Rhode Island

RI judge sides with beachfront homeowner in court fight. What does it mean for public beach access?

Published

1 year ago

July 15, 2024

RI judge sides with beachfront homeowner in court fight. What does it mean for public beach access?

A Superior Court judge has issued an initial decision siding with a beachfront homeowner who argued that Rhode Island’s 2023 shoreline access law amounted to an unconstitutional taking of private property.

On Friday, Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter denied the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed on behalf of Stilts, LLC, which is owned by David Welch of South Kingstown. A final opinion is expected in the coming weeks, according to the Pacific Legal Foundation, which is representing Welch in court.

More: Rhode Island’s beaches are public. Here’s a quick guide to what you can and can’t do.

What the decision says

In 2023, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed a law establishing that the public has the right to use the shoreline up to 10 feet landward of the recognizable high tide line, also known as the “wrack line.”

Welch sued the state in October, noting that the four parcels of land on Charlestown Beach that belong to Stilts, LLC have varying deeds indicating that he owns out to the “high water mark,” “Atlantic Ocean,” “high water line,” and “mean high water mark.”

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s office filed a motion to dismiss Stilts, LLC’s lawsuit, which was converted into a motion for summary judgment.

After hearing arguments on both sides, Taft-Carter issued a decision on Friday saying that the 2023 law was “clearly” a taking of private property.

Taft-Carter noted that a controversial Rhode Island Supreme Court case, State v. Ibbison, defined the boundary between public and private at the mean high tide line, which is scientifically calculated and invisible to the eye.

The 2023 law “reset” the division between public and private, and “extended the point of public access over the plaintiff’s private property,” she wrote.

Breaking down the ruling

Taft-Carter agreed to dismiss one count of Stilts, LLC’s lawsuit, which argued that the shoreline access law translated to an unreasonable seizure of private property and violated the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

But she rejected the state’s attempt to dismiss the other two counts, which alleged that the law was an unconstitutional taking that violates the Fifth Amendment, and that it amounted to inverse condemnation.

The decision does not spell out how Stilts, LLC, should be compensated, or what happens next.

“Our clients are gratified that the court agreed with what they have said from the start—the beach access law violates their rights,” Pacific Legal Foundation Senior Attorney J. David Breemer said in a statement. “As the court recognized, the beach access law infringed on our client’s property rights by moving the existing public beach boundary line ten feet landward, effectively confiscating our client’s property, which is an unconstitutional taking.”

The foundation described the decision as “a major victory for those who own coastal property.”

The Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Coastal property owners previously filed a lawsuit challenging the shoreline access law in federal court, but that suit was dismissed in September.

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Rhode Island

GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

Published

7 hours ago

January 10, 2026

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GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

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Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal

Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.

Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”

The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.

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Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.

“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.

Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz

Published

19 hours ago

January 9, 2026

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Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session this week with a focus on health care affordability, housing costs and economic stability, as leaders in both chambers warned of uncertainty tied to federal budget changes.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined House priorities centered on expanding access to health care while lowering costs, calling it the chamber’s top agenda item for the year. He also said lawmakers will continue addressing housing shortages and rising home energy costs, emphasizing the need for community input as policy decisions move forward.

In the Senate, President Valarie J. Lawson convened the chamber by urging bipartisan cooperation and announcing plans to introduce legislation supporting education, small businesses and the state’s health care system. Stabilizing hospitals and strengthening the primary care workforce were identified as key goals.

Both chambers paused to honor victims of the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, passing resolutions recognizing the victims and commending first responders. Lawmakers also observed a moment of silence.

New legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara would require the Department of Education to adopt a zero-tolerance hazing policy in partnership with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, mandating clear and consistent discipline statewide.

Meanwhile, Reps. David Morales and Jennifer Stewart called on Gov. Dan McKee to fully fund public libraries in the upcoming state budget.

Speaker Shekarchi also announced several committee leadership changes, appointing Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee as chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith as chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee.

The week also marked the first Senate session for Sen. Stefano V. Famiglietti, who received committee assignments following his election to fill a vacant seat.

Legislative leaders capped the week by joining faith leaders at the 18th annual Rhode Island Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the State House, calling attention to legislation aimed at reducing poverty statewide.

Temporary erosion protection systems installed at Second Beach in Middletown, Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Lucky For Life, Numbers Midday winning numbers for Jan. 8, 2026

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

05-12-13-39-48, Lucky Ball: 13

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

Midday: 9-9-1-3

Evening: 0-9-6-6

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

01-07-12-30-35, Extra: 26

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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