Before everyone was talking about the Washington Bridge, the buzz in East Providence was about the Henderson Bridge. The new bridge opened last November, built to address previous structural deficiencies, and the redesign will ultimately leave some 25 acres of land for future development. While not everyone loves the new rotary coming off the bridge, […]
Local
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk, Transportation
RIDOT will add two new lanes over the Washington Bridge
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday plans to introduce a new traffic pattern to improve travel times over the Washington Bridge in Providence. State transportation officials say they plan to add one new eastbound and one new westbound lane in eight weeks. That will bring the total number of lanes from four […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
What you need to know to vote in the Massachusetts presidential primary
On March 5, Super Tuesday, voters in Massachusetts and 14 other states will decide on the presidential candidates for the November general election, as well as a handful of other offices that will appear on the ballot. Here’s what you need to know to vote in the Massachusetts presidential primary election. Important dates: How do […]
Posted inImmigration, Local
New driver’s license law creates backlog for Mass. community group helping undocumented immigrants apply
For over six months now, undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts have been able to get driver’s licenses, under the Work and Family Mobility Act that took effect last July. The controversial measure took nearly two-decades to pass and allows people to obtain a learner’s permit or driver’s license regardless of their immigration status. One of them […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Newport Bureau
Newport’s housing woes put strain on municipal workers
At 8 a.m., just before the first class of the day, students poured into the hallway at Thompson Middle School. Their voices buzzed and bounced off the ceiling and floor as they talked about the girls’ basketball team’s big win then slammed their lockers and headed to class. Eighth-grade social studies teacher Katie Behan stood […]
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk, Transportation
Here’s what bus riders think of RIPTA’s proposed service cuts
Eighteen-year-old Angela Sarmiento is a regular on RIPTA bus 18. She uses it to get from her home in Cranston to school, or to her job at a retirement home on the East Side of Providence. She says it’s pretty reliable. “It comes on time. It’s never late,” she said. But Sarmiento’s commute might get […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Feb. 16, 2024
The more chocolate that can be worked into legislative publicity efforts, the better, I say. 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 […]
Posted inLabor, Local, Metro Desk
ABC6 workers announce union campaign
Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts workers at local news station ABC6 are launching union organizing efforts, according to two employees with the unit’s organizing committee. The workers, who want to join the Communications Workers of America’s broadcast arm, The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET), say they are calling for a union because […]
Posted inArticle, Criminal Justice, Local, South Coast Bureau
Judge rejects appeal based on misconduct claims made in anonymous letters
Anonymous letters accused a New Bedford judge of having an inappropriate relationship with a prosecutor whose cases he oversaw. A man seeking to overturn his conviction on those grounds saw his appeal dismissed on Wednesday due to a lack of credible evidence supporting the allegations.
Posted inLocal
Rhode Island man charged with setting fires at predominantly Black church in North Providence
A Rhode Island man was arrested Thursday, accused of setting multiple fires around the Shiloh Gospel Temple in North Providence on Sunday. The majority of the congregation is Black, the church’s administrator told investigators. Kevin Colantonio of North Providence is in federal custody and charged under a federal arson statute, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha […]