NEW: Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins says he's going back to the drawing board after the City Council rejected his proposed budget last night. The mayor spoke with @katewilkinson.bsky.social from Texas where he's attending a conference www.wpri.com/news/cransto...

Update: Teamster tells @katewilkinson.bsky.social Cranston initially offered early retirement packages to eligible employees. Now, he said they're offering buyouts to all employees, setting a deadline to respond by week's end www.wpri.com/target-12/te...

While whiskey and beer may be the drinks of choice on St. Patrick’s Day, the Rhode Island Hospitality Association wants bars and restaurants to be able to serve another kind of beverage: drinks containing THC derived from hemp. @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports.

Sparks flew during a March 5 meeting of the Bristol Planning Board as dozens of people came out to oppose a proposed Comfort Inn and Suites. Story by @katewilkinson.bsky.social: ⤵️

22,000 people will receive corrected W-2s after the initial forms listed their employer as "State of Rhode Island Umbrella Company." But when these new forms will be distributed is still unclear, reports @katewilkinson.bsky.social: www.wpri.com/money/all-22...

“I have pride in this," an offshore rigger from Warwick told @katewilkinson.bsky.social on Tuesday. “I want to watch the fruits of my labor decrease the energy costs for my friends and my family.”

Outside Barus and Holley, a memorial to the two Brown University students killed in the Dec. 13 shooting now features hundreds of flowers, teddy bears wearing Brown t-shirts, and countless messages to classmates gone too soon. Story by @KateWilkinson.bsky.social.

Nearly 200 nations gathered in Brazil to discuss the health of the planet at #COP30 — but the only federal representative from the United States present was Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Story by @katewilkinson.bsky.social.

BREAKING: Smithfield's superintendent has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a legal review into how an alleged hazing incident was handled. Details here: https://shorturl.at/0MInq

In a letter to Smithfield Public Schools, the Office of the Attorney General requests all documents, emails and logs related to an antisemitic hazing incident involving several football players. Story by @katewilkinson.bsky.social

Smooth sailing for passengers at TF Green right now despite national concerns about the government shutdown affecting air traffic control. I’ll have what we’re seeing across the country tonight at 4:30/5:30 @wpri12.bsky.social

Mayor Brett Smiley signed an executive order that reaffirms Providence police officers are not immigration officers. The EO also urges *federal authorities* not to wear masks, to clearly ID themselves/their agency. Reporting w/@katewilkinson.bsky.social: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

It's been 24 years since the U.S. was the target of a coordinated terrorist attack that killed thousands. 12 News would like to remember the lives lost, including those from Southern New England. #NeverForget

BREAKING: It's official - Hasbro is moving its HQ out of Pawtucket and going to Boston www.wpri.com/business/has...

Love the answers in today's Rhode Map. A research vessel!?! www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/03/m... @danmcgowan.bsky.social

RI Governor Dan McKee wants Attorney General Pam Bondi to give a specific immigration policy the state needs to change, after DOJ sends letter threatening to take away federal funding www.wpri.com/news/politic... @wpri12.bsky.social

How did RI land on the Trump admin's new list of "sanctuary" states/cities? DOJ won't confirm if it's the policy Chafee adopted after 2014 Morales ruling Gov's office says it got no notice AG: "their words are of no moment to me" (via @katewilkinson.bsky.social)

While Democrats are fighting proposed Medicaid cuts at the federal level, Rhode Islanders are facing their own cuts on the state level due to a change in the program’s income limit. @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports: ⤵️

I got a work Tik Tok to talk about my more in-depth stories. Follow me if you want to see the stories I find interesting. This one required digging through some Rhode Island Revolutionary War History www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjQPLgLf/

“This is the most deliberately damaging bill to the economy and to our health care system that I’ve ever seen." RI Senator Jack Reed responds to Trump's "big beautiful bill" as it heads to the Senate www.wpri.com/news/politic...

With CRMC reform talks underway at the RI State House, homeowners are challenging regulators to keep their seawalls. Full story: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Just got a fun email

An East Prov. woman says she signed a five-year lease for her city-owned rental in 2022. The city says it was never valid. @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports: https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/providence/i-dont-want-to-leave-east-providence-mayor-disabled-woman-in-dispute-over-city-owned-home/ 

An East Providence woman believes her lease for her city-owned rental was called into question because she had repeatedly criticized Mayor Bob DaSilva on social media. The Mayor says he wants to use the home for homeless veterans Full story: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

A chain-link fence with a "no trespassing" sign has gone back up on George Waterman Road in Johnston after the property owners regained control of the lot, @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports.

A new lawsuit accuses Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr., who has said he intends to seize a property slated to become affordable housing through eminent domain, of infringing on the owners' rights. @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports.

BREAKING: A RI federal judge agreed to continue blocking the Trump administration from freezing federal aid to states. "The executive has put itself above Congress," Judge John McConnell wrote. (w/ @elisherman.bsky.social) www.wpri.com/target-12/th...

Bookshelf dilemma: Tracy Deonn just dropped her new book and I LOVE THIS SERIES. But that paperback needs to come out ASAP because I NEED my spines to match 🫢 Do I buy a whole set of hardcovers? Do I buy the kindle? Do I buy the audiobook? Do I wait for my library hold to come in? I’m in shambles

The Maddie Potts Foundation is working with the family of late Chariho soccer coach Michael "Scotty" McGuire to create a scholarship in his memory, “He was just such an empathetic soul,” Stephanie Potts recalled.

Great piece about the real drivers of your energy bill by my colleagues @elisherman.bsky.social @sarahguernelli.bsky.social @katewilkinson.bsky.social - including this chart slicing it up into different components www.wpri.com/target-12/ex...

NEW: Warwick has agreed to a $600,000 settlement in a lawsuit involving a former Water Division employee who accused her former boss and several colleagues of repeated sexual harassment. www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

BTS thoughts: I have never done a 5-person interview before and it is not simple. Thanks to the help of MANY people @wpri12.bsky.social, we got this done in 24 hours 🧵

“This was my dream job.” @alextpnews.bsky.social and @katewilkinson.bsky.social talked with workers at USDA's Warwick office who just lost their jobs as part of the federal job reductions nationwide

NEW: The new RI lead registry shows fewer than 10% of rental properties have been registered. Landlords say the new database appears to have some inaccuracies. Full story: www.wpri.com/health/renta...

A federal judge in Boston has blocked proposed cuts to National Institutes of Health research funding after Brown University and several other institutions sued the Trump administration over the policy. www.wpri.com/news/brown-u... @wpri12.bsky.social

Did some more canvassing of local groups about the state of the federal funding freeze Refugee Dream Center says its funding (via US State Dept) is frozen OSCIL says payment processing is taking way longer 2 community health centers also cite delays

Happy Birthday to one of RI's best musicians: trumpeter Bobby Hackett, born 110 years ago today, who grew up on Atwells Ave - CCRI's theater is named for him Here's Hackett backing up Tony Bennett on "The Very Thought of You," recorded in London in 1966

All it took was one targeted action by ICE for rumors to spread "like a forest fire" in Newport, reports @katewilkinson.bsky.social She talked to a man who said his family's normally busy market was empty on Wednesday: trib.al/xTNdCO4

Did you catch Save The Bay’s executive director Topher Hamblett on WPRI 12 News last night? @wpri12.bsky.social Watch Here: wpri.com/news/local-news/south-county/quidnessett-seawall-proposal-rejected-but-attorney-general-says-reform-is-needed

Minor fact check While @whitehouse.senate.gov did go to law school at UVA with RFK Jr., both Class of '82, and they were friends, they were *not* roommates, according to Whitehouse. Whitehouse says his UVA roommate was the late Michael Kennedy (RFK Jr.'s brother).

Fast facts on federal 💰💰 in RI 37% of the $13.96b state budget is federally funded (or $5.067b) in the current fiscal year Over half of federal funds goes to Medicaid (56% or $2.8b) Other big federal pots are SNAP ($360m) and highway ($347m) h/t RI House Fiscal Office

Will be interesting since Frias is an articulate critic of Shekarchi's housing policy

NEWS: The former Hasbro HQ in downtown Providence will soon be home to administrative offices for RI’s largest employer: Brown University Health. In 2023, Hasbro said the company would exit the space at the end of its lease term in Jan. 2025. www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

I love using libraries as a reporter. Quiet place to work with a free bathroom!

Excellent update on the situation at Brayton Point by my colleague @alextpnews.bsky.social www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

NEW: An RI mother's roughly 7-year legal battle over Trump immigration policies has now ended with a settlement agreement just days before his second inauguration. Full story: tinyurl.com/48ypvprv @wpri12.bsky.social

INBOX: Senate Pres. Dominick Ruggerio and other top Senate Dems issue call for Governor McKee to declare a state of emergency on homelessness Speaker Shekarchi also said McKee should consider a declaration, as have dozens of lawmakers who signed Rep. Tanzi petition All on eve of State of the State

ICE Officials said 28-year-old Leonardo Andujar Sanchez entered the country illegally sometime in the past year and was living in a state-run shelter at a hotel in Revere. @wpri12.bsky.social www.wpri.com/new-england/...

"Seth Magaziner returned to Capitol Hill with some bragging rights from the November election — the Cook Political Report calculated that he improved his margin of victory more than any other member of Congress between 2022 and 2024." Remember Magaziner's warning in September? tinyurl.com/3wyjzw5b

A relic.