Connect with us

Rhode Island

What will happen to the westbound Washington Bridge? Live updates.

Published

on

What will happen to the westbound Washington Bridge? Live updates.


Gov. Dan McKee and state transportation experts will reveal the fate of the westbound Washington Bridge this afternoon and announce a rebuild plan if the structure has to be demolished as feared

The 1968 bridge was closed Dec. 11 to guard against collapse, and McKee is set to hold a 3 p.m. media briefing with the state bridge experts and engineering consultants that have been analyzing the structure, which carried Interstate 195 West over the Seekonk River, since then.

Advertisement

They are expected to announce whether the bridge needs to be torn down and, if so, how long it should take to rebuild.

In January the bridge’s condition was found to be even worse than first suspected and Rhode Island Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr. revealed that the state was considering tearing the bridge down.

Since then, signs have pointed toward replacement as a more likely outcome than repairing the unusually-designed bridge.

A media advisory Wednesday evening said the briefing will include a “structural analysis.”

In addition to McKee and Alviti, Joseph Almond, the governor’s senior deputy chief of staff who has been overseeing bridge planning, will be at the briefing, as well as representatives from engineering firm McNary, Bergeron & Johannesen. McNary, Bergeron & Johannesen was hired by the Department of Administration to evaluate the forensic analysis and engineering conclusions of the contractors who have been working on the bridge.

Advertisement



Source link

Rhode Island

Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo nominated to Costco board – The Boston Globe

Published

on

Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo nominated to Costco board – The Boston Globe


Costco is nominating former US commerce secretary and Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo to serve on its board of directors, the Washington state-based retail giant announced last week.

“We are very pleased to nominate Secretary Raimondo for election to our Board,” Costco chairman Hamilton James said in a statement. “Her vast experience in global business, politics and international security at the highest level will add an important dimension to our current expertise. We look forward to her contributions.”

Raimondo served as Rhode Island governor from 2015 to 2021, when she was tapped to serve as the Biden administration’s secretary of commerce. Before entering politics in 2010, she worked in venture capital.

Her nomination will likely be voted on at the company’s next shareholders’ meeting, scheduled for Jan. 15.

Advertisement

The nomination comes days after the warehouse store announced it would sue the Trump administration over its tariff policy. Costco says the administration’s tariffs are unlawful, since they were imposed under a law that has historically been used to impose sanctions against other nations.

Earlier this year, Raimondo said she is considering running for president in 2028, becoming one of the first Democrats to do so. She also criticized the direction of the party and suggested it had ignored bread-and-butter economics issues in 2024 election loss to Donald Trump.

She added, though, that “if I thought somebody else would be better, or better able to win, I’d get behind that person in a minute.”

Costco does not currently operate any stores in Rhode Island. The nearest location is located on Interstate 95 in Sharon, Mass., according to the company’s website.

Last year, the company seemed to back away from a plan to build a warehouse at a shuttered correctional facility in Cranston, WPRI reported. Officials in Warwick and Smithfield have also expressed interest in bringing the box store to their communities.

Advertisement

Material from previous Globe coverage and Globe wire services was used.


Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.





Source link

Continue Reading

Rhode Island

Archie’s game-winner leads McNeese past Rhode Island, 66-64

Published

on

Archie’s game-winner leads McNeese past Rhode Island, 66-64


KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — Tyshawn Archie scored the game-winning jump shot with two seconds left and racked up 18 total points to lead McNeese past Rhode Island 66-64 on Tuesday.

Archie went 7 of 12 from the field for the Cowboys (8-2, 1-1 Southland Conference). Jovohn Garcia scored 13 points while shooting 4 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Larry Johnson shot 4 of 11 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points.

Jahmere Tripp finished with 16 points and three steals for the Rams (7-4). Myles Corey added 12 points for Rhode Island. Keeyan Itejere had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Advertisement

McNeese went into halftime tied with Rhode Island 37-37. Archie scored eight points in the half. Archie scored 10 second-half points for McNeese to help set up their game-winning shot.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Rhode Island

Facing lawsuits, Trump administration pulls back contentious HUD grant changes just before court hearing – The Boston Globe

Published

on

Facing lawsuits, Trump administration pulls back contentious HUD grant changes just before court hearing – The Boston Globe


The lawsuits allege the administration violated congressional intent by dramatically reducing the amount of grant funding that can be spent on permanent housing and project renewals, from about 90 percent down to a third of the funding.

HUD also planned to place new restrictions on access to the funds, including requirements mandating providers recognize only two genders, and punishing providers in localities that do not roll out strict anti-homeless laws.

Advertisement

Monday’s filing states the government plans to “assess the issues raised” and release a revised notice.

“Because the December and January deadlines set by the 2025 [funding notice] are no longer operative, Plaintiff’s request for emergency, expedited relief via a Temporary Restraining Order is now moot,” the filing argues.

In an update posted to the HUD website, the department said in the previous fiscal year 2024-2025 funding notice, it “reserved the right to make changes to the [funding notice] instead of processing renewals for a variety of reasons.”

“The Department still intends to exercise this discretion and make changes to the previously issued [Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity] to account for new priorities,” the update states.

US District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy criticized the Trump administration for the sudden withdrawal at Monday’s hearing, according to Reuters.

Advertisement

“It feels like intentional chaos,” said McElroy. “You can change the policy all you want [but] there’s a mechanism for doing so.”

McElroy ordered the Trump administration to file new arguments by next week, Politico reported.

Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report.


Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending