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.

"PROVIDENCE — Kristine Bouthillier of West Warwick does not want to be in the spotlight. She just wants her son’s life to return to the way it used to be.

She knows that is impossible. So instead, Bouthillier was standing at a podium in Senate Judiciary room 313 at the Rhode Island State House on May 25. She told her listeners about the night in the winter of 2022 when her then 17-year-old son, Kevin MacDonald, and his best friend Matt Dennison, also 17, were hit by an alleged drunken driver on Route 102 in Exeter while returning from a hockey game and going to another one...

...One Bill, sponsored by Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, a Coventry Democrat, would extend the limit on prior offenses that police take into consideration when charging an impaired driver with a more serious repeat offense from five to 10 years. Companion legislation is sponsored in the House by Rep. Patricia Serpa, a West Warwick Democrat." Read the full story by Christopher Shea at Rhode Island Current

Images and Story by Stephen Elmasian, Courtesy of RI State Senator David Tikoian
"A nice gathering of people assembled around Armenian Heritage Park this morning under a bright sunny sky to honor those that first arrived here in Rhode Island and especially the old mill section of Providence's Smith Hill.

Reverend Father Kapriel Nazarian and Arch Priest Gomidas Baghsarian, both of Sts. Vartanantz Church, provided the spiritual guidance and Joanne Mouradjian sang the appropriate songs. The Homenetmen scouts served as the honor guard and sang "Mer Hairenik". State Senators David Tikoian and Leonidas Raptakis took turns remembering the significance of events such as these on Memorial Day and all year long.

Sincerest appreciation to Martha Aramian who had this foresight (and used her personal resources) to have this monument remain a tribute to those who were so very challenged. Some went back to fight with the French as Gamavors (Volunteers). Many sent their first born to fight in World War 2. This was their new Armenia. Their children went on to become doctors and lawyers, engineers and teachers, judges and politicians. They were law-abiding citizens, thrilled to have a second chance at life.

As we face another ethnic cleansing today in Artsakh, how many of these poor people who have been under an illegal blockade since before Christmas would go on some day to greatness. We may never know. They came from Palou and Sepastia, from Kharpet and Dickrangert, from Trebizond on the Black Sea and Smyrna on the Mediterranean. The Aramian, Ragan and Micolucci families ask for your prayers for their gravely ill dear cousin Dianne Apkarian, sister of Cheryl who usually rings the bell after each name is read. We read all of the names that appear here. These women and men are the reason many of us even exist.  Stop by the next time you are in the area and read the names on the granite stones. These people, many of whom marched through the Syrian Desert, leaving their newborns and sick and elderly behind, put down a strong foundation for us to build on.

Also present was the honorable Aram Garabedian, Smith Hill native, who has championed our causes throughout his entire life. Paul Bedrosian served as the sound technician. Refreshments followed nearby in the Taco Bell parking lot." Article by and thanks to, Steve Elmasian, Men's Club of Sts. Vartanantz Church

The Providence Journal (February 8, 2023): "Raptakis and Mezera both said the benefits of linking the increases to inflation would be that businesses paying the minimum wage would know what to expect each year and legislators could stop arguing over it and move on to other topics. Raptakis said fellow legislators have previously said they would consider linking the minimum wage to inflation if it hits $15 an hour. Now that it is set to do that by 2025, he is hoping to get more traction." Read the full article at this link.

“Drunk drivers, especially repeat offenders and especially those whose irresponsible actions cause harm to others, should not be on the road, period,” said Senator Raptakis. “I don’t care how remorseful they seem when they appear before a judge. The punishment for this type of reckless disregard for the welfare of others needs to be much tougher. Until it is, drunks are going to keep getting behind the wheel and causing mayhem on our roads will continue.” To read the complete article click/tap here. The original press release was by Andrew Caruolo, Publicist