Powers, who has led the state GOP since March 2023, "is stepping down due to the increased demands of his professional workload," the party said.

Nearly $1 million awarded in 2025 to support education, workforce development, and animal welfare initiatives statewide CRANSTON, RI, UNITED STATES, January 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Now that 2025 has come to a close,

Rhode Island GOP Chairman Joe Powers will be stepping down from his position as leader of the state Republican Party in January, 12 News has learned.

Here are the five private golf courses that earned Rhode Island its highest placement from Golfweek. Newport (58c) — A classic course (defined by Golfweek as a course built before 1960), it placed 58th on Golfweek’s best lists for top 200 classic courses in the U.S.

Predicting the future isn't easy. Back in 2000, who would have thought that by 2025 the Pawtucket Red Sox would no longer exist, or Rhode Island's first female governor would be telling people to "knock it off" as a pandemic shut down the state?

Eighteen Rhode Island towns, including some of the state's wealthiest, are designated as rural and eligible for the funds. Rhode Island is getting $156 million to improve rural health care from a federal program created by President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Since all the way back in the Gilded Age, the rich and famous have flocked to Rhode Island for secondary or summer houses. Today, the state's celebrity homeowners include big names like comedian Matt Rife, actor Christopher Walken and of course, Taylor Swift, who is known for hosting lavish parties at her Watch Hill estate.

Here’s a look at the new rules that will take effect sometime in 2026. Back in August 2025, Governor Dan McKee signed legislation that will increase Rhode Island’s minimum wage to $17 over the course of two years. On Jan. 1, 2026, the state’s minimum wage will go from $15 to $16. It will then go up to $17 on New Year’s Day 2027.