Thursday, June 6, 2013
The focus of the upgraded treatment process is a new clarification process called Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF), which removes naturally occurring matter from the city’s reservoir system, prior to filtration.
The Newport Water Division, which provides water to customers in Newport and Middletown and wholesale to Portsmouth and Naval Station Newport commissioned Phase 1 of the new drinking water treatment processes at the upgraded Station No. 1 Water Treatment Plant, located at 100 Bliss Mine Road, Newport, on Thursday, May 30, 2013. In May, the divison sent a notice to all customers that its drinking water has exceeded the permitted level of trihalomethanes, which are formed as a result of chlorination of organic matter present naturally in raw water supplies. The focus of the upgraded treatment process is a new clarification process called Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF), which removes naturally occurring matter from the city’s reservoir …
Monday, June 3, 2013
The town of Portsmouth issued a "stop-work" order on the new Sakonnet River Bridge on Friday.
The town of Portsmouth's building inspector issued a "stop-work order" on part of the new Sakonnet River Bridge's toll system this past Friday, reports The Sakonnet Times. According to the article, the order was issued on a structure connected to the new toll gantry, which was installed just before the Memorial Day weekend. It is unknown if the order is for the gantry itself. The order was issued due a lack of electrical permit, reports The Sakonnet Times. The open-road toll system will take several weeks to test, but bridge tolls are expected to begin this July. Meanwhile, several towns have joined Portsmouth's lawsuit against several defendants, including the state's Department of Transportation director and the Rhode Island …
The School Committee will meet today at 3 p.m. to cut $450,000 from next year's proposed budget.
The Middletown School Committee will meet today at 3 p.m. to discuss the consequences of $450,000 in cuts to next year's proposed budget. Last week the Town Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2013-14 budget, which calls for $450,000 in cuts from the school departments proposed budget. "We have already presented our budget to the council to get where we are at and now it's back to the drawing board and we are down $450,000 more," said Theresa Spengler, School Committee chairperson. "The way I see it, we are going to have to cut programs. It's going to be a big impact." The approved budget will call for a 1.6 percent increase in the tax levy. This allows for a 2 percent increase to the school budget. The Middletown School Department …
Friday, May 31, 2013
The governor and world-renowned architect Maya Lin celebrated the reopening and dedication of Queen Anne Square alongside local leaders in Newport today.
A single protester, holding his sign high, was all that remained today of the bitter controversy surrounding the renovation of Queen Anne Square at the park's dedication ceremony. The $3.5 million project divided Newport's upper caste, pitting neighbors and friends against each other in a philosophical battle over whether the art installation by renowned architect Maya Lin represented Newport's heritage and honored the legacy of Doris Duke or was just a ploy to attract more tourism. Duke is recognized as the champion of the city's preservation efforts and Lin, who is famous for designing the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., employed images and materials from past centuries to mimic Duke's efforts of preserving historic architecture …
The government is issuing furlough notices to more than 700 civilian employees on Aquidneck Island.
The government is issuing furlough notices to more than 700 civilian Naval employees as part of the national sequester, reports The Providence Journal. The furloughs will affect 300 employees of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and 400 employees at the Naval War College. The employees will be asked to stay away from work for one day each week for an entire period of 11 weeks, according to The Providence Journal. All notices will be sent out by June 5. What do you think about the furlough notices? Are you affected? Tell us in the comment section below.
Due to unhealthy air quality levels on Friday, regular RIPTA services will be free.
All regular RIPTA buses and trolleys, excluding special services, will be free on Friday, May 31, 2013. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is predicting that air quality will reach unhealthy levels throughout Rhode Island in the afternoon on Friday. A very humid air mass with west to southwest winds will be present at that time, which will lead to unhealthy air conditions. The poor air quality will be due to elevated ground level ozone concentrations. Ozone is a major component of smog and is formed by the photochemical reaction of pollutants emitted by motor vehicles, industry and other sources in the presence of elevated temperatures and sunlight. Rhode Island residents can help reduce air pollutant emissions. …
Thursday, May 30, 2013
A U.S. District Court judge decided ruled that the court would not block tolling on the Sakonnet River Bridge during a hearing in chambers on Wednesday.
A federal judge decided not to grant a restriction that would block tolling on the Sakonnet River Bridge during a hearing in chambers on Wednesday afternoon, according to a Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority official. The town of Portsmouth submitted a request for a restraining order against toll collection pending the outcome of a lawsuit that could reverse the Federal Highway Administration's decision to allow tolling. Senior Judge Ronald R. Lagueux ruled this afternoon to allow the RITBA to continue its move toward toll collection and also delayed allowing Tiverton and Bristol from joining the Portsmouth lawsuit against tolls. "The 1st of July is our timeframe at this point [to start collection]," said David Darlington, RITBA …
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The nation's only Independent governor will reportedly become a Democrat before the 2014 election.
Gov. Lincoln Chafee is joining the Democratic Party ahead of the 2014 campaign season, WJAR.com reported two Democratic officials said Thursday. Chafee, who won his first term in 2010 as an Independent, served in the U.S. Senate as a Republican but left the GOP in 2007. He has been the country's only Independent governor. Chafee's staff has so far not confirmed his plan, but it doesn't come as a big surprise to political watchers. Chafee has been saying for months that he was thinking about the switch, and his ideology throughout his career has more closely aligned with Deomcratic ideals. He also publicly supported President Barack Obama and spoke at last year's Democratic National Convention. The move could make for a crowded race in …
The alleged ringleaders of a Navy kickback scheme that misappropriated $7 million - $20 million in government contract money will plead guilty to conspiracy, theft of government property and tax evasion.
Three people involved in a Navy kickback scheme that misappropriated up to $20 million of government contract funds will plead guilty in exchange for lighter sentences. Alleged ringleader Ralph M. Mariano will admit to charges of conspiracy, theft of government property and tax evasion, reports The Providence Journal. Mariano's confession comes one day after his girlfriend, Warwick lawyer Mary O'Rourke pleaded guilty to charges of theft of government property. O'Rourke will be offered probation, on the condition that Mariano admits guilt. Mariano, 54, of Arlington, VA, a former engineer with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), faces 20 years in prison for his crimes of accepting bribes as a public official from Portsmouth…
A U.S. District Court judge has scheduled a hearing for this afternoon.
The town of Portsmouth's request for a restraining order against further construction of tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge will be heard at a hearing this afternoon in U.S. District Court, but it might be too late. A U.S. District Court judge has scheduled a hearing on the order for this afternoon, reports The Associated Press. However, the request might be too late. The state Department of Transportation completed installating a toll gantry or open-road toll system on the new Sakonnet River Bridge last Friday, before the Memorial Day weekend. David Darlington, chairman of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority stated that collection could, however, be restricted until the courts decide on the lawsuit levied by the town …
Robert E
4:49 pm on Thursday, June 6, 2013
Portsmouth appeals federal judge's decision in case tied to Sakonnet River Bridge tolls Read more: http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x1466761621/Portsmouth-appeals-federal-judges-decision-in-case-tied-to-Sakonnet-River-Bridge-tolls#ixzz2VTHZF8cw Follow us: @Hnnow on Twitter | HNNow on Facebook more ›