Rhode Island
Watching climate change is scary. Barrington students wanted local opportunities to take action, so they started a club. – The Boston Globe
On Aug. 5, the student-run group will travel to Washington, D.C., to receive the President’s Environmental Youth Award from the Environmental Protection Agency in Region 1, a prize more often won by their Massachusetts peers.
The last Rhode Island team to win the PEYA award did it in 2010, when Westerly Innovation Network/Westerly Middle School’s Project T.G.I.F. won for their project, “Turn Grease Into Fuel.”
Pautz and Goblick, who are going to be seniors this fall, spoke with the Globe ahead of their trip to the nation’s capital about the inspiration for their activism, their work to combat climate change and educate the public, and their goals for BEE.
Q. What inspired you to found the Barrington Environmental Establishment?
A. Abi and I started in seventh grade. There were protests in 2018 and 2019 led by youth advocates. We were inspired and met with our middle school principal and started a club. Once we got to high school, we branched out to more things — a sapling sale, a compost station, community cleanups — that all accumulated to BEE our sophomore year. We noticed when we hosted environmental weeks at our school or club that not a lot of people knew about climate change. There were a lot of misconceptions and we realized, even in the broader community with adults, they also had a limited understanding. We created an organization that works to provide educational opportunities without shoving it down people’s throats. — Pautz
What do you think made your PEYA application stand out from the rest?
We took on a difficult issue and found ways for people to feel empowered in such a complex and overwhelming situation. We focused on straightforward actions that anyone could feel comfortable participating in: education, opportunities for action, and community engagement. Being entirely student-led, our club demonstrates the proactive spirit of young people taking charge of their future, which can be empowering to both peers and adults, knowing that ‘if they can do something, why can’t I?’ Additionally, we focus on action, like the public compost drop-off and sapling sales, modeling that change can start at the local level. — Pautz and Goblick
What inspired you about Greta Thunberg’s protests?
She showed that someone who is an underdog can rise up. You wouldn’t expect a shy, more reserved person to do that. It showed adults that if someone so young is trying to do something about climate change — and it’s important to someone so young — it should be important to you, too. Everyone should be doing something about the climate crisis. — Pautz
Thunberg, who has been detained twice in the Netherlands, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize every year since 2019. How do you apply her activism to BEE?
For us, what we realized, is that we needed to be less aggressive. We felt that when we took that aggressive approach, people were more resistant and decided to deny what we were saying, or were like, “Oh, its not that bad.” We chose to go a different route than how I interpreted Greta Thunberg’s message. It’s important that she is out there confronting people, and spreading more information about how severe climate crisis is. — Pautz
What does “environmental activism” mean to you?
Environmental activism means spreading the message to people who aren’t aware of environmental issues. What we aim to do through biweekly newsletters and our once-a-month events is raise awareness. We take a more collaborative approach where students can make posters or do something creative, more than just talking to them. Environmental activism is bringing the community together, so we can all work to educate people about climate change. — Goblick
When I saw what Greta Thunberg and other students were doing, it scared me and that fear drove me to do something. Some people don’t want to confront fear. We wanted to provide the opportunity to do something. Our newsletters give people more knowledge and our events allow people to do a cleanup that helps you feel empowered and less helpless about climate change. — Pautz
What worries you most about climate change?
I’m afraid what my future will look like is not going to be anything like what my parents or grandparents experienced. With climate change everything is uncertain. I might not be able to live in certain places or I won’t be able to have children. Maybe I’ll experience a natural disaster. I think on a less severe scale, watching your world change is scary. — Pautz
How have students and community members reacted toward your club?
Most of our event attendees have been middle and high school students, who are eager to learn and act through our more creative projects. For example making tote bags, speaker events, and our beach cleanups. Adults and students alike have been supporters and readers of our newsletters. A big focus is getting information and opportunities to act to students. However, adults in our community have also been incredibly supportive. They’ve helped us host events and even contributed as speakers. Tanya Paglia of the Barrington Public Library has been instrumental in helping us organize many of our events at the library. Save the Bay has generously provided supplies for our beach cleanups. Additionally, Professor Emanuele Di Lorenzo and Professor Kim Cobb from Brown University have led informative presentations. — Pautz and Goblick
What is your goal for the club after you’ve graduated?
We want to ensure its continuity and growth. We are looking for new, younger leaders, who can continue BEE’s legacy long after we graduate. Our long-term vision includes more community projects, more newsletter readers, and more partnerships with other local environmental organizations. We believe that Barrington Environmental Establishment is an organization that will continue to be influential in our community for many years. — Pautz and Goblick
Carlos Muñoz can be reached at carlos.munoz@globe.com. Follow him @ReadCarlos and on Instagram @Carlosbrknews.
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Governor Dan McKee PHOTO: GoLocal
It’s a new year, filled with new challenges. The General Assembly is back in session. Rhode Island’s economy is flat at best, and according to the University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro, the state is in a recession. Rhode Island is also in daily legal conflict with the Trump administration.
Add that the state is trying to recover from a mass shooting at Brown University, which killed two students and wounded nine others.
For Governor Dan McKee, it is a critical time.
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He has announced he is running for reelection—the Democratic primary is just nine months away.
McKee’s poll numbers have plummeted to record lows.
A poll released by the University of New Hampshire in November of 2025 found that in the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island, 29% of likely Democratic primary voters (N=359) say they would currently vote for former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, 13% would vote for Speaker of the RI House of Representatives Joe Shekarchi, 11% would vote for incumbent Governor Dan McKee, 6% would write in someone else, and 42% are undecided.
Is the 74-year-old McKee criss-crossing the state to reassure Rhode Islanders, listening to residents’ ideas, and sharing his vision for the state in his second term?
GoLocal offers a recap of the McKees’ public schedule for the first ten days of the month.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2026
No public events.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026
No public events.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026
2:00 PM
Governor McKee will deliver remarks at the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty’s 18th Annual Interfaith Poverty Vigil.
LOCATION:
RI State House Rotunda
82 Smith Street
Providence, RI
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026
No public events.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026
No public events.
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026
9:30 AM
Governor McKee will deliver remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new community learning center at the Cross’ Mills Public Library.
LOCATION:
Cross’ Mills Public Library
4417 Old Post Road
Charlestown, RI
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026
No public events.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2026
11:00 AM
Governor McKee will join members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation and local and state leaders for a rally hosted by Climate Action RI, Climate Jobs RI, and the AFL-CIO in support of Revolution Wind and other offshore wind projects.
LOCATION:
CIC Providence
225 Dyer Street
Providence, RI
THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026
No public events.
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Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal
Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.
Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”
The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.
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Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.
“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.
Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”
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Rhode Island
Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz
PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session this week with a focus on health care affordability, housing costs and economic stability, as leaders in both chambers warned of uncertainty tied to federal budget changes.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined House priorities centered on expanding access to health care while lowering costs, calling it the chamber’s top agenda item for the year. He also said lawmakers will continue addressing housing shortages and rising home energy costs, emphasizing the need for community input as policy decisions move forward.
In the Senate, President Valarie J. Lawson convened the chamber by urging bipartisan cooperation and announcing plans to introduce legislation supporting education, small businesses and the state’s health care system. Stabilizing hospitals and strengthening the primary care workforce were identified as key goals.
Both chambers paused to honor victims of the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, passing resolutions recognizing the victims and commending first responders. Lawmakers also observed a moment of silence.
New legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara would require the Department of Education to adopt a zero-tolerance hazing policy in partnership with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, mandating clear and consistent discipline statewide.
Meanwhile, Reps. David Morales and Jennifer Stewart called on Gov. Dan McKee to fully fund public libraries in the upcoming state budget.
Speaker Shekarchi also announced several committee leadership changes, appointing Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee as chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith as chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee.
The week also marked the first Senate session for Sen. Stefano V. Famiglietti, who received committee assignments following his election to fill a vacant seat.
Legislative leaders capped the week by joining faith leaders at the 18th annual Rhode Island Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the State House, calling attention to legislation aimed at reducing poverty statewide.
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