The only topic on anyone’s mind in recent months has been the health of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, and he didn’t make a great first impression Tuesday afternoon. The 76-year-old has been battling cancer, and it has clearly taken its toll on him. He’s lost weight. He’s moving more slowly. And he missed most of the session last year. But he easily won reelection in Senate District 4 last fall, and then beat back a challenge for the presidency from Senator Ryan Pearson, his former majority leader.

Now he’s locked in for another two-year term leading the Senate, but the open question among his colleagues – and anyone paying any attention to Rhode Island politics – is whether he’s up for the job.

From the front row: My colleague Ed Fitzpatrick was in the chamber Tuesday for opening day, so I asked him to explain what happened.

Ed writes: “After battling cancer and shingles over the last year, Senate President Ruggerio’s No. 1 priority had to be showing that he was back in charge and capable of presiding over the chamber. But in the roll call for Senate president, he paused and then voted ‘present’ rather than voting for himself. At first, his vote drew laughs. And if he meant it as a joke, it would have been seen as a bad-ass response to the rebels who also voted ‘present,’ in effect abstaining.”

But after the session, a tired-looking Ruggerio told reporters he hadn’t heard the question and meant to vote for himself. Ruggerio had no opponent in Tuesday’s vote, so in a way his vote wasn’t an issue. But his confusion over the vote for his own leadership had the State House buzzing, showing that Ruggerio’s health remains a major issue in the Senate.

The opening day of the legislative session is often tightly scripted. But the Senate session seemed off from the get-go, when Ruggerio was sworn in and placed his hand on a Bible app on Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz’s cell phone because no one remembered to bring a Bible.

The bigger picture: It’s easy to compare Ruggerio’s poor health to President Joe Biden, who ended his reelection campaign last year following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. But being president of the Rhode Island senate doesn’t come with the nuclear codes, and the state government will be fully functional whether Ruggerio is present or not.

Still, within the chamber, the concern is real.

He won the presidency with 26 out of 38 votes, which was comfortable but not overwhelming the way it has been in previous years. That puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Ruggerio’s staff and leadership newbies like Majority Leader Val Lawson and Whip David Tikoian to hold down the fort.

The Senate only plans to meet once a week as a full body, so it’s possible that Ruggerio’s committee chairs will hold high-profile hearings – think Oversight, for example – that could serve to shield the president for a while. But there will come a time in the coming months where Ruggerio is going to have to prove to the people who just voted for him again as president that he is fit to lead the chamber.

This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.

Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.

Associated Press

KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — Rafael Castro scored 16 points as George Washington beat Rhode Island 75-67 on Wednesday night.

Castro shot 7 of 10 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line for the Revolutionaries (13-3, 2-1 Atlantic 10 Conference). Sean Hansen added 12 points while going 4 of 10 from the floor, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and 3 for 3 from the line while they also had five assists. Trey Autry went 4 of 8 from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points, while adding 10 rebounds.

The Rams (12-3, 1-2) were led in scoring by Sebastian Thomas, who finished with 20 points, six rebounds and three steals. Quentin Diboundje added 14 points and seven rebounds for Rhode Island. Jaden House finished with 10 points.

George Washington entered halftime up 38-30. Castro paced the team in scoring in the first half with nine points. George Washington used a 12-2 second-half run to break a 61-61 tie and take the lead at 73-63 with 1:33 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Jacoi Hutchinson scored 10 second-half points.

George Washington plays Wednesday against Duquesne at home, and Rhode Island visits Richmond on Saturday.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Federal officials have announced a $2 million grant aimed at improving community connectivity and pedestrian safety in Providence’s urban core. The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program, will support a study for multimodal transit improvements and new commuter connections in the city.

The initiative, led by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), focuses on the “Connect Four: Bridging Providence’s Urban Core” project. The study will gather community input and analyze how to reunite neighborhoods divided by infrastructure projects, such as the construction of Interstate 95 (I-95) and Rhode Island Route 10 (RI-10).

“This new $2 million grant will help make roads safer, revitalize neighborhoods, and promote healthy and connected communities,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. “RIDOT can use this federal grant to help remove roadblocks to transit access, improve mobility, and reduce traffic jams and pollution.”

The grant, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will also prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety while addressing outdated infrastructure. “This latest round of federal funding will lay the groundwork to create new connections between Providence neighborhoods and make getting around our capital city easier and more efficient,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

Revitalizing Neighborhoods and Infrastructure

The project will evaluate the redesign of four key bridges spanning I-95 and RI-10 along Atwells Avenue, Dean Street, Washington Street, and Westminster Street. These bridges, which are slated for replacement under RIDOT’s 10-year State Transportation Improvement Program, will be reimagined with a “complete streets” approach to accommodate future needs.

“We will put these funds to work right away, incorporating a complete streets design for these new bridge projects to support the current and future needs of residents and visitors in Providence,” said RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr.

RIDOT will also identify unnecessary ramp infrastructure for removal, creating opportunities for new development in areas previously occupied by highway ramps.

Restoring Communities

The funding underscores efforts to address historic transportation decisions that disproportionately affected underserved neighborhoods.

“In Providence, working-class, majority-minority neighborhoods have been divided since the construction of the I-95 and RI-10 highways. With this $2 million federal investment, our delegation is accelerating efforts to restore communities through thoughtful growth,” said Senator Reed.

The RCP program, established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, supports projects that improve access to jobs, education, health care, and recreation in communities historically divided by infrastructure.

Economic and Community Benefits

The study is expected to lay the groundwork for enhanced public transit options and economic growth. “American households spend nearly 16 percent of their income on transportation, which can be a significant burden for low-income families,” RIDOT noted, emphasizing the broader economic implications of improved transit infrastructure.

Like Newport Buzz? We depend on the generosity of readers like you who support us, to help with our mission to keep you informed and entertained with local, independent news and content. We truly appreciate your trust and support!

Related