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Providence Mayor Brett Smiley vetoed an ordinance capping annual rent increases at 4%, calling rent control ineffective after the City Council passed it for the second time. The veto sets up an override attempt requiring 10 of 15 council votes, with supporters currently holding nine. Smiley argues rent control does not lower rents and could worsen housing shortages, urging proven solutions instead.
Rhode Island has selected Family Service of Rhode Island to operate a new 16-bed residential behavioral treatment center for teen girls ages 13-18 in Exeter under a $9.8 million first-year contract. The South County Academy is expected to open by fall and will serve girls with complex behavioral health needs including trauma, self-injury, eating disorders, and substance abuse. The facility will employ 60 full-time staff, with Family Service renting the state-owned building for $1.
A state panel voted to authorize campus police at Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island to carry firearms. The decision represents a policy change for the two public higher education institutions, whose security officers previously operated unarmed. The authorization requires approval from institutional leadership and additional training protocols before implementation.
U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit demanding Rhode Island's voter registration rolls, ruling that federal voter registration laws do not authorize a "fishing expedition" by the Trump administration. McElroy found that the Attorney General's stated purpose—to ensure compliance with voter registration laws—does not plausibly relate to individual voting rights. The ruling comes amid similar challenges to DOJ voter-roll demands in other states.
The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission suspended its retail license lottery after U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose issued an April 8 order temporarily halting the process. Three federal lawsuits challenge the state's requirement that all cannabis license holders be majority owned by Rhode Island residents, arguing it violates the Dormant Commerce Clause. DuBose found plaintiffs likely to succeed on the merits. The commission is appealing and legal strategy remains confidential as litigation continues.
LRT Company fully subscribed its $20.55 million Delaware statutory trust offering for a 50-year triple net ground lease on 14 acres in Coventry. The site will host Tiffany Laurel Reserve, a 204-unit senior housing campus with independent living, assisted living, and memory care. The project includes low-income units and is expected to total 157,000 square feet with structured parking.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit demanding detailed voter registration information from Rhode Island, ruling federal law does not permit 'the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here.' The Trump administration had sought unredacted voter rolls including partial Social Security numbers and driver's license data. The decision follows similar rejections in California, Michigan, Oregon, and Massachusetts, marking the fifth consecutive court loss for DOJ in its nationwide voter data collection campaign.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit seeking unredacted voter data from Rhode Island, calling the DOJ's effort a "fishing expedition" with no plausible factual basis. The ruling marks the fifth consecutive judicial defeat nationwide for the DOJ's voter-data demands. Secretary of State Gregg Amore, represented by AG Peter Neronha, said the decision reaffirms state authority over voter file privacy.
Rhode Island Family Court Judge Felix Gill denied Scott Naso's motion to suspend a trial over grandparents' visitation rights, ruling the state statute is "narrowly tailored" and does not violate parental constitutional rights. Gill also excluded a key witness for the grandparents after she violated the court's sequestration order. The trial, which began in October, has now spanned 16 days in Kent County Family Court.
U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose (D.R.I.) issued a preliminary injunction halting DOJ restrictions on Office of Justice Programs grants that would have barred domestic-violence organizations from serving undocumented immigrants. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence spearheaded a multi-state suit challenging the funding conditions imposed in January 2026. Plaintiff groups call the injunction a temporary victory pending permanent relief.
Nelson Reyes Luciano, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy to 78 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Reyes Luciano shipped 10 parcels of narcotics from California to a Providence co-conspirator's home; law enforcement recovered drugs, scales, presses, and packaging materials during a search warrant execution.
