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Rhode Island braces for snowstorm, puts 'extra resources' on Washington Bridge | ABC6

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Rhode Island braces for snowstorm, puts 'extra resources' on Washington Bridge | ABC6


PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — As a significant snowstorm heads to Rhode Island, officials say they are focused on timing, with potential heavy snowfall starting mid-morning through the early afternoon.

The state has hundreds of plows on standby to clear the roads once that snow starts piling up.

“We have 450 plows available, 60 tons of salt, and we’re ready for the storm,” said Governor Dan McKee.

Rhode Island Energy is bringing in an additional 75 crews from out of state to help with any power outages from the storm.

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During a press conference Monday, officials stressed the importance of preparing now with anything you may need, like batteries, food, water, pet supplies, gas, and prescriptions.

Officials also emphasized the importance of staying off the roads if possible once the snow starts hitting Southern New England.

Regarding the Washington Bridge, McKee said the state will be putting extra resources there.

“We are going to make sure we have the equipment there to make sure that that is clear,” McKee said. “And I think the plowing will work, but also we’ll have to make sure that we have the equipment there to make sure we’re keeping that as clear as possible.”

McKee said he is in contact with Massachusetts and Connecticut officials about possible traffic restrictions.

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“We have similar routes that go through our state,” McKee said. “And we’re trying to figure out what makes sense.”

McKee collaborated with neighboring states in his decision to impose a partial travel ban directed at tractor-trailers.

Meanwhile, some schools already called snow days as of Monday afternoon.

“It all depends on what happens statewide,” said Angélica Infante-Green, Rhode Island’s Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “So if there’s a decision of something taking place statewide, obviously that will supersede any of the local decisions.”

“But some districts may do virtual,” Infante-Green elaborated. “Some districts make choose to make up the day or some districts may call it a day all together.”

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The Department of Housing is also activating its emergency pop up shelters, you can find a full list on its website.





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2 dead, 1 seriously hurt after crash on I-95 South in Warwick

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2 dead, 1 seriously hurt after crash on I-95 South in Warwick


WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — Two people are dead and another person seriously hurt after a crash involving two vehicles on the highway in Warwick Saturday.

Rhode Island State Police said the crash happened around 1:34 p.m. on the ramp from Route 113 West to I-95 South.

According to police, a Hyundai SUV that was driving in the middle lane of the highway started to drift to the right, crossed the first lane, and then crossed onto the on-ramp lane. The car struck the guardrail twice before driving through the grass median.

The Hyundai then struck the driver’s side of a Mercedes SUV that was on the ramp, causing the Mercedes to roll over and come to a rest. The impact sent the Hyundai over the guardrail and down an embankment.

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The driver of the Hyundai, a 73-year-old man, and his passenger, a 69-year-old woman, were both pronounced dead at the hospital.

A woman who was in the Mercedes was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital in critical condition.

State police said all lanes of traffic were reopened by 4:30 p.m.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

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Judge rejects DOJ push for Rhode Island voter information

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Judge rejects DOJ push for Rhode Island voter information


A federal judge on Friday tossed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit aiming to force Rhode Island to hand over its voter information as part of the Trump administration’s push to acquire voter data from several states.

Rhode Island U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy wrote that federal law does not allow the DOJ “to conduct the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here,” siding with Rhode Island election officials. She added that the DOJ did not provide evidence to suggest that Rhode Island violated election law.

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McElroy, a Trump appointee, wrote that she sided with the similar decision in Oregon. That decision ruled that the DOJ was not entitled to unredacted voter registration lists.

“Absent from the demand are any factual allegations suggesting that Rhode Island may be violating the list maintenance requirements,” she said in her ruling.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore (D) praised McElroy’s decision. He said in a statement that the Trump administration “seems to have no problem taking actions that are clear Constitutional overreaches, regularly meddling in responsibilities that are the rights of the states.”

“Today’s decision affirms our position: the United States Department of Justice has no legal right to – or need for – the personally-identifiable information in our voter file,” he said. “Voter list maintenance is a responsibility entrusted to the states, and I remain confident in the steps we take here in Rhode Island to keep our list as accurate as possible.”

The Hill reached out to the DOJ for comment.

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The DOJ called for the voter lists as it investigated Rhode Island’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which allowed Americans to register to vote when they apply for a driver’s license.

The DOJ sued at least 30 states, as well as Washington, D.C., in December demanding their respective voter data. This data includes birth dates, names and partial Social Security numbers.

At least 12 states have given or said they will give the DOJ their voter registration lists, according to a tracker operated by the Brennan Center for Justice.

The department stated after it lost a similar suit against Massachusetts earlier this month that it had “sweeping powers” to access the voter data and that, if states fail to comply, courts have a “limited, albeit vital, role” in directing election officers on behalf of the administration to produce the records. The DOJ cited the Civil Rights Act as being intended to unearth alleged election law violations.

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Single Dad Says Grandparents’ Rights Trial Has Cost Him More Than $500K, but He'll Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ to Keep Daughter Safe

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Single Dad Says Grandparents’ Rights Trial Has Cost Him More Than 0K, but He'll Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ to Keep Daughter Safe


As the two-year anniversary of his wife’s death approaches, widowed single father Scott Naso is sounding an alarm to fellow parents across the country — and especially in Rhode Island, where he lives with his now 4-year-old daughter, Laila.



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