A federal court decision in the American Trucking Association’s lawsuit against the state of Rhode Island for what it claims are unconstitutional truck-only tolls for out-of-state tractor trailers is expected in September, according to Christopher Maxwell, executive director of the Rhode Island Trucking Association. The decision by Judge William Smith will come four years after […]
City & Government
A look at What’s Up in city and government in Newport, Rhode Island, and beyond.
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Low fuel inventories cause special concern in US Northeast
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Diesel and heating oil supplies in the Northeast are more than 50% below the recent average, raising concerns that an extreme weather event could cause supply disruptions, federal officials said. Fuel supplies are lower than normal across the country for a variety of reasons, including the war in Ukraine. But it’s […]
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RIDOH seeking public comment on intent to issue a categorical exclusion for Stone Bridge Fire District
Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is seeking public comment on intent to issue a Categorical Exclusion.
The Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health has reviewed for approval the request by the Stone Bridge Fire District for a Categorical Exclusion determination for proposed improvements to their public water system. The improvements consist of upgrading the existing 8″ cast iron pipe on Riverside Drive and installing new service connections with curb stops and roadway resurfacing in the town of Tiverton, Rhode Island.
Under authority of Chapter 46.12-8 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, it has been determined that there are no environmental impacts associated with this project. Therefore, the Director of RIDOH is hereby giving notice of intent to issue a Categorical Exclusion for the proposed project pursuant to the requirements and authority set forth in Chapter 46-12.8 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and the “Drinking Water State Revolving Fund” Regulations (216-RICR-50-05-6).
Copies of the Categorical Exclusion supporting documentation can be obtained by calling 401- 222-6867 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by writing to the Center for Drinking Water Quality, Three Capitol Hill, Room 209, Providence, RI 02908. All material submitted for review is available for public inspection during these hours at the above location. Written comments on the Categorical Exclusion should be sent to the Center for Drinking Water Quality at the address above or emailed to DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov within thirty (30) days of the date of this notice. Individuals requesting communication assistance may call Rhode Island Relay (TTY) at 711 or 800-745-5555 at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance.
A public hearing on the Categorical Exclusion will be held if RIDOH receives such requests from twenty-five (25) people, a governmental agency or subdivision, or an association having twenty-five (25) members or more. If a public hearing is held, a public notice will be published announcing the date, time, and place of such hearing. A stenographic record of the hearing will be made, and the public record will be kept open for seven (7) days following the conclusion of the public hearing to allow additional time for the submission of written comments. Interpreter services for people with hearing impairment and audiotapes for people with vision impairment will be made available. RIDOH is handicap accessible to individuals with disabilities.
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Rhode Report: Schedule of lane closures and road construction projects (Aug. 27 – Sept. 3)
The following road and lane closure notices have been scheduled by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. RITBA Weekly Lane Closure Updates August 28 – September 3, 2022 Newport Claiborne Pell BridgeEastbound Right Lane Closure- 8/29 to 9/1- […]
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RIDOT provides weekly Pell Bridge Ramps Phase 2 Update
Upcoming work on the Pell Bridge Ramps Phase 2 project will consist of bridge rehabilitation along Route 138 which may require temporary lane shifts along Third Street and JT Connell Highway, according to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s (RIDOT) weekly update. Gas utility relocation work is anticipated along Halsey Street and fence installation is planned along […]
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Energy-Saving Tree Program providing 1,000 free trees to Rhode Island residents
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM), along with the RI Tree Council, RI Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Arbor Day Foundation, is providing 1,000 free trees to Rhode Island residents this fall through the Energy-Saving Trees program. Registration opens Friday, August 26. Now in its 13th season, this popular program helps Rhode Islanders save energy and lower their utility bills by strategically planting trees […]
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Rhode Island mayor proposes $10M reparations spending plan
Providence’s mayor proposed spending $10 million in federal coronavirus pandemic aid on financial literacy and homeownership, workforce training, small business development and other programs recently recommended by the city’s reparations commission. Mayor Jorge Elorza’s spending plan, released Thursday, also calls for using $250,000 in federal money to launch a legal defense fund for residents facing eviction, $400,000 […]
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RIDOH recommends reopening Easton’s Beach for swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today announced that it recommends reopening Easton’s Beach (also known as First Beach) in Newport for swimming because bacteria counts have returned to safe levels. On Tuesday, RIDOH recommended closing Easton’s Beach (also known as First Beach) in Newport for swimming because of high bacteria levels. RIDOH will […]
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Opinion: Convene the Academic Advisory Committee now to refocus on regionalization’s real bottom line: improving student outcomes
The below statement presented at this evening’s Council meeting during the comment period for Councilor Bova’s resolution regarding regionalization. Convene the Academic Advisory Committee now to refocus on regionalization’s real bottom line: improving student outcomes. Newport and Middletown residents have invested a substantial amount of time and money considering regionalization. To date, this conversation has focused on […]
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Who gets student loan relief? Borrowers’ joy, and bitterness
By BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS Associated Press For Nick Marcil, the cancellation of $10,000 of his student loans could mean at last moving out of his parents’ house. Marcil, 24, studied at a Pennsylvania state college, earned scholarships and worked jobs while pursuing degrees in education but still owed $18,000 before Wednesday’s action by the Biden administration to […]
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Newport Water Division warns of fake utility crews
The Newport Water Division is urging residents across Aquidneck Island, especially those who are home during the day, to be alert for impostors. The Newport Water Division has received reports from customers who have been approached by individuals posing as Water Division personnel, according to a press release from the City of Newport. Customers in […]
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Bova seeks to delay regionalization vote
While other Middletown and Newport officials are touting the benefits ofregionalizing the communities’ schools, Newport Councilor Jamie Bova tonight will askthe Newport City Council to postpone the November regionalization vote. [Update – Bova’s resolution to postpone the vote failed 5 – 2. The two votes in support of the resolution were Bova and Angela McCalla.] […]
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Rhode Island reparations report suggests programs, not cash
By PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press A new report suggests ways Providence, Rhode Island, can atone for its extensive ties to the transatlantic slave trade and centuries of racism and discrimination by, among other things, establishing home repair funds, launching financial literacy programs and boosting aid to Black and Indigenous organizations. The report, issued Monday by the Providence Municipal […]
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Block Island resort temporarily loses licenses after fights
NEW SHOREHAM, R.I. (AP) — Authorities on the Rhode Island tourist hotspot of Block Island have voted to suspend the liquor and entertainment licenses of a beachfront resort that was the site of a brawl during a crowded music festival earlier this month that was later followed by a fight on a ferry to the mainland. The […]
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Drought disaster declared in Rhode Island; Worcester restricts outdoor irrigation
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Federal officials have declared a drought-related disaster in Rhode Island while New England’s second-largest city is restricting outdoor water use as the drought in the Northeast worsens. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack declared Monday all five of Rhode Island’s counties as “primary natural disaster areas” because of the ongoing drought. The […]
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Study: 2022’s Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Rhode Island
With low-income school districts underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil, WalletHub today released its report on the Most and Least Equitable School Districts in Rhode Island. To find out where school funding is distributed most fairly, WalletHub says that it scored the equitability of each school district in Rhode Island based on two metrics: average household […]
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Board of Elections encourages the use of Ballottrax to track status of submitted Primary Election mail ballots
CRANSTON, R.I. – The Rhode Island Board of Elections is encouraging voters who choose to cast their ballot via mail or secure dropbox for the September 13th primary election to utilize the Ballottrax tool (https://ballottrax.sos.ri.gov/voter/) to track the status of submitted mail ballots.
“Casting a ballot by mail or via a secure dropbox is a convenient option, and many voters want to make sure their ballot has been received, processed, and counted by the Board of Elections,” said Robert Rapoza, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Board of Elections. “That is why we are encouraging voters to utilize Ballottrax to monitor the status of their submitted mail ballots. Ballottrax is easy to sign up for by visiting ballottrax.sos.ri.gov/voter/. The tool tracks ballot envelopes, not votes, thus ensuring that your vote remains confidential through the entire ballot tracking process.”
Rhode Island voters only need to sign up for Ballotrax once and they will receive tracking status updates for all future elections in which they choose to vote by mail, unless they opt out.
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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class to be held in Jamestown
The Jamestown Fire Department (JFD), a state training facility, will be holding a National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) course starting in September. This course is intended to train attendees on vital skills in pre-hospital care. The course will start in mid-September and last through late December. Sessions will be held on Monday and Wednesday nights and […]
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If all the vehicles in the world were to convert to electric, would it be quieter?
By Erica D. Walker, Brown University Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. If all of the vehicles in the world were to convert to electric, would it be quieter? – Joseph, age 10, Chatham, New Jersey […]
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How gas prices have changed in Rhode Island in the last week
Oil and gas prices continued their decline this week with regular gas hitting $3.93 per gallon on Thursday, according to AAA. Crude is trading at roughly $91 per barrel. Gas prices have fallen every day for the last nine weeks and crude oil has fallen by 30% in roughly that same period. Prices could decline […]
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Pro-Trump wins in blue states threaten GOP hopes in November
By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Republicans have found success in Democratic strongholds like Maryland and Massachusetts when they have fielded moderate candidates who could appeal to voters in both parties. With Democrats facing headwinds this year, Republicans had hoped that strategy could pay off yet again. But Republican voters have nominated […]
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Here’s what you need to know about regionalization before next week’s community meetings
Tom Shevlin, the City of Newport’s Communications Officer, shared the following press on Friday in regards to Middletown & Newport Public Schools Regionalization. What’sUpNewp is sharing it in its entirety; HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REGIONALIZATION BEFORE NEXT WEEK’S COMMUNITY MEETINGS As election season approaches, more details are coming into focus on a proposal to […]
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Rhode Report: Schedule of lane closures and road construction projects (August 20 – 27)
The following road and lane closure notices have been scheduled by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. RITBA Weekly Lane Closure Updates August 21 – 27, 2022 Newport Claiborne Pell BridgeEastbound Right Lane Closure- 8/22 to 8/25- 9 […]
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2 more Coast Guard cutters now call Rhode Island home
NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — A pair of 270-foot (82.3-meter) U.S. Coast Guard vessels involved in search-and-rescue operations, military exercises and maritime law enforcement are now based in Rhode Island, authorities said Friday. The cutters Tahoma and Campbell, each with a crew of about 100, were welcomed to Naval Station Newport at a ceremony attended by […]
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WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Helena Buonanno Foulkes
Former CVS executive and gubernatorial candidate Helena Buonanno Foulkes joins What’sUpNewp for a videocast on Friday at 3:30 p.m. as we take a closer look at the Democrats who are vying for their party’s nomination in the Sept. 13 primary election. Foulkes has been outspoken on several issues, while touting her managerial experience in a steady stream of television […]