As a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has seen plenty of acts of deception by Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Those actions include using a private e-mail account for state business and being untruthful during his confirmation hearings.

PROVIDENCE — The General Assembly may meet again this year to complete its unfinished business, including passing a budget for fiscal 2018, but its results in the environmental sector to this point are somewhat lopsided.

PROVIDENCE — As the dust settles on the abrupt end to the 2017 General Assembly session, there are least a few developments to report from the session's final days.

As local bag bans gain momentum in Rhode Island, there is concern that a proposed statewide ban could wipe them out and eventually end bag bans for good.

PROVIDENCE — According to the Statehouse press office, this week will likely be the last before the General Assembly wraps up the 2017 session. Advocates and opponents of legislation, therefore, are urging public action on outstanding bills.

PROVIDENCE — Any effort to reinstate environmental programs and funds removed from the fiscal 2018 budget didn’t happen — publicly, at least — during an unusually short session June 22 to pass the spending bill in the House of Representatives.