City & Government

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is identifying Justin Harvey, 36, of Narragansett, as the decedent in a kayaking accident that took place in Narragansett on Oct. 1. A fisherman found Mr. Harvey’s body on a stretch of sand just east of Roger Wheeler State Beach Oct. 4 at 8 AM. Mr. Harvey was a commercial fisherman on a boat based in Point Judith.
A DEM Division of Law Enforcement investigation has found that Mr. Harvey and his girlfriend accessed the beach from a public right of way and paddled out in two separate kayaks at 9:30 PM Oct. 1. A strong tide pulled them farther from shore into rough water where Mr. Harvey’s kayak sank. His girlfriend jumped into the water and tried to rescue him but could not pull him up to the surface. A Marine Task Force contingent including boats from the Narragansett Fire Department, Portsmouth Fire Department, and the Unites States Coast Guard responded and searched for Mr. Harvey until 2 AM Oct. 2 before suspending because of poor weather conditions. The cause of death is not known at this time and will be determined by the Medical Examiners’ Office. The victim and his girlfriend were not wearing lifejackets at the time of the accident.
There have been three boating fatalities in Rhode Island in 2022 (Newport, July 14; Lincoln Woods State Park, July 23). All involved paddle craft and none of the victims was wearing a lifejacket at the time of the incident. DEM offers sincere sympathies to Mr. Harvey’s family and loved ones.

CRANSTON, R.I. – At yesterday’s meeting of the Rhode Island Board of Elections, the Board voted unanimously to adopt a new written protocol for the proofing and testing of ExpressVote machines prior to the November 8th general election and early voting period, which begins on October 19th.
Following issues identified during the early voting period for the September 13th primary election, Board of Elections staff worked closely with the Secretary of State’s Office (SOS) and ExpressVote vendor Election Systems & Software (ES&S) to develop the new protocol to ensure better collaboration between all parties during the proofing and testing period. In summary:
– ES&S will now provide the SOS with virtual ExpressVote screens to proof the onscreen ballots prior to Logic and Accuracy testing.
– The SOS will now certify that all ballot types, both printed and electronic, have been reviewed by their office for accuracy.
– The Board of Elections, as part of testing, will compare the ExpressVote screen to an actual test ballot, and verify that both the screen and printed ExpressVote card are accurate.
– Test cards will be inserted into the corresponding DS200 to confirm tabulation.
A detailed overview of the ExpressVote proofing and testing process is available here.
“Over the last three weeks, our staff has worked in close collaboration with the Secretary of State’s Office and Election Systems & Software to develop this new protocol to ensure that ExpressVote onscreen ballots and printed ExpressVote cards are accurate,” said Robert Rapoza, Executive Director of the Board of Elections. “Using this new protocol, ExpressVote and DS200 proofing and testing will be completed in the coming days, and prior to the start of early voting on October 19th. With these measures in place, Rhode Island voters can have full confidence casting their ballots utilizing ExpressVote machines.”
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WARWICK, RI – Governor Dan McKee announced today the state will start issuing Child Tax Rebates to qualifying families beginning today, Monday, October 3.
Child Tax Rebate payments are one of the important ways Rhode Island families benefit from the Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed by Governor McKee and approved by the General Assembly. The budget provides targeted taxpayer relief for Rhode Islanders, makes historic investments to address the housing crisis, and strengthens Rhode Island’s economy while providing financial relief to families, veterans, and local businesses.
The tax cut plan within the budget includes the Governor’s proposal to offer child tax rebates of $250 per child, up to three children, for Rhode Island residents making up to $100,000 for an individual and $200,000 for joint filers. This plan is expected to support nearly 115,000 Rhode Island families.
“Our Administration is continuing to deliver relief to Rhode Islanders as we build on our state’s economic momentum,” said Governor Dan McKee. “The Child Tax Rebate Program allows us to distribute over $40 million in direct support specifically to middle and lower-income families with children. We know costs are rising nationwide, and that’s why Rhode Island is continuing to step up and provide relief on utility prices, small business taxes, and everyday costs.”
The Governor was joined for the announcement by Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ryan W. Pearson, EOHHS Acting Assistant Secretary Yvette Mendez, and Tax Administrator Neena S. Savage at Little Learners Academy Kent County, a locally-owned child care facility in Warwick.
“The best investment our state can make is helping our working families,” said Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. “This rebate will help ensure that kids across the state have the resources they need to grow and thrive. Our economy is getting stronger, and steps like this ensure that Rhode Island families benefits first and foremost from that.”
“For working Rhode Islanders who are feeling the pinch of rising prices, every dollar matters. We’re putting money back in the pockets of nearly 115,000 working families with children,” said House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi. “When we crafted the state budget, our goal was to provide relief that would impact all Rhode Islanders. In addition to the child tax rebate for families, we permanently eliminated the car tax, increased the ‘circuit breaker’ tax exemption for seniors, reduced the state income tax on Social Security, and eliminated the state tax on military pensions. These are real benefits that will make a difference in people’s lives.”
“The state’s first ever child tax credit is one of several steps we were able to take this year to help Rhode Islanders struggling with higher rents, higher grocery bills, and higher costs at the pump,” said Sen. Ryan W. Pearson (D-Dist. 19, Cumberland, Lincoln), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee. “With the guiding principle of making sound investments and providing relief to all Rhode Islanders, I think these efforts will have a real impact to help families during difficult financial times.”
“The Division of Taxation takes seriously its responsibility to aid taxpayers at a time when inflation is on the rise. Our team has worked to make sure these checks will get into people’s hands as quickly as possible and has ways that a taxpayer can get their questions answered about these payments, or any tax issue, whether that is through a dedicated web tool, email, or by phone,” said Tax Administrator Neena S. Savage.
“The Child Tax Rebate Program helps put food on the table and give working families some breathing room during these challenging times,” said Executive Office of Health & Human Services Acting Secretary Ana Novais. “We are making important progress in helping families lead strong, healthy, and independent lives. I would like to thank Governor McKee, Lt. Governor Matos, the General Assembly, and every community advocate who has championed these rebates for Rhode Island families. With these investments, our state is on a strong path to increase equity and opportunity.”
The rebate program is administered by the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. The Division will disburse payments to qualified tax filers over the next several weeks. Information about the Child Tax Rebate program, including a rebate payment tracker, can be found on the Division’s website here: https://tax.ri.gov/guidance/special-programs/2022-child-tax-rebates. This page will be updated frequently and most questions can be answered by using the resources available on that page.
Any additional questions or comments regarding the Child Tax Rebate should be directed to the Division’s Personal Income Tax Section by e-mail at Tax.assist@tax.ri.gov or by phone at (401) 574-8242.
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PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are announcing today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $161,158 to DEM through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to help Rhode Island farmers expand market access for local fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops.
The program aims to enhance the competitiveness of farmers by increasing consumption through consumer awareness of Rhode Island-grown produce and plants through buy-local promotions; create new marketing opportunities for suppliers of produce and specialty crop plants through nontraditional markets; and research and develop new crops to introduce to producers to incorporate into the mix of produce and plants already grown and offered in the state.
“COVID-19 showed us how crucial it is to improve systems that provide all Rhode Islanders with consistent access to safe, healthy, and affordable food,” said Governor McKee. “This specialty crop grant program will encourage new and better markets for producers and consumers and improve the resiliency of our food supply chain.”
“DEM is always working to support local farmers and planters in growing their businesses,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Specialty Crop Block Grants help achieve more home-grown Rhode Island food on the table, help the environment by minimizing transportation costs and reducing carbon emissions, and boost the local economy while providing the freshest product possible to the consumer. These grants are investments that will further enhance the share of profits for those who grow, harvest, process, and prepare our food.”
The grant recipients are:
o The Rhode Island Fruit Growers Association $22,260 – Improved integrated pest management (IPM) for Rhode specialty crop growers through accurate weather data.
o Southside Community Land Trust $38,640 – Outreach and education to socially disadvantaged farmers for growing specialty crops to meet underserved markets.
o The Rhode Island Food Policy Council $29,937.60 – Equitable growth and technical assistance for small and beginning Rhode Island specialty crop producers.
o Farm Fresh Rhode Island $37,776 – growing local food champions and exploring local food with culinary students.
o The RI Farm Incubator $32,541 – Increasing yields in high-intensity specialty vegetables for regional growers through integrated cropping methods.
Since 2016, DEM has awarded more than $900,000 in grants through the USDA SCBGP. SCBGP assists state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. This round funding to Rhode Island is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2022 SCBGP funding awarded to 55 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.
The funding for the SCBGP grants is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and FY2022 funding is awarded for a
three-year period beginning September 30, 2022. More information about the 2022 SCBGP awarded grants is available on this webpage.
For more information about DEM divisions and programs, visit www.dem.ri.gov or follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.

Rhode Island Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Carlos C. Machado, Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Chief Operating Officer Loren Doyle, and Westerly Town Manager Shawn Lacey today joined other state and local leaders to celebrate the completion of the Cottrell Bridge in Westerly, an important link for the community connecting Route 78 and Route 1.
RIDOT replaced the structurally deficient bridge using corrosion resistant fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tub girders instead of steel beams. This accelerated bridge construction method allowed RIDOT to compress work that normally would have stretched a full construction season into just three months. A shorter duration closure not only cut down on the length of time drivers needed to detour, it reduced emissions that would have resulted from a longer-term detour.
“Along rural roads in Rhode Island like this one, closing a bridge is a big deal given the distances people need to travel to get around it,” Governor Dan McKee said. “That’s why we’re so grateful for the diligent work of the men and women on RIDOT’s team that fast-tracked this work and reopened this road in very short order.”
“FHWA’s commitment to innovation is central to much of what the Agency will continue to do over the next several years,” Administrator Machado said. “We have already seen innovation improve our roads and bridges to increase safety and accessibility for our residents and travelers. But new technologies – such as accelerate bridge construction – hold the promise to dramatically reduce highway closures, fatalities and expand access to transportation for traditionally underserved communities. So, encouraging innovation, while ensuring safety is more important than ever for my Administration.”
“This is another example of RIDOT meeting the needs of the community, employing innovative bridge construction methods to replace this bridge as quickly as possible and provide a safe, modern bridge that will serve Westerly for decades to come,” RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr. said.
“The residents of the Town of Westerly certainly now recognize Route 91 as a major artery and thoroughfare linking so many parts of our community,” Town Manager Shawn Lacey said. “The replacement and upgrade of the Cottrell Bridge was vital to ensure the safety of the surrounding wildlife habitat and especially for the over 4,300 vehicles that traverse the bridge daily. We are pleased and grateful for the professional and diligent work by RIDOT in fast-tracking the project to meet the needs and lessen the burden to the commuters here in Westerly.”
The replacement of the bridge was timed to coordinate with the Department of Environmental Management’s requirement to schedule certain construction activities only during a low-flow period for the McGowan Brook to minimize any impact on the environment.
With the reopening, the 8-ton weight limit has been removed. Some final detail work may be needed weekdays as the $5.5 million project wraps up. The Cottrell Bridge carries approximately 4,300 vehicles per day.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
This bridge replacement project is made possible by RhodeWorks and the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Improvement Act. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Josh Saal announced on Friday that the State has awarded six community organizations a total of $3.5 million to add 231 new beds to the statewide homeless shelter capacity.
This $3.5 million in funding is the first round of awards from a $5 million solicitation for proposals related to shelter expansion that was distributed to qualified vendors in early September. These six projects will create 231 new beds that will be utilized this winter to better serve individuals and households across the state who are experiencing homelessness. This is in addition to 64 new beds that were funded earlier this summer through the Consolidated Homeless Fund.
“Especially as the winter months approach, it is critically important that our community shelters have the capacity to ensure all Rhode Islanders have a safe, warm place to sleep at night,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We thank Rhode Island’s strong network of social service and housing organizations for responding to this solicitation quickly, and for doing the hard work of getting these beds operational.”
“Rhode Island is moving swiftly to protect our unhoused populations through the winter months,” said Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. “This first round of funding will create beds in some of our highest-need communities in every corner of the state. We’re looking forward to using the remainder of these funds to go even further to provide safety and stability to Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness.”
Organizations and projects that will receive funding in the first round of awards include:
– Amos House Family Shelter (Pawtucket): $1,338,655
– Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center (Central Falls): $966,870
– Catholic Social Services of Rhode Island (Providence): $20,000
– Sojourner House (Providence): $180,899
– Thrive Behavior Health (West Warwick): $827,103
– Westerly Area Rest Meals (WARM) Center (Westerly): $220,103
“We are pleased to deliver a high-impact level of funding to support fully planned projects less than a month after our request for proposals was distributed,” said Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Josh Saal. “While our long-term goal is to take a comprehensive approach that diverts people from homelessness and ultimately functionally ends homelessness in Rhode Island entirely through the creation of supportive housing, expanding shelter capacity provides much-needed, immediate relief for individuals and families experiencing homelessness today. I thank our partners across the state for giving voice to the voiceless, and the front-line workers for their tireless commitment to the vulnerable populations they serve day in, day out.”
“Having worked closely with the providers and Governor McKee and Secretary Saal, I am encouraged by all who have worked diligently to get to this first step to provide shelter beds for the growing number of unhoused individuals and families in the state,” said Neil D. Steinberg, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, who worked closely with Governor McKee, Secretary Saal and housing providers on developing solutions to meet the need. “The Governor’s commitment to quickly continuing this effort will enable the providers to manage shelters for all that need it as the cold weather approaches.”
“Last night, as the weather got chilly enough that many homes turned on their heat, we know of 370 people who slept outside. We are pleased that Governor McKee and Director Saal have moved quickly to disburse funding so shelter beds can be ready before freezing temperatures arrive,” said Caitlin Frumerie, Executive Director, Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. “We still have a way to go to address this growing crisis, but we will continue to collaborate until no one is living outside. We congratulate the organizations who were awarded funds and thank them for working diligently to expand their services.”
The Department of Housing expects to announce further awards related to shelter expansion in the coming weeks.
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On Thursday night, October 6, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will change the traffic pattern on Route 138 East in Newport, shifting traffic onto the new Route 138 extension road to Admiral Kalbfus Road.
The new Route 138 extension will follow the path of a redesigned section of Halsey Street. Motorists entering Newport via the Pell Bridge will just continue along Route 138 as they do today and follow it to a new traffic signal at Admiral Kalbfus Road. To continue following Route 138 toward Middletown and Portsmouth, they will turn right at the traffic signal instead of left.
The change does not affect traffic on JT Connell Highway northbound, which will continue to use the elevated highway over Admiral Kalbfus Road, ending at the traffic signal in front of the former Newport Grand casino. That section of road will remain in service until next spring.
The $74 million Pell Bridge Ramps Phase 2 project is redesigning the road network connecting to the Pell Bridge to make travel into Newport easy and safe. It includes a new efficient ramp system that will reduce congestion, especially the backup of vehicles on the bridge from the Downtown Newport exit, and improve the connection between Newport’s North End and the downtown area. With a smaller footprint, the new design also will spur economic development as it frees up approximately 25 acres of land. It will be finished by the end of 2024. More details about the project are available at www.ridot.net/PellBridgeRamps.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
This bridge replacement project is made possible by RhodeWorks and the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Improvement Act. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.