Metro

The facade of a small business on Wickenden Street. A wreath hangs on the door.

Trends point to a preference for online shopping this holiday season

By Maya Kelly | December 16

Local business owners and sustainability advocates discuss online shopping trends as the holiday gift season approaches.

An orange Spin electric scooter is parked on a sidewalk corner lined with specks of snow. A bush and parked cars are in the background.

Five years of Spin scooters: Are community members dizzy?

By Amelie Chin | December 11

Since Spin’s introduction to Providence five years ago, zipping bright orange scooters have become a regular sight on College Hill. With a scan of a QR code, users can unlock a scooter for a $1 fee and ride them at a rate of 41 cents per minute.

A photo of the Rhode Island state house.

In tense battle, Rhode Island Senate Democrats choose their next leaders

By Pavani Durbhakula | December 6

On Nov. 7, the Rhode Island Senate Democratic Caucus convened to determine its leadership for the upcoming session.

A pen is on top of a RIPTA comment sheet.

RIPTA’s new service changes to increase route frequency, improve students’ commute

By Ciara Meyer | December 6

New bus service proposals aim to make the commute of students across Providence’s Public School District more efficient. Additional bus routes and increased frequency were also proposed, following potential cuts earlier in the year due to a driver shortage.

An illustration of five people holding score boards that say 10.

Human Rights Campaign gives Providence perfect score on LGBTQ+ index

By Lev Kotler-Berkowitz | December 5

Providence received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2024 Municipal Equality Index. The MEI reports ratings on hundreds of cities throughout the U.S. on LGBTQ+ equality in the city’s policies, services and programs. This is the 11th year in a row in which Providence has earned a score ...

Women & Infants Hospital union to cancel strike following tentative employment agreement

By Megan Chan | December 4

Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island reached a tentative agreement with 1199SEIU — the union that represents the hospital’s frontline staff — early Wednesday.

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A picture of a Gilbert Stuart Middle School building in Providence, Rhode Island.

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Community members gather to discuss the future of Gilbert Stuart Middle School

By Mikayla Kennedy | December 3

Organizers emphasized the importance of redeveloping the vacant space and preserving dual-language programming.

An illustration of a car driving to a beach full of people.

Metro

RI’s beaches are slipping away as state legislators search for solution

By Elsa Lagercrantz | December 3

State legislators from two newly formed special commissions met late last month to discuss one of Rhode Island’s most pressing issues: beach erosion.

The entrance to the Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. A large sign hangs down the front of the building, which features a picture of a woman and a baby and reads "Women & Infants is a Designated Baby-Friendly USA Hospital."

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Women and Infants Hospital workers plan to strike Dec. 12 unless contract deal reached

By Megan Chan | December 1

Union members voted to authorize an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday.

A view of downtown Providence from College Hill. The top of the First Baptist Church can be seen in the foreground, and larger buildings, like the Superman Building, stand behind it.

Metro

Teachers at Paul Cuffee Lower School file to unionize, joining other Providence charter schools

By Emily Feil | December 1

On Nov. 12, teachers at the Paul Cuffee Lower School filed for unionization under the National Labor Relations Board, mirroring unionization efforts at charter schools across Providence.

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.

Metro

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.

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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.

Metro

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.

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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.

Metro

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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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 ...

Metro

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.