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Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
New R.I. Senate leaders push revised ban on assault-style weapons to Senate floor
New Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, who also leads the National Education Association Rhode Island, and new Senate Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III, a licensed gun dealer, used their power to vote in any committee, and backed the bill. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican, and Minority Whip Gordon E. Rogers, a Foster Republican, also used their ex officio powers, voting against the bill. Advertisement The 10-member Judiciary Committee had been seen as evenly split on the issue. But Senator John P. Burke, a West Warwick Democrat , voted for the bill, defying expectations. The revised gun bill has drawn support from Everytown for Gun Safety leaders, who have said, 'Compromise is a part of public policy progress, and the amended version of this bill is still a massive step forward.' But it has drawn criticism from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, which issued a statement Wednesday and said it remains 'deeply disappointed' in the 'weakened' ban on assault-style weapons and favors the House-passed bill. Advertisement Senator Dawn Euer, a Newport Democrat, voted for the bill in the Judiciary Committee, and said she has prepared floor amendments that would restore the bill to the House-passed version. The vote had been seen as a test for both Lawson and Ciccone, who has opposed prior gun bills and has said he sells a small numbers to friends and family. On May 20, the state Ciccone, a Providence Democrat, is one of 99 federal firearms license holders in Rhode Island who would be affected by a proposed ban on assault-style weapons. The Ethics Commission voted 8 to 1 for an advisory opinion that says Ciccone falls under the ethics code's 'class exception,' which says public officials don't have a conflict of interest if legislation would not help or hurt them any more than any other member of a business, profession, or group. Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis, a Coventry Democrat, voted against the bill in committee, saying, 'I need to emphasize my disgust that we are once again abridging our Second Amendment rights for all Rhode Islanders. No form of firearms ban is acceptable under the guise of making us safer.' Raptakis predicted the residents will be less safe 'because law-abiding citizens will not be able to buy weapons to defend themselves next year.' The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, which emphasized that it's the only Rhode Island-based gun control advocacy group, asked advocates to ask senators to support the version of the bill passed by the House. Advertisement 'Our No. 1 goal is to keep Rhode Islanders as safe as possible from preventable gun violence,' coalition Executive Director Melissa Carden said in a statement. And she said the House-passed bill was the 'result of years of collaboration of gun safety advocates and legislators getting to the best bill possible.' 'At a time when the federal government is rolling back gun safety measures across the board, the states need to do all they can to make sure our communities and families are safe,' Carden said. She noted that Attorney General Peter F. Neronha had backed the House-passed bill and said he would defend it in court. On Bluesky, Providence resident Suzanne Ellis Wernevi asked Neronha to weigh in on the revised gun bill. Neronha replied, 'It's an approach followed by some states like Washington. We haven't looked at it carefully. I support the version passed by the House, which we studied carefully and participated in the drafting of, and which best preserves public safety.' House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, issued a statement, and said, 'I am withholding comment until the entire Senate considers the bill. The final bill is subject to change on the Senate floor, so it would be premature to comment at this time.' Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Boston Globe
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Don't let R.I. Senate President Val Lawson off the hook on assault weapons ban
Instead, the bill is at risk of stalling in the final days of the legislative session because Lawson, a brand new Senate president, doesn't seem to have the courage to stand up to a handful of more conservative senators who helped her land her new leadership post Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Here's the lay of the land. Advertisement The House of Representatives voted 43-28 last week to pass the bill, the first time in state history that either chamber has approved an assault weapons ban. We're supposed to take politicians at their word – so it's worth pointing out that Lawson isn't just a lukewarm supporter of banning assault weapons. She claims to be enthusiastic about it. Advertisement Just last week, Senate spokesman Greg Pare said Lawson 'strongly supports the assault weapons ban legislation.' But then came the hammer. 'She will continue working with her colleagues on the Judiciary Committee to try to win its passage,' Pare added. And that's where Lawson begins hiding in plain sight. The It's true that the Judiciary Committee would ordinarily handle legislation related to firearms, and on the House side, the Judiciary Committee was the one that vetted and amended the bill that ultimately won full approval. But Lawson doesn't have to accept that. She has plenty of options that are all well within the Senate's rules to bring the bill to vote in the full chamber. She could bypass the committee process altogether, similar to Could. Should. But will she? You see, Lawson leads a chamber that has been fractured ever since former Senate President Dominick Ruggerio chose to run for his leadership spot again despite battling cancer. He won the office, but died in April. Lawson was elected Ruggerio's No. 2 late last year, a sign that she would eventually ascend to the presidency. But the process was messy. Some senators harbored lingering animosity over Ruggerio remaining president until his death. Then there was a faction of more conservative Democrats led by Senator Advertisement Lawson wound up winning, but she ended up with Ciccone as her majority leader. Ciccone is a Related : Ciccone ended up as Lawson's No. 2, but he nonetheless seems to be getting what he wants. Lawson has the chance to show that she's really the one in charge, and pass legislation that Or she could do nothing, and hope we all forget she had the power to act. Dan McGowan can be reached at
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Following months of private talks, potential compromise emerges in casino smoking ban debate
A lit cigarette rests in an ashtray by a slot machine at Bally's Twin River Lincoln in 2023. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Early 2027 could be when Rhode Island's two casinos finally go smoke free under a compromise brokered by the Senate's new majority leader. Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat, told Rhode Island Current Thursday that legislation will likely come before the Senate Committee on Labor and Gaming next week. The long-awaited proposal ends a loophole that has allowed Bally's Lincoln and Tiverton casinos to avoid the state's indoor smoking ban. 'This took a lot of time meeting with Bally's and the union representing the people there,' Ciccone said in an interview But Patti Doyle, a Bally's spokesperson, said it's not a done deal. 'Conversations between Bally's and other stakeholders are ongoing,' Doyle said in an email. Ciccone has long opposed banning smoking at the two casinos, saying he believes it would cost visitors, and revenue. He initially sought to negotiate an agreement between the Providence-based casino giant and its union workers to expand existing non-smoking areas at the Lincoln facility. But union officials opposed any deals that kept smoke inside, Ciccone said. Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley said in an interview Thursday that workers were willing to find common ground, but their goal was always to get smoking out of the state's two casinos. 'It's not good for them, it's not good for the customers, it's not good for the state,' Crowley said. So Ciccone instead focused on what Bally's could stomach in the effort to end smoking. That led to his last-minute filing of a bill, submitted on May 23, to raise the cap on marketing reimbursements the company receives from the Rhode Island Lottery — a measure the Senate approved 32-4 on Tuesday despite objections from state regulators. While seemingly unrelated to the smoking debate, the marketing measure intends to help Bally's offset any revenue losses from a smoking ban. The company has projected an annual loss of $20 million, Doyle previously said. Should the revised legislation be approved by the General Assembly, Ciccone said the ban would take effect January 2027. The original companion bills introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski and Rep. Teresa Tanzi, both South Kingstown Democrats, called for smoking inside the state's casinos to cease immediately upon the governor's signature. Sosnowski did not immediately respond to request for comment. Tanzi questioned why the Senate would consider allowing employees to work within the smoke for an additional 18 months. 'These workers deserve to have a smoke-free environment now,' she said in an interview. 'I look forward to understanding the justification of the 18-month delay.' But Crowley called Ciccone's proposed date 'a big win' for Bally's workers, who have spent years urging lawmakers to end smoking at casinos. The proposal was among the top legislative priorities this year for the AFL-CIO, which commissioned a poll in February suggesting nearly 7 in 10 survey respondents 'strongly' or 'somewhat' supported a smoking ban. Legislative leaders also appear on board. Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi is one of 10 co-sponsors listed on the latest edition of Tanzi's bill, which has the backing of 55 of the chamber's 75 members. Senate President Valarie Lawson, an East Providence Democrat, has stated she personally supports a smoking ban. New compromise struck on the smoking ban comes a day after the Senate voted 30-3 in support of Ciccone's bill to open Rhode Island's online sports betting industry to new vendors, ending International Game Technology (IGT) PLC's five-year monopoly over the state's digital sportsbook. Democratic Sens. Dawn Euer of Newport, Tiara Mack of Providence, and Linda Ujifusa of Portsmouth voted against the legislation. The bill as approved in a revised form bars the Rhode Island Lottery from extending IGT's contract beyond Jan. 31, 2026, even though the company's deal to operate the Sportsbook RI app runs through November of that year. Ciccone said Thursday that the change was made to align with the Lottery's plans to issue a request for information on expansion in the first quarter of 2026. A Lottery-commissioned report by Spectrum Gaming Group recommended adding four to six new online sports betting vendors, but only if the state makes itself more attractive to popular companies like DraftKings and FanDuel. Spectrum found that companies may not be interested in expanding to Rhode Island due to its 51% tax on operators' revenues — tied with New York and New Hampshire for the steepest in the country. Lottery Director Mark Furcolo wrote to the Senate Committee on Gaming and Labor on April 30 that the legislation could violate regulators' constitutional authority to renew gaming contracts. Furcolo also had concerns with the economic feasibility of expanding to five vendors. 'The bill now addresses our primary concerns but does not eliminate the constitutional issue raised in the letter,' Paul Grimaldi, a spokesperson for the Lottery, said in an email Thursday. Ciccone's bill now heads to the House for consideration. Companion legislation sponsored by Rep. Matthew Dawson, an East Providence Democrat, remains held for further study following its initial May 1 hearing before the House Committee on Finance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Forbes
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
25 Madonna Songs Thats Shaped Pop Music History
Madonna is one of the all-time greatest female artists, with some of the top hits of the '80s, '90s ... More and beyond. Madonna Louise Ciccone, aka the Queen of Pop, is one of the most successful musical artists of all time, with 18 multiplatinum albums and a knack for creating controversy that has kept her culturally relevant for more than four decades. Known simply by the name Madonna, she moved from Michigan to New York City after high school to pursue a career as an entertainer and released her first album in 1983, quickly becoming one of the top '80s female singers. Madonna music is known for being sexy, spicy and culturally relevant. The best Madonna songs focus on social issues such as religion, feminism and politics. This list of greatest Madonna songs includes music from every era of the versatile singer's career. Madonna is primarily a pop music singer, though she's also experimented with electronica and dance. She has released 14 studio albums, and three of them have sold more than 14 million copies, putting her on par with the Beatles and Whitney Houston. This list is based on commercial sales, critical acclaim and awards recognition. From I'm Breathless: Music From and Inspired by the film Dick Tracy, 'Hanky Panky' reflects Madonna's playful side and mimics tunes from the movie's 1930s era. Some women's groups criticized Madonna begging, 'You can just spank me,' but she said the song was tongue-in-cheek. It was a top-10 hit in the U.S., Australia and UK. Madonna's songs often deal with the darker side of love, but 'Cherish' from Like a Prayer has a lighter, more optimistic tone. In the video directed by Herb Ritts, a fashion photographer, Madonna romps on the beach with mermen, who became gay icons. The song hit No. 2, her record 16th straight top-five single. The video for 'What It Feels Like for a Girl' (from Music) was directed by Guy Ritchie, Madonna's then-beau, and banned by MTV for its violent imagery. That was kind of the point—the singer wanted to illustrate how society encourages women's independence but ultimately punishes them for it. 'Girl' earned critical kudos. Madonna croons, 'I want to free my soul,' on this release from True Blue. It came amidst intense media scrutiny of the singer's relationship with actor Sean Penn, and she wrote the song to explain what those moments felt like. It wasn't released as a single but still gained popularity due to its heartfelt message. Envisioned as a tribute to Sly and the Family Stone, 'Express Yourself' appeared on Like a Prayer and encouraged women not to settle for 'second-best.' The suggestive video, directed by David Fincher, had a then-record $5 million budget. The girl power anthem urged women to pursue what they want, as men do. Madonna performs "Express Yourself," one of her best singles, at TD Garden on Tuesday, September 4, ... More 2012. Madonna co-wrote this song about ushering out a poor lover with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, advising, 'The night is over/This masquerade is getting older.' As the second single on Bedtime Stories, it topped the charts for seven weeks and established Madonna as one of the quintessential '90s female singers as her 11th No. 1. 'Burning Up' came from Madonna's first studio album, Madonna, and helped cement her as one of the top early '80s artists. It played on one of her favorite themes, sex, with the singer confessing she 'had no shame'—but it was also a double meaning, speaking to her professional ambition on later display as well. Madonna closed out the decade with this electronica banger. The singer channeled '60s psych-pop as inspiration for the song for the soundtrack of Austin Powers film The Spy Who Shagged Me. It peaked at No. 2 in the UK and netted Madonna a fifth Grammy, won for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens-Crowder offered this song to several artists, including the Supremes' Mary Wilson, before Madonna snapped it up for her debut album, Madonna. The dance-pop energy and upbeat tempo helped the song become the singer's first top-20 single, and critics now regard it as one of her finest releases. Remember when Madonna was an actress? This single from her third movie was much more memorable than the film itself—so much so, in fact, that its original title (Slammer) was dropped, and it was renamed Who's That Girl. The Latin pop song, with some lyrics in Spanish, became her sixth No. 1 hit. American singer and actress Madonna with director James Foley on the set of the film "Slammer," ... More later titled "Who's That Girl?." 'Ray of Light,' the title track of Madonna's seventh studio album, sees the singer delve further into electronica and is one of her biggest critical hits, earning three Grammy nods, including Record of the Year. It bowed at No. 5, her highest chart debut. The video also won five MTV Video Music Awards. From Confessions on a Dance Floor, 'Hung Up' marks a return to Madonna's dance club roots, a high-energy song that samples ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)'—ABBA has rarely authorized such samples. Madonna tied Elvis with her 36th top 10 single with 'Hung Up' and hit No. 1 in 41 countries. 'Open Your Heart' was the fourth single from Madonna's wildly successful third album, True Blue, and became her fifth No. 1 hit. It also made her just the second female singer to chart three No. 1s from one album. The acclaimed music video is partly inspired by Cabaret. Lyrically, 'Live to Tell' (off of True Blue) marked a departure from earlier Madonna songs, telling of a dark secret she must keep: 'Hope I live to tell the secret I have learned/ Till then it will burn inside of me.' She has never revealed the secret, but it resonated with listeners, rising to No. 1. This song became Madonna's second No. 1 hit, appearing on the Vision Quest soundtrack—and also marking the singer's feature film debut. The pop ballad marked a departure from her earlier dance music, earning her a first Grammy nod (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance) and helping her break into adult contemporary. The singer and actress Madonna in concert at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy for one date of her ... More Rebel Heart World Tour. After going to a Sting concert, Madonna was moved to write this song about the unifying power of song. 'Music makes the people come together/Music, mix the bourgeoisie and the rebel,' she sang. The song from the album Music hit No. 1, and the video, which featured then-up-and-comer Sacha Baron Cohen, was a smash. From the first movie Madonna starred in, Desperately Seeking Susan, which she co-wrote, 'Into the Groove' was Madonna's first UK No. 1 and her bestselling early single. The sexual innuendo-laden tract invites a boy to 'prove your love to me.' A Billboard poll once dubbed it the best 1980s dance single. 'Material Girl' was one of the defining '80s songs, appearing on her second album, Like a Virgin. Though Madonna has said she herself isn't materialistic, she liked the provocative nature of the song, which declares, 'We are living in a material world.' The song vaulted the singer to superstardom, topping the Hot Dance Club Songs. Another Like a Virgin hit, 'Dress You Up' opens dreamily, 'You've got style, that's what all the girls say.' The song, widely regarded as one of Madonna's top singles, got a boost when the Parents Music Resource Center added it to its "Filthy Fifteen" for suggestive lyrics—helping into Billboard's top five. From Madonna's debut album, 'Borderline' is so catchy and danceable that it's no wonder it became the singer's first top-10 hit. The video depicted an interracial romance as Madonna proclaimed, 'You just keep on pushin' my love/Over the borderline.' 'Borderline' drew critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone naming it the No. 2 song of the year. Softer and more experimental than most of her previous music, 'Justify My Love' became Madonna's ninth No. 1 single. Lenny Kravitz co-wrote the song, which portrayed the singer's sexual fantasies and belief women were in charge in the bedroom. MTV banned the suggestive video with Madonna's then-boyfriend Tony Ward, which nonetheless went multiplatinum. Madonna performs during opening night of The Celebration Tour at The O2 Arena on October 14, 2023 in ... More London. One of the most iconic '90s songs, this single from I'm Breathless is high-class fun. Madonna pays tribute to the stars of yesteryear. 'Strike a pose,' she encourages, later repeating, 'Don't just stand there, let's get to it/Strike a pose, there's nothing to it.' It became her biggest-selling single to date. 'Papa Don't Preach' appeared on True Blue and has become one of the most notable Madonna songs due to its content. It addresses women's autonomy and has also been interpreted as a pro-choice anthem, since the lyrics deal with a father's reaction to teen pregnancy. This marked Madonna's fourth No. 1 single. Madonna's performance of 'Like a Virgin' at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards remains an indelible pop culture moment. It was Madonna's first song to top the Hot 100, from the album of the same name, and has sold more than 6 million worldwide. She continues to sing the popular tune on her concert tours. Perfectly uniting Madonna's obsessions with sex, religion and taboos, 'Like a Prayer' may set a record for double entendres, like this lyric: 'I'm down on my knees/I wanna take you there.' The catchy song had an equally controversial video in which Madonna sleeps with a Black saint. Needless to say, it hit No. 1. Bottom Line Madonna is one of the most successful and revered pop singers in history for a reason. Her top songs reveal an ability to change with the times while continuing to get people talking and build her reputation. You can enjoy every song on this list over and over without tiring of them.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
If R.I. passes casino smoking ban, state would pay more to cover Bally's ads under this bill
A roulette wheel inside the 40,000 square-foot gaming space and food hall Bally's opened at its Twin River Lincoln casino in 2023. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) A last-minute bill filed on behalf of the state's sole casino operator cleared a Rhode Island Senate committee hearing after roughly 10 minutes Wednesday, despite strong objections from the Rhode Island Lottery. Now it's set to sprint toward a floor vote in the full chamber on Tuesday. The bill introduced on May 23 by Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat, would increase the cap for reimbursements Bally's Corp. receives from the Rhode Island Lottery for its marketing costs. But the legislation really serves as a contingency plan should lawmakers push forward legislation to ban smoking at the company's Lincoln and Tiverton properties. Ciccone confirmed that he introduced the legislation at the request of Bally's as a way to make up for anticipated lost revenue if a smoking ban is enacted this year. For years, unionized workers, public health advocates and progressive lawmakers have pushed to end the loophole that exempts Bally's casinos from an indoor smoking ban. Bally's Twin River in Lincoln and Bally's Tiverton Casino & Hotel allow patrons to smoke while casinos in Massachusetts and Connecticut are smoke-free. Bally's projects it could lose $20 million annually if smoking were fully banned at the Lincoln and Tiverton casinos, said the company's spokesperson Patti Doyle. 'As we look to the possibility of the smoking ban being enacted, we need as many tools in our arsenal as possible to bring back any lost revenue to the state,' Doyle said. Ciccone has long opposed banning smoking at the two casinos, saying he believed it would mean lost revenue. 'I just feel that the people who are here are because they can smoke and gamble — it's as simple as that,' Ciccone said in an interview. 'If that closes, you're going to lose a small percentage of them.' The Rhode Island Lottery is responsible for reimbursing Bally's under different rate structures — one for the Lincoln facility and one for the Tiverton casino. Both casinos have been regulated under two-tiered rates since 2010, when Tiverton's license was still held by Newport Grand under different ownership. In Lincoln, the state reimburses 60.7% of all casino marketing expenditures between $4 million and $10 million. The state pays nothing for Bally's marketing expenditures over $10 million up to $14 million, then reimburses 60.7% of expenditures between $14 million and $17 million. In Tiverton, the state reimburses 60.1% of marketing expenditures between $560,000 and $1.4 million. Doyle said the Tiverton casino was capped at the lower end because its contract was tied to the now-defunct, smaller Newport Grand tier structure. During the fiscal year ending on June 30, Rhode Island Lottery projects Bally's Lincoln will be reimbursed a total of $3,640,800 for marketing expenditures, while Bally's Tiverton will be reimbursed a total of $506,890, said lottery spokesperson Paul Grimaldi. But if Ciccone's bill becomes law, Grimaldi said, Bally's Lincoln would have been reimbursed $6,068,000 and the Tiverton casino would have been reimbursed $844,816 — representing a nearly $2.8 million increase. Lottery Director Mark Furcolo's interpretation of the legislation is that the state would have to reimburse Bally's at a rate of approximately 60.5% up to a cap of $27.25 million. 'Should Bally's spend more than it has during the last three fiscal years, there would be a greater impact to the state,' Furcolo wrote to the committee. As we look to the possibility of the smoking ban being enacted, we need as many tools in our arsenal as possible to bring back any lost revenue to the state. – Patti Doyle, Bally's spokesperson Furcolo said he was not opposed to the idea of consolidating Bally's marketing program from an administrative standpoint, but he doesn't believe the state should be on the hook for additional reimbursement. He added that amending any new contract would require a 'time-consuming legal undertaking' and could conflict with the Lottery's plans to issue a request for information on potentially expanding the number of online sports betting apps available in the state. Despite Furculo's opposition, the Senate Committee on Labor and Gaming voted 6-0 to advance Ciccone's bill at its initial hearing Wednesday. Not present were Democrats Ryan Pearson of Cumberland, Ana Quezada of Providence, and Brian Thompson of Woonsocket. Ciccone joined the panel in his ex-officio role as majority leader. Ciccone's bill is scheduled to be voted by the full Senate on Tuesday, chamber spokesperson Greg Paré said in an email Thursday. Companion legislation has not been introduced in the House. Momentum to make casinos smoke-free has grown in the House, where Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi is one of 10 cosponsors listed on the latest edition of a bill sponsored by Rep. Teresa Tanzi, a South Kingstown Democrat. The House Committee on Finance held an initial hearing on Tanzi's bill on April 10, when it was held for further study — as is standard practice for a first look by a legislative legislation introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski in February has yet to be heard by the Senate Committee on Labor and Gaming. No hearing date has been set. Newly-elected Senate President Valarie Lawson, an East Providence Democrat, has stated she personally supports a smoking ban, but indicated she would like to see the standard committee review process play out. The growing support in the House mirrors overall sentiment in Rhode Island. The AFL-CIO in February released a poll that found nearly seven in 10 survey respondents 'strongly' or 'somewhat' supported a smoking ban at the state's two casinos. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
