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Assessors find ‘nonconformities’ with national standards at RI Crime Lab. What to know.

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Assessors find ‘nonconformities’ with national standards at RI Crime Lab. What to know.


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  • Rhode Island State Crime Lab assessors found 15 nonconformities with national standards during a March review.
  • Some nonconformities involved firearms analysis, an area under scrutiny after a 2021 error.
  • The lab has until May 30 to address these issues and is currently working with assessors to achieve re-accreditation.

The Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory isn’t through the entire re-accreditation process yet, but assessors have found that the lab can competently follow policies, processes and procedures and meet “all applicable accreditation requirements.”

At the same time, a team of assessors also found that the lab was not conforming to 15 national standards – or 8.7% – out of 172 applicable standards during their March review of the lab, according to the assessors’ report.

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Some of those “nonconformities” involved the part of the lab that examines and analyzes firearms, which drew heavy scrutiny last year after employees linked spent bullet shells from the scene of a 2021 Pawtucket homicide to the wrong gun.

The lab has until May 30 to complete its “action guidelines.”

The lab’s longtime director, Dennis Hilliard, told the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory Commission during a May 22 meeting that the nonconformities were being “addressed.”

“All the nonconformities are being addressed and are under review by the audit team leader,” Hilliard said.

After discussion about the report, the commission voted to go into executive session “discuss and potentially vote on matters pertaining to the job performance and/or character of a person or persons,” according to the meeting agenda. When the commission returned to open session, members did not disclose what was discussed.

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What were the ‘nonconformities’ found?

Assessors from the ANSI National Accreditation Board found that the wording of some procedures within the lab were insufficient to “ensure the consistent application of testing as well as consistency in the reporting of results between examiners,” specifically with firearms and “fire debris.”

They found that the lab had not sufficiently recorded its original observations regarding firearms to enable the same analysis to be repeated again.

In another part of the lab that examines “fire debris,” the assessors found that a manual does not include guidelines for interpreting the examiners’ analysis and its method does not provide any option for reporting results that aren’t conclusive, according to their report.

The lab operates under 172 applicable standards, according to Hilliard and was not conformed with almost 9% of those standards.

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What comes next?

The report is not final and the assessors have not yet approved the lab for re-accreditation.

Those who rely on the lab, referenced in the report as “customers,” have not been told about the preservation of certain items created during the testing of fire debris, the report says.

“Some of the things they brought up we’ve been doing for years, but now they’re an issue,” Hilliard told the commission.

“So in this case,” Hilliard said, “I think, due to our situation, they were being just diligent in providing a full assessment and that they were looking at pretty much everything that could go wrong.”

He likened the way that lab personnel “interpret” standards to baseball officiating.

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“One umpire might call a strike,” he said, “the other umpire might not call a strike.”

RI Crime Lab has been under scrutiny

After the discovery of problems with firearms analysis last year, the lab suspended that type of toolmark work by in-house staff, relying on mutual aid from other New England states.

Later, it turned to private contractors for work that involves identifying connections between bullets and the guns that fire them.

At the present time, the lab is operating with 10 in-house staff and two private contractors, who are handling all firearms analysis, according to Hilliard.

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RI Lottery Powerball, Numbers Midday winning numbers for May 9, 2026

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing

15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Numbers numbers from May 9 drawing

Midday: 0-8-9-5

Evening: 0-9-4-7

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from May 9 drawing

08-13-24-27-34, Extra: 32

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 9 drawing

08-11-17-29-49, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life 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 Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 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.
  • Millionaire for Life: 11:15 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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Proposed tax hike would hurt small businesses and our communities | Opinion

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Proposed tax hike would hurt small businesses and our communities | Opinion


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  • A proposed “millionaires tax” in Rhode Island could impact small, family-owned businesses structured as pass-through entities.
  • The author, a state representative and business owner, argues the tax would reduce funds for payroll, equipment, and expansion.
  • The op-ed suggests the tax could make Rhode Island less competitive, citing high earners leaving Massachusetts after a similar tax was passed.
  • The author advocates for policies that encourage business investment rather than penalizing financial success.

Rhode Island is built on the strength of small, family-owned businesses. They are the backbone of our economy, the employers of our neighbors, and the reason our communities have character and opportunity. I know this not just as a legislator, but as someone who works every day in a family business alongside the people I care about most. That’s why I am concerned about the impact of the proposed “millionaires tax” on businesses and our communities.

While it may sound like a measure aimed at a narrow group of high earners, the reality is far different. Many family-owned businesses – especially those structured as pass-through entities – report their business income on personal tax returns. That means this tax doesn’t just target “millionaires” in the traditional sense; it directly impacts small and mid-sized businesses that reinvest their earnings into payroll, equipment, expansion and employee benefits.

In my case, our family business is a private ambulance service. Every day, we are responsible for delivering critical care to Rhode Islanders, particularly seniors and our most medically fragile neighbors. That responsibility comes with significant costs. Ambulances, lifesaving medical equipment, and the technology needed to support our crews are expensive, and they must be maintained and updated regularly to meet the highest standards of care.

Tax increases like this directly impact our ability to make those investments. These are not abstract tradeoffs – they have real consequences for the level of care we can provide. For businesses like mine, margins matter. Every dollar that goes out the door in taxes is a dollar that can’t be used to hire another worker, increase wages, buy new equipment or sponsor the local Little League team. These are real decisions that affect real people.

Supporters of this proposal often frame it as a fairness issue. But fairness should also mean recognizing the role that employers play in creating opportunity. When government makes it more expensive to operate a business in Rhode Island, we risk pushing investment – and jobs – elsewhere. Policies like this don’t exist in a vacuum; they shape decisions about where businesses grow and where families choose to put down roots.

We don’t have to guess what would happen if we raised taxes here – we can just look to Massachusetts. They passed a millionaires tax and the latest data shows a steady stream of high earners leaving for lower-tax states like New Hampshire and, you guessed it, Rhode Island. We could take advantage of Massachusetts’ mistake and build on the momentum we have built in recent years. We’ve seen the benefits of thoughtful policy decisions that encourage investment and support job creation and tax revenues are up. But progress is fragile. Policies like the millionaires tax risk undoing that work by sending the message that success will be penalized rather than encouraged.

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As both a business owner and a legislator, I believe strongly that we can – and must – strike a better balance.

We can support public services, invest in our communities, and maintain fiscal responsibility without resorting to policies that put our local businesses at a disadvantage. We can grow our economy by creating an environment where businesses want to stay, expand and hire.

Let’s focus on solutions that strengthen our economy, support our workforce, and ensure that family-owned businesses like mine and so many others across our state continue to thrive.

Rhode Island’s future depends on it.

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Jacquelyn Baginski is a state representative from Cranston.



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RI Lottery Mega Millions, Numbers Midday winning numbers for May 8, 2026

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing

37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Numbers numbers from May 8 drawing

Midday: 9-8-9-7

Evening: 7-9-8-9

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from May 8 drawing

10-13-15-16-30, Extra: 09

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing

14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life 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 Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 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.
  • Millionaire for Life: 11:15 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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