RI urges people to avoid Mashapaug Pond due to harmful algae

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island officials are urging people to avoid contact with Providence's Mashapaug Pond due to harmful blue-green algae. The Rhode Island Department of Health and state Department of Environmental Management say people should avoid things like fishing, boating and kayaking. ...

State lawmakers trying to get back to work

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island's state legislature could start getting back to work soon, the House Speaker says. The House Finance Committee is aiming to meet Thursday for the first time since the coronavirus shut down the legislative session in mid-March, Speaker Nicholas Mattiello told The...

Correction: Virus Outbreak-New England story

BOSTON (AP) — In a story Sept. 19, 2020, about developments related to the coronavirus pandemic in New England, The Associated Press erroneously reported the number of cases linked to a wedding and reception in Maine. More than 170 cases were linked to the wedding and reception, not more than 270.

Outside firm to audit Providence public safety budget

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s administration has hired a financial firm to review public safety budget and operations to identify “efficiencies” that would allow the reallocation of funds. Public Financial Management will do the audit, WPRI-TV reported. The...

Providence College extends remote-learning plan

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence College said Friday that a remote-only learning plan put in place because of a coronavirus outbreak that has affected more than 200 students has been extended an additional week, until Oct. 3. Although the number of cases among students has been on the rise, the private...

Man dies after being brought to fire station with stab wound

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Police in Providence are investigating the city's 12th homicide of the year. A man suffering from a stab wound was brought to the Atwells Avenue fire station at about 4 p.m. Thursday, according to Maj. David Lapatin. Firefighters helped the victim before he was taken to Rhode Island...

Convicted ex-speaker of House lands new job helping homeless

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The former speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, who spent time in federal prison for campaign finance violations, has been hired by an agency that serves the homeless. Gordon Fox has been named housing development manager at Crossroads RI, agency spokesman Mike Raia...

New COVID cases, hospitalizations rising in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases in Rhode Island continues to rise, while the number of people hospitalized has reached its highest level in a month, the state Department of Health reported Thursday. The department reported 139 new confirmed cases and four more virus-related...

College virus outbreaks drive Rhode Island's case rate up

Gov. Gina Raimondo on Wednesday blamed a surge of new coronavirus cases in Rhode Island on recent outbreaks among students at Providence College and the University of Rhode Island. The schools, between them, have had nearly 200 new cases in the past week or so, the Democratic governor said at a news conference....

Providence examines role of Black, Indigenous peoples

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence has assembled a group of historical groups and community leaders who over the course of four months will create a public education program that details the history of Black and Indigenous people in the city. The initiative announced Tuesday is the first part of the truth...