Rhode Island

RI House speaker unveils housing bills for 2026. What to know

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

RI House speaker unveils housing bills for 2026. What to know

Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi has introduced a new package of housing legislation.
Highlights include allowing property owners to divide single-family lots and legalizing single-staircase, four-story apartment buildings.
The package also seeks to expand the Homeless Bill of Rights and streamline the creation of emergency shelters.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi is once again taking aim at the regulations he says are stifling new homebuilding.

The Warwick Democrat unveiled his sixth annual suite of housing legislation on Thursday, Feb. 26, a few weeks after announcing he would not be running for governor this year.

“We are still trying to play catch-up for all the years that Rhode Island was dead last in the country for new housing starts,” Shekarchi said. “While Rhode Island remains a relatively affordable option for people moving here from other states, our own residents are too often priced out of the neighborhoods they grew up in.”

The legislative text of the nine-bill housing package, and with it the specifics of how it would work, were not available for Thursday’s news conference.

But highlights of the package, according to summaries, include:

Infill housing. Allow property owners to divide lots in single-family zoning districts, creating multiple dwellings instead of one, provided they have water and sewer service.
Parking maximums. Put new limits on how much off-street parking communities require for new apartment buildings.
Homeless Bill of Rights. Expand the state’s Homeless Bill of Rights to require 15-day notice to the occupants of encampments before local authorities clear them.
Emergency shelters. Let communities build temporary shelters, such as the ECHO Village Pallet shelter in Providence, during a state of emergency.
Stairs. Legalize the construction of four-story apartment buildings with a single staircase.
Affordable housing taxes. Overhaul the tax system for income-restricted housing covered by the state’s “8 Law.”

Is land-use reform working?

Since Shekarchi was elected speaker in 2021, the General Assembly has passed dozens of bills he backed that tweaked state land-use statutes or streamlined the process for building.

How successful this approach has been is subject to debate.

Many local elected officials wary of development in their communities continue to rail against efforts to erode their power over construction.

Others in the growing Yes In My Back Yard movement see Rhode Island’s piecemeal approach as inadequate in comparison with the scale of the affordability problem and what other states are doing.

As evidence that his changes are making a difference, Shekarchi said Rhode Island saw a 70% increase in building permits in 2023 and a more modest increase in 2024. (Statistics for last year were not immediately available.)

Gov. Dan McKee’s 2030 plan calls for 15,000 new housing units built by that year.

Democratic primary challenger Helena Foulkes is slated to roll out her housing plan on Monday.

It is expected to include a millionaires tax to fund affordable housing, a revolving fund and target of 20,000 new homes.

What would the new laws do?

Letting property owners put multiple homes on a plot of land is one of the most direct ways that lawmakers can encourage the construction of more homes, but it is also one of the most controversial.

That’s especially true in areas zoned for large lots and single-family homes.

How far the new bill allowing lots to be subdivided in single-family zones goes is unclear. It is sponsored by Rep. Stephen Casey, D-Woonsocket.

Legislation setting maximum parking requirements for new developments, introduced by Rep. Joshua Giraldo, D-Central Falls, would apply to areas accessible by public transit.

Critics of off-street parking requirements say they make it harder to build new apartments and make the units that are built more expensive.

Shekarchi proposed the emergency shelter bill last year. It passed the House and died in the Senate.

It was the result of how long it took state officials to navigate Rhode Island’s building code and open the ECHO Village Pallet shelter in Providence.

The staircase bill, sponsored by Rep. June Speakman, a Warren Democrat and chair of the House’s home affordability study commission, follows a wave of cities and states relaxing rules on how many exits are required in new construction.

Currently, the state building code requires two stairways in buildings with more than three stories, and fire officials have opposed all efforts to change that.

Speakman’s bill would allow four-story buildings with a maximum of 16 units with a single staircase.

Supporters of single-stair buildings say they allow development of small sites that would otherwise sit vacant and allow family-sized units with more light and better ventilation.

A previous Rhode Island single-stair bill would have allowed six stories, but it died in committee.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order in mid-February to study the idea.

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Rhode Island

Revs edge RIFC in US Open Cup thriller at Pawtucket. Here’s how

Published

4 minutes ago

April 15, 2026

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Revs edge RIFC in US Open Cup thriller at Pawtucket. Here’s how

Revs beat RIFC in penalty kicks in US Open Cup thriller at Centreville Bank Stadium

PAWTUCKET – The final result was all that eluded Rhode Island FC on this showdown Tuesday night against the New England Revolution.

The effort over 120 minutes couldn’t be questioned. No keeper was saving the goal scored by Diego Fagundez. JJ Williams provided an equalizer in the 11^th minute of stoppage time, proof that his side never gave up hope in the second half of regulation.

Penalty kicks were required to decide this Round of 32 meeting in the US Open Cup on April 14, and it was only there where Rhode Island FC came up shy. Donovan Parisian stopped three of the four shots against him and Tanner Beason blasted home the deciding attempt to give New England a 1-1 (3-1) victory against a regional rival.

The Revolution are through to the Round of 16 just like at Centreville Bank Stadium last season, but this was a different sort of match entirely in front of 6,073 fans. Rhode Island FC came to life after an indifferent first half of regulation, pulled even in the 101^st minute and looked the more likely of the two sides to win it in the first 15-minute period of extra time. New England was able to stay the course and avoided an upset as the MLS entry.

“Soccer’s a cruel game sometimes,” Rhode Island FC coach Khano Smith said. “No disappointment on my end. I’m so proud of my team.”

Hamady Diop found the net on the opening shootout attempt for Rhode Island FC, the only player to do so in what could have been a five-round format. The Revolution wrapped it up early when Luca Langoni, Andrew Farrell and Beason all converted from the spot. Parisian dove to his right to deny Jojea Kwizera and twice to his left to stop Leo Afonso and Williams.

“We train them a lot, honestly,” Williams said. “It’s very hard to replicate. It is.”

Each team enjoyed one real chance in extra time. Grant Stoneman cleared off the line for Rhode Island FC after keeper Koke Vegas got a finger on a Langoni shot from the right wing. Parisian was in the right place at the center of his goal to catch a Williams header chest high, an opening created when Aldair Sanchez made room for a cross off the left.

“I could go on for minutes talking about the positives,” Smith said. “But for me, if we’re able to play like that, we’re going to win a lot of matches in USL Championship playing that way.”

Amos Shapiro-Thompson’s yellow card for Rhode Island FC was the only noteworthy development through the opening 45 minutes. Both teams were a bit cagey and heavy-legged after playing league matches on Saturday, and a 0-0 tie into the break was just about right. New England needed less than six minutes out of the locker room to pull ahead, as a deep Peyton Miller cross off the left was headed down by Damario McIntosh and thumped home by Fagundez from the top of the penalty area.

“I think we’re all very happy with how we fought,” Rhode Island FC defender Hugo Bacharach said. “We knew we had a great rival in front of us. We thought we could take them down.”

Smith made three attacking substitutions within the next three minutes – Williams, Kwizera and Afonso were summoned from the bench to spark the front line. Parisian got down quickly to his left to deny Afonso in the 82^nd minute before Williams struck for the tying goal. Diop’s searching ball off the left was deflected and Williams was quickest to react, placing his header inside the near post to erase a 1-0 deficit.

“They’re playing in our stadium,” Williams said. “Technically it’s a home game for them, but we had all the energy and momentum from that point on.”

Smith said his players would have at least the next two days off after some covered more than 10 miles in the match. Charleston Battery visit next Wednesday night as Rhode Island FC gets back to league play. The club picked up its first USL Championship win over the weekend thanks to a 3-1 triumph at Lexington SC.

“Their keeper made three great saves,” Smith said. “They’d obviously done their homework. He was excellent.

“He made the difference. That’s all it was.”

Rhode Island FC (1): JJ Williams; assist – Hamady Diop.

New England Revolution (1): Diego Fagundez; assist – Damario McIntosh.

Halftime – 0-0. End of regulation – 1-1. End of extra time – 1-1. Penalty shootout – RIFC 1 (Diop), NER 3 (Luca Langoni, Andrew Farrell, Tanner Beason).

Shots – RIFC 10, NER 8. Saves – Koke Vegas, RIFC, 0; Donovan Parisian, NER, 2. Attendance – 6,073.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

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Rhode Island

Carjacking suspect hits cruisers during chase across 3 RI towns

Published

12 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Carjacking suspect hits cruisers during chase across 3 RI towns

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WPRI) — A man is facing charges in three Rhode Island towns after a carjacking investigation led to a police chase Tuesday morning.

Cranston police said Jacob Zhawred, 32, of Johnston, allegedly assaulted a woman in the Stop & Shop parking lot off Garfield Avenue just before 7 a.m., then stole her car and fled.

Jacob Zhawred, 32 (March 2026 booking photo, courtesy Cranston Police Dept.)

Using the victim’s phone that was left inside the vehicle, officers tracked it heading north. Glocester police later attempted to stop the car in the area of Route 44 at St. Eugene’s Church, but authorities said Zhawred took off, crossing multiple residential lawns to evade officers.

Burrillville officers deployed stop sticks on Camp Dixie Road, flattening the car’s tires, but police said Zhawred continued driving on the rims.

During the pursuit, police said he struck multiple cruisers from Cranston, Glocester and Burrillville. He appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time, according to police.

The chase extended onto Eagle Peak Road and Wallum Lake Road, where police said Zhawred again hit cruisers and tried to cut across a lawn before crashing into a telephone pole.

Zhawred was arrested around 9:40 a.m. and taken to Landmark Medical Center for treatment of his “extensive impairment issues,” police said. He’s since been released from the hospital and is now being held without bail at the ACI.

In Burrillville, he is charged with:

Assault with a deadly weapon (6 counts)
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage (2 counts)
Vandalism (2 counts)
Possession of a stolen motor vehicle
DUI
Eluding/reckless driving
Resisting arrest

He also faces an eluding/reckless driving charge out of Glocester.

In Cranston, Zhawred is charged with second-degree robbery and shoplifting for allegedly stealing $100 worth of items from a Lowe’s before the carjacking.

Police said the woman he allegedly assaulted is OK, and no one was hurt during the chase.

Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist also told 12 News that Zhawred was “recently released from prison.”

“He has multiple assault charges, shoplifting charges, breaking and entering, a lengthy criminal history, he has drug charges,” Winquist said. “This is somebody that’s dangerous to the community. I’m happy the officers were able to use teamwork to get this person off the streets.”

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Rhode Island

Severe Tick-Borne Meat, Dairy Allergy Disease On Rise Across RI: What You Need To Know

Published

1 day ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Severe Tick-Borne Meat, Dairy Allergy Disease On Rise Across RI: What You Need To Know

The tick-borne illness that causes those infected to become severely allergic to meat and dairy products is emerging as an increasing concern in Rhode Island.

The Centers for Disease Control said nearly a half-million people are affected by the condition nationwide — with symptoms that can vary in severity with each exposure to meat or dairy.

See also: Cranston Man Killed In Paramotor Aircraft Crash

The CDC said symptoms include the acute onset of any one or more of the following allergic and/or gastrointestinal symptoms that occur 2–10 hours after ingestion of pork, beef, lamb, any other mammalian meat, or any mammalian-derived product (e.g. gelatin), or within two hours after intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous administration of alpha-gal containing vaccination or medication:

Abdominal pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Heartburn/indigestion
Hives
Itching
Anaphylaxis as diagnosed by a provider
Swelling of one or more of the following: lips, tongue, throat, face, eyelids, or other associated structures
Shortness of breath
Cough
Wheezing
Acute episode of hypotension