RIDE Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said Mayor Brett Smiley and the Providence School Board have been asking to regain control of the district for years... and a return to local control this July shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. More --> www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

Providence School Board tabled a vote on a transition proposal for PPSD, following news that RIDE's Education Commissioner wants to end the state takeover on July 1. President Ty'Relle Stephens said he heard this less than an hour before the meeting. www.wpri.com/target-12/rh... @wpri12.bsky.social

BREAKING: RIDE just sent me this letter from R.I. Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green... she will be submitting her recommendation to RI K-12 Council to for a full return of PPSD to local control on July 1, 2026... in 42 days. w/ @elisherman.bsky.social www.wpri.com/target-12/rh...

It's been a busy news week for Providence Public Schools. Tonight, the Senate Education Committee will consider legislation that aims to improve the PPSD once local control is restored and end the state takeover that's been in place since 2019. www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

NEW: And just like that, it’s over. Former Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau, who was convicted of bribery, said Wednesday he is withdrawing from his short-lived campaign for general treasurer www.wpri.com/target-12/5-...

I spoke with Mayor Brett Smiley, Gov. Dan McKee and RIDE Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green about PPSD return to local control talks...plus legislation in the General Assembly that, if passed, would end the state takeover on June 30. Video & Story: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

DEVELOPING: Gov. Dan McKee spox says “the time has come" to return Providence Schools back to local control. Documents suggest RIDE's Ed Commissioner wants to begin a transition this year that would end the takeover *next* June. What we know: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

The Providence City Council failed to do override Mayor Brett Smiley's veto of rent control in a 9-1 in vote. A total of 10 votes were needed, and only 10 councilors attended. More tonight at 10 & 11 on @wpri12.bsky.social and in the story below: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Here's the breakdown of tonight's vote. Background: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

On tonight's rent control vote, Mayor Brett Smiley tells me: "I look forward to working alongside the City Council in the months and years ahead to address the root cause of the housing shortage so that we can tangibly lower the cost of rent for all of our neighbors." @wpri12.bsky.social

BREAKING: With one final chance to override Mayor Brett Smiley's veto of a controversial rent control ordinance, the Providence City Council failed to do so in a 9-1 in vote. Developing story here: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

UPDATE: ONLY 10 councilors are in attendance at the vote tonight. 5 of the 6 councilors who oppose rent control are not in attendance. Only Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, who voted no last month, is in attendance. www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

UPDATE: Councilman John Goncalves, who has been eyed as a councilor that could flip his no vote on rent control to yes, is NOT attending tonight's override vote "due to a personal conflict and prior out-of-state commitment." Background: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

A crucial vote that could override Mayor Brett Smiley’s veto of rent stabilization is set to happen at 6 PM. I’m here and will bring you updates on @wpri12.bsky.social tonight! Background: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

PROVIDENCE MAYORAL RACE: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed @davidmoralespvd.bsky.social as part of a nationwide endorsement of five dozen progressives running for office. Morales faces incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley in the Democratic primary. www.wpri.com/news/electio... @wpri12.bsky.social

A total of 10 votes, or a supermajority, are needed to reverse Mayor Brett Smiley's veto of a controversial rent control ordinance. It's still not clear if the Providence City Council has the votes to do so Friday night. Story at 6 on @wpri12.bsky.social MORE: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

BREAKING: RI's brand-new House speaker is going to file a bill to create an inspector general as his first major legislation Blazejewski's move could ensure the IG's office will be established after years of debate - he sat down with me to explain why www.wpri.com/news/politic...

VIDEO + STORY: Four terminated Pawtucket firefighters caught up in drug investigation will get their jobs back, including one who will get a promotion. Chief Goncalves was disappointed with an arbitrator's ruling. Union declined to comment. MORE: www.wpri.com/target-12/pa... @wpri12.bsky.social

VIDEO + STORY: An internal affairs investigation is underway after a video showed Providence police punching a man they placed in handcuffs last month. More from my interview with William Mitchell, the man in the video, here --> www.wpri.com/target-12/vi... @wpri12.bsky.social

NEW: Cranston’s budget fight is escalating. Mayor Ken Hopkins now wants to eliminate senior services and cut new school funding to bring a proposed tax hike down to 4%. Opponents say the city’s seniors are being used as leverage www.wpri.com/target-12/cr...

NEW: More than 100 staff positions in the Providence Public School District -- a majority of which are teachers -- are on the chopping block in the upcoming fiscal year. More: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

INBOX: Providence City Council President Rachel Miller says the council WILL hold a vote to try and override Mayor Brett Smiley’s veto on rent control. Happening on an unusual Friday night, two days before the deadline. Background: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

Prosecutors dismissed a DUI charge against a man who police said previously hit and killed a woman while driving a snow plow in 2024. His lawyer tells Target 12: “The state concluded... the evidence was insufficient to prosecute the case further." www.wpri.com/target-12/sn... @wpri12.bsky.social

An Ethics Complaint has been filed in former-Speaker Joe Shekarchi's bid to become a state Supreme Court justice. @rwulaw.bsky.social Prof. @mjyelnosky.bsky.social argues it would violate the state's revolving-door law. www.wpri.com/target-12/la...

Story updated with new video. Hear more from this interview my colleague Lauren Brill got in here: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

NEW: Inside the rise of Chris Blazejewski, the man poised to become the next House speaker of Rhode Island. My latest👇 www.wpri.com/target-12/wh...

Providence City Council said the city has filed its first-ever enforcement action against a Boston-based private equity firm they allege is in violation of using software to drive up rent prices. One tenant said she is now planning to move out. www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

DEVELOPING -- The Providence School Board will consider and vote on the superintendent’s recommendation to terminate nine employment contracts of various high-level administrators, including several assistant principals. www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

TARGET 12: The second and final campaign worker involved in the signature scandal that derailed Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos’ congressional campaign in 2023 was spared prison time after changing his plea. www.wpri.com/target-12/fo... @wpri12.bsky.social

UPDATE: A man accused of assault and battery in Worcester who authorities said was also facing a murder charge in the DR has been ordered taken back into custody. The judge also referred the matter to a disciplinary committee hearing. MORE: www.wpri.com/news/immigra... @wpri12.bsky.social

Would you buy your groceries at Providence Place? One of the mall's new owners wants to bring a supermarket into the shopping complex and said he has his eye on Costco. MORE: www.wpri.com/business-new... @wpri12.bsky.social

Eight years on your TVs in Rhode Island today.

If you didn't already understand just how busy Providence will be this summer... Providence ACT Director Joe Wilson Jr. explains why pretty well. STORY: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

A Target 12 analysis found that more than two thirds of homicide cases in Providence have been solved in the last decade. I sat down with Col. Oscar Perez to talk about this, the decline in murders and other challenges facing the department. MORE: www.wpri.com/target-12/cr... @wpri12.bsky.social

Story coming up tonight at 5 on @wpri12.bsky.social

INBOX: Michael English has dropped out of the race for Providence mayor, citing “worsening personal health issues .” @wpri12.bsky.social

NOW: Mayor Brett Smiley has formally launched his reelection campaign. www.wpri.com/news/electio... @wpri12.bsky.social

Here is a list of the seven bridges that will need to be reinspected, per RIDOT. We also confirmed there are 94 bridges across Rhode Island that are listed in poor condition. Background: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Here is a list of the seven bridges that will need to be reinspected, per RIDOT. We also confirmed there are 94 bridges across Rhode Island that are listed in poor condition. @timwhiteri.bsky.social has more coming up at 6 on @wpri12.bsky.social Background: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

INBOX: Speaker Shekarchi & SenPrez Lawson issue joint statement about Rte 10 on-ramp structural failure, saying they'll talk to the governor and be "discussing next steps," tho no suggestion so far of additional RIDOT oversight www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Drone shots by our @wpri12.bsky.social photog Kyle Kane give a better sense of the damage from last night's structural failure at the Route 10 on-ramp. This was today, after the debris had been removed from the train tracks. www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

UPDATE: The first public hearing to weigh in on Mayor Brett Smiley's proposed budget is set to take place on Monday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. Written testimony can be submitted by no later than 3:00 p.m. on May 1. Background: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

STORY: The new committee that now oversees the city’s budget review process kicked off its work last night, one week after Mayor Brett Smiley submitted his $635 million proposal. www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

Councilman Miguel Sanchez has been voted Chair of the new Special Ways and Means Committee, and Councilman James Taylor has been nominated the Vice Chair. Background: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

Attorneys for an embattled scrap metal yard asked a judge to dismiss a two-year-old complaint against the business. A Mayor Brett Smiley spox tells me they're not backing down in the fight against RI Recycled Metals. www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

A new committee will vet Mayor Brett Smiley's $635 million budget proposal this year, taking control away from Finance Committee Chair, Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan. MORE: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

Brown University has shared plans for a new economics building on Brook Street, but the project has drawn the ire of some residents and city leaders who argue it would have negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. More at 4:30 on @wpri12.bsky.social www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Days after Mayor Brett Smiley vetoed the City Council's rent control ordinance, State Rep. David Morales (who is running for mayor) joined supporters of the measure and urged six councilmembers who voted against it to change their votes. www.wpri.com/news/electio... @wpri12.bsky.social

NEW: Ken Block campaign poll gives us first look at the general election for RI gov Foulkes leads Block by most, tho the margin is a tie (and McKee trails) when voters hear Block's case, per poll by Charlie Baker's former campaign manager Foulkes & McKee teams quick to recall Block's GOP days

Councilman Justin Roias is opening an event held by Providence mayoral candidate State Rep. David Morales in response to Mayor Brett Smiley vetoing the City Council’s rent control ordinance. “Mayor Brett Smiley needs to understand that we are done waiting,” Roias said. @wpri12.bsky.social