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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

Engineering student Lauren Donovan, a senior in the Construction Management program, will be spending only one semester in the new building before leaving for a job in Washington, D.C.

Roger Williams opens innovative state-of-the-art engineering building

It’s been a busy year for Jim Dorothy, Roger Williams University professor and director of operations for their School of Engineering. The university’s latest addition, the SECCM Labs … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/31/20

Town Planner Ed Tanner (left) and Director of Community Development Diane Williamson look at plans for an improved Bristol Golf Club — envisioned as a nine-hole, par-3 course with new design, holes, water management, bridges, walkways and more.

Bristol tees up plans for a $1 million golf course makeover

At just over 26 acres, Bristol’s golf course, off Tupelo Street, is never going to compete with Pebble Beach. But thoughtful planning by a team including the town, Save the Bay, Save Bristol … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/30/20

An East Providence special hazards team emerges from the Bristol Warren school administration building with evidence late Wednesday afternoon.

Bristol Police: Suspicious letter contained no threat to schools

Responding to questions, Bristol Police Capt. Brian Burke revealed more details about a suspicious letter containing a white, powdery substance that triggered the evacuation of the Bristol … more

1/30/20

Man sent to ACI after attacking two men with baseball bat

A 25-year-old man was arrested in Bristol and sent to the ACI for allegedly striking two men repeatedly with a baseball bat earlier this month. Matthew Achorn, 25, of Providence, was taken into … more

1/30/20

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

Bristol Police: Arrests for domestic assault, drugs and sexual assault

Bristol police officers made a handful of arrests from Jan. 13 to 19, including one for sexual assault and a couple for drug-related charges. Monday, Jan. 13 Officers responded to the … more

1/24/20

Some of the nation’s leading experts on “All the King’s Men” and author Robert Penn Warren will be coming to Bristol for a two-day event in March.

Registration for Bristol’s inaugural BookFest opens today

Online registration opens Friday, Jan. 24, for Bristol BookFest, a free two-day public humanities program March 27 and 28 that takes a close look at Robert Penn Warren’s “All the … more

1/24/20

Workers repair the cross-bay pipeline during the fall of 2019. The repair bill is one reason water rates are going up 20 percent.

Bristol County water rates going up 10%

Bristol County Water Authority customers will pay 10 percent more for their water starting later this winter as the authority seeks to raise funds to pay for the recent East Bay Pipeline repai r and … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/23/20

113 pound junior Nick Gomes won all three of his matches at the quad meet, including this match as he held down Cumberland’s Brady Gillis to win a 7-4 decision. Gomes also won by default against East Providence and won a 7-5 decision over Hope’s Jonatan Jimenez.

Mt. Hope wrestlers look sharp as they prep for the state tournament

The Mt. Hope wrestling team beat East Providence, 60-12, but fell to Cumberland, 39-30, and Hope, 34-26, during a quad meet at East Providence on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Huskies’ record dropped to 5-4 in Division I and 16-6 overall. more

Story and photos by Richard W Dionne Jr | 1/22/20

Jodi and Michael Camelo say they want an apology from the Bristol Warren Regional School District.

Family sues Bristol Warren district over son’s suspension

Jodi and Michael Camelo of Bristol are suing the Bristol Warren Regional School District for what they assert was an egregious mishandling of a disciplinary issue last school year with their son, … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/21/20

Retired Army Gen. Rick Baccus and Gov. Gina Raimondo during happier times, at the opening of the new Rhode Island Veterans Home on Veterans' Day in 2017.

Gen. Baccus submits R.I. Veterans' Home resignation

Brig. Gen. Rick Baccus, administrator of the Rhode Island Veterans' Home for the past 11 years, has submitted his resignation, to be effective in 60 days. Gen. Baccus, a Bristol resident, was at the … more

1/17/20

Bristol Police: Woman flees into woods after trying to buy cell phone

A young woman from New Jersey briefly fled into the woods near a busy commercial intersection after allegedly attempting to buy a new cell phone with a false identity. That was one of dozens of … more

1/17/20

Logan Dubois fires a throw to first base during a King Philip Little League all-star game last summer.

America’s pastime alive and well in Bristol

With an expanded board and a new leader at the helm, Bristol’s King Philip Little League is looking to buck national trends and expand their offerings. “We’re trying to capture … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/17/20

1st Sgt. P. Andrew McKenna was a highly accomplished soldier and veteran of six combat tours overseas when he was killed defending his base in Afghanistan in 2015.

New Irish Veterans chapter honors First Sgt. McKenna

The legacy of local war hero 1SG P. Andrew McKenna lives on with the recent establishment of the 1SG P. Andrew McKenna Irish Vets Chapter. According to Michael Byrnes, a close friend of … more

By Manuel C. "Manny" Correira | 1/16/20

Police Lt. Roman Wozny demonstrates how to use some of the new technology in the marked vehicle.

Bristol Police Dept. adds new tools and tech

The Bristol Police have launched headfirst into the new year, upgrading systems that will impact operations and efficiencies and providing new avenues for positive interactions with the community. … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/16/20

Bristol Police Chief Kevin Lynch and Father Barry Gamache ceremonially cut a cake at St. Mary’s Church, with the backing of the Bristol Police Honor Guard.

St. Mary’s Church honors Bristol Police

On Thursday, Jan. 9, St. Mary’s Church held a Mass of Appreciation in honor of National Law Enforcement Day. This was the church’s second annual celebration thanking and honoring law … more

1/15/20

These stone projectile points were returned to the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology today, after vanishing from the museum in 1985.

Stolen museum artifacts found and returned almost 35 years later

More than thirty years after they vanished from the collections of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, a group of 34 stone projectile points, hundreds, perhaps more than a thousand years old, … more

1/15/20

With the launch of a new legislative session, East Bay lawmakers discuss priorities

The Rhode Island General Assembly got back to work last week, and with it, your elected representatives. East Bay Life spoke to several local senators and representatives to hear what issues are at … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/15/20

Study shows housing and food challenges for Bristol seniors

Bristol is starting 2020 with a lot more knowledge about its senior population, thanks to a community needs assessment sponsored by an organizational grant by the Rhode Island Foundation, and … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/10/20

Rebecca Oliver (left) and Simon Thibault celebrate and gather their gear after their team, the TaterBots, won a round that jettisoned the team into the finals at the First Tech Challenge robotics competition at the high school on Saturday.

Mt. Hope robotics team makes school history

Mt. Hope High School students made history for their school on Saturday, when they were the first to ever host a First Tech Challenge robotics competition not held on the New England Institute of … more

By Scott Pickering | 1/9/20

Colt Andrews employees listen as Bristol patrolman John Mlynek delivers instruction during an active shooter training at Colt Andrews School.

Bristol Warren schools and cops prepare for the worst

Pop, pop, pop! The sounds of the .22-caliber blank gun rang throughout Rockwell Elementary School, as volunteers from the Bristol Police Department, posing as ‘bad guys,’ stormed the … more

By Kristen Ray | 1/9/20

Bristol historic commission puts temporary halt to farmhouse demolition

Patrick Usher may have the excavator all waiting to go, but the Lemuel C. Richmond/Usher Farmhouse in Bristol will not come tumbling down just yet, after the Bristol Historic District Commission held … more

By Kristen Ray | 1/9/20

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

To prevent suicides, citizens ask bridge board for a safety study

The Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority Board opened its final meeting under Director Buddy Croft’s tenure on Wednesday morning with public comments from citizens concerned with stopping … more

1/8/20

Bristol theater is in the holiday spirit, Rhode Island-style

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Santa Claus was actually a member of an extended Rhode Island-based Italian American family including a younger back-up-plan brother Ant’ny, an … more

By Christy Nadalin | 12/13/19