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Tim White

@timwhiteri.bsky.social

1K followers 86 following 249 posts

Investigative reporter for the CBS affiliate in Providence, R.I. | Co-author of the organized crime book “The Last Good Heist.” | Adjunct professor of media law at Roger Williams University

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Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 21h

JUST IN: In a blow to the hospitality industry in RI, the US Conference of Mayors has decided not to host its annual meeting in Providence. The event was to be hosted at the RI Convention Center and was expected to draw hundreds to the region in June. www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

US Conference of Mayors pulls 2027 meeting out of Providence

The U.S. Conference of Mayors annual conference was expected to draw hundreds of people to Providence in June.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 21h

NEW: Anthony “Spucky” Spagnolo, a longtime NE mobster who was in the room for a notorious 1989 mob induction ceremony secretly recorded by the FBI, has died. Spagnolo was part of a crew that attempted to wrest control from Providence in the 80s. www.wpri.com/target-12/in...

Mobster at infamous induction ceremony dies at 84

Mobster Anthony “Spucky” Spagnolo was part of a Boston crew that tried to snatch power from Providence during a tumultuous time for the mob.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

NEW: Two more people have been arrested in connection with a nuisance case in the affluent Alpine Estates neighborhood in Cranston. www.wpri.com/target-12/mo...

More arrests made in Cranston’s Alpine Estates ‘nuisance’ house

Two men were charged with animal cruelty, a third was also arrested on drug-related charges after multiple complaints from neighbors.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a letter to Secretary of State Gregg Amore demanding that his office preserve election records, including those from the 2024 election, as a key deadline looms. www.wpri.com/target-12/do...

DOJ demands Amore preserve 2024 election records amid voter roll fight

The letter from the DOJ was sent on the eve of a 22-month deadline where states can discard voting records under federal law.

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

TONIGHT: @wpri12.bsky.social will have full coverage of the RI primary results as soon as the polls close At 8p we will kick off our streaming special on our 12+ TV app, YouTube, our website and everywhere else Then at 9:30p we will go on the air on WPRI 12 Tune in! www.wpri.com/news/electio...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

NEW: The RI Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against Sen. Pres. Val Lawson. The complaint accused Lawson, also a teacher's union president, of voting on legislation benefiting labor. w/ @tednesi.bsky.social www.wpri.com/target-12/et...

Ethics complaint against RI Senate president over teacher’s union role dismissed

A complaint alleging RI Sen. Pres. Val Lawson violated the state’s code of ethics was dismissed on Tuesday.

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

12 NEWS/EMERSON POLL: Gov McKee gained 10 points this summer while Helena Foulkes gained 5, tightening Dem Gov primary to a 15-pt race Undecideds poised to break heavily for Foulkes - asked to choose, her lead widens to 61%-39% Full Gov results here www.wpri.com/news/electio...

12 News/Emerson Poll: McKee gains on Foulkes but still trails by double-digits

Foulkes now holds a 15-point lead over McKee, down from a 20-point lead in the previous 12 News/Emerson poll released in May.

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

BREAKING: Brown President Christina Paxson just announced she will step down at the end of the upcoming school year Her decision to leave a year early will now trigger a transition in one of RI's most high-profile leadership positions www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Brown U. President Christina Paxson will step down in 2027

Her 15-year tenure was marked by a construction and research boom but also a traumatic shooting on campus.

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

TARGET 12: Four JNC members who provided key votes Tuesday to advance Shekarchi's judgeship bid have given him $30,000+ in campaign donations One of the four says he saw no reason to disclose or recuse John Marion and Steve Frias among those crying foul www.wpri.com/target-12/sh...

Shekarchi got over $30,000 from commission members who voted for his judge candidacy

The head of a good-government group said failing to disclose the donations “reflects a profound lack of judgement” by the four JNC members.

Reposted by Tim White

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

NEW: A dual-language charter school has filed a federal lawsuit against some of the state’s most powerful elected officials, alleging they worked in concert with teachers unions during an election year to unfairly block the school’s opening www.wpri.com/target-12/ch...

Charter school sues McKee, RI General Assembly leaders over blocking its opening

The federal lawsuit alleges politics drove the plan to block the charter school from opening.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

BREAKING: After 20 years on the lam, sex assault fugitive Ronald Fischer is now back in Rhode Island. He will be processed at the ACI and expected to be in court early next week. Background: www.wpri.com/target-12/mo...

‘Most Wanted’ fugitive Ronald Fischer likely to return to RI Friday

Ronald Fischer could appear in a Rhode Island courtroom as soon as early next week.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

NEW: Fugitive Ronald Fischer is expected to be picked up in NYC Friday and returned to RI, per Manhattan DA spokesperson. Fischer vanished 20 years ago days before being convicted of sexual assault. www.wpri.com/target-12/mo...

‘Most Wanted’ fugitive Ronald Fischer likely to return to RI Friday

Ronald Fischer could appear in a Rhode Island courtroom as soon as early next week.

Reposted by Tim White

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

TARGET 12: Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins will return an antique car he was accused of stealing under a settlement that resolves part of a yearslong dispute with businessman Davide Broccoli www.wpri.com/target-12/ma...

Mayor Ken Hopkins to return antique sports car he was accused of stealing

Taxpayer-funded legal battles tied to the dispute remain active despite the agreement.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

A 9-month legal battle over the release of the Mt. Hope Bridge inspection report raises questions about whether RITBA improperly shielded the document for decades. RITBA has said they have applied a TSA policy to reports of all its bridges since 2009. www.wpri.com/target-12/fe...

Feds: Mount Hope Bridge inspection report wasn’t sensitive after all

The Turnpike and Bridge Authority says it has deemed safety inspection reports too sensitive to release since 2009. The TSA disagreed.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

NEW: The "Taylor Swift tax" went into effect today. Here's how many properties it could impact... including what the pop star my have to pay come September. www.wpri.com/target-12/ta...

‘Taylor Swift tax’ goes into effect in Rhode Island. Here’s how many could pay

The owners of more than 8,000 properties were notified they may be subject to a new tax on certain second homes.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

TARGET 12: The state's stockpile of specialty hose to fight wildfires is in rough shape. But help is on the way. A little-known program loans out 35 miles of the hose to local fire departments. www.wpri.com/target-12/fa...

‘Fast-moving fires’: A $50K lifeline for Rhode Island’s aging wildfire hoses

The state loans out specialty hoses to combat wildland fires to local departments. But much of the stockpile has seen better days.

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Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

NEW: One of RI's most prominent CEOs will step down Care New England chief Dr. Michael Wagner tells me he'll hand off to a new CEO early next year, after 4+ years leading the state's No. 2 hospital group (but will stay on as board chairman) Our interview www.wpri.com/business-new...

Care New England CEO Wagner to retire, join board

The head of the state’s No. 2 hospital group said the time was right to begin a leadership transition.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

NEW: Dino Guilmette, seen on ‘Real Housewives of RI,’ rejects plea deal in drug case. His lawyer is arguing the evidence against Guilmette was gathered unlawfully. www.wpri.com/target-12/di...

Dino Guilmette, seen on ‘Real Housewives of RI,’ rejects plea deal in drug case

Guilmette is facing 88 years behind bars and rejected an offer of five years of probation.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

NEW: The mom of a 15-year-old girl killed in a stairway collapse last year at the Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The suit alleges the club “knew or should have known” the stairs were unsafe. www.wpri.com/target-12/mo...

Mom of teen killed in stairway collapse sues Portuguese American club in Portsmouth

This is the second lawsuit against the club following the deadly incident one year ago this month.

Reposted by Tim White

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Only @wpri12.bsky.social was in court when the man accused of throwing a trash can at a motorcyclist on Federal Hill was arraigned on 1 count of felony assault. Robert Maggiacomo's attorney says there will be a "substantial defense." www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

NEW: Bristol bristles at RIPTA's request for yet another delay in the Mt. Hope Bridge inspection report lawsuit. The saga began with a Target 12 investigation that revealed the agency was refusing to release the report on the nearly century-old span. www.wpri.com/target-12/br...

Bristol objects as RITBA seeks more time in Mount Hope Bridge inspection report lawsuit

Bristol is objected to a request by RITBA for another delay in a lawsuit over the inspection report of the Mount Hope Bridge.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

NEW: The judge overseeing the state’s Washington Bridge lawsuit has tapped a special master to resolve ongoing disputes over access to documents, including internal emails at the governor’s office. www.wpri.com/target-12/sp...

Special master appointed in Washington Bridge lawsuit amid fight over McKee, RIDOT emails

Nearly one million pages of documents have been produced, but disputes linger over emails of top officials.

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

NEW: A Washington Bridge milestone - RI has now spent $200M addressing the bridge failure (and counting) RIDOT chief says work on new bridge is "going great" - still slated to open late 2028 Lawmakers are moving to audit RIDOT over next 6 months www.wpri.com/traffic/i-19...

Washington Bridge spending passes $200 million as construction ramps up

RIDOT’s interim director says work on building a new bridge is “going great” and “couldn’t go an better.”

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

McKee is shrugging off his campaign's "sex yes" ad snafu, telling me today, "I don't think it's a big deal ... I'm glad we're still talking about the ad" Foulkes senior adviser slams McKee team, saying mistake "shows what a clown show his campaign is" www.wpri.com/news/electio...

McKee campaign edits TV ad to remove sex, drug jokes

The governor’s team said the text of an on-screen graphic “slipped through review.”

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

NEW: An unexpected theme of the first McKee reelection TV ad? Sex positivity Campaign just resent the spot to fix jokes on a gfx and bought another week of TV time - but stands by attacks Foulkes spox calls McKee campaign "not ready for prime time" www.wpri.com/news/electio...

McKee campaign edits TV ad to remove sex, drug jokes

The governor’s team said the text of an on-screen graphic “slipped through review.”

Reposted by Tim White

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

NEW: The R.I. Supreme Court has denied Providence's petition to exclude a high-ranking Cranston police officer from sitting on a police misconduct board when the panel hears the case of a controversial police officer for the *second* time in years. www.wpri.com/target-12/ri... @wpri12.bsky.social

RI Supreme Court declines to review Sgt. Hanley case

The R.I. Supreme Court has declined to review a lower court’s ruling related to a controversial police officer’s fight to keep his job.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

NEW: A Newport man is accused of inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl on a Breeze Airways flight from Tampa to TF Green in November. James Brugman is facing two federal charges. The victim says he also showed her explicit content on the flight. www.wpri.com/target-12/ne...

Newport man accused of touching teen on flight from Tampa to Rhode Island

James Brugman is facing two federal charges that he inappropriately touched a 16-year-old girl while flying into T.F. Green.

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Reposted by Tim White

WPRI 12 @wpri12.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Brown Health CEO John Fernandez and Care New England CEO Dr. Michael Wagner joined Newsmakers this week to talk about Rhode Island's healthcare crisis. Watch on FOX Providence, WPRI 12+, and online: www.wpri.com/news/newsmakers @timwhiteri.bsky.social @tednesi.bsky.social

Reposted by Tim White

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

NEW: Cranston firefighters have exceeded their overtime budgets by an average of $1.5 million annually over the past decade, a longstanding pattern that is helping fuel the city’s worsening fiscal picture. w/ @timwhiteri.bsky.social www.wpri.com/target-12/cr...

Cranston fire overtime blows past budgets year after year

The Fire Department overtime budget is poised to increase 40% amid Cranston’s financial woes.

Reposted by Tim White

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

NEW: Cranston’s budget fight is escalating. Mayor Ken Hopkins now wants to eliminate senior services and cut new school funding to bring a proposed tax hike down to 4%. Opponents say the city’s seniors are being used as leverage www.wpri.com/target-12/cr...

Cranston mayor proposes axing senior services to lower tax hike

The revised budget proposal comes after the City Council rejected a 7.4% tax hike last month.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

An Ethics Complaint has been filed in former-Speaker Joe Shekarchi's bid to become a state Supreme Court justice. @rwulaw.bsky.social Prof. @mjyelnosky.bsky.social argues it would violate the state's revolving-door law. www.wpri.com/target-12/la...

Law professor files ethics complaint against Shekarchi over RI Supreme Court application

RWU professor Michael Yelnosky argues Shekarchi’s application to the state’s highest court would violated the Revolving Door law.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

NEW: RI woman convicted in fraud case of falsely claiming to be U.S. Marine with cancer, is denied early release from prison. Sarah Cavanaugh failed to convince Judge John McConnell that she had "extraordinary and compelling" reasons for release. www.wpri.com/target-12/st...

‘Stolen valor’ fraudster denied early prison release in RI

Sarah Jane Cavanaugh claimed she had been assaulted in prison. She is slated to be released in August.

Reposted by Tim White

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

NEW: Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins says he's going back to the drawing board after the City Council rejected his proposed budget last night. The mayor spoke with @katewilkinson.bsky.social from Texas where he's attending a conference www.wpri.com/news/cransto...

Cranston mayor vows new plan after council shoots down budget

Mayor Ken Hopkins said “everything is on the table’ after the council rejected his plan that included a 7.4% tax hike.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

UPDATE: @whitehouse.senate.gov slams Trump DOJ move to keep Calenda effectively serving as RI's US attorney, saying other options with bipartisan Senate support were ignored Administration "is plainly attempting an end run around the law," Whitehouse argues. www.wpri.com/target-12/fe...

Federal court declines to appoint new US Attorney in RI; Calenda stays in charge

The Trump administration has moved to keep its pick in place to continue as Rhode Island’s top federal prosecutor.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

NEW: U.S. District Court declines to tap a new interim top federal prosecutor in RI, which means there is no U.S. Attorney here right now. Charles "Chas" Calenda says he's still in charge. www.wpri.com/target-12/fe...

Federal court declines to appoint new US Attorney in RI; Calenda stays in charge

The Trump administration has moved to keep its pick in place to continue as Rhode Island’s top federal prosecutor.

Reposted by Tim White

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Days after Mayor Brett Smiley vetoed the City Council's rent control ordinance, State Rep. David Morales (who is running for mayor) joined supporters of the measure and urged six councilmembers who voted against it to change their votes. www.wpri.com/news/electio... @wpri12.bsky.social

Morales slams Smiley over rent control veto, presses councilors to flip votes

Providence mayoral candidate Rep. David Morales took aim at Mayor Brett Smiley’s veto of the City Council’s rent stabilization ordinance.

Reposted by Tim White

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

NEW: Cranston’s push to override the state’s 4% tax cap is moving forward without backing from the city’s own legislative delegation, leading House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale of Foster to step in as the bill’s sponsor www.wpri.com/target-12/cr...

Cranston’s proposed 7% tax hike sponsored by out-of-town lawmaker

Mayor Ken Hopkins turned to House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale to sponsor a 7.4% tax hike proposal.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

NEW: Veteran RI Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Lanphear has sent a letter to the governor announcing he is retiring. Lanphear oversaw the busy land-use calendar launched by Speaker Shekarchi. This will be yet another judgeship for McKee to pick. www.wpri.com/news/politic...

Veteran RI Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Lanphear to retire

Lanphear took control of the nascent land-use calendar to speed up disputes that had lingered for years.

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

NEW: RI federal judge John McConnell dealt truckers another loss in legal fight over tolls. The American Trucking Associations sought millions in legal fees for their 2018 lawsuit, but McConnell found their argument that they had "prevailed" dubious. www.wpri.com/target-12/ri...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

NEW: A Boston police officer charged with manslaughter was once a patrolman in Providence. www.wpri.com/target-12/bo...

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Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

NEW: Vegan cheese, Italian sneakers and a $55 million deal gone sideways... Inside the infamous Philly trip now at the center of an ethics trial in Rhode Island 👇 w/ @timwhiteri.bsky.social www.wpri.com/target-12/fr...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Latest from RI State Police: -269 spinouts -25 accidents -40 travel ban citations CT lifting its travel ban presented challenge for troopers, with tractor trailers coming into the state. Truck stop on 102 in Exeter is packed. www.wpri.com/weather/wint...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Providence has towed 316 cars and issued 1,273 tickets. With more to come. www.wpri.com/weather/wint...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Here is the punishment if you don't adhere to RI's travel ban. RI State Police responded to 45 disabled vehicles on highways as of 8:15 a.m. www.wpri.com/news/heres-w...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

NEW: Elderly homeless mother was trapped alive in her car with her dead son weeks before their bodies were discovered outside Miriam Hospital. She faced single-digit temperatures after a major snowstorm blanketed Providence with 20 inches of snow. www.wpri.com/news/mother-...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

NEW: Hockey rink shooter Robert Dorgan was the father of Kevin Colantonio, who was convicted of setting fire to a predominantly Black church in RI in 2024. Sources tell Target 12 Colantonio was influenced by Dorgan's far-right ideology. w/ @elisherman.bsky.social www.wpri.com/target-12/pa...

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

UPDATE: Texas bankruptcy judge backs RI's new plan for Roger Williams/Fatima, says they were on her mind as she watched TV coverage of Brown shooting "It just made me hurt extra, thinking, what if they need these hospitals?" & Centurion CEO sounds upbeat www.wpri.com/business-new...

Reposted by Tim White

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

JUST IN: Significant developments on the stalled sale of Roger Williams & Fatima hospitals Centurion is getting more time to close its deal, and top lawmakers are introducing the bill for an $18M loan guarantee *But* RI is also seeking alternative buyers www.wpri.com/business-new...

Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

NEW: Brown University has tapped Bill Bratton's firm Teneo to conduct an after-action review and campus security assessment following the Dec. 13 shootings. www.wpri.com/target-12/br...

Reposted by Tim White

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

STORY: The Providence City Council is introducing an ordinance this week that would put a 4% limit on annual rent hikes for some units across the city. It's a controversial topic that's been widely discussed in recent years but never implemented. www.wpri.com/news/provide... @wpri12.bsky.social