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McKee Signs Bill to Make Voting Easier for Unaffiliated Voters in Rhode Island – Newport Buzz

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McKee Signs Bill to Make Voting Easier for Unaffiliated Voters in Rhode Island – Newport Buzz


In a major win for Rhode Island’s independent voters, Governor Dan McKee held a ceremonial signing of Bill 2418A / 7662 at West Warwick Town Hall on Wednesday. The legislation, which was sponsored by Representative Patricia Serpa (D-District 27) and Senator Leonidas Raptakis (D-District 33), allows unaffiliated voters to remain unaffiliated after participating in a party primary.

Joining McKee at the event were Secretary of State Gregg Amore, Serpa, Raptakis, and local election officials, including West Warwick Town Manager Mark Knott and Cranston Director of Elections Nick Lima.

“We are all truly lucky, not only to live in a democracy, but also to participate in one, and this bill makes the process of casting a vote easier for unaffiliated voters,” McKee said. The Governor praised the legislation, highlighting Rhode Island’s history of voter engagement.

Secretary of State Gregg Amore echoed those sentiments, saying, “Rhode Islanders are proud to be independent, and this bill reduces the administrative burden on both our state’s unaffiliated voters and the local election officials who process party changes.” Amore thanked Serpa and Raptakis for championing the legislation.

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The new law codifies the right of unaffiliated voters to vote in a primary of their choosing, even if they’ve voted in a different party’s primary before. Previously, voters had to fill out paperwork to return to their unaffiliated status after casting a primary vote—a process that many found cumbersome.

“Most voters in Rhode Island are unaffiliated with any political party,” said Serpa, representing West Warwick and Coventry. “This bill allows those voters to remain unaffiliated without having to go through extra paperwork.”

Raptakis pointed out the broader implications for voters who may forget to update their status: “Now that more voting is done through mail-in and provisional ballots, this will stop disenfranchising voters who just forgot to fill out paperwork after the last election.”

 

 

 

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Rhode Island

Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island Mansion Is Getting a Billionaire-Worthy Upgrade

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Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island Mansion Is Getting a Billionaire-Worthy Upgrade


Billionaire status calls for a bigger home and Taylor Swift isn’t wasting any time. The singer’s oceanfront estate in Westerly’s Watch Hill neighborhood—affectionately dubbed Holiday House—is about to become even more impressive with a $1.7 million expansion project. The historic property, once home to the eccentric socialite Rebekah Harkness (whose antics inspired Swift’s song The Last Great American Dynasty) maintains its status as Watch Hill’s most talked-about residence. 

WENN//Alamy

An exterior view of Taylor Swift’s 11,000-square-foot Rhode Island home.

The palatial property, which Swift acquired in 2013 for $17.75 million (in cash, reportedly), is already stunning. Perched dramatically on a cliff with 700 feet of private beachfront, the 11,000-square-foot manor currently holds eight bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and enough fire places (eight, to be exact) to keep every corner cozy during those New England winters. 

The property has become legendary for hosting Swift’s star-studded soirées, including her famous “Taymerica” Fourth of July celebrations. Most recently, the mansion and stunning pool area hosted a gathering including Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, NFL star Patrick Mahomes, and A-List friends like Gigi Hadid and Blake Lively

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WENN//Alamy

The storied mansion is perched on a cliff.

But what’s a coastal kingdom without a proper expansion? According to recently issued building permits—first reported by The Providence Journal—Swift is adding a generously proportioned 16-by-24-foot bedroom suite and additional bathrooms to her already expansive floor plan. The existing kitchen—presumably where she whips up those famous Fourth of July party treats—is also getting a complete makeover. The labor and materials for this latest enhancement are expected to cost $1.7 million, according to the permits

Eagle-eyed fans have already spotted construction underway, with cranes and wood framing visible at the estate. While Harkness may have filled her swimming pool with Dom Pérignon, Swift’s enhancements are more practical—though equally luxurious. 

Headshot of Julia Cancilla

Julia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE DECOR, where she manages the brand’s social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Her eye for emerging styles helps bring the latest in interior design to ELLE Decor’s audience across platforms. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, design, and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.





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R.I. Governor McKee’s reelection campaign begins with tonight’s State of the State address – The Boston Globe

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R.I. Governor McKee’s reelection campaign begins with tonight’s State of the State address – The Boston Globe


In most years, the governor’s State of the State address is only a high-stakes affair for speechwriters and staffers who wish they were characters on “The West Wing.” 

But Governor Dan McKee’s big speech tonight is effectively the beginning of his reelection campaign, which means he’ll need to prove that he can course correct on a difficult 2024 and offer a vision that begins to make the case to voters that he should remain in office through 2030.

McKee’s checklist has to include: 

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⚓ Acknowledging that the Washington Bridge debacle and the cyberattack on RIBridges are not only failures in basic government functions, but are issues he is actively working to fix. 

⚓ Finding a way to navigate a sizable – but not catastrophic – projected budget shortfall that has leaders like House Speaker Joe Shekarchi warning that new programs are all but out of the question. McKee has signaled that he’ll propose banning assault-style firearms in his next budget, which wouldn’t cost the state anything and is seen as a winning campaign issue for Democrats.

⚓ Convincing the chattering class that his name will be on the ballot next year, and that he’s not just telling everyone he’s running to avoid lame duck status. All signs point to him running again, but it’s no secret that Shekarchi is keeping an eye on the office, and Helena Foulkes is already running.

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One speech isn’t going to change the entire trajectory of Coach McKee’s administration, but if he’s been stuck in a defensive posture for most of the last four years, he can begin to show that he has an offensive game plan, too.

One piece of good news: In a sign that McKee’s luck is turning around, outgoing US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced just this morning that the URI Research Foundation and Polaris MEP will receive $3.9 million for workforce development in the ocean technology sector. 

One piece of bad news: Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and his leadership team are now calling on McKee to declare a state of emergency to address homelessness, joining a list of lawmakers, advocates, and his rival Foulkes. McKee maintains a declaration won’t help, but he’d be putting his entire agenda at risk by having a public fight with Ruggerio.Tonight’s speech begins at 7 p.m., and you can stream it here, or on every local TV station.


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.


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Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.





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RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 13, 2025

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 13, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 13 drawing

04-06-16-39-66, Powerball: 09, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 13 drawing

13-17-35-41-44, Lucky Ball: 05

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 13 drawing

Midday: 2-6-1-5

Evening: 0-0-1-0

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 13 drawing

09-19-28-31-32, Extra: 21

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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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