Kate Wilkinson

Image 1

BREAKING: Smithfield's superintendent has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a legal review into how an alleged hazing incident was handled. Details here: https://shorturl.at/0MInq

RI attorney general launches civil investigation into Smithfield hazing incident The letter said a parent made the complaint, alleging several students “assaulted and harassed” their child in the locker room before football practice on September 30.

In a letter to Smithfield Public Schools, the Office of the Attorney General requests all documents, emails and logs related to an antisemitic hazing incident involving several football players. Story by @katewilkinson.bsky.social

Smooth sailing for passengers at TF Green right now despite national concerns about the government shutdown affecting air traffic control. I’ll have what we’re seeing across the country tonight at 4:30/5:30 @wpri12.bsky.social

They spelled his name wrong💀

Mayor Brett Smiley signed an executive order that reaffirms Providence police officers are not immigration officers.

The EO also urges *federal authorities* not to wear masks, to clearly ID themselves/their agency.

Reporting w/@katewilkinson.bsky.social: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Remembering the 9/11 victims from Southern New England Thursday marks 24 years since the U.S. was the target of a coordinated terrorist attack that killed thousands.

It's been 24 years since the U.S. was the target of a coordinated terrorist attack that killed thousands.

12 News would like to remember the lives lost, including those from Southern New England. #NeverForget

BREAKING: It's official - Hasbro is moving its HQ out of Pawtucket and going to Boston www.wpri.com/business/has...

What would Rhode Island school leaders do with $1.3b Powerball jackpot? - The Boston Globe Rhode Map asked Rhode Island College President Jack Warner and five district superintendents what they would do with $1.3 billion.

Love the answers in today's Rhode Map.
A research vessel!?!
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/03/m... @danmcgowan.bsky.social

RI Governor Dan McKee wants Attorney General Pam Bondi to give a specific immigration policy the state needs to change, after DOJ sends letter threatening to take away federal funding
www.wpri.com/news/politic...
@wpri12.bsky.social

DOJ won’t say what RI needs to change to get off ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’ list The DOJ released a list Tuesday of 35 communities that it says have policies that prevent federal immigration officials from doing their jobs.

How did RI land on the Trump admin's new list of "sanctuary" states/cities?

DOJ won't confirm if it's the policy Chafee adopted after 2014 Morales ruling

Gov's office says it got no notice

AG: "their words are of no moment to me" (via @katewilkinson.bsky.social)

700 Rhode Islanders to lose Medicaid coverage; state blames old mistake A spokesperson for EOHHS says new income limits will take effect this month for new patients.

While Democrats are fighting proposed Medicaid cuts at the federal level, Rhode Islanders are facing their own cuts on the state level due to a change in the program’s income limit. @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports: ⤵️

It was really interesting to put together a story that combines history with a very political topic. Also the woman testifying is a RI Congressman’s mother-in-law @WPRI 12 & FOX Providence #greenscree... TikTok video by Kate Wilkinson News

I got a work Tik Tok to talk about my more in-depth stories. Follow me if you want to see the stories I find interesting. This one required digging through some Rhode Island Revolutionary War History

www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjQPLgLf/

‘Deliberately damaging’: Reed warns of difficult fight ahead against Trump bill RI Senator Jack Reed said Trump bill could cut Medicaid for 40,000 Rhode Islanders.

“This is the most deliberately damaging bill to the economy and to our health care system that I’ve ever seen."
RI Senator Jack Reed responds to Trump's "big beautiful bill" as it heads to the Senate www.wpri.com/news/politic...

‘We lost 30 feet of property’ Homeowners challenge CRMC as bills propose reform Anne-Marie Corbett is part of a class-action lawsuit against the CRMC, arguing she should be able to protect her property from erosion.

With CRMC reform talks underway at the RI State House, homeowners are challenging regulators to keep their seawalls.
Full story: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Just got a fun email

Image 1

An East Prov. woman says she signed a five-year lease for her city-owned rental in 2022. The city says it was never valid. @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports: https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/providence/i-dont-want-to-leave-east-providence-mayor-disabled-woman-in-dispute-over-city-owned-home/ 

‘I don’t want to leave’: East Providence mayor, disabled woman in dispute over city-owned home Julia Dempsey experienced a moment out of a reality TV show six years ago when she was handed the keys to a city-owned rental in East Providence.

An East Providence woman believes her lease for her city-owned rental was called into question because she had repeatedly criticized Mayor Bob DaSilva on social media. The Mayor says he wants to use the home for homeless veterans
Full story: www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

Johnston affordable housing lot returned to owners after eminent domain attempt Property owner Ralph Santoro said the property has been with his family for decades.

A chain-link fence with a "no trespassing" sign has gone back up on George Waterman Road in Johnston after the property owners regained control of the lot, @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports.

Johnston mayor to take property by eminent domain as owners file lawsuit The property owners want to build 250 affordable apartments.

A new lawsuit accuses Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr., who has said he intends to seize a property slated to become affordable housing through eminent domain, of infringing on the owners' rights. @katewilkinson.bsky.social reports.

‘The executive has put itself above Congress’: RI judge extends block of Trump funding freeze Judge John McConnell issued his decision two weeks after hearings were held at federal court in Providence.

BREAKING: A RI federal judge agreed to continue blocking the Trump administration from freezing federal aid to states.

"The executive has put itself above Congress," Judge John McConnell wrote. (w/ @elisherman.bsky.social)

www.wpri.com/target-12/th...

Bookshelf dilemma: Tracy Deonn just dropped her new book and I LOVE THIS SERIES. But that paperback needs to come out ASAP because I NEED my spines to match 🫢 Do I buy a whole set of hardcovers? Do I buy the kindle? Do I buy the audiobook? Do I wait for my library hold to come in? I’m in shambles

Maddie Potts Foundation creating scholarship for late Chariho coach Michael “Scotty” McGuire coached Maddie Potts, who died in 2017.

The Maddie Potts Foundation is working with the family of late Chariho soccer coach Michael "Scotty" McGuire to create a scholarship in his memory,

“He was just such an empathetic soul,” Stephanie Potts recalled.

Great piece about the real drivers of your energy bill by my colleagues @elisherman.bsky.social @sarahguernelli.bsky.social @katewilkinson.bsky.social - including this chart slicing it up into different components www.wpri.com/target-12/ex...

Warwick settles sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former worker for $600K A former Water Division employee accused her former boss and several colleagues of sexual harassment over multiple years.

NEW: Warwick has agreed to a $600,000 settlement in a lawsuit involving a former Water Division employee who accused her former boss and several colleagues of repeated sexual harassment. www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Usually a set up like this would require a few weeks of planning. We did it in a handful of hours. It's amazing when you get to see television journalism become a team sport, especially when it is often feels like a solo project. Thank you Brian, Johnny, Kevin and the many more that made this happen

The actual act of shooting five people at once is not an easy one. Even shooting three people can be difficult. But our photographers and directors were able to work out this set up in our studio, adjusting the lights, getting multiple angles, and making sure all seven mics were working

Let's start with @alextpnews.bsky.social, who did the bulk of the reporting. She found these employees and coordinated with USDA.
But sometimes in news, your story gets handed off because of scheduling. That's what happened here, but it was important to me to make sure ATP got her credit

BTS thoughts:
I have never done a 5-person interview before and it is not simple. Thanks to the help of MANY people @wpri12.bsky.social, we got this done in 24 hours 🧵

Former USDA workers warn cuts could harm RI farmers, groceries The former employees said they received termination letters via email last week.

“This was my dream job.” @alextpnews.bsky.social and @katewilkinson.bsky.social talked with workers at USDA's Warwick office who just lost their jobs as part of the federal job reductions nationwide

‘Rental Registry’ database reveals only 10% of landlords have signed up The new public database designed to give renters peace of mind regarding whether their landlord has secured a lead certificate is facing pushback less than a day after it was launched.

NEW: The new RI lead registry shows fewer than 10% of rental properties have been registered. Landlords say the new database appears to have some inaccuracies.
Full story: www.wpri.com/health/renta...