Vol. CXXXII · No. CCLXXVISUNDAY, MAY 24, 2026Ocean State Edition

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276 articles · page 3 of 23
JudiciaryGovernancePaywall

RI Judicial Nominating Commission to interview Shekarchi, four others for Supreme Court vacancy

The Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Commission voted unanimously to interview former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and four other applicants—Superior Court Judge Luis Matos, Family Court Judge Laureen D'Ambra, Assistant Attorney General Christopher Bush, and attorney John Roberts—for a state Supreme Court lifetime appointment. Former Common Cause RI director H. Philip West Jr. objected, arguing Shekarchi is ineligible under the state's revolving-door statute barring legislators from judicial appointments for one year after leaving office. Interviews are set for July 28; the commission must submit three to five names to Governor McKee within 90 days of the vacancy.

bostonglobe.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

US District Judge McElroy quashes DOJ subpoena for RI Hospital transgender-youth records, cites deception

US District Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee, issued a scathing opinion quashing a Justice Department administrative subpoena for names and medical records of transgender youth at Rhode Island Hospital. McElroy accused DOJ attorneys of "subterfuge," found a senior DOJ official made statements that were "at best, deceptive, if not intentionally and knowingly false," and wrote that "DOJ has proven unworthy of this trust at every point in this case." The ruling came after the RI Child Advocate filed an emergency motion alleging DOJ forum-shopped the subpoena to a friendly Texas judge while misrepresenting facts to multiple courts.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
erininthemorning.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

First Circuit denies injunction blocking RI Hospital gender-care records release to Texas judge

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block Rhode Island Hospital from turning over anonymized medical records of young gender-dysphoria patients to a federal judge in Northern Texas. The three-judge panel denied the RI Child Advocate's emergency request, finding no irreparable harm since the records would be held by the court—not released to adverse parties—pending appeal. The decision leaves the hospital caught between conflicting federal court orders in Rhode Island and Texas.

providencejournal.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

Superior Court judge rules Newport congregation can remain in Levi Gale House near Touro Synagogue

Newport County Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter issued a 26-page decision allowing Congregation Jeshuat Israel to continue worshiping at the 19th-century Levi Gale House near Touro Synagogue. The ruling rejected claims by Congregation Shearith Israel of New York—owner of the historic synagogue—that it also owns the Gale House. The decision follows an April 2025 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling that permitted Shearith Israel to evict Jeshuat Israel from the synagogue itself, where the group had worshiped for over a century.

bostonglobe.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Senate Judiciary Committee mulls resolution seeking RI Supreme Court advisory opinion on clergy-abuse bill

The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee discussed a resolution that would ask the state Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on the constitutionality of a proposed clergy sexual-abuse "revival window" bill. The bill would reopen expired civil claims against institutions like the Roman Catholic Church. No vote was taken Thursday; Chairman Matthew LaMountain introduced the resolution, while Attorney General Peter Neronha and retired US District Judge William Smith testified urging the Senate to vote on the bill itself rather than seek court advice.

wpri.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

RI Attorney General Neronha announces $25M settlement with Monsanto over PCB contamination

Attorney General Peter Neronha announced a settlement guaranteeing at least $25 million—potentially $62.5 million—with Monsanto Company and affiliates Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC for polluting Rhode Island waterways with toxic PCBs. The pre-litigation settlement resolves claims that Monsanto manufactured and misled the public about polychlorinated biphenyls, which contaminated the Woonasquatucket and Blackstone Rivers, Mashapaug Pond, and Narragansett Bay. Funds will support environmental restoration and remediation.

turnto10.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryGovernancePaywall

RI Senate passes bill reducing misdemeanor maximum sentence by one day to shield immigrants from deportation

The Rhode Island Senate voted 33–5 to pass legislation reducing the maximum misdemeanor sentence from 365 days to 364 days, shielding noncitizens from automatic federal detention or deportation for convictions punishable by a year or more. Sponsored by Senator Jonathan Acosta, the bill now heads to the House, where similar versions have stalled at committee for six years. Eight other states have adopted 364-day caps; the bill is supported by civil liberties and immigration groups.

bostonglobe.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

Kent County Superior Court arraignment: Warwick man pleads not guilty to 17-count drug, weapons indictment

Jason Kahian, 32, pleaded not guilty in Kent County Superior Court to a 17-count indictment stemming from a November bust that uncovered a gun, ammunition, and over 6 kilograms of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Prosecutors sought detention without bail, calling Kahian an "imminent danger," but Superior Court Judge accepted defense arguments and set bail at $350,000 surety. Kahian's doormat reading "Come Back With A Warrant" became a focal point; police already had a warrant when they arrived.

turnto10.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryCommunity

Newport police identify mother's son as prime suspect in Harbor Base Inn homicide, suspect died by suicide

Newport Police identified Bernard Costello, 66, as the primary suspect in the stabbing death of his mother, Terry Costello, 85, found dead in Room 132 of the Harbor Base Inn on May 18. Officers discovered the body while attempting to notify Terry that Bernard had jumped to his death from the Mount Hope Bridge earlier that morning. The State Medical Examiner's Office is conducting an autopsy; police said the case is being investigated as a homicide and believe it was an isolated incident with no public-safety threat.

thenewportbuzz.comMAY 21, 2026
CommerceOther

RI labor market softens in Q1 2026 despite consumer demand, unemployment hits 4.6%

Rhode Island's unemployment rate increased to 4.6% in Q1 2026, the highest since Q3 2021 and exceeding New England and US rates (both 4.3%). Resident employment fell 6,100 jobs year-over-year (1.1%), marking the third consecutive quarterly decline and lowest level since Q1 2023. Labor force participation dropped to 63.5%, down for seven straight quarters. Q4 2025 GDP declined 0.4% annualized, versus growth in New England (0.9%) and nationally (0.5%), according to RIPEC and Bryant University.

ripec.orgMAY 21, 2026
CommerceOther

Ocean State Labs opens as RI's first life sciences startup incubator with Brown backing

Ocean State Labs, Rhode Island's first life sciences startup incubator, officially opened with support from Brown University, the State of Rhode Island, the I-195 Redevelopment District, and L&G Asset Management America. Brown provided 30,000 square feet of leased space valued at $13 million over 10 years. The incubator, located at 150 Richmond Street in Providence and managed by Portal Innovations, offers lab space, infrastructure, operational support, and capital networks to early-stage biotech and medical companies.

pulse2.comMAY 21, 2026
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