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Rhode Island
Rhode Island nonprofits encouraged to sign-up now for 401Gives – What's Up Newp
With the calendar turning to January, United Way of Rhode Island is reminding nonprofits that there are now less than 90 days until the return of 401Gives on Tuesday, April 1.
As the Ocean State’s single largest philanthropic effort on behalf of local nonprofits, organizations across the state are encouraged to participate and raise funds to support their work. All Rhode Island-based nonprofits are invited to register now at 401Gives.org.
Already, 133 nonprofits have registered, according to United Way of Rhode Island. In 2024, its fifth year, 401Gives raised a record $3.86 million to benefit 597 organizations in the state, prompting nearly 25,000 gifts from Rhode Islanders. The day is powered by the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact at United Way of Rhode Island.
“Since the very first 401Gives, we’ve seen some incredible outcomes as the result of Rhode Islanders coming together to support the causes they care about most,” said Nancy Wolanski, director of the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact at United Way of R.I. in a statement. “Each year we have seen 401Gives reach new heights. It’s an opportunity to highlight the tremendous work being done every day by small and large nonprofits across the state. We’d love to see more organizations participate than ever so that all of us can learn about new nonprofits doing great work and addressing issues that matter deeply to our communities.”
A unified day of giving that makes it easy both for nonprofits to participate and for individuals to make donations to them, 401Gives utilizes an online fundraising platform and harnesses the power of social media and peer-to-peer outreach.
Once registered, nonprofits can begin customizing their individual 401Gives page to share their stories, the impact of their work in the community, and highlight what they’re raising money for. Each organization’s 401Gives page features the ability to house images, embedded video, and more. And as part of the 401Gives experience, the Alliance offers an online library of webinar and training videos, and a Nonprofit Toolkit that includes sample emails, social media tips, and downloadable graphics.
To learn more about 401Gives or if there are questions, contact Caitlynn Douglas at (401) 444-0720, or email 401Gives@unitedwayri.org.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island shifts its primary to Wednesday, Sept. 9, easing a Labor Day poll setup crunch
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island’s primary elections will now be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9, moving it back from the typical Tuesday election day because it fell too close to Labor Day.
Gov. Dan McKee, a Democrat, signed off on the change earlier this week. The primary election had been scheduled for Sept. 8, which is the day after the holiday weekend.
State and local officials had requested the change after raising concerns about having enough time to set up polls for voters. However, under the legislation enacted, the filing deadlines will remain the same.
“We have to set up over 400 polling places around the state on the day before the election,” Nick Lima, the registrar and director of elections for the city of Cranston, told lawmakers at a hearing in January. “That’s very difficult to do on a holiday because many of our polls are schools, social halls and churches.”
It’s not unusual for states to change their election day. Lawmakers in neighboring Massachusetts changed the state’s 2026 primary election day from Sept. 15 to Sept. 1, arguing that doing so will help improve voter turnout.
Only four states hold their primary elections in September: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Delaware, which has the latest primary date in the U.S., taking place this year on Sept. 15.
Legislation seeking to move up Delaware’s primary election by several months has been introduced in the statehouse, but previous attempts to do so have stalled.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island State Police are investigating a crash that happened on I-295 North in Cumberland Tuesday night.
The crash happened in the right lane near Exit 22 just before 9 p.m.
It’s unclear exactly what caused the crash or if anyone was injured.
12 News has reached out to Rhode Island State Police for more information but has not heard back.
Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.
Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app.
Scandals shake up Capitol Hill ahead of midterm elections
Congressional reporter Zachary Schermele dives into the latest scandals on Capitol Hill and how they’re shaking up politics ahead of midterms.
Rhode Island’s Democrat and Republican primary elections will officially be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9 this year, instead of the usual Tuesday election day.
Lawmakers passed the bill at the urging of state and local officials, who were concerned that an election day falling the day after Labor Day would not give them enough time to set up polls for the arrival of voters.
Gov. Dan McKee signed the bill on April 20, officially moving the primary day for 2026.
Which races will be on the ballot? The Republican and Democrat nominees for a swath of local offices – most notably governor but also lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Why was RI’s primary day moved?
At a hearing on the bill earlier this year, Randy Rossi, executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns explained the “significant logistical and financial challenges” municipalities otherwise would have faced having an election the day after Labor Day.
“Beyond cost, municipalities face serious logistical challenges accessing and setting up more than 430 polling locations on a major federal holiday, a process that often requires many hours and access to facilities that are typically closed and unstaffed on Labor Day,” he said.
“Compounding these challenges, many municipalities conduct early voting in city or town halls that must also serve as primary day polling locations,” Rossi noted.
Without changes to current law, he said, “municipalities would be required to conduct early voting and primary day polling simultaneously, often in the same limited space and with the same poll workers, requiring additional staffing and facilities.”
By the time this legislative hearing took place in January, other states facing similar issues, including Massachusetts, had already adjusted their primary dates, “and Rhode Island itself has demonstrated that alternative scheduling can be successful, as occurred during the statewide Wednesday primary in 2018,” Rossi said.
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