Dec. 21 was the opening day of a free ferry between Bristol and Providence. The state started the temporary service to help ease traffic following the closure of the I-195 Bridge connecting the east bay and Providence. It was a brisk but still dawn in Providence as the first passengers filtered off the first boat […]
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Posted inLocal, South County Bureau, Stories
Weekapaug Fire District takes new legal action against Westerly and Rhode Island
The Weekapaug Fire District filed a lawsuit in Rhode Island Superior Court on Dec. 6, arguing the state’s review of the Sand Trail at the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach for potential designation as a public right-of-way to the ocean should be closed by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council. Weekapaug’s suit says the review that […]
Posted inLocal, Stories
Without a work permit, a young migrant in New Bedford worries about her debt
Alondra was a bit nervous. Wearing a dress she borrowed from a friend, she was called up to speak in front of more than 300 people at a banquet celebrating the 15th anniversary of a labor advocacy group in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The 16-year-old from Guatemala made a plea to the audience, which included officials […]
Posted inHousing, Local, South County Bureau
New RI housing laws go into effect January 1. Will they help fix the affordable housing crisis?
Narragansett resident Rupert Friday wants people to know he’s not a snob, and he’s not a one-percenter who wants to fight affordable housing development. He’s retired from a career in land use planning and the nonprofit sector – a background he draws on as a member of the town planning board. His wife is a […]
Posted inLocal, Newport Bureau
Washington Bridge closure causing traffic backups on Aquidneck Island
With the emergency closure of the Washington Bridge in Providence, Newport and Middletown residents are now contending with increased traffic and gridlock as drivers use an alternative route through Aquidneck Island, particularly during the commuting hours. The backups are compounding existing bottlenecks caused by ongoing construction on the Pell Bridge. Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong had […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, Local, Stories
CVS, Walmart and Walgreens to pay Rhode Island more than $56 million in opioid settlements
Three national drugstore chains will pay Rhode Island more than $56 million as part of the state’s final round of legal settlements with companies accused of flooding communities with addictive opioid painkillers. The settlement money from CVS, Walmart and Walgreens is expected to begin flowing into Rhode Island in early 2024, and continue through 2037, […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local, The Weekly Catch
Rhode Island’s many aging bridges, Sen. Whitehouse on COP28, and more
The abrupt closure of the Washington Bridge on Monday affected thousands of drivers, in some cases adding hours to their commutes. We hear from two engineers about the state’s large number of aging bridges, and how to address the issue. And U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) just got back from COP28, the UN climate summit in Dubai. He talks about key takeaways and what he’d like to see happen next. Also, a new report connects the dots between fossil fuel interests, climate denial think tanks, and local groups collaborating to oppose offshore wind farms in the northeast. Plus, we look at a few holiday theater productions, and talk about what’s to come in Rhode Island politics in 2024. That and more on this episode of The Weekly Catch.
Posted inEpisode, Local, Political Roundtable, Politics
Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore on voting, state archives, and the traffic this week in East Providence
Rhode Island’s top official with responsibility for voting-related issues is Secretary of State Gregg Amore. So how does he feel about the outlook for small-d democracy as America hurtles toward 2024? What can be done to boost confidence in elections and dispel misinformation? And how did Amore, an East Providence resident, fare amid the traffic nightmare caused this week by the closing of the westbound part of the George Washington Bridge?
Posted inLocal, Politics, South Coast Bureau, Stories
Fairhaven’s first Black selectman will not seek re-election, citing racial discrimination
“The time has come for me to stop taking time away from my family to serve people who either don’t want me here or aren’t willing to stand up to their friends and call out the racist acts that are happening in front of their face,” Correy said.
Posted inLocal, On Sports
Mount Saint Charles leaving Interscholastic League for prep ranks
A century of making high-school sports history in Rhode Island will end next spring for Mount Saint Charles Academy. More than 100 championship plaques mounted on a hallway wall — and glass trophy cases filled with hardware — will remind future Mount Saint Charles students of the glory their predecessors earned while competing in the […]
