The state issued about $139.2 million in various subsidies to local businesses in fiscal year 2025, according to an Ocean State Current review of the RI Commerce Corporation’s annual report for that year.
Business bankruptcy filings have increased nationwide by nearly 12% in one year. That’s after they increased by nearly 15% the previous year. Business bankruptcy filings increased from 23,154 in the 12 months that ended March 31, 2025, to 25,796 in the 12 months ended March 31, 2026 — an increase of 2,642 filings, or 11.4%, according to a new LendingTree analysis.
The Trump administration has unveiled “Freedom Haulers,” a new hiring campaign meant to accelerate the process for U.S. veterans seeking employment in the trucking industry.
The Freedom Haulers initiative expands the Military Skills Test Waiver Program, allowing U.S. veterans with at least two years of experience driving heavy military vehicles to skip the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) road test – provided their experience falls within the past two years and they have a clean driving record.
While Washington drags its feet and legacy institutions tighten their grip, states are becoming the real battleground for the future of digital assets. Rhode Island now finds itself at a crossroads: lean into innovation—or let fear, confusion, and entrenched financial interests dictate the outcome.
As Governor Dan McKee touts a modest rollback in the state’s gasoline tax as part of his “Affordability for All” agenda ahead of reelection, the Rhode Island Trucking Association is calling the move little more than political window dressing — especially with plans to reinstate controversial truck-only tolls looming in 2027.
Rhode Island ranks 15th highest among U.S. states for its effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing, according to the Tax Foundation’s “Property Taxes by State and County, 2026” report.
A Rhode Island state senator is pushing for a $650 refundable child tax credit per child, aiming to deliver more substantial direct financial relief to families than a smaller proposal from Gov. Dan McKee and to combat child poverty amid rising living costs.
A significant number of American voters are blaming AI data centers for rising energy costs across the country, a new poll reveals. The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll found 15% of registered voters blame AI data centers for rising electricity costs across the country. Additionally, 22% of voters said companies are using AI data centers as an excuse to raise profits. Combine the two responses and 37% of voters blame rising electricity costs on data centers. That’s compared to 27% of voters who blame general inflation.
A judge gave the Trump administration time to build a system to streamline tariff refunds, but pointed out that the “clock is ticking” and U.S. taxpayers will pay the cost of delays. Customs and Border Protection requested 45 days to develop a system for issuing refunds for President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs, ruling that the law did not grant the president authority to impose tariffs.
The United States federal budget deficit totaled $1 trillion in the first five months of fiscal year 2026, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The latest federal deficit estimate is $142 billion less than the deficit from this time in the previous fiscal year. The CBO saw tariffs raise the amount of money that came into the federal government during the first five months of the fiscal year.
As crypto conversations start reaching places like the Rhode Island State House — where lawmakers are increasingly discussing digital assets, regulation, and innovation — it’s clear this space is no longer just an internet subculture. And with Valentine’s Day energy in the air, memecoins feel fitting: people fall in love fast… and sometimes learn hard lessons. Memecoins are the class clowns of crypto. They’re funny. They’re loud. They make no sense. And somehow… some of them become worth billions of dollars. That’s why people love them. That’s also why people get wrecked by them. Memecoins are not investments in the traditional sense — they’re high-risk cultural speculation. Let’s break this down the smart way.
The 9-5 job is fading for younger generations. Millennials, Gen Z and the emerging Gen Alpha are rejecting the traditional grind, driven by stagnant wages, economic uncertainty, and a hunger for autonomy.
Rhode Island is falling behind as states and nations embrace cryptocurrency. With others launching Bitcoin reserves and tax incentives, Rhode Island’s inaction risks missing out on jobs, innovation, and digital finance leadership. It’s time to build a crypto-ready Ocean State.
Rhode Island stands at a pivotal moment. As cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, transforms global finance, states like New Hampshire, Arizona, and Texas are adopting crypto-friendly policies, while Rhode Island lags.
Recent events over the past week signal a strong bullish outlook for cryptocurrencies. Together, these developments highlight growing acceptance and integration of crypto into the financial system. Rhode Island’s legislation is a key example of this trend, reinforcing the bullish vibes in the crypto space.
Rhode Island has a rare opportunity to lead by establishing a Bitcoin reserve, hedging against inflation, attracting investment, and securing long-term economic stability. Will Rhode Island act before major players like China drive up demand?
Rhode Island can secure its financial future with a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Learn how Bitcoin adoption can hedge against inflation, empower communities, and position RI as a leader in digital assets.
Northeast states lead the U.S. with the highest tax rates on sports betting, according to a Tax Foundation report. New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island share the top spot with a 51% tax rate on sportsbooks, while Vermont ranks fifth at 31.7%. Massachusetts follows in sixth place with a 20% rate.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE (Mike Stenhouse): The RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity has agreed to co-sign the national coalition letter to the EPA (see below). For years, the Center has raised awareness about the folly of the Electric Vehicle mandates proposed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which, by law, our Ocean State must adhere […]
Statement by Mike Stenhouse, CEO for the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity in response to the Biden administration’s March 5 rule to impose a credit card “late fee” regulation that will harm consumers: “In struggling to come up with some issue that might appeal to voters during his State Of The Union address Thursday […]
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Public and private employee unions along with their Left-leaning allies and elected officials in Rhode Island, for years, have been seeking to punish success by raising taxes on wealthy residents. Why? So the state can spend more money on projects that benefit unions and big-government spenders. Oh, and, of course, in echoing their […]
“Consumer prices have jumped more than 16% under (the Left’s) Bidenomics. Wages, on the other hand, have grown much slower, meaning workers’ paychecks have actually fallen by 3% since Biden took office.” . Originally published by By Jose Mallea on the Washington Examiner, August 23, 2023 Bidenomics is failing Hispanics, and everyone else Last month, the White House unveiled […]
EDITOR”S NOTE: We add the following to the column below for your consideration: Did the singer-writer choose “Richmond” simply because of its geography (south of DC) … or because of its obvious “rich men” play on words with “rich mond”? Or is Richmond, as the former capital of the Confederate South, symbolic of a brewing […]
Originally published By Tyler O’Neil on The Daily Signal ATLANTA—Sen. Tim Scott exposed President Joe Biden’s economic record Friday, explaining why the president’s celebration of “Bidenomics” is an illusion. “The average American family has lost $10,000 of spending power because of Bidenomics,” the South Carolina Republican, a candidate for the 2024 presidential nomination, said at The […]
In the Ocean State, the new RI Democrat Socialists of America chapter announced this week that they are pushing for a $25 per hour state minimum wage. In Washington, DC, the national Democrat Socialists of America, are proposing a $17 federal minimum wage, per a proposal from its leader, Bernie Sanders. In both of these […]
Originally published on FoxBusiness.com , July 13, 2023 by Kristen Altus, as … Rhode Island ‘horror’ bill a ‘test run’ for more Democrat-led states, experts warn Rhode Island to charge freelance, independent workers a $50 annual fee to retain status One Democrat-led state has passed a law that adds costly registration fees and privacy concerns […]
On Capitol Hill last Thursday, the months-long debt-limit fight concluded with both the House and Sente voting to pass the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA). The passage of this package was not without controversy. Several conservative House Freedom Caucus members voted against the bill—meaning Speaker Kevin McCarthy had to rely on Democrats to get the bill […]
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued Coinbase Inc. on Tuesday, the commission’s second enforcement action in as many days.
President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy are expected to meet Monday after debt talks faltered over the weekend.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Twin Cities Experiment Again Proves that Higher Minimum Wage Leads to Higher Unemployment . Cities all over the country are mandating that businesses raise their minimum wages. The claim is that minimum wages of $15, $20, or even $25 an hour are necessary for families to make ends meet. But studies have shown that minimum […]