Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Noronha is co-leading a group of 20 attorneys general challenging the Trump administration’s threat to withhold government funding from states that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Back in February, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation announced that in order for states like Rhode […]
Transportation
Posted inLocal, Newport Bureau, Transportation
Rhode Island authorizes Newport Pell Bridge risk assessment
The Rhode Island agency that oversees the Newport Pell Bridge on Monday released its response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommended risk assessment following last year’s deadly bridge collapse in Baltimore. The four-lane suspension bridge linking Aquidneck Island and Jamestown is one of 68 bridges nationwide that the NTSB in March recommended for a […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Local, Transportation
Crumbling bridges and sweet flavors: Warwick Ice Cream’s delicious take on Rhode Island’s infrastructure
When he first heard the news that state officials had condemned the Washington Bridge, Tom Bucci senior immediately thought: ice cream. “Crumbling bridge, sorta like crumbling ice cream,” he mused. On the spot, he came up with a name. Now he needed a flavor. The list of ingredients practically rattled off the tongue. “So, we […]
Posted inBusiness, Local, Transportation
Breaking Point: A tale of two Rhode Island cities
Hospitality businesses are a more than $5 billion industry in Rhode Island. But the closure of the westbound Washington Bridge has commerce as well as commuters in a jam. According to an economic impact study conducted earlier this year by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association and Salve Regina University, the greatest impact was on Providence […]
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk, Transportation
Advocates push back against potential RIPTA hub sites
Advocates are pushing back against the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) after its board introduced to the public a slimmed down list of potential new bus hub locations: the smaller lawn in front of the Providence train station, and the larger lawn behind it. Amy Glidden, co-chair of the Rhode Island Transit Riders, said […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
McKee says federal money for Washington Bridge is secured
The Trump administration has signed off on $220 million in previously appropriated federal grants to help replace the westbound Washington Bridge, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee announced during a hastily arranged late afternoon news conference at the Statehouse on Thursday. The governor thanked President Trump and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “The full funding for […]
Posted inBusiness, Local, Transportation
What it’s like to (finally) ride the train from New Bedford to Boston
Lea Jarrett rode the train for love. A law student at Boston College, her boyfriend usually has to drive her up to Boston after her weekend visits. But on Monday, he dropped Jarrett at the station in New Bedford. “This is kind of a gamechanger,” Jarrett said. Jarrett was one of about 60 people who […]
Posted inLocal, Transportation
Neronha says accountability on Washington Bridge will take time
Peter Alviti, director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, agreed almost two months ago to do an interview about the Washington Bridge. Altivi’s office canceled the interview three days before it was supposed to happen, so we instead talked with Attorney General Peter Neronha. Here are some highlights from the interview. You can watch […]
Posted inLocal, Transportation
Who’s responsible for the Washington Bridge failure?
More than one year after the westbound Washington Bridge was abruptly shut down, critical questions remain unanswered. “Folks really want to know why did this happen?” said state Rep. June Speakman (D- District 68). She represents constituents in Bristol and Warren, on the east side of the bridge. The westbound Washington Bridge carried traffic on […]
Posted inArts And Culture, The Weekly Catch, Transportation
Washington Bridge accountability, federal workers’ uncertain future, and more
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to hire back fired government workers. They’re getting paid, but they’re not doing any work for now. Our South Coast Bureau reporter Ben Berke tells us how federal employees are reacting. Also, is enough being done to hold government officials accountable for the Washington Bridge debacle? We dive deeper into that question with Michelle San Miguel from Rhode Island PBS Weekly. And in this week’s Artscape: we meet North Providence knifemaker, artist and fishmonger Joyce Kutty. That and more on this week’s show.
