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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

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

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

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

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

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

Letter: Face facts, we are living under martial law

It bothers me that the noose constricting our freedoms has been so continually tightened of late that our rights have been all but dissolved in the name of protecting us from ourselves and others … more

4/17/20

Letter: For a nation in uncharted waters, we need some perspective

We can all agree that our nation has entered uncharted waters over this Covid 19 virus, and Congress is already planning to go even deeper into those waters. Last week our federal government … more

4/16/20

The newly released model shows a “blue line” scenario where the state’s healthcare system has enough hospital beds, and a “red line” scenario where it does not.

State releases modeling, with virus peak coming sooner, or later

Gov. Gina Raimondo added two new terms to the growing lexicon of Covid-19 terminology. Along with “social distancing” and “Knock it off,” Rhode Islanders can add “Blue … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/16/20

Letter: Thankfully, our Presidential leadership gives us hope

Why do so many intelligent, successful people support our president? In the face of never-ending, wacky, and unsubstantiated claims as illustrated in Thomas Browns’s letter (“ These days, … more

4/16/20

Hathaway Elementary School third-grade teacher Ashley Adamson reads to her class from her basement at home. In addition to running their morning meetings as usual, Ms. Adamson and her co-teacher, special educator Victoria Travis, have sent handwritten cards to their students.

In Portsmouth: Teaching in a time of crisis

PORTSMOUTH — Growing up, Ashley Adamson can remember a chunk of time when she would play in her parents’ basement, pretending to be a teacher. more

By Kristen Ray | 4/15/20

A shopper at Tom’s Market in Tiverton recently. Little Compton’s new Buddy System will match younger shoppers with residents who are worried about or unable to go grocery shopping.

Little Compton volunteers launch grocery Buddy System

LITTLE COMPTON — Those who are worried about grocery shopping or unable to get to the grocery store now have buddies in Little Compton. The Democratic Town Committee this week announced a … more

4/15/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about the new order requiring all employees in customer-facing businesses to wear face coverings.

Governor mandates face coverings for all ‘customer-facing’ businesses

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s daily press briefing included the announcement of a new executive order, to take effect this Saturday, April 18. It will require all “customer-facing” … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/14/20

Letter: Please help postal employees stay safe

To the editor: During these challenging times, postal employees are working hard to ensure residents stay connected with their world through the mail. Whether it’s medications, a package, … more

4/10/20

Raimondo: Six more deaths, 288 new cases of coronavirus

There were six more deaths, 288 new cases and 169 people reported to be in the hospital in relation to the coronavirus, announced Gov. Gina Raimondo during her daily briefing Friday afternoon. That … more

4/10/20

South Shore Beach, Little Compton (Buzzards Bay Coalition)

Parking ban hits Little Compton's South Shore Beach, Lloyd's Beach, Town Landing

LITTLE COMPTON — Little Compton took action Friday afternoon to prevent parking at South Shore Beach where some report seeing large numbers of cars and lots of people in recent … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/10/20

Letter: Churches need your support during this crisis

As a member of many organizations, I receive invoices via my mail carrier to continue my membership. Often these invoices ask for additional funds at my discretion to help with building maintenance, … more

4/10/20

Town by town, virus surge continues — the local count

Led by East Providence with 49, then Barrington with 17, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in the East Bay, as in the rest of Rhode Island. Next door in Westport there … more

4/10/20

DEM, Marine association provides boating community with virus guidelines

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association last week issued the following guidance regarding the safe operation of … more

4/9/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about a new executive order that authorizes fines for those not following the state's isolation or home quarantine directives.

State adds teeth (fines) to quarantine measures; governor says surge is weeks away

The State of Rhode Island is getting more serious about its orders for people to stay in isolation or self-quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier today, Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/9/20

Letter: Disappointing choice for this week’s cartoon

To the editor: Politics aside, Mr. Hall’s cartoon, in your 4/9/20 edition of Westport Shorelines, seems to demonstrate that he continues from his college days to be a class clown. That … more

4/9/20

Letter: These days, the Presidential failings are magnified

I have been saying for several years that we — America — are in trouble because we seem unable to do well even the most fundamental things, such as maintain adequate streets, roads, and … more

4/8/20

Governor Raimondo announces 220 more coronavirus cases, 143 people now in the hospital at her April 8 briefing.

Raimondo: Five more die, cases in ‘rapid spread’

Rhode Island is at a “big clip of increase … in the rapid spread phase” of the coronavirus outbreak, Governor Gina Raimondo said at her daily briefing Wednesday (2:30 p.m. today), … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/8/20