Steph Machado
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stephmachado.bsky.social
Steph Machado
@stephmachado.bsky.social
2.8K followers 330 following 360 posts
Reporter for Boston Globe Rhode Island and RI PBS covering education, politics and the city of Providence. Email me: [email protected]
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Reposted by Steph Machado
alexagagosz.bsky.social
Plant City, the vegan food hall in Providence, is closing. Owner Kim Anderson cites the closure of the Washington Bridge for a loss in customers, but Plant City’s flagship store has faced other problems.

@bostonglobe.com @globeri.bsky.social

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/26/m...
Plant City, the vegan food hall in Providence, is closing - The Boston Globe
Owner Kim Anderson cites the closure of the Washington Bridge for a loss in customers, but Plant City’s flagship store has faced other problems.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
fitzprov.bsky.social
Rhode Island debates raising taxes on the rich. With Governor McKee proposing a millionaires tax, businesses groups are pushing back — and progressives are pushing for more.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/23/m...
Rhode Island debates raising taxes on the rich - The Boston Globe
With Governor McKee proposing a millionaires tax, businesses groups are pushing back and progressives are pushing for more.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:32 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
@alexagagosz.bsky.social let me write today’s Food Club; if you’re not subscribed to this weekly newsletter, you’re missing out

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/21/m...
January 22, 2026 at 5:59 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
Here's a video story from Globe videographer Randy Vazquez and me on the first day of the semester at Brown:
Brown University students return to class after mass shooting: ‘It definitely took a mental toll on me’ - The Boston Globe
Some returning students were nervous, others offered “free hugs” on the first day of classes.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
fitzprov.bsky.social
Former RI Representative Anthony De Luca, who fought for marriage equality, dies at age 88. De Luca, who served on the Cranston City Council and ran for mayor, testified along with his wife, Sylvia, in favor of the 2013 bill that legalized same-sex marriage in RI.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/20/m...
Former R.I. Representative Anthony De Luca, who fought for marriage equality, dies at age 88 - The Boston Globe
De Luca, who served on the Cranston City Council and ran for mayor, testified with his wife, Sylvia, in favor of the 2013 bill that legalized same-sex marriage in Rhode Island.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:48 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
I've heard back from 13 of 15 city councilors on where they stand on rent control. A vote is months away, so this could change. They'll need 10 to override a veto

Yes: Miller, Pichardo, Davidson, AnderBois, Roias, Sanchez, Harris, Graves
No: Taylor, Espinal
Undecided: Goncalves, A. Vargas, Peterson
Providence City Council proposes rent control with 4% cap on rent hikes; mayor says he’ll veto - The Boston Globe
The rent stabilization ordinance, which would exempt thousands of units, drew immediate opposition from the mayor
www.bostonglobe.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:29 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
Mayor Smiley confirms he would veto the new rent control ordinance, as written now

7 councilors so far tell me they are a yes (and an 8th who hasn't responded yet is a co-sponsor)

Council needs 8 votes to pass, then 10 to override a veto
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/20/m...
Providence City Council proposes rent control with 4% cap on rent hikes; mayor says he’ll veto - The Boston Globe
The rent stabilization ordinance, which would exempt thousands of units, drew immediate opposition from the mayor
www.bostonglobe.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
fitzprov.bsky.social
Representative Joseph Solomon Jr. jumps into an increasingly crowded R.I. attorney general’s race
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/20/m...
Representative Joseph Solomon Jr. jumps into R.I. attorney general’s race - The Boston Globe
Solomon, a Warwick Democrat, joins a primary field that already includes Jason Knight, Kim Ahern, and Keith Hoffmann.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
Mayor Smiley quickly opposed the council’s rent control ordinance, which he wasn’t involved in crafting

We’re still months away from a vote on this, but the council would need 10 votes to overturn a veto
stephmachado.bsky.social Steph Machado @stephmachado.bsky.social · 8d
Breaking: The Providence City Council is set to unveil a rent control proposal with a 4% limit on rent increases and significant exemptions, including for smaller landlords and new construction.

Here are all the details:

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/20/m...
Providence City Council proposes rent control with 4% limit on annual rent increases - The Boston Globe
The rent stabilization ordinance, which would exempt thousands of units, drew immediate opposition from the mayor
www.bostonglobe.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
fitzprov.bsky.social
‘This isn’t theoretical for me anymore’: R.I. gubernatorial candidate Aaron Guckian's perspective on the need for better mental health and addiction recovering services in Rhode Island stems from personal experience
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/20/m...
‘This isn’t theoretical for me anymore’: R.I. gubernatorial candidate discusses his struggles with addiction, mental health - The Boston Globe
Aaron Guckian’s perspective on the need for better mental health and addiction recovering services in Rhode Island stems from personal experience.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:44 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
Breaking: The Providence City Council is set to unveil a rent control proposal with a 4% limit on rent increases and significant exemptions, including for smaller landlords and new construction.

Here are all the details:

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/20/m...
Providence City Council proposes rent control with 4% limit on annual rent increases - The Boston Globe
The rent stabilization ordinance, which would exempt thousands of units, drew immediate opposition from the mayor
www.bostonglobe.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
fitzprov.bsky.social
RI Governor McKee’s proposed budget calls for millionaires tax and line-item veto. McKee is proposing a budget of $14.9b, an increase of $522.6m, as the state grapples with Trump administration funding cuts and policy changes. -- With @stephmachado.bsky.social
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/15/m...
R.I. Governor McKee’s proposed budget calls for millionaires tax and line-item veto - The Boston Globe
McKee is proposing a budget of $14.9 billion, an increase of $522.6 million, as the state grapples with Trump administration funding cuts and policy changes.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
alexagagosz.bsky.social
BREAKING: A newly released video shows the Brown University gunman fleeing campus.

The video was captured on a university shuttle van.

@bostonglobe.com @globeri.bsky.social

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/14/m...
New video shows Brown University shooter fleeing campus through residential neighborhood - The Boston Globe
The shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, was found dead days after the shooting from a self-inflicted gun wound.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:35 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
NEW: Most Rhode Island colleges do not arm their campus officers. Should they?

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/14/m...
Most Rhode Island colleges do not arm their campus officers. Should they? - The Boston Globe
State officials are discussing arming police at public colleges after a shooting at Brown University last month.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
amandamilkovits.bsky.social
Judge reverses police panel’s decision to reinstate R.I. sergeant who assaulted handcuffed man www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/14/m...
Judge reverses police panel’s decision to reinstate R.I. sergeant who assaulted handcuffed man - The Boston Globe
Providence Police Sergeant Joseph Hanley has been suspended since the 2020 incident.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:21 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
One of the special guests at Gov. McKee’s State of the State is Chris Richard, a plumbing and pipefitting teacher we featured in this 2024 @globeri.bsky.social + @osmedia.bsky.social story about the growth of career and tech education in RI: www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/07/m...
January 14, 2026 at 12:40 AM
stephmachado.bsky.social
Gov. McKee says his budget proposal will roll back the 2-cent gas tax increase passed by lawmakers last year
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/13/m...
In State of the State speech, R.I. governor outlines ‘Affordability for All’ agenda - The Boston Globe
Governor Dan McKee calls for cutting taxes on Social Security benefits and gasoline, but does not mention plans for a millionaires tax.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:15 AM
stephmachado.bsky.social
In his State of the State address, Gov. Dan McKee details tax cuts in his "affordability for all" agenda, but does not mention in prepared remarks the new surtax on millionaires he plans to introduce in his budget on Thursday
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/13/m...
In State of the State speech, R.I. governor outlines ‘Affordability for All’ agenda - The Boston Globe
Governor Dan McKee calls for cutting taxes on Social Security benefits and gasoline, but does not mention plans for a millionaires tax.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:09 AM
stephmachado.bsky.social
He helped find the Brown University shooter. Will John the Redditor be rewarded?
w/ @alexagagosz.bsky.social
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/12/m...
He helped find the Brown University shooter. Will John from Reddit be rewarded? - The Boston Globe
The FBI has declined to say whether the reward will be issued. Brown officials have kept details private. And while John himself has remained elusive, community members say he deserves more than prais...
www.bostonglobe.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
alexagagosz.bsky.social
NEW: After a mass shooting, should schools like Brown University demolish the buildings where the violence took place?

My latest, via @bostonglobe.com w/ @shannonlarson.bsky.social Travis Anderson and @camilo-fonseca.bsky.social

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/09/m...
After a mass shooting, should schools like Brown University demolish the site of violence? - The Boston Globe
Schools that experience deadly mass shootings face a wrenching decision over what to do about the scene of the violence, whether to preserve it as a memorial, renovate or alter it, or demolish it alto...
www.bostonglobe.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:08 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
From this morning's Rhode Map: What should happen to the Crook Point Bascule Bridge, which has been stuck in this position for the last 50 years?
What’s more stuck: Providence schools or the Crook Point bridge? - The Boston Globe
Returning the city’s schools to local control is one of the high-profile requests Mayor Brett Smiley announced Wednesday, along with doing ... something ... with the Crook Point Bascule Bridge.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:56 PM
stephmachado.bsky.social
NEW: Gov. Dan McKee says he's likely to put a new income tax on those who earn more than a million dollars a year in his budget next week.

He opposed "tax the rich" proposals in the past, but says he's on board now

w/ @fitzprov.bsky.social
R.I. governor likely to propose millionaires tax amid Trump cuts - The Boston Globe
Governor Daniel McKee said he plans to propose eliminating state income tax on Social Security benefits, covering RIPTA’s deficit, and pursuing an economic development bond.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
alexagagosz.bsky.social
My latest: AI-generated images of the Brown University shooter across social media complicated the investigation.

Law enforcement officials and AI experts say this flood of digital “slop” is no longer a fringe problem.

@bostonglobe.com @globeri.bsky.social

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/07/m...
How AI-generated images complicated the Brown shooting investigation - The Boston Globe
False claims about the shooter were amplified online by bots, elected officials, influencers, and even prominent business leaders.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM
stephmachado.bsky.social
After backlash and a lawsuit, most of the State House rotunda will be open to the public at next week’s State of the State address, though the second floor will not

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/07/m...
R.I. Governor McKee restores some public access to the rotunda for State of the State address, after backlash - The Boston Globe
The ACLU filed a lawsuit over McKee’s decision to block protesters from the State House rotunda during last year’s speech
www.bostonglobe.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Steph Machado
fitzprov.bsky.social
🎙️What to expect from the RI General Assembly in 2026. On #RIReport podcast, @globeri.bsky.social's @danmcgowan.bsky.social and @stephmachado.bsky.social talk about federal funding cuts, imperiled hospitals, and whether House Speaker Shekarchi will run for governor
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/06/m...
What to expect from the R.I. General Assembly in 2026 - The Boston Globe
On the R.I. Report podcast, the Globe’s Dan McGowan and Steph Machado talk about federal funding cuts, imperiled hospitals, and whether House Speaker Shekarchi will run for governor.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:51 PM