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Seven new restrictions to go into effect on Sunday

Seven new restrictions will go into effect this Sunday, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced during her COVID-19 briefing Thursday afternoon. Starting Nov. 8, the following regulations will be in effect … more

By Kristen Ray | 11/5/20

Dead animals lie as investigators found them in one of the Route 177 rented lots. (Westport Police photos.)

Animal cruelty charges dismissed in immense Westport case

Claiming credibility issues involving the Westport Police Department’s lead detective in the investigation, the state has dismissed charges against 25 defendants accused in … more

By Bruce Burdett | 9/24/20

Developer’s rendering shows solar panels on land between Drift Road and Route 88 along Soules’ Way (an additional section is barely visible in the foreground).

Westport planners take dim view of solar plan

WESTPORT — A developer’s request to stretch town guidelines for a new solar project received a cool reception from the Planning Board at the board’s September 8 meeting. After … more

By Bruce Burdett | 9/24/20

Advocates of outlawing the Animal Registry and amending town Right to Farm rules celebrate moments after their victory at last February’s special town meeting. Last week, though, the state Attorney General’s office notified the town that those changes run contrary to state law.

AG rejects Westport farm rule changes

WESTPORT — Six months after special town meeting voters threw out the Westport Board of Health’s animal registry, the state Attorney General has ruled that voters had no business … more

By Bruce Burdett | 8/26/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo at her regular weekly Coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

It’s official: Opening of public schools pushed back to Sept. 14

PROVIDENCE — At her regular weekly press conference today, Gov. Gina Raimondo confirmed what she had already hinted at during media interviews earlier this week: The opening day for Rhode … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/12/20

Blue-Green Algae found in Tiverton's Stafford Pond

TIVERTON — The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising the public to avoid contact with the water in Stafford … more

7/17/20

School Department chart compares the first-year cost of the just-approved school bus contract with First Student company (in yellow), with the amount the schools had budgeted for the coming year.

School bus costs soar under new Tiverton contract

TIVERTON — The Tiverton School Committee voted, because they have no choice several members said Thursday, to approve a new school bus contract that pushes town payments over budget by more … more

By Bruce Burdett | 7/15/20

Gina Raimondo reveals plans to reopen schools in Rhode Island next fall.

Gov. Raimondo — 'It's time to get back to school'

Distance learning has been a great success, but it is time to get back to school, Governor Gina Raimondo announced at Wednesday's coronavirus press briefing, a session devoted almost entirely to … more

By Bruce Burdett | 6/10/20

Raimondo: Virus illustrates need for big changes in state’s health care system

Though the numbers are trending down, Covid-19 is still very much present in Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo said during her daily briefing Thursday. Since Wednesday, 14 more Rhode … more

By Ted Hayes | 6/4/20

Cool off, Knock It Off! Warren restaurant joins viral campaign

It started with T-shirts. Then came coffee, beer, personal protective equipment - even barbecue sauce. Now the wildly popular “Knock It Off” design created by a Warren-owned Providence … more

By Ted Hayes | 6/4/20

Tiverton Police Report: Beach 'dispersals,' neighbors fed up with one another

Friday, May 22 Christopher James Gaitten, 36, of 293 Robert Gray Ave., Tiverton, was arrested on a charge of domestic violence, electronic tracking device — motor vehicle, at 10:30 p.m. at … more

6/4/20

Back when the Tiverton Casino first opened, a visitor tries one of the video gaming consoles. These games will be among the first available as the casino returns to action starting June 8.

Tiverton Casino to pilot limited reopening June 8

TIVERTON — The Twin River casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton will begin a limited invitation-only reopening Monday, June 8, the Rhode Island Lottery announced Friday morning. The … more

5/29/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo describes what it will look like to dine at a restaurant or get your hair cut in Rhode Island next week.

Welcome back, indoor dining, hair cuts and youth sports

Beginning Monday, when Rhode Island transitions to Phase 2 of its economic reboot, residents will be able to dine indoors, cut and color their hair, get a new coat of nail polish for the first time … more

By Scott Pickering | 5/28/20

Gov. Raimondo previews state’s 'Phase 2’ reopening plans

PROVIDENCE — Explaining “a lot of information will be coming out in next couple of weeks as we start reopening our economy,” Gov. Gina Raimondo spent the better part of her Friday, … more

By Mike Rego | 5/22/20

DEM issues COVID-19, other boating safety guidelines

PROVIDENCE — As Memorial Day and the start of the boating season approaches, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is asking boaters to follow COVID-19 social distancing rules and … more

5/22/20

Commentary: Underage drinking during COVID-19

EAST BAY — Today we face a national crisis in the form of a deadly pandemic. However, we at the East Bay Regional Coalition remind all there is a hidden link between COVID-19 and other national … more

5/21/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo at her Friday, May 15 briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor: Phase 2 of re-opening won’t begin until after Memorial Day

PROVIDENCE — At her daily COVID-19 briefing Friday, Gov. Gina Raimondo explained the criteria being used to determine when the state is ready to move into a different phase of re-opening … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/15/20

Westport chase, knife confrontation, lead to arrest

WESTPORT — An attempted traffic stop in Westport early Friday morning led to a pursuit and confrontation with a knife-wielding Fall River man. Westport Officer Jeremy Dellecese was on patrol … more

5/8/20

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

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

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

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

Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Roger Menard presides over the board’s April 1 meeting from his home.

Remote Westport meetings — still a few kinks

WESTPORT — Remote meetings remain a work in progress, members of the Westport Zoning Board of Appeals discovered during their half hour April 1 session. With three items on the agenda, the … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/16/20