Rhode Island

RI might get its first snowfall of the season. How to stay safe with your snow blower.

Published

2 years ago

January 5, 2024

RI might get its first snowfall of the season. How to stay safe with your snow blower.

If you haven’t already, go out to the garage, shed or barn and start your snow blower to make sure it works. If it doesn’t, you’ll want to know before the snowstorm that’s forecast to begin Saturday evening.

That’s advice from Merissa Siligato of the family-run All Outdoors Power Equipment, in Wakefield.

Fellow snow blower dealer Stephen Roy agreed, but took it one step further:

“Drive it around now,” said Roy, of Stephen Roy Power Equipment, in North Smithfield. Make sure you know how all the controls work, how the machine feels before you’re battling the elements. “Make sure it’s ready to go now, before the storm shows up.”

Make sure your yard and driveway are clear of obstacles

And, while you’re out checking whether the machine starts, take a walk around the driveway and yard, anywhere you’ll be removing snow, and check for objects that could get ingested into a snow blower and render it inoperable, Siligato said. That includes things like balls and other sports equipment, life jackets and pool accessories, Christmas decorations and their power cords, and newspapers, which, when frozen, can become a snow blower’s worst nightmare.

Make sure you have spare parts

Siligato and Roy both said to make sure you have enough shear pins. Two-stage snow blowers have two active sections: an augur, which picks up the snow and grinds it into smaller pieces, and the impeller, which then throws the snow out of the way. If the augur gets its maw on a foreign object it can’t process, the shear pin snaps, so the augur stops turning and won’t feed the object into the impeller. It’s then fairly simple to clear the obstruction and put in a new shear pin.

“Never stick your hand in there to unclog it,” said Roy. Siligato agreed, cautioning everyone to shut off their machine before remedying any problems.

Roy added that snow plows often pick up debris and deposit it at the end of driveways, which could jam the machine and cause a shear pin to snap.

They recommend having three or four spare shear pins.

Snow blower advice after the storm hits

While most of Rhode Island isn’t forecast to get more than 6 inches, bear in mind that snow should be cleared at least after every 6 inches of accumulation so it doesn’t overwhelm the machine, Siligato said.

Roy said that stones and other smaller objects can get picked up and thrown, so always make sure the blower is pointed away from people or breakable objects, such as windows.

And, remember that it’s not a race.

“Take your time,” said Roy. “Don’t be in a hurry.”

When’s the best time to buy a snow blower?

While it logistically makes sense to buy before a storm so that you have it to use, Siligato said it also make sense to make sure you get what you want.

With the first snow of the season, people who were caught without one often head to stores to buy one. And the selection will diminish.

Siligato said the machines she carries sell for anywhere from $750 to $2,000 — or more. Roy listed a range of $799 to $3,300.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 16, 2025

Published

9 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 16, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

20-24-46-59-65, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

03-04-19-24-39, Lucky Ball: 11

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

Midday: 0-5-9-8

Evening: 8-5-3-5

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

03-14-15-29-38, Extra: 30

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

RI schools urged to review safety protocols in wake of Brown University shooting

Published

21 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

RI schools urged to review safety protocols in wake of Brown University shooting

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is urging local elementary and secondary schools to review safety protocols following the mass shooting at Brown University.

Days after two people were killed and nine others were injured in a shooting on the college campus, the department reminded schools statewide to ensure they are following existing safety policies, including keeping exterior doors closed and locked at all times.

“While the events of this weekend are tragic, they are also a reminder and an opportunity to re-train, reinforce, and go through the necessary safety steps, once more,” Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green said in a statement.

She emphasized the importance of following the protocols, including visitor policies, “as designed and written.”

In its latest announcement, RIDE also provided a list of resources for students, families, and school staff for “navigating difficult conversations” about topics such as violence and hate.

Rhode Island schools reminded to keep interior doors closed, exterior doors closed and locked

While all exterior doors should remain closed and locked, the department said, all interior doors should also remain closed. All visitors should go through a single, secure point of entry, according to RIDE.

In Providence, all elementary, middle, and high schools are also required to establish staff “crisis teams” and conduct 15 safety drills each year, according to the district’s existing safety protocols.

In the wake of the Brown University shooting on Dec. 13, Providence Public Schools said students should expect an increased police presence on and near their campuses.

All after-school activities, sporting events, and field trips at Providence schools planned for Monday, Dec. 15, and Tuesday, Dec. 16, were canceled out of an “abundance of caution.”

The district said that it would announce its plans for the rest of the week as soon as possible.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 15, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 15, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

23-35-59-63-68, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

12-16-27-34-41, Lucky Ball: 12

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 4-9-8-3

Evening: 1-3-5-3

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

10-13-28-33-37, Extra: 35

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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