News outlets recently noted the death in prison of one-time Patriarca Family crime boss Francis Salemme, better known in La Cosa Nostra circles as “Cadillac Frank.” One might think the nickname derived from a love of those high-end cars, but urban legend says otherwise, asserting that when he once worked at a Boston auto body […]
Opinion
Posted inCity & Government
Opinion – Rep. Alzate: The Black and Latino Caucus accomplished much for our communities
By Rep. Karen Alzate As a new legislative term begins, and my time as chairwoman comes to an end, I am reflecting on the work that the Rhode Island Black and Latino Caucus accomplished during this time. Becoming the chairperson of the caucus has been an honor of a lifetime and I am proud of […]
Posted inOpinion
Editorial Roundup: New England
Bangor Daily News. December 28, 2022. Editorial: Mainers gave us many reasons to be hopeful this year Over the course of the last year, we’ve written a lot about things that have gone wrong. Government failures. Natural disasters. Irresponsible campaign messaging. Policy squabbles between elected officials. Sometimes the many problems of the day can feel […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: School Regionalization – A Holiday Wish and Dream
My Christmas wish and New Year’s dream for school regionalization between Newport and Middletown are to establish a Regional School District containing a unified high school located in a central geographic area with a career technical center attached or adjacent. Suggestions as to how this can become a reality: FIRST: STOP current plans aimed at […]
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Opinion: We Need RISavers
AARP’s mission is to empower people to choose how we live as we age. Financial security is essential to that empowerment. That is why AARP fights so hard to keep Medicare costs down and to preserve Social Security, and to ensure that people have opportunities to save and prepare for their future. These days many […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion – Barbara VonVillas: Truth – Courage – Action
To the Editor: Truth – Courage – Action I confess to a longstanding frustration that began in 2014 after the failure of the first attempt at school regionalization which began in 2011. After 51 years of dedication to the education of students at all levels – with a high concentration on promoting personal and individual […]
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Opinion: One in three households can’t afford adequate food and our food banks need help
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s 2022 Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island is out and the results are cause for serious alarm and concern. The fact that one in three Rhode Island households cannot afford an adequate amount of food is a true wake-up call to the fact that too many of our […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor – Robert Power: Thank you to all those who supported me during my campaign
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Newport who voted for me in the recent election. Although I was not successful in my bid for school committee, it does not signal the end of my efforts to support the children of Newport. I will continue my involvement within the Newport […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: Thanks from Senator-elect Ujifusa
Thanks from Senator-elect Ujifusa I’d like to thank everyone who worked on my campaign and those who voted for me in the last election. It is an honor to represent State Senate District 11. During my campaign for state senator, I knocked on thousands of doors and heard about the issues that matter to people […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: Gregory Huet – 391 votes vs Bolan and Boatwright
The title defines one of the most critical issues to face Newport and Middletown in decades: School Regionalization. It also sheds light on the lack of transparency and conflict-of- interest issues that the leaders of the Newport School Committee failed to address as a matter of routine business. Nowhere was this more striking than at […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter – School Building Committee Chairs: We will not let you down!
These are exciting times for Newport Public Schools as we move forward with our school building projects and start to see the efforts of so many coming to fruition. The Pell Elementary School addition is complete and beautiful. Students and staff are already enjoying this amazing building a full year ahead of time. The School […]
Posted inColumns
Gerry Goldstein: Historical wrinkles on aging in office
If Joe Biden and Donald Trump agree on one thing, it’s that being an octogenarian doesn’t necessarily mean one can’t get the job done. That’s to be expected, since Biden turns 80 today and the newly declared Trump, should he win another term (Heaven forfend), would be 82 when he left office. Trump, in fact, […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter: Take my word for it – School Regionalization is not dead, it is just waiting for a remake
To the Editor: Take my word for it – School Regionalization is NOT dead. It is just waiting for a remake. What the public doesn’t know is that, way back in January-February, when Newport was beginning to have its financial shortfalls for the high school construction, Newport’s mayor was approached and asked to get the lay […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter: Robert Leary – They got away with it!
There has been a lot of talk since the election about how Becky Bolan and Louisa Boatwright (co-chairs of the Rogers building committee) knew since mid-October, before the election, that Rogers was $20 million over cost and there was not enough money to complete the project. This on top of the $14 million the city […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to The Editor: Let’s continue the regionalization conversation and do it the right way
In the aftermath of our recent election, we wanted to send a follow-up to our letter which was submitted on November 1st, urging our friends and neighbors to reject question 5 (“regionalization”). We are deeply grateful to the team of volunteers with whom we worked alongside. It was empowering to stand outside the polls […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: Xay for Mayor of Newport
I’m confident Xay Khamsyvoravong will be designated Mayor of Newport this Tuesday. Thanks to all City Council members for their hard work in running for office as well as having the courage to face the challenge of doing what’s best for our precious city. Xay’s campaign is a potentially legendary one about a brilliant young […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: Xay for Mayor of Newport
I support Xay for mayor. First of all, he got a solid, perhaps even unprecedented number of votes for a first time candidate, and one of the foundations of a democratic system is that the person with the most votes wins! Second, he has the background and the experience to breathe new life into a […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: Mayor Xay? Yes. The people have spoken
t’s not often that the will of the people is articulated so clearly by the end of election night. This is one of those times. Xay Khamsyvoravong beat the record of earning the most votes for a Newport City Council candidate during a non-presidential election in more than a decade, and it shouldn’t come as […]
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Opinion: Building Newport’s Future thanks Newport voters for rejecting Question 5
Building Newport’s Future (BNF) is celebrating the fact that Newport voters chose to reject Question 5, which would have passed a measure to combine Newport and Middletown school district administrations. BNF was founded by a group of Newporters who care deeply about Newport’s children and advocate for a strong public education system and investment in […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter To The Editor | It’s a no-brainer: Xay should be our next Mayor
One of the Charter Review Commission recommendations that — not shockingly — didn’t make it onto yesterday’s ballot was to designate our next mayor based on which at-large council candidate earned the most votes. As of now, the person who will become mayor of our city (with more than 25,000 year round residents I should […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion – Rep. Lauren Carson: Thank you, Newport
Dear Newport voters: The 2022 election is over and now we can get down to business.I want to thank Newport voters for their confidence in me and electing me to my fifth two-year term in the Rhode Island of Representatives. I promise to serve openly and honestly.I am already drafting legislation for the 2023 Session […]
Posted inCity & Government
Opinion – Rep. Morales: Jeremy Peña has made Providence proud
STATE HOUSE – On behalf of himself and thousands of proud Providence neighbors, Rep. David Morales extends congratulations to Houston Astros shortstop and Providence native Jeremy Peña for being named the Most Valuable Player of the winning World Series team and being the first rookie in Major League Baseball history to earn a Gold Glove […]
Posted inColumns
Tiny Kitchen Magic: Beer Braised Chicken
So, I did something dumb last month. I teased y’all and said something about soup season. Well… I got no soup recipe this month. That’s because I made something in a fit of improvisation that knocked me off my feet a bit. I was genuinely shocked this turned out as good as it did. Let’s […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: Listen to ‘people who have ideas about how to fix things’
Just a couple of days before what could be among the most important elections in decades, some random thoughts. Each election, I think that perhaps negativity had run its course, only to find that the next election digs deeper in the mud, and less into ideas. “Listen to the people who are talking about how […]
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Letter To The Editor: Not all City Council members get the respect they deserve
I encourage you to watch a previous City Council meeting or two if you haven’t already. I mean really watch, listen, and pay attention. There’s a good chance that like me when I watched one several years ago, and meetings since then, you will be shocked and saddened by what you discover. You will see […]