Follow us on social media:
Rhode Island
Several Rhode Islanders win lottery prizes
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — A Cranston man claimed the $123,629 Wild Money jackpot prize after Saturday’s drawing.
He bought the winning tickets at A & T Casali Liquor on Cranston Street in Cranston.
Several other Rhode Islanders also won the lottery last week.
A Providence man won $50,000 after buying a 10X Cash Blitz Instant Ticket at Supreme Gas & Food Mart on River Ave in Providence on Halloween. He told the Rhode Island Lottery he plans to put his winnings toward a down payment on a house.
A Woonsocket man also won $50,000 after buying two $5 straight Daily Numbers tickets, each worth $25,000. The Rhode Island Lottery said he also plans to put his prize toward becoming a homeowner.
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.
Continue Reading
Above: The May 4, 2026, bell ringers, from left, Town Clerk Leigh Carney, Councilor Caryn Corenthal, Councilor Renu Englehart, Sen. Bridget Valverde, Councilor Mark Schwager, and Town Manager Andy Nota. It was 250 years ago Monday, May 4, that Rhode Island took the bold step of announcing its independence from England and the crown. Rhode […]
Which ‘Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ stars want to do Season 2?
Reporter Paul Edward Parker asks cast members of the “Real Housewives of Rhode Island” if they’re up for another season of the Bravo TV show.
Paul Edward Parker
It was in a Rhode Island court that “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” heated up as a Cranston woman sued the husband of one of the cast members for slander.
The legal fireworks started April 13, when Brian Pontarelli, husband of “Real Housewife” star Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, sued Beth Walker of Cranston in Superior Court, alleging that she violated a confidentiality agreement in another lawsuit by “making public statements and social media posts” about facts related to the earlier lawsuit.
On Tuesday, May 5, Walker fired back, calling the confidentiality agreement illegal and unenforceable, saying that Pontarelli broke it first by talking on “Real Housewives,” and filing a countersuit saying that he made false, “defamatory and disparaging” comments on the “Real Housewives” main show, as well as during a podcast and an after-show live broadcast. She is seeking unspecified damages.
A past affair, current speculation and a national audience feed lawsuit
Walker particularly identifies the April 26 episode of “Watch What Happens Live,” when host Andy Cohen brings back stars from the show, which was taped last year, for further discussion. In this episode, Brian and Rulla talk about how their marriage has survived his cheating with another woman.
One of the subplots of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” which is midway through its first season, is whether or not the affair Brian had is still ongoing. Texts and social media posts by an unnamed woman, whom the cast refers to as “the mistress,” feature in several episodes.
What Beth Walker has to say
Reached by The Providence Journal on Wednesday afternoon, May 6, Walker’s lawyer, Frank L. Orabona Jr., said that she can’t tell her side of the story right now.
“A public narrative has been created around my client, but narrative and facts are not always the same thing,” Orabona said. “As this unfolds, the evidence will tell a very different story.”
Post-show discussion and podcast fuel drama in court
In the April 26 “Watch What Happens Live” episode, in which Walker’s suit says Pontarelli “discussed a romantic relationship … in a defamatory and disparaging manner,” Rulla and Brian talk about his affair with “the mistress,” also referring to her as “the cockroach.”
Walker’s Tuesday filing also served as her answer to Pontarelli’s suit, and she asked the court to toss his claim based on 16 separate grounds.
Among other things, Walker’s filing says:
- “Walker’s speech relates to topics of public concern being discussed weekly to a nationwide audience of millions of viewers.”
- “Any comments made by Walker were truthful, not disparaging, related to matters in the public domain and/or were made in good faith.”
- “As a result of the national publicity of the show, information related to [Pontarelli’s] personal, romantic relationships is public knowledge nationally across the United States and locally in communities throughout Rhode Island; and is otherwise in the public domain.”
- “It is inequitable and unfair to allow [Pontarelli] a national platform to discuss topics to a coast-to-coast audience and prohibit Walker from speaking on the same topics and/or from correcting false information being spread by [Pontarelli] or others.”
- Prohibiting her from commenting would violate the state and federal constitutions’ guarantee of free speech.
No hearings have been scheduled in the case.
Pontarelli’s lawyer, Jessica L. Basso, declined to comment on the case.
This story has been updated with new information.
(WPRI) — The last few weeks have been lucky for Rhode Island lottery players, including a Cranston man who won a $50,000 Powerball prize.
The Rhode Island Lottery said the lucky winner bought his ticket at the Shaw’s Supermarket on Chapel View Boulevard in Cranston for the drawing on April 25.
In that same drawing, someone won a $2 million Powerball prize, but no one has come forward to claim the money yet. That winning ticket was purchased at the Seasons Corner Market on Old Louisquisset Pike in Lincoln.
In Providence, a man won $30,000 through the Mega Multiplier Instant Game after he had a dream about playing the lottery and decided to buy a ticket. He bought that winning ticket at Three Ring Liquors on Plainfield Street. The man said he is planning to share his winnings with his family.
Another lucky lottery player won $25,000 playing The Numbers on April 27. The Lincoln man bought his ticket at the Twin River Mini Mart on Douglas Pike in Smithfield.
A North Providence woman also won big, claiming a $17,760 prize after playing the RI 250 Instant Game. She told lottery officials that she plans to use her winnings to take a trip. She bought her ticket at the Shaw’s Supermarket on Smithfield Road in North Providence.
Whoever won the $2 million Powerball Prize will have until April 29, 2027, to claim their winnings. You can check the winning Powerball numbers here.
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.
Follow us on social media:
-
New Hampshire6 minutes agoANCA Endorses Rep. Chris Pappas for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire
-
New Jersey12 minutes agoViolent teens clash with cops at NJ carnival — prompting officials to cancel beloved yearly event
-
New Mexico18 minutes agoAll-American Rejects bring surprise concert to Albuquerque’s South Valley
-
North Carolina24 minutes ago
NC Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Day results for May 6, 2026
-
North Dakota30 minutes agoCFB Analyst Forecasts North Dakota State’s Postseason Matchup
-
Ohio36 minutes agoWhat is the status of the MAGA movement in Ohio? And what does it mean for the 2026 Election?
-
Oklahoma42 minutes agoSuspect arrested in deadly party shooting by Oklahoma lake
-
Oregon48 minutes ago
Oregon Lottery Powerball, Pick 4 results for May 6