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The 2020 Mt. Hope High School graduation ceremony won’t look like this 2019 version, with caps and gowns flying in the air, but it will include much of the same pomp and circumstance.

Mt. Hope's 2020 graduation — pre-recorded and full of surprises

Dozens of people will be spending thousands of hours planning and preparing for the 2020 Mt. Hope High School graduation, and the whole affair depends on the timely arrival of caps and gowns. In … more

By Scott Pickering | 5/14/20

RI Governor Gina Raimondo reminded people that social gatherings are still limited to groups of five or less.

Governor: Gatherings still limited to five on Mother's Day

The governor had a clear message with Mother's Day approaching: Social gatherings are still limited to five people. During her press briefing on Friday afternoon, Gov. Gina Raimondo said she wants … more

By Josh Bickford | 5/8/20

Bristol Warren Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Brice.

Bristol Warren schools projecting $1.4 million in savings this year

Bristol Warren schools could see a surplus of as much as $1.4 million this year, due in large part to spending decreases realized since the start of the Covid-19 crisis. Superintendent Dr. … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/8/20

Relatives Kevin and Stephanie Placido wave to their aunt during Sunday’s surprise thank-you procession.

A big thank you for a hard-working nurse

Sunday, May 3, was an eventful day off for Jennifer Pasqual, a Roosevelt Drive resident and nurse at the Rhode Island Veterans’ Home. According to her husband, Thomas, Jennifer and her … more

By Christy Nadalin | 5/8/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo speaks at Thursday's briefing.

Governor: Stay-at-home ends Saturday — 'slowly'

Rhode Island’s stay-at-home order will indeed end on Saturday, Governor Gina Raimondo announced at her … more

By Bruce Burdett | 5/7/20

Joe Estrella Jr. of Fall River offers an elbow (long before Covid-19 eradicated handshakes) to a parade watcher along Hope Street during the 2019 Bristol Fourth of July parade.

Bristol parade? Committee officially taking wait-and-see approach

Michelle Martins doesn’t know what this year’s Fourth of July celebration is going to look like. It’s not a position the Bristol Fourth of July Committee chairwoman anticipated … more

By Christy Nadalin | 5/7/20

Council Chairman Nathan Calouro guided the board through approval of a 2020-21 budget, with appreciation to the town employees who put it together under unusual circumstances.

Bristol passes budget with 2.55% tax increase

One of the few certainties in life is taxes, and Bristol residents now have certainty about their tax bills next year. On Monday evening, the Bristol Town Council held a short meeting via Zoom and … more

By Scott Pickering | 5/7/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo at her daily briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, May 1. Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the R.I. Department of Health, is at left.

Governor still aiming to lift R.I. stay-at-home order on May 8

PROVIDENCE — Despite the fact that surrounding states have extended their stay-at-home directives due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rhode Island is still sticking with its plan to let Gov. … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/1/20

Katie Hutchison, foreground, and Dawn Oliveira have collaborated on a new podcast, Design Me a House. They are pictured here in the podcast studio at the What Cheer Writers Club in Providence, in the days before social distancing mandates forced them to produce the podcast remotely from their own homes.

Local design pros join forces to talk home design

When Katie Hutchison and Dawn Oliveira, longtime friends and collaborators, first conceived of their podcast, Design Me a House, they certainly did not imagine that they would be launching it at a … more

By Christy Nadalin | 5/1/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo and First Gentleman Andy Moffit talk to children about the coronavirus pandemic during their April 30 live broadcast.

Governor hints at the 'new normal' for schools, sports, camps, kids

The same-old, same-old questions about healthcare, hotlines and hospital beds were pushed to the side for one day on Thursday, when Rhode Island children replaced the regular pool of coronavirus … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/30/20

DEM issues new temporary license for direct sale of some seafood

PROVIDENCE — To help foster the continued viability of the Rhode Island commercial seafood industry during the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) … more

4/30/20

Almost all COVID-positive residents at Bristol nursing home now recovered

Bristol residents were surprised last week when the state began releasing names of nursing homes with COVID cases, to find St. Elizabeth Manor on the list, a facility which is home to many family and … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/30/20

Georgia MacDougall would have performed the lead in the spring musical at Mt. Hope High School. She’s now looking ahead to college in the fall — while wondering if she’ll even be allowed to go to college.

The Class of 2020 — With their senior spring gone ... what comes next?

They are like every other senior class: they are athletes and academics, artists, community organizers, and leaders. Many of them are all of these things and more. They have hopes and dreams, and … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/30/20

Gov. Gina Raymond announces Thursday that traditional schooling won't resume this school year.

Governor: Home learning the rule in RI for rest of this school year

Distance learning — “How long will it last?“ is the question Governor Gina Raimondo said she has heard more than any other. And Thursday came her answer … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/23/20

Rockwell Elementary School Principal Tara McAuliffe talks about the transition to distance learning during a Zoom interview inside her house.

Rockwell report: Through screens, hard work and creativity, the learning continues

Every Rhode Island educator is swimming in the deep end of the pool these days, learning how to teach children from their kitchens while students are home in their bedrooms, all of them surrounded by … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/23/20

Dr. Deborah DiBiase, at home in her new “office,” talks about the challenges and triumphs of distance learning during a “Zoom” interview.

Dr. D says: ‘I miss the kids!’

Dr. D, as she’s commonly known, gets an unexpected kiss from one of her dogs during a “Zoom” interview. Mt. Hope High School Principal Deb DiBiase has an office familiar to most … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/23/20

A drone shot of the Mt. Hope High School stadium Monday night shows the football field engulfed in light, plus a string of vehicles traveling up Chestnut Street.

School, town and students honor the Mt. Hope Class of 2020

Deborah DiBiase stood alone on the field of the Mt. Hope High School football stadium, engulfed in light. It was just before 8:20 p.m. on Monday, April 20, and the high school principal was live and … more

By Kristen Ray | 4/22/20

Grand gesture will light the lights for the Class of 2020

The Bristol Warren school community is planning a symbolic show of support for the Class of 2020 — Mt. Hope High School seniors whose final, should-be triumphant days in school are being wiped … more

4/17/20

Bristol Police: Residents tattle on neighbors for gatherings, soccer, beer pong

The most frequent call for Bristol law enforcement these days is from residents reporting the groups, gatherings and activities of neighbors who might be violating social distancing standards. … more

4/17/20

Bristol raccoon's high-wire act is back

This extremely large and agile resident of an unclear downtown address achieved regional notoriety when a video of his high-wire-walking antics ended up on sports and pop culture blog Barstool, … more

4/17/20

The newly released model shows a “blue line” scenario where the state’s healthcare system has enough hospital beds, and a “red line” scenario where it does not.

State releases modeling, with virus peak coming sooner, or later

Gov. Gina Raimondo added two new terms to the growing lexicon of Covid-19 terminology. Along with “social distancing” and “Knock it off,” Rhode Islanders can add “Blue … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/16/20

Bristol Fire Marshal Robert Ferguson (left) and Fire Chief Michael DeMello demonstrate the full package of protective gear they use if responding to a call with a known or suspected Covid-19 patient.

Business as usual at the fire department (not really)

Everything is normal at the Bristol Fire Department — understanding, of course, that absolutely nothing in life is normal these days. Firefighters and paramedics are still responding to … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/16/20

A window on Roosevelt Drive in Bristol offers bears for the hunters — and hope for the future.

Bear hunters take to the streets in Bristol and Warren

Inspired by the Michael Rosen book, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” and motivated by the need for something — anything — to do with restless little ones who do not understand why their playdates and playground visits have been cancelled, bears (and other creatures) have been popping up in windows across America and beyond. more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/16/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about the new order requiring all employees in customer-facing businesses to wear face coverings.

Governor mandates face coverings for all ‘customer-facing’ businesses

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s daily press briefing included the announcement of a new executive order, to take effect this Saturday, April 18. It will require all “customer-facing” … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/14/20

Raimondo: Six more deaths, 288 new cases of coronavirus

There were six more deaths, 288 new cases and 169 people reported to be in the hospital in relation to the coronavirus, announced Gov. Gina Raimondo during her daily briefing Friday afternoon. That … more

4/10/20