Metro

Saturday’s WaterFire honors Rhode Island educators

By Emma Madgic | September 28

For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, WaterFire is back in full-force. Last Saturday’s lighting, which was attended by between 30,000 and 50,000 people, celebrated local educators and was supported by the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Indy to regain funding after temporary freeze

By Katy Pickens | September 27

On Thursday, Jane Wang ’24, managing editor of the College Hill Independent, received a call from the paper’s printer. Their funding had been frozen, and Wang had no idea why.

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Rhode Island stops truck tolls after judge rules system unconstitutional, discriminatory

By Will Kubzansky | September 26

Rhode Island has shut off its network of truck tolls after a district judge ruled that the program was unconstitutional Wednesday. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge William Smith wrote that the system — which levies tolls on truckers passing through certain Rhode Island bridges to raise ...

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RIPTA bus driver shortage affecting Providence students, RI residents

By Sameer Sinha | September 22

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is experiencing a shortage of bus drivers, affecting those who rely on the transit system to get to school, work or around town. Issues with staffing have left many riders without their regularly scheduled buses, according to WPRI. This issue has been ...

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Feed the Cheeks, Zinneken’s coming soon to Thayer area

By Rhea Rasquinha | September 22

New locations of Feed the Cheeks, a cookie shop, and Zinneken’s, which serves Belgian waffles, plan to open just off Thayer Street this semester. Both located on Angell Street, Feed the Cheeks will be next to DenDen Korean Fried Chicken, and Zinneken’s will be in the neighboring lot.

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Providence Public Schools open for new school year, but teachers face similar problems

By Emma Madgic | September 21

Schools in the Providence Public School District opened Aug. 29 for the first day of classes. Though some things are different — this is the first school year since the pandemic in which masks are no longer required in classrooms — teachers in the district still face many of the same challenges ...

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Metro

Soaring rent prices: How students and locals are coping with increased housing costs in Providence

By Oliver Kneen | September 21

Johanny DiZoglio, who has rented in Providence since the age of 16, remembers the days she could rent a three-bedroom apartment for as cheap as $750 each month. Now, about two decades later, DiZoglio has been without housing for the past three months as she struggles to find an apartment for her ...

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Metro

Dispensaries, regulators discuss cannabis regulation in wake of recreational legalization

By Elysee Barakett | September 21

Miller wrote that he believes there is a potential for Rhode Island to adopt some regulations from Massachusetts, such as allowing outdoor cultivation and cafe-style dispensaries.

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Metro

Candidates, professors look forward to November elections after primaries

By Emma Gardner and Ya'el Sarig | September 20

Primaries in Rhode Island for a number of local, state and federal races took place Sept. 13. That night, incumbent Dan McKee won the Democratic nomination for governor, while Republican candidate Ashley Kalus handily defeated her opponent.

Metro

After flooding, Rhode Island looks to address aging infrastructure

By Jacob Smollen | September 20

Two weeks ago, torrential rain left parts of the Ocean State underwater. In the coming years, Providence’s stormwater infrastructure will likely be tested by more frequent and intense storms due to climate change, experts told The Herald, with some local climate experts saying the system is outdated ...

Metro

Metro roundup, Sept. 20: Election recounts, taxes on Superman Building

By Katy Pickens | September 19

From post-primary recounts to disputes over the taxation of Providence’s famous Superman Building, here’s the latest news from the city and state.

Metro

Providence welcomes new indie bookstore Heartleaf Books

By Aalia Jagwani | September 19

New independent cooperative bookstore Heartleaf Books was opened by sisters Caroline and Mads Vericker on Atwells Avenue last Wednesday. Heartleaf is a consumer and worker co-op which aims to involve community members by allowing them to purchase shares in the business and become part owners. ...

Metro

Woodlawn community protests commercial redevelopment of Morley Field Park

By Natalie Villacres | September 16

The Pawtucket Department of Planning and Redevelopment has proposed a commercial overhaul of Morley Field Park, located in the Woodlawn ...

Metro

COVID-19, monkeypox continue to impact Rhode Island

By Michael Seoane | September 16

Rhode Island public health officials are continuing the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as a new threat of monkeypox emerges. Officials who spoke with The Herald expressed optimism about Rhode Island’s COVID-19 infection rates and shared preventative tips for monkeypox.

Metro

Rhode Island joins bid to build multi-state ‘green hydrogen hub’

By Julia Vaz | September 14

On Aug. 25, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Rhode Island and Maine had joined Connecticut, Massachusetts, ...

Metro

McKee, Magaziner ’06 win primaries

By Emma Gardner | September 14

Incumbent Gov. Dan McKee won the Democratic primary for governor Tuesday night, narrowly defeating opponents Helena Foulkes, former chief executive of CVS Health, and Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea.

Metro

Brett Smiley poised to become next mayor of Providence

By Emma Gardner | September 14

Democrat Brett Smiley won the Democratic primary for Providence mayor Tuesday, defeating challengers Gonzalo Cuervo and Nirva LaFortune MA’19, The Boston Globe projects. No Republicans or Independents will appear on the ballot in November, meaning that Smiley’s ascension to the mayor’s office ...

Metro

Metro roundup, Sept. 12: Primary palooza

By Katy Pickens and Caleb Lazar | September 12

Rhode Island is holding primary elections Tuesday, Sept. 13, with competitive races for governor, mayor of Providence and General Assembly seats. So far, nearly 28,000 Rhode Islanders have cast their ballots through early voting or mail-in ballots. Election results are expected tonight.

Metro

Brown students help with midterm campaigns, voter registration

By Yael Sarig | September 11

For many on campus, fall is marked by the onslaught of pumpkin spice-everything, the changing of the leaves and the swapping out of short sleeves for long ones as Providence weather takes a turn for the worse. But for politically active Brown students, fall 2022 means midterm elections are right ...

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Metro

Turnover on Thayer: many closures, some new developments

By Rhea Rasquinha | September 8

Thayer Street has continued to see high turnover, with several closings and some new openings since 2020. Four separate storefronts have shuttered in the past few months alone, with the street still feeling effects of economic difficulty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.