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Gov. Gina Raimondo speaks at Thursday's briefing.

Governor: Stay-at-home ends Saturday — 'slowly'

Rhode Island’s stay-at-home order will indeed end on Saturday, Governor Gina Raimondo announced at her … more

By Bruce Burdett | 5/7/20

Joe Estrella Jr. of Fall River offers an elbow (long before Covid-19 eradicated handshakes) to a parade watcher along Hope Street during the 2019 Bristol Fourth of July parade.

Bristol parade? Committee officially taking wait-and-see approach

Michelle Martins doesn’t know what this year’s Fourth of July celebration is going to look like. It’s not a position the Bristol Fourth of July Committee chairwoman anticipated … more

By Christy Nadalin | 5/7/20

Thank you, teachers!

Distance learning has been a challenging time for all involved, but the Wilbur & McMahon School team has been doing what they can to ease the burden on families – something that has not … more

5/7/20

Barrington High School students Owen Crain (left) and Xan Maddock-Mark share a split screen during a recent Sunrise Show broadcast. BHS students have continued to broadcast the program despite the switch to distance learning.

Barrington High School Sunrise Show embraces virtual world

The Sunrise team at Barrington High School is still working hard each day to bring their fellow students the news, despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the news … more

By Josh Bickford | 5/7/20

For Portsmouth High's Class of 2020, a senior year interrupted

PORTSMOUTH — No prom. No traditional graduation. No senior picnic. No spring sports. No final play or concert. For members of the Class of 2020, … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/7/20

Council Chairman Nathan Calouro guided the board through approval of a 2020-21 budget, with appreciation to the town employees who put it together under unusual circumstances.

Bristol passes budget with 2.55% tax increase

One of the few certainties in life is taxes, and Bristol residents now have certainty about their tax bills next year. On Monday evening, the Bristol Town Council held a short meeting via Zoom and … more

By Scott Pickering | 5/7/20

East Providence parks will reopen with some restrictions May 8

EAST PROVIDENCE — While parks and recreational areas will reopen in city later this week, certain usages of those spaces will continue to be restricted, according to a supplemental executive … more

5/6/20

Portsmouth High School senior Steve Alix safely collects his graduation cap and gown outside the main office on Wednesday, May 6.

Portsmouth High seniors collect caps and gowns at 'drive-through'

PORTSMOUTH — Problem: How to safely distribute graduation caps and gowns to Portsmouth High School seniors in the midst of a pandemic? more

By Jim McGaw | 5/6/20

A composite graphic showing the location of the Settler’s Green development.

Warren group forms to fight Settler’s Green housing proposal

A group formed to fight the Settler’s Green housing development plan off Kinnicutt Avenue has amassed nearly 700 members and has raised close to $1,000 in the four days since it was … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/1/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo at her daily briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, May 1. Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the R.I. Department of Health, is at left.

Governor still aiming to lift R.I. stay-at-home order on May 8

PROVIDENCE — Despite the fact that surrounding states have extended their stay-at-home directives due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rhode Island is still sticking with its plan to let Gov. … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/1/20

Katie Hutchison, foreground, and Dawn Oliveira have collaborated on a new podcast, Design Me a House. They are pictured here in the podcast studio at the What Cheer Writers Club in Providence, in the days before social distancing mandates forced them to produce the podcast remotely from their own homes.

Local design pros join forces to talk home design

When Katie Hutchison and Dawn Oliveira, longtime friends and collaborators, first conceived of their podcast, Design Me a House, they certainly did not imagine that they would be launching it at a … more

By Christy Nadalin | 5/1/20

Town manager defends his use of police/fire fitness center

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha is defending his use of the public safety building’s gym for his daily workouts. While gyms and fitness centers across the state and beyond remain closed … more

By Josh Bickford | 4/30/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo and First Gentleman Andy Moffit talk to children about the coronavirus pandemic during their April 30 live broadcast.

Governor hints at the 'new normal' for schools, sports, camps, kids

The same-old, same-old questions about healthcare, hotlines and hospital beds were pushed to the side for one day on Thursday, when Rhode Island children replaced the regular pool of coronavirus … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/30/20

DEM issues new temporary license for direct sale of some seafood

PROVIDENCE — To help foster the continued viability of the Rhode Island commercial seafood industry during the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) … more

4/30/20

Fate of casino revenue for Tiverton remains unknown

With COVID-19 upending budgets everywhere, Tiverton could face up to $2.2 million in lost revenue this fiscal year, should they not receive guaranteed monies from the state for the Tiverton Casino … more

By Kristen Ray | 4/30/20

Almost all COVID-positive residents at Bristol nursing home now recovered

Bristol residents were surprised last week when the state began releasing names of nursing homes with COVID cases, to find St. Elizabeth Manor on the list, a facility which is home to many family and … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/30/20

Georgia MacDougall would have performed the lead in the spring musical at Mt. Hope High School. She’s now looking ahead to college in the fall — while wondering if she’ll even be allowed to go to college.

The Class of 2020 — With their senior spring gone ... what comes next?

They are like every other senior class: they are athletes and academics, artists, community organizers, and leaders. Many of them are all of these things and more. They have hopes and dreams, and … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/30/20

Gov. Gina Raymond announces Thursday that traditional schooling won't resume this school year.

Governor: Home learning the rule in RI for rest of this school year

Distance learning — “How long will it last?“ is the question Governor Gina Raimondo said she has heard more than any other. And Thursday came her answer … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/23/20

Rockwell Elementary School Principal Tara McAuliffe talks about the transition to distance learning during a Zoom interview inside her house.

Rockwell report: Through screens, hard work and creativity, the learning continues

Every Rhode Island educator is swimming in the deep end of the pool these days, learning how to teach children from their kitchens while students are home in their bedrooms, all of them surrounded by … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/23/20

Barrington High School earns top-200 ranking

U.S. News and World Report has again ranked Barrington High School near the top of its list of the best high schools in America . Barrington High School ranked number 199 out of more than 17,000 … more

By Josh Bickford | 4/23/20

Dr. Deborah DiBiase, at home in her new “office,” talks about the challenges and triumphs of distance learning during a “Zoom” interview.

Dr. D says: ‘I miss the kids!’

Dr. D, as she’s commonly known, gets an unexpected kiss from one of her dogs during a “Zoom” interview. Mt. Hope High School Principal Deb DiBiase has an office familiar to most … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/23/20

A drone shot of the Mt. Hope High School stadium Monday night shows the football field engulfed in light, plus a string of vehicles traveling up Chestnut Street.

School, town and students honor the Mt. Hope Class of 2020

Deborah DiBiase stood alone on the field of the Mt. Hope High School football stadium, engulfed in light. It was just before 8:20 p.m. on Monday, April 20, and the high school principal was live and … more

By Kristen Ray | 4/22/20

Coming into her first year ever of teaching, Tiverton Middle School science teacher Cortney Kingsley was already fairly comfortable incorporating technology into her classroom. It’s been “amazing,” she said, how much information has been shared amongst staff since the beginning of distance learning.

Going the distance in Tiverton

Cortney Kingsley is sitting on her couch, laptop propped up in front of her. Eight months into her education career, and the Tiverton Middle School science teacher is conducting class from her living … more

Kristen Ray | 4/22/20

Warren Fire Chief James Sousa loads donated CPAP and BiPAP machines at the fire department Monday morning.

Warren Fire Department collecting CPAPS for re-use as ventilators

The apparatus bay at the Warren Fire Department is slowly filling with used CPAP and BiPAP machines donated by Warren residents, and could soon see frontline use in the fight against the Covid-19 … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/20

The Portsmouth Town Council meets virtually via the Zoom application Monday night, April 21. The top row (from left) shows Town Clerk Jennifer West, Council President Kevin Aguiar and Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. together at Town Hall, and council members Daniela Abbott and J. Mark Ryan videoconferencing from home. In the middle row (from left) are council members Andrew Kelly, Keith Hamilton and Linda Ujifusa. Council member Len Katzman, Human Resources Director Lisa Puglia and Town Solicitor Kevin Gavin (from left) are in the bottom row.

Pandemic may spawn Portsmouth school surplus of $500K to $1M

PORTSMOUTH — The School Department is expected to finish the fiscal year with a surplus between $500,000 and $1 million due to cost savings in services not being provided during the … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/22/20