Rhode Island

RI judge gives Trump administration reprieve from having to unfreeze FEMA funds. What to know.

Published

8 months ago

April 7, 2025

Press Room

RI judge gives Trump administration reprieve from having to unfreeze FEMA funds. What to know.

A federal judge has temporarily paused his order requiring FEMA to release funds to states that were frozen by the Trump administration.
The judge’s decision to stay his order came after the Supreme Court ruled in a separate case that the government could suspend payments for a teacher placement program.
Several states, including Rhode Island, argued that their case is different because it involves broader freezes on obligated funds, not just grants from a single program.

PROVIDENCE – The Trump administration has won reprieve for now from an order by a federal court in Rhode Island directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to start releasing Congressionally authorized funds to states.

Chief U.S. District Court John J. McConnell Jr. on Friday ordered FEMA to resume the flow of money to a group of Democratic states, including Rhode Island, that have challenged President Donald Trump’s federal funding freeze.

But later that day, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order in a separate case related to the funding freeze that administration lawyers said in a court filing “plainly vindicates the government’s position” in the case being argued in U.S. District Court in Providence.

On Monday, McConnell agreed to temporarily stay his order on the FEMA funds while he considers the government’s request to reconsider the ruling.

Supreme Court order leads to change in this case

The case was filed by 23 states and the District of Columbia after the president signed a series of executive orders freezing funds to programs that didn’t align with the new administration’s policy positions on issues such as climate change and diversity.

McConnell has issued several decisions ordering the government to start making payments on obligated funds and a federal appeals court has also corroborated his rulings.

The government, in an emergency motion filed on Saturday, argued that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in a case involving an Education Department grant program required McConnell to reconsider his order.

In its 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the government was allowed to suspend payments for the program that places teachers in poor and rural areas, saying it’s unlikely the administration would be able to recover the money once it had been paid out and that the plaintiffs would be able to seek any funds that were wrongfully withheld.

The government said the same facts held in the case filed in Rhode Island.

“This Court should therefore proceed cautiously before ordering the government to take actions that can never be reversed,” the government wrote in its motion.

The states suing the government in the case, however, say their grievances are different from the Department of Education suit. While the education case is centered on grants from an individual program that were canceled, the Rhode Island case involves “broad, categorical freezes of obligated funds,” the states argued in their response in opposition to the government’s motion.

Trump order is holding up FEMA disaster aid

McConnell ordered the government to resume FEMA payments at the request of the states. They said they haven’t received any payments from the agency since February.

Hawaii has been unable to access $5.7 million in relief funds for the 2023 Maui wildfires, Oregon says it is waiting on $129.4 million that it’s still owed, Colorado says it’s waiting on approval for $33 million in reimbursements, and Rhode Island says payments from the10 FEMA grants it’s been awarded have been unavailable for more than 30 days, according to court filings.

In total, 19 of the plaintiff states say they are still awaiting payments on at least 215 FEMA grants.

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Rhode Island

RI school superintendent resigns amid antisemitic hazing investigation

Published

7 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

RI school superintendent resigns amid antisemitic hazing investigation

A Rhode Island school superintendent has resigned amid an investigation into alleged antisemitic hazing in the district, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.

Smithfield Superintendent Dr. Dawn Bartz announced her resignation in a letter addressed to the school community. Bartz has been on leave since November after a report of hazing at Smithfield High School.

The Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island said five high school football players locked a freshman student in a bathroom, sprayed Lysol at the student and yelled antisemitic slurs.

In her resignation letter, Bartz focused on her successes surrounding academic outcomes, special education and STEM opportunities and other positives for the district, and thanked the community.

“As Smithfield moves forward, I am confident the district will continue to build on this progress
and momentum. I wish all our students, staff, and families continued success in the years ahead,” she wrote.

The letter did not specify a reason for the resignation.

WJAR-TV first reported on the situation on October, when the Bartz released a statement on its investigation.

“The investigation confirmed inappropriate conduct among a small number of students,” Superintendent Dawn Bartz said in a provided statement. “Disciplinary action has been taken in accordance with district policy, and several student-athletes will not participate for the remainder of the season.”

The statement went on to say that there would be mandated training and education in response. However, the involved players were back at practice, which didn’t sit well with the victim’s family. His parents said his son walked into practice and found himself face-to-face with his alleged assailants.

Five football players were initially removed from the team for the remainder of the season but were later reinstated. When asked about the reversal in October, Bartz issued a one-sentence statement saying, “The disciplinary process has concluded and we will not be discussing details involving students.”

Smithfield Town Council President John Tassoni said the situation has deeply divided the community.

“It’s a long time coming,” Tassoni said of Bartz’s resignation. “A lot of people are angry about what happened. A lot of people don’t know the truth of what happened, nor do I.”

An investigation is underway by the school committee’s attorney and a report is expected to be delivered to the school committee sometime next year, Tassoni added. However, some people have concerns about transparency and have floated the possibility of hiring an independent investigator.

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island said they want the focus to be on student safety.

“While we can’t speculate on the specific reasons behind the superintendent’s decision to resign, we remain focused on what matters most: that Smithfield schools become a place where Jewish students and all students feel safe, valued, and protected from bias and harassment,” President and CEO Adam Greenman wrote in an email.

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Rhode Island

Prosecutors in Rhode Island drop charge against former Bay View athletic director

Published

19 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Prosecutors in Rhode Island drop charge against former Bay View athletic director

Prosecutors in Rhode Island dropped a fugitive from justice charge against a former Catholic school athletic director.

John Sung was arrested in East Providence last month. He was wanted in Florida for a non-violent felony.

After his arrest, he was fired from his position at St. Mary Academy Bay View in Riverside.

Broward County court records show Sung was taken into custody last week. He posted bond.

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Rhode Island

The top returning girls wrestlers? Here are 10 to watch this season

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

The top returning girls wrestlers? Here are 10 to watch this season

Girls wrestling took off last winter in its second year of state championships.

Exactly 50 participants, across a dozen weight classes, competed in the March extravaganza at the Providence Career and Technical Academy. Each weight class was contested, unlike the first year of the tournaments, and new title winners were crowned.

Pilgrim’s Allison Patten was named Most Outstanding Wrestler for her win at 107. The Patriots’ star also finished runner-up at the New England Championships and is among this year’s returnees. But who else should we be keeping an eye on this winter?

Here are 10 standouts who we think might shine this year.

Enjoy!

Athletes listed in alphabetical order.

Yasmin Bido, Hope

Senior

Bido snagged her first individual crown with a 16-0 decision at 152 pounds. The Blue Wave grappler also finished runner-up at 165 in Year 1 of the tournament.

Irie Byers, North Kingstown

Sophomore

Byers stormed onto the scene with a title in her first year on the mat. She captured the 120-pound championship with an 11-1 win in the finals. The Skipper returnee is one of a few wrestlers who could repeat.

Jolene Cole, Scituate

Sophomore

Cole helped Scituate to the team title in the first year that the award was handed out. Scituate is a bit of a girls wrestling factory, and Cole added to that lineage with her pin at 114 pounds.

Alei Fautua, North Providence

Sophomore

Fautua breezed to the title at 235 pounds with a pin in just 25 seconds. She led the Cougars to a runner-up finish as a team as Scituate edged the Cougars by just seven points. Fautua then finished fourth at the New England championships.

Kamie Hawkins, Exeter-West Greenwich

Junior

This year is all about redemption for Hawkins. She was one of the first state champions and came back last year looking to defend her 120-pound title. It wasn’t meant to be, but make no mistake, Hawkins is one of the state’s best.

Abigail Otte, Exeter-West Greenwich

Junior

Otte was a repeat champion at 138 pounds as she seized the title with a pin in 24 seconds. It’s likely a safe bet that Otte might capture her third crown in three years.

Allison Patten, Pilgrim

Junior

A repeat season isn’t out of the question for Patten. She won the 107 pound title with a pin in 49 seconds. What’s next for the junior? End the season with a New England title, too.

Chloe Ross, Scituate

Sophomore

It was quite the debut for Ross. The state crown was a breeze as the freshman won via pin in 1:16. But then came the New England tournament where the Spartan star snagged second place. Might there be a different ending to her season this year?

Meili Shao, La Salle

Senior

Shao was one of the first wrestling champions when she captured the 132 title two seasons ago. A repeat crown wasn’t in the cards as she finished runner-up in the class. But the Ram has returned and could be out to avenge last year’s finish.