City & Government

Senate President Paiva Weed’s and Rep. David A. Coughlin Jr.’s’ legislation that would make Rhode Island residents who are victims of a domestic terrorist attack outside of Rhode Island, but still within the United States, eligible to receive victim’s compensation payments from RI’s Crime Victim Compensation Fund was signed into law yesterday by Governor Gina […]

On Tuesday May 24 the Viking Community will celebrate the 2nd Annual Senior Launch Day. In the spirit of the First Lady’s “Reach Higher” initiative, this exciting event brings RHS together to celebrate the many college, work, and military destinations of our senior class. Each senior will have a chance to share his or her […]

Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) is chairwoman of the Special House Commission to Study Economic Risk Due to Flooding and Sea Level Rise. Rhode Island can protect itself from some of the economic risks posed by rising sea levels through coordinated statewide planning and awareness programs aimed at policymakers, homeowners, business owners and […]

Senator John A. Pagliarini Jr. (R- District 11, Bristol, Portsmouth, Tiverton) and Representative Robert Nardolillo III (R-District 28, Coventry) have recently introduced legislation, that they are calling “Betsy’s Bill” that would reduce a non-union state employee’s salary and benefits after leaving their position. Senator Pagliarini (R- District 11, Bristol, Portsmouth, Tiverton) In a State House […]

The Senate has unanimously approved Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and David Vitter’s (R-LA) bill to reauthorize the National Estuaries Program (NEP), which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The program was first established in 1987 by the late Senator John Chafee (R-RI) to protect and restore estuarine […]

Representative Lauren H. Carson (D-District 75, Newport), as chairwoman of a House commission studying the potential for growing tourism through a coordinated marketing effort, has sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor thanking him for recently meeting with the commission and seeking further information about the recently launched statewide tourism campaign. Representative Carson requested […]

Dining in Newport and Middletown may soon cost restaurants or customers 1% more than it does anywhere else in Rhode Island. On May 10th, Senator Louis P. DiPalma introduced Senate Bill #2987, a bill that would authorize Newport and Middletown to collect an additional one percent meal and beverage tax to fund road and sewer […]

Just a week after being appointed the House Finance Committee Chairman, Providence Journal reports that Representative Marvin Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown) has had to correct his latest ethic filings after failing to disclose his wife’s position on the Board of the Newport Housing Authority, an organization that has received/receives grants from the Rhode Island General […]

Newport’s Department of Public Services Announces Public Workshop for Thames/Spring Streetscape Improvements Project – May 24, 2016, 5:30 to 7:30 PM, Edward King House The City of Newport has embarked on a major initiative to plan for the future of Thames and Spring Streets. These streets serve as vital corridors for transporting people, goods, and services and provide […]

The City of Newport’s Water Division announces that the 2015 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is now available on the City’s website at www.cityofnewport.com/ccr15 . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Safe Drinking Water Act requires water systems to provide this annual report to all its consumers. The requirements for report content, format, and […]

The City of Newport and the Planning Board are in process of updating the Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan. This update includes only the updating of data and statistics to keep the document that was adopted in 2004 in compliance with current State requirements. A City Plan provides the foundation for a wide variety of actions, […]

Susan Donovan has declared her candidacy for District 69 (Portsmouth and Bristol) in the House of Representatives. Bob Plain of RIFuture.org reports “Susan Donovan, a lifelong Bristol resident and a longtime teacher in the local schools, is running for former Rep. Ray Gallison’s State House seat, she announced in a news release today.” Read The […]

The following items of business, filed with the City Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will go before the Newport City Council at its regular meeting to be held on May 11, 2016, at 6:30 p.m at Pell Elementary School, 35 Dexter Street. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG CITIZEN’S FORUM: (Speakers must sign […]

House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello today announced the appointment of Rep. Marvin L. Abney of Newport as chairman of the House Finance Committee. He also announced several other committee appointments, including the appointment of Rep. Patricia Serpa of West Warwick as chairwoman of the Oversight Committee and Rep. Deborah Ruggiero of Jamestown as chairwoman of […]

Newport City Hall will be closed on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 in recognition of Rhode Island Independence Day, a State holiday. Rhode Island Independence Day commemorates the State’s independence from Great Britain on May 4, 1776. May 4 is a state holiday in Rhode Island, State and municipal offices may be closed in other cities and towns […]

Representative Ray Gallison (District 69, Bristol and Portsmouth) is resigning his seat as a state representative in the House of Representatives amid a law enforcement probe, multiple source have confirmed. Multiple State House sources confirmed that Gallison, a Bristol Democrat and the House Finance Committee Chairman , will give up his seat on Tuesday, May 3rd. That […]

The Special Legislative Commission to Study Methods for Growing Tourism in the State of Rhode Island Through Coordinated Branding and Marketing Efforts will meet today for an update on the state’s tourism efforts with Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor and Seth Goldenberg, founder and CEO of Epic Decade, one of the three firms contracted to develop […]

Lynn Ceglie has announced her intention to run for re-election to the Newport City Council representing the 2nd Ward. Ceglie is the first City Council member to announce her intent to run for re-election in November. “It is an honor to represent the residents of the 2nd Ward.  I have had the opportunity to focus […]

The City of Newport has received a $14,800 Centennial Grant to create mobile, solar-powered recreational spaces where people can recharge devices such as laptops and cell phones. Supported by partnership of public, private and nonprofit entities, including the Newport Tree Society, the “Plug Park” will be built in such a way that it can easily be moved […]

Traffic flow and parking in Newport will be affected by the 2016 Aquidneck Island National Police Parade, which kicks off at 1150 AM on Sunday, May 1st , 2016. Traffic will be congested in the Lower Broadway, Washington Square area from about 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Parking will be limited. The parade participants will […]

The City of Newport announces the beginning of the Parking Season effective May 1, 2016 and continuing through October 31, 2016. Metered parking will be in effect from 9:00 AM until 9:00 PM daily, including weekends and holidays. The fee for parking in a metered space is $1.25 per hour in increments of twenty-five cents. […]

In what could be the most relevant in Rhode Island’s history, the Rhode Island Presidential Preference Primary will take place on April 26, 2016. On Tuesday, voters will vote for one person as his or her party’s candidate for president. They will also select delegates to represent Rhode Island at his or her party’s National Convention. A […]

Governor Gina Raimondo, Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed (D- 13, Newport & Jamestown), Representative Lauren Carson (D-75, Newport), Representative Marvin Abney (D- 74, Newport & Middletown) visited the set of The Discovery on Thursday, April 21st in Newport, RI. Cast and crew are currently filming on Bellevue Avenue, earlier this month filming took place at Newport […]

Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) provided the following update on the Broadway Streetscape Improvements on Friday, April 22nd. “We anticipate finishing the installation of the parking pavers, from Equality Park to Caleb Earl Street, by the end of the week, weather permitting. Concurrently, we will then begin parking area excavation from Caleb Earl Street […]