by Hasbro shareholders against company executives for alleged overprinting of Magic: The Gathering cards was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it can be refiled again. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/23/h...

RI Supreme Court lets municipalities off the hook for cost of some students in residential care • Rhode Island Current A 3-1 Rhode Island Supreme Court decision in favor of Cumberland and Newport settles a seven-year dispute over the interpretation of a state law amended 25 years ago governing the financial responsibi...

RI Supreme Court lets municipalities off the hook for cost of some students in residential care rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/24/r...

37.9(!) at TF Green
Over 3 feet

www.providencejournal.com/live-story/w...

Reading Across Rhode Island 2026: ‘This story reminded me why I love books.’ • Rhode Island Current “Happy Land,” Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s historical fiction novel tracing an African American community in the hills of western North Carolina, is the 2026 statewide read for Reading Across Rhode Island w...

Good day to read.... Reading Across Rhode Island 2026: ‘This story reminded me why I love books.’ HAPPY LAND author Dolen Perkins-Valdez interviewed right here by @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/12/r...

FM buys IGT building in downtown Providence for $68.5M • Rhode Island Current Johnston-based insurance giant FM is buying the downtown Providence building that houses the state’s lottery contractor formerly known as IGT, Fidelity Investments Inc. and The Capital Grille. The 202...

One of the state’s top employers, with a 1,500-person workforce housed mostly at its 8-acre campus in Johnston, is expanding into downtown Providence. By @nancyklavin.bsky.social

rhodeislandcurrent.com/briefs/fm-bu...

Providence rent stabilization plan draws standing room only crowd at first public hearing • Rhode Island Current Tenants, landlords, and Providence city officials on Wednesday night debated costs and consequences of a proposed rent stabilization ordinance that would cap annual rent increases at 4% during a heari...

For over five and a half hours Wednesday night, fans and foes of a Providence ordinance that would cap rent increases at 4% annually sparred passionately during the first public hearing on the matter at City Hall. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/19/p...

Pawtucket police chief asks for respect for family after tragedy at ice rink • Rhode Island Current With a large contingent of state and local elected officials standing by, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves Tuesday released the names of the mother and son killed in the shooting at an ice rink i...

Pawtucket police chief offers update on hockey rink shooting; governor announces online mental health hub with resources for domestic violence and suicide prevention. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social and @krish-eh.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/17/p...

Auditors showed up unannounced at 3 independent pharmacies. This RI law was ready for them. • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha used the newly strengthened Pharmacy Audit Act to halt unannounced on-site audits by Prime Therapeutics at three independent pharmacies in the state, after ...

The office of RI AG @peterneronha.bsky.social stepped in to crack down on PBMs that don’t follow the rules under an updated state law. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/16/a...

Smiley releases ‘full and complete response’ to flood of records requests on Brown shooting • Rhode Island Current Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said Monday that bodycam video, audio files, fire and police incident reports, and logs of phone calls now posted on the city’s website will be the final collection of re...

A spokesperson for Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said the city had 67 requests for public records related to the shooting — “the highest volume of requests the City has received for a single event during the Smiley Administration.” By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/09/s...

Beacon Mutual hit by ransomware attack • Rhode Island Current The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, a state vendor and major provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Rhode Island, has confirmed it was the victim of a cyberattack in January.

Beacon Mutual Insurance Company in Warwick says its live systems remain safe from harm as investigation into potential data affected by January cyberattack continues. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/05/b...

Shareholders sue Hasbro over allegedly printing too many Magic: The Gathering cards • Rhode Island Current Two Hasbro shareholders claim the Pawtucket-based toy giant printed too much product for its most lucrative holding, the trading card game Magic: The Gathering, while misrepresenting its strategy, acc...

ICYMI: Two Hasbro shareholders are claiming the Pawtucket-based toy giant printed too much product for its most lucrative holding: Magic cards. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/30/s...

McKee’s proposed FY2027 budget drops GLP-1 drugs for weight loss from Medicaid • Rhode Island Current Gov. Dan McKee’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget would remove GLP-1 drugs from Rhode Island’s Medicaid formulary for weight loss, saving $6.3 million in general revenue. Coverage of the drugs for wei...

McKee’s proposed FY2027 budget drops GLP-1 drugs for weight loss from Medicaid rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/27/m...

Rhode Island releases its roadmap for AI. Some boundaries have yet to be drawn. • Rhode Island Current The Governor’s AI Task Force on Wednesday released its first report offering a blueprint for how Rhode Island can stay competitive and use artificial intelligence responsibly and wisely.

In new report released Wednesday, the Governor’s AI Task Force recommends forming cross-industry and cross-region partnerships and an AI for Rhode Island virtual and physical hub. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/28/r...

Rhode Island arts council approves nearly $2.75 million in cultural facilities grants from 2024 bond • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island’s state arts council is awarding $2.75 million in matching cultural facilities grants to 17 arts and culture organizations, with funding from a $10 million bond voters approved in Novembe...

Accessibility and safety upgrades and even some new masonry and roofing will be among the facility improvements arts and culture organizations will be able to make this year thanks to Rhode Island voters.
rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/21/r...

Ready or not, the Providence City Council is pursuing rent stabilization • Rhode Island Current The Providence City Council’s much-anticipated measure to regulate apartment prices has finally entered into public view, two days ahead of its formal introduction at Thursday's upcoming council meeti...

ICYMI: Rent stabilization? Rent control? Whatever name you choose for the Providence City Council’s much-anticipated measure to regulate apartment prices, the ordinance has finally entered into public view. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/20/r...

Under a federal buzzsaw, McKee pitches affordability in nearly $15 billion budget • Rhode Island Current Helping Rhode Islanders afford health insurance, home energy bills and child care is an expensive proposition: nearly $15 billion in fiscal 2027 under Gov. Dan McKee’s budget proposal unveiled on Thur...

McKee's record-high proposed FY27 state budget taxes millionaires but offers aid for health insurance, energy bills and child care. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/15/u...

US Education secretary promotes returning school autonomy to states • Rhode Island Current U.S. Secretary of Education visited high school students in West Greenwich on her tour emphasizing what public education funding and regulation might look like once transformed by President Donald Tru...

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon makes pitstop in politically friendly West Greenwich on her ‘Returning Education to the States Tour.’ By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/12/u...

State employee unions demand accountability for paycheck errors amid new software rollout • Rhode Island Current After a rocky first month for the state’s new payroll software, Rhode Island state employee unions are calling for the General Assembly’s oversight committees to hold hearings on complaints ranging fr...

Complaints pile up as R.I. Department of Administration rolls out new payroll system after six years of planning. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/09/s...

Providence mayor unveils New Year's resolutions in legislative package • Rhode Island Current Mayor Brett Smiley’s 2026 legislative package focuses on financial stability, local control of schools, housing, traffic enforcement, and the Crook Point Bridge.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley will be asking the General Assembly for an increase in the PILOT base rate and a new authority to take over the Crook Point Bridge, among other wish list items. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/07/p...

Legislative leaders call for collaboration and inclusion as 2026 session begins • Rhode Island Current While uncertainty over federal funding for Rhode Island looms, the first day of the 2026 legislative session saw leaders of both chambers recognize the need to heal after the mass shooting at Brown Un...

Budget uncertainty, fate of hospitals and healing after Brown tragedy will test General Assembly over the next six months. We bring you coverage from the first day of the 2026 legislative session. By @nancyklavin.bsky.social & @krish-eh.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/06/l...

Suspected Brown mass shooter found dead in N.H. storage facility; linked to MIT physicist’s killing • Rhode Island Current Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the former Brown University student responsible for a fatal shooting in Providence Saturday, was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, shortly before 9 p....

“We got him.” Suspected Brown mass shooter, also suspect in MIT physicist’s killing, found dead in New Hampshire storage facility. By @nancyklavin.bsky.social and @ohnocastro.bsky.social rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/18/p...

Suspected Brown mass shooter found dead in N.H. storage facility; linked to MIT physicist’s killing • Rhode Island Current Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the former Brown University student responsible for a fatal shooting in Providence Saturday, was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, shortly before 9 p....

Suspected Brown mass shooter found dead in N.H. storage facility; linked to MIT physicist’s killing rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/18/p...

‘We have not yet solved this case.’ Officials say person of interest to be released. • Rhode Island Current Officials say the man detained after the Brown University shooting will be released as police and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha seek more video evidence and leads.

Late Sunday night surprise...‘We have not yet solved this case.’ Officials say person of interest to be released. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/w...

Police withhold details on Brown mass shooting suspect; investigators search Coventry hotel • Rhode Island Current Providence police and federal agents searched a Coventry hotel Sunday as investigators build a case in the Brown University mass shooting that killed two and injured nine.

Police withhold details on Brown mass shooting suspect; investigators search Coventry hotel rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/p...