Woonsocket Radio News Room

 


WEEKLY MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

 

Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz : It's time to vote on pay raises
When Governor Dan McKee requested pay raises for his cabinet directors for the second time in barely a 6-month span, Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz and Senate Minority Whip Gordon Rogers were quick to respond by calling for an up or down vote by the General Assembly.  Read the full press release here.

WEEKLY  LEGISLATIVE  HIGHLIGHTS

Morgan bill would limit who can mail voters’ mail ballots.
Senator Elaine Morgan (R-Dist. 34, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond, West Greenwich) introduced the legislation (S-0395), ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS – MAIL BALLOTS. The bill Requires that only the mail ballot voter or their spouse/court appointed guardian/cohabitant/or adult person related to the voter by blood or marriage, be allowed to physically mail the voted mail ballot. The bill was referred to Senate Judiciary.  On March 7, the committee recommended the measure be held for further study.

Paolino bill would increase aggregate limit for tax credits.
Senator Thomas Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield) introduced the legislation (S-0267), ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- TAX CREDITS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATIONS.  The legislation would increase the aggregate amount of tax credits for contributions to scholarship organizations to $5,000,000 for 2024.  The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

SESSION  HIGHLIGHTS

The Senate Minority Caucus was excited to welcome Leader Emeritus Dennis L. Algiere back to the Senate chamber on Thursday, March 16, as the General Assembly honored Irish and Italian cultures with their traditional celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day.  The Senate session included an Irish heritage address delivered by former Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey and an Italian heritage address delivered by former Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere. 

Read the Senate Resolution honoring Senator Dennis L. Algiere for his service to the people of the state of Rhode Island here. 

SENATE MINORITY NEWS

The Senate Minority Office extends proud congratulations to Senate Minority Whip Gordon Rogers on his appointment to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Advisory Council. Read full release here.
 

COMMUNITY  ENGAGEMENTS

Senator Anthony DeLuca welcomed students from Tollgate High School in Warwick to visit the Senate Minority Office during their tour of the State House March 16th.  

President Trump is vowing to impose 100-percent tariffs on Russia if there's no peace deal in Ukraine in 50 days. While meeting with the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte [[ RUH-tuh ]], Trump also announced a new deal to sell top of the line weaponry to NATO, including defensive Patriot missiles, meant for distribution in Ukraine. Trump had been blaming "both sides" for the continued war in Ukraine, but lately has been putting most of it on President Putin, adding he thought he had a deal in place about four times.        A deadly fire at a nursing home in Fall River, Massachusetts killed at least nine people and inured dozens more. That's according to the city's fire chief. The blaze was reported Sunday night at the Gabriel House assisted living facility.        Former President Biden says he "made every decision" on his own when defending his use of an autopen while in office. Biden made the comments in an interview with the New York Times. During his final weeks as President, Biden granted clemency and pardoned over 15-hundred people.        The man charged in the June 1st fire attack against a pro-Israeli group has a hearing Tuesday. Mohamed Soliman is accused of killing one person and injuring more than a dozen after throwing Molotov cocktails at a crowd marching in support of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Boulder. The preliminary hearing will determine whether the state has enough evidence to move forward.        A wildfire has destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim in Arizona. The Dragon Bravo Fire has consumed five-thousand acres since lightning started the flames on Independence Day. The lodge originally opened in 1937 and was the only lodging inside the park at the North Rim.        The value of Bitcoin is surging as the House prepares to take up crypto legislation this week. The price of one bitcoin rose to 122-thousand-dollars Monday morning and later fell to around 119-thousand-700-dollars. Bitcoin has been setting new records over the past week with the House poised to move the GENIUS Act, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.       

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