U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg pledged to help Rhode Island rebuild its crippled Washington Bridge following a tour of the span Tuesday, calling the state’s two-year timetable for a replacement, “an aggressive estimate that needs to be met, and we’re going to do everything we can to help make that a reality.”… MORE
A Chinese billionaire pleaded guilty Monday to violating U.S. election laws by funneling illegal straw donations to a New York City official, a member of the U.S. House and a congressional candidate.… MORE
A critical Rhode Island bridge that was partially shut down over safety concerns in December will need to be demolished and replaced, Gov. Dan McKee said Thursday.… MORE
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Wednesday said she would issue pardons for tens of thousands of people convicted of misdemeanor marijuana charges going back decades in the latest example of a state ambitiously seeking to forgive low-level drug offenders.… MORE
A nationwide review of procedures by The Associated Press and CNHI News has revealed a patchwork of complicated systems for resolving open government disputes that often put the burden of enforcing transparency laws on private citizens. … MORE
Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi is pushing a package of more than a dozen bills aimed at addressing the state’s ongoing housing crisis. … MORE
A major electrical transmission line proposal intended to carry power to New England from Canada through Vermont and New Hampshire has been canceled.… MORE
Senate leaders in Rhode Island are pushing a 25-bill package aimed at making health care more affordable and easier to access.… MORE
Scientists have confirmed the presence of a whale off New England that went extinct in the Atlantic Ocean two centuries ago — an exciting discovery, but one they said that illustrates the impact of climate change on sea life.… MORE
A technical issue caused widespread login issues for a few hours across Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Messenger platforms Tuesday.… MORE
