Rhode Island

Jennifer Van Hook, Penn State Undocumented immigration is a key issue in American politics, but it can be hard to nail down the basic facts about who these immigrants are, where they live and how their numbers have changed in the past few decades. I study the demographics of the U.S. immigrant population and have […]

Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) has been named Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment within the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for the 119th Congress. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over a broad range of environmental issues, including research conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, environmental standards, climate change research and development, and the […]

The City of Newport is hosting two important workshops this week to discuss potential zoning changes and utilities planning. The Planning Board and City Council are meeting jointly on Wednesday, February 5, at 5:30 p.m. They’ll be talking about proposed updates to the city’s Zoning Code, with a focus on housing and development issues. The […]

Rhode Island’s economy experienced strong growth in several key economic indicators in the fourth quarter of 2024, although there were some signs of weakening, according to the Rhode Island Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Quarterly Briefing, released today by The Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies at Bryant University and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure […]

Two Rhode Island lawmakers are pushing for an increase in the “circuit breaker” tax credit to help low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth Bristol) and Rep. Megan Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton) are sponsoring a bill to raise the eligibility limit from $39,275 to $50,000 and boost […]

The City of Newport is accepting applications for dinghy and kayak rack spaces at King Park, Wellington Ave., and Willow Street until February 28. The Newport Harbormaster’s Office is overseeing the process, which will use a lottery system to allocate spaces. The drawing is set for March. To apply, you need to be at least […]

For most politicians, the fourth quarter of 2024 was a relatively quiet fundraising period, except for those perceived as possible gubernatorial candidates. Locally, from the legislature to town and city councils campaign accounts remained stable, with little fundraising and few expenses in a period that included the 2024 election. January 31 was the deadline for […]

The Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority has announced several lane closures for the Newport Claiborne Pell Bridge and Route 138 Connector during the week of Feb. 2-8. Motorists traveling on the Newport Pell Bridge will encounter lane closures in both directions on separate days. An eastbound right lane closure is scheduled for Feb. 4 […]

Rhode Island House Representative Lauren Carson has released her 2025 constituent survey, which will be available online through February 12. Carson represents Newport House District 75. Rep. Carson says, “Speaking with my constituents throughout the year and listening to your concerns is key to my work representing District 75. As your representative, I am deeply […]

Newport Public Schools’ Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain shared updates on the Rogers High School construction project and other educational initiatives during her monthly live virtual conversation with What’sUpNewp on Wednesday. The new Rogers High School building now has electricity, marking a significant milestone in the construction process. Landscaping work has begun on Wickham Avenue, and […]

With threats that federal immigration officials may seek information or even come to school grounds, education officials across the country, including Rhode Island, are developing plans to help protect students and their families. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) undertook raids shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in as president and rescinded guidelines that prevented immigration […]

Starting February 3, Naval Station Newport will begin a two-week security exercise. The drills, known as Exercise Citadel Shield and Exercise Solid Curtain 2025, will run through February 14. These exercises bring together Navy security forces, installation fire and emergency services, and local first responders. They’re designed to improve coordination and readiness. If you’re in […]

This story was published by the Town of Middletown and originally appeared here. Town and school officials are working closely together to find reasonable solutions for a significant anticipated drop in state aid for  Fiscal 2026. On Monday night in Town Hall, the Town Council and School Committee sat down for the first time publicly to […]

By AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said vaccines are not safe. His support for abortion access has made conservatives uncomfortable. And farmers across the Midwest are nervous over his talk of banning corn syrup and pesticides from America’s food supply. The 71-year-old, whose famous name and family tragedies have […]

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority has just released its weekly travel advisories for January 26 to February 1, 2025. If you’re planning to use any of the bridges in the area, here’s what you need to know: Newport Claiborne Pell Bridge: Expect westbound right lane closures on Tuesday, January 28, from 7:30 a.m. […]

The Portsmouth Town Council is gearing up for its next meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025, with a packed agenda covering a range of topics from budget presentations to community development initiatives. The meeting, scheduled for 6:00 PM at the Portsmouth High School Auditorium, will kick off with a joint session between the Town Council […]

Newport is taking steps to tackle transportation issues during major events, with plans for a seasonal shuttle service and off-site parking requirements on the table. City Clerk Laura Swistak recently presented recommendations from an internal working group to the Newport City Council. The group, made up of representatives from various city departments, has proposed five […]