Vol. CXXXII · No. CDLXXXIXSATURDAY, JULY 11, 2026Ocean State Edition

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489 articles · page 27 of 41
JudiciaryFree press

RI federal court appoints special counsel to probe DOJ lawyer over concealed warrant

The U.S. District Court in Rhode Island appointed Roger Williams law professor Niki Kuckes as special counsel to investigate Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Bolan for possible misconduct after he hid a murder warrant from Judge Melissa DuBose during an immigration detainee's habeas proceedings. Bolan admitted ICE instructed him not to disclose the Dominican Republic homicide charge. Meanwhile, Bryan Rafael Gómez, the detainee ordered released and then re-detained, remains at large.

oceanstatemedia.orgMAY 10, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

RI judge says US Attorney's Office committed 'massive breach' of trust in ICE case

U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose told Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Bolan during a Monday hearing that his office's failure to disclose a murder warrant for an ICE detainee constituted a 'massive breach' of court trust. Bolan said ICE instructed him not to confirm or deny the warrant's existence until international authorization was secured. DuBose is moving forward with a formal disciplinary referral to the court's full disciplinary committee to ensure the issue is fully investigated.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
bostonglobe.comMAY 10, 2026
JudiciaryGovernancePaywall

Law professor files ethics complaint over Shekarchi's Supreme Court bid

Roger Williams law professor Michael Yelnosky filed an ethics complaint with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission alleging former House Speaker Joe Shekarchi's application for a Supreme Court seat violates the state's 'revolving door' law. The statute bars elected officials from seeking state employment for one year after leaving office. Shekarchi contends the Supreme Court is a constitutional office exempt from the prohibition. The Ethics Commission is expected to conduct a preliminary review on June 2.

bostonglobe.comMAY 10, 2026
JudiciaryCommunity

Child Advocate seeks emergency block of federal subpoena for minors' medical records

The Rhode Island Child Advocate filed an emergency motion to quash a DOJ subpoena demanding sensitive private medical records of minor patients who received treatment for gender dysphoria at Rhode Island Hospital. The motion, filed by attorneys from the Lawyers' Committee for Rhode Island and ACLU, argues the subpoena is an 'unprecedented intrusion' that violates children's constitutional privacy rights. The subpoena was both filed and approved on the same day by a Texas federal judge, without opportunity for response.

riaclu.orgMAY 10, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

Former Matos campaign worker pleads no contest in signature scandal, avoids prison

Christopher Cotham, 47, pleaded no contest to two felony counts of violating nomination papers and two misdemeanor counts after admitting he fabricated voter signatures for Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos' 2023 congressional campaign. He was sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation at Providence Superior Court. Cotham told state police he was paid $2 per signature and admitted looking up names and addresses online, then forging signatures — some of deceased voters. A co-defendant, Holly McClaren, also pleaded no contest last year.

wpri.comMAY 10, 2026
CommerceGovernanceFree press

RI Commerce Corporation opens satellite office at Innovate Newport

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation will open a satellite office at Innovate Newport to expand access to business services across Aquidneck Island and Greater Newport. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for May 11 at 513 Broadway, with remarks from Mayor Charles Holder, RI Commerce President Jim Bennett, and Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce President Erin Donovan-Boyle. Bennett said the office will help Commerce serve businesses in the area and strengthen partnership with the Chamber.

whatsupnewp.comMAY 10, 2026
CommerceFree press

Aspen Aerogels to reopen East Providence plant after explosion

Manufacturing facility Aspen Aerogels plans to gradually reopen its East Providence plant in May following an April explosion in a high-temperature oven that injured 11 employees. According to an SEC filing, the company is working with local, state, and federal agencies to conduct mechanical, operational, and safety reviews before resuming operations. The final timeline depends on clearance from relevant authorities.

turnto10.comMAY 10, 2026
CommerceGovernanceFree press

RI House passes legislation creating employee ownership transition center

Rhode Island lawmakers are advancing legislation to create a Rhode Island Center for Employee Ownership to help businesses transition to employee ownership models. The center would connect sellers and employees to financing pathways, valuation expertise, and technical support. White Electric Coffee in Providence, which shifted to employee ownership in 2021, said the center could help smooth out uncertainty in the transition process and make it more accessible to small businesses.

pbn.comMAY 10, 2026
CommerceFree press

Block Island's Harborside Inn breaks ground after 2023 fire

State and local officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Harborside Inn on Block Island. The iconic landmark was destroyed by fire on Aug. 19, 2023, and demolished weeks later. The new 22,000 square-foot hotel is expected to be built with 32 rooms, replacing the facility that was deemed a total loss.

pbn.comMAY 10, 2026
GovernanceFree press

Attorney General Neronha proposes legislation to address healthcare crisis in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced a group of legislative proposals on May 7 aimed at addressing the state's healthcare crisis. The proposals focus on lowering prescription drug costs, ensuring hospital stability, and preventing anti-competitive practices by pharmacy benefit managers. Neronha emphasized the need for comprehensive reform to improve healthcare affordability and accessibility for Rhode Islanders.

pbn.comMAY 10, 2026
GovernanceFree press

Sen. Euer files bill to cap utility capital spending hikes, shield ratepayers from lobbying costs

Sen. Dawn Euer introduced legislation that would limit annual increases to a utility's infrastructure, safety, and reliability capital improvement plan to no more than 3% of the five-year average. The bill, 2026-S 2779, would also block utilities from recovering legal and administrative costs tied to rate cases or ISR proceedings from ratepayers. Euer argues the current framework incentivizes utilities to spend aggressively on capital projects to generate shareholder profits.

whatsupnewp.comMAY 10, 2026
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