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RI senators missed historic moment to block weapons to Israel | Opinion

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RI senators missed historic moment to block weapons to Israel | Opinion


Allie Trionfetti is a member of the Rhode Island chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, an American Jewish anti-Zionist advocacy group. She lives in Providence.

On Nov. 20, the U.S. Senate voted against the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) — legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders that would have blocked a $20-billion weapons shipment to Israel. For the first time in U.S. history, a weapons shipment to Israel had been challenged. The day after, the International Criminal Court (ICC)issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

Much has happened in the weeks since — including Gallant’s welcome at the White House and Israel’s seizure and bombardment of sovereign Syrian land (480 strikes in 48 hours).

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All of this is illegal and none of it would be possible without unwavering U.S. military aid and diplomatic cover. 

While the JRD did not pass, it garnered considerable Democratic support — but not from our Rhode Island senators. Shamefully, Rhode Island was the only New England state fully opposed to the JRD. Neither Reed nor Whitehouse found it critical to halt weapons sales to a country whose two highest-ranking leaders would face international arrest warrants less than 24 hours later. 

In a statement on his nay vote, Whitehouse described Netanyahu’s conduct as having “veered off course.” Israeli military operationshave killed over 44,800 in Gaza, includinghundreds of health and aid workers. Netanyahu’s clear “course” is one of ethnic cleansing, targeting medical, water and sanitation infrastructure necessary for life in Gaza. Whitehouse characterizes Israel as “a country that represents our values in a very dangerous neighborhood,” echoing racist, ethno-nationalistic sentiments that have been a driving force of American imperialism at home and abroad since our country’s inception. In this, Whitehouse is undoubtedly correct that Israel represents our values — but he considers this a point of pride rather than condemnation.

How dare Whitehouse offer this smug, indirect justification of Israel’s genocidal behavior. Israel’s war on Gaza killed more children in its first four months than were killed in four years of global conflict. Anyone who calls this scale of annihilation self-defense is willfully misinformed or deliberately partaking of propaganda. When that privileged ignorance falls among congressional leaders it is a stain of their complicity in these atrocities. 

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The JRD was an historic intervention to uphold pre-existing federal laws. TheLeahy Law and Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act state that the Department of Defense may not provide equipment to any foreign security force that has committed gross human rights violations or prohibits delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance. Yet, U.S.-supplied bombs have been linked to war crimes in Gaza andLebanon. Reed released a November 2023joint statement with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, saying that U.S. military sales to Israel “must adhere (…) to international humanitarian law, the law of armed conflict, and U.S. law.” Van Hollen and Schatz signed on to the JRD to abide by these laws and made good on their words; Reed did not. 

Reed and Whitehouse missed an opportunity to be part of an historic shift in U.S. policy. They failed to uphold international and U.S. law and the will of their increasingly disillusioned base. They must now amplify the International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. When the court issued an arrest warrant for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine, Senator Whitehousejoined a bipartisan group of senators who urged President Biden to support the investigation for the sake of accountability and justice. With Netanyahu, it should be no different. Our senators are running out of opportunities to match their policies with their proclaimed commitment to upholding international and U.S. humanitarian law. 

As a member of Jewish Voice for Peace-Rhode Island, a coalition of anti-Zionist Jews and allies, I am firm in my commitment to a full arms embargo against Israel. We are witnessing a genocide thatover 250 international human rights and aid organizations have corroborated in devastating detail. The JRD was not a call for a full arms embargo. It represented a tiny, crucial interruption in a massive flow of weaponry that has killed a population with the largest number of verified deaths among 5- to 9-year-olds. We demand to know how Whitehouse and Reed justify their votes against halting a single arms shipment to a pariah state whose leaders are facing arrests for war crimes and crimes against humanity and who are now seizing and bombing sovereign territory, expanding their horrific death toll and sowing escalatory chaos. 

Allie Trionfetti is a member of the Rhode Island chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, an American Jewish anti-Zionist advocacy group. She lives in Providence.



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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Numbers Midday winning numbers for May 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 May 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing

15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Numbers numbers from May 9 drawing

Midday: 0-8-9-5

Evening: 0-9-4-7

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from May 9 drawing

08-13-24-27-34, Extra: 32

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 9 drawing

08-11-17-29-49, Bonus: 02

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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Proposed tax hike would hurt small businesses and our communities | Opinion

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Proposed tax hike would hurt small businesses and our communities | Opinion


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  • A proposed “millionaires tax” in Rhode Island could impact small, family-owned businesses structured as pass-through entities.
  • The author, a state representative and business owner, argues the tax would reduce funds for payroll, equipment, and expansion.
  • The op-ed suggests the tax could make Rhode Island less competitive, citing high earners leaving Massachusetts after a similar tax was passed.
  • The author advocates for policies that encourage business investment rather than penalizing financial success.

Rhode Island is built on the strength of small, family-owned businesses. They are the backbone of our economy, the employers of our neighbors, and the reason our communities have character and opportunity. I know this not just as a legislator, but as someone who works every day in a family business alongside the people I care about most. That’s why I am concerned about the impact of the proposed “millionaires tax” on businesses and our communities.

While it may sound like a measure aimed at a narrow group of high earners, the reality is far different. Many family-owned businesses – especially those structured as pass-through entities – report their business income on personal tax returns. That means this tax doesn’t just target “millionaires” in the traditional sense; it directly impacts small and mid-sized businesses that reinvest their earnings into payroll, equipment, expansion and employee benefits.

In my case, our family business is a private ambulance service. Every day, we are responsible for delivering critical care to Rhode Islanders, particularly seniors and our most medically fragile neighbors. That responsibility comes with significant costs. Ambulances, lifesaving medical equipment, and the technology needed to support our crews are expensive, and they must be maintained and updated regularly to meet the highest standards of care.

Tax increases like this directly impact our ability to make those investments. These are not abstract tradeoffs – they have real consequences for the level of care we can provide. For businesses like mine, margins matter. Every dollar that goes out the door in taxes is a dollar that can’t be used to hire another worker, increase wages, buy new equipment or sponsor the local Little League team. These are real decisions that affect real people.

Supporters of this proposal often frame it as a fairness issue. But fairness should also mean recognizing the role that employers play in creating opportunity. When government makes it more expensive to operate a business in Rhode Island, we risk pushing investment – and jobs – elsewhere. Policies like this don’t exist in a vacuum; they shape decisions about where businesses grow and where families choose to put down roots.

We don’t have to guess what would happen if we raised taxes here – we can just look to Massachusetts. They passed a millionaires tax and the latest data shows a steady stream of high earners leaving for lower-tax states like New Hampshire and, you guessed it, Rhode Island. We could take advantage of Massachusetts’ mistake and build on the momentum we have built in recent years. We’ve seen the benefits of thoughtful policy decisions that encourage investment and support job creation and tax revenues are up. But progress is fragile. Policies like the millionaires tax risk undoing that work by sending the message that success will be penalized rather than encouraged.

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As both a business owner and a legislator, I believe strongly that we can – and must – strike a better balance.

We can support public services, invest in our communities, and maintain fiscal responsibility without resorting to policies that put our local businesses at a disadvantage. We can grow our economy by creating an environment where businesses want to stay, expand and hire.

Let’s focus on solutions that strengthen our economy, support our workforce, and ensure that family-owned businesses like mine and so many others across our state continue to thrive.

Rhode Island’s future depends on it.

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Jacquelyn Baginski is a state representative from Cranston.



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RI Lottery Mega Millions, Numbers Midday winning numbers for May 8, 2026

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

Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing

37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Numbers numbers from May 8 drawing

Midday: 9-8-9-7

Evening: 7-9-8-9

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from May 8 drawing

10-13-15-16-30, Extra: 09

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing

14-16-21-43-51, 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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