Rhode Island
Garden City dining, top-paid state workers, Swift wedding. Journal top stories
Why the flu is so bad this year, and how to protect yourself
The flu is especially bad this year. Reporter Jonny Williams breaks down what you can do to protect yourself.
Here are some of The Providence Journal’s most-read stories for the week of Jan. 11, supported by your subscriptions.
Here are the week’s top reads on providencejournal.com:
Cranston’s Garden City Center has announced two new restaurants that will be opening their doors this year and in 2027, and confirmed the sites for two other previously announced restaurants.
Each of the four restaurants will open its first Rhode Island locations at Garden City Center.
Journal food editor Gail Ciampa fills you in on the new lineup, where you’ll be able to get everything from noodles to bagels to authentic Mexican specialties and New Haven-style thin-crust pizzas.
Dining: Newport Creamery is gone. These restaurants are coming to Garden City.
University of Rhode Island men’s basketball coach Ryan “Archie” Miller was once again the highest-earning state employee of the year in 2025, marking his third year at the top and among familiar faces.
A list of the state’s top 200 earners provided by the Department of Administration tallied up employees’ wages in 2025, until Nov. 15. It had little variation from previous years and saw the same five highest earners as 2024.
Each employee earned more than $200,000, and as usual it was overwhelmingly full of URI administrators and coaches, along with state police, correctional officers and health care staff at state hospitals.
Political Scene: Which RI state employees made the most money in 2025?
I asked Anna Gruttadauria if the terrible news of the Swiss nightclub fire had brought back memories of her daughter Pam.
Yes, said Anna – but really, she has thought of Pam every day since losing her almost 23 years ago in The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick. One hundred people died in that tragedy, and Pam Gruttadauria was the last. She persevered for three months at Massachusetts General Hospital before succumbing to her injuries at age 33.
The fire that killed 40 people at a club called Le Constellation at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland was remarkably similar to the Station fire. Both were caused by indoor pyrotechnics that ignited flammable materials inside.
Anna Gruttadauria and her husband, Joe, can’t help but ask themselves: How is it possible that the lessons of the Station fire were not learned?
Mark Patinkin: Swiss nightclub fire brings back memories for family of Station victim
Imagine a crowd of A-list celebrities descending on the village of Watch Hill in Westerly this summer to attend the wedding of mega celebrity Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce.
To Chuck O’Koomian, who owns Airline Express Limousine and Car Service with his wife, Ginny Cauley, it’s like a scene out of a horror movie.
“It’s going to be a logistical nightmare,” O’Koomian told The Providence Journal, as part of our survey of wedding vendors about what it would take for the Ocean State to host a wedding befitting the world’s most popular woman.
No date or location has been announced for the nuptials, but here’s what would be involved in getting a large celebrity crowd to a wedding held at Swift’s Watch Hill mansion, the nearby Ocean House or the Watch Hill Chapel, where former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo and football star Christian McCaffrey tied the knot in 2024.
Local news: Why a Taylor Swift wedding might shut down Westerly streets
Amy Henion doesn’t live in a tiny house, per se, but her apartment is about as close as you can get to that in Providence.
She lives in the Arcade, the first indoor mall in America, which has been partially repurposed for residential living (there are 24 apartments each on the second and third floors of the old mall).
Henion, who used to work for a tiny house blog and has written a book and even given a TED Talk about small living, moved in four years ago.
She now runs a public Instagram page − “I Live in the Mall” − dedicated to life in the mall and her micro-apartment.
What are the pros and cons of living in an apartment the size of three parking spaces? Read the full story to find out.
5 questions: Providence mall resident’s ‘dream’ apartment is just 250 square feet
To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here.
Rhode Island
Attorney General Neronha endorses Democrat Helena Foulkes for Rhode Island Governor
(WJAR) — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha endorsed Democrat Helena Foulkes in her bid for Rhode Island Governor on Thursday.
Neronha spoke at a campaign event with Foulkes.
The term-limited Attorney General says he hadn’t been comfortable endorsing people because of his position.
Neronha said he had gotten to know Foulkes after she reached out to him about health care, an issue Neronha has been vocal about.
“I found Helena to be a great listener, a great thought partner, a person of integrity and character, and that is foremost why I’m endorsing her today,” he said.
“What Rhode Island needs today and into the future is strong capable leadership,” he said. “This is not a state that can afford to keep muddling around in the four, eight, ten, fifteen years.”
He said Foulkes could offer bold leadership.
Neronha has publicly admitted to having a strained relationship with Gov. Dan McKee.
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This story will be updated.
Rhode Island
RI Lottery Powerball, Numbers Midday winning numbers for March 4, 2026
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing
07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from March 4 drawing
Midday: 2-7-4-4
Evening: 7-6-0-2
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from March 4 drawing
08-11-12-18-24, Extra: 15
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing
12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life 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 Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 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.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 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.
Rhode Island
Ranking Rhode Island’s Most Popular Charity License Plates – Rhode Island Monthly
When it comes to expressing ourselves, Rhode Islanders have elevated license plates to an art form. You might not be able to get a new vanity plate — the state suspended applications in 2021 after a judge ruled a Tesla owner could keep his FKGAS plates — but you can still express your Rhody pride with one of seventeen state-approved charity plates. The program has funded ocean research, thrown parades, saved crumbling lighthouses and even provided meals for residents. About half of the $43.50 surcharge goes to the associated charity, while the other half covers the production cost.
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Atlantic Shark Institute
Year first approved: 2022
Plates currently on road: 7,007
Total raised: $269,530
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse
Year first approved: 2009
Plates currently on road: 5,024
Total raised: $336,890
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island
Year first approved: 2013
Plates currently on road: 2,102
Funds raised: $32,080
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Rocky Point Foundation
Year first approved: 2016
Plates currently on road: 1,616
Funds raised: $50,450
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Year first approved: 2002
Plates currently on road: 765
Funds raised since 2021: $11,060*
*Prior to 2021, customers ordered plates directly through the food bank, and total revenue numbers are not available.
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
Year first approved: 2009
Plates currently on road: 1,472
Funds raised: $136,740
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Save the Bay
Year first approved: 2006
Plates currently on road: 1,132
Funds raised: $61,380 for each organization (proceeds split evenly)
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Boston Bruins Foundation
Year first approved: 2014
Plates currently on road: 1,125
Funds raised: $36,880
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association
Year first approved: 2023
Plates currently on road: 1,105
Funds raised: $37,610
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Bristol Fourth of July Committee
Year first approved: 2011
Plates currently on road: 1,104
Funds raised: $17,640
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Red Sox Foundation
Year first approved: 2011
Plates currently on road: 860
Funds raised: $88,620
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation
Year first approved: 2012
Plates currently on road: 1,510
Funds raised: $33,360
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Providence College Angel Fund
Year first approved: 2016
Plates currently on road: 693
Funds raised: $23,220
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Rose Island Lighthouse and Fort Hamilton Trust
Year first approved: 2022
Plates currently on road: 383
Funds raised: $10,640
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
Year first approved: 2022
Plates currently on road: 257
Funds raised: $7,580
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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.
Day of Portugal and Portuguese Heritage in RI Inc.
Year first APPROVED: 2018
Plates currently on road: 132
Funds raised: $3,190
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