Metro

How RISD’s divestment movements have evolved over the past decade

By Megan Chan | November 25

Former and current RISD student activists discuss divestment and campus political engagement.

Community members organize against turning Pawtucket park into parking lot

By Abigail Donovan | November 25

Over a year ago, Pawtucket city officials closed down a portion of Morley Field, the only park within the surrounding neighborhood of Woodlawn and a community hub for the area’s historically low-income, BIPOC community.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley sits at a table surrounded by over a dozen people while signing the Comprehensive Plan on Friday.

Mayor Smiley signs Comprehensive Plan, banning new gas stations in the city and fossil-fuel power plants from ProvPort

By Avani Ghosh | November 25

The plan also addresses the city’s housing crisis through accessory dwelling units and inclusionary zoning.

Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angélica Infante-Green speaks into three microphones for local news stations at a press conference.

Providence to pay PPSD $15 million, increase district funding moving forward

By Ciara Meyer | November 24

An agreement between the City and the Rhode Island Department of Education will address the multi-million budget deficit currently straining the Providence Public School District and provide more funding moving forward. Tax increases for homeowners and businesses in 2026 are now to be expected. ...

An aerial photo of a neighborhood in eastern Providence on a summer day.

Five takeaways from Providence’s PILOT agreements with local colleges and universities

By Maya Kelly and Ciara Meyer | November 24

The Herald analyzed a new city website detailing the FY2024 community contributions made by Brown, RISD, PC and JWU.

University to transfer 255 acres of Mount Hope Property to Pokanoket tribe’s land trust

By Abigail Donovan | November 24

The land transfer will fulfill a 2017 agreement between the University and the tribe.

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Metro

PPSD students see effects of RI youth mental health crisis, discuss state’s solutions

By Joy Chen | November 22

Growing concerns over a statewide mental health crisis among school-age youth has led the Rhode Island Department of Education to launch a new student mental health support program, state officials announced last month.

Metro

Brown residents file for unionization, gear up for elections

By Ethan Schenker and Claire Song | November 21

Residents and fellows at four Brown-affiliated hospitals filed to unionize Friday. It’s the group’s first steps to holding elections that, if successful, would result in 950 physicians joining thousands of other unionized doctors nationwide.

Metro

City of Providence, RIDE reach agreement on school funding

By Ciara Meyer | November 20

On Wednesday, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and the Rhode Island Department of Education reached a deal on how much the City must increase funding for the Providence Public School District. The deal still needs to be formalized in writing. The parties expect to announce the details of the agreement ...

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Brown medical residents at RI hospitals seek unionization

By Ethan Schenker and Claire Song | November 19

Nine hundred and fifty medical residents and fellows at four hospitals affiliated with Brown’s Warren Alpert School of Medicine are seeking union representation, according to public filings with the National Labor Relations Board.

Illustration of people walking on a snow-lined pathway in front of Rhode Island's State House, a white building with a dome on top. There are also trees on either side of the path.

Metro

RI awarded $24 million in federal funding for energy bill assistance to low-income households

By Ivy Huang | November 18

Late last month, U.S. Representative Gabe Amo (D-R.I. 1) announced that Rhode Island was awarded $24 million in federal funding through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Photo of a construction site building the new Brown University Labor and Delivery Center

Metro

Brown University Labor and Delivery Center exceeds funding goals, will open in spring

By Nora Rowe | November 18

The funding campaign for Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island’s new 20-room labor and delivery center has exceeded its $35 million goal, hospital officials announced last week.

A person stands facing shelves of teas and packets hung off of wooden pillars

Metro

Ocean State Spice & Tea Merchants brings loose-leaf tea, spice blends to Providence

By Michelle Bi | November 17

After a three-week-long soft launch and a great deal of community excitement, Ocean State Spice & Tea Merchants officially opened its doors in Wayland Square on Nov. 9.

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Metro

Advocates call on Governor McKee to declare homelessness state of emergency

By Sanai Rashid | November 15

On Wednesday afternoon, close to 30 housing advocates and unhoused community members gathered at the Rhode Island State House to demand that Governor Dan McKee declare Rhode Island’s homelessness crisis a state of emergency.

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Metro

RISD’s Reharvest-Repair hopes to challenge material and aesthetic values regarding waste

By Joy Chen | November 15

Discombobulated chairs displayed on the walls of a converted church, abstract contraptions made from upcycled wood and the energetic chatter of passionate artists, designers and community members — this was the atmosphere of the Repair Atelier during the Rhode Island School of Design’s Reharvest-Repair’s ...

Metro

Four individuals arrested for elder fraud amid rising cases in RI

By Lev Kotler-Berkowitz | November 14

In early March, a pair of Warwick grandparents gave up over $18,000 to cover what they thought was their grandson’s bail.

Photo of the front facade of Hope High School

Metro

Providence Public School District agrees to new settlement with DOJ over programming for multilingual learners

By Ciara Meyer | November 13

The United States Department of Justice and Providence Public School District entered into a new settlement agreement regarding services for multilingual learners on Wednesday.

Metro

RIPTA is set on building a bus hub, but advocates worry about funding it

By Mikayla Kennedy | November 13

A nearly decade-long debate over where the Rhode Island Public Transport Authority should construct its new bus hub may come to a close as early as the end of the month. But many questions — including how much the hub will cost and what complications might be associated with its cost — may ...

Metro

Florence, Friendship and Flooding: Splendor of Florence Festival returns to Providence

By Maya Kelly | November 13

In 1998, former Providence Mayor Vincent Cianci, Jr. signed a friendship pact with Leonardo Domenici, then-mayor of Florence, Italy. To celebrate this pact, Cianci commissioned Joyce Acciaioli Rudge to put on the first Splendor of Florence Festival, 25 years ago.

Front of the Providence County Courthouse building.

Metro

Court finds City must provide additional funding to Providence Public School District

By Allyson Chen, Ciara Meyer and Mikayla Kennedy | November 13

Two new rulings by the Rhode Island Superior Court mean that the city will be required to provide additional funding to the Providence Public School District. The rulings follow a case brought by the city against the state Department of Education.