From Minnesota to Providence: How Activists and Leaders Are Responding to ICE Violence

by Eric Halvarson

After federal immigration agents shot and killed multiple protesters in Minneapolis, immigrant rights activists in Rhode Island are doubling down on efforts to defend their neighbors through protest and policy change. As state congressmembers propose changing state laws to hold Immigration and Customs Enforcement accountable, [...]

Business Groups Take Aim at Rent Control Ahead of City Council Proposal

by Eric Halvarson

City Council members are moving forward with a policy to slow down Providence’s soaring housing costs. Led by City Council President Rachel Miller, a new ordinance would limit annual rent increases at four percent. However, a new report commissioned by the Providence Foundation argues that [...]

Tallying Up Local Colleges and Universities’ Contributions to Providence

by Jonathan Howard, Bob McMahon

Providence is home to numerous colleges, universities, and hospitals that provide significant value to the city. However, unlike residents and businesses, these institutions pay no property taxes due to their nonprofit status. In lieu of these institutions not paying property tax, how is the value [...]

Providence mayor unveils New Year’s resolutions in legislative package

by Alexander Castro

Mayor Brett Smiley will be asking for an increase in the PILOT base rate and a new authority to take over the Crook Point Bridge Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published by Rhode Island Current on January 7, 2026. Reprinted with permission. Two days into [...]

Source That Unlocked the Case Applauded, and Anonymous

by Eric Halvarson

Despite making headlines for breaking open the Brown University shooter case, Providence’s own “John Doe” is keeping his own story off the front pages. John Does Appears, and Disappears Using the same Reddit account that pointed investigators towards a rental car the gunman allegedly drove [...]

Brown University Shootings Expose Providence’s Emergency Communications System Shortcomings

by Eric Halvarson, Research by Kendra Eastep

On Saturday afternoon, minutes after a masked gunman entered a classroom and sprayed gunfire on students studying for an economics exam, Brown students, faculty, and staff were notified of an active shooter on campus. However, nearby neighbors without connections to the school did not receive [...]

Building ADUs in Providence: The What, the How, and the Why Not?

by J. Hogue

Providence has one of the lowest construction rates in the country in a state that had average low vacancy rates in 2023 of 3.7% for apartments and 0.3% for houses. In short, there are not enough homes and we are not building new ones fast [...]

Smiley Draws Criticism from Democratic Rival After Speaking at New Orleans Antisemitism Conference

by Alexander Castro

International, national and local politics collide in Providence mayoral race with over nine months to go before primary Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published by Rhode Island Current on December 9, 2025. Reprinted with permission. On a national stage last week, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley [...]

New Providence Police Surveillance Software Has Civil Liberties Groups Asking “Who’s Watching?”

by Eric Halvarson

Inside Providence’s new Real Time Crime Center, blue lights illuminate a dark room filled with desks holding computer monitors and a wall covered in screens. The screens reveal a map of the city covered in green dots. Each dot represents a police officer body camera [...]

City Council Ordinance to Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Goes to Final Vote

by Andrea Gutierrez

A long goodbye is underway in Providence for gas-powered leaf blowers. The controversial lawn equipment is considered an environmental risk because of the noise pollution and the toxic emissions created by the combustion engines, according to the proposed ordinance by the Special Committee for Environment [...]