Providence News | WPRI.com

Councilman wants review of Birch School

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:46:19 GMT

A Providence City Council member is calling for a complete review of the Harold A. Birch Vocational School after a federal investigation found it violated the Americans with Disabilities for years by making students work manual labor for little or no pay.

Officials seek help to solve shootings

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:37:56 GMT

City officials are calling on residents to assist police in solving a recent rash of shootings – including the one in which a young girl was killed.

RI DEM cracking down on drunk boaters

By Rochelle Lefebvre — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:53:42 GMT

The Rhode Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Coast Guard are cracking down on drunk boaters.

Small fire on RIC athletic center roof

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:33:21 GMT

Workers accidentally started a fire Tuesday morning while installing a new roof at the Rhode Island College athletic center in Providence.

RIPTA board OKs route reorganization

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:02:21 GMT

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has approved a reorganization plan that eliminates service in low ridership areas while increasing it in areas where public transit is well-used.

Stolen sword on way back to Brown U.

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:05:05 GMT

A Brown University spokesman says a Virginia antiques collector has turned over a Civil War-era sword that was stolen from the Ivy League school in the 1970s.

Leaders work to solve violence problem

By Jennifer Quinn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:33:05 GMT

Providence's eighth homicide of the year sparks debate over what community is doing to stop violence.

Beetles capable of destroying RI trees

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:27:14 GMT

The Department of Environmental Management is working to protect Rhode Island trees from Asian Longhorn Beetles.

Homeless veterans housing opens in Prov

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:22:23 GMT

A newly renovated six-unit building where homeless veterans with mental health and substance abuse problems can live and get support services has been dedicated in Providence.

Gas prices stall for 3rd straight week

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:53:36 GMT

Gas prices continue to hold steady in Rhode Island for the third week in a row. According to the weekly AAA survey released Monday, June 17, the average price for self-serve regular unleaded was $3.59.

ProCAP receiver accused of overbilling

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:44:41 GMT

Officials in Rhode Island’s capital city are accusing the court-appointed receiver of Providence’s largest public welfare agency of overbilling for his services, WPRI.com has learned.

Rx license revoked after 2 errors

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:43:01 GMT

A Rhode Island pharmacist and former state senator has had his license revoked after an infant and a baby who got medicine from his pharmacy were mistakenly given morphine.

RIC working to fight beehive collapse

By Bill Tomison — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:38:16 GMT

Rhode Island College is working to fight hive collapse -- which is expected to raise produce prices significantly this year, as fewer bees will pollinate fewer fruits and vegetables.

Museum launches new identity, website

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:29:14 GMT

RISD Museum launched a new visual identity and website, improving the art museum's branding, museum director John Smith announced Monday.

New recommendation for litter tax funds

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:37:16 GMT

Money raised from a tax on restaurants that sell takeout was intended to fund recycling efforts but is instead being used to support general government operations.

Police ID 12-year-old killed at party

By Courtney Caligiuri — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:03:44 GMT

UPDATE: Police have identified the four victims involved in a weekend shooting. A 12-year-old girl was fatally shot, and three women were injured while attending a party.

Mother, son shot while driving in Prov.

By Shaun Towne — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:01:40 GMT

The two were driving on Middle Drive when shots were fired at their car, striking them both in the arm and chest.

Vigil held for 12-year-old girl killed

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:46:26 GMT

A Providence community held a vigil Sunday to mourn the death of a 12-year-old girl killed early Sunday in a shooting.

Bill would expand paid time off

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:32:08 GMT

Rhode Island is considering whether to give workers paid time off to care for a new child or sick family member.

12-year-old shot dead in Providence

By James O'Leary — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:29:29 GMT

A vigil is planned for 4 p.m. Sunday near the scene of the fatal shooting.

Bill would stop lease termination fees

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:33:47 GMT

Military service members who are facing deployment could break an apartment lease with 30 days' notice without an early termination fee under legislation passed by the Rhode Island House.

Students get lesson in hurricane safety

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:09:57 GMT

Hundreds of Providence middle school students got a lesson on Friday in hurricane preparedness.

State visited Birch school in 2012

By Tim White, Target 12 Investigator — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:05:25 GMT

Education Commissioner Gist said the state recommended that changes be made at the Birch Vocational school a year before an investigation found it was operating a so-called "sheltered workshop".

City looks to improve pedestrian safety

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:05:10 GMT

New safety measures are set to be introduced in Rhode Island's capital city that will hopefully make downtown Providence a safer place for pedestrians to walk.

E-ZPass offers discounted prices

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:25:03 GMT

For a limited time, E-ZPass is offering a discount on Rhode Island transponders. This deal may prove beneficial for traveling planning to cross the Sakonnet River Bridge in the near future.

Lawmakers endorse popular vote compact

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:14:05 GMT

State lawmakers have voted once again to add Rhode Island to a list of states that agree to award their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the overall national popular vote.

Prov Police: Man robbed at gunpoint

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:26:52 GMT

NEW: According to a police report, the 29-year-old victim said one of the suspects flashed a silver handgun and told him “we are going to kill you if you don’t give us your wallet.”

Trooper honored for bombing response

By Jennifer Quinn — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:51:38 GMT

Trooper Roupen Bastajian was approaching the finished line when the bombings occurred. He quickly jumped in to help the injured.

Lawmakers react to RI's ADA violations

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:26:45 GMT

A Target 12 investigation revealed that a Providence school that caters to developmentally disabled students allegedly violated the Americans with Disabilities Act for years by making students work manual labor for little or no pay and acting as a "pipeline" to a similar program once they graduated.

City: 85% of environmental fines unpaid

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:14:56 GMT

More than 85% of the fines issued for illegal dumping, uncontained trash and excessive sidewalk debris in the city of Providence since July 2011 have gone unpaid, WPRI.com has learned.