KINGSTON — News of the arrival in North America of a non-native insect with the terrifying colloquial name of "murder hornet" has alarmed residents around the country. But a University of Rhode Island entomologist said there is little reason for Rhode Islanders to worry about them.
Volunteers placed 1,000 physically distanced flags on Boston Common for Memorial Day while beaches, barbers and hair salons reopen in Massachusetts and two state beaches in Rhode Island open, all with restrictions.
PROVIDENCE — Elected officials, businesses and others are depending on coronavirus testing and infection-rate data as states reopen so that they will know if a second wave of contagion is coming — and whether another round of stay-at-home orders or closings might be needed.
BOSTON (AP) — Religious leaders are taking steps to protect their congregations as services resume in Massachusetts and Vermont. An iconic Connecticut pizza shop is adding outdoor dining as part of a plan to aid businesses impacted by the coronavirus.
WOOD RIVER JCT. — When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close, 40 members of the Chariho High School Theatre Company were deep in rehearsals for their spring production, the musical version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
KINGSTON — The University of Rhode Island Couple and Family Therapy Clinic is offering support for parents, children, adolescents, couples and individuals facing the challenges of adjusting to the demands brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
BOSTON (AP) — Major hospitals in Maine's largest city experienced an uptick in coronavirus hospitalizations; Roman Catholics in New Hampshire can begin receiving Holy Communion again in parishes that follow certain safety guidelines; Vermont’s largest annual event has been canceled for the f…
WESTERLY — A 30-part podcast with several Westerly connections was honored recently with one of the most prestigious awards in broadcast and digital journalism.
PORTLAND, Maine — Energy demand is down because of the pandemic, but utility bills left unpaid by tens of thousands of people who lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic could drive electricity prices upward in some areas in coming months.
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump played golf at one of his courses Saturday during the Memorial Day weekend as he urged U.S. states to reopen after coronavirus-related lockdowns. Yet many Americans remained cautious as the number of confirmed cases nationwide passed 1.6 million.
WESTERLY — The League of Women Voters of South County has canceled its tea to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the women's right to vote. The tea had been rescheduled for Aug. 22 from its original date in April.
WESTERLY
CHARLESTOWN — As neighboring towns opened their beaches, Charlestown opened its two town beaches and Ninigret Park this morning.
CHARLESTOWN — With Memorial Day just around the corner, Heather Paliotta was sounding tired.
Rhode Island is eyeing a broad reopening of its virus-shuttered economy starting June 1.
BOSTON — The Massachusetts unemployment rate soared to 15.1% in April — up from about 2.8% in March — as the state’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus shuttered wide swaths of the economy, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday.
WESTERLY — Westerly Hospital will offer suicide prevention training via a 90-minute Zoom webinar. The training covers the evidence-based QPR suicide prevention program (QPR stands for question, persuade and refer). Sessions will be held the first and second Tuesday of the month from 6 to 7:3…
Stop & Shop’s Grow & Learn Program teaches children how to grow vegetables and herbs at no cost. In Rhode Island from June 8 to 15 and in Connecticut from May 29 to June 24, or while supplies last, Stop & Shop will be giving away free seed pods and activity books to customers acr…
Editor’s note: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, pretty much everything to do around the region has been canceled. Until the public health crisis passes, here’s a list of social service agencies and other local important organizations and their statuses.
WOOD RIVER JUNCTION —The Chariho community was shaken by the discovery Wednesday of graffiti painted on the seniors’ parking lot and a softball dugout. The attack was all the more upsetting because it contained lewd images and profanities, some of which targeted Principal Craig MacKenzie and…
KINGSTON — Few elements of society are flourishing during the COVID19 pandemic, but a University of Rhode Island agriculture researcher said that one of the few exceptions is small agricultural businesses. Not only are existing small farms experiencing record growth, many new start-up farms …
The coronavirus pandemic that forced the shutdown of businesses across Rhode Island sent the state’s unemployment rate soaring to 17% in April, the state Department of Labor and Training announced Thursday.
BOSTON (AP) — The number of individuals in Massachusetts diagnosed with confirmed cases of COVID-19 surged past 90,000 on Thursday as the state reported more than 1,100 new cases.
Rhode Island communities are making plans to open local beaches shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic as Memorial Day weekend approaches.
Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Wednesday that churches and houses of worship will be allowed to re-open next weekend, with attendance limited to 25 percent of their typical capacity.
BOSTON (AP) — The number of COVID-19-related deaths in Massachusetts has surged past 6,000 as the state’s economy begins to reopen.
CHARLESTOWN — Burlingame State Park was one of 19 parks throughout Rhode Island to re-open Monday after closing due the COVID-19 health crisis.
Rhode Island introduced a smartphone app Tuesday that state officials say could help public health workers trace the contacts of COVID-19 patients and connect them to testing and other resources.
BOSTON (AP) — Boston will move cautiously to avoid a second shutdown as the state begins to reopen, Mayor Marty Walsh said at a Tuesday press conference.
KINGSTON — The University of Rhode has announced the appointment of NASA scientist Paula S. Bontempi as dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography.
The new state restrictions on restaurants and bars to fight the coronavirus pandemic have prevented local residents from going out to eat. But many South County establishments are still serving via curbside takeout and delivery. Find out the status of your favorite local eatery by clicking o…
Rhode Island is continuing to emerge from its pandemic-induced slumber, as some restaurants began offering outdoor dining Monday and Gov. Gina Raimondo announced that two state beaches will reopen on Memorial Day.
PROVIDENCE — Gas prices are cheaper for Memorial Day than they've been in nearly 20 years, but it is not likely to lead to an increase in travel over the holiday weekend.
STONINGTON — The first quarter of 2020 was shaping up to be one of the best that Tiger LeBelle had seen in his 40 years in the industry.
CHARLESTOWN — At their May 11 meeting, members of the Town Council discussed the re-opening of the town’s beaches, which were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
KINGSTON — Joe Verrier is the kind of history teacher you’d want in class.
Officials from a Rhode Island college are apologizing after students were seen gathering in large groups without masks over the weekend, while Connecticut closed several parks Sunday because they reached maximum capacity.
PROVIDENCE — Write Rhode Island’s flash non-fiction writing project, Our Lives Now, is open to Rhode Island students in grades 7 to 12.
LAWRENCE + MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
MYSTIC — For local children who have been inside and at home since mid-March, isolated from school chums and best buddies due to restrictions imposed by the coronavirus epidemic, there is a glimmer of hope.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Coronavirus-related developments across New England:
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a financial impact on Rhode Island small businesses, Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) is calling upon the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to allow the state’s shellfishers to sell their product directly to …
WESTERLY
It wasn’t a conventional election campaign launch, but these are unconventional times, so Jennifer Douglas and Megan Cotter decided to introduce themselves and their election platforms together in a virtual launch event on May 7.
A popular Rhode Island beach town is considering openly ignoring the state’s coronavirus restrictions as the traditional Memorial Day start of the summer season approaches, but Gov. Gina Raimondo warns the move would be “selfish” and “reckless.”
** denotes High Honors
WESTERLY — After a national search, L+M Healthcare has named Christine M. Meola to serve as vice president of development for L+M Healthcare, a member of Yale New Haven Health, that includes Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Westerly Hospital, the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Conne…
Memorial Day is traditionally a booming weekend for travel, with residents throughout the region kicking off the summer with leisure and festivities. Those same traffic jams that have become a sign of the season aren't likely to be as large in 2020, however.
WOOD RIVER JCT. — Meeting remotely on May 12, members of the Chariho School Committee discussed ways in which a budget referendum could take place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The referendum was scheduled for April 14, but was postponed due to coronavirus restrictions.
Rhode Island’s summer camps will reopen, but organized sports likely won’t make a return, Gov. Gina Raimondo said Thursday.
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker laid out an ambitious testing goal Thursday that he said will create the largest coronavirus testing program on a per capita basis anywhere in the world.
CHARLESTOWN — Meeting remotely Monday, members of the Town Council adopted Charlestown’s proposed fiscal year 2020-2021 budget. Council Vice President Deborah Carney cast the single vote against the $30 million spending plan. The adoption follows a public budget hearing which took place on M…
PROVIDENCE (AP) — Rhode Island will distribute thousands of masks and disinfectant products to businesses as the state gradually reopens its economy, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Wednesday.
BOSTON (AP) — COVID-19-related deaths in Massachusetts surged again Wednesday, topping 5,300 just days before the state is set to release a plan to reopen the economy.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island is committing $8.2 million to boost pay and help retain workers in the state's nursing homes, group homes and other congregate care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic, the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday.
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts reported the fewest new COVID-19-related deaths in more than a month Tuesday.
