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Portsmouth woman allegedly threw snowballs at police officers

PORTSMOUTH — Police officers investigating an alleged assault got more than they bargained for when they showed up at an East Main Road home last week. more

2/16/21

Letter: Keystone XL order is a green initiative in optics only

To the editor: Our new climate czar John Kerry was asked after an executive order cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline how the folks who lost 11,000 jobs could be helped. His answer was a … more

2/16/21

Lisa Lasky was recently chosen to be the new director of finance for the Town of Portsmouth.

Bristol woman is Portsmouth’s new finance director

PORTSMOUTH — Lisa Lasky of Bristol was recently appointed as the Town of Portsmouth’s new finance director. more

By Jim McGaw | 2/14/21

A car enters East Main Road from Union Street in Portsmouth.

Lawmaker puts the brakes on automated speed enforcement

PORTSMOUTH — A bill authorizing automated speed camera-enforcement systems in not only school zones but on all state and local roads in Rhode Island seems to have hit the skids, at … more

By Jim McGaw | 2/14/21

Portsmouth High School students and Every Student Initiative members Anna Conheeny, Marcus Evans, and Shea Rearick (from left) plan on testifying when hearings are held once again on the Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act.

Portsmouth students haven’t forgotten bill bearing Nate’s name

PORTSMOUTH — Wearing “Be Great for Nate” T-shirts and filling the House and Senate viewing galleries, friends of the late Nathan Bruno came out in droves to the State House on … more

By Jim McGaw | 2/13/21

Editorial: Good riddance to outdated toll system

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority’s move to fully automated toll collection this week is welcome and long overdue. Starting Feb. 14, the bridge authority will launch a … more

2/12/21

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, February 11, 2021

2/11/21

The number of FBI background checks for potential gun owners more than doubled in Rhode Island, year over year.

Gun ownership and use are on the rise in Rhode Island

Add gun acquisition and violence to the list of troubling societal issues that just got worse in 2020.According to the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAV), 2020 saw a 111 percent … more

By Christy Nadalin | 2/5/21

Kayleb Ruszczyk inside the GaGa ball pit he built for his yard last year. He brought his idea for a GaGa ball program to the Portsmouth Recreation Department.

Portsmouth boy hopes you’ll go ‘GaGa’ over this sport

PORTSMOUTH — No, it has nothing to do with Lady Gaga. It involves a sided “pit,” several players and a ball they bat around with their hands. It’s called GaGa (or GaGa … more

By Jim McGaw | 2/5/21

Letter: Do you like living in the Land of the Masked?

You must wear it in shopping malls. You must wear it in libraries. You must wear it six feet apart, in lines, with your nose and mouth covered. At first we were told it did nothing to prevent the … more

2/5/21

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, February 4, 2020

2/4/21

Letter: In this pandemic, listen to the minority voices

A thread of meaning to the whole coronavirus affair is overlooked. Some people perhaps think that the board members of Pfizer and Moderna and the CDC are angelic figures who always keep foremost in … more

2/3/21

Letter: Town is trying to squash citizen’s free speech rights

To the editor, The Portsmouth town government has embarked on an all-out attempt to crush the freedom of speech of one of its citizens. This process is now in the courts and should the town … more

2/2/21

Letter: Our senior citizens of Rhode Island deserve better

To the editor: This March we are asked to vote on the same old referendum items, with emphasis on the University of Rhode Island (URI) and cultural arts and nothing for the senior citizens of … more

1/29/21

Letter: Why is this state so far behind in vaccinations?

It is the same sensation as hearing a friend has won the lottery. It is the same sensation as being the unmarried bridesmaid sister at your sister’s wedding. I have recently been helping … more

1/29/21

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, January 28, 2020

1/28/21

Examples of signs that were erected in front of a Bristol Ferry home by local resident Michael DiPaola, and which were the target of a notice of violation from the Town of Portsmouth. The ACLU has now filed a lawsuit against the town, challenging the zoning ordinance.

Portsmouth: Notice of violation doesn't target signs’ content

PORTSMOUTH — The Town of Portsmouth did not use its local sign ordinance to ban the posting of “political” signs by a local man on residential property, the town stated in a … more

1/24/21

Three homes destroyed in devastating fire on Prudence Island

PRUDENCE ISLAND — Three homes were completely destroyed by a late-night fire on Prudence Island Thursday. One woman managed to escape safely from the home at which the fire apparently … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/22/21

ACLU sues Town of Portsmouth over violation notice on signs

PORTSMOUTH — No doubt you’ve seen the signs while driving up and down Bristol Ferry Road, although perhaps the wording was difficult to make out from a moving vehicle. more

By Jim McGaw | 1/22/21

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, January 21, 2020

1/21/21

Editorial: Vaccinate the teachers

Choosing who gets the COVID-19 vaccine, and when, is one of the greatest challenges a public servant has ever faced. That’s saying a lot for a group of both elected and appointed leaders who … more

1/21/21

Amiyah Johnson, a student at Portsmouth Middle School, recited a nonviolence pledge during the tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday.

Choose to love and forgive, says MLK Jr. event speaker

NEWPORT COUNTY — On Jan. 6, hundreds of insurgents — many displaying telltale symbols typically worn by white supremacists, white nationalists and other extremist groups — … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/18/21

On Monday, workers were busy installing solar panels onto support structures at the site of a large solar array being built by the Navy on West Main Road, south of Melville School. Although this project did not require town oversight, Portsmouth Residents for Responsible Solar has raised concerns that the current solar ordinance could lead to many similar developments around town.

Citizens group seeks legal appeal of Portsmouth solar ordinance

PORTSMOUTH — A citizens group that protested the recent passage of a new solar ordinance with no success is now turning to the legal system in an attempt to find relief. Portsmouth … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/16/21

Dr. Philip Chan, the consultant medical director at the Department of Health's Division of Preparedness, Response, Infectious Disease and Emergency Medical Services, speaks to reporters via ZOOM Friday morning.

Health officials: More than 51,000 Rhode Islanders at least partially inoculated

More than 51,000 Rhode Islanders had been at least partially vaccinated against the coronavirus by Friday morning, according to state Department of Health officials, with 9,243 of them fully … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/15/21

Letter: This was an attack from within

What took place at our nation’s capital last week was an attack on our country and Constitution from within. It was another 9/11 moment perpetrated not by foreign terrorist but from American … more

1/14/21