Rhode Island

R.I. Senate president returns after seven weeks and bout of pneumonia – The Boston Globe

Published

9 months ago

March 25, 2025

R.I. Senate president returns after seven weeks and bout of pneumonia – The Boston Globe

Ruggerio, 76, a North Providence Democrat, missed long stretches of last year’s legislative session as he battled cancer and shingles. He is still being treated for cancer, he said on Tuesday.

In November, Ruggerio withstood a leadership challenge from former Senate Majority Leader Ryan W. Pearson, a Cumberland Democrat who charged that the Senate was ineffective in his absence.

Ruggerio was admitted to Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, in North Providence, on Feb. 19 with what senators were told was a “touch of pneumonia.” He later moved to Fatima’s rehabilitation facility, and returned home on March 12. He was expected to return to the Senate last Thursday, but a spokesman said he needed another day with his recovery.

With his appearance Tuesday, Ruggerio has attended six the Senate’s 13 sessions this year. He presided over Tuesday’s Senate session, which included unanimous approval of two bills.

During announcements Tuesday, Senator Jake Bissaillon, a Providence Democrat who previously served as his chief of staff, said to Ruggerio, “I’d be remiss not to say it’s good to see you back.”

After Tuesday’s session, Pearson said, “I’m glad to see he is doing well enough to be back.”

When asked by reporters what his priorities are for the remainder of the legislative session, Ruggerio said, “Well, I’m playing catch up.”

But he cited a Senate commission appointed to study whether to create a medical school at the University of Rhode Island. And he mentioned the package of health care bills that the Senate unveiled in February, including legislation to review Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers in Rhode Island.

Ruggerio said he has not had a chance to meet with Governor Daniel J. McKee or House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi to discuss legislative priorities. “We’ve spoken over the phone. I haven’t really met with them physically, but I intend to,” he said.

When asked to identify the hardest part of being Senate president during his health problems, Ruggerio said, “Keeping up with things.” He emphasized his “great staff,” and said he is in regular contact with Senate staff, Shekarchi, and McKee. “So I can keep up with what’s going on up here,” he said.

Ruggerio is considered the “dean” of the Senate, the chamber’s longest-serving member, first winning election in 1985. He previously served in the state House of Representatives from 1981 to 1984, and has served as Senate president since March 2017.

When the 2025 legislative session commenced in January, the 38-member Senate reelected Ruggerio as president, with 26 senators voting for him while 12 voted “present,” essentially abstaining from the vote. Surprisingly, Ruggerio was among those who voted “present.” Afterward, he said he could not hear and misunderstood when he voted “present” rather than voting for himself.

When asked on Tuesday if he still considers it a good decision to run again for Senate president, Ruggerio said, “Yes.”

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.

Source link

Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 17, 2025

Published

5 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 17, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

25-33-53-62-66, Powerball: 17, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

11-13-20-40-41, Lucky Ball: 07

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

Midday: 3-3-9-5

Evening: 4-3-2-9

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

04-11-18-24-37, 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.

Source link

Rhode Island

Three thoughts on Rhode Island basketball’s labored win over Canisius

Published

17 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Three thoughts on Rhode Island basketball’s labored win over Canisius

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Two different teams, two opposite halves, two ways of breaking down a respected opponent – call Tuesday night at the Ryan Center whatever you like.

It was ultimately a return to the win column for the University of Rhode Island men against Canisius, as the Rams buried the first 18 minutes of action in favor of the final 22.

Tyler Cochran sparked them to life early in the second half, and Jonah Hinton eventually gave URI the lead for keeps with 15:44 left. The Golden Griffins called a timeout to prevent an oncoming avalanche, one they ultimately couldn’t stop in a 62-45 slugfest.

The Rams were poor offensively in a loss to McNeese State and followed with another early struggle here. They entered halftime on a 5-0 run to face just a 27-22 deficit and started doing the little things out of the break that tend to mean victory.

“We weren’t playing freely,” URI coach Archie Miller said. “We weren’t playing confidently. Second half, much more in character in terms of how our group plays.”

URI entered off defeats against rival Providence and the Cowboys, who stole a 66-64 triumph here on a last-second jumper by Tyshawn Archie. The Rams had a week-long exam break to stew on the 15 turnovers they committed in the second half against McNeese State and carried that rancid form into the early going against Canisius. URI was just 6-for-29 from the field and gave the ball away 11 times before emerging from the locker room with a fresh approach.

“The first half was kind of going through the motions,” Cochran said. “We preached in the second half that we needed to come out as a better team, and I think we did a good job as a team.”

How did the Rams author what was ultimately a 27-point swing in this one? Here are three thoughts from the matchup, which was played in front of a season-low 2,895 fans in Kingston.

Tyler Cochran provided the spark

Cochran was exactly the spark URI needed to snap out of its funk.

His opening three minutes of the second half included an offensive rebound and putback layup, a dive to the floor for a loose ball and steal, a diagonal pass to Hinton for a 3-pointer and a jumper of his own from beyond the arc in the right corner.

That left the Rams in a 30-30 tie with 16:49 to play, the last of four in the game. Hinton followed with another deep jumper from NBA range, and Myles Corey connected on his own with 15:06 left. URI was up by two possessions and rarely pushed the rest of the way.

“In the first half it didn’t seem like we were having much fun,” Cochran said. “It seemed like we were just trying to get the game over with.”

Cochran finished with nine of his 12 points, three of his four rebounds, all four of his assists and all four of his steals after the break. He was plus-23 in 18 second-half minutes, which was a team best. It’s exactly what the Rams expected while recruiting Cochran to his fifth college stop.

“We talked about it at halftime – who’s going to ignite us?” Miller said. “And it wasn’t going to be scoring baskets.”

New-look starting five

URI (8-4) went almost exclusively with its new starting five in the second half.

Damone King played four minutes off the bench and Drissa Traore logged two. It was Cochran, Hinton, Corey, Keeyan Itejere and new addition Jahmere Tripp otherwise, with Hinton and Corey going the full 20 minutes.

RJ Johnson (illness) was dressed, but the Rams wanted to stay away from him after limited practice work leading into the game. Alex Crawford was benched for the final 22:33 after a turnover on an inbounds play led to the Golden Griffins (5-7) building their largest lead at 27-17.

“We were out there playing hard,” Corey said. “We were down a body. RJ was sick, so I had to step up.”

Tripp finished with nine points, five rebounds and a plus-24 rating in 29 minutes – that was a team best. He opened in favor of Crawford after entering the night with superior numbers in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, shooting, 3-point shooting and foul shooting.

“Jahmere has been very productive,” Miller said. “Trying to get him more minutes. Starting the game with him in the game is something we want to move towards.”

Rams made it harder than it had to be

URI made hard work of this one early.

The Rams committed 11 of their 13 turnovers in the first half and were just 6-for-29 from the field. They connected on only one of their first 14 attempts from 3-point range and sank into a double-digit hole just before halftime.

Anthony Benard followed a layup inside with a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass. He was fouled by Crawford and connected on a pair of free throws to extend the momentum Canisius built to that point.

“The first was really unwatchable at times,” Miller said. “We played a tight first half offensively getting adjusted to what they were doing.”

URI needed barely four minutes to match their 3-point total in the second half, hitting three of their first five from deep. The Rams also didn’t commit their first turnover until Cochran fumbled the ball out of bounds on a drive to the rim with 7:33 left. URI owned a 50-38 lead by that point and already had enough of a margin to ensure the final result.

“We just had to take the lid off the rim, really,” Corey said. “Our defense carried us and got us through the half.”

CANISIUS (45): Javante Edwards 1-2 0-0 3, Myles Wilmoth 0-4 0-0 0, Kahlil Singleton 1-4 4-4 6, Bryan Ndjonga 4-18 2-4 11, Mike Evbagharu 2-5 0-0 5, Chris Kumu 0-1 2-4 2, Anthony Benard 3-3 2-2 10, Brendan Oliver 0-0 0-0 0, King Ijeoma 4-10 0-0 8. Totals 15-47 10-14 45.

RHODE ISLAND (62): Jahmere Tripp 3-12 3-3 9, Jonah Hinton 6-18 4-4 20, Myles Corey 4-7 2-2 12, Tyler Cochran 5-11 0-0 12, Keeyan Itejere 2-5 2-4 6, Alex Crawford 0-5 0-0 0, Damone King 1-3 0-0 3, Drissa Traore 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-61 11-13 62.

Halftime – C, 27-22. 3-point FG – C 5-15 (Edwards 1-1, Wilmoth 0-1, Singleton 0-3, Ndjonga 1-6, Evbagharu 1-2, Benard 2-2), RI 9-34 (Tripp 0-5, Hinton 4-13, Corey 2-5, Cochran 2-5, Crawford 0-3, King 1-3). Rebounds – C 34 (Ndjonga 8), RI 43 (Itejere 11). Assists – C 10 (Benard 4), RI 10 (Cochran 4). Turnovers – C 19 (Benard 6), RI 13 (Tripp 3, Crawford 3). Blocked shots – C 2 (Ijeoma 2), RI 5 (Corey 2). Steals – C 8 (Evbagharu 4), RI 10 (Cochran 4). Attendance – 2,895.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

Source link

Rhode Island

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

Published

1 day 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.

Source link