Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

Sen. Thompson sworn in as General Assembly convenes

 

STATE HOUSE — Sen. Brian Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) was formally sworn into office today as the 2025-2026 term of the Rhode Island General Assembly convened.
Senator Thompson was one of six new members of the Senate who took the oath of office, which was administered to all 38 Senate members by Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore.

The Senate began its legislative year with a program of activities that included the re-election of Dominick J. Ruggerio as president of the Senate.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Thompson served a two-year term as a member of the Woonsocket City Council.

Originally from Massachusetts, Senator Thompson has lived in Woonsocket for more than 20 years. He works as a general foreman for a sheet metal contractor. He and his wife, Christine, have six children who have attended Woonsocket’s public schools.

Senator Thompson was appointed to serve on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the Senate Labor Committee, which is expected to be changed to the Committee on Labor and Gaming.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee handles all legislation and matters relative to public health and welfare; health care and human service access and quality; health and human service professional standards of practice, and facility standards of care.  The Senate Labor and Gaming Committee deliberates legislation relating to workers’ compensation and labor laws in addition to laws regarding gambling and games of chance.

A key report shows wholesale inflation slowed last month. The July Producer Price Index shows a rise of zero-point-one percent. The PPI measures prices that businesses receive for goods and services. Economists had been expecting a slightly higher increase, according to a survey by the Wall Street Journal.        Over one-point-three million people tuned into Elon Musk's conversation with former President Trump on X last night. Some technical issues delayed the conversation, but the pair still spoke for over two hours. They discussed the attempted assassination of Trump in Pennsylvania, immigration, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the threat of global warming, and more.        Voters are heading to the polls for primary elections in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin today. In Minnesota, progressive Congresswoman Ilhan Omar will defend her seat against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels. The contest comes after two other members of the so-called progressive "Squad," Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, lost their Democratic primaries this cycle.        Tropical Storm Ernesto isn't expected to hit the U.S. mainland as it heads up the Atlantic Ocean. Current forecasts show the storm will bring heavy rain and flooding to Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands today. The National Hurricane Center says Ernesto will then head northward and into the Atlantic.        A former Colorado clerk is facing up to 22 years in prison for election tampering. Tina Peters was convicted yesterday and will be sentenced in October. Prosecutors argued she let an unauthorized person access Mesa County's voting equipment in 2021 and make a copy of hard drives, as well as pictures of passwords, and then tried to cover it up.        U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles will not have her appeal heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On Sunday, the International Olympic Committee said it would take away her bronze medal because of a scoring error. Monday, USA Gymnastics said in a statement that it was notified that CAS rules don't allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered.        

Old News Archives