Woonsocket Radio News Room

General Assembly Session to Convene Tuesday

 

STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly opens its 2021 session Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Due to the need for social distance necessitated by COVID-19, the Assembly will not be meeting at the State House, which remains closed to the public.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. In accordance with the state constitution, the senior representative from Newport, Rep. Marvin L. Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown), will preside until the election of a new speaker, which is scheduled after Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea administers the oath of office to the members. Supreme Court Justice Francis X. Flaherty will administer the oath to the elected speaker. In November, the House Democratic Caucus endorsed Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) for speaker. Gov. Gina M. Raimondo is also scheduled to offer remarks.

The Senate is scheduled to convene at 4 p.m. in Sapinsley Hall at Rhode Island College in Providence. Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) will preside over its organization, which will include the formal election of president as well as a new president pro tempore and a new deputy president pro tempore. The Senate Democratic Caucus has endorsed President Dominick J. Ruggerio for another term as president. Secretary of State Gorbea will administer the oath of office to members and Governor Raimondo is scheduled to offer remarks to the Senate.

Due to the pandemic, the sessions will not be open to the public. They will be broadcast live by Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox and Full Channel on Channel 15, in high definition on Cox Channel 1013, and on Channel 34 by Verizon and subscribers. The sessions will also be live streamed at www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV.

Space is extremely limited at both venues. Any member of the media who wishes to cover the sessions in person must make arrangements no later than Monday, Jan. 4, at 3 p.m. by contacting Larry Berman at (401) 222-1408 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the House, and Greg Paré at (401) 276-5558 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the Senate.

 

Jury selection resumes this morning in Former President Trump's hush money criminal trial. One of the seated jurors was dismissed after she expressed concerns about her identity being made public by the media. As of now, six jurors have been chosen. Trump is accused of falsifying business records in order to cover up payments allegedly made to an adult film star just prior to the 2016 election.        House Speaker Mike Johnson needs the help of Democrats to get his foreign aid package across the finish line. Johnson is moving forward with a plan to vote on separate bills to send military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, as well as a bill that includes border security measures. However several conservatives quickly came out against the plan, arguing border policy changes should be directly tied to any additional funding for Ukraine.        The FBI is concerned about threats to Jewish communities in the U.S. as Passover approaches. FBI Director Christopher Wray spoke during an event on Wednesday hosted by a Jewish community nonprofit safety and training organization called Secure Community Network. Wray told the group of security officials the FBI looks for "lone actors" who might target high profile events or religious locations for violence.        Members of the Kennedy family will endorse President Biden for re-election today, a rejection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent run for the White House. More than 15 members of the famous political family will give their endorsement at a campaign event in Philadelphia. Kennedy, the son of assassinated Senator and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, is backed by 15 percent of registered voters, according to a recent poll.        Attorneys for Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger filed their client's alibi defense just ahead of the deadline. The 29-year-old Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in November of 2022, and has pleaded not guilty. Late Wednesday, Kohberger's lawyers submitted a ten-page filing that claimed he was out driving in the early morning hours of November 13th, "as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars."        The RBC Heritage is underway in South Carolina. This week's PGA Tour event is taking place at the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island. Last year's winner was Matt Fitzpatrick and he's back in the field again this year. World number one and last week's Masters winner Scottie Scheffler is also playing again this week.        

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