A gaming event for grades 6-12 at Newport Public Library where teens and tweens can hang out and play on the Nintendo Switch. No registration is required for this community event.

TraceLink, a digital supply chain orchestration platform company, has been recognized on RXinsider's 2026 Pharmacy500 list for the third consecutive year. The recognition highlights TraceLink's ability to help pharmacies and their trading partners digitalize operations, automate product recall identification, and operationalize regulatory requirements. RXinsider, the company behind this recognition, is headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island and is a pharmacist-founded marketing and market intelligence company focused on pharmacy operations and supporting dispensing pharmacies across the supply chain.

The Rhode Island Dental Association and UCH-Rlte Smiles present the 4th Annual Great Toothbrush Exchange, an event celebrating National Children's Dental Health Month. Participants can bring in a picture of their old toothbrush and exchange it for a new one. The event takes place from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Warwick Mall.

Rhode Island lawmakers and nonprofit leaders are advancing legislation to abolish life without parole sentences for individuals who commit crimes when they are 21 years old or younger. State Rep. Julie Casimiro (D-North Kingstown, Exeter) introduced the bill in the state House of Representatives on January 15, emphasizing that young people lack complete brain development and should not receive such sentences. The bill has been referred to the state House Judiciary Committee for an open hearing. Steven Brown, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, supports the measure and hopes it will be retroactively applied to the four individuals currently serving life without parole sentences in Rhode Island who committed crimes before age 22.

Meeka Fine Jewelry, owned by Krol, has grown significantly, opening an additional store in Newport, Rhode Island, alongside its thriving online business. The company experienced steady organic growth, robust online sales, and adopted experiential retail strategies like hosting Galentine’s events, while building a passionate team for continued expansion and enhanced customer experiences.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University Law Prisoners’ Rights Clinic filed a lawsuit on behalf of five Native American prisoners at the Adult Correctional Institutions, alleging the Rhode Island Department of Corrections denies them access to religious ceremonies, spiritual guidance, and items. This is the third such lawsuit in three years, claiming Rhode Island lacks policies for Native American religious practices that are standard in other prisons.

Rhode Island has approved an $18 million financial backstop to assist the buyer in completing the acquisition of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, ensuring the facilities remain operational amid financial stress similar to that in Massachusetts.

Beatles – Studio Two performance scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Courthouse Center for the Arts, part of their February 2026 events lineup featuring local arts and cultural happenings.

Casey Wasserman is selling his talent and marketing agency following controversy over emails with Ghislaine Maxwell and client departures. The firm has ties to Rhode Island-based Providence Equity, as previously reported by GoLocal.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Corrections on behalf of five Native American prisoners housed at the ACI's maximum security facility, claiming they have been denied the right to practice their religion. The complaint alleges that while prisons across the country have adopted comprehensive policies accommodating Native American religious practices such as pipe ceremonies, sweat lodge ceremonies, smudging ceremonies, drum circles, and powwows, as well as religious items like headbands, medicine bags, feathers, and dream catchers, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections has adopted no such policies. The suit marks the third lawsuit brought by the ACLU against the Rhode Island Department of Corrections in three years.

As federal SNAP rules shift in 2026, 18 states pursue stricter work requirements and purchase restrictions, but Rhode Island refuses additional reforms beyond federal mandates, citing high participation rates, strong food access advocacy, administrative strains, and political risks from restricting benefits for seniors, working families, and others amid high housing costs. RI also notably declined to share its SNAP recipient list with the federal government, risking penalties.

A dispute between a Rhode Island landlord and his former tenants over living conditions has progressed to a new phase, with the American Civil Liberties Union becoming involved amid the state's ongoing housing crisis.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra presents the Amica Rush Hour Concert on Friday, February 13, 2026, at 6:30 PM at The VETS in Providence. The program features Suk's A Fairy Tale, Wagner's Tristan and Isolde Prelude and Liebestod, and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, conducted by Ruth Reinhardt with pianist Alessio Bax. Runtime is approximately 110-114 minutes including a 20-minute intermission, followed by a post-concert Q&A.

Rhode Island state workers are facing continued payroll issues, with recent complaints about improper payments linked to a new payroll system that short-changed employees, prompting separate checks. Additionally, W-2 forms incorrectly listed the employer as the 'State of Rhode Island Umbrella Company,' leading to new forms being issued.

On Feb. 3, 2026, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island filed a brief in federal court opposing the Department of Justice's request for access to Rhode Island's non-public voter files, which contain sensitive data like full birthdates, partial Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers. The ACLU intervened on behalf of Common Cause Rhode Island and individual voters, arguing that the DOJ lacks authority and that such access risks wrongful disenfranchisement, especially for naturalized citizens and recent movers. This follows over 20 states, including Rhode Island, refusing the DOJ's request last year, leading to lawsuits.

On February 11, 2026, Rhode Island's AI Task Force released a report outlining plans to harness artificial intelligence by building an AI-ready workforce, modernizing government operations, and enhancing business competitiveness. Governor McKee emphasized using AI to improve business practices, training staff in AI proficiency, and noting that over 70% of employers prefer hiring candidates with AI skills over those with experience but no AI knowledge, aiming to attract new businesses to the state.

The Rhode Island ACLU is hosting an event on surveillance issues extending beyond license plates, focusing on civil liberties concerns and ways for Rhode Island residents to get involved in preventing such expansions. Scheduled for 2026 at 6pm, with more details at riaclu.org.

Cafe Italia hosts its second annual Galentine event on Wednesday, February 11, celebrating friendship and community in Rhode Island.

WJ Grosvenor, a subsidiary of Fishman Flooring Solutions, opened a new branch in Warwick, Rhode Island on February 2, 2026, marking the 18th state for Fishman's operations. The branch at 101 Hallene Road features a showroom and warehouse stocked with flooring products like engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl, managed by Heder Gavira.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court reversed the dissolution of a domestic protective order, ruling that a preponderance of the evidence standard applies even when temporary firearm restrictions are imposed under the Protect Rhode Island Families Act. The decision clarifies the evidentiary standard for such proceedings, rejecting a higher clear and convincing evidence threshold, and remands the case for a new hearing.

WJ Grosvenor, a subsidiary of Fishman Flooring Solutions, opened a new branch in Warwick, Rhode Island, on February 9, 2026. This marks the 18th state for Fishman, featuring a showroom and warehouse stocked with flooring products, managed by Heder Gavira with 14 years of experience.

Care New England (CNE) and Rhode Island College (RIC) announced a groundbreaking partnership to strengthen Rhode Island's healthcare technology workforce, addressing job growth and business development in the healthcare sector.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island sent a letter to Brown University President Christina Paxson, urging the university to decline Providence's request to share campus camera feeds with the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC). The ACLU highlighted significant privacy risks and potential misuse of footage for surveilling free speech activities on campus or targeting students for immigration enforcement, citing past federal actions against F-1 visa holders at local institutions including Brown. Despite recent Providence City Council amendments limiting RTCC use for federal immigration, the ACLU noted ongoing lacks in data access, retention limits, and protections.

The ACLU of Rhode Island raised concerns over a Judicial Nominating Commission rule requiring two weeks' advance notice for public speakers at meetings, arguing it stifles public participation and access to government proceedings. The rule led to The Womxn Project being barred from speaking against nominees, prompting a letter from ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown on January 28. JNC Chair Krystle G. Tadesse defended the policy as compliant with the Open Meetings Act and in place since 2022, while encouraging written comments amid growing public interest.

Brown University announced $3 million in grants for Rhode Island workforce development as part of a federal settlement agreement. This includes $1.5 million anchor grants to the Community College of Rhode Island for a bilingual early childhood educator program aiming to train up to 180 teachers, and to Building Futures for apprenticeships in healthcare, manufacturing, and construction, supporting over 250 individuals through incentives, pre-apprenticeship for incarcerated people, and employer partnerships. Additional anchor and $200,000 innovation grants are planned.