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

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276 articles · page 5 of 23
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Federal Judge Quashes DOJ Subpoena for RI Hospital Transgender Youth Records

U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy quashed a Justice Department subpoena demanding sensitive medical records of transgender minors treated at Rhode Island Hospital, ruling the DOJ "misrepresented and withheld information" from the court and acted in bad faith. McElroy found the subpoena lacked congressional authority, was issued for improper purposes, and violated children's constitutional privacy rights. Seven other federal courts have similarly blocked identical DOJ subpoenas nationwide.

golocalprov.comMAY 19, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Community Lawyer Resigns From Providence Police Review Board After Ethics Ruling

Attorney Shannah Kurland resigned from the Providence External Review Authority after the Rhode Island Ethics Commission ruled she was "prohibited by the Code of Ethics from serving" due to a conflict of interest. Kurland regularly represents civil plaintiffs alleging Providence police misconduct, creating a nexus the commission found "too close" to her public duties on the civilian oversight board. The council will seek to fill the vacancy promptly.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
golocalprov.comMAY 19, 2026
CommercePaywall

Urban Planet by Charlotte Russe Opening at Warwick Mall in Late June

Canadian fashion retailer Urban Planet, operating as Urban Planet by Charlotte Russe in U.S. markets, will open a store at Warwick Mall in late June 2026, filling the former Forever 21 space between Torrid and Foot Locker. The store targets ages 16–24 with trendy apparel. The opening represents new retail activity at Rhode Island's largest mall following last year's Forever 21 closure, though details on employment numbers were not disclosed.

providencejournal.comMAY 19, 2026
GovernanceFree press

McKee adds $1.6 million for Newport Hospital birthing center to revised budget amid closure threat

Gov. Dan McKee has added $1.6 million to his fiscal 2027 budget proposal to support Brown University Health's labor-and-delivery unit at Newport Hospital. The funding would come from state settlement funds from the 2024 RIBridges data breach. The budget amendment follows pressure from lawmakers and community advocates after Brown Health suggested it might close the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center due to financial pressures. The hospital later committed to keeping the center open contingent on additional state and philanthropic funding.

rhodeislandcurrent.comMAY 19, 2026
JudiciaryGovernancePaywall

Clergy abuse survivors warn Senate's 'curveball' could thwart revival window bill

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse and attorney Mitchell Garabedian criticized the Senate Judiciary Committee's plan to seek a Supreme Court advisory opinion on the revival window bill, calling it a last-minute maneuver to kill the legislation. Garabedian stated, 'They could have done this months ago. It's just revictimizing sexual abuse victims.' The House passed the bill 68-5 in April after AG Neronha recommended it in his March report on Diocese of Providence abuse.

bostonglobe.comMAY 18, 2026
CommerceFree press

Havoc autonomous systems startup raises $100 million Series A funding

Providence-based autonomous systems startup Havoc closed a $100 million Series A funding round, bringing total capital raised to approximately $200 million since its 2024 founding. The company develops software allowing single operators to coordinate large numbers of autonomous vehicles across sea, air, and land, and has built and deployed over 100 autonomous surface vessels globally.

workboat.comMAY 18, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

DHS general counsel defends criticism of RI judge in Gómez habeas case

Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival published an opinion piece doubling down on criticism of U.S. District Judge Melissa R. DuBose, who released Bryan Rafael Gómez from ICE custody without being informed he faced a homicide warrant in the Dominican Republic. Percival argued DuBose "had no authority" to release Gómez and blamed her "reckless disregard for the law" for the situation. The case has sparked a federal-state jurisdictional dispute and public debate over prosecutorial candor.

bostonglobe.comMAY 17, 2026
CommercePaywall

Providence Schools Face $16.5 Million Deficit, 109 Jobs at Risk Including 67 Teachers

Providence Public Schools is cutting 109 full-time positions, including 67 teachers, to close a $16.5 million budget gap for fiscal year 2027 caused by declining enrollment. The Rhode Island Department of Education cited higher-than-expected service costs and a 9% increase in employee benefits as key factors. Layoff decisions are expected within a week, with June 1 the legal deadline for teacher notifications.

bostonglobe.comMAY 17, 2026
GovernanceOther

Gov. McKee identifies $50M in unanticipated costs offsetting budget surplus

Less than a week after the state identified $233 million in additional revenue, Gov. McKee notified legislative leaders that over $50 million in unforeseen costs must be covered, including $20.9 million for higher K-12 enrollment of students in poverty. The Office of Management and Budget memo also flagged continuing deficits at the Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Department of Behavioral Healthcare with no estimates yet available. McKee argued lawmakers can still expand his 'Affordability for All' tax relief proposals with remaining revenue.

aol.comMAY 17, 2026
CommerceFree press

HopeHealth partners with URI College of Nursing on hospice training program

The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing and HopeHealth hospice and palliative care provider announced a new academic-practice partnership providing students with clinical rotations, advanced practice experiences, and professional development opportunities in hospice and palliative care. The formal program, announced May 7, will host URI nursing students at HopeHealth facilities and support workforce development in specialized end-of-life care within Rhode Island's healthcare sector.

pbn.comMAY 16, 2026
GovernanceFree press

RI lawmakers face decision on how to spend $233M revenue windfall for FY2027

Rhode Island's biannual Revenue and Caseload Estimating Conference identified $233 million in additional revenue for the upcoming two fiscal years—$155 million for the current year and $79 million for fiscal 2027 starting July 1. While the surplus provides cushioning for budget negotiations, lawmakers must balance competing priorities including federal cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs that weren't anticipated in Gov. McKee's original $14.9 billion budget proposal.

rhodeislandcurrent.comMAY 16, 2026
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