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Rhode Island Rings in 2025 with 108 DUI Arrests Over the New Year Holiday – Newport Buzz

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Rhode Island Rings in 2025 with 108 DUI Arrests Over the New Year Holiday – Newport Buzz


Rhode Island law enforcement didn’t take a holiday break during the New Year’s season, making 108 arrests for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) between December 27, 2024, and January 5, 2025. The crackdown was a collaborative effort among all 38 municipal police departments and the Rhode Island State Police, aimed at keeping roads safe during the busy holiday period.

“I’m proud of the work that our police officers are doing to keep our roadways safe, but at the same time, these numbers are deeply concerning,” said Colonel Bradford Connor, President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association and Warwick Chief of Police. “Driving under the influence is never acceptable, and our message is clear: if you choose to drink or use cannabis and drive, you will be caught, and you will be arrested. This holiday season, 108 people learned that the hard way and will spend the next months—and years—dealing with the consequences.”

Harsh Penalties for a Costly Mistake

Rhode Island’s DUI laws carry significant penalties for offenders. A first-time DUI conviction can result in:

  • A jail sentence of up to one year at the Adult Correctional Institution (ACI).
  • License suspension lasting 3 to 18 months.
  • Mandatory community service ranging from 10 to 60 hours.
  • Fines between $100 and $500, with additional fees that can add up to thousands.

Refusing to take a chemical test, such as a blood, breath, or urine test, also has serious consequences. First-time refusals can lead to:

  • License suspension for six months to one year.
  • Fines of $200 to $500.
  • Community service requirements and mandatory alcohol or drug education programs.

Repeat offenders face even stiffer penalties, including potential incarceration and extended license suspension or ignition interlock periods.

A Deadly Gamble

Despite widespread campaigns against impaired driving, the holiday season often sees a spike in DUIs. Law enforcement and public safety officials are urging Rhode Islanders to plan ahead, use rideshare services, or designate a sober driver to avoid endangering lives and facing life-altering legal repercussions.

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“This isn’t just about getting arrested—it’s about saving lives,” Connor emphasized.

As Rhode Island moves into 2025, the message remains firm: impaired driving will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will be out in full force to ensure the roads remain safe for everyone.

 

 

 

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Rhode Island

Dreamflight Studio Releases Rhode Island for MSFS – FSElite

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Dreamflight Studio Releases Rhode Island for MSFS – FSElite


Dreamflight has released its rendition of Rhode Island for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024.

Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (KPVD) features the Bruce Sundlun Terminal, a modern two-level facility with North and South concourses housing around 20 gates. It’s served by major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and Breeze, offering frequent connections to major hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and Washington, along with seasonal routes to Florida and select Caribbean destinations.

Dreamflight’s version of TF Green Airport delivers an accurate and up-to-date recreation of the real location, featuring a fully modelled terminal interior, detailed ground work, and the current 2025 layout. Handcrafted textures, tuned night lighting, and realistic clutter help bring the environment to life, while static aircraft placements match real-world operations. The package also includes a GSX profile for enhanced ground service compatibility.

You can buy it from Contrail for 16.99 (excluding taxes).

Features

  • Accurate, data-driven airport recreation – Modeled using real-world references to deliver the most precise TF Green experience available
  • High-quality textures and detailed custom modeling
  • Fully modeled terminal interior
  • Custom ground poly – Realistic pavement detail, accurate taxiway markings, and updated surface materials
  • Up-to-date 2025 airport layout
  • Professionally tuned night lighting
  • ATC tower interior
  • Authentic ground clutter and service equipment
  • Patriots 767 parked as in real life, static business jets
  • Handcrafted PBR materials
  • Detailed parking lots and landside areas
  • GSX Profile by pvrlpe



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Renovations bring new look, new stores to TF Green Airport

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Renovations bring new look, new stores to TF Green Airport


Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is undergoing a multimillion-dollar project to improve the airport’s terminal.

The project includes multiple new restaurants and stores along with a new decorative flooring that will replace the old carpet throughout the terminal.

The new restaurants inside the terminal include Narragansett Kitchen and Bar in the North Concourse, replacing the location of the old TGI Fridays.

“It’s a great facility, we opened this in May of this year, it’s over a $2 million investment,” said Nikolas Persson, executive vice president of business development. “We want to make sure that when our passengers are arriving here, they have the best impression of our state, and when they’re leaving that the last impression is a lasting one.”

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In the South Concourse, the new restaurant is Federal Hill, an Italian restaurant.

Federal Hill is a new restaurant in the South Concourse at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. (WJAR)

The old Providence Provisions will be replaced with a new Block Island-inspired seafood restaurant.

A Burger King will also replace Rhode Island Burger Co. near the TSA security line.

“We want to make sure that our of our customers have something that their familiar with,” said Persson.

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The project to install the new retail and restaurant attractions cost $21 million, while the flooring cost $20.5 million.

According to the airport, the projects are funded by federal funds and airport revenue, not taxpayer money.

It's not clear what will happen to the sailboat at the information center at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. (WJAR)

It’s not clear what will happen to the sailboat at the information center at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. (WJAR)

The airport said it’s unclear what will happen to the sailboat by the information desk at baggage claim. But the airport ensures the live piano music will remain.

In the near future, the airport will undergo a $64 million project to improve its walls, ceilings, seating and lighting. Each project at the airport is done in phases.

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Ammonia leak from Rhode Island food processing facility sends 13 to hospital, 2 in critical condition

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Ammonia leak from  Rhode Island food processing facility sends 13 to hospital, 2 in critical condition


More than a dozen people were hospitalized, including two in critical condition, after falling ill from an ammonia leak at a food processing facility in Rhode Island on Thursday night, officials said.

Hazmat teams were working to ventilate the Infinity Fresh Kitchen facility, which is run in partnership with Taylor Farms in North Kingston, after an anhydrous ammonia leak around 6 p.m., according to the state’s Department of Environmental Management.

Thirteen people were hospitalized after an ammonia leak at a food processing facility in Rhode Island. 10 WJAR

Thirteen people were hospitalized and two are in critical condition, the department said.

“We had people coming out of the building complaining that they were smelling of ammonia with irritation to their eyes and throats. There was no liquid ammonia leak, it was all vapor,” North Kingstown Fire Chief John Linacre told WJAR.

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The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management originally reported that 15 people were ill at Tyler Farms. 10 WJAR

The Department of Environmental Management explained that a technician at the facility turned the ammonia system off, so a full evacuation wasn’t required.

The agency is still probing the cause of the leak. Linacre told the outlet that they suspected it originated from a valve on the roof that came loose, which created an opening for the air intake to suck the ammonia into the facility.

Officials are investigating the leak. 10 WJAR

Taylor Farms was previously fined a whopping $650,000 for an ammonia leak that stemmed from its refrigeration system and sent 15 employees to the hospital in 2020.

Last week, 36 people were hospitalized, including four in critical condition, after ammonia leaked out of a tanker truck that was rolling through a small city in Oklahoma. Roughly 600 people in the surrounding area had to shelter in place for hours until officials gave the all-clear.

Taylor Farms was previously fined $650,000 for an ammonia leak in 2020. 10 WJAR

In 2022, one HVAC contractor died and another was sickened at a food plant in Massachusetts when an ammonia pipe they were working near started to leak.

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Exposure to ammonia can cause severe irritation, burns, and difficulty breathing. In high concentrations, it can lead to life-threatening conditions.



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