Several Northeast states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, announced a new regional partnership on Thursday meant to pool resources and expertise on public health. The group, called the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, will share information about emergency preparedness, infectious diseases, vaccine recommendations and other topics, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. “We look […]
rhode island
Posted inEducation, Local
Rhode Island lawmakers pass legislation to ban cell phones in schools
The Rhode Island House of Representatives on Monday unanimously approved a bill that would ban student use of cell phones during school hours. The state Senate passed an identical bill in May, leaving Gov. Dan McKee’s signature as the final hurdle for the policy. Under the legislation, Rhode Island school districts would have to craft […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Local
Meet Keith Stokes, Rhode Island’s new historian laureate
Keith Stokes was named Rhode Island’s new historian laureate in April. As part of his role, Stokes will deliver lectures at special events and ceremonies, and promote civics education in the state. Stokes is a ninth-generation Rhode Islander. He’s also a former Newport city councilor, a consulting historian for the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, […]
Posted inEducation, Health, Local
Proposed URI medical school could fill doctor shortage, boost economy, draft report finds
Creating a medical school at the University of Rhode Island would help to address the shortage of primary care doctors in the state, boost the economy and offer other benefits, according to a draft version of a consultant’s report. The draft said that between 200,000 and 400,000 Rhode Islanders lack access to primary care services, […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Metro Desk
Long-awaited ECHO Village shelter set to open this week in Providence
A bed with a colorful quilt, an AC unit, a heater, a shelf to dry dishes — these are among the amenities homeless people can look forward to at ECHO Village, the pallet-shelter community opening in Providence this week. After years of conversation and months of delays, organizers expect people experiencing homelessness will finally start […]
Posted inStories
Winter storm warning in effect for Rhode Island
Check parking bans, closings, and cancellations here. Gov. Dan McKee’s office says the state is prepared for the impact of the winter storm coming through the Northeast region this weekend. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation, or RIDOT, has 200 state trucks and over 250 vendor trucks available to respond, McKee’s office said in a […]
Posted inHousing, Local
How racist restrictions in housing deeds helped shape where Rhode Islanders live today
Mark Brown was flipping through property records in Warwick City Hall when he encountered something unexpected. As part of his volunteer work with the local historic cemetery commission, he was looking to see if a small cemetery had a right-of-way attached to it. What he found in a deed from 1940 for a neighboring house […]
Posted inEn Español, Housing
¿Qué sabes sobre el alojamiento asequible en Rhode Island? Dinos.
The Public ‘s Radio quiere oÃr de ustedes sobre cómo están tratando acceder a alojamiento asequible. A medida que el estado de Rhode Island invierte millones de dólares en la construcción de miles de nuevos alojamientos asequibles, queremos entender qué sucede una vez que se construyen las unidades y las personas solicitan vivir en ellas. […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Judge sides with property owners in blow to new shoreline access law
A Rhode Island Superior Court judge says the state’s new shoreline access law has resulted in the unconstitutional taking of private beachfront property without just compensation to landowners. In two decisions filed Friday, Associate Justice Sarah Taft-Carter denied Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s motion to throw out cases brought by property owners in South […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Biden, Trump face little competition in Rhode Island primary
Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump face little competition in Rhode Island’s presidential primary on Tuesday, although pro-Palestinian activists hope to send a message with their vote. Four Democratic and six Republican presidential candidates are on the ballot, but many of them have dropped out of the race, including Democrat Dean Phillips and Republicans […]
