We finally have new candidates running for office in Portsmouth: Town Council candidates: Sharlene Patton, David Reise, David Gleason Portsmouth needs change. We have had the same people in power for far too long, making decisions that have had a significant negative impact on our Town. We need to restore transparency to our town leadership. […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Opinion – Tyler Romero: Vote for a leader who will move Newport forward – Xay for Newport City Council
Vote Xay Khamsyvoravong onto the Newport City Council. Xay and I had a wonderful conversation overlooking the harbor in July. As a passionate and concerned citizen of Newport, former candidate for City Council and member of Newport’s Affirmative Action Committee, I wanted to get to know Xay as a candidate. Admittedly, I grilled him on […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion – We Can Do It: Creating Jobs, Fighting Climate Change, Stopping Inflation
As you’ve probably heard by now, Rhode Islanders are looking at huge increases in their energy bills this winter. RI Energy is proposing a 29% increase from last winter’s rates and our home heating bills are set to jump 15% as well. The reason? We’re still dependent on fossil fuels for most of our energy. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Town of Middletown: Regionalization savings conversation on tap
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (SEPTEMBER 19, 2022) – One of the big selling points of regionalizing schools with Newport is the potential savings. On Monday night at a meeting in Town Hall, the Middletown Town Council approved a resolution from the City of Newport committing to a discussion about reinvesting some — or all — of that money […]
Posted inNews
Michael Flynn: From government insider to holy warrior
BATAVIA, N.Y. (AP) — The crowd swayed on its feet, arms pumping, the beat of Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” thumping in their chests. The people under the revival tent hooted as Michael Flynn strode across the stage, bopping and laughing, singing the refrain into his microphone and encouraging the audience to sing […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: It’s everyone’s duty to report child abuse, neglect
Contributed by Representative Julie A. Casimiro As autumn begins and many families resume busy schedules of learning, work, sports practices and other extra-curricular activities, it is a time of fresh starts and new opportunities. Kids will try new things, learn new skills and make new friends. They will meet new mentors who will help shape […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: Maybe physicians should attend patients’ funerals
Maybe they should make physicians go to the funerals of the patients they lose. For some it might give a better understanding of the people they treat, the families they meet, and the impact that their bedside manner has on everyone, from patient to family to nurse. Not that the medical treatment would be any […]
Posted inCity & Government, Opinion
Letter – Rep. Carson: I am optimistic about the future for our older Newport residents
As we wrap up another beautiful summer in Newport, I reflect on the accomplishments of this session in the Rhode Island legislature. I am proud of all that was accomplished on behalf of my constituents, but I am especially excited about what was done for my senior neighbors. To start, I was happy to support […]
Posted inCity & Government
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 […]
Posted inOpinion
Newport-Middletown School Regionalization touted during forum
By Matt Shealey, Town of Middletown The positives of school regionalization between Newport and Middletown were discussed Monday. During the early informational forum at the Knights Of Columbus Hall on Valley Road, the 50 people on hand heard a consistent message about the opportunities regionalization creates. More money from the state for education, for sure. […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Now is the time to donate to food banks
As the summer draws to a close and school buses start rolling once again, there will be many changes for families and children. Mornings might be more harried and the after-school hours will be busy with extracurricular activities, homework and hopefully some play in the waning afternoon sunshine. Another change that will affect some families […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Making affordable energy a priority in the next legislative session
Like most Rhode Islanders, I was shocked and dismayed by Rhode Island Energy’s (formally National Grid) announcement that residential electrical rates will increase over 125% from 7.810¢/kWh to 17.785¢/kWh in October. This means the average customer will see a rate increase of about $52 a month. I immediately worried about the impact this would have […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: The quality of our children’s education – and the future of our community – depends on you
To the Editor: As a member of the Regionalization Steering Committee, I urge the voters in both Middletown and Newport to support the questions related to school regionalization that will be on the November 2022 ballot. This legislation is about improving educational opportunities for all our students. There are those who would ask why we […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Newport City Council Trashes Charter Review Commission
At its meeting on July 27, the Newport City Council spent a significant portion of their time discussing and voting on the Charter revision proposals of the Charter Review Commission. They ended up approving for the November ballot only five of the thirty-seven proposals, and the approved proposals were largely word-smithing current provisions and having them conform […]
Posted inCity & Government
Opinion – Senate President Dominick Ruggerio: Providing relief and moving Rhode Island forward
When the Senate convened in January, my leadership team and I had high hopes about what the chamber could accomplish. We envisioned a transformational session for our state, one defined by historic progress on many critical issues. I’m proud to say that, working together, the Senate has moved Rhode Island forward. We have made critical investments in […]
Posted inOpinion
Editorial Roundup: New England
Rutland Herald. July 9, 2022. Editorial: Regressive decision In our email this week came a note from State Auditor Doug Hoffer. The headline stated, “Vermont Supreme Court Deals Serious Blow to Government Transparency and Accountability.” We could not agree more. In fact, we are going to use Hoffer’s own words to explain why this is […]
Posted inOpinion
Editorial Roundup: New England
Rutland Herald. July 7, 2022. Editorial: Vt.’s ocean cleanup Who knew Vermont could be so good at cleaning up the Atlantic Ocean? It’s true. You only have to look as far as a recent edition of the Ellsworth American, a weekly newspaper serving Downeast Maine, for the details. The article details how a Burlington-based company, […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Approved state budget good for the Bay, good for the environment
The recently adopted state budget, passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly and signed into law by Governor McKee, is great news for Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island’s rivers. A $4 million appropriation for OSCAR: A year after establishing a program for urgently-needed climate adaptation projects in Rhode Island, the General Assembly allocated $4 million for […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Safer, more convenient elections
Elections in 2020 were unlike anything Rhode Island voters had experienced before. In response to the pandemic, state leaders put in place common-sense measures to ensure that COVID-19 didn’t keep us and our neighbors from exercising our most basic right to vote. People liked these options, and with June 2022’s enactment of the RI Vote […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion – Rep. Ruggiero: CRMC Study Commission makes bold recommendations
I want to publicly thank the members of the CRMC Study Commission for their thoughtful, deliberative work reviewing and assessing the Coastal Resource Management Council. This diverse group of professionals included representatives of Save the Bay, the Audubon Society, town administrators, planning professionals, a town council member, the dean of the University Of Rhode Island […]
Posted inColumns
Column: Golf’s civil war likely to produce no real winners
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Columnist Golf is in the early days of a bitter showdown between the established PGA Tour and an upstart series backed by the repressive Saudi regime, which hopes that throwing around billions will help people forget about its appalling human rights record. If history is any indication, there are unlikely […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: RI must address PFAS
They are in the coating of your nonstick frying pan. The wrapper of your favorite burger. The stain-resistant upholstery of your couch, and even the water coming from your tap. They are PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — a huge group of toxic chemicals that are used in thousands of consumer products, and they are now also […]
Posted inOpinion
Obituary: Julianna Frances Anderson
Our Loving and devoted Mother Julianna “Ski” Frances Anderson, Age 89, of 11 Appleby Street, Newport, RI, passed away at home on Monday, May 23, 2022, from complications relating to Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born on February 8, 1933, in Newport, RI. She was preceded in death by her spouse, David “Andy” Anderson, Jr. in […]
Posted inOpinion
Friends of The Waterfront supports House Bill 8055, restoring the historic extent of the public’s rights and privileges of the shore
The Friends of the Waterfront (FOW), the Newport-based “watchdog of the waterfront,” wrote this week to the House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Craven to express FOW’s strong support for the passage House Bill 8055, which would protect the right of public access to the shoreline by bringing much-needed clarity and certainty to the physical extent of those […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter: Re-election to Portsmouth water and fire district board
My name is David Reise and I am asking for your support in re-election to the position of moderator of the Portsmouth Water and Fire District. I value the water system we have now and will maintain the quality and supply of water at a fair value into the future. I have learned and gained in both […]