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US Department of Justice sues Rhode Island, Vermont, others for refusing to hand over voters’ personal data – The Boston Globe

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US Department of Justice sues Rhode Island, Vermont, others for refusing to hand over voters’ personal data – The Boston Globe


PROVIDENCE — The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington, asking a judge to force them to hand over voter records that include driver’s license numbers and partial social security numbers.

The lawsuit is the latest of the DOJ’s efforts to compel states to hand over the records. Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore said in September he would hand over the public voter list, but not the list that includes private data the DOJ was requesting.

“One of my most important responsibilities as the chief state election official is safeguarding the data privacy of Rhode Islanders, who entrust us with their personal information when they register to vote,” Amore said Tuesday after the lawsuit was filed. “I will continue to fight to protect it.”

Amore’s office said the Trump administration has “not been forthcoming on how they will use Rhode Islanders’ private voter data, and they have not provided valid legal justification to obtain it,” said LeeAnne Byrne, Amore’s chief of staff.

She said Amore is concerned that Trump will try to “challenge the clear Constitutional role of states to administer elections in order to undermine voter confidence.”

On Tuesday evening, the DOJ said in a press release that they would continue to file “proactive election integrity litigation” until states comply.

“Accurate voter rolls are the cornerstone of fair and free elections, and too many states have fallen into a pattern of noncompliance with basic voter roll maintenance,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in the press release.

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Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said states that refuse to turn over the data are interfering with the DOJ’s “mission of ensuring that Americans have accurate voter lists as they go to the polls, that every vote counts equally, and that all voters have confidence in election results.”

The Justice Department has requested voter data from at least 40 states, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

In its lawsuit, the DOJ said it was seeking to investigate Rhode Island’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as the “motor voter” law from 1993 that allowed states to register voters when they apply for driver’s licenses, along with the 2002 Help America Vote Act.

The goal is to “ascertain Rhode Island’s compliance with list maintenance requirements,” the suit says.

Trump has long claimed that illegal voting is happening in the US, including noncitizen voting.

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The New York Times reported in September that the Justice Department is trying to compile a national voter roll, “buttressing an effort by President Trump and his supporters to try to prove long-running, unsubstantiated claims that droves of undocumented immigrants have voted illegally.”

Elections — including federal elections — are run by individual states, which also maintain the voter rolls in their own states. In his letter to the DOJ in September refusing the request, Amore said Rhode Island maintains the list according to the law and has removed more than 100,000 voters since 2023.

Amore also recently sent out a letter to active voters asking them to confirm their voter registrations ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. If someone received a letter for a person who no longer lives there, they were asked to send it back and note that the person is not at the address.

Cities and towns are currently processing the responses to that letter, Byrne said. Voters whose letters were returned as undeliverable will be moved to inactive status in the coming weeks.

The ACLU of Rhode Island said the DOJ’s demand posed a “major threat to the privacy of Rhode Island voters.”

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“Drivers’ licenses and social security numbers provided as part of the voter registration process are sensitive pieces of information that deserve to be protected,” the ACLU said Tuesday. “This latest attempt to collect enormous amounts of data should be of concern to anyone who wants to prevent the misuse of personal information by the federal government.”

Amore has 21 days to respond to the DOJ’s lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Providence.


Steph Machado can be reached at steph.machado@globe.com. Follow her @StephMachado.





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One Big Question After RHORI Renewal

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One Big Question After RHORI Renewal


Bravo cameras will be rolling in Rhode Island once again this summer.

The Real Housewives of Rhode Island has officially been renewed for season two—and honestly, it’s no surprise. The newest addition to the Housewives franchise quickly became a fan favorite, thanks to strong ratings and early award buzz.

READ MORE: RHORI Earned Two Critics’ Choice Award Nominations

Still, not everyone may be celebrating this news.

It didn’t take long for viewers to get hooked on the Ocean State edition, especially with the intense drama that unfolded just a few episodes in.

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The Infidelity Allegations That Drove the Season

At the center of it all? The allegations of infidelity involving Rulla Nehme Pontarelli’s husband, Brian—a storyline that quickly became the season’s biggest talking point.

The situation even left Rulla questioning her future on the show, saying she would have to “think very long and hard about” returning for another season.

Will Rulla Return for Season 2?

Now that season two is officially happening, the big question is: will Rulla be back?

Fans certainly hope so. Rulla has been one of the most talked-about cast members on social media, and her storyline has driven much of the conversation around the show.

READ MORE: Fans React to First Look at Real Housewives of Rhode Island Cast

As of now, Rulla is expected to return alongside Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Liz McGraw, Kelsey Swanson, and Jo-Ellen Tiberi.

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Bravo via Facebook

Bravo via Facebook

When and Where Filming Will Begin

If production follows last year’s schedule, filming will likely kick off in mid-June and run through mid-September—once again showcasing Rhode Island at its summer best.

For now, fans seem thrilled. The announcement sparked more than 100 excited comments on Facebook, with viewers eager for more drama, more glamour, and more Ocean State moments.

So don’t be surprised if you spot Bravo cameras popping up around Rhode Island again very soon.

40 Photos Of Real Housewives Of Dallas Stars Home For Sale

Built & owned by actress, celebrity chef & Real Housewife, D’Andra Simmons-this stylish & stunning award winning two story,5 bedroom modern is on a corner lot in prestigious Highland Park and its on sale for $5.2 Million.

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Gallery Credit: Christine McKenny, Agent/ Allie Beth Allman & Associates

A Real Housewives Star Just Made $7.7M On Her Ridiculous Colorado Home

Kyle Richards, from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, just sold this ridiculously gorgeous home in Aspen, Colorado, for $7.7 Million. You’ve gotta see these pix…

Gallery Credit: Aspen MLS

The Gorga’s of The Real Housewives of New Jersey Put Their Jersey House Up For Sale

We learned from Patch.com that the couple is ready to get rid of their beautiful house in Toms River, New Jersey.
The stunning house is going for $2,450,000. It’s a beautiful house with a view of the bay.

It has 7 bedrooms 5 bathrooms and a pool but really it will be better if we show you this celebrity home that is up for sale in the Jersey Shore.

Gallery Credit: EeE

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Lieutenant governor candidate wants the office to be RI’s inspector general

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Lieutenant governor candidate wants the office to be RI’s inspector general


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  • Republican candidate John Loughlin proposes transforming the Rhode Island lieutenant governor’s office into an inspector general.
  • Loughlin aims to use the office’s staff and budget to investigate government waste, fraud, and corruption.
  • The state’s lieutenant governor role currently has few official duties beyond succeeding the governor if necessary.

Republican candidate for lieutenant governor John Loughlin wants the office to become the Rhode Island inspector general his party has been seeking in vain for years.

Loughlin, a former state representative, said on May 11 that, if elected, he would staff the underutilized office with people who would help him expose “fraud, waste, abuse, and government corruption.”

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“Rhode Islanders are sick and tired of watching their tax dollars disappear into a black hole of inefficiency, cronyism, and outright corruption while the General Assembly talks a big game but delivers nothing − year after year after year,” Loughlin said in a news release. “For more than two decades, the legislature has failed to create a true Inspector General with real investigative power. Enough is enough. If they won’t do it, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office will − starting on day one.”

Why turn the lieutenant governor into an inspector general?

The Rhode Island Constitution gives the lieutenant governor little to no authority beyond being available in case the governor is unable to finish their term. That’s prompted some to call it a “do nothing” office and others to propose abolishing it.

“Frankly, the current workload of the office leaves ample time and resources to do far more for taxpayers than ceremonial appearances and ribbon-cuttings,” Loughlin said in his news release. “Rhode Islanders deserve a Lieutenant Governor’s Office that works every day to protect their money and hold government accountable.”

The lieutenant governor’s office has a budget of $1.4 million, which Loughlin said is enough to staff and run an effective investigative team made up of “certified auditors, investigators, and compliance professionals” to review state agency spending and contracts.

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He acknowledged that the lieutenant governor does not have subpoena power, but believes that investigations can be completed utilizing public records requests and gathering publicly-available data.

Loughlin, who ended his talk radio show earlier this year when he announced his campaign for governor, said he would communicate his findings through “RI Report” publications, news briefings and podcasts.

He said he would also make the office’s resources available to city and town leaders.

Republicans have been fighting for an inspector general

Rhode Island Republicans have for years promised to lower state spending by rooting out government waste, fraud and abuse. The last GOP Rhode Island governor, Donald Carcieri, launched a “Fiscal Fitness” program that aimed to save money and find efficiencies.

Democrats criticized Carcieri’s tenure for featuring exorbitant privatization and outsourcing.

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Since Carcieri, the idea of creating an independent inspector general similar to those in other states has become a holy grail for Rhode Island Republicans, but the Democratic General Assembly has had little interest in it.

“If our office saves just 1% from Rhode Island’s bloated state budget, the savings would return more than ten times the entire cost of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office to taxpayers – and that’s only the beginning,” Loughlin said in the news release.



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RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for May 10, 2026

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Numbers numbers from May 10 drawing

Midday: 9-9-9-0

Evening: 5-5-0-9

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Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from May 10 drawing

01-13-14-16-32, Extra: 02

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 10 drawing

01-03-20-35-46, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

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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 Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 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.
  • Millionaire for Life: 11:15 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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