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. The governor has proposed […]
Artist Ian Gaudreau, a RISD-trained muralist known for community storytelling rather than politics, was painting a portrait of Iryna Zarutska—the young Ukrainian refugee brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte light-rail train in 2025. Her story, amplified after shocking security footage went viral, exposed failures in crime, bail, and mental health policies that hit innocent victims hard. Yet, when Gaudreau started the mural on a private wall at The Dark Lady nightclub in PVD, the outrage machine kicked in … not over the murder, but over the funding ties to Elon Musk and other donors. Protests erupted, the mayor called it “divisive,” owners caved and ripped it down unfinished, and the artist had to relocate to Federal Hill at Opa Restaurant.
Congress returns from recess facing the longest DHS shutdown in U.S. history, a GOP plan to fund ICE & CBP via budget reconciliation, FY2027 budget talks, FISA Section 702 renewal, and the SAVE America Act.
Antisemitic Attack at Cranston Pro-Israel Rally: An unidentified man shouting “Fuck Israel” and antisemitic slurs assaulted Rhode Island Coalition for Israel (RICI) supporters on March 31, 2026, ripping an Israeli flag from a young woman and attempting to push and kick demonstrators at Park Ave and Reservoir Ave. Police de-escalated; no injuries. RICI Executive Director Maria Friedman condemned rising Jew-hatred fueled by misinformation.
SCOTUS just dropped an 8-1 bomb on Colorado’s therapy ban, protecting a Christian counselor’s free speech rights. Now Rhode Island’s own ban is vulnerable.
On #InTheDugout with Mike Stenhouse, Attorney Gregory Piccirilli breaks down what this landmark ruling means for RI families seeking voluntary, non-affirming counseling for their kids — and how we repeal this overreach.
Churches must step up to heal the bleeding in the pews. It is time to repeal Rhode’s Island’s evil “therapy ban” and K-12 grooming policies. One man is on a mission to reveal how childhood trauma drives America’s top killers. Michael J. Menard, founder of United Against Childhood Trauma and best-selling author joins us. This is a must see.
Dr. Stephen Skoly kicked off his campaign for the US Congress yesterday at the Circe Prime restaurant in Cranston’s Chapel View. In officially announcing his candidacy for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, Skoly will now face Victor Mellor, who previously launched his campaign at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Warwick, in September’s Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat incumbent Congressman Seth Magaziner, who will be seeking his third term in the US House of Representatives.
As of the most recent update to this post, over 50 Rhode Islanders have signed the petition calling on state policymakers to adopt energy policies that will provide for affordable and abundant energy supplies for the residents of our state … instead of ‘net zero’ policies that will drive electricity prices and energy costs to staggering and unaffordable levels. Check back regularly for updated commentary.
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.
Defending Education exposes radical Sunrise Movement and Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) guides in Rhode Island, including the “Schools: Drop ICE Toolkit” and “Wide Awake Guide,” urging students to stage campus sit-ins, May 1 boycotts, indefinite campouts, and overnight noise protests at Hilton hotels and Enterprise rentals for ties to ICE.
As public unease grows over the integrity of the nation’s blood supply, Rhode Island lawmakers have introduced House Bill 7815 to protect patients’ and physicians’ rights to consider autologous or directed blood donations. Introduced on February 26, 2026, by Representatives Charlene Lima and Marie Hopkins, the measure amends Title 23 of the Rhode Island General […]
The Department of Health and Human Services plans to appeal a judge’s temporary injunction to change the national childhood vaccine policy. On Monday, Judge Brian Murphy of the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts temporarily blocked Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to change federal vaccination policies regarding childhood vaccine recommendations and paused the replacement of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices members.
Sunshine Week (March 15-21, 2026) is here to honor the birthday of James Madison. Sunshine Week is a nonpartisan collaboration among groups in the journalism, civic, education, government and private sectors that shines a light on the importance of public records and open government.
A national tracker documents 486 student walkouts and protests in U.S. based K-12 schools since 2022, with a sharp spike in 2026 tied to opposition against immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, according to Defending Education. The organization’s K-12 Student Walkout and Protest Tracker relies on social media, news reports and press releases. It logs events across 48 states and the District of Columbia, affecting 245 districts and 523 schools.
The majority of voters across the country support state bans on transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports, according to The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll. The Voters’ Voice Poll found that 68% of registered voters support allowing the Supreme Court to uphold state bans on transgender women competing in women’s sports.
According to a March 4 analysis published by the Tax Foundation, most Rhode Island and US taxpayers will enjoy significantly higher IRS refund checks this year. The 2026 filing season is the first to reflect tax changes from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including new deductions for tips, overtime, auto loan interest, and senior citizens.
For more than four decades, Pastor Allen has carried a legacy of faith, from Canada to Maine to Rhode Island, leading Praise Tabernacle Church with a simple mission: remind people that God is their friend. On Deep Dive with the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel, he joins Maria Friedman to discuss faith, Israel, and the growing partnership between Christians and Jews standing for truth in Rhode Island and beyond.
Sten calls for an honest and civil public discussion … it’s time we face certain realities and abandon the false narratives that are degrading our society. While the horror at the Pawtucket RI ice rink is the core of Sten’s reaction today … he dives into other equally harmful and false narratives put forth by the woke Left.
K-12 students across Rhode Island are invited to create and post a short patriotic video explaining why they are proud to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with a focus on America’s founding principle of liberty. Sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, the contest will award $250 gift cards to three winners, $100 gift cards to six additional finalists, and copies of American History in No Time to all nine finalists. Full details and submission instructions are available at RIFreedom.org/America250RI.
The energy fight has officially taken over the Rhode Island State House — and the Center’s warnings are breaking through. As Governor Dan McKee rolls out an “affordability” plan and utilities scramble to defend the status quo, talk radio, lawmakers, and even neighboring states are echoing what we’ve been saying all along: you can’t regulate your way to cheap, reliable power.
In this powerful testimony, Mike Stenhouse, CEO of the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity, explains why energy policy is the single most important determinant of Rhode Island’s future prosperity or poverty. Whether one believes in climate change or not, the economic consequences of the Act on Climate are unavoidable.
Something big is happening inside Rhode Island’s schools—and almost no one in local media is talking about it. TPUSA and Turning Point Action are rapidly expanding their presence, and the Cranston West event with Anthony Watson lit the fuse. In this episode, Sten reacts to the full event, the rhetoric, the call to action delivered to students, and the behind-the-scenes tensions that erupted—including Adam’s removal and the TKU/Karen Iacobbo moment everyone is talking about.
Local Warwick watchdogs, Rob Cote and Rob Cushman, discovered an inconvenient fact that city officials had been attempting to hide … a major lawsuit that could lead to bankruptcy … and collaborated to create an AI video, explaining the dire situation.
One of the big selling points for proponents of offshore wind here in Rhode Island has been: “Look at how Deepwater Wind lowered Block Island’s electric rates!” This was, in fact, one of the things that Senator Sam Zurier said, at Minute 12:00, in his interview “In the Dugout” with Mike Stenhouse a couple of […]
Opinion: In what can only be viewed as troubling data from the US Census Bureau, our state continues hemorrhage US citizens, while simultaneously attracting foreigners, many of whom are likely undocumented immigrants. The concerning aspect about this is that those net 10k lost citizens to “domestic migration” – away from our state – are significantly […]
The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity announced Thursday that it has launched an online petition calling on state policymakers to reconsider Rhode Island’s current energy strategy, arguing it could lead to higher electricity costs and increased risks to grid reliability.
Dr. Stephen “Doc” Skoly steps down as chairman of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity to run for Congress in Rhode Island’s 2nd District, citing medical freedom, affordability, and individual liberty.
The Ocean State Current has obtained a copy of the RI Supreme Court Brief filed last Friday (1/16/26) on behalf of the aggrieved West Warwick mother, Jane Doe, in her lawsuit against the RI Department of Education (RIDE). Doe’s daughter was secretly assisted in her desired transition to a boy by school officials, in accordance […]
This column was submitted anonymously to The Current: As we enter this 2026 election year, it should come as no surprise that Democrats are suddenly claiming an “epiphany” on healthcare—positioning it alongside issues such as racism, sexism, and other social injustices, often framing disagreement as a failure to “think correctly.” What is surprising is the […]