City & Government

The Office of General Treasurer Seth Magaziner will begin disbursing federal stimulus funds to cities and towns by the end of this month. The funds are part of the federally passed American Rescue Plan Act, which aims to help states and municipalities recover from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.   “With these stimulus funds, Rhode Island has an opportunity to spur a broad-based economic recovery for all Rhode Islanders,” said General Treasurer Seth Magaziner in a statement. […]

The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer to require the Division of Statewide Planning to designate population-based environmental justice focus areas throughout the state that would have extra protection from new proposals that would create additional adverse environmental impacts. The purpose of the bill is to protect […]

The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer to require every short-term rental property listed for rent on the website of any third-party hosting platform that conducts business in Rhode Island to be registered with the Department of Business Regulation. The legislation (2021-S 0501A) would create a statewide registry of basic information about […]

The Rhode Island House of Representatives today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend to require all public school districts to adopt suicide prevention policies and train all personnel in suicide awareness and prevention annually. The Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act (2021-H 5353) would require all school personnel — including teachers, administration, custodians, lunch […]

The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer to allow criminal charges to be brought when a person is raped by their spouse while the victim is incapacitated. State law includes an exemption for spouses in the part of state’s first-degree sexual assault law that addresses situations when the victim is incapacitated, disabled or helpless. […]

Due to a shift in strategy and focus in the State’s COVID-19 response, Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today announced their plan to consolidate State-run COVID-19 test sites. As the pandemic evolves, RIDOH says in a press release thay the State’s testing strategy has become more targeted. Rhode Island […]

Update – June 12 at 11 pm The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends reopening Easton’s Beach (also known as First Beach) for swimming because bacteria counts have returned to safe levels. RIDOH will continue to monitor and review beach water quality regularly to ensure safe bathing throughout the summer. The status of a […]

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Almy Pond in Newport due to a blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) bloom in the pond. Blue-green algae can produce toxins that can harm humans and animals. People should also be careful not […]

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will hold a virtual public workshop on June 23 to present an overview of a draft water quality restoration study for nine drinking water supply reservoirs owned by the City of Newport.  The meeting will provide an opportunity for DEM to present the findings of the draft Total Maximum Daily Load(TMDL) study and obtain input from stakeholders on the study […]

Mayor Jeanne Marie Napolitano and the Newport City Council invite members of the public to a remembrance ceremony for Kiyoshi Iketani, former mayor of Newport’s sister city of Shimoda, Japan on Thursday, June 17th at 10 am, the City of Newport announced today.  The ceremony will be held in the section of Vernon Park known as […]

Members of the Newport City Council will consider a resolution to improve bicycle safety on Newport city streets at its regularly scheduled virtual meeting on Wednesday, June 9th. Before and during the time that City Council discusses the resolution, bicyclists and other supporters will be rallying in front of City Hall and at Bike Newport in […]

The City of Newport is stepping up enforcement of its noise ordinances, with City leaders promising in a press release today to crack down on disturbances stemming from both vehicular traffic and short-term rentals. Noise complaints, in particular, have been on the increase in recent weeks as tourists have begun returning to the City following […]

Governor Dan McKee today announced that Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) Director Janet Coit will be departing on June 18. Terrence Gray, RIDEM’s Deputy Director for Environmental Protection, will ascend to the role of Acting Director of the Department. The Boston Globe’s Dan McGowan has reported that Coit is leaving for a job […]

A group of East Bay representatives wants the state to firmly commit to repairing and reopening the two closed bridges on the East Bay Bike Path, and have introduced legislation to do so. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren) and cosponsored by a number of East Bay representatives, would appropriate […]

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation sponsored by House Innovation, Internet and Technology Committee Chairwoman Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) to strategically cultivate expanded broadband service statewide. According to a press release from the General Assembly, the legislation (2021-H 5148A) would create an 11-member Broadband Council and establish a broadband coordinator within […]

via Tom Shevlin, Communications Officer for the City of Newport As another busy summer season is getting underway, the City of Newport is formally kicking off its first comprehensive Transportation Master Plan. Since the last study that dealt with transportation issues was undertaken for the City in 2001, there have been significant changes in population, development […]

Town of Middletown Press Release The Town of Middletown is officially looking for concepts from developers to remake part of the West Main Road corridor. Today, the Town’s Planning Department released a Request For Information package for those interested in potentially revitalizing the 15-acre stretch between Coddington Highway and Valley Road. The property includes the […]

Update – Newport Police Department is now reporting that both suspects are in custody. Update: June 2, 2021: Newport Police reported today at approximately 9 am that suspect Tyrese Poulsen, who is wanted for murder as a result of a stabbing that occurred on May 30, 2021, turned himself into the Newport Police Department and […]