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Former R.I. Rep. Joseph Lima dies, remembered for dedication to community and Portuguese culture

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Former R.I. Rep. Joseph Lima dies, remembered for dedication to community and Portuguese culture


PROVIDENCE – Joseph M. Lima, a prominent figure in the Portuguese-American community of Rhode Island, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the age of 78.

A former Rhode Island state representative and first president of the Rhode Island Day of Portugal celebrations at the R.I. State House, Lima is being remembered as a cherished leader who distinguished himself in public service and whose dedication and passion for celebrating Portuguese heritage and culture have left an indelible mark.

“Joe’s vision and leadership were instrumental in establishing the Rhode Island Day of Portugal, creating a vibrant and inclusive celebration that brought together countless individuals over the years,” said Orlando Mateus, who served as 41st President of the Day of Portugal and Portuguese Heritage in Rhode Island. “His legacy of fostering unity, pride, and cultural appreciation will continue to inspire us all.”

For Mateus, Lima was more than a longtime friend and mentor.

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“He was a guiding light whose dedication to Portuguese culture profoundly influenced my life,” he said. “His wisdom and counsel were always just a call away, and his unwavering commitment to community and heritage will forever inspire me.”

Marie Fraley, a past R.I. Day of Portugal Committee president and retired director of Rhode Island College’s Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies, said she’ll remember Lima as “a true statesman, gentleman, and family man who was a community builder.”

“As the first President of the Rhode Island Day of Portugal celebration, he was the foundation of a rich and enduring tradition that continues until this day in Rhode Island,” she said. “His warmth and wisdom will be sorely missed.”

The immediate past president of the R.I. Day of Portugal committee Ana Isabel dos Reis-Couto described Lima as “a pillar of the Portuguese community.”

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“He recognized that effective leadership was rooted in a deep pride for our cultural heritage, and that to embrace our history not only strengthens our identity but also fosters a sense of belonging and unity among community members,” she said. “[He] believed in celebrating our traditions, values, and contributions to society so that our culture and heritage was vibrant. He was a steward of our culture, ensuring that our rich narratives and experiences were honored and shared, so that ultimately, they enriched the broader community while fostering resilience and solidarity. That is a legacy that will forever be remembered.”

Councilor for the Portuguese Communities Marcia da Ponte said the community is poorer for Lima’s passing.

“He was a great Portuguese,” she said. “He was proud of his roots and a great advocate for his community. Always very polite, humble and with a great sense of responsibility. May the example of his life be a great inspiration to us all.”

What is Joseph Lima known for?

Born in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Lima came to the United States in 1959 at age 13.

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According to his obituary, he worked in management at Davol Rubber Company in Providence, and then moved on to sales positions at for-profit schools, including serving as the Northeast Regional Sales Director at an airline training school out of Miami Beach.

He retired as the Director of Admissions and Corporate Training Coordinator at New England Tractor Trailer Training School in Pawtucket, R.I.

In 1976, he was elected to the R.I. House of Representatives and served from 1977 to 1984, representing Providence as Deputy Majority Leader on the House Finance Committee and on House Education and Corrections Sub-Committees.

He was instrumental in eliminating the state tax on clothing and in opening House Committee meetings to the general public.

He served as Chairman of the Legislative Commission on English as a Second Language and introduced legislation creating the Portuguese Cultural Foundation in Rhode Island.

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He also recommended to Governor Joseph J. Garrahy the appointment of M. Rachel Sousa Cunha to the R.I. Board of Regents, known today as the RI Board of Education.

He was the proponent of Peter Francisco Day in the State of Rhode Island.

He remained an active board member of the Rhode Island Day of Portugal and had the honor of serving as Grand Marshal of the 40th celebration in 2017.

When is Joseph Lima’s funeral?

Lima leaves behind his wife Teresa of 39 years, five children (Lori Medeiros and her husband Fred; Wayne J. Lima; Lisa M. Speel and her husband John; Soraya Rodrigues and her fiancé Shikenya, and Bruno Rodrigues) and eight grandchildren.

His funeral will be held on Monday, Oct. 21 at 9 a.m. from the Perry-McStay Funeral Home, 2555 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence, R.I.

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A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, at 21 Traverse St., Providence, R.I.

Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Calling hours will be Sunday, Oct. 20 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that contributions be made to Hope & Faith Drive, LLC., 18 Intervale Ave., East Providence, R.I. 02914.



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Rhode Island State Police, DEA agents seize 141,000 Fetanyl pills | ABC6

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Rhode Island State Police, DEA agents seize 141,000 Fetanyl pills | ABC6


An operation by Rhode Island State Police, the DEA, and Massachusetts State Police seized 141,000 Fentanyl pills. (Rhode Island State Police)

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said that a joint operation with the DEA Providence District Office and the Massachusetts State Police in Johnston, Warwick, and Massachusetts resulted in the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of 141,000 Fentanyl pills.

Yhoan A Carmona German, Josue Carmona German, Angel F. Pena Rodriguez, and Debhani Garza were all arrested as part of the operation.

State police said the operation took place in September and October and was the result of an investigation into a Dominican Drug Trafficking Organization.

Some the charges the suspects face include possession with the intent to distribute narcotics and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

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Rhode Island public school charges mother $117K for records request about teacher who called Charlie Kirk ‘garbage’

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Rhode Island public school charges mother 7K for records request about teacher who called Charlie Kirk ‘garbage’


A Rhode Island public school district reportedly charged a mother roughly $117,000 for records pertaining to a high school teacher who was placed on paid leave after calling slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk a “piece of garbage.”

Benjamin Fillo, a social studies teacher at Barrington High School, was ousted in September shortly after posting a rant on TikTok branding Kirk a “piece of garbage” who “hated” the LGBTQ community, women’s rights, and democracy.

Benjamin Fillo, a social studies teacher at Barrington High School, was placed on paid leave after posting a rant about Charlie Kirk on TikTok. @whawazat18/TikTok

One irate mother submitted a public records request for information related to Fillo’s school email and course materials — but the district pushed back with a steep fee, according to a letter from the law firm representing Barrington Public Schools.

Nicole Solas sought to obtain any emails Fillo sent from Sept. 1 2024 onward referencing “Trump” and a secondary request for more email correspondences sent since Jan 1. 2016 also flagging “Trump.”

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Solas additionally asked for all of Fillo’s “curriculum materials” he used “to teach the young and impressionable minds of other people’s children who are entitled to an education free from indoctrination,” according to the letter.

Nicole Solas, a parent who doesn’t have children in the Barrington School District, sought to obtain Fillo’s curriculum and emails.

The law firm wrote that Solas clarified she was looking for all material Fillo used since he started teaching at the school in 2010, which came out to thousands of documents from 157 courses stored in three different learning management systems, according to the letter.

The records request flagged a staggering 789 emails Fillo sent containing the word “Trump” since Sept. 1 2024, according to the letter.

Solas’ request, though, wasn’t cheap.

If she wanted to obtain all the requested materials, she would have to fork over $117,130.50 — with the 15-year curriculum alone costing roughly $116,000, according to the letter.

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Fillo called Kirk a “piece of garbage” who “hated” democracy. AP

“This estimate that we received is exorbitant, completely unreasonable, just to get the curriculum materials,” Solas told Fox News Digital in an interview Thursday.

Solas told the outlet that she insisted on reviewing the curriculum materials in full because that is “the only way that you can see what kids are [doing] in public schools.”

Solas noted that she does not live in the Barrington School District and sent her children to private school.

She’s now pushing the school to release the materials free of charge.

“I just don’t see how this can stand if we file a lawsuit on it,” Solas said.

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Parents and students went to a school board meeting pushing for Fillo to be permanently removed from the school in September. Barrington Public Schools

Shortly after Fillo was placed on leave, a group of outraged students and parents stormed into a school board meeting to push for Fillo’s permanent removal.

“No matter what anyone says to me, I will never stand for violence, especially of a man who was publicly murdered in front of his wife, one of his children and thousands of students and other bystanders,” Jakari, one of Fillo’s students, said during the meeting.

Kirk was assassinated during a stop on his Turning Point USA American Comeback tour at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. His alleged gunman, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.



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RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Oct. 29, 2025

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Oct. 29, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Oct. 29 drawing

04-24-49-60-65, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Oct. 29 drawing

03-04-33-36-43, Lucky Ball: 02

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Oct. 29 drawing

Midday: 3-2-7-5

Evening: 4-7-2-4

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Oct. 29 drawing

09-10-14-20-25, Extra: 08

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Check Wild Money 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 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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