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Endangered stone walls; Matunuck Oyster Bar; clam shack winner: Top stories this week

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Endangered stone walls; Matunuck Oyster Bar; clam shack winner: Top stories this week


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  • A UConn professor is advocating for the preservation of New England’s historic stone walls.
  • A visitors guide to Rhode Island’s 21 lighthouses.
  • Matunuck Oyster Bar reopened under a temporary tent after a fire, with plans for a full rebuild by May 2026.
  • Rhode Island restaurants share their coping strategies amid inflation, tariffs and other economic challenges.

Here are some of The Providence Journal’s most-read stories for the week of June 30, supported by your subscriptions.

  • The Ocean State is naturally proud of the 21 lighthouses that dot its rocky shores, from its first – the 1749 Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown – to the sparkplug-style Plum Beach Lighthouse that graces one of Rhode Island’s specialty license plates. Here’s our guide to all 21, and how you can visit them – including one where you can stay overnight.
  • Film fans have been keeping tabs on Rhode Island’s latest brush with Hollywood: the shoots that have been popping up for M. Night Shyamalan’s supernatural romantic thriller “Remain,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Phoebe Dynevor and Ashley Walters. Here’s a rundown of where it’s filmed so far, and what we know about the plot.
  • Terry Francona’s return to Fenway Park this week has been a wistful reminder of a better Red Sox era, says Journal sportswriter Bill Koch, who looks back at the heady time of curse-busting World Series wins and a fearless front office and asks: Is there hope to regain that winning culture? For that and more sports news, go to providencejournal.com/sports.

Here are the week’s top reads on providencejournal.com:

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New England once had 240,000 miles of stone walls, enough to wrap around the Earth 10 times. But these iconic structures, woven into the region’s history, environment and identity, are endangered, according to stone walls expert Robert Thorson, who spoke about them at a special program in Little Compton on July 2.

Thorson, an Earth Science professor at the University of Connecticut, said that stone walls reveal geology, provide habitat for plants and animals, and even have military significance, as New England Colonists used them for cover when fighting the British in the Revolutionary War. Yet they lack legal protections from those who would “strip mine” them for profit.

Read on to find out how Thorson is spreading the word as a “stump evangelist for stone wall conservation” and advising communities on what they can do to protect these threatened landmarks.

Local news: One man’s quiet war to save New England’s oldest landmarks

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SOUTH KINGSTOWN – With pomp and politicians, Matunuck Oyster Bar reopened under a tent on June 30, across from the scene of a devastating May fire on Succotash Road.

The new dining space, offers breezes from the water, as it is set on the channel between Point Judith and Potter Pond, in front of owner Perry Raso’s new shellfish hatchery. With a wood floor, tent lighting and service stations, it feels well thought out and more like a restaurant than one would imagine, says Journal food editor Gail Ciampa.

Gail was there for the opening and heard Raso talk publicly for the first time about the May 20 fire that destroyed the restaurant, and his plans for the rebuild, which he hopes will be ready to reopen by May 20, 2026.

Dining: Matunuck Oyster Bar raises a tent as it rises from ashes. Go inside the interim restaurant

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The restaurant industry is unlike any other when it comes to navigating razor-thin profit margins, bouncing back from a volatile economy and finding ways to keep people fed.

Restaurant patronage is still below pre-pandemic levels, and restaurants have a new battle to fight as well – inflation.

Since the late 2000s, the cost of dining out has risen faster than supermarket prices. In a recent survey of more than 500 U.S. restaurants, more than half of all respondents ranked food inflation as their top challenge.

We talk to the owners of several Rhode Island restaurants to find out how they’re adapting to keep customers fed and keep the lights on.

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Local news: Caught between inflation, tariffs and egg prices, how do RI’s restaurants survive?

What are Rhode Islanders’ favorite places to fly to?

The federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics keeps track of such things, so we checked to see what the 10 favorite nonstop destinations in the United States for flights originating from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (excluding charters). 

Read the full story to check out our list of favorite destinations, including a couple that might surprise you.

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Travel: Is your favorite place among the Top 10 destinations for flights from T.F. Green?

Voters have spoken.

They overwhelmingly chose Roy Boy’s Clam Shack as the best clam shack in Rhode Island. The vote was 84.92% for Roy Boy’s over Champlin’s Seafood Deck, which received 16.02% of the vote in the final round.

In all, the North Kingstown restaurant bested 15 other clam shacks in The Journal’s bracket voting, which began June 11. Along the way, Roy Boy’s defeated some of Rhode Island’s best clam shacks, chosen for their locations, menus and specialties.

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It was a real roller-coaster ride for Roy Boy’s upset win. Read on for more on this relative newcomer, which opened only three years ago.

Seafood: Roy Boy’s Clam Shack wins bragging rights as RI’s best clam shack. How they got there

To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here.



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GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

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GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE


Saturday, January 10, 2026

 

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Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal

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Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.

Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”

The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.

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Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.

“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.

Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”

 

 

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Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz

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Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz


PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session this week with a focus on health care affordability, housing costs and economic stability, as leaders in both chambers warned of uncertainty tied to federal budget changes.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined House priorities centered on expanding access to health care while lowering costs, calling it the chamber’s top agenda item for the year. He also said lawmakers will continue addressing housing shortages and rising home energy costs, emphasizing the need for community input as policy decisions move forward.

In the Senate, President Valarie J. Lawson convened the chamber by urging bipartisan cooperation and announcing plans to introduce legislation supporting education, small businesses and the state’s health care system. Stabilizing hospitals and strengthening the primary care workforce were identified as key goals.

Both chambers paused to honor victims of the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, passing resolutions recognizing the victims and commending first responders. Lawmakers also observed a moment of silence.

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New legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara would require the Department of Education to adopt a zero-tolerance hazing policy in partnership with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, mandating clear and consistent discipline statewide.

Meanwhile, Reps. David Morales and Jennifer Stewart called on Gov. Dan McKee to fully fund public libraries in the upcoming state budget.

Speaker Shekarchi also announced several committee leadership changes, appointing Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee as chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith as chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee.

The week also marked the first Senate session for Sen. Stefano V. Famiglietti, who received committee assignments following his election to fill a vacant seat.

Legislative leaders capped the week by joining faith leaders at the 18th annual Rhode Island Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the State House, calling attention to legislation aimed at reducing poverty statewide.

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Temporary erosion protection systems installed at Second Beach in Middletown, Rhode Island



 

 


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RI Lottery Lucky For Life, Numbers Midday winning numbers for Jan. 8, 2026

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

05-12-13-39-48, Lucky Ball: 13

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

Midday: 9-9-1-3

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Evening: 0-9-6-6

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

01-07-12-30-35, Extra: 26

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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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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