On the second floor of a multi-family house in Central Falls in early February, Henry Severino, a construction specialist with Rhode Island Housing, was focused on doors. The damage was obvious: paint chipping off the frames, layers of old paint peeking through after years of wear and tear. “Let’s replace these doors because the kid […]
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Posted inArts And Culture, Book club, Local
Book Club: Author John Barylick’s ‘Killer Show’ tells how the Station nightclub fire resulted in ‘America’s deadliest rock concert’
This interview had been edited for length and clarity. Transcript: Luis Hernandez: It was Feb. 20, 2003, when a fire broke out in the Station nightclub in West Warwick. The hard rock band Great White was performing when pyrotechnics lit part of the ceiling on fire, leading to a blaze that killed 100 people and […]
Posted inLabor, Local, Transportation
RIPTA board member Pat Crowley on how the agency can avoid proposed service cuts
Rhode Island’s public transit authority, RIPTA, has been making headlines lately. Proposed service cuts, angry riders, an embattled CEO, and debate over where to locate Providence’s central bus hub.
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk
Providence planners have released a new map showing how the city will grow
Once per decade, the city planners and lawmakers in Providence get a chance to rewrite the plan that guides how neighborhoods are shaped, efforts to control housing costs, and where commercial real estate can be built. That once in a decade opportunity is now. The City of Providence’s Planning Department is beginning to release parts […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Report mulls measures to address complaints on RI’s 2011 pension overhaul
A report prepared by an advisory group to Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa lays out a series of possible options for tweaking the 2011 overhaul of the state pension system. But none of the options are inexpensive. Lawmakers will need to reconcile the possible effects on the state budget with the anger of a […]
Posted inHousing, Local, South Coast Bureau
As home prices rise in New Bedford, is gentrification really to blame?
At a rally outside New Bedford City Hall last April, protesters shared stories about rent increases in their neighborhoods that seem to march in lockstep with the construction of a new train line to Boston that is scheduled to open this summer. Viola Pina, a local landlord and former politician, blamed the train for attracting […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Newport Bureau
Study finds Newport’s zoning is likely an obstacle to affordable housing development
More than 50 people packed an open-house meeting at Newport City Hall Thursday night to learn the results of a new study assessing available housing stock. Patricia Reynolds, Newport’s director of planning and economic development, welcomed those gathered and explained the background on the housing issues and intention of the meeting. She noted that the […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Feb. 23, 2024
Oh the fun the Follies would have had with the Washington Bridge! You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** STORY OF THE WEEK: On Wednesday, […]
Posted inLocal, On Sports
Undefeated RIC women are making basketball history
This story was updated Feb. 26 to reflect the results of the Little East Tournament and the selection of the NCAA Division III tournament field. What a basketball season for the 14 young women wearing the maroon, gold and white of Rhode Island College. They are 27-0, the Little East Conference tournament champions for the […]
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk, Transportation
RIPTA boss hopeful driver raises will prevent service cuts
The board governing RIPTA voted Thursday to increase driver salaries 16.6% from a starting pay of $21.71 per hour to $25.33. The pay raise is intended to address a driver shortage at the agency. RIPTA is short 20 drivers, and because of that, according to RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian, is considering cutting service to 11 […]