Resident physicians and fellows at Kent, Women & Infants and Butler hospitals say they're seeking better pay and improved working conditions.

It was that rare kind of day when legislators brought members of their families into the ornate chambers of the House and Senate to view the spectacle close up, including Shekarchi, who invited his niece and recent Suffolk University Law School graduate Samantha Shekarchi to stand by his side.

Rhode Island is “full of progress and promise,” Gov. Dan McKee said during his State of the State address Tuesday night, arguing that New England’s longtime economic laggard is flipping the script on old narratives while stepping into the future.

Dominick Ruggerio won re-election as president of the Rhode Island Senate Tuesday, as the General Assembly met for the first time in 2025, although almost a third of senators did not support Ruggerio amid ongoing questions about his health.

A second group of resident and fellow physicians in Rhode Island have voted to join the Committee of Interns and Residents, which is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union.

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In his acceptance speech, Ruggerio said the state had made "tremendous progress on many pressing issues," including health care, housing, the economy and education, but "there is still much work to be done.

Resident physicians and fellows at Brown University Health and affiliated with Brown University will join the Committee of Interns and Residents.

Ruggerio, 76, was absent for extended periods as he battled cancer and other health challenges. The concerns about his health led to an internal battle with then-Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson, D-Cumberland, who unsuccessfully challenged Ruggerio during Senate Democrats’ leadership election in November.

The Raise the Bar Coalition is now calling on the General Assembly "to expedite passage of the Workforce Standards Board bill on day one."

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee will outline his priorities for the coming year in a televised speech Tuesday night.