Rhode Island

Brown University shooting: Who is RI Attorney General Peter Neronha?

Published

1 month ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Brown University shooting: Who is RI Attorney General Peter Neronha?

Neronha is Rhode Island’s 74th attorney general. He was sworn in on Nov. 6, 2018.
During President Donald Trump’s second term, Neronha has sued the president and his administration over 30 times.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, along with Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and others, announced Dec. 14 that they were releasing the person of interest originally detained for the mass shooting at Brown University.

Neronha said that tips “led to us detaining a person of interest,” but that the evidence “now points in a different direction.”

“We have a murderer out there, frankly,” Neronha said.

As attorney general, Neronha and his office will play a large role in the investigation over the shooting. Here’s what to know about the top legal official in Rhode Island.

Who is Peter Neronha?

Neronha is Rhode Island’s 74th attorney general. He was sworn in on Nov. 6, 2018.

As attorney general, Neronha leads an office that “prosecutes criminal cases; represents state agencies, departments and commissions in litigation; initiates legal action when necessary to protect the interests of Rhode Islanders; and oversees the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation,” according to his office.

Previously, Neronha was the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island from 2009 to 2017. He was appointed by former President Barack Obama.

He began his career in public service as a Rhode Island Special Assistant Attorney General in 1996. He was later appointed Assisted Attorney General, and then joined United States Attorney’s Office as an Assistant United States Attorney in 2002.

Neronha is a fourth generation native of Jamestown, Rhode Island. He has undergraduate and law degrees from Boston College.

Neronha’s relationship to Trump

During President Donald Trump’s second term, Neronha has sued the president and his administration over 40 times.

Some of the lawsuits that he has co-led include ones over withheld education funds and the dismantling of federal agencies like Health and Human Services and those that support public libraries and museums.

Neronha often criticizes the president in his lawsuits. In a press release announcing a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration Nov. 25 for reducing grant funds for projects that could help people experiencing homelessness, Neronha said that the administration continues to “punch down” on vulnerable Americans.

“The President and his Administration don’t care about making life easier or better for Americans; they only care about political capitulation, consolidating power, and further enriching the wealthy,” he said.

In a press conference earlier this year, Neronha said that he sues the Trump administration when the president has broken the law, when Americans have been harmed and when they have the legal standing to bring an action against the administration.

While it’s unclear if Trump has ever commented on Neronha specifically, he has often attacked judges who have tried to block his policies.

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Rhode Island

Driver cited after tire crash on Interstate 95 in Pawtucket

Published

11 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Press Room

Driver cited after tire crash on Interstate 95 in Pawtucket

Rhode Island State Police announced they have cited the driver of a car that lost a tire on Interstate 95 in Pawtucket.

A Rhode Island State Police cruiser pulled over on the highway Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (WJAR)

Police said the crash happened at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday near the Walcott Street overpass.

Officers said one of the vehicles driving northbound lost a tire. The tire then flew into the southbound side and hit a vehicle traveling in the high-speed lane.

Police said the vehicle that was hit by the tire was also rear-ended by another car.

An ambulance pulled over on Interstate 95 southbound in Pawtucket Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2026. (WJAR)

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Officers said the person that was hit remains in critical condition.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 19, 2026

Published

23 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 19, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

05-28-34-37-55, Powerball: 17, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

05-17-22-42-48, Lucky Ball: 16

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

Midday: 4-5-8-9

Evening: 2-9-6-2

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

09-13-26-34-36, Extra: 25

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.

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Rhode Island

Northern lights could be visible as far south as Alabama tonight

Published

1 day ago

January 19, 2026

Press Room

Northern lights could be visible as far south as Alabama tonight

A huge swath of the United States – including Rhode Island – has the chance to see the northern lights tonight, January 19.

“Aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and northern California,” NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center said.

The prediction center issued a severe watch of G4 geomagnetic storm, with a geomagnetic K-index of 8. The scale for a watch goes from G1 to G5.

With a watch of this severity, the storm could impact power systems, spacecraft operations and satellite and radio navigation beyond just creating the northern lights.

While Rhode Island is in the potential view line, partly cloudy skies may block the view in the Ocean State.

Map of where Northern lights may be visible tonight

In the forecast, the following states have the best chance of seeing on Jan. 19.

Washington
Idaho
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Michigan
Maine
Alaska

However, the following states are in the view line, which shows where people still may have a chance of seeing the phenomena.

Oregon
Wyoming
Nebraska
Iowa
Missouri
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
Pennsylvania
New York
Vermont
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Rhode Island

Even when you are in the potential view line for seeing the northern lights, it does not guarantee they will be visible.

When is the best time to see the northern lights?

The northern lights are typically most visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. according to NOAA.

How to see the northern lights

As always, dark skies make for better stargazing.

“We typically suggest getting away from cities and find a open field or hilltop to lay out under the stars and wait for the show to really peak at the late evening or early morning hours,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technical Instructor and Observatory Manager Tim Brothers said in a past interview with Wicked Local.

He continued, “In New England, heading for a local conservation area or park that keeps lighting off at night is ideal. Another option is a coastline away from the larger cities — the benefit being that the constellation where you will see most of the ‘shooting stars.’”