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Meet the former R.I. lawmaker taking on Deloitte after the RIBridges cybersecurity attack – The Boston Globe

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Meet the former R.I. lawmaker taking on Deloitte after the RIBridges cybersecurity attack – The Boston Globe


Peter Wasylyk has built a nice career out of filing class-action lawsuits.

The former state representative from Providence has been the lead attorney on some of the most high-profile class-action suits in the state, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, where he helped clients win a $17.5 million settlement in 2005. He also helped thousands of drivers in Providence secure small refunds on their speed camera tickets in 2018.

Now Wasylyk, who held office from 1985 until he lost a Democratic primary to current Representative Ray Hull in 2010, is at the center of another high-profile class-action lawsuit. He’s working with consumers to sue Deloitte Consulting following the cyberattack on the state’s public benefits system that Governor Dan McKee disclosed last week.

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McKee has said hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders could have had their personal data exposed.

”A class-action attorney is almost enforcing regulations because it helps the consumer be able to have these larger entities comply with the regulations,” Wasylyk said this week. “It’s a good feeling [to win] for each individual because they couldn’t litigate these small claims themselves.”

In this case of the Deloitte lawsuit, Wasylyk said he was working late last Friday night when he stopped to take a break and turned on the television. He noticed that McKee was having a press conference, and tuned in. He knew immediately that he was going to be working through the weekend on a lawsuit.

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”The calls and emails haven’t stopped,” Wasylyk said.

It’s too soon to say how the case will play out, but Wasylyk said he’d like both compensation and long-term credit monitoring for anyone whose data may have been compromised.

If you were wondering, yes, class-action lawsuits can be lucrative for the attorneys, too. Wasylyk said cases can last many years, and he has to pay a lot of costs up front, but the Blue Cross settlement eventually generated millions of dollars for the lawyers involved. He was also part of a major settlement involving 84,000 retirees from Sears in 2001.

But he said it’s most rewarding to deliver for a consumer who might not have the resources to fight big companies themselves.”It sounds little, but even $25 to some people means a lot,” Wasylyk said.


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 e-mail 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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Rhode Island

Former Barrington state senator Cindy Coyne announces run for lieutenant governor

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Former Barrington state senator Cindy Coyne announces run for lieutenant governor


Former Barrington state Sen. Cindy Coyne is looking to return to the Rhode Island State House after announcing her bid to run for lieutenant governor, the first challenger to officially enter the ring against Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, a Providence Democrat. Matos has not yet announced if she will seek reelection.



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RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for June 9, 2025

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 9, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 9 drawing

30-33-40-43-52, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from June 9 drawing

03-07-17-29-46, Lucky Ball: 15

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from June 9 drawing

Midday: 4-3-1-0

Evening: 6-9-7-2

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from June 9 drawing

02-05-13-32-34, Extra: 03

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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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Trump actions could force a recession for colleges, R.I. higher ed leader says – The Boston Globe

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Trump actions could force a recession for colleges, R.I. higher ed leader says – The Boston Globe


Brown University is facing the most pressure, with dozens of research grants cancelled and Trump threatening to halt $510 million in funding to the Ivy League college. Egan said all of Rhode Island’s private colleges have faced some level of cuts, and accused Republican leaders of trying to “force a recession on higher education.”

“They’re well on the way to achieving that,” Egan said.

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The Trump administration has cut scores of research, particularly involving race and LGBTQ+ people, arguing it amounts to diversity, equity and inclusion and does not serve public health. The cuts include studies seeking to stop the spread of HIV.

The crackdown on DEI, plans to block international student visas, and proposed changes to student aid could all imperil universities, Egan said.

“Clearly there’s a desire to change the way higher education operates,” Egan said. “There will be an opportunity or a chance that great harm will be inflicted on the sector going forward.”

Brown president Christina Paxson has declined interviews about the Trump cuts, citing the uncertainty around future funding. Egan, who lobbies for Brown and the other colleges, said House Republicans’ proposed increase to the endowment tax could cost tens of millions for Brown, on top of the other funding cuts.

Layoffs would be likely if all of the proposed cuts come to fruition, Egan said. A Brown spokesperson said Friday the university has still not received “any demands or formal notification” about the $510 million proposed cut.

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“That will harm small businesses, local businesses, local communities, when folks are no longer working and part of the community and part of the economic engine that is higher ed,” Egan said.

Rhode Island’s other colleges do not yet meet the threshold for their endowments to be taxed under the proposal.

Asked about Brown’s high price tag of $92 million a year and a perception that Brown is not contributing enough to Providence, Egan said most students don’t pay the full price tag because of scholarships and aid. He called the $177 million in voluntary payments from the four private colleges in Providence a “phenomenal gift” to the city, considering the universities are tax-exempt as nonprofits.

He said higher education has a major impact on the economy as one of the top employment sectors in the state.

“For those that question the economic impact, you need to go look at some of those local businesses, the pizza shops, the dry cleaners,” Egan said.

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Financial woes for New England colleges predate Trump, Egan noted. A lower birthrate in the Northeast compared to other regions of the country means fewer students are turning college-aged each year. Johnson & Wales University recently announced layoffs, citing decreasing enrollment.

In Trump’s spending package, dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Egan said he is most concerned about proposed cuts to Pell Grant eligibility — which would make it harder for part-time students to receive the college aid — and the cap on the amount of money graduate students can borrow.

The Trump administration has said the loan limits are “reasonable,” and called the Pell changes “critical reforms” to “prioritize students who truly need financial assistance while promoting completion.”

The Pell Grant, started by a US senator from Rhode Island, provides grants to low-income students that don’t need to be paid back.

Egan also noted that international students tend to pay the full price tag for college, unlike American students who can access federal aid, so blocking student visas would further hurt the universities’ bottom line.

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“I find it ironic that around the globe we’re the envy of the world in higher education, but yet in our own country, from not only our leaders but the general public, we’re not seen in even a similar or equal light,” Egan said.

Watch the RI PBS Weekly interview in the player above, or listen to an extended version on the RI Report podcast.


Steph Machado can be reached at steph.machado@globe.com. Follow her @StephMachado.





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