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Rhode Island
Cat saved after days stuck in a tree following the blizzard that blanketed Rhode Island
Local News
Matt Lyons said he climbed 40 to 50 feet to save Pixie, who was stuck up in a tree during Rhode Island’s record snowstorm.
Pixie, a white and gray cat, weathered Rhode Island’s historic blizzard — stuck 50 feet up in the tree for nearly two full days. But, with three feet of snow on the ground, a local man climbed up and brought her back down to safety.
“She wanted to be safe. She was just petrified, overall freezing. Couldn’t stop shaking,” Matthew Lyons told Boston.com about the rescue. “For about half the climb down, I put her in my sweatshirt and let her head peek out so she could breathe.”
Heather MacKinnon, of East Providence, first noticed her neighbor’s cat Pixie high up in a tree in the shared backyard on Monday evening, as the hurricane-like winds blew and the snow piled quickly. The cat’s owner had been trying to get Pixie to come down from the tree since Sunday evening.
“This went on for hours. We tried everything that we could,” MacKinnon said, adding that they tried to help the cat with a two-by-four, stacking plastic chairs, and rolling over old tires left in the backyard.
Ultimately, the neighbors went to sleep Monday evening without getting the cat down, MacKinnon said. Police, fire, and animal control all said they couldn’t help, she said, advising the neighbors to instead reach out to tree services.
“I’m admitting defeat around like 10 o’clock that night, and everyone went back inside, and I’m just like, oh my god, what am I gonna do?” MacKinnon recalled. She called her aunt, who suggested sharing the situation on the Nextdoor app, a hyperlocal social media app that connects neighbors.
Lyons, a member of Ironworkers Local 37, and his sister saw the post on Tuesday.
“We were actually out shoveling and just decided to go see what we could do about it,” Lyons said. His sister saw the post on Nextdoor, and “if she can go out and help a person or an animal, she will,” Lyons said.
With loaders working to clear unplowed roads, it was difficult to get to the cat, Lyons said, but eventually they got to the tree, buried in snow. Using a nearby chicken wire fence, Lyons said he got to the low limbs nearly 10 feet off the ground.
“I’m confident with free climbing and all that stuff, and climbing that tree was really nothing,” Lyons said about what he estimated was 40 to 50 feet.
Once he got to the top, he put Pixie in his sweatshirt to begin his descent. When he was closer to the bottom, the neighbors congregating threw him a backpack to put Pixie in for him to safely climb down.
“It was crazy to watch,” MacKinnon said. “It was really incredible.”
Lyons said the neighbors almost seemed in shock, including the owner. Pixie is now back with her owner and doing well, MacKinnon said.
“They were very happy and relieved that the cat was down,” Lyons said. “They almost couldn’t believe it.”
Watch: Cat high up in the tree the night of the storm
(WJAR) — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha endorsed Democrat Helena Foulkes in her bid for Rhode Island Governor on Thursday.
Neronha spoke at a campaign event with Foulkes.
The term-limited Attorney General says he hadn’t been comfortable endorsing people because of his position.
Neronha said he had gotten to know Foulkes after she reached out to him about health care, an issue Neronha has been vocal about.
“I found Helena to be a great listener, a great thought partner, a person of integrity and character, and that is foremost why I’m endorsing her today,” he said.
“What Rhode Island needs today and into the future is strong capable leadership,” he said. “This is not a state that can afford to keep muddling around in the four, eight, ten, fifteen years.”
He said Foulkes could offer bold leadership.
Neronha has publicly admitted to having a strained relationship with Gov. Dan McKee.
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This story will be updated.
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing
07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from March 4 drawing
Midday: 2-7-4-4
Evening: 7-6-0-2
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from March 4 drawing
08-11-12-18-24, Extra: 15
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing
12-13-36-39-58, 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.
When it comes to expressing ourselves, Rhode Islanders have elevated license plates to an art form. You might not be able to get a new vanity plate — the state suspended applications in 2021 after a judge ruled a Tesla owner could keep his FKGAS plates — but you can still express your Rhody pride with one of seventeen state-approved charity plates. The program has funded ocean research, thrown parades, saved crumbling lighthouses and even provided meals for residents. About half of the $43.50 surcharge goes to the associated charity, while the other half covers the production cost.
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Atlantic Shark Institute
Year first approved: 2022
Plates currently on road: 7,007
Total raised: $269,530
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse
Year first approved: 2009
Plates currently on road: 5,024
Total raised: $336,890
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island
Year first approved: 2013
Plates currently on road: 2,102
Funds raised: $32,080
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Rocky Point Foundation
Year first approved: 2016
Plates currently on road: 1,616
Funds raised: $50,450
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Year first approved: 2002
Plates currently on road: 765
Funds raised since 2021: $11,060*
*Prior to 2021, customers ordered plates directly through the food bank, and total revenue numbers are not available.
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
Year first approved: 2009
Plates currently on road: 1,472
Funds raised: $136,740
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Save the Bay
Year first approved: 2006
Plates currently on road: 1,132
Funds raised: $61,380 for each organization (proceeds split evenly)
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Boston Bruins Foundation
Year first approved: 2014
Plates currently on road: 1,125
Funds raised: $36,880
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association
Year first approved: 2023
Plates currently on road: 1,105
Funds raised: $37,610
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Bristol Fourth of July Committee
Year first approved: 2011
Plates currently on road: 1,104
Funds raised: $17,640
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Red Sox Foundation
Year first approved: 2011
Plates currently on road: 860
Funds raised: $88,620
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation
Year first approved: 2012
Plates currently on road: 1,510
Funds raised: $33,360
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Providence College Angel Fund
Year first approved: 2016
Plates currently on road: 693
Funds raised: $23,220
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Rose Island Lighthouse and Fort Hamilton Trust
Year first approved: 2022
Plates currently on road: 383
Funds raised: $10,640
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
Year first approved: 2022
Plates currently on road: 257
Funds raised: $7,580
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Day of Portugal and Portuguese Heritage in RI Inc.
Year first APPROVED: 2018
Plates currently on road: 132
Funds raised: $3,190
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