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Sweat The Small States: Why Rhode Island Legalizing Marijuana Is A Big Deal

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Sweat The Small States: Why Rhode Island Legalizing Marijuana Is A Big Deal


Earlier than New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu headed into the three-day information void of the Memorial Day weekend on Friday, the Republican governor of the final state in New England the place hashish isn’t authorized for all adults 21 and over indicated to the Boston Globe that, truly, he’d most likely be okay with legalizing marijuana.

Only some days earlier, on Might 25, close by Rhode Island turned the 19th state to legalize adult-use hashish. That would have been New Hampshire, urged Sununu, if solely state lawmakers had managed to ship a invoice to his desk.

The timing of this “obvious softening” of Sununu’s stance on hashish, because the Globe noticed it, is an illustration of why even small states like Rhode Island legalizing hashish is a really large deal.

The “relative measurement” of states that legalize hashish are “inconsequential,” mentioned Morgan Fox, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based nationwide management of the Nationwide Group for the Reform of Marijuana Legal guidelines (NORML).

These “small” victories are an important a part of the nationwide technique to vary federal hashish coverage reform, a feat that can require cooperation from sixty U.S. senators. That would require senators to characterize not less than 30 states the place hashish is authorized.

What’s extra, yet one more state with authorized hashish means one much less state the place hashish can be utilized because the pretext for a visitors cease or different encounter with legislation enforcement.

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Meaning one much less place the place out-of-state vacationers could be harassed just like the Delaware State College ladies’s lacrosse group, who had been stopped by police April 20 whereas touring on Interstate-95 via Georgia for (supposedly) having hashish on them. (They didn’t.)

“It’s a large deal every time we will cease anybody from being unnecessarily caught up within the prison justice system or take away insurance policies which have been used to marginalize and harass whole communities,” Fox added. It’s also a giant deal that we now have two US Senators whose constituents have an even bigger stake in federal hashish reform at the moment than they did yesterday.”

And, because the timing of Sununu’s assertion indicated, politicians and policymakers in different states completely take note of what their colleagues are doing. And if lawmakers or leaders are reluctant to be the primary to go a controversial coverage, they’re additionally loath to be the final to meet up with the remainder of the nation.

In Rhode Island, the place lawmakers had been engaged on a legalization invoice for ten years and the place legalization flew via each homes of the state legislature with little severe opposition, Democratic Gov. Dan McKee marked legalization with a bill-signing ceremony on the steps of the State Home final Wednesday.

Hashish use and possession turned authorized instantly. House cultivation is authorized. State-sanctioned retail gross sales may start as quickly as December. And not less than 27,000 hashish possession costs may very well be expunged from residents’ prison histories.

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That appeared to echo in New Hampshire, impulsively the outlier in New England. Voters in Maine and Massachusetts had been the primary to approve legalization poll measures again in 2016. In Vermont, Gov. Invoice Scott signed a legalization invoice into legislation in 2018. Three years later, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont did the identical.

New Hampshire doesn’t have a voter-initiative course of, and so altering drug legal guidelines is as much as the state legislature, which has by no means managed to go a invoice for the governor’s consideration. Had been they to lastly to do, Sununu urged, they could get a win.

“The governor’s administration has been extra progressive on the problems surrounding marijuana reform than another governor in New Hampshire historical past,” as Sununu’s workplace informed the Globe in an announcement, which rattled off different cannabis-reform accomplishments together with decriminalizing hashish possession and increasing the state’s medical-marijuana program.

All that pales compared to legalizing marijuana outright as Rhode Island did—a victory that different states are clearly eager to comply with.



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Rhode Island

Police recover watch belonging to Travis Kelce in Rhode Island following break-in of his mansion: report

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Police recover watch belonging to Travis Kelce in Rhode Island following break-in of his mansion: report


A watch belonging to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was reportedly found over 1,000 miles away from his Kansas mansion that was broken into last month.

The homes of Kelce and teammate Patrick Mahomes were burglarized last month shortly before one of their games — Kelce’s house is in Leawood, Kansas, while Mahomes’ residence is in nearby Belton, Missouri.

The watch was recovered in Providence, Rhode Island, where Kelce’s girlfriend, pop star Taylor Swift, also owns a home.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce looks on during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Oct. 20. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

NFL players were cautioned by the league to be on high alert after the homes were broken into last month in a wave of burglaries reportedly tied to international organized crime. It was eventually revealed that $20,000 in cash was taken from Kelce’s home.

In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL issued a security alert to teams and the NFL Players Association, warning that professional athletes in different sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.”

Law enforcement officials say the suspects conduct extensive surveillance on their targets’ homes and have even posed as groundskeepers or joggers. Some have even attempted home deliveries. 

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, right, wait to lead their team onto the field before the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Aug. 10. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

49ERS’ BROCK PURDY, NICK BOSA RULED OUT FOR POTENTIAL SEASON-DEFINING GAME VS. PACKERS

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The memo urged players to take special precautions, including installing home security systems. They were also encouraged not to post live updates of their comings and goings on social media or showcase their expensive items online. 

“Obviously, it’s frustrating, disappointing. I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing, but, obviously, it’s something that you don’t want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself,” Mahomes said last week.

Travis Kelce vs Saints

Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on before kickoff of the game against the New Orleans Saints at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 7.  (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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The Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling to the Buffalo Bills after winning their first nine games.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Travis Kelce’s watch found in Rhode Island after Kansas City mansion was burglarized of $20K in cash: report

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Travis Kelce’s watch found in Rhode Island after Kansas City mansion was burglarized of K in cash: report


Travis Kelce’s stolen watch was reportedly found in Providence, RI, this week after the NFL star’s mansion in Leawood, Kan., was burglarized last month.

Sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News Friday that a watch taken from Kelce’s residence — and not previously disclosed to the public — was recovered.

Details have yet to be revealed on what type of timepiece was stolen or how much it was worth.

Authorities reportedly recovered Travis Kelce’s stolen watch in Providence, RI. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s home in Leawood, Kan., was burglarized on Oct. 7. BACKGRID

Authorities previously shared that the unidentified criminals stole $20,000 cash from Kelce’s home. They did not specify whether any other items were taken at the time.

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Sources told ABC News that they think the athlete’s home was specifically targeted — and thoroughly surveyed — before the Oct. 7 burglary.

Just two days before Kelce’s pad was broken into, burglars also raided the home of his Kansas City Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes.

The criminals reportedly stole $20,000 from the mansion. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Kelce’s teammate Patrick Mahomes’ house was also broken into just 48 hours before. Getty Images

Authorities have theorized the burglars may have targeted the athletes as their public football schedule reveals when they will be away from their residences.

“There is a concern about what happens if the athlete or his/her family members are present,” a security source told the outlet.

The insider shared that the burglars have gained access to Kelce and Mahomes’ houses by “posing as delivery men, maintenance workers or joggers to learn about residences, neighborhoods and security systems.”

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Kelce was playing against the New Orleans Saints, as pictured here, at the time of the burglary. Getty Images
Authorities did not previously reveal a watch had been stolen from Kelce’s pad. AP

Captain Jason Ahring from the Leawood, Kan., Police Department told Page Six that they are not releasing any information pertaining to an open investigation and maintained they will not be commenting.

Meanwhile, a Providence Police Department Public Information Officer told Page Six that they do “not have any record or involvement related to this incident.”

Kelce, 35, has yet to address the crime, but Mahomes, 29, previously expressed how “disappointing” the violation was.

“I can’t get into too many details because the investigation is still ongoing, but it’s obviously something you don’t want to happen to anybody — and obviously yourself,” Mahomes said during a press conference earlier this month.

Mahomes previously called the crimes “disappointing.” Getty Images
Meanwhile, a source told Page Six that Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was “thankful that no one was hurt.” Starface Photo/INSTARimages

Meanwhile, a source told Page Six that Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was “thankful that no one was hurt and that neither of them were home during the robberies.”

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Kelce’s home was broken into around 7:30 p.m. local time on Oct. 7 – just 15 minutes before his team kicked off against the New Orleans Saints.

Meanwhile, Mahomes’ mansion was burglarized while he was celebrating Kelce’s 35th birthday on Oct. 5.



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Are you owed back wages? Here’s where you can find out.

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Are you owed back wages? Here’s where you can find out.



U.S. Labor Department is encouraging Rhode Islanders to use their online tool to find out if they’re among those owed more than $2.5M in back wages

PROVIDENCE – More than 1,500 Rhode Island workers are owed a total of $2.5 million in back wage, and just in time for Christmas, the U.S. Department of Labor wants to put it in their hands.

The money, $2,576,342, was recovered from employers in Labor Department investigations.

The Labor Department encourages anyone who believes they may be owed back wages or knows someone who may be owed wages use their Workers Owed Wages online tool. Anyone who uses the WOW search tool can simply input their current or former employer’s name to learn if the division is holding wages on their behalf.

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“The laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division provide the foundation for U.S. workers’ rights, including the rights to be paid legally required wages and other important protections,” the Labor Department said in announcing the effort.

The tool is available in both English and Spanish.



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