Rhode Island

Rhode Islanders Smell Something Fishy with New Tourism Campaign

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

Rhode Islanders Smell Something Fishy with New Tourism Campaign

The latest Rhode Island tourism campaign continues to have a bumpy start to 2024.

In an effort to highlight the beauty and culture of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Tourism launched a new marketing campaign, accompanied by a new slogan and new initiatives to highlight the beauty and culture of the state.

The only problem is that the “local initiative” seems to be run by an out-of-towner.

Crawfish Raises Eyebrows

In a since-deleted social media post, Rhode Island tourism promoted a certain kind of seafood that is not typically associated with Rhode Island and the community was quick to call it out.

What’s Going On in Rhode Island shared the “blunder by the RI tourism campaign,” where the campaign promotes crawfish as local Rhode Island seafood.

Yes, Rhode Island is home to restaurants that serve seafood boils and offer crawfish, but it is rarely seen among other local offerings like clam cakes and chowder.

“When you hire out-of-state agencies to promote Rhode Island, this is what happens,” said the popular outlet.

The post has locals wondering if Rhode Islanders even run the new tourism initiative.

“This is what happens when you don’t hire folks that live here and know our resources,” said one online user.

“So many talented in-state agencies…use them!!!” said another.

The Crawfish Post, Explained

Fun 107 contacted RI Tourism to inquire about the photo and see if the campaign is being run by a third party outside of Rhode Island.

Matthew Touchette, the Rhode Island Director of Public Affairs, provided helpful information.

“That picture was taken from the Charlestown Seafood Festival, a popular seafood festival in South County” he said. “Rhode Island is so much more than stuffies and lobsters, clam cakes and chowder…we have a very diverse seafood chain, and crawfish is one of them.”

In regards to using a third-party agency, Touchette was transparent in saying the state works very closely with an agency based in Florida, but any posts created by the agency must be approved by the Rhode Island team.

In the case of the crawfish post, it was solely created by the RI Tourism team.

Why Not Use a Local Marketing Agency?

“I understand that there are local companies that offer marketing and advertising and public relations services, but we don’t just hire a company,” he explained. “We are a government agency, we have to do an RFP.”

An RFP, or a request for proposal, is a project announcement posted publicly by an organization indicating that bids for contractors to complete the project are sought.

“When that goes out, anyone can apply,” he said. “In this case, the agency (in Florida) scored the highest and they got the contract.”

Many Rhode Islanders were steamed about the crawfish post, but truthfully, crawfish can be found in 43 locations across the state, according to the DEM.

Food for thought: While we may typically be paired with clam cakes and chowder, the new RI Tourism initiative is here to show the diversity of the cuisine and culture.

20 SouthCoast Massachusetts and Rhode Island Dishes That Deserve to Be Featured on the Food Network

Take a dive into the freshest seafood dishes, Italian specialties, Portuguese favorites and much more for these signature SouthCoast dishes that are so good, they deserve to be featured on the Food Network.

Gallery Credit: Gazelle

See the Stars Who Own Homes in Rhode Island

There are plenty of celebrities who once called Rhode Island home, but how many still do? Here’s the list of stars who own homes across the Ocean State.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

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Rhode Island

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

Published

3 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

15 hours 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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Rhode Island

Three thoughts on Rhode Island basketball’s labored win over Canisius

Published

1 day ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Three thoughts on Rhode Island basketball’s labored win over Canisius

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Two different teams, two opposite halves, two ways of breaking down a respected opponent – call Tuesday night at the Ryan Center whatever you like.

It was ultimately a return to the win column for the University of Rhode Island men against Canisius, as the Rams buried the first 18 minutes of action in favor of the final 22.

Tyler Cochran sparked them to life early in the second half, and Jonah Hinton eventually gave URI the lead for keeps with 15:44 left. The Golden Griffins called a timeout to prevent an oncoming avalanche, one they ultimately couldn’t stop in a 62-45 slugfest.

The Rams were poor offensively in a loss to McNeese State and followed with another early struggle here. They entered halftime on a 5-0 run to face just a 27-22 deficit and started doing the little things out of the break that tend to mean victory.

“We weren’t playing freely,” URI coach Archie Miller said. “We weren’t playing confidently. Second half, much more in character in terms of how our group plays.”

URI entered off defeats against rival Providence and the Cowboys, who stole a 66-64 triumph here on a last-second jumper by Tyshawn Archie. The Rams had a week-long exam break to stew on the 15 turnovers they committed in the second half against McNeese State and carried that rancid form into the early going against Canisius. URI was just 6-for-29 from the field and gave the ball away 11 times before emerging from the locker room with a fresh approach.

“The first half was kind of going through the motions,” Cochran said. “We preached in the second half that we needed to come out as a better team, and I think we did a good job as a team.”

How did the Rams author what was ultimately a 27-point swing in this one? Here are three thoughts from the matchup, which was played in front of a season-low 2,895 fans in Kingston.

Tyler Cochran provided the spark

Cochran was exactly the spark URI needed to snap out of its funk.

His opening three minutes of the second half included an offensive rebound and putback layup, a dive to the floor for a loose ball and steal, a diagonal pass to Hinton for a 3-pointer and a jumper of his own from beyond the arc in the right corner.

That left the Rams in a 30-30 tie with 16:49 to play, the last of four in the game. Hinton followed with another deep jumper from NBA range, and Myles Corey connected on his own with 15:06 left. URI was up by two possessions and rarely pushed the rest of the way.

“In the first half it didn’t seem like we were having much fun,” Cochran said. “It seemed like we were just trying to get the game over with.”

Cochran finished with nine of his 12 points, three of his four rebounds, all four of his assists and all four of his steals after the break. He was plus-23 in 18 second-half minutes, which was a team best. It’s exactly what the Rams expected while recruiting Cochran to his fifth college stop.

“We talked about it at halftime – who’s going to ignite us?” Miller said. “And it wasn’t going to be scoring baskets.”

New-look starting five

URI (8-4) went almost exclusively with its new starting five in the second half.

Damone King played four minutes off the bench and Drissa Traore logged two. It was Cochran, Hinton, Corey, Keeyan Itejere and new addition Jahmere Tripp otherwise, with Hinton and Corey going the full 20 minutes.

RJ Johnson (illness) was dressed, but the Rams wanted to stay away from him after limited practice work leading into the game. Alex Crawford was benched for the final 22:33 after a turnover on an inbounds play led to the Golden Griffins (5-7) building their largest lead at 27-17.

“We were out there playing hard,” Corey said. “We were down a body. RJ was sick, so I had to step up.”

Tripp finished with nine points, five rebounds and a plus-24 rating in 29 minutes – that was a team best. He opened in favor of Crawford after entering the night with superior numbers in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, shooting, 3-point shooting and foul shooting.

“Jahmere has been very productive,” Miller said. “Trying to get him more minutes. Starting the game with him in the game is something we want to move towards.”

Rams made it harder than it had to be

URI made hard work of this one early.

The Rams committed 11 of their 13 turnovers in the first half and were just 6-for-29 from the field. They connected on only one of their first 14 attempts from 3-point range and sank into a double-digit hole just before halftime.

Anthony Benard followed a layup inside with a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass. He was fouled by Crawford and connected on a pair of free throws to extend the momentum Canisius built to that point.

“The first was really unwatchable at times,” Miller said. “We played a tight first half offensively getting adjusted to what they were doing.”

URI needed barely four minutes to match their 3-point total in the second half, hitting three of their first five from deep. The Rams also didn’t commit their first turnover until Cochran fumbled the ball out of bounds on a drive to the rim with 7:33 left. URI owned a 50-38 lead by that point and already had enough of a margin to ensure the final result.

“We just had to take the lid off the rim, really,” Corey said. “Our defense carried us and got us through the half.”

CANISIUS (45): Javante Edwards 1-2 0-0 3, Myles Wilmoth 0-4 0-0 0, Kahlil Singleton 1-4 4-4 6, Bryan Ndjonga 4-18 2-4 11, Mike Evbagharu 2-5 0-0 5, Chris Kumu 0-1 2-4 2, Anthony Benard 3-3 2-2 10, Brendan Oliver 0-0 0-0 0, King Ijeoma 4-10 0-0 8. Totals 15-47 10-14 45.

RHODE ISLAND (62): Jahmere Tripp 3-12 3-3 9, Jonah Hinton 6-18 4-4 20, Myles Corey 4-7 2-2 12, Tyler Cochran 5-11 0-0 12, Keeyan Itejere 2-5 2-4 6, Alex Crawford 0-5 0-0 0, Damone King 1-3 0-0 3, Drissa Traore 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-61 11-13 62.

Halftime – C, 27-22. 3-point FG – C 5-15 (Edwards 1-1, Wilmoth 0-1, Singleton 0-3, Ndjonga 1-6, Evbagharu 1-2, Benard 2-2), RI 9-34 (Tripp 0-5, Hinton 4-13, Corey 2-5, Cochran 2-5, Crawford 0-3, King 1-3). Rebounds – C 34 (Ndjonga 8), RI 43 (Itejere 11). Assists – C 10 (Benard 4), RI 10 (Cochran 4). Turnovers – C 19 (Benard 6), RI 13 (Tripp 3, Crawford 3). Blocked shots – C 2 (Ijeoma 2), RI 5 (Corey 2). Steals – C 8 (Evbagharu 4), RI 10 (Cochran 4). Attendance – 2,895.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

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