One hundred and sixty-six years ago, heavy trains loaded with industrial cargo began rumbling along railroad tracks from Bristol to Providence. They carried the products of enormous factories from an … more

Perhaps this drama will have a happy ending, but the plot to pry the Bristol Theatre Company from its home in the former Reynolds School building feels unnecessarily dark. First, the theater … more

When state governments need money, they often focus on familiar targets: personal sins (drinking, smoking and gambling), fossil fuels and the rich. In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing … more

The main notion behind the multi-trillion-dollar federal bailout was to pump aid directly and immediately to citizens who have suffered financial harm during the pandemic. That injection of cash will … more

A generation ago, many would finish that sentence by saying Bristol is a great place to raise a family. Would they still today? We ask because of what we discovered while researching population … more

Bristol residents are in good hands these days — which is noteworthy, since “these days” are some of the worst days in anyone’s lifetime. The pandemic is approaching its … more

Covid has interrupted so many of life’s normal routines, but most jarring are those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that can never be recovered. Weddings can be postponed until better days. … more

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

As municipal design projects go, the effort to design a new bike route through Bristol is about as good as it gets. Paid for by state government, the process has been thorough and deliberate, with … more

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