As CVS employees await word on whether their jobs will be among the nearly 3,000 the Rhode Island-based company plans to eliminate, Woonsocket Mayor Christopher Beauchamp says the city should be able to weather the layoffs, though concerns remain for the future. CVS Health, which is headquartered in Woonsocket, said Monday that it plans to […]
Economy
Posted inEconomy, Local, Metro Desk
No contractors have submitted bids to rebuild the Washington Bridge
After coming up empty-handed, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation chalks up the lack of bids to the ambitious August 2026 timeline for the project to rebuild the bridge. The initial request for proposals was publicized in April and focused on incentivizing bidders with cash for completing a bridge rebuild by August of 2026. It […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment, The Weekly Catch
What’s in, what’s out of Rhode Island House budget, Newport debates fate of Easton’s Beach, and more
The debate over this year’s budget is underway in the Rhode Island House. With federal COVID-19 relief money running out, lawmakers have some tough decisions to make. Our own Ian Donnis and the Boston Globe’s Dan McGowan join us to discuss the likely winners and losers in this year’s budget. Also, Easton’s Beach – the only public beach in Newport – is disappearing. After extensive damage from three severe storms this winter, local leaders and residents are debating how to preserve the beach, or whether to save it at all. And a new exhibit at the Newport Historical Society centers the stories of the city’s Black residents from the 17th-19th centuries. That and more on this episode of The Weekly Catch.
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Stories
Farmers Wait, And Wait, For Guest Workers Amid H-2A Visa Delays
For the third year in a row, the H-2A visa program is running behind. That’s left farmers waiting for planters and pickers even as the harvest season is well underway.
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Stories, Technology
After Departure Of Uber, Lyft In Austin, New Companies Enter The Void
Earlier this month, voters in Austin, Texas, rejected an effort to overturn the city’s rules for ride-hailing companies. Uber and Lyft tried to prevent fingerprinting of their drivers, and now both have left town. A few other ride-share companies have popped up to help fill the void. NPR explores how people are getting around town without Uber and Lyft.