News Tipoffs - Rhode Island Editors
ACLU of RI Gains Settlement for Pawtucket Student Unlawfully Handcuffed, Arrested by School Resource Officer in 2019
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, May 26 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island posted the following news:
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ACLU of RI Gains Settlement for Pawtucket Student Unlawfully Handcuffed, Arrested by School Resource Officer in 2019
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Seven years after a Pawtucket School Resource Officer (SRO) unlawfully handcuffed and arrested an African American and Native American middle school honors student, the case has been settled with an award of $5,000 in damages to the st
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Aetna reduces claims processing time by more than 20% with AI to improve care experience
WOONSOCKET, Rhode Island, May 26 [Category: BizConsumer Services] -- CVS Health posted the following news release:
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Aetna reduces claims processing time by more than 20% with AI to improve care experience
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HARTFORD, CT, May 26, 2026 - Aetna(r), a CVS Health(r) company (NYSE: CVS ), today announced the launch of the second generation Aetna Claims Assist Manager (CAM), an AI-powered agentic claims advisor platform designed to streamline claims processing and improve payment accuracy.
I
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AG Brown joins coalition opposing KIDS Act, supports stronger online protections for children
OLYMPIA, Washington, May 26 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG Brown joins coalition opposing KIDS Act, supports stronger online protections for children
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Attorney General Nick Brown and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general have sent a letter to congressional leadership opposing the so-called Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), H.R. 7757, which in reality would weaken states' ability to protect children online whil
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American Medical Association, 97 Co-Signers Issue Letter to 8 Members of Congress
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 24 [Category: Medical] -- The American Medical Association issued the following letter with 97 co-signers to eight members of Congress:
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Here is the text of the letter:
May 11, 2026
The Honorable Roger Marshall, MD U.S. Senate, 479A Russell Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Greg Murphy, MD, U.S. House of Representatives, 407 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable John Joyce, MD, U.S. House of Representatives, 2102 Ray
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Amo, Reed, Whitehouse Celebrate National Endowment of the Arts Funding for Newport Contemporary Ballet
WASHINGTON, May 26 -- Rep. Gabe Amo, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release:
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Amo, Reed, Whitehouse Celebrate National Endowment of the Arts Funding for Newport Contemporary Ballet
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WASHINGTON, DC - TODAY, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined Congressman Gabe Amo in announcing $30,000 in National Endowment of the Arts funding for Newport Contemporary Ballet. This funding will support the Ballet's annual Newport Dance Festival, which this year will explore th
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Ariz. A.G. Mayes Joins Coalition Opposing KIDS Act, Supports Stronger Online Protections for Children
PHOENIX, Arizona, May 27 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on May 26, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Joins Coalition Opposing KIDS Act, Supports Stronger Online Protections for Children
Today, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Arizona has joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act ("KIDS Act"), H.R. 7757, arguing the bill would weaken states' ability to protect children online whil
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Attorney General James Joins Bipartisan Coalition Opposing Federal Legislation that Would Weaken State Protections for Children Online
ALBANY, New York, May 26 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release:
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Attorney General James Joins Bipartisan Coalition Opposing Federal Legislation that Would Weaken State Protections for Children Online
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New York Attorney General Letitia James joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 other attorneys general in urging Congress to reject the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), arguing the bill would weaken states' ability to protect children on
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Attorney General Phil Weiser joins coalition opposing KIDS Act, supports stronger online protections for children
DENVER, Colorado, May 26 -- Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Phil Weiser joins coalition opposing KIDS Act, supports stronger online protections for children
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Attorney General Phil Weiser announced he has joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), H.R. 7757, arguing the bill would weaken states' ability to protect children online while insulating Big T
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SUPPORTS STRONGER ONLINE PROTECTIONS
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 26 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SUPPORTS STRONGER ONLINE PROTECTIONS
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Raoul and Coalition Oppose KIDS Act; Bill Weakens Ability to Protect Children Online
Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act ("KIDS Act"), arguing the bill would weaken states' ability to protect children online while insulat
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL URGES COURT TO UPHOLD BLOCK ON UNLAWFUL NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 26 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL URGES COURT TO UPHOLD BLOCK ON UNLAWFUL NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
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Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 26 states, urged the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to uphold a lower court's ruling blocking the unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.
In their amicus br
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Conn. AG Tong Announces Investigation Into Roblox Over Harm to Children
HARTFORD, Connecticut, May 26 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Tong Leads Bipartisan Multistate Letter to Congress Supporting Stronger Online Protections for Children
Attorney General William Tong today announced the State of Connecticut has opened an investigation into online gaming and chat platform Roblox following widespread reports of child exploitation and harm.
"Roblox built an online pedophile playground. Our i
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Don't Call It Kids' Safety if Kids Aren't Safe: Attorney General Bonta Joins Bipartisan Coalition in Opposing KIDS Act
SACRAMENTO, California, May 26 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Don't Call It Kids' Safety if Kids Aren't Safe: Attorney General Bonta Joins Bipartisan Coalition in Opposing KIDS Act
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Federal law to protect kids online should set a floor, not a ceiling
OAKLAND -California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general in sending a letter to Congress opposing the passage of the Kids Internet and Digita
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Graphic design caps award-winning year with national recognition
SELINSGROVE, Pennsylvania, May 26 -- Susquehanna University posted the following news:
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Graphic design caps award-winning year with national recognition
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GD USA's annual list recognizes graphic design programs that excel in cultivating critical thinking, adaptability and a passion for innovation. The list is diverse, featuring 100 art and design schools, university departments and online or hybrid programs. Susquehanna is named among such esteemed programs as the California Institute o
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Health care loan repayment expands to address doctor shortage - Record expansion part of strategy to add health providers in NM
SANTA FE, New Mexico, May 26 -- Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-New Mexico, posted the following news release:
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Health care loan repayment expands to address doctor shortage - Record expansion part of strategy to add health providers in NM
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today announced a major expansion of New Mexico's Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, the latest in a series of administration actions to address a physician shortage that has left 32 of the state's 33 counties with c
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Md. A.G. Brown Leads Multistate Coalition Urging Court to Uphold Block on Unlawful National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C.
BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 27 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on May 26, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Leads Multistate Coalition Urging Court to Uphold Block on Unlawful National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today led a coalition of 23 attorneys general and 3 governors in filing an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, urging the court to deny the Tr
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N.J. A.G. Davenport Urges Congress Not to Weaken Online Safeguards for Children
TRENTON, New Jersey, May 27 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 26, 2026:
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Attorney General Davenport Urges Congress Not to Weaken Online Safeguards for Children
Bipartisan Coalition: Proposed Legislation Gives Tech Firms Too Much Power
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and a multistate bipartisan coalition of 43 other attorneys general announced that they are opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act)
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Ohio State University Professor Hill Testifies Before Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee
WASHINGTON, May 27 -- The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee released the following written testimony by Edward 'Ned' Hill, professor emeritus of economic development at the Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and a senior research associate at the Ohio Manufacturing Institute, from a May 13, 2026, hearing entitled "America 250: Industrialization and the Rise of Small Manufacturers":
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I. INTRODUCTION
Chair Ernst, Ranking Member Markey, and Member
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R.I. Gov. McKee and Bipartisan New England States Urge FERC to Reject Profit Increase for Transmission Owners
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, May 27 -- Gov. Daniel J. McKee, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on May 26, 2026:
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Governor McKee and Bipartisan New England States Urge FERC to Reject Profit Increase for Transmission Owners
All six New England governors submit joint statement opposing major profit increase for transmission utilities
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Governor Dan McKee joined with a bipartisan group of New England governors to urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject a
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R.I. Gov. McKee Nominates Michelle Reddish to Serve as Chairperson of Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, May 27 -- Gov. Daniel J. McKee, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on May 26, 2026:
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Governor McKee Nominates Michelle Reddish to Serve as Chairperson of Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission
Today, Governor Dan McKee announced his nomination of Michelle A. Reddish, MS, MPH, to serve as chairperson of the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission (CCC).
In 2024, Reddish was nominated by Governor McKee and later confirmed to serve as the first a
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Rhode Island Supreme Court Issues Opinion on Cynthia A. Roberge Vs. Travelers Property Casualty
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, May 27 -- The Rhode Island Supreme Court issued the following opinion:
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Cynthia A. Roberge v. Travelers Property Casualty Company of America.
Present: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and Long, JJ.
OPINION
Justice Lynch Prata, for the Court. This case comes before the Court pursuant to an order of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit that certified the following questions pursuant to Article I, Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rul
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SEMI Foundation, National Science Foundation Launch First Four Regional Nodes of the National Network for Microelectronics Education
MILPITAS, California, May 26 [Category: Electronic Products] -- SEMI, an association serving the manufacturing supply chain for the electronics industry, posted the following news release:
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SEMI Foundation and the U.S. National Science Foundation Launch First Four Regional Nodes of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME)
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National Workforce Infrastructure Initiative Activates More Than 325 Organizations Across the United States to Accelerate America's Microelectroni
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Sen. Cassidy Issues Letter to Thundermist Health Center
WASHINGTON, May 27 (TNSletter) -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following letter to Thundermist Health Center:
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Here is the text of the letter:
May 13, 2026
Chuck Jones
President and CEO
Thundermist Health Center
25 John A Cummings Way
Woonsocket, RI 02895
Dear Mr. Jones:
Recent reports indicate that providers affiliated with Thundermist Health Center (Thundermist) allegedly performed gender trans
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Sen. Whitehouse Issues Letter to TotalEnergies
WASHINGTON, May 27 (TNSletter) -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following letter to TotalEnergies:
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Here is the text of the letter:
April 9, 2026
Mr. Patrick Pouyanne
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
TotalEnergies
Tour Coupole
2, place Jean Millier
92078 Paris-La Defense
France
Dear Mr. Pouyanne:
We write seeking answers concerning TotalEnergies' (Total) decision to abandon a major compo
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Sens. Warren, Reed Issue Letter to Treasury, Justice Depts.
WASHINGTON, May 27 (TNSletter) -- Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, and Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Department of Justice:
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Here is the text of the letter:
May 13, 2026
The Honorable Scott Bessent
Secretary
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20220
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The Honorable Todd Blanche
Acting Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Wash
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Sens. Wyden, Whitehouse Issue Letter to HHS
WASHINGTON, May 27 (TNSletter) -- Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
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Here is the text of the letter:
April 14, 2026
The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
In the absence of a Senate-confirmed Gener
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University of Rhode Island appoints Pamela Swett dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
KINGSTON, Rhode Island, May 26 -- The University of Rhode Island posted the following news:
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University of Rhode Island appoints Pamela Swett dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Rhode Island has appointed Pamela Swett as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences following a national search. Her appointment will take effect July 26.
The College of Arts and Sciences is URI's largest academic college and serves as the foundation for a broad range of programs in the hu
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VA launches MDMA-assisted mental health therapy trial
WASHINGTON, May 26 -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued the following news release:
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VA launches MDMA-assisted mental health therapy trial
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs today announced a new clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy, or MDMA-assisted therapy, for the treatment of severe mental health disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder.
The new trial
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W&M's Batten School & VIMS Professor Makes $1M Gift to Support Graduate Students
GLOUCESTER POINT, Virginia, May 27 -- William and Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science issued the following news:
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W&M's Batten School & VIMS professor makes $1M gift to support graduate students
By Ethan Smith
For more than two decades, Mary Fabrizio has shaped William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS through her research, leadership and mentorship of graduate students. Now, as she approaches retirement, Fabrizio is extending that impact well into the future through an extraordinary
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Working through the gray areas of mental health
SMITHFIELD, Rhode Island, May 26 -- Bryant University issued the following news:
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Working through the gray areas of mental health
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It's an early morning in Bryant University's "From Asylums to Zoloft: The Sociology of Mental Health" course and Lecturer of Sociology Amanda Fontaine, Ph.D., has chosen to kick off the day's lesson with a challenge. As the class considers social media's implications for mental health, she explains that -while it's an idea that's often talked about -social
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