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R.I. AG Neronha blasts Governor McKee for denying additional funding as his office battles Trump – The Boston Globe

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R.I. AG Neronha blasts Governor McKee for denying additional funding as his office battles Trump – The Boston Globe


On the Rhode Island Report podcast, Neronha said states such as California and Hawaii have given their attorneys general more funding to fight Trump. But he said McKee’s proposed state budget ignored his request to add $3.65 million to his office’s budget and 15 full-time employees to his staff.

“Governor McKee is doing what he often does in this situation, which is putting his personal problems with me ahead of what’s best for Rhode Island,” Neronha said. “The only people capable right now of pushing back against this president are people who are in a position to sue him.”

Neronha noted that he co-led a federal lawsuit filed in Rhode Island to block Trump’s pause on federal aid and grants that is part of a sweeping ideological review of spending by the new administration.

He emphasized that federal funding accounts for one-third of the state’s $14.2 billion budget. And he noted that it’s still unclear if Trump’s funding freeze will stop Rhode Island from getting $220 million, promised by the Biden administration, to replace the westbound Washington Bridge, which was abruptly shut down in December 2023 amid the threat of “catastrophic failure.”

“If that doesn’t work out, who’s going to be in a position to have to go to court to try to get it?” Neronha said. “My office.”

While both are Democrats, Neronha and McKee have clashed in the past.

In October, McKee accused Neronha of directing a politically motivated investigation into a multimillion-dollar state contract for the ILO Group. And in 2023, Neronha criticized McKee for not funding his request to add 15 positions and create a cold case unit, but the House ended up providing the funding in that year’s final budget.

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On March 3, McKee released a video announcing he will seek reelection in 2026, and the video said McKee “is fighting to protect our state from Trump’s radical agenda and chaotic leadership.”

“How?” Neronha said in response to the claim of fighting Trump. “Governor McKee was really late to this fight.”

So is Neronha, who is term-limited as attorney general, still considering running for governor in 2026?

“I haven’t ruled anything out,” he said. “I believe that I could do the work and do it well. But I’m not sure that’s how I want to spend my 60s, and I have to figure that out.”

But Neronha indicated he is unlikely to run for lieutenant governor. “I don’t know that I’m wired to be a No. 2, honestly,” he said, noting he has led the attorney general’s office and the US Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island.

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Neronha said he does see leadership qualities in other potential candidates for governor, including former CVS executive Helena Buonanno Foulkes and House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi. “Both high quality individuals that know how to lead and get things done,” he said.

On the podcast, Neronha said he does not support a bill that would tweak the definition of a misdemeanor to be an offense with a maximum sentence of 364 days rather than 365 days.

With Trump vowing mass deportations, the Senate passed the bill on Feb. 26. And Senator Jonathon Acosta, the Central Falls Democrat who sponsored the bill, says it would prevent the detention or deportation of immigrants for lesser crimes while more “egregious” misdemeanors would still be covered by federal immigration policy.

“What I worry about are unintended consequences,” Neronha said. “There are very few crimes that are victimless and don’t impact somebody in a serious way.” He said, “I can see a path to supporting aspects of that bill, but I don’t support it in its current state.”

To get the latest episode each week, follow Rhode Island Report podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcasting platforms, or listen in the player above.

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





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Married couple from R.I. identified as victims in fatal Swansea crash

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Married couple from R.I. identified as victims in fatal Swansea crash


Local News

The two victims were identified as a husband and wife from Rhode Island, local officials said.

A Rhode Island husband and wife in their 50s were identified as the two people killed in a Swansea car crash Friday night.

Carlolyn Carcasi, 54, and James Carcasi, 53, of Bristol, Rhode Island, were killed in the Feb. 27 crash, the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a press release Monday.

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The crash occurred at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 6 in Swansea, Quinn’s office said.

Police in Cranston, Rhode Island identified the driver who allegedly hit the couple as Demitri Sousa, 28. Sousa allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island nearly four hours before the crash, Cranston police said.

At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said previously.

The couple was driving southbound on Route 136 when the Sousa crashed into the side of a Subaru Ascent. Both cars had “catastrophic damage,” and the Subaru was engulfed in flames, Swansea fire and police officials said. 

Both occupants of the Subaru were declared dead at the scene, Swansea officials said.

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Sousa was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. He is expected to live and will be held in Cranston police custody until he is medically cleared, police said Sunday.

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Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, leaders celebrate Women’s History Month with panel event

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Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, leaders celebrate Women’s History Month with panel event


Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday.

The event was held at the Cranston Public Library at 9 a.m.

Reed and other leaders of WFRI hosted a panel discussion with women leaders in environmental and agricultural advocacy, education, community resilience, housing, finance, workforce development, and more, officials said.

Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday. (WJAR)

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“Women have played a critical role in this process, most often without any recognition,” Reed said. “Today’s panel brings together an extraordinary group of women who are addressing the challenged of sustainability from various angles and I want to thank you all for your great efforts.”

The panelists highlighted their experiences, shared insights and tips on lifting up women’s voices, provided strategies for sparking change and more.

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According to officials, some of the panelists included Executive Director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council Nessa Richman, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Rhode Island College Kim Bright, Newport Housing Authority Executive Director Rhonda Mitchell and more.

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Man allegedly kills man in R.I. before causing car crash that killed 2 in Mass.

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Man allegedly kills man in R.I. before causing car crash that killed 2 in Mass.


Local News

“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea,” Col. Michael J. Winquist said.

A Seekonk man is accused of murder after he allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island before causing a car crash in Swansea that killed two people last week, police said.  

Demitri Sousa, 28, is charged with murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, the Cranston Police Department said.

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The shooting occurred Thursday night in Cranston, police said in a press release.

That night, Sousa allegedly arrived at the Cranston home of Javon Lawson, 35. Sousa began banging on the side door of the home, police said. 

When Lawson approached the door, he was hit by gunfire from outside, police said.

First responders transported Lawson to the Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Cranston police said.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, the motive is believed to be a dispute between the suspect and the victim over a mutual female acquaintance. Detectives are continuing this investigation to gain more insight, as well as to collect and analyze evidence,” Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of Cranston police, said in an emailed statement to Boston.com.

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Neighbors gave police video footage that “showed a male subject wearing dark clothing and a mask walking toward the residence moments before the shooting and fleeing immediately afterward,” Winquist said.

The suspect was also seen running to a white Infiniti sedan which then drove off, the Cranston police chief said.

Shortly after the shooting, a license plate reader captured the vehicle driving southbound on Route 10, and then later in Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts. The sedan’s license plate was registered in Sousa’s name, Winquist said.

At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said.

Just moments later, Sousa allegedly “crashed into the side of another vehicle, a blue 2022 Subaru Ascent that had been traveling southbound on Route 136,” Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley and Fire Chief Eric Hajder said in a joint press release.

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Both vehicles had “catastrophic damage,” and the struck car was engulfed in flames, the Swansea officials said.

The driver and passenger of the hit car — a man and a woman — were declared dead at the scene, they said.

“Swansea Police had been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle. However, Swansea Police were not involved in the pursuit and were not pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash,” the Swansea chiefs wrote. Swansea official have not announced charges related to the fatal crash.

Sousa had been driving the Infiniti and appeared to be suffering from serious injuries, Winquist said. Inside the car, police found a pistol and “additional .22 caliber ammunition was recovered” from Sousa at Rhode Island Hospital, Winquist said.

Police arrested Sousa and transported him to Rhode Island Hospital. Sousa is expected to survive, Winquist said. Sousa will be held in Cranston police custody until he is conscious and medically cleared, Winquist said.

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“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea,” Winquist said.

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