Rhode Island Current

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday said he will nominate Erica Schwartz, who served in the president’s first administration, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a seat left vacant for months after his last director said she was ousted in a rift over childhood vaccines. Trump announced his new pick on his social media platform, Truth Social, touting Schwartz’s career as a medical doctor with the U.S. armed forces. “She is a STAR!” he wrote.

by Marcy Shyllon, Rhode Island Current April 15, 2026 When stories about child abuse appear in the news, they usually follow tragedy, after warning signs were missed or systems failed. But the reality is that child abuse is far more common and far more preventable than many people realize. Across the United States, nearly one in seven children experiences abuse or neglect each year. That means every community is affected.

Child abuse prevention starts long before a crisis When stories about child abuse appear in the news, they usually follow tragedy, after warning signs were missed or systems failed. But the reality is that child abuse is far more common and far more preventable than many people realize. Across the United States, nearly one in seven children experiences abuse or neglect each year. […]

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV Sunday night following the pontiff’s sharp criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and wider Middle East conflict. In a lengthy post, littered with falsehoods, on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump accused the first U.S.-born pope of being “WEAK on crime” and of supporting Iran having a nuclear weapon.

by Daria Phoebe Brashear, Rhode Island Current April 13, 2026 What if I told you the right size for the Washington Bridge was the size it currently is? After all, everyone who needs to cross it can get where they are going, it just might take a little longer. Plus, most of the time, the bridge isn’t full. If you have to wait in bridge traffic with any regularity, you’re probably upset after just reading this.

Right-sizing RIPTA is the wrong move What if I told you the right size for the Washington Bridge was the size it currently is? After all, everyone who needs to cross it can get where they are going, it just might take a little longer. Plus, most of the time, the bridge isn’t full. If you have to wait in bridge […]

WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Capitol Hill Thursday slammed President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on Iran as “beyond the pale” and urged House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to reconvene Congress and rein in the president’s war powers.

At least 2.5 million low-income people quickly lost help affording groceries under a Republican-passed law that added new requirements for the nation’s largest nutrition program and shifted hundreds of millions of dollars in costs from the federal government to states, according to a study the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities published Wednesday.

by Dennis Tabella, Rhode Island Current April 8, 2026 I have spent 48 years as Director of Defenders of Animals. It has been a great honor to fight for the welfare of animals in Rhode Island, and while it has not always been easy, we have been blessed to win many victories. Thanks to our amazing volunteers we ended the use of gas chambers at local animal shelters. In the General Assembly, we passed to allow EMTs to treat injured police dogs. Through a collaboration with attorney Mark B.

Rhode Island must close the greyhound gambling loophole I have spent 48 years as Director of Defenders of Animals. It has been a great honor to fight for the welfare of animals in Rhode Island, and while it has not always been easy, we have been blessed to win many victories. Thanks to our amazing volunteers we ended the use of gas chambers […]