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Editorial: Bravo, teachers, educators and schools!

Rhode Island’s rapid shift to distance learning is remarkable. Teachers, principals, department heads and IT directors, all of them balancing their own personal turmoil and family anxiety, … more

4/2/20

Brian Weeks of Carlone’s Florist brings some flowers out to the delivery van Tuesday afternoon. Deemed a “non-critical” business by the State of Rhode Island, the flower shop was ordered to close its doors through at least April 13 to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The business is still filling delivery orders, however.

Doing business — or not — during COVID-19 in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Shop on East Main Road celebrated its 39th year in business on Wednesday, April 1. more

By Kristen Ray and Jim McGaw | 4/2/20

Letter: Beware the risks of increased wireless radiation

With millions of Americans now working and learning at home, many of us are spending more and more time online. While the internet offers us many opportunities for communication, exploration and … more

4/2/20

Governor Raimondo announced a new program to gather information from all people visiting Rhode Island from New York.

Governor: State Police will be stopping cars with New York license plates

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced on Thursday, March 26, an aggressive new program to gather information about anyone traveling from New York to Rhode Island, in an effort to limit the … more

3/26/20

Gov. activates Guard, says there is no plan for a total lockdown

During her daily press briefing, Gov. Gina Raimondo made one big announcement and answered the biggest question on everyone’s mind: She has no plan to order a full lockdown in Rhode … more

3/20/20

Rhode Island shutting down schools for one week

Rhode Island public school students will be staying home next week as the state government steps up measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Shortly after a conference call with school … more

By Scott Pickering | 3/13/20

Letter: Only fines will curb speeding problem

To the editor: I have been a professional driver for over 40 years, operating in 45 states. Only one thing gets drivers to slow down, strict consistent enforcement. Unless it costs them … more

3/5/20

Editorial — Virus ... Stop the secrecy

Few weapons will prove as potent in our defense against this latest virus as information — places to avoid, health precautions to take, anything to help weather the storm until it … more

3/4/20

East Bay's Kat Barker moves past a Burrillville defender during Game 1 of the playoff series.

Eagles win Game 3 thriller, advance to hockey finals

The East Bay Co-op girls hockey team is headed to the Division I finals. After losing the first game in a best-of-three series against Burrillville, the Eagles played clutch hockey and … more

3/3/20

Letter: Letter on coronavirus in China was ‘pure propaganda’

To the editor: My name is John A. Bagley, age 22, and I am a resident of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and a student senator at the University of Rhode Island. As the new year started rolling along, I … more

2/23/20

Letter: Gun bans make us less safe

To the editor: Two armed men wearing hoodies and masks broke into a Florida home and began viciously beating a man in front of his wife and 11-year-old daughter. His wife, eight months pregnant, … more

2/21/20

Kevin Spencer with his wife, Tian. He is finishing his master’s degree in China, while she is studying in the UK. The couple will return to the United States this fall.

How I am surviving in China

Quarantined in a highly censored and monitored country while the spread of a possibly deadly virus is on the loose. Well, that’s where I am now. My name is Kevin, age 26, and I am an … more

By Kevin Spencer | 2/19/20

Workers from John Roccio Corp. have been busy relocating utility lines in preparation for complete replacement of the Silver Creek Bridge.

Bristol bridge will be one-way for most of the next 6 months

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will temporarily close the northbound travel lane on Hope Street (Route 114) at the Silver Creek Bridge in Bristol on Monday, March 2 to begin … more

2/18/20

Question over AP exam fees sparks debate in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — A conversation about the future of Portsmouth High School’s AP exam policy at a recent School Committee meeting spiraled into a debate over who’s responsible to pay … more

By Kristen Ray | 2/18/20

Letter: TCI will hurt business, add taxes and fuel exodus

To the editor: The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) is another “wonderful” idea promoted by our governor and the East Side (Providence) think tank in an attempt to extract … more

2/18/20

Commentary: Saddened masterpiece ‘Superman’ building is being thrown into the dustbin

Paris is endeavoring to repair and restore Notre Dame Cathedral. We here in Providence have neglected our only Skyscraper, the most poetic and "philosophical" structure in our downtown. It saddens me … more

By Mike Fink | 2/14/20

Editorial: Ban the balloons

At first glance, Rep. Susan Donovan’s effort to ban the intentional release of balloons seems like a silly pursuit far from the core interests of Rhode Islanders. Peruse the photos of fishermen … more

2/8/20

Fishermen have been capturing images of what they find while out on the water.

Fishermen come out in support of balloon-release bill

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday, Jan. 28, on legislation, introduced by Rep. Susan Donovan (D-69), which attempts to protect the environment and wildlife by banning the … more

By Christy Nadalin | 2/8/20

Letter: May God bless you and guide you, President Trump

To the editor: I have always been proud to be an American. I am thankful for the beautiful country that I live in. After watching the State of the Union, I cannot express the emotion, love and … more

2/6/20

Letter: Loose balloons pollute our waterways and our fish

Thank you for bringing attention to my legislation to ban the release of balloons into the environment. I would like to add a few more reasons we need this bill: released balloons not only pose a … more

2/6/20

By making high-end, sustainably-fashioned furnishings accessible, artist Jeff Soderbergh hopes to inspire others to take small steps toward greener living.

Local artist finding beauty in reusing

The showroom and gallery inside Jeff Soderbergh’s new studio at 549 Park Ave. in Portsmouth is bright and airy, intimately sized but expertly outfitted with only a few select, show-stopping … more

Kristen Ray | 2/1/20

Letter: Legal gun owners are not the problem

To the editor: On Monday evening (Jan. 27), Tim White did an article on the Rhode Island Blue Card. He started out by saying that due to the shooting in Westerly, he wanted to know if the … more

1/31/20

Brian Ganley (left) and Melissa Cotta both spoke to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority board of directors recently, urging them to investigate how to install suicide prevention barriers on the state's tall bridges.

Advocates celebrate bill to put suicide barriers on bridge

Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr., a Warwick Democrat, has introduced legislation that would require safety barriers or netting on the three tallest bridges in the state. The bill (2020-H 7366) would … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/31/20

Rep. Susan Donovan is proposing a bill that would ban the intentional release of balloons, such as these during a fund-raiser in Colt State Park in Bristol in October 2015.

Donovan bill would ban intentional release of balloons

PROVIDENCE — The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing tomorrow, Jan. 28, on legislation introduced by Rep. Susan Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) to protect the … more

1/27/20

Editorial: Taxes and the damage done

Bravo to Governor Gina Raimondo for aiming to make Rhode Island the first state in the nation to get all of its power from renewable energy. That end-of decade goal might just be achievable and could … more

1/23/20