Rhode Island
U.S. Navy Awards $18.4 Billion Submarine Contract, Securing Future for Rhode Island’s Defense Industry – Newport Buzz

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Corp. a new $18.4 billion contract to produce two Virginia-class fast attack submarines, a move that solidifies Rhode Island’s role as a critical hub in America’s naval defense infrastructure.
Electric Boat, a subsidiary of General Dynamics with major manufacturing facilities at Quonset Point, will receive the bulk of the funding—$12.4 billion initially, with potential to reach $17.1 billion if all options are exercised. The contract also includes $1.3 billion for Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia and covers long lead materials already allocated.
Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island and a senior member of the Armed Services and Defense Appropriations committees, praised the deal as a “major win for Rhode Island’s workforce.” Reed has long championed submarine production as both a national security imperative and an economic engine for the Ocean State. The new contract, he said, “provides added stability for the Ocean State’s industrial base while also achieving cost savings for taxpayers through production efficiencies.”
Electric Boat employs more than 24,000 workers in Rhode Island and Connecticut and is undergoing rapid expansion. With thousands of additional hires expected in the coming years, the company is ramping up recruitment to meet growing production demands and replace a retiring workforce.
Rhode Island’s role in the defense sector extends beyond Electric Boat. The state is home to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, the Naval War College, and a web of defense contractors and suppliers. A 2022 report by the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance estimated that defense spending had a $7.6 billion impact on the state economy and supported over 34,000 jobs.
The submarines—initially assembled in Quonset Point—will be completed in Groton, Connecticut and Newport News, Virginia. Work is expected to continue through June 2036.
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2026 Springfield College vs Rhode Island College – Women’s – News – FloGymnastics

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Here’s how to watch the 2026 Springfield College vs Rhode Island College – Women’s broadcast on FloGymnastics. The 2026 Springfield College vs Rhode Island College – Women’s broadcast starts on Feb 14, 2026. Stream or cast from your desktop, mobile or TV. Now available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV. Don’t forget to download the FloSports app on iOS or Android! If you can’t watch live, catch up with the replays! Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloGymnastics subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.
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SNAP to run out of money two weeks, affecting 144,000 Rhode Islanders | ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — 42 million Americans facing food insecurity could lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the coming weeks as the government shutdown drags on.
This includes 144,200 Rhode Island residents who utilized the program in the 2024 federal fiscal year, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
1,113,700 Massachusetts residents utilized the program in that time.
According to US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the SNAP program, also known as food stamps, will run out of money in two weeks.
“So you’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families, of hungry families that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown,” said Rollins, accusing Congressional Democrats in the shutdown.
Democrats are still holding out for a deal that extends expiring enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies.
One out of eight Americans utilize the SNAP program for assistance with their groceries.
SNAP has a contingency fund of approximately $6 billion, but total November benefits are expected to be about $8 billion.
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