Opinion | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

Progressives continue taking small bites in the General Assembly

STORY OF THE WEEK: The General Assembly’s steady march in a more progressive direction over recent election cycles brings to mind a metaphor – how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a … more

By Ian Donnis | 12/12/22

Editorial: No more snow days :(

Cursed 2020 has taken so much already (freedoms, joy, travel, livelihoods, not to mention precious lives) … did it need to take away the beloved snow day, too? When Rhode Island acted … more

12/17/20

Letter: R.I. gun control laws will not make you safer

To the editor: Rhode Island’s General Assembly is about to consider a number of bills that can make you and your family less safe. These bills will restrict your firearms ownership, while … more

4/17/23

Letter: Pray for change, because goodness matters

Prayer plays a prominent part in many American lives. Many pray for peace. Some kneel or bow in regular prayer. Others call for "thoughts and prayers" for victims. And some even make … more

4/27/23

From Rhode Island native to warrior in the Christian nationalist movement

STORY OF THE WEEK: How did Middletown native Michael Flynn go from being a high-level military official to someone seen as a martyr, warrior and evangelist within the Christian nationalist movement? … more

By Ian Donnis | 3/12/24

The train is starting to roll toward a decisive CD1 Primary

STORY OF THE WEEK: If the election to succeed David Cicilline in the 1 st Congressional District was held last Friday, the favorites were Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos and state Sen. Sandra Cano … more

By Ian Donnis | 3/27/23

Letter: A brief encounter, a kind gesture

To the editor: I’m sharing this simple story because it demonstrates the power of the human spirit to spread joy, which I believe positively affects the universe. This brief encounter reminded … more

4/22/21

Editorial: Too many candidates chose not to debate

A frustrating new trend emerged this election season, as a disturbing number of candidates declined, refused or were unavailable to take part in public campaign forums with their opponents. … more

11/3/22

Letter: Legislature should abandon school funding formula

To the editor: The burden for Rhode Island education is not fairly distributed among its citizens. The state’s funding formula unfairly distributes citizens’ money; disrespects … more

2/27/23

Letter: Legislative process needs to be changed

As citizens we don’t get to vote for the leadership or the statehouse rules; our representatives do that. Therefore, we should also press our representatives to place democracy above party and reform the rules of the legislature. more

1/4/24

Letter: Discussion on virus is overlooking the public interest

To the editor: John Adams was one of the foremost of the American patriots wanting to break from England. However, to his great credit, when the British soldiers in the “Boston … more

4/8/21

Letter: Please support bill to ban sale of new fur products

To the editor: Rhode Island legislators are currently voting on H.5258, a bill to ban the sale of new fur products in Rhode Island. This bill is a step in the right direction toward eliminating … more

2/27/23

RIPEC sends a strong warning about state spending

STORY OF THE WEEK: It has been clear for a while that the sugar high of consecutive budget surpluses in Rhode Island – a rare occurrence in a state usually dogged by perennial deficits -- … more

By Ian Donnis | 6/6/23

Letter: I took part in a candidates forum

To the editor: The letter from Jill Kassis and Christine Keyser in the Bristol Phoenix was misleading. I am a Republican candidate for Senate District 11 and I did participate in a forum sponsored by … more

11/3/22

Letter: Short-term lessons for a long-term project

We should not dismiss ferry service as a long-term public transportation option altogether. more

1/4/24

Editorial: Giving credit to E.P. voters where credit is due once more

As they did four years ago when asked to support a $189.5 bond for the construction of a new high school, the residents and voters of East Providence once again stepped up to the polls and … more

11/11/22

Editorial: The things we learned from Big Bird

Caroll Spinney, the whole body puppeteer who brought Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to life, died Sunday at age 85 in Connecticut. Big Bird, like most six-year-olds, would … more

12/13/19

Editorial: Death of the snow day

The pandemic introduced a few silver linings. Remote learning is sort of, kind of, one of them. Across America, schools figured out how to conduct themselves when no one was in the school … more

1/13/22

Letter: Courage comes by making change, not slinging an AR-15

Special kudos to Republican senators! They have instilled courage into every student in America. You see, as astute people know, there is no courage without vulnerability. And because the GOP is so … more

6/10/22

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

Swift passage of abortion bill shows how Assembly has changed

STORY OF THE WEEK: For supporters like state Sen. Bridget Valverde and Rep. Katherine Kazarian, the legislative sponsors of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, passing the EACA was unfinished … more

By Ian Donnis | 5/23/23

This country has no plan for renewable energy (or anything else)

Governor Dan McKee signed into law legislation to increase renewable energy production and supply by requiring that 100 percent of Rhode Island’s electricity be offset by renewable production … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 5/23/23

Rhonda Swain with striped bass she caught when fishing with her husband Mike live lining Atlantic menhaden at night in Bristol Harbor.

Managers hope emergency action will save striped bass

More striped bass fishing trips are taken by anglers coastwide than any other species. This highly desirable fish has been overfished for the past few years, and last year, anglers killed … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 5/23/23

Spotlight is shining on Rhode Island's array of housing problems

STORY OF THE WEEK: It became clear in recent weeks that Josh Saal’s tenure as Rhode Island’s housing secretary was drawing to an end. Whether Saal was the right person for the job is … more

By Ian Donnis | 1/18/23

Letter: Indoor smoking should be banned in casinos

To the editor: As a therapist working very close to the Rhode Island border, I am concerned for the workers and non-smokers who are again being exposed to second-hand smoke inside the casino. I … more

4/30/23