Hello everyone, 

 

As many of you know, Governor Raimondo has been selected to serve as Commerce Secretary in the Biden Administration. I want to congratulate her and thank her for her leadership and service to our state. 

 

As the transition begins, I want Rhode Islanders to know that we’re all going to work together. We will be laser-focused on the COVID-19 response and vaccine rollout, and we will come out of this crisis stronger than we went in. 

 

This is a critically important time for our state and nation. 

 

Our frontline health care workers – our nurses, doctors, and hospital staff – are giving their all to save lives and fight against this virus. Thousands of families are working hard to make ends meet. Small businesses are being challenged like they have never been challenged before – and I will do everything I can to help them survive and prosper. Parents are concerned about their children’s education and our heroic teachers are doing incredible work overcoming unprecedented obstacles. And everyone is wondering when will a vaccine finally reach them. 

 

As a lifelong Rhode Islander – a former mayor, small business owner, and state official – I want you to know that our transition process will be seamless, particularly when it comes to the pandemic response and vaccine rollout.

 

I’m communicating with our health officials and have spoken to Speaker Shekarchi and Senate President Ruggerio. As I have in the past, I will continue to work with all our municipal leaders to ensure their voices are heard at the state level. 

 

We’re going to be a government that listens and works with our partners in all 39 cities and towns. Because we all have the same goal – to build a stronger future for the people of the State of Rhode Island. 

 

I look forward to working together to earn your trust – and confidence – in the days and months ahead.

 

In 2021, let’s stay positive and test negative. Thank you very much.

Details of David Pecker's Involvement in Donald Trump's alleged hush money trial came to light in court Thursday. Pecker took the stand for his third day of testimony, and revealed conversations between himself, the former President, and Associate Michael Cohen. Pecker says he arranged to buy the story surrounding Trump's alleged affair with Playboy model Karen McDougal for $150,000, but backed out of the deal after consulting with election lawyers, believing the payment may break the law.        Students at Columbia University are filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school. They filed the complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on Thursday, demanding an investigation into the school's actions against pro-Palestinian students. The lawsuit alleges Columbia has mistreated students utilizing their first amendment rights.        The abortion issue was front and center on Wednesday. First, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a closely-watched case over whether Idaho's near-total abortion ban conflicts with a federal law requiring hospitals to provide patients emergency care. A decision is expected in June. Later in the day, Arizona's House of Representatives voted to repeal a Civil War-era abortion law that bans nearly all abortions, and the bill now heads to the state Senate.       The parent company of TikTok has no plans to sell the social media platform. In a statement posted on a Chinese media platform it owns, ByteDance denied a report from website The Information that said it's looking at options for a possible sale. Earlier this week, President Biden signed a bill into law that calls for ByteDance to sell TikTok or face being banned in the U.S.        The World Health Organization says teen use of alcohol and e-cigarettes is "alarming." In a new analysis, the WHO said the findings show a "concerning picture." The most commonly used substance among adolescents is alcohol, with more than half of 15-year-olds saying they've tried it at least once. Nearly one in ten teens said they've been drunk, with the rate increasing among older teens.        The MTV Video Music Awards are returning to New York State for the first time since 2021. The MTV Video Music Awards are leaving Newark's Prudential Center and heading for Long Island, making New Jersey's loss New York's gain. The show will be held at the UBS Arena in Elmont, the new home of the Islanders. It's hosted concerts, wrestling and college basketball but never an awards show since opening three years ago. The VMAs are scheduled for September 10th. The UBS arena is the sixth New York location chosen to host the awards show.