The Middletown Town Council covered a lot of ground during its meeting on Monday, April 15. The Town of Middletown provided the below notes on some of the actions; When: Monday night. Where: Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road. Absent: None. Of note: After a lengthy discussion, a council majority voted to ask the Rhode Island Department […]
City & Government
A look at What’s Up in city and government in Newport, Rhode Island, and beyond.
Posted inCity & Government
Many Middletown residents and businesses can expect a 2% tax increase in Fiscal 2025
Source: Town of Middletown Many Middletown residents and business owners are looking at 2 percent increase in their Fiscal 2025 tax bills. According to proposed figures rolled out for the first time Monday night to the Town Council, the median homeowner can expect to pay $100 more in taxes in the upcoming fiscal year compared […]
Posted inCity & Government
Island-wide water main flushing will take place April 14 – May 2
As part of the Newport Water Division’s ongoing maintenance of the water distribution system, a water main flushing program in designated areas will begin during evening hours beginning Sunday, April 14, 2024 and ending May 2, 2024. To minimize impacts to our customers, flushing crews will begin at 8:00 p.m. and continue until 4:00 a.m. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Police are investigating the death of a 2-month old
Newport Police Department is investigating an incident at Festival Field Housing Development that resulted in the death of a 2-month-old and the arrest of a 17-year-old. Newport Police Department shared the following information on Friday morning; On 4/11/24 at about 10:55 p.m., Newport Police Officers along with Newport Fire Department personnel responded to the Festival […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rep. Carson urges parents of students with IEPs, 504 plans to consider new state resource
STATE HOUSE – Parents frustrated by the process of advocating for their student’s needs through their individualized education plan (IEP) or 504 plan have a new resource, thanks in part to work by Rep. Lauren Carson. The Department of Education now offers impartial facilitators who can help prevent and resolve conflict during the IEP/504 meeting […]
Posted inAP
Rhode Island transit chief resigns after he’s accused in a hit-and-run at a McDonald’s drive-thru
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island Public Transit Authority CEO Scott Avedisian submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Dan McKee on Thursday just two weeks after he was accused in a hit-and-run in a McDonald’s drive-thru in Warwick. The announcement came the same day as the RIPTA board of directors met behind closed doors […]
Posted inBusiness
Rhode Island’s New Commerce Chief: Jim Bennett
The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s new president and chief operating officer will bring with him a wealth of experience in both business development and government, Gov. Dan McKee’s office said today. Jim Bennett, a Brown University graduate who has served in a variety of leadership positions, including executive vice president of Prospect Medical Holding, was […]
Posted inCity & Government
Mount Hope Bridge will see major updates thanks to new federal funding
The picturesque Mount Hope Bridge between Bristol and Portsmouth will soon see major updates thanks to new federal funding. In an effort to ensure the safety of the Mount Hope Bridge and save taxpayers money in repairs down the road, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today hailed a new $17 million Promoting Resilient […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island bill would inform parents about ABLE accounts
The Rhode Island House of Representatives has passed a bill that would mandate schools to inform parents about Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts when their child has an IEP meeting. Sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D- Portsmouth, Middletown), the bill (2024-H 7612) would require school districts to provide families with information about the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Police Arrest & Dispatch Log: April 10 – 11
Newport Police Department reported no arrests from Wednesday, April 10, through 7 a.m. on Thursday, April 11. Arrest Log There were no arrests. Dispatch Log Press-Log-4-10-to-4-11Download
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain provides updates in weekly message
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain shared the following weekly message with parents, families, and staff on Wednesday, April 10.
Posted inCity & Government
RIPTA to hold a community meeting at URI Kingston Campus on revised proposed service changes
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will hold a community meeting on revised proposed service changes on Friday, April 19 from 12pm to 2pm at the University of Rhode Island Memorial Student Union in Kingston. This community meeting is in addition to the public hearings scheduled for Monday, April 15 in West Warwick and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Town of Middletown hosting inaugural Earth Day Art Contest
The Town of Middletown is sponsoring its inaugural Earth Day Art Contest as a way of promoting the beauty of Middletown and celebrating nature. Held in conjunction with the Governor’s campaign to Keep Rhody Litter Free, this art contest seeks to raise awareness of everyone’s responsibility to preserve natural resources and to commit to cleaning […]
Posted inCity & Government
CCRI celebrates graduation of first cohorts of Rhode Island’s first Offshore Wind Safety Training Center
Thirty-nine local residents are the first to complete the Global Wind Organisation (GWO)-certified Basic Safety Training curriculum at the state’s only offshore wind safety training center and are prepared to continue building fulfilling careers in America’s fast-growing offshore wind sector. Located at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Lincoln Campus, the GWO-certified training facility is […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rep. Magaziner passes first bill through committeeÂ
The Homeland Security Committee today passed U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner’s (RI-02) bipartisan legislation H.R.7439 – Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Combat Transnational Repression Act to crack down on coercive tactics by repressive foreign nations to forcibly silence political dissidents living in the United States. Rep. Magaziner, who serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM has stocked more than 100 bodies of water with 60,000 fish ahead of Opening Day of Trout Season
As sure a rite of spring as the budding of willows and peeping of peepers, Opening Day of the trout season is set for Saturday, April 13, and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has stocked more than 100 freshwater locations, including children’s-only ponds, with 60,000 fish – brook, brown, rainbow, and golden rainbow trout […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM to give away 2,000 trees to Rhode Islanders
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) – along with partners the RI Tree Council, Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Arbor Day Foundation – is giving away over 2,000 trees to Rhode Islanders to help them save energy and lower their utility bills. The trees will be available to pick up at four […]
Posted inCity & Government
Op-Ed: Standing up for transparency
In recent months, Rhode Islanders have seen how critical it is to have ready and reliable access to public information. We’ve also been reminded of how frustrating and challenging it can be to get records that rightfully belong to the public. In our experience as committee chairpersons fulfilling the Legislature’s oversight role we have experienced […]
Posted inCity & Government
House approves Commission to Study Rhode Island Beach Erosion
The Rhode Island House of Representatives approved a resolution sponsored by Rhode Island Rep. Samuel Azzinaro to create a commission to study beach erosion on Tuesday, April 9. “We have a serious problem here in the Ocean State because our beaches are eroding at an alarming rate. Our coastline and beaches are some of the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Police Arrest & Dispatch Log: April 9 – 10
For the time period of Tuesday, April 9, through 7 am on Wednesday, April 10, Newport Police Department reported no arrests. Arrest Log There were no arrests. Dispatch Log Press-Log-4-9-to-4-10Download
Posted inCity & Government
Sen. Ujifusa, Rep. Stewart bill would sunset Jobs Development Act
STATE HOUSE – Sen. Linda Ujifusa and Rep. Jennifer Stewart have introduced legislation to sunset the Jobs Development Act (JDA) program, a tax incentive whose costs grew to $39.7 million in FY 2022. According to the state Department of Revenue Office of Revenue Analysis, which issued an analysis of the program in September, “[T]he JDA program for […]
Posted inCity & Government
With federal money filling funding hole to repair Newport Cliff Walk, why bother with a state bond?
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentApril 9, 2024 Now that a newly awarded federal grant will cover most of the cost to repair Newport’s Cliff Walk, borrowing $8 million in state bonds appears unnecessary. Members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation announced on Monday that the city was awarded a $11 million federal grant to shore […]
Posted inNews
Nearly $4M in grants available for resilience projects that protect coastal habitat shoreline access on public lands
PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) are jointly soliciting project proposals for the Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience (OSCAR) Fund Program. In 2021, the Rhode Island General Assembly adopted legislation establishing the OSCAR Fund as a program to be administered jointly by DEM, CRMC, and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island’s Great Swamp Shooting Range opens for 2024 season
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has opened the Great Swamp Shooting Range in South Kingstown for the 2024 season. The public shooting range is located within the Great Swamp Management Area and is open for 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The range is free to use, however […]
Posted inCity & Government
RIPTA wants customers’ feedback on their transit experience
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) wants to hear from customers about their experience with the agency. This is the twelfth annual Customer Satisfaction Survey that RIPTA is conducting. “We strongly encourage both frequent and infrequent riders to participate in the survey,” said Cristy Raposo Perry, Director of Communications and Public Outreach. “It will […]