Rhode Island
Rhode Island gas prices continue drop, but how long will it last? | ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Islanders are at present paying a median of $4.00 a gallon for gasoline.
That’s 36 cents fewer than the very best recorded common simply over a month in the past.
Nevertheless, based on AAA Northeast, aid could also be quick lived.
“By Memorial Day, we might see a rise of 15-20 cents per gallon,” Diana Gugliotta of AAA Northeast stated.
Whereas gasoline costs enhance yearly throughout the summer time months, Gugliotta stated different components akin to oil provide might elevate costs even greater.
“The EIA confirmed this week that home gasoline shares decreased by 3.5 million final week so we’re
undoubtedly up in opposition to it because the climate will get hotter,” she stated.
For Rhode Islanders, each common and diesel gasoline costs are nonetheless $2.00 greater than this time a yr in the past.

Rhode Island
Democrats assail federal budget bill, but what will it really mean for RI? What we know.

House passes ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ heads to Trump’s desk next
Republicans’ sweeping bill to cut taxes and slash benefit programs like Medicaid has passed the House and now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk.
- A sweeping federal budget bill passed by Congress includes major changes to taxation and social programs, with some effects taking place immediately and others delayed until 2028.
- The bill includes tax cuts for businesses and individuals, restrictions on public benefits, and spending cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance.
- Rhode Island’s Democratic leaders oppose the bill, citing concerns about reduced access to food assistance and health care, while Republicans praise the tax cuts and spending reductions.
- The bill’s impact on Rhode Island’s budget is uncertain, and state agencies are analyzing potential effects on health care, taxes and federal grants.
The sweeping federal budget bill passed by Congress and expected to be signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 calls for major changes to taxation and social programs, but the impact on Rhode Island could take years to determine.
The bill’s tax cuts for businesses and individuals will, in general, take effect imminently, including an increase in the standard deduction, no taxes on tips and an increase in deductions for state and local tax payments.
New restrictions on public benefits − including work requirements for food stamps and health insurance − phase in this year and next.
And spending cuts feared by state officials in both red and blue states − including reductions in federal Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) − will not take effect until 2028, after the 2026 elections.
Will a special fall session of the General Assembly be needed?
In debate about the just-enacted $14.3 billion Rhode Island budget, General Assembly leaders said they might be forced to hold a special fall session to respond to any federal cuts or policy changes that would throw state plans out of whack.
The delayed effective dates for the Medicaid and SNAP cuts make a special session less likely, but Assembly leaders on July 3 would not rule anything out and said they would need “a thoughtful review and formal information-sharing on the possible short- and long-term impacts of federal government action.”
RI’s Democratic leaders assail reduced access to food assistance, Medicaid
All four members of Rhode Island’s all-Democratic congressional delegation voted against the bill, and the ruling State House triumvirate of governor, speaker and Senate president all opposed the GOP bill.
“For many of our neighbors, this budget reduces access to supports like SNAP food assistance. It puts health insurance for thousands of Rhode Islanders in jeopardy, breaking President Trump’s empty promise to protect Medicaid,” Gov. Dan McKee said in a video.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson said in a joint statement that they would work to pass policies that “protect access to health care like we did in this year’s state budget.”
“We believe it is cruel for Republicans in Washington to pay for large tax breaks for billionaires by stripping Medicaid from vulnerable residents, which will potentially destabilize health care systems at the state level,” Shekarchi and Lawson’s statement said.
RI GOP: Bill delivers ‘massive tax relief,’ cuts to ‘reckless’ spending
Rhode Island Republicans, on the other hand, hailed the new budget bill.
“This bill delivers exactly what President Trump and Republicans promised, massive tax relief for the middle class, real border security to protect our communities, and deep cuts to reckless Washington spending,” state GOP Chairman Joe Powers said. “Democrats in both chambers had the chance to stand with working Americans, and instead, they stood in lockstep with their radical base. Make no mistake – Rhode Islanders won’t forget who fought for them, and who sold them out.”
The just-passed state budget requires the McKee administration to convene a series of advisory groups to analyze the state impacts of the new federal budget. Separate reports from these groups are due to the legislature by Oct. 31 on potential changes to federal grants, state tax revenue and Medicaid.
Biggest impact on RI: Health care
Provisions in the bill expected to sock the state budget include a reduction in “State Directed” payments to hospitals and forced reductions to health care provider taxes that states charge hospitals to leverage additional federal Medicaid dollars.
McKee spokeswoman Laura Hart said state agencies “have been meeting bi-weekly since February to review potential impacts of the various versions of the budget bill” and are currently identifying people to be on the different working groups required by the Assembly.
The budget bill also targets the state’s Affordable Care Act-created health benefits exchange by shortening the enrollment period, narrowing subsidy eligibility, and requiring additional paperwork to enroll or renew.
Loss of enrollment due to the changes is projected to result in premium increases across health insurance plans on the exchange due to a smaller covered population.
“Simply put, the bill makes health coverage harder to get, more difficult to keep and far too expensive to afford,” HealthSource RI Director Lindsay Lang said in a news release. “The effects of the bill will compound each year, likely resulting in significant rate increases for anyone still left in the market.”
Reactions from RI’s congressional delegation
The Rhode Island congressional delegation weighed in with a range of criticism of the budget bill.
Sen. Jack Reed said, “Republicans structured the bill so the ultra-wealthy can cash out right away while the little guy and average taxpayers will get stuck paying the bill for years to come.”
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said, “Trump’s Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill” was “cooked in back rooms” and “saddles our children and grandchildren with trillions and trillions of dollars in debt.”
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner said the bill “represents the largest transfer of wealth from working people to the ultra-wealthy in U.S. history.”
And U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo said the bill will make Americans “poorer, sicker, hungrier, and further away from economic opportunity.”
Rhode Island
Second Rhode Island CAVA location opens up in Warwick

WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — A popular Mediterranean restaurant has opened its second Ocean State location in Warwick this weekend.
On Friday, Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new CAVA location on Centerville Road.
The new restaurant was built on the same spot TGI Friday’s used to occupy.
The state’s other CAVA is located off of Putnam Pike in Smithfield.
There are 16 CAVA locations in Massachusetts, including one in Mansfield.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island considers ‘Taylor Swift tax’ on luxury homes

Rhode Island is considering a so-called “Taylor Swift tax” on luxury homeowners. The proposal is officially called the Non-Owner Occupied Property Tax Act. If passed, it would tax non-owner occupied homes or secondary residences valued at more than $1 million.
Swift purchased her Rhode Island mansion for about $17 million in 2013. Zillow lists the property’s current value at $28 million, which would result in a tax of about $135,000 a year. State lawmakers are still reviewing the proposal as part of a larger budget bill.
The bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Meghan Kallman, told Newsweek the proposal is meant to address inequality.
“By asking these owners to pay their fair share, Rhode Island can generate much-needed revenue and prevent cuts to essential services like health care and education. This is part of overall efforts to make our tax code fairer for working people,” Kallman said.
She argued that homeowners such as Swift, who do not live in high-priced homes, do not contribute to Rhode Island’s economy.
“More than half of Rhode Island homes worth more than $1 million from 2019 to 2024 were bought by buyers from out of state,” Kallman told Newsweek. “These homes are purchased by high net worth individuals who can afford multiple properties but do not contribute as directly to the local economy as full-time residents.”
-
Health1 week ago
Heart attack deaths have plummeted in US, but new cardiovascular threats emerge
-
World1 week ago
Vietnam ends death penalty for crimes against the state, bribery, drugs
-
Lifestyle1 week ago
6 new books out this week, including true stories of trailblazers
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump slams Bibi over ceasefire violations, denounces cable channels over skepticism
-
Politics1 week ago
White House drops 'Daddy's Home' meme after viral NATO summit moment
-
News1 week ago
Early intel assessment says Iran's nuclear program was only set back 'a few months'
-
Health1 week ago
Lizzo Reveals the Diet Change That Helped Her Lose Weight Without Ozempic
-
Business1 week ago
In-N-Out sues YouTuber over fake employee prank video