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Boston Globe
a day ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Texas Democrats fleeing to block GOP map echoes 1924 in Rhode Island
If this all sounds extreme, you should know it's not unprecedented. It has happened in Texas before, but it also happened here in Rhode Island 101 years ago – only it was Republicans who fled to Massachusetts in that case. Advertisement In June 1924, 21 Republican senators from Rhode Island left for Rutland, Mass., in an attempt to block Democrats from reapportioning senatorial districts to create a more favorable local map. At the time, the state had one senator per municipality, which gave Republicans from smaller, rural communities immense political power even though the majority of Rhode Island's voting population lived in the cities. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up The entire saga was fascinating, complete with rioting and even a poison 'bomb' that was meant to release bromine into the air in the Senate chamber. The historian Russell J. DeSimone The Advertisement So how did it work out? Pretty effectively in the short term. Republicans blocked the Democrats from changing the senatorial districts (there were many other changes the Democrats were trying to push through as well), and voters were so outraged that they delivered the Republicans landslide victories in the election that year. Aram J. Pothier became governor with 58 percent of the vote, and Republicans won 33 Senate seats. Jesse H. Metcalf also trounced Democratic incumbent Governor William Flynn in a race for an open US Senate seat. A decade later, Democrats took control of Rhode Island in the infamous And speaking of that political dominance, North Providence Councilman Stefano Famiglietti earned 83 percent of the vote last night against Republican Alexander Asermely to win the vacant Senate District 4 seat. This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
CCRI saw a ‘breakdown' in communication during incident with armed man on Lincoln, R.I., campus, review finds
Related : Advertisement The Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up According to the report, on March 6, a dispute between two men aboard a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus en route to the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln escalated when one passenger brandished a small knife and retrieved a 'black object resembling a handgun' from a backpack that he placed in his waistband. The RIPTA bus driver reported the incident to RIPTA dispatch, who then notified both CCRI police and Lincoln police, although no firearm was mentioned at that time, the report states. The suspect exited the bus and entered the campus before authorities arrived at the bus stop, according to the report. Advertisement An an alert was issued through the college's mass communication systems ALERTUS/RAVEto the CCRI community, which included a report of a 'lockdown at the Warwick campus,' the report states. A corrected alert was issued 2 minutes later, clarifying the lockdown was only for the Lincoln campus and reporting a 'possible suspect with gun.' The suspect, later identified by Lincoln police as Junior Sage of Woonsocket, was later arrested without incident as he exited a building on campus, officials wrote in the report. Police recovered an airsoft-style pistol and two small pocket knives from Sage, No injuries were reported. The 'After Action Review' identified several communications issues during the response to the incident, including 'inconsistent radio contact' between CCRI Police Deputy Chief Timothy Poulin and CCRI dispatch regarding the suspect's movements. Dispatch was also confused at one point about whether the suspect displayed a firearm, the report states. When Emergency Management Coordinator Sean Collins called CCRI dispatch to collect information for a campus alert, dispatchers 'appeared uncertain and under stress, relaying fragmented and incomplete information about the suspect and their location,' the report states. Dispatch also activated the ALERTUS lockdown button, which sent an alert to all CCRI campuses, with the erroneous message relaying a lockdown at the Warwick campus, according to the report. The misunderstanding prompted a student at the Warwick campus to call 911, reporting 'students are killing other people,' the report states. Warwick police responded with approximately 17 officers, and State Police sent 11 troopers to that campus, and found no threat. Advertisement Additionally, the review found an updated Emergency Management Plan was developed about a year ago, but has not yet received final approval. CCRI police had conducted several 'active threat response trainings' between 2021 and 2025, although a 'significant full-scale exercise' planned in January was canceled and 'an additional exercise planned for spring break was also cancelled,' the report states. Campus police also do not have firearms or TASERs, 'significantly limiting officers' ability to respond directly to active threat situations,' the report found. However, training provided during student and faculty orientations 'proved effective' on March 6, as 'many students and faculty took appropriate actions by locking doors, silencing phones, and remaining out of sight,' the report states. In her letter sent to the CCRI community upon the release of the report, Costigan wrote CCRI has already made public safety-related improvements, including the creation of alert templates to make sure messages are clear and campus-specific. Costigan wrote CCRI has also enhanced police training on those systems, is expanding active threat training for faculty, staff, and students, is creating new protocols for inter-campus communications and multi-agency response, and has initiated a feasibility study to 'assess equipping campus police with additional tools within the use-of-force continuum.' Costigan wrote CCRI 'will move quickly to complete the remaining recommendations.' 'Your safety and peace of mind remain my top priority,' Costigan wrote to the CCRI community. 'I am grateful for your resilience and cooperation as we strive to make our college stronger and safer for all.' Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
North Providence voters to choose successor to late Senate president
The bigger picture: While Asermely is making the case that he represents generational and ideological change in the race, Famiglietti has been framed as the candidate who offers institutional continuity. In other words, Famiglietti views the world in ways that are similar to how Ruggerio did, and he's likely to slide in as senator and gradually move up the ranks in the chamber as a moderate-to-conservative Democrat who largely votes with labor and leadership. Advertisement An Asermely victory would be one of the most stunning upsets in recent Rhode Island political history, but the attorney has worked hard all summer trying to convince conservative Democrats to give a Republican a chance. What's next: Polls close at 8 p.m. The winner will serve the rest of the current term, and then will have to run for reelection next year. This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
With Providence councilwoman's decision to step down, here's an early overview of Democrats who might run for her seat
Ward 2 is in the heart of the East Side – including most of Blackstone Boulevard and the busy part of Thayer Street – and is home to the highest property values, much of Brown University, and some of the most reliably Democratic voters in Rhode Island. It's still early – a special election will be scheduled within 90 days of Anthony's resignation – but several potential candidates have emerged. Keep in mind that the winner of the special election will have to run again for a four-year term next year. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Here's an overview of the Democrats who might run. Advertisement David Caldwell The owner of Caldwell and Johnson and president of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Caldwell wouldn't have a problem raising the money to run a competitive race. Caldwell confirmed he plans to run for the seat. Matt McDermott A veteran pollster and Democratic strategist on the national level, McDermott is co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Campaign Board. He's an ally of Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and also wouldn't have a problem raising money and running a credible campaign. He said he's going to take the next couple of weeks to talk with his neighbors about how best to serve the city. Advertisement Jeff Levy Levy might be best known as former state Senator Gayle Goldin's husband, but he's also an attorney with Levy & Blackman LLP. He's well known in Ward 2, having been a board president at Fox Point East Side Little League. He confirmed that he is thinking about entering the race. Kevin Lanni After being on the shortlist to become Providence's police chief, Lanni left the department to become court administrator at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal. He confirmed he is mulling a run. Cliff Wood Wood knows what it takes to win Ward 2 because he's done it before, defeating longtime incumbent Rita Williams for the seat in 2006. He served one term, was mentioned as a potential mayoral candidate, and then ended up serving as executive director of the Providence Foundation. Wood said he wants to see who else is running, and if he runs, would only like to serve out the rest of Anthony's term (which ends next year). Joe Paolino The former Providence mayor got his start in politics as a councilman, albeit from Federal Hill. He's now one of the city's largest most prominent real estate owners, and would have no trouble funding his campaign. Stating the obvious: Every one of the candidates mentioned above are white men. It would be surprising if at least one female candidate – or a person of color – didn't take a serious look at the race. This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Advertisement Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
30-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Former WLNE Channel 6 news director files federal lawsuit against Standard Media alleging ‘sexually hostile' workplace
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, paints an even messier picture about Gaito's tenure at Channel 6, accusing male superiors of undermining Gaito at every step, including when she wanted to promote well-known meteorologist Advertisement The lawsuit also claims that Gaito was 'stunned and became extremely uncomfortable' by a male executive twice telling a story about encouraging another woman to 'flirt with the camera like it was not her husband' and 'make passionate love to the anchor desk.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Gaito, who now works in communications for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, is represented by Sinapi Law. A spokesperson for Standard Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The bigger picture: Channel 6 has long lagged behind Channels 10 and 12 when it comes to resources and TV ratings, but the station has faced even more turmoil in recent years. The company was supposed to be sold by Standard to Cox Media, but the Advertisement Last year, station Full disclosure: Gaito and I worked together at WPRI. This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
