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Childcare workers another critical part of RI’s infrastructure | Opinion

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Childcare workers another critical part of RI’s infrastructure | Opinion


Rep. Susan R. Donovan (D-District 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) is chairwoman of the House Health and Human Services Committee. Sen. Sandra Cano (D-District 8, Pawtucket) is chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee.

In a recent commentary, early education advocates Lisa Hildebrand and Khadija Lewis Khan drew a very appropriate comparison between Rhode Island’s child care resources and the Washington Bridge, noting that both are critical infrastructure whose challenges create serious obstacles to working Rhode Islanders.

More: Education advocacy group unveils legislative agenda for 2024. Here’s what’s in it

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We couldn’t agree more, and are just as committed to strengthening early education programs in our state as we are to ensuring a safe and swift solution to the bridge fiasco. But unlike the problems that led to the failure of the bridge, the causes and solutions to our child care problems are quite clear.

Simply put, it’s funding. It’s virtually impossible to provide the high-quality child care that working families need at a price they can afford. The result is a tug-of-war that no one is winning – families cannot afford child care and early educators cannot afford to live on their income, which is generally lower than entry-level fast food wages.

That is why we are making the Rhode Island Early Educator Compensation Stabilization Act (H7251, S2038) one of our highest priorities this legislative session. Our bill would sustain and strengthen existing workforce development and compensation programs for educators working in licensed child care and early learning programs statewide, funding the continuation of workforce development and retention bonuses for our state’s dedicated, valuable, yet incredibly underpaid early educators.

More: Everyone wants something from Rhode Island’s part-time lawmakers. Here’s the list.

The bill would continue the Child Care WAGE$ salary supplement program, as well as a pandemic-era quarterly retention bonus of $750 for the lowest wage early educators who work directly with children and have been consistently employed in the same program.

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These programs have helped retain early education staff since the pandemic. Our state will face a child care crisis if funding ends this year.

We have been working to bolster support from our legislative colleagues and our chambers’ leadership for this important measure to help ensure that the devoted staff members of child care and early learning programs can afford to keep the jobs they love. If they can’t afford to work, neither can the families who depend on them.



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Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo nominated to Costco board – The Boston Globe

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Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo nominated to Costco board – The Boston Globe


Costco is nominating former US commerce secretary and Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo to serve on its board of directors, the Washington state-based retail giant announced last week.

“We are very pleased to nominate Secretary Raimondo for election to our Board,” Costco chairman Hamilton James said in a statement. “Her vast experience in global business, politics and international security at the highest level will add an important dimension to our current expertise. We look forward to her contributions.”

Raimondo served as Rhode Island governor from 2015 to 2021, when she was tapped to serve as the Biden administration’s secretary of commerce. Before entering politics in 2010, she worked in venture capital.

Her nomination will likely be voted on at the company’s next shareholders’ meeting, scheduled for Jan. 15.

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The nomination comes days after the warehouse store announced it would sue the Trump administration over its tariff policy. Costco says the administration’s tariffs are unlawful, since they were imposed under a law that has historically been used to impose sanctions against other nations.

Earlier this year, Raimondo said she is considering running for president in 2028, becoming one of the first Democrats to do so. She also criticized the direction of the party and suggested it had ignored bread-and-butter economics issues in 2024 election loss to Donald Trump.

She added, though, that “if I thought somebody else would be better, or better able to win, I’d get behind that person in a minute.”

Costco does not currently operate any stores in Rhode Island. The nearest location is located on Interstate 95 in Sharon, Mass., according to the company’s website.

Last year, the company seemed to back away from a plan to build a warehouse at a shuttered correctional facility in Cranston, WPRI reported. Officials in Warwick and Smithfield have also expressed interest in bringing the box store to their communities.

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Material from previous Globe coverage and Globe wire services was used.


Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.





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Archie’s game-winner leads McNeese past Rhode Island, 66-64

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Archie’s game-winner leads McNeese past Rhode Island, 66-64


KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — Tyshawn Archie scored the game-winning jump shot with two seconds left and racked up 18 total points to lead McNeese past Rhode Island 66-64 on Tuesday.

Archie went 7 of 12 from the field for the Cowboys (8-2, 1-1 Southland Conference). Jovohn Garcia scored 13 points while shooting 4 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Larry Johnson shot 4 of 11 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points.

Jahmere Tripp finished with 16 points and three steals for the Rams (7-4). Myles Corey added 12 points for Rhode Island. Keeyan Itejere had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

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McNeese went into halftime tied with Rhode Island 37-37. Archie scored eight points in the half. Archie scored 10 second-half points for McNeese to help set up their game-winning shot.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



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Facing lawsuits, Trump administration pulls back contentious HUD grant changes just before court hearing – The Boston Globe

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Facing lawsuits, Trump administration pulls back contentious HUD grant changes just before court hearing – The Boston Globe


The lawsuits allege the administration violated congressional intent by dramatically reducing the amount of grant funding that can be spent on permanent housing and project renewals, from about 90 percent down to a third of the funding.

HUD also planned to place new restrictions on access to the funds, including requirements mandating providers recognize only two genders, and punishing providers in localities that do not roll out strict anti-homeless laws.

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Monday’s filing states the government plans to “assess the issues raised” and release a revised notice.

“Because the December and January deadlines set by the 2025 [funding notice] are no longer operative, Plaintiff’s request for emergency, expedited relief via a Temporary Restraining Order is now moot,” the filing argues.

In an update posted to the HUD website, the department said in the previous fiscal year 2024-2025 funding notice, it “reserved the right to make changes to the [funding notice] instead of processing renewals for a variety of reasons.”

“The Department still intends to exercise this discretion and make changes to the previously issued [Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity] to account for new priorities,” the update states.

US District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy criticized the Trump administration for the sudden withdrawal at Monday’s hearing, according to Reuters.

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“It feels like intentional chaos,” said McElroy. “You can change the policy all you want [but] there’s a mechanism for doing so.”

McElroy ordered the Trump administration to file new arguments by next week, Politico reported.

Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report.


Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.





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