Barrington has the reputation as one of Rhode Island’s most affluent towns: a waterfront community, chock full of wealthy people who live in upscale homes. And while that is true for some parts of this 15-square-mile community, there’s another side to the story. Longtime resident Gary Morse has friends living in Barrington who are struggling […]
If you think you hear characters from Futurama around Providence next month, you’re not hallucinating. If at some point, you think you’ve seen the crew of the original Battlestar Galactica cross the street DownCity, you still won’t be hallucinating. And if you see Chewbacca walking through the Providence Place Mall … well, you get the idea.
Providence City Council members’ cell phones cost taxpayers big bucks For more than a decade, it was a perk that had largely flown under the public radar: Use of a city-issued cell phone for every member of the Providence City Council, if they wanted one. That, on top of an average $19,000 yearly medical benefits […]
Environmental agency puts turbines to good use Wherever you go on the Providence waterfront these days, they are impossible to miss: Three massive wind turbines that have changed the landscape of the Providence River. So who, you may wonder, put them up, and why? And why are they not spinning yet? Thomas Uva oversees the […]
Wickford Junction proves a costly startup project From Route 102 in North Kingstown the 4-story building it’s hard to miss. A clock-tower overlooks brand new entrance roads, fresh landscaping and a gleaming glass elevator. The brand-new Wickford Junction commuter rail station is impressive. And it should be, with a price tag of $44 million taxpayer […]
Sex offenders living near schools despite a law requiring them to reside outside 300 feet From the back window of his house, Douglas Northup can look directly at the front door of the Anthony Carnevale Elementary School just off Harford Ave in Providence. A slight glance to the left gives him a clear view of […]
Shining spotlight on waste & corruption prompts further action Editor’s note: The Hummel Report has new information and developments on a handful of previous investigations: Living Free In the summer of 2010 we found Angela Spadoni, an employee of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, living rent-free in the caretaker’s house at Colt State […]
RI residents charged erroneous EZ Pass fees It has become a popular and efficient way to negotiate toll roads and bridges in more than a dozen states. And for many, EZ Pass is simply a matter of economics. To get across theNewportBridgeit’ll cost $4 if you pay cash. ForRhode Islandresidents with an EZ pass – […]
As RI liquor stores continue to suffer losses, legislators & MADD debate tax free days Take a ride down Route 6 in Seekonk and the sign is tough to ignore. Huge red letters just outside one package store proclaim: “No sales tax on alcohol in Mass.” If you live near the state line — and […]
Save the Bay’s Jonathan Stone turns up heat on polluter The mission seemed pretty straightforward. Three years ago, a new company called Rhode Island Recycled Metals set up shop on land adjacent to theProvidenceRiveralongAllens Avenue. In the summer of 2009, it had purchased the Juliett 484, known to most simply as The Russian Sub. The […]