Briefs
Fidelity donates real estate to Bryant University
SMITHFIELD — Bryant University plans to move its top-ranked College of Business and some administrative offices to a new site across the street from the university’s entrance by the spring of 2024, thanks to a neighbor’s significant gift of real estate. Fidelity Investment Corporation has donated its building at 100 Salem St., located just across […]
Styrofoam ban clears Senate
PROVIDENCE — A measure to ban Styrofoam containers in Rhode Island restaurants by 2025 cruised through the Rhode Island Senate Thursday. The state Senate on Thursday voted 33-2 to ban plastic cocktail stirrers and foam to-go boxes at restaurants, pubs, snack bars in an effort to reduce litter caused by these containers. The legislation, sponsored […]
Keynote speaker changes for RISD Commencement
PROVIDENCE — NPR journalist Ari Shapiro will deliver the keynote address at Rhode Island School of Design’s Commencement 2023 Saturday, replacing an internationally renowned architect who was originally scheduled to speak. A scheduling conflict left Francis Kéré, the 2022 winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, unable to attend the ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. at […]
Warwick man accused of stealing Department of Transportation backhoe
A Warwick man has been charged with allegedly stealing a backhoe belonging to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) earlier this year. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office announced Thursday that Peter Dambruoso, 59, is charged with one count of possession of a stolen vehicle and one count of driving without a valid license. […]
Brown to hold public meetings in June for input on new life sciences building
PROVIDENCE — Brown University announced Thursday plans to hold a series of public meetings throughout the month of June to discuss the construction of a new research building in the capital’s Jewelry District. The school’s new 300,000 square foot, seven story life science’s building will be located on Richmond Street, between the Warren Alpert Medical […]
Department of Health launches online medical marijuana card system
Rhode Islanders can now apply for a medical marijuana license online. The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) on Thursday announced the launch of the Rhode Island Cannabis Licensing Portal, which lets existing card holders renew registrations, update personal information, and make necessary changes to their existing registration cards. New patients can also apply for […]
New membership for Central Falls School District Board of Trustees announced
CENTRAL FALLS — The school system of this 1-square mile city will have new leadership in a month when five newly named members are seated on the system’s Board of Trustees. The Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education announced their selection May 23, almost two months after four of the Central Falls School […]
Four boys injured in roof collapse at ‘The Bells’ at Brenton Point State Park
NEWPORT — Four boys were injured, three seriously, when one climbed on the roof of a dilapidated building that once was a stable at Brenton Point State Park Monday afternoon. A section of the roof collapsed under the boy’s weight, causing both the boy and a slab of concrete about two feet by four feet […]
Senate panel cuts proposed tangible tax exemption from $100K to $50K
A proposed tax break on up to $100,000 of business’ tangible property has been cut in half: to $50,000. The amended version of the tangible tax exemption bill, sponsored by Sen. Melissa Murray, a Woonsocket Democrat, was passed by the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, according to online notes with the bill. The push to […]
Hop on a free trolley in Newport
Free “hop-on, hop-off” trolley service will return to Newport for the summer starting Friday, May 26, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has announced. The service covers RIPTA’s Route 67, which provides transportation to a number of the city’s tourist destinations — including mansions, the Cliff Walk, Audrain Automobile Museum, and International Tennis Hall […]
DEM to open new shellfishing area in Mount Hope Bay on Sunday, May 28
A section of Mount Hope Bay off the coast of Warren will reopen for shellfishing for the first time in decades, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Agency announced Thursday. Harvesters will get an extra 515 acres of the bay to dig for quahogs and other shellfish starting at sunrise on May 28. The […]
Orsted to buy out Eversource’s rights to offshore wind lease in $625M deal
The Danish offshore wind giant co-developing Rhode Island’s first major offshore wind farm is cementing its regional dominance by buying the remaining lease area from its partner. Orsted A/S will pay $625 million to buy out partner Eversource Energy’s interests in the remaining 187,000 acres of seabed approved for future offshore wind development, the companies […]