City & Government

Providence, RI – Governor Raimondo’s Office announced on Tuesday that nine of Rhode Island’s largest employers have made a public commitment to buy more products and services from local Rhode Island companies. Last week, in her State of the State address, Governor Gina M. Raimondo announced the Supply RI initiative, a new effort to help […]

Legislation urging the Public Utilities Commission to force National Grid to rollback a recent rate increase is likely to be introduced into the Rhode Island General Assembly within the next few weeks, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee said today. McKee has been leading an effort to roll back the recent National Grid rate increase and curtails […]

Rep. Deborah Ruggiero’s proposal to establish a state grant program to assist municipalities with their senior centers or programs has been included in the budget proposal submitted by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo yesterday. Representative Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) has already introduced the legislation, which she also sponsored last year, as a separate bill (2018-H […]

The following is the full text of Governor Raimondo’s State Of The State Address on Tuesday, January 16th, as provided by her office. STRONGER TODAY Good evening. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, Senate President, members of the General Assembly; distinguished guests; my husband Andy, my son Tommy; and my fellow Rhode Islanders: Tonight I stand before you […]

Rep. Lauren H. Carson and Sen. Dawn Euer will hold a constituent meeting later this month for an open discussion about the new legislative session. The meeting is scheduled Saturday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. at the Newport Public Library, 300 Spring St., Newport. All House District 75 and Senate District 13 residents are welcome. (Visitvote.sos.ri.gov to determine your […]

The Fort Adams Trust was provided with a matching grant of $150,000 in January at the Newport Art Museum by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Rhode Island Historical & Preservation Commission. It was part of a hosted announcement of the latest State Cultural Facilities Grant and State Preservation Grant recipients. […]

Sen. Louis P. DiPalma and Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy, Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives, introduced legislation (2018-S 2008 / 2018-H 7076) that would prohibit the state and its municipalities from entering into contracts with any internet service provider who engages in business practices that were prohibited by recently repealed net neutrality rules. “It was […]

Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Dan McKee is continuing to pressure National Grid to lower rates immediately for Rhode Islanders, even though the company has recently said it was reducing its request for a rate increase that it hopes to impose in the fall. McKee’s response, and the company’s adjustment to its rate increase request come […]

Rep. Julie A. Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) has reintroduced legislation (2018-H 7100) that would direct the Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) to reimburse the town of North Kingstown $10,000 to maintain its fireboats that participate in the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force. According to the legislation, Providence, East Providence, Cranston, and Warwick would […]

On December 22, 2017, two lobster crates were reportedly left overnight at the Newport Shipyard docks with six cats left inside without access to any food or water for an undetermined amount of time. At this time, Potter League for Animals is offering a reward up to $2,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the […]

Rhode Island’s Revenue Office is trying to make it as painless as possible for the thousands of Rhode Islanders who have neglected to pay state taxes, and now face mounting penalties and interest on the taxes they owe. Through Feb. 15 delinquent taxpayers can take advantage of a state tax amnesty program, which eliminates penalties […]

These are exciting times for Rhode Island’s tourism industry. Eight hotel projects are underway – three in Newport and five in Providence. Longer runways at T.F. Green airport will lead to expanded international flights. Newport’s Opera House and Westerly’s United Theater are two major theater projects that will preserve their history and expand those communities entertainment […]

On this edition of What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK Newport I discussed the process the Newport City Council used to fulfill the vacant Council seat, I brought you the audio from Monday night’s meeting where the decision was made, chatted about my decision to file an Open Meeting Action violation with the Attorney […]

National Grid and Newport Police Department were on the scene of two “Grade 1” emergency gas main repairs in Newport this afternoon. The gas leaks in the gas main’s occurred at Bellevue Avenue at Parker Avenue and on Thames Street at Holland Street, according to Newport Police Department (NPD). It is unclear whether the two leaks […]

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer today announced the Senate Democratic committee memberships for the 2nd Session of the 115th Congress.  Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will join the powerful Senate Finance Committee.  Whitehouse released the following statement on his new assignment: “I thank Senator Schumer for his confidence in me.  It will be an honor to serve on […]

With Martin Luther King, Jr. Day around the corner and 92 percent of blacks saying whites benefit a great deal or a fair amount from advantages not available to blacks – versus 46 percent of whites who agreed with that statement – the personal-finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2018’s States with the Most […]

The following items of business will go before the Newport City Council at its first regular meeting on the new year on January 10, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Newport City Hall. To see the full agenda that includes links to applications and more documents, click here. CONSENT CALENDAR.  (THE CONSENT […]

The six-remaining Newport City Council members voted 4 – 2 in favor of appointing Marco Camacho to fill the remaining current Council term (January 9  through December 1, 2018) that was vacated by John Florez. Councilor At-Large John Florez announced in November that he would be stepping down from Council effective January 9th for business reasons. Ten residents applied […]