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McKee taps podiatric surgeon for R.I. coastal management council, renewing debate over volunteer board – The Boston Globe

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McKee taps podiatric surgeon for R.I. coastal management council, renewing debate over volunteer board – The Boston Globe


But Jed Thorp, director of advocacy for Save the Bay, said Reuter’s nomination underscores the need to replace the appointed council with a state agency run by professionals who have relevant experience.

“Regardless of whether a podiatrist or dental hygienist or whatever else, we should not have a volunteer council making regulatory decisions about our coastline,” Thorp told the Globe.

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Thorp testified before the Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, saying Save the Bay wasn’t supporting or opposing Reuter’s nomination. He said he first learned of the nomination on Friday and the environmental group hasn’t had enough time to review Reuter’s qualifications.

Thorp said he appreciates Reuter’s willingness to serve since only six of the council’s 10 seats are now filled — the minimum for a quorum. The council hasn’t had all 10 seats filled since 2019, and meetings often get canceled because of the lack of a quorum, he said. “This is bad for the state, bad for the environment, bad for business.”

But Thorp said the Coastal Resources Management Council is operating with “a fundamentally flawed structure.”

“There’s a danger in having volunteers, regardless of their experience or qualifications, making day-to-day regulatory decisions and interpretations of state law,” he said. “That work should really be left to the expert staff of scientists, geologists, and engineers.”

Volunteer council members often have full-time jobs and are given little time to review complex cases before rendering decisions, he said.

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Over the years, the politically appointed council has repeatedly ignored the recommendations of its professional staff, and courts have overturned decisions, saying the council failed to follow its own rules in considering a proposal to expand a Block Island marina and a proposed marina expansion and dredging project in Jamestown, Thorp said.

So Save the Bay is backing a bill that would eliminate the appointed council and place coastal decision-making in the hands of experts in an agency called the Department of Coastal Resources. That bill has been introduced by Representative Terri Cortvriend, a Portsmouth Democrat, at the request of Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.

A separate bill, sponsored by Representative John G. “Jay” Edwards, a Tiverton Democrat, would replace the council with a newly created division of coastal resources management within the state Department of Environmental Management.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee Chairwoman V. Susan Sosnowski told Reuter, “You do realize what you’re stepping into — and sorry to use the pun, I know you’re a podiatrist — but it has been very controversial.”

Sosnowski, a South Kingstown Democrat, said the Department of Administration has studied the different pieces of legislation proposing new structures for the Coastal Resources Management Council. But in the meantime, she said, “We have to continue to move forward and give the council and the staff what they need to continue to function.”

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Senator Victoria Gu, a Westerly Democrat, noted council members have been criticized for lacking relevant experience, and she asked Reuter to discuss his expertise.

Reuter said that as a member of the Barrington Harbor Commission, he dealt with issues regarding new docks, new waterfront structures, and rights of way.

“ During that time, about three years ago, my wife and I purchased our dream home on the water, which was great,” he said. But about six months later the house “sustained an internal flood,” he said, and that forced him to become “a self-educated expert in building rules around the water.”

The permit for work on his house went before the Coastal Resources Management Council and was held up for four to six months, he said.

“That was very frustrating, not only personally, but also financially,” Reuter said. “Given these experiences, I really want to help my fellow Rhode Islanders so we can keep everything going forward, legislation-wise and also permitting-wise.”

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Senator Meghan E. Kallman, a Pawtucket Democrat, asked Reuter to address the criticism that has been leveled against the council for ignoring staff recommendations.

“External forces should be kept outside,” Reuter replied. “I’m a man of science. I’m a doctor. I look at data all day long. If the data is coming to me from a reputable source and from science, I always listen to it.”

The committee voted 8 to 0 to recommend that Reuter be confirmed. The full Senate is expected to vote on his nomination on March 20.


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

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RI Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Nov. 14, 2025

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 14, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Nov. 14 drawing

01-08-11-12-57, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 14 drawing

14-19-34-42-43, Lucky Ball: 13

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Nov. 14 drawing

Midday: 2-1-0-8

Evening: 2-6-8-7

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Nov. 14 drawing

04-05-12-14-23, Extra: 31

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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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Newport Hospital earns top ranking – What’s Up Newp

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Newport Hospital earns top ranking – What’s Up Newp


Newport Hospital was among several hospitals in Rhode Island that achieved an A rating from the hospital watchdog group Leapfrog in its fall ratings. Three hospitals – Roger Williams Medical Center, Kent, and South County were awarded C or below, a pattern of declining ratings over the last few years.

Additionally, Women and Infants Hospital declined to participate in Leapfrog’s survey, according to Leapfrog. The group surveys more than 2,000 hospitals nationwide twice a year.

Both Fatima and Roger Williams are owned by California-based Prospect Medical Holdings, which filed for bankruptcy several months ago. There have been efforts to sell the hospitals while maintaining both of them open.

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Women and Infants is part of the Care New England Group, which also includes Kent Hospital, whose safety rating has steadily declined over the last few years.

Leapfrog, which conducted the survey, is a well-respected hospital watchdog group that describes itself as “the nation’s gold standard in evaluating hospital performance on national measures of safety, quality, and efficiency in both inpatient and outpatient areas.”

Hospital safety is critical, with surveys suggesting that as many as 440,000 patients die annually because of hospital safety errors. Studies suggest that preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in America.

Leapfrog assigns rankings, A to F, based on issues involving infections, surgical problems, safety concerns, and practices to prevent errors. Within each of these areas are also several measures.

Earning A ratings for the fall of 2025 were Newport, Miriam, Rhode Island, and Westerly Hospitals. Newport, Miria,m and Rhode Island are part of Brown University Health (formerly Lifespan), while Westerly is part of the Yale/New Haven group. Landmark Hospital in Woonsocket received a B rating; Kent, Fatima and South received C ratings; and Roger Williams Medical Center received a D rating.

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Several trends were also evident. Newport and Miriam Hospitals have been trending up, scoring B in the spring and fall of 2022, but in 2023 reaching an A rating, and remaining there. Rhode Island fell to a C in the fall of 2023, rising to B in both surveys in 2024, and in the two reports in 2025 have achieved an A rating. 

Landmark has been consistently A-rated since 2022, with the only exception being a B in one of the reports in 2024. Westerly has been rising, from a C in the spring of 2022 to an A in 2025. Fatima has been C-rated with only one exception, a B in the fall of 2022. Roger Williams also consistently received a C until this fall, when its ranking dropped to D.

South County had ranged between A and B, falling to C this fall. 

For those hospitals that trended lower, a significant problem appears to be effective leadership to help prevent errors. “Effective leadership to prevent errors: Errors are much more common if hospital leaders don’t make patient safety a priority. Leaders must make sure that all hospital staff know what they need to work on and that they are held accountable for improvements.”

South County, which is Rhode Island’s only independent hospital, experienced a disruption among physicians several months ago, in a rift with the administration that apparently has yet to heal. 

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Leadership, or lack of leadership, was also noted for other hospitals not performing well. 

Meanwhile, other issues remain: healthcare – the lack of primary care physicians (nationwide); the study to determine whether to build a second medical school at the University of Rhode Island; and the threatened closure of Roger Williams and Fatima Hospitals.



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Volleyball Inks Five Commitments For 2026 – Providence College Athletics

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Volleyball Inks Five Commitments For 2026 – Providence College Athletics


Providence, R.I.- The Providence College volleyball head coach Margot Royer-Johnson announced today (Nov. 12) that Ellie Chu, Lyla Buser, Aubrey Easterwood, Ava Dyer and Gwen Koss each signed a written offer of athletic aid to attend Providence College beginning in the fall of 2026 and compete as members of the Friars’ volleyball program.

Chu is a 5’9 setter from Sierra Madre, Calif. She plays for Polytechnic School, where she serves as captain and has recorded 1,703 assists, 583 digs, 345 kills and 215 aces. Chu made First-Team All-Conference in the 2025 season and holds the school record for serving the most consecutive points (24). She plays club for SC Rockstar Volleyball Club. 

“Ellie is an extremely fundamentally-skilled player as both a setter and defensive specialist,” Royer-Johnson said, “Her serve is a huge weapon and she is a spitfire on the court. She will help us defensively and give us depth at the setter position. She is a perfect fit for us.”

Buser is a 6’3 right side from Wellington, Fla. She plays for Cardinal Newman High School and is a three-year captain. Buser has recorded 809 career kills, 82 aces, 205 blocks and 287 digs. She led her team to two District Championships and was named Best Offensive Player in 2024. She plays club for Jupiter Elite Volleyball.

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“Lyla is a killer on the right side,” Royer Johnson said. “Her length allows her to put up a big block and her tenacity and speed will allow her to be an immediate offensive weapon for us. We are so happy she is a Friar!”

Easterwood is a 6’4 middle blocker from Dallas, Texas. She plays for John Paul II High School, where she served as captain. She helped lead her team to the State Semifinals in 2024. She has recorded 341 career blocks and posted a .378 pct her sophomore year (2023), a .422 pct as a junior (2024) and an impressive .466 as a senior (2025). Easterwood was named to the 2025 AVCA All-American Watch List. She plays club for TAV.

“Aubrey is a massive presence in the middle. She transitions well to hit and her reach will make her difficult to defend,” Royer-Johnson said, “Her strength as a blocker will make an immediate impact on our team. We are pumped to start working with her in Friartown!”

Dyer is a 5’8 libero from Fort Worth, Texas. She plays for R.L. Paschal High School, where she is a four-year captain. Dyer holds the record for most digs in a single game (39) and has recorded 1,580 career digs. She is a three-time All District First-Team selection, two-time Paschal Volleyball MVP and the 2025 District Defensive Player of the Year. Dyer plays club for TAV.

“Ava is super quick and reads hitters better than anyone we have seen at her age,” Royer-Johnson said, “She never gives up defensively and will provide a spark for us immediately. We look forward to her contagious energy on the court right away.”

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Koss is a 6’0 outside hitter from Houston, Texas. She plays for Stratford High School, where she has recorded 1,252 kills and 1,173 digs. She helped lead her team to the State Finals in 2024 was named to the State Championship All-Tournament Team. Koss was named to the 2025 AVCA All-American Watch List. She plays club for Houston Skyline Volleyball Club.

“Gwen is a solid six-rotation hitter. Her passing and hitting efficiency are due to her strong platform and ability to read the game,” Royer-Johnson said, “She is a smart hitter, who is comfortable hitting every shot. Welcome to Friartown, Gwen!”

-GO FRIARS!-



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