Woonsocket Radio News Room

General Assembly Session to Convene Tuesday

 

STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly opens its 2021 session Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Due to the need for social distance necessitated by COVID-19, the Assembly will not be meeting at the State House, which remains closed to the public.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. In accordance with the state constitution, the senior representative from Newport, Rep. Marvin L. Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown), will preside until the election of a new speaker, which is scheduled after Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea administers the oath of office to the members. Supreme Court Justice Francis X. Flaherty will administer the oath to the elected speaker. In November, the House Democratic Caucus endorsed Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) for speaker. Gov. Gina M. Raimondo is also scheduled to offer remarks.

The Senate is scheduled to convene at 4 p.m. in Sapinsley Hall at Rhode Island College in Providence. Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) will preside over its organization, which will include the formal election of president as well as a new president pro tempore and a new deputy president pro tempore. The Senate Democratic Caucus has endorsed President Dominick J. Ruggerio for another term as president. Secretary of State Gorbea will administer the oath of office to members and Governor Raimondo is scheduled to offer remarks to the Senate.

Due to the pandemic, the sessions will not be open to the public. They will be broadcast live by Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox and Full Channel on Channel 15, in high definition on Cox Channel 1013, and on Channel 34 by Verizon and subscribers. The sessions will also be live streamed at www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV.

Space is extremely limited at both venues. Any member of the media who wishes to cover the sessions in person must make arrangements no later than Monday, Jan. 4, at 3 p.m. by contacting Larry Berman at (401) 222-1408 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the House, and Greg Paré at (401) 276-5558 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the Senate.

 

Homeland Security says a woman has died after being shot during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. DHS said the woman was protesting ICE when she allegedly rammed her car into federal agents. However, the Democratic mayor of Minneapolis disputes that, saying the woman was fleeing the scene, while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz added the state will make sure the investigation is full and fair.        The Trump administration says the latest seizure of two Venezuela-linked oil tankers is having its intended effect on the Venezuelan government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says current Venezuelan leadership has asked to work with the U.S. to get the oil back. Rubio says that's a positive outcome, because it shows leadership knows the only way Venezuela can move forward and generate revenue is to cooperate with the Trump administration.        President Trump will deliver the State of the Union address on February 24th. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday formally invited Trump to deliver the address before a joint session of Congress on that date. It will be the first time he'll present the annual speech during his second term and the second time he'll address all of Congress since being re-elected.        Tensions are escalating between the U.S. and Russia after the military seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic. U.S. and U.K. forces boarded the 'Bella One' vessel as it was sailing in international waters between Scotland and Iceland. Russia's transport ministry said, "no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states."        The judge in the trial of former Uvalde ISD policeman Adrian Gonzales has denied a defense motion for a mistrial. Judge Sid Harle made that decision this afternoon after talking with both sides over questions regarding testimony from a witness on Tuesday. Stephanie Hale, a teacher at Robb Elementary on the day of the attack, testified she saw a gunman outside the south door of the school.        Nick Reiner's arraignment on murder charges is being delayed to February. It comes after his attorney, Alan Jackson, unexpectedly withdrew from the case today. Reiner, whose arraignment was scheduled for this morning, will now be represented by a public defender.       

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