Rhode Island

Feds investigating Washington Bridge closure – Rhode Island Current

Published

2 years ago

January 26, 2024

Feds investigating Washington Bridge closure – Rhode Island Current

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General have opened an inquiry to review the condition of the Washington Bridge and the abrupt closure of its westbound lanes in December, Gov. Dan McKee’s office announced Friday evening.

McKee’s office said in an email at 6 p.m. that federal investigators contacted the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) for documents and records related to the closure.

“This is not unexpected, and the Governor welcomes the review,” McKee spokesperson Olivia DaRocha said in a statement. “The Governor has instructed the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to fully cooperate.”

McKee has faced criticism this week on talk radio and on social media after he suggested in news media interviews that the delays caused by the westbound bridge closure amounted to an additional 10 to 15 minutes for motorists.

“The governor is in La-La Land,” said one woman who called in to “The Tara Granahan Show” on Thursday morning.

The news comes four days after McKee and RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. held a hastily-arranged press conference to announce that the bridge may need to be entirely rebuilt. Alviti threw out the three-month timeline for its reopening.

McKee’s office said Alviti told East Bay legislators that he expects to have recommendations on next steps from engineers by the end of February or early March.

“As we’ve said previously, we welcome oversight and review into this matter,” RIDOT spokesperson Charles St. Martin said in an email.

The House Oversight Committee plans to hold a public hearing about the status of the Washington Bridge on either Feb. 13 or Feb. 14, but it’s unclear why the date has not been solidified.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said “the Senate would be amenable to conducting a joint oversight hearing with the House prior to the February recess.”

Recess is scheduled for Feb. 19 through 23.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha agreed that the request from federal investigators would be something not unexpected.

“I wouldn’t read too much into it at this point,” Neronha said in a post on X. “Getting information in this situation happens all the time. The issue is whether the federal government paid for something they didn’t get.”

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Rhode Island

100+ Rhode Island water bodies stocked with 60,000 fish before start of trout season

Published

12 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

100+ Rhode Island water bodies stocked with 60,000 fish before start of trout season

RICHMOND, R.I. (WPRI) — Break out those fishing rods. Opening day for trout season in Rhode Island is this Saturday, April 11.

In a press release Wednesday, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management shared that it has stocked over 100 freshwater locations, including children’s only ponds, with more than 60,000 fish.

The stocked fish include brook, brown, rainbow and golden rainbow trout. Anyone who catches a golden rainbow trout between April 11 and May 3 will be eligible to receive a golden trout pin.

Anglers who catch a golden rainbow trout between those dates must snap a picture of their catch and email it to dem.fishri@dem.ri.gov. Submissions received after May 4 will not be considered. There is a limit of one pin per person.

ALSO READ: New pedestrian bridges open on East Bay Bike Path with new spots for fishing

Due to a study being conducted by the DEM and the Rhode Island Department of Health on how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals, accumulate in stocked trout, Upper Melville Pond in Portsmouth will be closed to fishing from May 4 until July 2. The pond, also known as Thurston Gray Pond, will be open for the start of the season, but not stocked with fish.

A 2026 fishing license is required for anglers 15 and older. Anglers between the ages of 15 and 65 must have a Trout Conservation Stamp to keep their catch, with some exceptions. You can find information on size and creel limits here. Fishing licenses can be purchased here.

The annual free fishing weekend in Rhode Island will be on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3. Residents and visitors alike can fish for all species of freshwater fish without a license or trout conservation stamp on those days.

Fishing in trout-stocked waters before April 11 is prohibited. You can find a full list of stocked waters here.

DEM: Designated trout waters in Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island lawmakers to consider several firearm bills

Published

24 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Rhode Island lawmakers to consider several firearm bills

(WJAR) — Rhode Island lawmakers are considering several firearm bills on Wednesday.

The House Judiciary Committee will discuss these bills after two mass shootings happened in the region in just six months.

It’s also been nearly a year since lawmakers banned the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons in Rhode Island.

Some of those Bills include:

A ban on buying more than one gun in a 30-day period
Requiring anyone looking to possess a firearm excluding police and military, to complete and pass firearm safety training
One that would ban people with felony convictions from owning a gun
There is also a bill that would make it permissible for students, professors or employees of any public or private university to carry, and possess a stun gun or pepper spray for purposes of self-defense

One that may not be talked about today but has been introduced, a bill that would outright ban the possession of military-style semiautomatic guns.

Second Amendment advocates are expected to don yellow shirts and pack the state house for the hearing to make their voices heard.

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island Drivers Most Attentive In Nation: Study

Published

1 day ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Rhode Island Drivers Most Attentive In Nation: Study

Rhode Island drivers are the most attentive in America, a recent study revealed.

The study, conducted by personal injury law firm Easton & Easton, examined National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System data and Federal Highway Administration licensed driver statistics from 2019 to 2023 and determined Rhode Islanders died in distracted driving crashes less than the residents of any other state, according to a media release accompanying the results.

See also: As Iran Conflict Continues, Here’s What Gas Could Cost In Rhode Island

“That gamble has cost thousands of American families a loved one in the past five years,” according to the release. “Now, with Google rolling out its voice-interactive ‘Ask Maps’ feature, the question is which parts of the country can least afford one more distraction.”

See also: Rhode Island’s Truck Traffic Densest In Nation: Study

A mere 2.6 Rhode Islanders were killed in distracted driving crashes per year from 2019 to 2023, compared to 639.8 Texans.

But the rate per 100,000 drivers was also impressively the lowest in the nation at 0.34. The state with the highest number per 100,000 drivers was New Mexico with 16.95

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