Rhode Island
Senate refuses yet again to allow a vote on banning of foie gras | Opinion
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Journal Staff
Time is running out for voters, ducks and geese. For the fourth year in a row, the Rhode Island Senate has refused to put SB403 ‒ a bill prohibiting the production and sale of foie gras ‒ up for a vote. Why? It’s certainly not because of public opposition. A 2022 Zogby poll found that 7 in 10 Rhode Islanders support the legislation. California banned the luxury product over 20 years ago, and retailers like Whole Foods discontinued foie gras sales in the 1990s. What’s stopping Rhode Island?
The ban would not impact local foie gras producers because there aren’t any. The Rhode Island Farm Bureau just acknowledged that no foie gras farms exist in the Ocean State. A Rhode Island chef said that this legislation would not negatively affect their business. And yet, Senate leadership continues to stall.
Some might argue that food lovers will protest the ban. If anything, failing to bring the bill up for a vote would be the real controversy. The vast majority of testimony was in favor of the bill, and Providence has already experienced protests in favor of banning foie gras.
So, what’s really happening here? Political gamesmanship. Senate leadership isn’t defending foie gras; they’re refusing to engage with the issue at all ‒ undermining democracy and shielding foie gras from public scrutiny. If senators believe foie gras should remain legal, they should have the courage to vote accordingly. If they don’t, they should stop standing in the way of the will of the people.
Let’s be clear about what foie gras is: French for fatty liver. This fatty liver is made by shoving a thick, foot-long pipe down birds’ throats and pumping grain into their fledgling stomachs. This torturous process causes a bird’s liver to engorge up to 10 times its average size.
That’s the process. Consider the lived experience: a duck is grabbed by the neck and a pipe is shoved violently down its throat. The bird, sick and bloated, has difficulty walking and even breathing as their oversized liver pushes against other internal organs. These ducks experience death rates 2000% greater than other farmed birds, a direct consequence of the extreme physical toll of force-feeding.
At Farm Sanctuary, we have seen the aftermath of this cruelty firsthand. Rescued ducks Monet and Matisse arrived at the sanctuary terrified of humans, their bodies injured and diseased with sores and broken feathers. They were lucky — they escaped. Most foie gras ducks do not.
If Senate leadership believes foie gras is worth defending, they should have the conviction to debate and vote on the bill in broad daylight. But they shouldn’t hide behind political maneuvering while workers, voters, and farm animals suffer the consequences.
There’s still time to act. Rhode Island residents: Contact Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone and Senate President Valarie Lawson. Tell them Rhode Island should finally take a stand against one of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty. Hopefully, this year, the Senate will finally do what’s right.
Robert Procaccianti is a lifelong Rhode Islander and vice chair of the Board of Directors of Farm Sanctuary, a farm animal sanctuary and advocacy organization.
Rhode Island
RI Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Nov. 14, 2025
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 14, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Nov. 14 drawing
01-08-11-12-57, Mega Ball: 07
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 14 drawing
14-19-34-42-43, Lucky Ball: 13
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from Nov. 14 drawing
Midday: 2-1-0-8
Evening: 2-6-8-7
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from Nov. 14 drawing
04-05-12-14-23, Extra: 31
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.
Rhode Island
Newport Hospital earns top ranking – What’s Up Newp
Newport Hospital was among several hospitals in Rhode Island that achieved an A rating from the hospital watchdog group Leapfrog in its fall ratings. Three hospitals – Roger Williams Medical Center, Kent, and South County were awarded C or below, a pattern of declining ratings over the last few years.
Additionally, Women and Infants Hospital declined to participate in Leapfrog’s survey, according to Leapfrog. The group surveys more than 2,000 hospitals nationwide twice a year.
Both Fatima and Roger Williams are owned by California-based Prospect Medical Holdings, which filed for bankruptcy several months ago. There have been efforts to sell the hospitals while maintaining both of them open.
Women and Infants is part of the Care New England Group, which also includes Kent Hospital, whose safety rating has steadily declined over the last few years.
Leapfrog, which conducted the survey, is a well-respected hospital watchdog group that describes itself as “the nation’s gold standard in evaluating hospital performance on national measures of safety, quality, and efficiency in both inpatient and outpatient areas.”
Hospital safety is critical, with surveys suggesting that as many as 440,000 patients die annually because of hospital safety errors. Studies suggest that preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in America.
Leapfrog assigns rankings, A to F, based on issues involving infections, surgical problems, safety concerns, and practices to prevent errors. Within each of these areas are also several measures.
Earning A ratings for the fall of 2025 were Newport, Miriam, Rhode Island, and Westerly Hospitals. Newport, Miria,m and Rhode Island are part of Brown University Health (formerly Lifespan), while Westerly is part of the Yale/New Haven group. Landmark Hospital in Woonsocket received a B rating; Kent, Fatima and South received C ratings; and Roger Williams Medical Center received a D rating.
Several trends were also evident. Newport and Miriam Hospitals have been trending up, scoring B in the spring and fall of 2022, but in 2023 reaching an A rating, and remaining there. Rhode Island fell to a C in the fall of 2023, rising to B in both surveys in 2024, and in the two reports in 2025 have achieved an A rating.
Landmark has been consistently A-rated since 2022, with the only exception being a B in one of the reports in 2024. Westerly has been rising, from a C in the spring of 2022 to an A in 2025. Fatima has been C-rated with only one exception, a B in the fall of 2022. Roger Williams also consistently received a C until this fall, when its ranking dropped to D.
South County had ranged between A and B, falling to C this fall.
For those hospitals that trended lower, a significant problem appears to be effective leadership to help prevent errors. “Effective leadership to prevent errors: Errors are much more common if hospital leaders don’t make patient safety a priority. Leaders must make sure that all hospital staff know what they need to work on and that they are held accountable for improvements.”
South County, which is Rhode Island’s only independent hospital, experienced a disruption among physicians several months ago, in a rift with the administration that apparently has yet to heal.
Leadership, or lack of leadership, was also noted for other hospitals not performing well.
Meanwhile, other issues remain: healthcare – the lack of primary care physicians (nationwide); the study to determine whether to build a second medical school at the University of Rhode Island; and the threatened closure of Roger Williams and Fatima Hospitals.
Rhode Island
Volleyball Inks Five Commitments For 2026 – Providence College Athletics
Providence, R.I.- The Providence College volleyball head coach Margot Royer-Johnson announced today (Nov. 12) that Ellie Chu, Lyla Buser, Aubrey Easterwood, Ava Dyer and Gwen Koss each signed a written offer of athletic aid to attend Providence College beginning in the fall of 2026 and compete as members of the Friars’ volleyball program.
Chu is a 5’9 setter from Sierra Madre, Calif. She plays for Polytechnic School, where she serves as captain and has recorded 1,703 assists, 583 digs, 345 kills and 215 aces. Chu made First-Team All-Conference in the 2025 season and holds the school record for serving the most consecutive points (24). She plays club for SC Rockstar Volleyball Club.
“Ellie is an extremely fundamentally-skilled player as both a setter and defensive specialist,” Royer-Johnson said, “Her serve is a huge weapon and she is a spitfire on the court. She will help us defensively and give us depth at the setter position. She is a perfect fit for us.”
Buser is a 6’3 right side from Wellington, Fla. She plays for Cardinal Newman High School and is a three-year captain. Buser has recorded 809 career kills, 82 aces, 205 blocks and 287 digs. She led her team to two District Championships and was named Best Offensive Player in 2024. She plays club for Jupiter Elite Volleyball.
“Lyla is a killer on the right side,” Royer Johnson said. “Her length allows her to put up a big block and her tenacity and speed will allow her to be an immediate offensive weapon for us. We are so happy she is a Friar!”
Easterwood is a 6’4 middle blocker from Dallas, Texas. She plays for John Paul II High School, where she served as captain. She helped lead her team to the State Semifinals in 2024. She has recorded 341 career blocks and posted a .378 pct her sophomore year (2023), a .422 pct as a junior (2024) and an impressive .466 as a senior (2025). Easterwood was named to the 2025 AVCA All-American Watch List. She plays club for TAV.
“Aubrey is a massive presence in the middle. She transitions well to hit and her reach will make her difficult to defend,” Royer-Johnson said, “Her strength as a blocker will make an immediate impact on our team. We are pumped to start working with her in Friartown!”
Dyer is a 5’8 libero from Fort Worth, Texas. She plays for R.L. Paschal High School, where she is a four-year captain. Dyer holds the record for most digs in a single game (39) and has recorded 1,580 career digs. She is a three-time All District First-Team selection, two-time Paschal Volleyball MVP and the 2025 District Defensive Player of the Year. Dyer plays club for TAV.
“Ava is super quick and reads hitters better than anyone we have seen at her age,” Royer-Johnson said, “She never gives up defensively and will provide a spark for us immediately. We look forward to her contagious energy on the court right away.”
Koss is a 6’0 outside hitter from Houston, Texas. She plays for Stratford High School, where she has recorded 1,252 kills and 1,173 digs. She helped lead her team to the State Finals in 2024 was named to the State Championship All-Tournament Team. Koss was named to the 2025 AVCA All-American Watch List. She plays club for Houston Skyline Volleyball Club.
“Gwen is a solid six-rotation hitter. Her passing and hitting efficiency are due to her strong platform and ability to read the game,” Royer-Johnson said, “She is a smart hitter, who is comfortable hitting every shot. Welcome to Friartown, Gwen!”
-GO FRIARS!-
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