Rhode Island

When I die, compost me? Massachusetts, Rhode Island could legalize human composting

Published

2 years ago

February 22, 2024

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When I die, compost me? Massachusetts, Rhode Island could legalize human composting

Local News

The practices are more environmentally friendly by using less fuel and releasing no carbon emissions compared to cremation, proponents say.

Micah Truman, CEO of Return Home, a company that composts human remains into soil, poses for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, in Auburn, Washington. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

When you die, it’s your choice. There’s cremation, embalming, caskets and coffins, or you could just go in ground. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, a few new choices could soon be legalized.

If you want your remains to join your family garden or even your favorite house plant: legislators are moving to legalize human composting.

Since 2020, seven states have legalized “natural organic reduction,” which essentially means composting a human body. The composting is part of an accelerated process to make a nutrient-rich soil from human remains, which takes about four to six weeks.

The human body is placed in a large tank with warm air and wood chips, and — much like a regular compost — the material is turned until a soil is formed. According to Earth Funeral, which has human composting facilities on the West Coast, the process yields a cubic yard of soil.

Washington was the first state to legalize human composting, in 2020. The practice is also legal in Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York, and Nevada.

Earth Funeral calls human composting the most sustainable urban funeral process, noting its relies on renewable energy and releases no CO2 emissions.

Rhode Island, Mass. could legalize ‘burial alternatives’

Rhode Island’s state legislature is hearing the bill to allow human composting for the second year in a row, the Providence Journal reported. In Massachusetts, where the idea is also on its second try in the chamber, lawmakers want to take it a step further to legalize water cremation.

In addition to composting, Massachusetts’s “environmentally-friendly burial alternatives” bill would also legalize alkaline hydrolysis, which is defined as the reduction of human remains to bone fragments using heat, pressure, water and base chemical agents.

Alkaline hydrolysis is more widely practiced than human composting, but it’s still not legal in every state.

This “water cremation” is more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation and burial by using less fuel and reducing its carbon footprint, according to the Cremation Association. Family members can receive pure white remains after the process.

The bill in the Massachusetts State Senate was sent to committee this week, meaning it may not see session this year.

While the practices are environmentally friendly, some religions don’t approve. The Catholic Church, for example, said last year that both practices do not align with their doctrines, meaning “they fail to manifest the respect for last remains that Catholic faith requires.”

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for Dec. 18, 2025

Published

3 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 18, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 18 drawing

Midday: 1-4-0-0

Evening: 5-5-4-5

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 18 drawing

09-28-30-31-36, Extra: 21

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

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 Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 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.
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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Rhode Island

‘Just knock it off’: Neronha, Whitehouse urge RI to ignore Brown shooting conspiracy theories | ABC6

Published

15 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

‘Just knock it off’: Neronha, Whitehouse urge RI to ignore Brown shooting conspiracy theories | ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Law enforcement are urging Providence and Rhode Island residents to only trust information from official sources in the Brown University shooting.

This follows the doxxing of a student related to online speculation about the shooting suspect’s identity.

According to Brown University, a student’s personal information was shared online, and now Attorney General Peter Neronha is attempting to stem the flow of internet rumors.

Rumors gained more traction after information about the doxxed student was seemingly removed from Brown’s website.

Neronha said that any online rumors about political, religious or racial motivations behind the shooting are unfounded.

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse didn’t mince words when he weighed in on the online discourse in the case.

“So whether it’s to protect the law enforcement investigation from a lot of unnecessary and ill-informed noise cluttering up the ability of the many agencies working on this to do their jobs, or whether it’s out simple courtesy and sympathy to the families who are going through this awful moment, just please shut up with the speculation,” said Whitehouse.

“All the conspiracy theories, all the creepy weird plot ideas, please, just knock it off.”

School officials said it is not unusual to take steps to protect a person’s safety in the event of online targeting.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 17, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 17, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

25-33-53-62-66, Powerball: 17, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

11-13-20-40-41, Lucky Ball: 07

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

Midday: 3-3-9-5

Evening: 4-3-2-9

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 17 drawing

04-11-18-24-37, Extra: 30

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

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 Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 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.
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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