Chariho United challenges inaccurate criticism

Setting the Record Straight

Chariho United

Recently, School Committee members Ed Lowe and Larry Phelps circulated handouts on Facebook and at the July 6 Hopkinton Town Council meeting during public comment, making claims about school facility costs and student performance in Chariho. Some of the underlying numbers come from state reports. The headlines and conclusions do not. Here's what the record actually shows. 

Claim: Administrative neglect caused a $40 million increase in elementary school repair costs 

Lowe and Phelps compared elementary school facility needs identified in a 2017 report to a 2025 report and landed on roughly a $40 million increase, framing it as proof of neglect by district administration. 

Two things are at play. First, these facility assessments were not conducted or commissioned by Chariho administration. Both the 2017 Jacobs report and the 2025 Bureau Veritas reports were commissioned by the Rhode Island Department of Education. Second, and more importantly, Bureau Veritas explicitly warns against comparing the two reports' dollar figures directly, because nine years of construction cost inflation makes a straight comparison misleading. Its own methodology applies a 144.3% inflation multiplier, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price Index, specifically so the 2017 numbers can be fairly compared to 2025 dollars. 

When you run that same math across all four Chariho elementary schools, the real increase is about $29.9 million, not $40 million. Lowe and Phelps's number appears to come from skipping the inflation adjustment the state's own consultant says is necessary. 

It's also worth looking at what that money is actually for. Across all four elementary schools, only about 4.9% of the total identified need is classified as "Performance/Integrity," meaning a system that has failed or is unreliable. Zero dollars are classified as safety issues. The remaining 87 to 96% of costs at each individual school fall under "Aged But Functional" or "Lifecycle/Renewal," meaning normal, expected aging of buildings that are 60 to 90 years old, not evidence of neglect. At Richmond Elementary, the report also notes that Chariho facilities staff had already identified and priced a fix for the one item flagged as a failed condition, a leaking facade and gutter system, before the assessment was even completed. 

These are public documents. Read the full assessments for yourself rather than taking anyone's summary, including ours

Swimming in it

Charlestown voters: important special referendum

What could possibly go wrong?

Trump’s Push for Deep-Sea Mining 

By Gina-Marie Cheeseman

Minerals like nickel and cobalt are in so many of the products we use, including the device you’re reading this on. That demand is exactly what The Metals Company (TMC) is banking on. In March 2026, TMC joined the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium (the “DIBC”). 

This Pentagon-managed body steers non-dilutive federal funding to critical minerals suppliers, pitching its deep-sea nickel, cobalt, and manganese as a domestic supply the government should help pay to develop.

​The Metals Company has a problem. It cannot survive without governmental handouts. The company’s 2025 financial update reveals a net loss of roughly $319.8 million, $0.83 per share, on essentially no revenue. 

“If deep-sea mining is truly the next big thing its backers claim, why can’t The Metals Company attract investors — and why do they expect taxpayers to foot the bill? This isn’t about security; it’s about propping up a speculative industry that risks irreversible harm to the deep ocean for corporate profit,” said Jackie Dragon, Greenpeace USA Senior Oceans Campaigner

The push for deep-sea mining comes from the top. In April 2025, Trump signed an executive order to “accelerate the responsible development of seabed mineral resources.” In other words, he directed federal agencies to accelerate the development of deep-sea mining because the nation needs more critical minerals for its electronics. Trump’s proposed 2027 budget includes funding for critical minerals across the departments of Energy, Interior, Defense, and State.

mRNA Vaccine Shrinks Deadly Childhood Cancer Tumors by 70%

Advance in the fight against cancer in kids

By Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Irish doctors move forward while Trump and RFK Jr.
push the US backwards by curtailing mRNA vaccines.

The success of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic sparked interest in whether the same technology could be harnessed to fight cancer. Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have taken an early step toward that goal, reporting the first preclinical evidence that an mRNA vaccine can target neuroblastoma, the deadliest childhood cancer.

Led by Dr. Olga Piskareva, Senior Lecturer in the RCSI Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, the team tested an mRNA vaccine delivered using peptide carriers. In preclinical models, the vaccine trained the immune system to recognize and attack neuroblastoma, delaying tumor development by 10 to 11 days and shrinking tumors by 70%.

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive cancer that develops from immature nerve cells and primarily affects infants and young children. Although treatments have improved over the years, high-risk and recurrent cases remain especially difficult to treat, and the disease is responsible for about 15% of all childhood cancer deaths. In Ireland, five to ten children are diagnosed each year, with roughly 80% of patients failing to respond meaningfully to current therapies.

Unhealthy air today in Charlestown and across the state

 

Trump Justice Dept. threatens RI Sec. of State with criminal charges over voting issues

Feds threaten Rhode Island’s top election official with criminal charges if noncitizens vote

by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore says he is being threatened with criminal charges by the Trump administration if state and local election officials fail to prevent noncitizens from voting in the upcoming midterm elections.

Amore’s office on Friday released a July 7 letter from Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon asking for an outline of the steps the state is taking to maintain “clean voter lists” and how it’s complying with federal law within five days.

“The letter’s true intention was obvious: to intimidate election officials in an effort to make us fall in line with the administration’s unconstitutional overreaches into election administration,” Amore, a Democrat, said in a statement. “I am confident that elections in Rhode Island are administered in accordance with federal and state laws.”

Dhillon’s seven-page letter includes a memo highlighting the federal election law requiring state and local officials to maintain voter records to ensure only eligible U.S. citizens vote in federal elections.

“Any election officer, including the chief election officer of the state, who knowingly retains noncitizens on the state’s (statewide voter registration list) or facilitates noncitizens in receiving and casting ballots could be subject to criminal liability,” Dhillon wrote.

We're back in court against Trump, this time over housing for the homeless

Attorney General Neronha sues Trump Administration for upending long-term housing support for homeless Americans

The long-term solution for homelessness is housing

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is co-leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit against the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for unlawfully attempting to cap funding for permanent housing projects. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, argues that the move would result in tens of thousands of people losing their homes.

[From a Rhode Island Attorney General press release]

“The Trump Administration consistently and constantly targets our most vulnerable Americans, and this case is no different,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Those experiencing homelessness are in dire need of support, and these unlawful conditions on funding for permanent housing will cause tens of thousands of people to lose their homes. While this Administration will almost certainly continue trying to make life harder for Rhode Islanders and Americans everywhere, we will continue to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.”

Just last month, a coalition of states won a separate case against HUD in federal court in Rhode Island regarding the agency’s decision last year to impose illegal conditions on billions of dollars in funding for the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which supports housing and other services for people experiencing housing instability or homelessness. Congress has prioritized stability in how funds are allocated, and the vast majority of CoC funds have traditionally supported permanent housing and similarly successful projects.

Two of a kind

Three affordable single-family homes in So. Kingstown, through So. County Habitat

 

South County Habitat for Humanity will be accepting applications for three single family homes in South Kingstown from July 1st through the 31st. About the Homes: Energy efficient, newly constructed homes with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a garage. Located in the Broad Rock area of South Kingstown, close to downtown. They offer a pathway to low-to-moderate income homeownership. Information Session: July 8th - 6PM In person and virtual We will be hosting an information session to present information about the homeownership program and application process. Refreshments will be provided. *Attendance is not required to apply. Please call 401-213-6711 X305 or email Aliyya@southcountyhabitat.org to register. Applications will be available at southcountyhabitat.org/homeownership starting July 1st.

July 15 invasive weed treatment scheduled for Carolina Trout Pond

DEM says pesticide won't harm fish but wants you to keep pets away and not fish for at least three days

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces Carolina Trout Pond in Richmond, Shippee Sawmill Pond in Foster, and Meshanticut Lake in Cranston will be treated for invasive aquatic plants on Wednesday, July 15.

Anglers and boaters should avoid using these waterbodies during treatment to not impede the licensed applicators. Temporary water use advisories will be posted where applicable and nearby residents and visitors should keep pets from drinking from these waters for at least three days. 

These EPA approved herbicide treatments will target specific invasive aquatic plants including variable water milfoil, fanwort, water chestnut, sacred lotus, and various algae species. The treatment will not harm fish. All three waterbodies are popular with anglers and boaters and are annually stocked with trout.

Heat is on again, starting tomorrow

NWS Boston

@NWSBoston

A Heat Advisory is in effect from 11 AM Tues - 8 PM Wed for much of southern New England. Afternoon temps in the mid to upper 90s combined with higher humidity will make it feel like 95F-103F both days. #MAwx #CTwx #RIwx

EDITOR'S NOTE: Also expect air quality to suffer. You can check current air pollution levels HERE.

Will Trump require foreign tourists to get pregnancy tests?

Reaction to Supreme Court decision upholding birthright citizenship

Amanda Becker, National Reporter

This story was originally reported by Amanda Becker of The 19th. Meet Amanda and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy.

In the wake of a Supreme Court decision this week upholding the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, the Trump administration and fellow Republican immigration hardliners are exploring alternative routes to limit citizenship rights for children born within the United States to foreign tourists. 

Markwayne Mullin, the head of President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, suggested on “Fox & Friends” Wednesday morning that this effort could include banning pregnant foreigners from traveling to the United States. 

“There are tourist visas that they get to come into the United States or into our territories just simply to give birth; they’ll come in the eighth month, maybe one, two, three weeks left, give birth here,” Mullin said. He did not offer any evidence that the practice is widespread.

They “have a child who may move back to China, raise the person in a communist regime — even though they’re a citizen of the United States — and they come back over here, and in some cases, they go to universities, stealing intellectual property. It’s absolutely been a national security issue,” Mullin continued.

Mullin added that there was a “long conversation at the White House” on Tuesday after the Supreme Court ruled in the birthright citizenship case. He met with Trump; Stephen Miller, a top adviser to the president and the architect of many of his far-right immigration policies; and Tom Homan, the president’s “border czar.”

Days After Monsanto Ruling, Trump EPA Approves More Forever Chemical Pesticides

EPA gives industry anything it wants

Jessica Corbett for Common Dreams

With every new decision, EPA brings this Onion
parody closer to reality

The US Environmental Protection Agency on June 30 continued its betrayal of President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to “Make America Healthy Again,” approving the use of multiple “forever chemical” pesticides on crops despite public health concerns.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are called forever chemicals because they don’t naturally break down—instead accumulating in human and animal bodies as well as the environment. They have been used in everything from fabrics for clothing and furniture to firefighting foam to nonstick cookware, and are tied to various health problems, including increased risk of some cancers.

The Trump EPA finalized its approval of using two PFAS pesticides, diflufenican and epyrifenacil, on corn and soybeans, the two most widely grown crops in the United States.

The agency also expanded its allowances for another previously approved forever chemical pesticide, bifenthrin, and greenlighted the first food use of chlormequat, a non-PFAS pesticide tied to reproductive issues.

“While the Biden administration had approved one PFAS pesticide in the prior four years, this is the third and fourth approval of a PFAS pesticide under Trump in just his second year in office,” the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) noted in a Tuesday statement. “The previous two PFAS pesticide approvals were cyclobutrifluram and isocycloseram.”

Deal with Trump the way Dems dealt with Platner