Ray Baccari Jr.

100-year-old RI D-Day veteran honored with award Richard Fazzio, who was 19 and serving in the Navy during the first wave of the D-Day invasion, received the Bob Dole World War II Leadership Award.

Richard Fazzio, a lifelong Woonsocket resident who piloted a Navy boat during the first wave of the D-Day invasion, received the Bob Dole World War II Leadership Award from U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.
https://www.wpri.com/news/its-good-news/100-year-old-ri-d-day-veteran-honored-with-award/ 

STORY: Stefano Famiglietti to be sworn in as District 4 state senator Thursday

www.wpri.com/news/politic...

@wpri12.bsky.social

Aldi grocery store coming to Swansea The town recently approved a building permit for the grocery store to go into a vacant building on 58 and 86 Swansea Mall Drive.

Aldi grocery store coming to Swansea

www.wpri.com/business-new...

@wpri12.bsky.social

The original plan was the 12th, but the result wouldn't be certified by that time, which is why it will now happen on Aug. 14 instead.

A special election for Famiglietti's Town Council seat will also happen now since he's resigning from that office.

NEW: Senator-elect Stefano Famiglietti will be sworn in as state senator for District 4 on Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. in the @risenate.bsky.social chamber.

Secretary of State @greggamore.bsky.social will administer the oath of office.

The seat is opening up since Famiglietti has been elected to replace the late Senate President Dominick Ruggerio in the state Senate.

Another potential candidate is Manny Taveras, younger brother of the former Providence mayor and lost to Famiglietti in July's primary.

Nick Feola has opened up a campaign account to run for the soon-to-be open District 2 North Providence Town Council seat as a Democrat.

Feola is a realtor and volunteered on Councilman Stefano Famiglietti's SD 4 campaign. Also a RIC grad and his dad is a fmr. councilor.

Also a (H/T) to @danmcgowan.bsky.social, who first reported in his Rhode Map column that Levy was looking at running.

NEW: @jefflevy18.bsky.social husband of fmr. state Sen. Gayle Goldin, has opened up a campaign account to run in the soon-to-be Providence Ward 2 City Council special election.

Background - www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

INBOX: The Democratic National Committee hype up Stefano Famiglietti’s (D) win in Tuesday’s Senate District 4 special election.

Celtics coach, star to attend Prov. groundbreaking

Jayson Tatum and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla will be in Providence Thursday for the groundbreaking of a new early childhood education center in Manton Heights. Story: https://www.wpri.com/sports/celtics/tatum-mazzulla-to-be-in-providence-for-childhood-education-center-opening/ 

2nd overdose spike alert issued for northwest RI The Rhode Island Department of Health has issued yet another overdose spike alert for four towns Wednesday due to an increase in drug overdoses.

2nd overdose spike alert issued for northwest RI

www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

@wpri12.bsky.social

Tatum, Mazzulla to be in Providence for childhood education center opening They’re attending the groundbreaking of a new early childhood education center that’s opening up in the city’s Manton Heights neighborhood.

STORY: Jayson Tatum, Joe Mazzulla to be in Providence for childhood education center opening

www.wpri.com/sports/celti...

@wpri12.bsky.social

Full concession statement by Senate 4 GOP candidate Alex Asermely.

UPDATE: Famiglietti tells me Republican Alex Asermely has called him to concede the race.

This triggers another special election. Famiglietti will have to give up his North Providence Town Council seat.

Two potential candidates: Manny Taveras, who lost to Famiglietti in July's primary, and Nick Feola, a realtor who also volunteered for Famiglietti's campaign.

STORY: Stefano Famiglietti declares victory in the RI Senate District 4 special election

www.wpri.com/news/electio...

@wpri12.bsky.social

At Stefano Famiglietti’s election night event. Polls just closed for the Senate District 4 special.

He faces Republican Alex Asermely.

Here’s the link to view tonight’s Senate District 4 special election results:

electionresults.ri.gov/results/publ...

Still no major GOP candidate for governor emerging/making their intentions official yet.

An Elaine Pelino (R) of Smithfield also opened an account.

Will it be ‘22 nominee Ashley Kalus? ‘22 LG nominee Aaron Guckian? Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz? Statewide requires a year +

Joshua Atchue has opened up a campaign account to run for governor as a Republican.

Atchue is 21 and lives in Woonsocket. He tells me he is more in the middle in terms of his ideology.

UPDATE: Fmr. state Rep. Ray Rickman, who also ran in the 2021 Senate District 3 special election, says he’s not running in the soon-to-be Providence Ward 2 City Council special election.

Image 1

#Breaking: Police are investigating after an apparent incident that happened at North Kingstown Town Beach Friday evening.

Details: https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/south-county/police-investigating-at-north-kingstown-beach/ 

Making some calls. Names we could take off the board for the soon-to-be Ward 2 special:

- Bret Jacob (ran in '21 SD 3 special)
- Hilary Levey Friedman (ran in '21 SD 3 special)
- Ethan Gyles
- Ryan Holt (ran in '18)
- Mark Feinstein (ran in '18)

STORY: Providence City Councilwoman Helen Anthony is stepping down from her Ward 2 seat this fall to focus on her health.

The decision triggers a special election, but also leaves the Finance Committee chair open for another councilor to fill.
www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

NEW: Ward 2 City Councilwoman, Finance Chair Helen Anthony shares she is stepping down from her role effective Sep. 1 to “more fully focus” on her health. The councilwoman is still healing from injuries sustained in an accident in June 2023.

@wpri12.bsky.social

After seeing the full report, @cindycoyneri.bsky.social raised $31.1K, spent $3.8K and has $60.7K COH.

Notable donors include: state Sen. Mark McKenney ($100), state Sen. @pamlauria.bsky.social ($250), @amykempe1.bsky.social ($500) and state Sen. Walter Felag ($200).

Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins (R), who hasn't ruled out an LG or CD 2 run in '26, raised $500 during Q2, spent $2.1K and has $11.1K COH

Among his spending included donating $52.05 to Ohio gubernatorial candidate and fmr. '24 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (R)

RI House Minority Whip David Place (R-Burrillville) raised $5.5K during Q2 ($250 from PACs and he loaned himself $1.3K), spent $2.9K and has $2.8K COH.

State Rep. @enriquesanchezri.bsky.social (D-Providence), who has gained national attention for his comments about ICE, raised $527 during Q2, spent $2K and has $2.1K COH.