Rhode Island

Providence city councilor sues McKee for firing him over pro-Palestine stance • Rhode Island Current

Published

1 year ago

August 14, 2024

Providence city councilor sues McKee for firing him over pro-Palestine stance • Rhode Island Current

Providence City Councilor Miguel Sanchez maintained he had no regrets for the pro-Palestine activism that led to his firing from Gov. Dan McKee’s office in October.

Now, he wants his job back, along with back pay and damages for the “mental anguish” and free speech violations from his firing, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court on Monday.

The 15-page complaint against McKee and two of his top advisors, Joseph Almond and Antonio Afonso, alleges the state administrators violated free speech protections under the First and 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by firing Sanchez over his social media posts and participation in a pro-Palestine rally in October.

“The First Amendment does not allow government employers to ‘silence discourse, not because it hampers public functions but simply because superiors disagree with the content of employees’ speech,” the complaint states, referring to a 1987 U.S. Supreme Court ruling protecting a Texas county constable’s clerical employee who was fired over a private comment she made about then-President Ronald Regan.

The complaint also describes Sanchez’ firing as “viewpoint discrimination.”

Sanchez was hired by the governor’s office in 2021 to work in the governor’s Constituent Services Office, earning $50,000 a year for an administrative position answering phone calls that was likened to “tech support” in the complaint. The position was not political, and the governor’s office had never taken issue with Sanchez’ personal politics previously, even after he was elected to the Providence City Council in 2022.

After the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, Sanchez made a series of social media posts condemning violence and called for a cease-fire. He also shared a video from a pro-Palestine rally held outside the Rhode Island State House on Oct. 21. While the rally was reported to have included antisemitic chants, Sanchez “did not engage or advocate for any violence, intimidation, harassment, or anything other than peaceful marching,” the complaint stated.

Two days after the rally, McKee’s legislative director, Rico Vota, brought in Sanchez for questioning. Rota told Sanchez it was “inappropriate” to publicly state an opinion at odds with McKee, and to refrain from additional social media posts. Vota also told Sanchez his behavior could “complicate” Sanchez’s pending application to transfer to a job with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.

Sanchez complied, refraining from social media posts and forwarding press inquiries to McKee’s advisors, according to the complaint. After a story highlighting his previous, social media posts, including from the rally, was published in the Providence Journal, Sanchez was again called in by McKee’s advisors, and fired.

During that final meeting, Sanchez alleges he was denied the opportunity to speak to human resources or a legal advisor. The complaint also states he was asked if he took down his prior social media posts, even though he was never asked to previously.

His firing, with a week of severance, was confirmed by McKee’s administration on Nov. 1.

The complaint asks the court to award back pay and compensation for Sanchez’s subsequent job search and force McKee’s office to reinstate Sanchez.

Sanchez now works as a case manager for Better Lives Rhode Island, a Providence social services agency. He declined to comment on the lawsuit on Wednesday.

McKee’s office did not immediately return inquiries for comment. The defendants had not filed a response in court as of Wednesday morning.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for Dec. 18, 2025

Published

7 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 18, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 18 drawing

Midday: 1-4-0-0

Evening: 5-5-4-5

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 18 drawing

09-28-30-31-36, Extra: 21

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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Rhode Island

‘Just knock it off’: Neronha, Whitehouse urge RI to ignore Brown shooting conspiracy theories | ABC6

Published

19 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

‘Just knock it off’: Neronha, Whitehouse urge RI to ignore Brown shooting conspiracy theories | ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Law enforcement are urging Providence and Rhode Island residents to only trust information from official sources in the Brown University shooting.

This follows the doxxing of a student related to online speculation about the shooting suspect’s identity.

According to Brown University, a student’s personal information was shared online, and now Attorney General Peter Neronha is attempting to stem the flow of internet rumors.

Rumors gained more traction after information about the doxxed student was seemingly removed from Brown’s website.

Neronha said that any online rumors about political, religious or racial motivations behind the shooting are unfounded.

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse didn’t mince words when he weighed in on the online discourse in the case.

“So whether it’s to protect the law enforcement investigation from a lot of unnecessary and ill-informed noise cluttering up the ability of the many agencies working on this to do their jobs, or whether it’s out simple courtesy and sympathy to the families who are going through this awful moment, just please shut up with the speculation,” said Whitehouse.

“All the conspiracy theories, all the creepy weird plot ideas, please, just knock it off.”

School officials said it is not unusual to take steps to protect a person’s safety in the event of online targeting.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 17, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 17, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

25-33-53-62-66, Powerball: 17, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

11-13-20-40-41, Lucky Ball: 07

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

Midday: 3-3-9-5

Evening: 4-3-2-9

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

04-11-18-24-37, Extra: 30

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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