Rhode Island
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.
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
Dr. Seuss Drew Ads for Rhode Island's Narragansett Beer
In the 1970s, you could walk into any bar or tavern in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and order a “Narry” or a “Gansett,” and before long, you’d be wiping away a foam-head mustache while guzzling your Narragansett beer.
Narragansett was once the No. 1-selling beer in New England. Big changes in the beer brewing industry and changes within the Narragansett Brewing Company have resulted in the brew occupying a much smaller segment of the beer-brewing market.
Narragansett Beer was originally brewed in a brick brewhouse in Cranston, Rhode Island.
The Narragansett Brewing Company website says, “In 1890, six German immigrants came together with $150,000 to construct this building and start Narragansett Beer. Less than a decade later, Narragansett Beer was the largest-selling beer in New England.”
Ownership changes, court battles and company relocations negatively impacted the Narragansett product name. In 2005, a group of Rhode Island businessmen attempted to reinvigorate the Narragansett name.
In 2016, it was announced that Narragansett was returning to Rhode Island. A new generation of Narragansett Beer was brewed in Pawtucket the following year. The Narragansett Brewing Company is now located in Providence.
In the first half of the last century, Narragansett Beer was a primary sponsor of Boston Red Sox baseball broadcasts during which announcer Curt Gowdy coined the slogan, “Hi neighbor, have a ‘Gansett.”
Narragansett Beer was featured in several films, including Jaws, parts of which were filmed in Massachusetts.
During World War II, Springfield, Massachusetts native Theodor Seuss Geisel, later known as Dr. Seuss, created advertising lithographs with a character named “Chief Gansett,” to promote Narragansett Beer.
The lithographs appeared on posters, trays and other promotional products.
Geisel’s father and grandfather operated a brewery in Springfield until it was forced to close under prohibition.
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Rhode Island
Hasbro could move headquarters to Boston from Rhode Island, report says
BOSTON – Toy and game maker Hasbro is looking at moving its headquarters from Rhode Island to downtown Boston, according to a new report.
The Boston Business Journal cited “several real estate sources” in reporting that Hasbro, which is currently based in Pawtucket, recently toured multiple Boston office buildings. The sources also said Hasbro could relocate to the suburbs of Boston.
The company that makes Monopoly, Dungeons & Dragons and Play-Doh is said to be looking for a large block of office space between 200,000 and 250,000 square feet.
Hasbro comments on reports of potential move to Boston
In a statement to WBZ-TV, Hasbro did not confirm or deny that it is weighing a move to Boston.
“As Hasbro continues to evolve, we’re exploring options for our global headquarters to make sure it is a space that can best serve our employees, partners, and business needs for years to come,” chief communications officer Bertie Thomson said. “We’re taking our time, evaluating all options that can best support our team’s creativity and innovation, and will share updates on our progress. Regardless of the outcome and location, we remain committed to our history – not leaving it behind, but building on it.”
Hasbro moving out of Providence office
Hasbro said last December it was laying off about 20% of its workforce, or 1,100 employees amid toy sales that were softer than anticipated during 2023.
The company also said at the time it would not renew its lease on its office in Providence and workers would be moved to the headquarters in Pawtucket.
Hasbro was founded in Providence more than 100 years ago.
Another major toymaker, Lego, is moving its headquarters from Connecticut to Boston’s Boylston Street in 2025.
Rhode Island
Person killed near Dupont Circle, police look for trio in white vehicle
A person is dead after a shooting early Monday in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, and officers are looking for three potential suspects, police said.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1700 block of Rhode Island Ave. NW about 4:35 a.m.
Officers found a male victim with a gunshot wound, police said. He was unconscious and was not breathing, police said.
Homicide investigators were called to the scene. News4 is working to learn more about the victim.
Police said they were looking for three people who drove off in a white vehicle while wearing black clothing and ski masks.
There could be impacts to traffic while police investigate.
Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.
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