"STATE HOUSE – Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis is praising today’s court ruling affirming the town’s condemnation of the pond that transfers ownership of Johnson’s Pond to the residents of Coventry. “This has been a long time coming and the residents of Johnson’s Pond and Coventry will no longer by harassed and victimized by the environmental terrorism that has devastated the pond and the community for too long.  Justice was truly served this morning and this ruling is a huge victory for everyone who has made wonderful and lasting memories on this beloved natural resource,” said Senator Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich). Senator Raptakis has been fighting for the property rights of residents who live on Johnson’s Pond and the environmental health of the pond for several years."

View the press release at: RI General Assembly

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI): "Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights - clears the Senate. LEOBOR sets the rules for police officers who are investigated for misconduct, including what information is and isn’t shareable during the disciplinary process. This bill also heads to McKee for a signature.

These are the proposed reforms:

• Expand the panel for a hearing to five members comprised of three randomly selected officers, an attorney who’s in good standing, and a retired judge who is appointed by the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s chief justice.
• Let police chiefs publicly comment on officers looking at disciplinary action, as well as release video evidence.
• Extend the length of an officer’s suspension.

Automatic Disaffiliation for Unaffiliated Primary Voters
...The third and final bill, which also passed the Senate, would allow unaffiliated voters who vote in a primary election to stay that way. If an unaffiliated voter casts a ballot in a primary, they automatically become affiliated with that party. They can disaffiliate by either updating their information online or filling out a form. This bill, introduced by state Rep. Patricia Serpa and state Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, would remove that hurdle." For the complete story by WPRI click/tap here.

"COVENTRY, RI (WPRI) — State lawmakers are standing firm in their commitment to support Coventry residents living along Johnson’s Pond... RI State Senator Leonidas Raptakis and Representative Thomas Noret have introduced legislation that would protect residents’ use of the pond for recreational purposes." To see and read more on this latest development - click/tap here.

Warkick Post: Coventry, RI "...Minutes before Superintendent Don Cowart withdrew his Coventry Schools restructure plan, RI State Senator Lou Raptakis suggested a study committee to examine the idea in depth. While he agreed with the decision to table the idea, Raptakis said, a community approach to gather information and input into what the benefits, cons, costs and work required to put the plan into effect would be is in order." ...More - Click/tap here.

"COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) — Coventry Superintendent Don Cowart has withdrawn his controversial proposal to reconfigure the district’s elementary schools..." "WJAR: Senator Reptakis suggested the town form a study commission." RI Stare Senator Lou Raptakis "I think the town council should be involved, the school committee should be involved, parents, teachers, teachers union." Click/tap on these links NBC10, CBS12, and ABC6 for the full story.