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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

Fate of casino revenue for Tiverton remains unknown

With COVID-19 upending budgets everywhere, Tiverton could face up to $2.2 million in lost revenue this fiscal year, should they not receive guaranteed monies from the state for the Tiverton Casino … more

By Kristen Ray | 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

Coming into her first year ever of teaching, Tiverton Middle School science teacher Cortney Kingsley was already fairly comfortable incorporating technology into her classroom. It’s been “amazing,” she said, how much information has been shared amongst staff since the beginning of distance learning.

Going the distance in Tiverton

Cortney Kingsley is sitting on her couch, laptop propped up in front of her. Eight months into her education career, and the Tiverton Middle School science teacher is conducting class from her living … more

Kristen Ray | 4/22/20

The Portsmouth Town Council meets virtually via the Zoom application Monday night, April 21. The top row (from left) shows Town Clerk Jennifer West, Council President Kevin Aguiar and Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. together at Town Hall, and council members Daniela Abbott and J. Mark Ryan videoconferencing from home. In the middle row (from left) are council members Andrew Kelly, Keith Hamilton and Linda Ujifusa. Council member Len Katzman, Human Resources Director Lisa Puglia and Town Solicitor Kevin Gavin (from left) are in the bottom row.

Pandemic may spawn Portsmouth school surplus of $500K to $1M

PORTSMOUTH — The School Department is expected to finish the fiscal year with a surplus between $500,000 and $1 million due to cost savings in services not being provided during the … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/22/20

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

Hathaway Elementary School third-grade teacher Ashley Adamson reads to her class from her basement at home. In addition to running their morning meetings as usual, Ms. Adamson and her co-teacher, special educator Victoria Travis, have sent handwritten cards to their students.

In Portsmouth: Teaching in a time of crisis

PORTSMOUTH — Growing up, Ashley Adamson can remember a chunk of time when she would play in her parents’ basement, pretending to be a teacher. more

By Kristen Ray | 4/15/20

A shopper at Tom’s Market in Tiverton recently. Little Compton’s new Buddy System will match younger shoppers with residents who are worried about or unable to go grocery shopping.

Little Compton volunteers launch grocery Buddy System

LITTLE COMPTON — Those who are worried about grocery shopping or unable to get to the grocery store now have buddies in Little Compton. The Democratic Town Committee this week announced a … more

4/15/20

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

South Shore Beach, Little Compton (Buzzards Bay Coalition)

Parking ban hits Little Compton's South Shore Beach, Lloyd's Beach, Town Landing

LITTLE COMPTON — Little Compton took action Friday afternoon to prevent parking at South Shore Beach where some report seeing large numbers of cars and lots of people in recent … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/10/20

Town by town, virus surge continues — the local count

Led by East Providence with 49, then Barrington with 17, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in the East Bay, as in the rest of Rhode Island. Next door in Westport there … more

4/10/20

DEM, Marine association provides boating community with virus guidelines

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association last week issued the following guidance regarding the safe operation of … more

4/9/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about a new executive order that authorizes fines for those not following the state's isolation or home quarantine directives.

State adds teeth (fines) to quarantine measures; governor says surge is weeks away

The State of Rhode Island is getting more serious about its orders for people to stay in isolation or self-quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier today, Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/9/20

Governor Raimondo announces 220 more coronavirus cases, 143 people now in the hospital at her April 8 briefing.

Raimondo: Five more die, cases in ‘rapid spread’

Rhode Island is at a “big clip of increase … in the rapid spread phase” of the coronavirus outbreak, Governor Gina Raimondo said at her daily briefing Wednesday (2:30 p.m. today), … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/8/20

Carley Peckham, who now serves as full-time manager, grew up at the greenhouse her parents, Rick and Laura Peckham, own. "I really feel like the luckiest girl in the world," she says.

No stopping planting season

The early morning clouds had given way to blue skies Saturday afternoon, and inside Little Compton’s Peckham’s Greenhouse was blooming with early spring life. In previous weekends, … more

Kristen Ray | 4/8/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo (right) speaks during Friday's coronavirus briefing.

State encourages people to wear cloth-based face coverings in public

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Islanders are now being encouraged by the state to wear cloth-based face coverings in public, Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the R.I. Department of Health, said … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/3/20

Colin Cook competes at the recent World Adaptive Surfing Championships in California.

Cook wins at world Adaptive Surfing Championships

TIVERTON — Going on five years since a large tiger shark took much of his left leg, Tiverton surfer Colin Cook found himself standing atop a California medal podium two weekends ago, being … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/3/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo and her husband, Andy Moffit, adopted a casual tone to talk to Rhode Island children on Thursday.

Governor talks to kids, reveals Easter Bunny is an ‘essential worker’

Gov. Gina Raimondo debuted a new look, new format and new co-star in her Thursday coronavirus briefing, and she steered the hour-long session to a new audience — kids. The governor and her … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/2/20

Virus cases continue to rise in RI: April 2 town-by-town numbers

On a day that saw 91 new coronavirus cases in Rhode Island, for a total of 657, cases in East Bay towns continue to rise as well. The Thursday, April 2, town-by town numbers, as reported by the RI … more

4/2/20

A performer entertains at sunset at Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery.

Something to look forward to — summer music at Westport Rivers Winery

WESTPORT — In the spirit of ‘betters days are coming,” Westport River Winery offers this announcement … “We believe that there is a 'light at the end of … more

4/2/20

Governor Raimondo announced a new program to gather information from all people visiting Rhode Island from New York.

Governor: State Police will be stopping cars with New York license plates

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced on Thursday, March 26, an aggressive new program to gather information about anyone traveling from New York to Rhode Island, in an effort to limit the … more

3/26/20

Bill Braun and Dee Levanti at their Ivory Silo Farm in Westport. (NOFA-Massachusetts photo)

‘Seed saver’ to lease space at Westport Town Farm

Westport organic farmer and ‘seed saver’ Bill Braun will soon be sub-leasing space at Westport Town Farm. The Board of Selectmen approved the arrangement unanimously at its March 2 … more

By Bruce Burdett | 3/26/20

Gov. activates Guard, says there is no plan for a total lockdown

During her daily press briefing, Gov. Gina Raimondo made one big announcement and answered the biggest question on everyone’s mind: She has no plan to order a full lockdown in Rhode … more

3/20/20