Events:

Breaking News

Rapidly breaking news, usually short takes.

News

Phillipe and Jorge Columnist Chip Young Passes Unexpectedly: Motif mourns the loss of an extraordinary journalist

We are stunned and saddened to report that Chip Young, environmental activist, rabble-rouser and long-time contributor to Motif and to Rhode Island journalism, has passed away suddenly. Chip and collaborator Rudy Cheeks have brought Phillipe & Jorge’s Cool, Cool World to RI readers through various publications, including the Phoenix and Motif, non-stop for the last […]

Read More
News

RI Gov. McKee Tests Positive for COVID-19: Reports mild symptoms, isolating and working from home

RI Gov. Daniel McKee has tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced in a statement Sunday afternoon, saying the positive test was conducted Saturday night. Matt Sheaff, spokesman for Governor Dan McKee, said in the statement: “Late yesterday evening, Governor McKee tested positive for COVID-19. He only has minor symptoms because he is vaccinated and […]

Read More
News

Was State Government Data Used for Politics?: Stephanie Beauté campaign e-mail raises legal, ethical questions

I received an e-mail message with a press release from Samuel Aboh, Jr, the campaign manager for Stephanie Beauté who is running as an underdog candidate for secretary of state in the Sep 13 Democratic primary. That’s not unusual, but the message was sent to an e-mail address I use for exactly one purpose and […]

Read More
News

News Analysis — RI New Gun Laws: Constitutional problems certain to lead to lawsuits

Through a series of weird parliamentary maneuvers, RI hurled itself into a legal nightmare on gun control. Three proposed bills would ban carrying long guns (rifles and shotguns) in public except for hunting (H.7358/S.2825), acquisition of firearms and ammunition by anyone under 21 (for whom handguns were already prohibited) (H.7457/S.2637), and possession of magazines capable […]

Read More
News

Greater RI protections for wiretap warrants: No federal “good-faith” exception to exclusionary rule

The RI Supreme Court this morning (May 5) ruled unanimously, 5-0, in a consolidated case involving multiple criminal defendants (State v. Deric S. McGuire et al.) that a failure to follow strict state law requirements for wiretap warrants totally invalidates those warrants, justifying a suppressing of evidence for all of the fruits of the invalid […]

Read More
News

Additional COVID-19 vaccine booster dose: For everyone age 50+ and immunocompromised age 12+

Today, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a second booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (that is, either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) for everyone age 50 and older at least four months after their prior booster dose, with a strong recommendation for everyone […]

Read More
News

Ukraine vigil Sat, Mar 26, 4pm, RI State House: Interfaith humanitarian relief effort

UPDATE: View our video recording of the full 45-minute event at motifri.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ukraine-vigil.2022-03-26-720p-h264-crf35.mp4 An umbrella group calling itself “Rhode Islanders for Ukraine” announced a vigil in support of the Eastern European nation, now fighting against an invasion by Russia, to be held Saturday, March 26, at 4pm on the south side of the RI State House, […]

Read More
News

RI COVID-19 Test Standing Order: Allows direct billing insurance at pharmacies

Under a new standing order, every person in RI with either Medicaid or private health insurance should be able to pick up COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits from any pharmacy without having to pay up-front. Despite a federal government mandate that health insurers must cover up to eight kits per month for every covered […]

Read More