Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesi’s Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Threads and Facebook.
Rhode Island
Poll: McKee job approval at 29% as most Rhode Islanders say state is on wrong track
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Gov. Dan McKee continues to receive poor marks from Rhode Islanders, who feel gloomy about the future of the state, according to a new survey.
The University of New Hampshire Survey Center “Ocean State Poll” of 598 Rhode Island registered voters found only 29% approve of the job McKee is doing as governor, while 65% disapprove. Both numbers were the same in May.
McKee’s job approval in the UNH poll is slightly lower than it was in a survey of likely voters released late last month by Salve Regina University’s Pell Center, which had the governor at 36% approval.
12 News political analyst Joe Fleming said the survey results should be a warning to McKee and his inner circle as they look ahead to his reelection campaign in 2026. Former CVS executive Helena Foulkes — who nearly defeated McKee in the 2022 primary — has already been raising money to challenge him for a second time.
“This is two polls now we’ve seen with the governor’s numbers low,” Fleming said. “He has to start doing something to turn that around, because we’re starting to see a track record in these numbers.”
UNH said McKee is underwater with all political groups: he has a 42% job approval rating among Democrats, 21% approval among independents and 9% approval with Republicans.
Fleming said the biggest worry for McKee should be his low approval rating in his own party.
“That’s a very concerning number, since Democrats do very well in Rhode Island, which says to me if I’m a Democrat looking to run for governor I could think about challenging him in a primary,” he said.
In a separate UNH poll of likely Massachusetts voters, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey’s job approval rating fell from 52% in May to 45% in July, while her disapproval rating inched up from 38% to 46%.
The survey of 598 Rhode Island voters was conducted online from July 11 to July 15, and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The Massachusetts poll surveyed 509 voters online over the same dates, and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
Researchers at UNH’s States of Opinion Project, which conducted the surveys, described Rhode Islanders as “deeply pessimistic about where the state is heading.” Only 27% of voters say Rhode Island is headed in the right direction, while 60% say the state is on the wrong track. Democrats narrowly say the state is on the right track, by a margin of 43% to 40%.
“That number has been on the negative side for the longest time,” said Fleming, who has been conducting polls in Rhode Island for decades. “Sometimes it gets up to even, but not better than that.”
Asked to name the most important problem facing Rhode Island, housing came first (cited by 16% in the poll), followed by infrastructure (15%), jobs and the economy (13%) and corrupt or incompetent government (11%).
“Nearly half of Democrats mention housing or infrastructure as the most important problem facing the state, independents are more likely to mention the state budget or cost of living, and Republicans are more likely to cite immigration as the most important problem,” according to UNH.
Massachusetts voters were far more likely to say their state is headed in the right direction, with 49% saying so, according to UNH. They described housing and immigration as the Bay State’s biggest current policy challenges.
In Rhode Island, UNH also asked residents about the Washington Bridge crisis and this November’s ballot question about whether Rhode Island should hold a state constitutional convention.
On the Washington Bridge, 56% of Rhode Islanders said they used the bridge at least a few times a month before last December’s closure of the westbound side; 71% said they have used the bridge since the closure; and 46% said they have used detour routes to avoid the bridge since the closure.
Nearly half of those surveyed — 48% — said their trips are typically 10 to 29 minutes longer due to the bridge closure, while 29% said the delays are even higher than that and 8% said the delays are less than 10 minutes.
Unsurprisingly, the survey showed little public awareness about the constitutional convention question, which is required to be put on the ballot in Rhode Island every 10 years. Just over half of those surveyed — 53% — said they had heard “nothing at all” about it so far. And only 36% said they feel like they understand the topic.
Why is the flag at half staff? These are possible reasons
The flag of the United States of America is flown at half-staff on several occasions, generally marking that the country is in mourning
On Friday, May 15, flags will be flown at half-staff across the United States to commemorate Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Recognized each year since 1962 as part of May’s National Police Week, the national observance pays tribute to United States law enforcement officials who gave their lives in the line of duty, whether at the local, state or federal level.
“United in gratitude, we recommit ourselves to supporting those who keep the peace in our neighborhoods, and we offer our heartfelt appreciation for the service they render to community and country,” reads a proclamation from President Trump. “Their steady presence brings calm to our streets, their dedication preserves the order that allows our Nation to flourish, and their unwavering vigilance is the reason families across America can rest under the promise of a safer tomorrow.”
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the flag of the United States at all public buildings and grounds across the country and its territories – including in Rhode Island – will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, May 15.
Why are flags flown at half-staff?
According to the official website of the U.S. General Services Administration, flags typically fly at half-staff when the country or specific state is in mourning. Observances include national tragedies, days of remembrance and deaths of government or military personnel.
The president, the state governor or the mayor of Washington, D.C., can order flags to fly at half-staff.
Half-staff vs. half-mast
While half-staff refers to lowered flags on land, half-mast refers to those at sea. Both refer to a flag being flown beneath the top of its staff as a sign of respect.
RI’s Verdi Productions films ‘Bad News On The Doorstep’ in Providence
Verdi Productions wrapped filming of Tom DeNucci’s “Bad News On The Doorstep” early on May 23 in Providence.
Verdi Productions’ secret horror movie, “My Boyfriend is a Demon,” now filming in Rhode Island, is no longer a secret as Chad A. Verdi, the East Greenwich production company’s president, has announced the cast and given an outline of the movie’s plot.
The ensemble cast comprises veteran actors and rising young talents. The story follows Mary, a lonely, small-town girl who creates a fake Instagram account that pretends to be boyfriend, a guy too perfect to be real. Mary puts so much effort into making him “real” that he shows up at her door one day.
The cast includes:
- Mattias Ferrell, son of comic actor Will Ferrell and known for “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”
- Coco Arquette, daughter of Courteney Cox and David Arquette and known for “Cougar Town.”
- David Arquette, known for his work in the “Scream” film franchise.
- Rosanna Arquette, David’s sister and Coco’s aunt, known for “The Moment.”
- Bailey Sloan, known for “Ragamuffin.”
- Jack Champion, known for “Avatar.”
- Ever Anderson, known for “Peter Pan & Wendy.”
- Vinnie Hacker, known for “Euphoria.”
- Josephine Reitman, known for “Juno.”
- Savannah Lee Smith, kown for “Tunsel Town.”
- Lisa Yamada, known for “Elle.”
- Ty Law, known for “Friday Night Lights.”
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is written and directed by first-time director mishka.
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is filming in Providence
The movie began filming in Rhode Island in April and has rented Providence’s Cranston Street Armory for the month of May to use as a studio.
The producing team for Verdi Productions includes Chad A. Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Michelle Verdi and Sera Verdi. Executive producers include Ketchup Entertainment and Kinolime.
Good morning! Happy Thursday! Today will be pretty unsettled with the chance for showers and t’storms. Friday will still be damp with showers and drizzle, but the weekend still looks amazing!
The one good thing with the rain, for allergy sufferers at least, the pollen levels will be lower. In fact, both today and tomorrow, the tree pollen counts will be low locally. Do expect a spike in the pollen count for Saturday and Sunday with the dry weather.
INTERACTIVE RADAR: Live Pinpoint Weather 12 Radar »
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” FLIGHT TRACKER
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” POWER OUTAGES
TODAY
Hour-by-hour forecast for today…
Hour by Hour // A close look at the upcoming conditions »
We’ll have some showers around during the morning commute today, but the greatest chance for showers and t’storms will be after 9AM and before 5PM.
Showers and thunderstorms could slow travel around mid-day. Rain could fall heavily at times.
A line of showers and t’storms will be sweeping across the area through the afternoon as a slow-moving weather systems moves through the region.
Highs today will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s with southeast to east winds of 5-15mph.
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” BEACH AND BOATING FORECASTS
TONIGHT
Showers are still possible this evening; although they won’t be as numerous.
TOMORROW
That low center will be nearby Friday morning, and we’ll be stuck with a damp, cool windflow. Expect drizzle and showers in the morning and possibly some lingering showers in the afternoon.
Highs Friday will only be in the 50s. The average high this time of year is in the upper 60s.
LOOKING AHEAD
Then…there’s the weekend. Saturday looks amazing with lots of sunshine and dry weather. It’ll be warmer, too, with highs in the 70s.
-Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo
T.J. Del Santo (tdelsanto@wpri.com) is the weekday morning and noon meteorologist for 12 News. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Threads and BlueSky.
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