Editorials
86 results total, viewing 51 - 75
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
If written a week ago, this editorial would describe the shame and embarrassment of watching one of the sad days in American history unfold on live television. It would excoriate all those … more
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
A generation ago, maybe two, the leaders of local government agencies were typically well-known residents from entrenched families who ascended to the top positions through patronage, political party … more
It’s always a good idea to shop locally, and it might mean more this year than ever before. The pandemic has disrupted everything — every person, every organization, every business. … more
Several years ago the clinical and medical worlds stopped labeling people ‘autistic’ and began labeling them with ‘autism spectrum disorder.’ The change signified a deeper … more
Bristol does not need a mayor and is best served by electing a town administrator to lead its government. A familiar question for Bristol voters, who have soundly rejected it numerous times … more
 Many people, including both presidential candidates, have described the coming election as historic. President Trump and former Vice President Biden have reached this conclusion for different … more
The Bristol Warren chapter of the National Education Association has made quite a mess of what was already a messy return to school for thousands of public school students in this district. They have … more
The Providence Water Supply Board wants to raise water rates 20 percent. The Bristol County Water Authority wants to end a century-old contract for water. Are they related? Yes. Does anyone care? Not … more
The one constant throughout this pandemic is that no one agrees on anything. Scientists, governors and private citizens have demonstrated every reaction and position possible, and it’s … more
The murder of George Floyd lit a match to a nation loaded with combustible material. Quarantined and isolated for months, with tens of millions jobless, with economic stability shattered, with half … more
It’s never been easier to take an interest in your local government and actually see what your elected leaders are doing. And in this era of executive orders and daily briefings that impact … more
Residents across Warren, and Bristol as well, should keep a wary eye on a proposed affordable housing development along the Kickemuit Reservoir. With plans to build 108 apartments in dual, four-story … more
Emotions run high these days, with most people quarantining at home, many worrying about loved ones, far too many wondering how they will pay their bills, and no one knowing when and how there will … more
Parents are integral to the success of Rhode Island’s distance learning programs, and they too should be recognized, and compensated, for their significant contributions. Consider the … more
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Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.