Rhode Island

RI offers state workers with botched W-2s reimbursement for tax filings

Published

2 months ago

May 4, 2026

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RI offers state workers with botched W-2s reimbursement for tax filings

Rhode Island is offering state employees up to $200 in reimbursement for costs related to refiling their taxes.
The reimbursement follows a series of payroll glitches and botched W-2 forms caused by a new state accounting system.
Problems with the new system included underpayments, overpayments, and incorrect employer information on tax documents.

The McKee administration is offering up to $200 to any state employee who incurred any additional expense in filing, and then having to refile, their taxes because of a series of botched paychecks and W-2s.

How did we get here? On April 15, also known as Tax Day, Patrick Crowley, the president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, called on the McKee administration to reimburse public service workers who had to refile their taxes because of a series of several payroll glitches.

On May 4, Thomas Verdi, the acting director of the Department of Administration, sent state workers a “Dear Colleagues” email that said:

“We recognize that the W-2 corrections released by the state may have resulted in additional tax preparation costs for individuals who had to amend their tax returns.

“To assist with this expense, the state will provide a one-time reimbursement for up to $200 for tax preparation and filing costs an employee incurred to amend a federal and/or state tax return directly related to the W-2Cs issued by the State of Rhode Island.”

The latest in a litany of financial issues with state’s payroll system

The Department of Administration has not yet responded to Journal inquiries about the projected cost to the state.

But the list of well-publicized problems goes on and on.

They have included underpayments, overpayments, botched W-2s that misidentified their employer as the “Rhode Island Umbrella Company,” and a problem with Health Savings Account contributions where the employer and employee contributions were reported separately, instead of combined and will require new W-2Cs to go out to impacted employees. according to Department of Administration spokeswoman Karen Greco.

And about $220,000 in union dues inadvertently wound up in employee paychecks instead of being withheld from them.

Most, though not all, of the glitches were attributed to problems with the state’s buggy new $99 million finance and accounting system known as Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP, which launched in late 2025.

A Department of Administration spokeswoman told The Journal on April 15 that “significant progress has been made to ensure employees who required paycheck corrections are made whole,” but Crowley said his members “shouldn’t pay for mistakes they didn’t make.”

“That is why we are calling on the state of Rhode Island to reimburse state workers who have incurred expenses for refiling their taxes or may have to do so before problems are corrected.”

Olivia DaRocha, a spokeswoman for Gov. Dan McKee, said at that time that the administration was looking at potential ways to support impacted employees.

The email from Verdi to state workers included an “affidavit” for state workers to sign to verify how much, if anything, additional they had to pay to amend their tax returns.

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Rhode Island

Will Taylor Swift hold a post-wedding bash in Rhode Island?

Published

5 hours ago

July 5, 2026

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Will Taylor Swift hold a post-wedding bash in Rhode Island?

The Fourth of July usually brings about the same question in Westerly: Will Taylor Swift be celebrating at her Watch Hill mansion?

This year, the questions are a little different, as Swift held her wedding to Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3. Now, residents wonder if Watch Hill will be the perfect after-party destination.

From 2013 to 2016, then again in 2023, Swift famously celebrated Independence Day at her Watch Hill house. Rhode Islanders are debating whether these parties will resume for the holiday this year.

Nora Alexander, who owns the boutique Noon in Watch Hill, is unsure whether Swift will make an appearance in Rhode Island after her wedding.

“I feel like if I got married last night, I probably wouldn’t want to have a big party, but I’m not Taylor Swift and maybe she’s ready for another grand party,” Alexander says. “She’s known to have some big bashes up there on the fourth, so we’ll see.”

While they question whether the wedding party would already be leaving New York, both Catherine Lawrence and Kelly Bashan wonder if Swift would have a small post-wedding gathering in Rhode Island.

“Maybe she’ll send some of her family members here instead,” Bashan says.

Miranda Pearce, who works at a store in Watch Hill, does not think that Swift will make it back for the holiday and will stay in New York City after her wedding.

With all of the wedding publicity, Lawrence doubts whether the Watch Hill house offers enough security for the newlyweds.

Pearce says people scope out Swift’s Watch Hill house every year around the Fourth of July, hoping to catch a glimpse of the star through a window or on a balcony.

What to know about Watch Hill, the RI home of Taylor Swift

This charming seaside village is so much more than just the part-time residence of a major pop star.

With her tight security, especially after the wedding, Lawrence doubts the public would even know if the couple was throwing their first Fourth of July bash as husband and wife in Rhode Island.

But that doesn’t deter some Rhode Islanders from trying to find out.

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Rhode Island

84-Year-Old Man Found Unresponsive In Water Off Warwick Pronounced Dead At Hospital: Cops

Published

15 hours ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

84-Year-Old Man Found Unresponsive In Water Off Warwick Pronounced Dead At Hospital: Cops

Warwick police officers and firefighters responded to the Masonic Youth Center shortly before 4 p.m “following a report of a male on the beach who was found unresponsive in the water,” the police department said in a media release.

Life saving measures immediately began,” the release said. “The male, 84, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.”

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Mega Millions, Numbers Midday winning numbers for July 3, 2026

Published

1 day ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 3 drawing

05-09-29-47-57, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from July 3 drawing

Midday: 2-0-5-4

Evening: 0-8-2-8

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from July 3 drawing

07-09-10-36-37, Extra: 17

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 3 drawing

07-08-24-42-47, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life 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 Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 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.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 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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