Rhode Island
With Ruggerio still in the hospital, RI state senators are talking about succession.
Senate President Dominick Ruggerio says he doesn’t want to raise taxes
Ruggerio says he feels better and expects to be at State House all year
PROVIDENCE – With news that Senate President Dominick Ruggerio remains at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and will be unable to preside over the state Senate for at least one more week, his colleagues are beginning to tiptoe around the rules that govern succession.
The 76-year-old Ruggerio – a political warhorse who has served in the Rhode Island legislature for more than four decades – has given no indication that he plans to step down barely two months after his reelection to the Senate’s top post.
But several of his colleagues openly discussed, and questioned, how the process of choosing his successor would play out during a Monday meeting of the Senate committee that is working on the proposed rules for the 2025-26 session that began on Jan. 7.
The visibly fragile Ruggerio, who in November survived a bid by Democratic colleagues to unseat him, was reelected president on opening day of this year’s legislative session with support from 26 of 38 senators, including all four Republicans.
Eleven Democratic senators, including all nine who voted against Ruggerio in a November caucus, voted “present” that day instead of yea or nay on another term as president for Ruggerio.
How is Ruggerio doing?
Hospitalized since Feb. 19 with what a note to his Senate colleagues called a “touch of pneumonia,” Ruggerio has for the last week been in a rehab unit in the hospital and is expected to remain there through March 12, according to his chief of staff, John Fleming.
He is no longer battling pneumonia, but “everybody’s seen him,” Fleming said.
“He’s fragile, so they are trying to build him up, and he’s in this program and they got him up walking every day. He’s eating like a bear,” Fleming said.
Fleming said the goal of keeping Ruggerio at Fatima is to “put some weight back on him.”
“He’s doing wonderful,” Fleming continued. “I spent two hours with him Saturday talking business. He was very, very alert. He was the best I’ve seen him in a long time. He’s put on some weight, and they figured that they want to keep him there to build him up to stop what he’s been going through.”
With his absence on Tuesday, Ruggerio will have missed four of the eight once-a-week Senate sessions so far this year. Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna Gallo is expected to preside again in his place.
What about succession rules?
Monday’s rules committee conversation ranged from Sen. Jonathan Acosta’s renewed objections to the Senate dress rules to a proposed new rule, which was roundly applauded, to have the Senate post written testimony online as the House has done for several years.
The kudos came from the senators who sit on the rules committee and others, including Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU of Rhode Island, who said the House move in this direction has been a tremendous boon to promoting transparency and the public’s right to know.
No votes were taken during Monday’s meeting of Senate Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight, which recessed until Thursday to consider some other tweaks suggested that day.
Acosta broached the Senate president succession question, reading the current rule out loud and noting that it could be interpreted in more than one way.
“To prevent any conflict a year from now, a month [or] God forbid, a week or so from today, I think it’d be better that we address this and agree upon this as a body … so that we have a collective understanding of how to interpret,” Acosta said.
Acosta pointed to lines pertaining to a vacancy in the office of the Senate president.
The current rule says: “Should the office of president become vacant during the session, the president pro tempore shall preside over an election …”
Acosta said he thinks the rules mean that an election for Senate president would be held at the next “regular meeting of this body,” but it could be interpreted as the president pro tempore presiding for an unlimited period of time.
It is not yet clear if the committee will consider any potential amendments to this rule.
Rhode Island
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Rhode Island
Lieutenant governor candidate wants the office to be RI’s inspector general
A new era for State Troopers in southern RI
Closing the State Police barracks facilities in Wyoming and Wickford marks the end of an era in community policing
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.”
“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.
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.
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.
Rhode Island
RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for May 10, 2026
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
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.
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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