In an open letter to the community published on Facebook, owners Colin and Stephanie Bennett announced that the Malted Barley in Westerly will be closing their doors for good on March 2, following a run in the downtown establishment that lasted a dozen years. Noting their pride in having provided so many quality products and […]
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White’s 23 points helps Celtics past Grizzlies 119-109
By KEN POWTAK Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Derrick White scored 23 points to help a shorthanded Boston team hold off Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies 119-109 on Sunday. Sam Hauser added 20 points, tying his career-high with six 3-pointers, Al Horford had 16 points and Payton Pritchard 12 for Boston, which won its […]
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Lobster fishers sue to block closure meant to aid whales
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A group of Massachusetts lobster fishers has sued the federal government over an emergency closure of fishing grounds that is designed to protect a vanishing species of whale. The closure, enacted Feb. 1, blocked off about 200 square miles (518 square kilometers) of Massachusetts Bay from lobster fishing until the end […]
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Top What’sUpNewp stories of the week
Here’s a look at the What’sUpNewp stories that were grabbing our reader’s attention the most this week.
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IRS won’t tax most relief payments made by states last year
The IRS announced Friday that most relief checks issued by states last year aren’t subject to federal taxes, providing 11th hour guidance as tax returns start to pour in. A week after telling payment recipients to delay filing returns, the IRS said it won’t challenge the taxability of payments related to general welfare and disaster, […]
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When Are Taxes Due?
by Kristen DoererProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.Series: The ProPublica Free Tax Guide Free, Fact-Checked Tax Information. That’s All.On Jan. 23, 2023, the IRS began accepting and processing returns for the 2022 tax year. That means that the […]
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The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz
The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation We hope you’ve enjoyed this quiz from our newish quizmaster, Fritz Holznagel, a past winner of the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. If you have feedback on the quiz, please send us an email at us.quiz@theconversation.com. Fritz Holznagel, Quizmaster, The Conversation This article is republished from The […]
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List: States with the biggest Native American populations
More than 5 million Native Americans live in the United States as members of 574 federally recognized and 63 state-recognized tribes. That number is projected to rise to 10 million by 2060. A federally recognized tribe is a sovereign entity with a government-to-government relationship with the United States, as well as the rights of self-governance […]
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Vermont removes possibly contaminated marijuana from stores
By LISA RATHKE Associated Press Vermont regulators have removed marijuana potentially contaminated with a pesticide from five retail stores after a consumer reported feeling sick after smoking some. Vermont’s Cannabis Control Board issued a consumer protection warning last week for all strains of marijuana produced by grower Holland Cannabis Co. due to pesticide contamination. Customers […]
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List: Best county to live in for every state
What makes the best county in each state? Often it involves a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents. Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live using […]
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Roger Williams Park Zoo mourns the loss of beloved moon bear, Gracie
The staff at Roger Williams Park Zoo are grieving the loss of one of their beloved residents, Gracie, a 27-year-old female moon bear. Gracie passed away due to age-related health issues and mobility problems, and was humanely euthanized, according to Roger Williams Park Zoo. Gracie came to the zoo in 1996 with her brother, George, […]
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Clear Skies Ahead: Weekend Weather Forecast for Newport
This weekend, the National Weather Service forecasts mostly clear skies for Newport, with a low of 34°F on Friday night. The West wind is expected to reach speeds of 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Saturday is expected to be sunny with a high of 42°F and a northwest wind […]
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Recap: This week at the Rhode Island General Assembly
Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items, visit http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease. McNamara, Miller bill would protect frozen embryos, regulate storage Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) and Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) introduced the Embryo […]
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Reading and math proficiency are at historic lows. Here’s a closer look at who’s falling behind
Concerns about the state of U.S. education have been discussed in communities across the country for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic only thrust these conversations—and their urgency–further into the spotlight. A shift to at-home learning combined with other problems such as teacher shortages and a fraught political landscape have affected students’ basic proficiencies—and it is […]
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Mayor: City of Providence gets 1st Latino chief of police
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A longtime member of the Providence Police Department has been named the city’s new police chief and is the first Latino to serve in the position, Mayor Brett Smiley announced Friday. Cmdr. Oscar Perez is Providence’s 38th chief of police. “Chief Perez has demonstrated he is the dedicated public servant that […]
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Rhode Island Foundation offering fellowships to college students for travel and discovery
College students yearning for travel and self-discovery have until February 21 to apply for fellowships through the Michael P. Metcalf Memorial Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation. “These fellowships can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to follow their dreams,” said Monica Benson, who administers the program. Students can receive up to $5,000 to pursue […]
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Best big cities to live in America
Chicago has deep-dish pizza, and New York has the foldable slice, but does that make either the best American big city to live in? We’re not so sure. In fact, as this list will detail, it takes much more than a delectable pie to set a city apart from burgeoning places in Ohio, the picturesque […]
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‘Six Picks’ Music: The best in local music this weekend (Feb. 10-12)
Another busy weekend on the local music scene with shows spanning the worlds of country, classical, rock and roll, and jazz. Check out some top choices in our weekly column “Six Picks Music.” All Weekend: One of the region’s best listening rooms, Pumphouse Music Works was struck by a damaging fire last year. The popular […]
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Governor McKee nominates six Judicial Candidates to the Bench
PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee today announced six judicial nominations to fill vacancies on the Superior Court, District Court, and Workers’ Compensation Court.
“It is an honor to appoint these six judges who will play a critical role in serving Rhode Island’s court system,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I know that with their combined decades of experience, they will fairly uphold the laws and values of Rhode Island. I thank the Judicial Nominating Committee for sending us a strong selection of qualified candidates.”
The following names have been submitted to the Rhode Island Senate for confirmation:
Superior Court
Christopher K. Smith has been nominated to the Superior Court. A graduate of Hamilton College, Roger Williams University School of Law and University of Oregon School of Law, he has served as an Associate Judge in the District Court since 2019. Prior to joining the bench, he was the Chief of the District Court Division for the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office. Presently, he also serves as an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University, sits on the Board of Directors for Crossroads Rhode Island and is a member of the Engeye Scholars Advisory Board. He resides with his wife and two children. Smith will fill the seat left vacant by Judge Susan E. McGuirl.
Joseph J. McBurney has been nominated to the Superior Court, filling the spot left vacant by Judge Netti C. Vogel. A graduate of University of Connecticut School of Law and The Catholic University of America, McBurney presently serves as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division in the Office of the Attorney General. He also is an instructor at the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy, Rhode Island State Police Training Academy and the Providence Police Training Academy. McBurney resides in Pawtucket.
District Court
Magistrate James Patrick O’Neill has been nominated to the Rhode Island District Court and will fill the seat vacated by Judge Elaine Bucci. Magistrate O’Neill brings over 24-years of experience, including five years as a District Court Magistrate and ten years in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 2005 to 2015. A graduate of Colby College and Roger Williams Law School, he now lives in Narragansett with his wife and two daughters.
Debra Saunders has been nominated to the Rhode Island District Court and will fill a newly created seat in the District Court. A graduate of Suffolk Law School and Providence College, Saunders and her husband split their time between Barrington and Newport. Since 2008, Saunders has served as Clerk of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and will bring over 25 years of legal experience to the bench having also worked as Supreme Court Deputy General Counsel, a Special Assistant Attorney General, and in private practice. She is a longstanding member of numerous Supreme Court committees including the Committee on Character and Fitness and the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee and is a member of the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Nicholas J. Parrillo has been nominated to the Rhode Island District Court. He is a graduate of Rhode Island College and Roger Williams Law School. After law school, Parrillo served as a law clerk for Chief Justice Paul Suttell of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and then served as a public defender for 5 years before going into private practice as a criminal defense lawyer. In addition, Parrillo serves as an elected committee member to the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and as a member on the Justinian Law Society of Rhode Island. He lives in East Providence with his wife, son and dog. He will fill the seat vacated by Judge Christine Jabour.
Workers’ Compensation Court
Moira E. Reynolds has been nominated to the to the Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Court. A graduate of Providence College and Suffolk University School of Law, Reynolds now lives in North Kingstown with her husband and two children. For over two decades, she has been staff counsel to The Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. She will fill the seat vacated by Judge George Salem.
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Rhode Island climate goals may require statewide ban on new gas hookups
by Lisa Prevost, Energy News Network Rhode Island’s top utility regulator says a statewide moratorium on new gas hookups is on the table as the state works to meet its ambitious climate goals. “That doesn’t mean it happens tomorrow,” said Ronald Gerwatowski, chair of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, during a proceeding Thursday. “But […]
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How gun commerce has changed in Massachusetts since 2010
Gun sales and ownership have been hotly debated topics in the U.S. for decades, with many interested parties vying to be heard. The 1994 federal assault weapons ban was vigorously lobbied against by the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups, which argued that the legislation violated the Second Amendment. When the ban expired […]
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VIDEO: Tuskegee Airman discusses his distinguished service as part of NUWC Division Newport’s Black History Month celebration
One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, Brig. Gen. Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse, visited the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport on Feb. 6, 2023, to share his military and life experiences with the workforce as part of the command’s Black History Month celebration. The 96-year-old Roxbury, Massachusetts, native spoke with insight, sentimentality, and humor as […]
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How gun commerce has changed in Rhode Island since 2010
Gun sales and ownership have been hotly debated topics in the U.S. for decades, with many interested parties vying to be heard. The 1994 federal assault weapons ban was vigorously lobbied against by the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups, which argued that the legislation violated the Second Amendment. When the ban expired […]
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Baby boomer baby names that have gone out of style
Some names seem so ubiquitous that it is hard to imagine they will ever be anything other than everywhere in the popular consciousness. However, a look at the history of popular names shows such enduring popularity is far from given. When the parents of the baby boomer generation came back from World War II, an […]
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Attorney General Neronha halts deceptive Certificate of Good Standing scheme targeting Rhode Island businesses
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced on Wednesday that the Office of the Attorney General has taken enforcement action to halt a deceptive scheme that scammed more than 1,000 businesses and non-profit organizations in the state. The scheme, run by Centurion Filing Services, involved inducing businesses to pay an exorbitant fee for a […]