Rhode Island

Smithfield’s response to anti-Semitic hazing incident is ‘egregious,’ Jewish Alliance says

Published

1 day ago

October 27, 2025

Smithfield’s response to anti-Semitic hazing incident is ‘egregious,’ Jewish Alliance says

The mother of a Jewish football player told the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island that five Smithfield football players, all seniors, trapped her son in a bathroom and sprayed him with Lysol while yelling anti-Jewish slurs, according to a representative of the alliance.

The Alliance staff member, Stephanie Hague, says the woman told her the entrapment involved a chair pushed against a door, but it wasn’t clear from the woman’s comments if her son was trapped in a bathroom, or in a particular area of a bathroom.

Hague said she could not further clarify the specific circumstances of the Lysol-spraying but as she understood it, the player was exposed to the spray during the entrapment and other hazing.

Did the Smithfield football players use anti-Semitic slurs?

“The reason I am not sharing the slurs is because they are, one, not suitable for print, but also because there is some dispute of exactly the phrasing,” said the Alliance’s president, Adam Greenman.

“But we do know that they were anti-Jewish, anti-Semitic slurs and the incident was witnessed by 20 other football players,” Greenman added.

Hague said that Greenman’s comment is “correct.” She emphasized that she is not a lawyer or police investigator, but as part of her job at the Alliance, she responds to matters of antisemitism.

Greenman said the organization has talked to the student’s mother and to others who witnessed what took place.

“We feel fairly confident that we understand the details of what happened,” he said.

Alliance putting public focus on district’s response to the incident

Hague and Greenman made those comments on Monday, Oct. 27 as the student’s mother and the Jewish Alliance made plans to bring attention to the situation at an anticipated meeting of Smithfield’s school committee.

Both the Alliance and the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center have condemned the school district’s handling of the incident, asserting that five seniors were initially kicked off the team but were then reinstated to the team on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

The players’ return to the team was in time to participate in Friday night’s game against Exeter-West Greenwich/Prout, which the team won 16-6.

On Thursday, Oct. 23, the school district’s Superintendent Dawn Bartz, gave a one-sentence statement in an email seeking comment on the situation: “The disciplinary process has concluded, and we will not be discussing details involving students.”

“The fact that the school district has reversed course on consequences for the students is just egregious,” Greenman said.

“We all know that if a consequence is taken away for something like this, it encourages that behavior moving forward,” he said. “We’re very concerned that the students involved were reinstated. We’re very concerned that it seems like the school district is not taking this seriously.”

Meeting canceled hours after Jewish Alliance encourages public attendance

Later on Monday, it became clear that Smithfield Town Council had canceled its Tuesday, Oct. 28, joint session with the School Committee.

An executive assistant to the town manager in Smithfield confirmed that the meeting had been canceled, noting that there are plans to reschedule the meeting, but no date has been set at this time.

The town clerk later said that based on the volume of queries from members the public and news media, the town determined it needed to move the joint meeting from the Town Council’s chambers to a larger venue, according to Donna Corrao, who is an executive assistant for Town Manager Robert W. Seltzer.

The cancellation came hours after the Alliance sent a press release encouraging the public to attend the meeting to “express your outrage and desire to act” after a “horrific antisemitic hazing incident at Smithfield High School.”

The Alliance had encouraged people to:

Attend in support and solidarity
Share brief testimony if you have a strong connection to Smithfield or a compelling personal experience to contribute
Hold signs and wear pins, which would have been available at the meeting.

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Rhode Island

RI GOP asking for resident input for upcoming Washington Bridge oversight hearing | ABC6

Published

5 hours ago

October 28, 2025

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RI GOP asking for resident input for upcoming Washington Bridge oversight hearing | ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island Republican leaders are asking for public input ahead of an upcoming oversight hearing on the Washington Bridge forensic report.

The report, recently revealed to have been withheld by Governor Dan McKee at attorneys’ advice, will be the subject of the planned November 13 oversight hearing.

McKee stated that he knew that repairs were needed on the bridge for two years before its December 11, 2023 westbound side closure, but was confident that work was underway.

McKee said that once he was aware the bridge deficiencies were irreparable, he approved the closure.

Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale said in a statement, in part:

Now that the Speaker and Senate President have committed to ‘a thorough and rigorous examination’ of the Washington Bridge failure and have empowered the Joint Oversight Committee to take testimony under oath, Rhode Islanders deserve answers without delay on this on-going administrative disaster.

Residents can contribute questions to the hearing process via email at rigopcaucus@gmail.com.

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Rhode Island

Special Olympics Rhode Island celebrates completion of sixth Law Enforcement Torch Run | ABC6

Published

2 days ago

October 26, 2025

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Special Olympics Rhode Island celebrates completion of sixth Law Enforcement Torch Run | ABC6

Special Olympics Rhode Island Law Enforcement Torch Run 2025. (Special Olympics Rhode Island)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — Special Olympics Rhode Island said it celebrated the completion of the sixth annual Law Enforcement Torch Run at its Fall Festival Sunday.

Organizers said the 70-mile, 24 hour run raised funds and awareness for Special Olympics athletes in the state.

The six members of law enforcement who took part in the run were:

Jim Baum, Founder of the 24-HOUR SUPER WALK and Assistant Attorney General at the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General
Zachary Coyne, Police Officer, City of Warwick
Eric Leclerc, Founder of the 24-HOUR SUPER WALK and Police Detective, City of Cranston
Mark Lindberg, Field Scientist for Cytiva
Sarah McNulty, Police Officer, City of Central Falls
Kerri McWilliams, Correctional Officer, Department of Corrections Women’s Division

The over $10,000 raised by the event will go towards the organization’s sports, health, and leadership programs.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Oct. 25, 2025

Published

3 days ago

October 26, 2025

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Oct. 25, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Oct. 25 drawing

02-12-22-39-67, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Oct. 25 drawing

21-32-34-35-44, Lucky Ball: 05

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Oct. 25 drawing

Midday: 0-6-0-5

Evening: 4-2-5-4

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Oct. 25 drawing

05-09-18-25-37, Extra: 29

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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