2025 -- H 6415

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LC002837

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING ITS DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO RHODE ISLAND'S COMMUNITY

NEWSPAPERS FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS AS OUR LOCAL WATCHDOGS AND

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Hopkins, Fascia, Santucci, Paplauskas, Chippendale,
McGaw, Shallcross Smith, Tanzi, Ajello, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: June 12, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Community newspapers in the United States have a long and storied history

of keeping residents informed and holding the government accountable; and

     WHEREAS, Just as national newspapers investigate and report on federal or state

matters, community newspapers serve as watchdogs for local government, reporting on city and

town council meetings, zoning decisions, school board developments, and other civic matters;

and

     WHEREAS, Local newspapers often showcase local events, profiles of residents, and

area-specific issues, fostering community engagement and awareness; and

     WHEREAS, The first of America’s community newspapers was established on

September 25, 1690, with the publication of “Publick Occurrences: Both Foreign and Domestic”

by Benjamin Harris; and

     WHEREAS, Since that time, thousands of community newspapers have been established,

and today over 150,000,000 people are informed, educated, and entertained by a community

newspaper every week; and

     WHEREAS, The oldest continuous community news publication in Rhode Island is The

Warren Times-Gazette, which was established in 1826; and

     WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, there are currently twenty-five community newspapers in

circulation today, whose value continues to grow as they seek new ways to serve their readers and

strengthen their communities; and

     WHEREAS, These newspapers serve communities across Rhode Island, and include the

Warren Times-Gazette (established in 1826), Bristol Phoenix (established in 1837), East

Providence Post (established in 1837), Newport Daily News (established in 1846), Portsmouth

Times (established in 1852), East Greenwich Pendulum (established in 1854), Narragansett

Times (established in 1858), Pawtucket Times (established in 1885), Standard Times of North

Kingstown (established in 1888), Kent County Times (established in 1892), Woonsocket Call

(established in 1892), Westerly Sun (established in 1893), Johnston Sunrise (established in 1905),

Cranston Herald (established in 1922), Warwick Beacon (established in 1953), Barrington Times

(established in 1958), Sakonnet Times (established in 1967), Newport This Week (established in

1972), Jamestown Press (established in 1989), The Valley Breeze – Cumberland, Lincoln Edition

(established in 1996), The Valley Breeze and Observer (established in 1996), The Independent

(established in 1997), The Valley Breeze (established in 1999), The North Providence Breeze

(established in 2006), and The Valley Breeze – Pawtucket Edition (established in 2009); and

     WHEREAS, These community newspapers continue to inform and inspire readers and tie

communities together; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

extend its deepest gratitude to our community newspapers for their tireless efforts as our local

watchdogs and sources of information; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the publishers of each of the community

newspapers of Rhode Island.

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LC002837

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