• Maria João “MJ” Albuquerque Martins and John Furtado will be the grand marshals for the 2026 RI Day of Portugal Parade.
• Both marshals are being recognized for their lifelong dedication to preserving Portuguese culture and serving their community.
• Martins is a longtime volunteer, photographer, and has held leadership roles in various Portuguese cultural organizations.
• Furtado, a second-generation Portuguese American, has volunteered for over 40 years at churches and cultural clubs.

Maria João “MJ” Albuquerque Martins and John Furtado will serve as the grand marshals of the 2026 RI Day of Portugal Parade.

Martins, a longtime RI Day of Portugal volunteer, will be recognized for “her lifelong dedication to preserving and uplifting Portuguese culture in Rhode Island,” according to RI Day of Portugal officials.

RI Day of Portugal: Festival’s full schedule, performers, parade route

Furtado will be recognized for his “lifelong dedication to volunteerism, cultural preservation, and service to the Portuguese‑American community.”

“This year we honor two of the most humble and hardworking individuals who have supported not only RI Day of Portugal, but many Portuguese organizations across Rhode Island,” said James Ferreira, president of the RI Day of Portugal Committee.

“These are the people who roll up their sleeves, the ones in the kitchen, cleaning up, setting up, and making things happen,” he added. “They represent the true spirit of service and community, and I’m deeply grateful for their dedication.”

BRISTOL, R.I. (WJAR) — A bill that puts restrictions on self-checkout lanes is headed to the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

The legislation would require grocery stores to have one staffed checkout lane for every three self-checkouts.

The bill was passed by the Rhode Island Senate on May 21.

Senate President Valarie Lawson said it is to help cashiers, as well as customers who may struggle with checking out their groceries, and Rep. Megan Cotter said the bill is about both cashier and customer protection.

However, Scott Bromberg, executive director of the Rhode Island Food Dealers Association, sees the bill in a different way.

Bromberg said he does not want limitations on self-checkout, and that consumers want the fast-shopping experience that self-checkout has to offer.

“The way modern consumers shop has changed, and they want a faster checkout,” he said.

However, Cotter claims that consumers want staffed registers.

Bristol resident Alan Gorbutt agrees and said he does not like self-checkout.

“I like the old-fashioned way. Just go to the regular checkout, seeing the regular lady with the happy smile. I get my groceries that way,” Gorbutt said.

Shopper Christine Auserwald said she will go between the two options but has a preference.

“I prefer manual checkout, but if the lines are too long, I do go to self-checkout,” Auserwald said.

Other customers said they only use self-checkout.

“More convenient, I’m mostly, in and out,” one shopper said.

Bromberg also voiced concern that the bill only limits grocery stores.

Customers using the self-checkout lanes. (WJAR)

“Right now, self-checkout is everywhere you can think of. It’s in hardware stores. It’s in pharmacies, dollars stores, craft stores, discount stores. And we just don’t understand why it only applies to grocery stores,” Bromberg said.

However, Cotter said the bill also includes retail stores Target and Walmart.

If passed, Rhode Island would be the first state in the country to have a statewide restriction on self-checkout.

COVENTRY, RI — Coventry area Kent County arrests in the RI Trooper Log  May 18- 30 involved charges for possession of a stolen vehicle and fentanyl possession.

Here are the basics on those RI State Police Kent County arrests and Kent County arrests:

Kent County Arrests May 18 – 30

Stolen vehicle On Wednesday, May 27, at 2:04 p.m., troopers arrested Miriam Ndemba, 26, of 147 Devonshire Street, Providence Rhode Island, on an Affidavit and Arrest Warrant for Vehicle Theft, originating out of the Providence Police Department. The arrest was the result of a motor vehicle stop on Route 95 in the Town of West Greenwich. The subject was transported to the State Police Hope Valley Barracks where she was processed and later turned over to the Providence Police Department.

Missed Court, Weapons Charge On Thursday May 28, 2026, at 10:52 p.m., troopers arrested Joshua Harrington, 19, of 9 Bunny Trail, Hope, Rhode Island, for a Third Division District Court Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear for Pretrial Conference on the original charge of Weapons Other Than Firearms, originating out of the Coventry Police Department.

This arrest was the result of a motor vehicle stop on Cowesett Avenue in the Town of West Warwick. Harrington was processed at the Hope Valley Barracks and turned over to the Adult Correctional Institutions Men’s Intake Center.

Fentanyl Possession On Friday May 29, at 10:32 p.m., troopers arrested Victoria Barrett, 33 of 981 Main St., West Warwick, Rhode Island, for 1.) Possession of Schedule I to V Controlled Substance – Less than 10 Grams (Fentanyl) and 2.) Affidavit and Arrest Warrant for Possession of Schedule I to V Controlled Substance, originating out of the Rhode Island State Police – Lincoln Woods Barracks. This arrest was the result of a Barracks investigation by Seargent O’Donnell and Troopers subsequently taking Barrett into custody at her residence. Barrett was processed at State Police Headquarters, arraigned by the Justice of the Peace, and transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions – Women’s Intake Center.