Rhode Island
It’s election season in Rhode Island once again. These are the storylines to watch.
PROVIDENCE – Comeback bids. Family feuds. At least two cops, past and present, on the hunt for legislative seats, including a major in the Cranston police department with a colorful history. And a re-run of the election-year political drama Cioe V. Ruggerio.
With a deadline of 4 p.m. Wednesday to declare candidacy, it appeared that as many as 20 seats in the 38-member Senate might go uncontested, and as many as many as 45 in the 75-member House. As of mid-day, the GOP had only mustered 35 candidates for the 113 legislative seats up for grabs this year.
Next step: the candidates need to gather enough signatures on nominating papers to qualify for the ballot.
Races to watch:
Cioe V. Ruggerio: Lenny Cioe came within 341 votes the first time he challenged Senate President Dominick Ruggerio for his seat, representing Senate District 4 on the Providence-North Providence line, and he actually beat him in some precincts.
A registered nurse, Cioe was the progressive running under the banner of the Rhode Island Political Cooperative against an old school conservative-Democrat in his 70’s.
In 2022, Ruggerio took his challenge more seriously, knocking on doors in his home district in 90-degree heat with a reminder he’d welcome every vote.
Ruggerio acknowledged he won’t be knocking on doors this year as he undergoes treatment for cancer. His health issues left him unable to attend Senate sessions for over a month late in the season.
Shekarchi v. Traversie: House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi is facing Dana Traversie, the same Republican challenger he beat 60%-40% two years ago.
Other rematches to watch for:
Several defeated former lawmakers want their seats back.
They include former Rep. Justin Price, the Richmond Republican who took part in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Price acknowledged on social media that he marched to the Capitol, but said he didn’t enter the building and blamed those affiliated with “Antifa” and “Black Lives Matter” for the violence.
Price is challenging Rep. Megan Cotter, the Democrat who beat him two years ago in House District 39 overlapping Exeter, Hopkinton, and Richmond.
Former Rep. Jean Philippe Barros is seeking to recapture the House District 59 seat, representing Pawtucket, that he lost to Rep. Jennifer Stewart.
Former Rep. James McLaughlin of Cumberland initially declared his candidacy for both a Senate seat and House and the House District 57 seat, representing Cumberland and Central Falls, that he lost to Rep. Brendan Voas – a cousin of Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson – two years ago. He filed but then withdrew his candidacy for Pearson’s Senate District 19 seat.
McLaughlin – who cannot run for both seats and will ultimately have to make a choice – was one of the most conservative Democrats in the House and is best remembered for carrying a painting of Jesus with him to House sessions to signal his views on abortion. He filed to run for both seats as an independent.
Former Rep. Bernard Hawkins, a pro-gun Democrat who voted against three major gun safety bills in 2022, is seeking to regain the Glocester-Smithfield House District 53 seat he lost two years ago to Republican Brian Rea, who is not seeking reelection.
After some teasing, Former Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt put out a statement Wednesday afternoon saying she is not running to recapture her old House seat.
Family Affairs:
Get ready for a re-run of the Family Feud: The Johnston battle between Rep. Edward T. Cardillo Jr. who won by 83 votes last time out, and his nephew, Dennis Cardillo Jr. is back on.
The two Cardillos will face each other a second time in the Democratic primary for House District 42, which covers a large swath of Johnston and a small piece of Cranston. A third, more progressive Democrat, Kelsey Coletta – the daughter of House Majority Floor Manager Rep. Jay Edwards, has also filed to run again.
Among the highlights from the 2022 race: Rep. Edward Cardillo said he hired a private investigator to conduct surveillance on his nephew to prove he was lying about living in the district, which his nephew denied Dennis Cardillo accusing his uncle of “stalking.”
The backstory: Rep. Cardillo and his brother, Dennis Cardillo, were mired for years in a bitter, highly litigious dispute over the former Cardillo Bros. scrapyard.
Open seats:
House District 15: With Republican Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung running for Cranston mayor against incumbent Ken Hopkins, Democrat Maria Bucci, who ran and lost to Hopkins four years ago, is seeking Fenton-Fung’s House District 15 seat. Republican Christopher Paplauskas, a Cranston councilman who is a close ally of Hopkins, is also running.
Senate District 26: Cranston Police Major Todd Patalano is one of the three candidates vying for the seat held by Sen. Frank Lombardi, who is not seeking reelection. Patalano is running as a Democrat; Jennifer Caputi as a Republican.
Patalano was placed on paid leave for two years and then promoted in the wake of a scandal – during then-Mayor Allan Fung’s tenure – involving the issuing of parking tickets in two wards, allegedly in retaliation for votes against a proposed police labor contract by the councilmen who represent those wards.
House District 21: With Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson bowing out, current Democratic Warwick City Councilman James McElroy is running. (His daughter, Kelly McElroy, is the chief judge of the Warwick Municipal Court.)
House District 26: With Republican Rep. Patricia Morgan seeking the GOP nod to run for the U.S. Senate, Democrat Earl Read, a retired Warwick police officer and current public school teacher; Republican Jeffrey Fisher; and Vin Marzullo, running as an Independent, are vying for the seat.
House District 64: With Rep. Brianna Henries not seeking reelection, two other Democrats have filed to run for her seat: current East Providence School Committee Chairwoman Jenni Furtado and Ashley Pereira.
Pereira agreed earlier this year to pay a $1,500 fine by July for breaches of campaign finance rules when she last ran for the seat in 2022, including use of campaign dollars for personal expenses; failures to report other expenses; and file three quarterly reports, according to a consent agreement with the Board of Elections.

Rhode Island
Providence man arrested in connection to narcotics and firearms investigation | ABC6

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said a Providence man was arrested after police allegedly discovered multiple narcotics and a gun inside two residences on Sept. 23.
47-year-old Joel Garcia was charged with possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver one ounce to one kilogram of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to deliver fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and distribution of a controlled substance in a school zone.
According to RISP, police received court-authorized search warrants for two residences in Providence in connection to a narcotics and firearms investigation.
Inside an apartment on Dresser Street, police allegedly seized 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.3 kilograms of cocaine, and 147 grams of methamphetamine.
Police also searched Garcia’s residence on Portland Street and allegedly seized one fully loaded pistol.
According to police, Garcia had allegedly used the apartment on Dresser Street to “store, package, and distribute large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.”
Garcia was arrested and charged.
RISP, Providence police, Cranston police, North Providence police, Johnston police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program assisted in the investigation.
Rhode Island
The Ocean State’s Bond With Robert Redford

Millions have been mourning the death of a cinematic icon over the last week with the passing of Robert Redford at age 89.
The award-winning actor is arguably one of the most famous of all time. With over 70 films to his credit on screen and nine he directed throughout his career, Redford’s work in cinema stands out as some of the greatest.
Though only two of Redford’s movies were ever filmed in Rhode Island, the Oscar-winning actor has a deep connection with the Ocean State.
Redford’s Family Roots Near Rhode Island
Though no Redfords actually lived in Rhode Island, Robert’s family was longtime residents of Stonington, CT and several members were born in nearby Westerly, RI.
READ MORE: ‘Sopranos’ Star Officially Becomes a Rhode Island Resident
Throughout Robert Redford’s childhood there were visits to his grandparents in Stonington, where his grandfather worked as a milkman.
Presumably this time in Stonington meant crossing the state line into Westerly on more than one occasion in his youth and perhaps led to his love of the Rhode Island seaside in later years.
Filming The Great Gatsby in Newport
During his career, Redford came to Newport in the 1970s to film The Great Gatsby at the historic Rosecliff Mansion. Decades later he returned to Rhode Island with the science fiction film The Discovery and even wrote a thank you letter to Newport, praising their preservation efforts in the city.
READ MORE: HGTV Says You Need to Drive This Road in Newport
Though when he did ultimately settle in New England, Redford chose Weston, CT as his home for almost two decades. He purchased a home not too far from his close friend and fellow actor, Paul Newman.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Rhode Island Honors Robert Redford
Rhode Island never forgot its ties to the beloved actor however. In 2002 Redford was asked to be the commencement speaker at Brown University and that same year Trinity Repertory Company awarded him a Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.
Just one of the many lifetime achievement awards Robert Redford would go on to accumulate during his illustrious career.
20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Academy Award and Golden Globe Winners from Massachusetts
These Massachusetts natives have taken home some of Hollywood’s top honors.
Gallery Credit: Michaela Johnson
30 Things To Do in Newport Any Time of Year
Newport has always been seen as a summer destination. Wealthy New Yorkers used to escape the city in the hotter months for this picturesque seaside spot and the label as a summer vacation destination began.
There are, however, plenty of things to do in this historic town in any season and we’ve found a few that you may want to try the next time you head to Newport.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | Sports | VIDEO: Providence’s Lassiter Scores 44-Yard TD in Vanderbilt’s Upset Over #11 South Carolina

Sunday, September 14, 2025
Zell Lassiter
PHOTO: Via Vanderbilt
Providence’s Jamezell Lassiter had a big play on a huge stage on Saturday when Vanderbilt football upset #11 South Carolina. SEE 7:25 MARK.
Lassiter, who played for the Edgewood Eagles and the Mount Hope Cowboys and attended the San Miguel School in Providence, smoked the Gamecocks on a 44-yard touchdown score.
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Vanderbilt won 31-7 over No. 11 South Carolina, snapping a 16-game losing streak between the two programs.
Zell Lassiter PHOTO: Vanderbilt Athletics
In 2024, GoLocal sports columnist Robert McMahon wrote about Lassiter’s journey to the top Division I program:
His athletic skills impressed his San Miguel classmates. Flag football, soccer, basketball—Jamezell could do it all. He was a natural athlete.
But the transformation of Zell, as he likes to be called, happened in the San Miguel classroom.
READ MORE HERE
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