1. The Thompson Middle School Crisis & District Oversight

• The Platform of Transparency: Cullen was elected to the School Committee on a platform of bringing fresh energy, rigorous questioning, and balancing what she termed an "imbalance in decision-making" between the administration and the committee.

• The 5th-Grade Pivot: How does she view the committee’s recent reversal keeping the 5th grade at Thompson Middle School? This situation highlights her broader campaign push for a more integrated, proactive strategic planning process rather than reactionary shuffling of student populations.

• The Facility Reality: As a fourth-generation Newporter whose son attended Thompson, Cullen has a deep personal connection to the district's footprint. With the Rhode Island School Building Authority signaling that a new middle school is the ultimate long-term necessity, what is her realistic timeline for addressing TMS’s structural future?

2. The Regionalization Roadblock & Economic Realities

• The Cost of Going it Alone: Cullen has consistently advocated for getting the School Committee and the City Council on the exact same page financially. With regionalization dead in the water for the November 2026 cycle and the joint advisory commission (AIAC) stalled, how does Newport shoulder the independent bond burdens of the new Rogers High School while staring down a future middle school build?

• An Integrated Vision for Aquidneck Island: Cullen has long championed unconventional, localized approaches to education—specifically integrating STEAM initiatives with Newport’s local architecture, maritime assets, and the Blue Economy. How can the district implement these forward-thinking vocational pathways (like reviving marine tech) if it remains siloed from Middletown and constrained by duplicate administrative costs?

3. Committee vs. Administration Friction: School Access & Safety

• The "Fundamental Disagreement" over Security: Cullen recently brought internal administrative tension into the public eye following a sharp disagreement at an April meeting regarding security protocols at the new Rogers High School.

• The Core Issue: Cullen characterized a secondary entrance layout as a design flaw and argued that School Committee members face "artificial barriers" when trying to perform on-site oversight, noting she was met with a chilly reception by staff despite having an appointment. She proposed badges/technology for committee members to ease access.

• The Pushback: The proposal drew significant pushback from Chair James Dring and other members over liability, safety protocols, and proper channels (with assertions that all visits should clear the Superintendent's office first).

• Oversight vs. Boundary Lines: Cullen points directly to the independent safety report issued by former State Police Col. Steven O’Donnell, arguing that improved communication and coordination are required to fix long-ignored systemic failures. This clash underscores her broader critique that the committee's oversight of the superintendent has been lax for years.

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Guest: Lynne Tungett, Publisher & Editor, Newport This Week

1. The Status of Thompson Middle School (TMS)

• The Background: Broad community and administrative discussions have surrounded the structural and academic future of Thompson Middle School.

• The 5th-Grade Pivot: The Newport School Committee recently reversed a controversial January decision to move 5th graders back to Pell Elementary School. The reversal keeps the 5th grade at Thompson for the 2026–2027 academic year, highlightening deep structural, enrollment, and behavioral debates over how to utilize the district's footprints.

• The Long-Term Capital Question: Rhode Island School Building Authority officials have previously noted that while significant TMS renovations occurred roughly 20 years ago, a completely new middle school will eventually be needed.

2. The Tie-In to Newport-Middletown Regionalization

• The Failed 2022 Merger: In November 2022, Middletown voters overwhelmingly approved a unified school district proposal, but the measure failed because Newport voters rejected it by a narrow margin of roughly 400 votes.

• The Cost of Disunity: Had regionalization passed, the state's School Building Authority would have reimbursed up to 80% of construction costs for a new middle school. Without a unified district, Newport faces a steep financial climb for future capital improvements while bearing the independent bond burden of the new Rogers High School project.

• Stalled Progress in 2026: Despite the formation of a joint advisory commission (the AIAC) earlier this year to restart conversations, the committee has sat dormant and missed critical formatting deadlines. Both Newport and Middletown are currently moving forward with independent school budgets for the upcoming year, making a regionalization question on the November 2026 ballot highly unlikely.

• Leadership Limbo: The lack of structural clarity on regionalization continues to impact day-to-day operations, including Newport's decision to hire an interim superintendent rather than a permanent replacement ahead of Supt. Colleen Burns Jermain's retirement in June.

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Cranston Police Chief Winquist on Department Intercepting Potential Would-be Violent Actor

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Dr. Philip Chan joins the show to discuss the recent, major shifting of gears regarding Kratom in Rhode Island. Following years of a strict ban, the state has officially transitioned from prohibition to strict regulation under the Rhode Island Kratom Act. Dr. Chan breaks down what this means for public health, safety, and local business enforcement.

Key Takeaways & Discussion Points

• The Shift from Ban to Regulation: After being classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in RI, Kratom is now legal to sell and manufacture under strict regulatory guardrails to target the deadly opioid crisis and harm reduction.

• Age Restrictions & Retail Safeguards: Under the new law, you must be 21 or older to purchase Kratom products. Furthermore, products cannot be left on open shelves; they must be kept securely behind the sales counter.

• Public Health Concerns: Dr. Chan and health experts emphasize that while some use Kratom for pain management or opioid withdrawal, it is not FDA-approved. Potential risks discussed include dependency, addiction, liver damage, and seizures.

• Targeting Adulteration & Synthetics: A major pillar of the new enforcement is product safety. The law strictly bans highly potent synthetic forms of the drug and requires precise labeling, packaging standards, and heavy lab-testing to ensure products aren't laced with dangerous non-kratom contaminants.

• Licensing & Taxation: Oversight is a joint effort. RIDOH is actively managing the $1,000 retail/distribution licensing and retailer training, while the RI Division of Taxation enforces a new 15% wholesale excise tax.

Resources Mentioned

• For businesses looking to apply for retail or distribution permits, visit the Rhode Island Department of Health Kratom Licensing Portal.

• To learn more about the tax structures and rules, review the RI Division of Taxation Kratom Advisory.

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The Core Crisis & The 4% Tax Cap

• The Deficit: Cranston is facing a structural deficit of approximately $10 million. The City General Fund reserve recently fell from 8.2% to 5.3%, drawing sharp warnings from Rhode Island Auditor General David Bergantino.

• The First Rejection: On April 29, 2026, the City Council unanimously rejected Mayor Ken Hopkins’ original $352 million budget plan, which called for a 7.4% tax levy increase to cover the gap. Going above the state-mandated 4% cap would require the council to petition the RI General Assembly.

• The Revised Budget: Mayor Hopkins subsequently submitted a revised plan strictly adhering to the 4% tax levy cap. However, this has triggered heavy pushback due to steep cuts:

  • Complete suspension of operations at the Cranston Senior Center.

  • Level-funding for Cranston Public Schools.

  • Elimination of police transcriptionist and parks positions, and zero administrative raises.

Councilor Frank Ritz's Position

Councilman Ritz (Ward 4) has positioned himself as an advocate for exhausted local corrective actions before taking drastic structural measures or looking outside city hall for help.

1. Opposing a State Budget Commission

When residents and local commentary floated the idea of bringing in a state-appointed budget commission to intervene in Cranston’s messy finances, Ritz joined fellow councilors in firmly rejecting it:

"I believe Cranston should carefully consider every option available to address the City's growing financial challenges, including the possibility of requesting state oversight if conditions continue to deteriorate. However, a state-appointed budget commission is a significant step that would reduce local control over financial decisions, and I do not believe the City has exhausted all local corrective measures at this point."

2. Focus on "In-House" Solutions & Compromise

• Ritz has backed the council’s push for collaborative, line-by-line reallocations rather than accepting the Mayor's slash-and-burn approach to senior services.

• The council recently maneuvered to pull together roughly $2 million in reallocated funds to split between restoring portions of the Senior Center budget and assisting the School Department.

What the Council is Looking at Next (Show Talking Points)

As the final June 1 deadline approaches, the council is pivoting from pure cuts to generating alternative local revenue:

• Fee Increases: Several municipal fee hikes have already been approved to drive immediate cash flow.

• Speed Cameras: Council leadership is floating the introduction of speed enforcement cameras in high-speed school zones (such as Garden City), which could yield an estimated $1 million to $2 million annually.

• Tiered Commercial Taxes: A proposal is being weighed to create a multi-tiered commercial property tax structure, allowing the city to protect small local businesses while leaning slightly more on larger commercial entities.

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hristian Winthrop of Newport Buzz joins us to break down the RITBA construction mess, the infamous "speedbumps" on the Pell Bridge, and why local commuters have finally reached a breaking point.

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Shane Picque The League of RI Businesses

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David Levesque: Co-founder of The League of RI Businesses (LORIB) and owner of the Brewed Awakenings coffee chain.

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Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate Xay Khamsyvoravong joins the show to react to John Loughlin’s Inspector General proposal. We discuss the necessity of independent oversight in Rhode Island and whether this plan offers a real solution for government accountability.

Key Discussion Points

• Xay’s Reaction: The candidate’s direct response to Loughlin’s proposal.

• Oversight Mechanics: Breaking down how an independent IG would function within the state's current structure.

• The Policy Gap: Where Xay agrees with the need for transparency and where his vision for the office differs.

• Campaign Impact: How the push for an IG is shaping the race for Lt. Governor.

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• The Revision: Hopkins breaks down his revised budget which adheres to the 4% state tax cap following the Council's pushback.

• Senior Center Impact: Explains the "painful" decision to suspend operations at the Cranston Senior Center to meet the lower tax levy.

• Blame & Accountability: Addresses the $10M shortfall, citing mismanagement by the former finance director and the need for "shared responsibility" between the city and schools.

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