City & Government

Citizens Exploring School Unification (CESU), a nonprofit that was “formed shortly after the Middletown Town Council declined to discuss or consider unification of Rogers and Middletown High Schools”, shared the following press release on Tuesday evening in which they announce a petition drive targeting the November 3, 2020 election . Citizens Exploring School Unification (CESU) […]

The latest news and press releases from the Rhode Island General Assembly. 02/04/2020Rep. Grace Diaz;Rep. Grace Diaz inducted into Martin Luther King Jr. Hall of Fame02/04/2020Rep. David Bennett;Bennett bill would allow injured police dogs ambulance transport, EMT care02/04/2020Sen. Dawn Euer;Meeting of commission on vicious dog hearing process postponed02/04/2020Sen. Maryellen Goodwin; Rep. Scott Slater;Whip Goodwin and […]

Source: City of Newport The City’s seawall contractor will be taking full advantage of the mild winter we’ve been having so far by getting a head start on a project to restore the seawall at Storer Park and the Goat Island Causeway. East Coast Construction will be starting concrete demolition the week of February 3, 2020. The work, […]

Middletown Town Council held a regular council meeting on Monday, February 3rd. The full agenda for the meeting is included below. If for some reason the video doesn’t play below, you can also view it here. https://youtu.be/WfHbrO1KaTU

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Lauren H. Carson and Rep. Terri Cortvriend announce the formation of the Aquidneck Island Climate Caucus, a community group to give voice to the importance of mitigating and adapting for the earth’s changing climate. The group held a meeting on January 27th, attended by 40 concerned constituents from all three island […]

STATE HOUSE — Rep. Deborah Ruggiero has introduced legislation to prevent patients from receiving unexpected and very high bills from out-of-network medical providers. The legislation (2020-H 7127) limits providers in emergency rooms to charging the in-network rate to insured patients, and also requires that hospitals notify a patient in advance if any nonemergency service is […]

STATE HOUSE – Sen. Louis P. DiPalma’s (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) legislation (2020-S 2139) that precludes the disability of a parent from serving as a basis for denial or restriction in matters involving a child’s welfare, foster care, family law, guardianship and adoption was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. […]

Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) has introduced legislation that would require safety barriers or netting on the three bridges that connect Aquidneck and Conanicut islands to the Rhode Island mainland. The bill (2020-H 7366) would direct the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, to erect the […]

The City Of Newport’s Planning Board will host their next meeting on Monday, February 3rd at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall. The Planning Board is the steward for the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which sets the long-term goal for the City and is a key measure by which large development projects and zoning […]

The latest news from the Rhode Island General Assembly; MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate to vote on 3-D, ghost gun ban tomorrow STATE HOUSE — The Senate is scheduled to vote on legislation that would ban 3-D printed guns during its session tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 29. The Senate is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. in its […]

According to DEM, Residual damage from Superstorm Sandy along with erosion and storm surge intensified by climate change-driven sea level rise necessitate the closure at the iconic Jamestown property . In a press release sent today, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced that the perimeter loop road surrounding the lighthouse at Beavertail […]

This afternoon, Newport School Committee Chairman Raymond Gomes delivered a letter to Newport City Hall for Committee Member Kathleen Silvia, according to a press release from Newport Public Schools. Ms. Silvia tendered her letter of resignation from the Newport School Committee effective immediately.  According to the press release, Chairman Gomes stated the following to the Superintendent […]

Here’s the latest news and updates out of the General Assembly today, Monday, January 27th. This story will be updated if more items come in. MEDIA ADVISORY: House Health, Education and Welfare Committee to hear bills on the funding of school field trips STATE HOUSE — The House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare is […]

With the start of the legislative session, I reached out to the area’s legislative delegation to survey what legislation is important to each of them, the challenges ahead, and their perspective on the upcoming legislative session.  Initially, I expected to wrap the answers into a single story. But the responses were so extensive and informative […]

The City of Newport’s Zoning Board of Review will host their next meeting on Monday, January 27th at 7 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The Zoning Board of Review is responsible for overseeing and administering the City’s zoning code in a fair and equitable fashion, according to the City’s website. Here’s what’s on […]

Rhode Island has a better than 50-50 chance of dipping into a recession by the end of this year, according to a leading Rhode Island economist whose monthly index tracks the strength of the state’s economy. Lardaro A slowing Rhode Island and national economy, jobs reports that mask true employment, and growing deficits are among […]

The City of Newport this week became one of the first communities in the country to adopt standards designed to help protect some of its most historic neighborhoods from the threat posed by rising sea levels, according to a press release issued today by the City of Newport. On Tuesday, Historic District Commission members voted […]

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) is informing the motoring public that there will be a temporary, eastbound, single lane closure (heading from Jamestown toward Newport) on the Newport Pell Bridge. This temporary lane closure is due to additional necessary work discovered during current bridge deck repairs, which requires prompt attention. The lane closure is […]

Nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Newport County’s six cities and towns have until Feb. 13 to apply for more than $270,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation. “These funds focus on serving the distinct needs of the residents of these communities. Working with partners that have strong ties here gives us the resources […]

 Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) is severely disappointed with the FY 2021 budget proposal (2020-H 7171) that was recently submitted by Governor Raimondo.  In particular, Representative Canario cites the numerous tax and fee increases, several of which were rejected by the General Assembly last session. “After reviewing this budget proposal, […]