Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

STATE HOUSE — Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease

 

 

§  Shekarchi re-elected Speaker; lists housing, homelessness as top priorities

Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) was re-elected to lead the House of Representatives as the 2023-2024 term began. He outlined a legislative agenda topped by addressing the state’s affordable housing and homelessness crises, and pledged to continue fostering a collaborative spirit in the House and state government, to spend state resources prudently and to renew the push to make Rhode Island a hub for bioscience and green industries.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate President Ruggerio re-elected; lays out legislative priorities for 2023
Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) was once again chosen to preside over the Senate for its 2023 legislative session, laying out the agenda for the year including ensuring a quality education for every student, ensuring every Rhode Islander can access health care, ensuring that children inherit a cleaner, more resilient environment, ensuring that small businesses can create jobs and thrive, continuing to strengthen and expand early childhood care and education, reviewing the education funding formula, addressing the mental health crisis, taking action to replace all of Rhode Island’s lead pipes, continuing to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to safe and affordable housing.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Whip Kazarian introduces Equality in Abortion Coverage Act

House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence) has introduced the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act. The legislation would ensure that individuals on Medicaid and state health insurance plans have coverage for abortion procedures. The bill would add Rhode Island to the ranks of 16 states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine, whose Medicaid programs cover abortion.

Click here to see news release

 

§  Sen. Acosta and Rep. Felix elected co-chairs of R.I. Black and Latino Caucus

Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket) and Rep. Leonela Felix (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket) have been elected as the co-chairs of the Rhode Island Legislative Black and Latino Caucus by their fellow caucus members.  The previous chair was Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket).

Click here to see news release.

 

§  General Assembly honors late Gov. Lincoln C. Almond
The House and the Senate honored former Gov. Lincoln C. Almond, who passed away Jan. 2 at age 86. Almond, a Republican, served as governor from 1995 to 2003. He championed public education at all levels and is remembered by lawmakers for working with them in a bipartisan fashion. 

Click here to see resolution.

 

Former President Trump returns to court in New York City this morning for his criminal hush money trial. Jurors will again hear testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker who has explained this week how he protected Trump from negative stories leading up to the 2016 presidential election while smearing Trump's opponents. Also today, former President Trump's claim that he can't face prosecution for anything done while in the Oval Office if he's not first impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate goes before the Supreme Court.        Arizona's House of Representatives has voted to repeal a Civil War-era abortion law. State Democrats successfully pushed through a bill that repeals the 1864 that banned nearly all abortions. The bill now heads to the state Senate where it is expected to be passed early next month. The Arizona Supreme Court revived the law earlier this month with it set to go into effect as early as June.        Dozens of people have been arrested following a protest at UT Austin. People gathered on the South Lawn yesterday to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza. Students were told to walk out of class by the Palestinian Solidarity Committee of Austin. By the time it was said and done, 34 arrests were made.        President Biden's campaign will continue to use TikTok despite the recent bill that could lead to its ban. On Wednesday, the President signed a foreign aid package that also laid the groundwork to ban TikTok in the U.S. The same day, a Biden campaign official told reporters that TikTok is still "one of many places we're making sure our content is being seen by voters."        A reported associate of Sean "Diddy" Combs is pleading not guilty to drug possession in a Florida court. Brendan Paul was charged yesterday in Miami with felony cocaine possession. The former Syracuse basketball player was arrested last month on the same day federal agents raided two of the music mogul's homes.        Teen births in the U.S. are at a record low. A new report from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics says about three-a-half-million teen births were recorded in the U.S. in 2023. That's down two percent from the year before, and follows a general decline in teen births over the past ten years.        

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