Rhode Island

From Minnesota, @short_pants weighs in on Tim Walz – The Boston Globe

Published

9 months ago

August 7, 2024

From Minnesota, @short_pants weighs in on Tim Walz – The Boston Globe

So Driscoll, who was on jury duty Tuesday, agreed to provide a scouting report on Harris’s vice presidential pick.

”He’s your Midwestern uncle,” Driscoll said of Walz. “There is plainspokenness to him, but dedication. He has been the real deal for a long time.”Harris clearly saw Walz as an effective communicator, he said, noting Walz went viral after describing former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, as “weird.”

He said Harris must have been impressed with Walz’s “working family agenda,” which has included signing legislation to provide free school breakfasts and lunches to all students regardless of income, and legislation providing paid family and medical leave for Minnesotans.

Also, he said Harris must have seen Walz as a governing partner who has executive experience and is now chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.

Republicans have criticized Walz’s handling of the 2020 protests following the police killing of George Floyd. But Driscoll said, “The governor was operating under extraordinary conditions between the pandemic and civil unrest, and he provided calm and steady leadership.”

Some had expected Harris to choose a vice president from a swing state, such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. But Driscoll noted Obama picked Joe Biden although he represented Delaware, which is far from a swing state.

While Republicans are casting Walz as far left, Driscoll said the “authentic” and “avuncular” governor will help win over Midwestern voters while combatting attempts to paint the ticket as too liberal. He said Walz never seems more at home than when he’s taking part in the opening of the fishing and hunting seasons in Minnesota.

But Driscoll joked that Walz gives off a “different vibe” than former Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun, who made headlines for shooting three racoons on his waterfront estate in Newport in 1993. “He is not going to be shooting raccoons on the front lawn of the governor’s mansion,” he said of Walz.

And that brings us back to the story of why Driscoll still uses the handle @short_pants on X (formerly Twitter).

In 2008, Driscoll was a field organizer for Obama’s Rhode Island campaign when an elderly man stopped by campaign headquarters as Driscoll was charging a woman $3 for an Obama bumper sticker. A man stepped forward, saying, “Do you know who I am?” Driscoll said, “Sorry, sir, I don’t.” “I’m Bruce Sundlun!” the man boomed. Driscoll jumped out of his seat. “Do you know why I’m here?” Sundlun asked. Driscoll said, “No, sir.” Sundlun told him, “I’m here to kick your (butt)!” Sundlun, who lived in Jamestown, said he’d counted 18 John McCain signs on Aquidneck Island and not a single Obama sign. Raymond J. Sullivan Jr., then the Obama campaign’s state director, said they didn’t have signs yet but he gave him Obama T-shirts and bumper stickers. “Are they free?” Sundlun asked. Sullivan said, “Of course, governor.””Well, (expletive) short pants here is hustling bumper stickers at $3 a pop,” Sundlun said, pointing at Driscoll, who was wearing shorts.

This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.

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Rhode Island

Colleagues and friends bid farewell to RI Senate President Ruggerio at funeral service | ABC6

Published

5 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Press Room

Colleagues and friends bid farewell to RI Senate President Ruggerio at funeral service | ABC6

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Late Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio was laid to rest Monday.

“It’s a sad day, this whole entire week when we learned about his passing the day after Easter,” Rhode Island Senator Leonidas Raptakis said.

On Monday, colleagues and friends gathered at Saint Anthony’s Church to honor the life of Ruggerio, who died on April 21 after a battle with cancer at the age of 76.

“I served with President Ruggerio since I was first elected to senate in 1997,” Raptakis said. “He was very kind to everyone. He had an open-door policy and would work with you. If it was legislation that was very important he would work with you, and he was a man of his words. Whatever he said he kept his promise, and it was important not only to the people of Rhode Island but to his district.”

His funeral procession stopped by the State House one last time, where Ruggerio served for more than 40 years.

During that time, Ruggerio earned the trust of his colleagues, eventually serving as the majority leader starting in 2010 and senate president in 2017.

“It is sad to see someone, after so many years, that we lose a hero, a statesman, and that’s what he truly was,” Raptakis said.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Lucky For Life, Numbers Midday winning numbers for April 27, 2025

Published

24 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at April 27, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from April 27 drawing

04-19-35-36-41, Lucky Ball: 05

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from April 27 drawing

Midday: 1-8-7-0

Evening: 4-3-4-2

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from April 27 drawing

05-18-23-26-37, Extra: 24

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. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for April 26, 2025

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at April 26, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from April 26 drawing

01-12-14-18-69, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from April 26 drawing

15-38-40-45-48, Lucky Ball: 06

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from April 26 drawing

Midday: 9-4-6-9

Evening: 1-3-7-3

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from April 26 drawing

05-18-25-29-37, Extra: 20

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.