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Rhode Island
Court rules that Rhode Island can resume controversial truck-only tolling program
An appeals court ruled on Friday that the state of Rhode Island may resume the controversial RhodeWorks truck-only tolling program.
Court Rules Truck-Only Tolls Are Constitutional
On December 6, 2024, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced a decision from the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to allow the resumption of RhodeWorks truck tolls in Rhode Island.
From Neronha:
“In 2016, the General Assembly and Governor Raimondo made the decision that tolling trucks is in the best interest of all Rhode Islanders and a necessary revenue source to support repairs and upkeep of the state’s transportation system.
We have now successfully defended the legality and constitutionality of that decision.
Today, the First Circuit has held that, with the exception of caps on tolls, RhodeWorks is constitutional. We have been confident that this will be the eventual outcome, and we are grateful for the First Circuit’s well-reasoned decision in this case.“
What Was RhodeWorks?
RhodeWorks was an infrastructure funding plan passed into law in February of 2016 to toll commercial trucks and not passenger vehicles under the assumption that heavy commercial vehicles are causing the most damage to roads and bridges.
The tolling went into effect in June 2018.
Also in 2018, the American Trucking Associations (ATA), Cumberland Farms Inc., M&M Transport Services Inc., and New England Motor Freight filed a lawsuit against the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and other agencies over truck-only toll collection through RhodeWorks.
In September 2022, a judge sided with the truckers and ruled the RhodeWorks tolls were unconstitutional and in violation of the Dormant Commerce Clause, which forbids states from passing laws that place undue burdens on interstate commerce. The judge ordered that toll collection cease within 48 hours of that ruling.
CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island State Police are investigating a crash that happened on I-295 North in Cumberland Tuesday night.
The crash happened in the right lane near Exit 22 just before 9 p.m.
It’s unclear exactly what caused the crash or if anyone was injured.
12 News has reached out to Rhode Island State Police for more information but has not heard back.
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Scandals shake up Capitol Hill ahead of midterm elections
Congressional reporter Zachary Schermele dives into the latest scandals on Capitol Hill and how they’re shaking up politics ahead of midterms.
Rhode Island’s Democrat and Republican primary elections will officially be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9 this year, instead of the usual Tuesday election day.
Lawmakers passed the bill at the urging of state and local officials, who were concerned that an election day falling the day after Labor Day would not give them enough time to set up polls for the arrival of voters.
Gov. Dan McKee signed the bill on April 20, officially moving the primary day for 2026.
Which races will be on the ballot? The Republican and Democrat nominees for a swath of local offices – most notably governor but also lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Why was RI’s primary day moved?
At a hearing on the bill earlier this year, Randy Rossi, executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns explained the “significant logistical and financial challenges” municipalities otherwise would have faced having an election the day after Labor Day.
“Beyond cost, municipalities face serious logistical challenges accessing and setting up more than 430 polling locations on a major federal holiday, a process that often requires many hours and access to facilities that are typically closed and unstaffed on Labor Day,” he said.
“Compounding these challenges, many municipalities conduct early voting in city or town halls that must also serve as primary day polling locations,” Rossi noted.
Without changes to current law, he said, “municipalities would be required to conduct early voting and primary day polling simultaneously, often in the same limited space and with the same poll workers, requiring additional staffing and facilities.”
By the time this legislative hearing took place in January, other states facing similar issues, including Massachusetts, had already adjusted their primary dates, “and Rhode Island itself has demonstrated that alternative scheduling can be successful, as occurred during the statewide Wednesday primary in 2018,” Rossi said.
EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WPRI) — If you’re looking to satisfy you’re sweet tooth, look no further than Division Street.
Nothing Bundt Cakes opened its first Rhode Island bakery in East Greenwich earlier this month. The new bakery is situated within East Greenwich Square, which is also home to the Ocean State’s first Crumbl.
The bakery is known for its handcrafted specialty Bundt cakes, as well as smaller “Bundtlets,” and bite-sized “Bundtinis,” that come in a variety of flavors.
“There’s a strong sense of local pride, creativity, and community here that aligns perfectly with our values,” said Jake Williams, who owns the East Greenwich bakery. “We were drawn to the area’s vibrant small business culture and the opportunity to contribute something special.”
Nothing Bundt Cakes is also expected to open another bakery at Chapel View in Cranston later this year.
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