The Week in RI: Teachers Charged, Tolls on Hold

Miss anything that happened this week? Check out these top headlines from around Rhode Island.

Saturday, March 9 Big changes could be coming to Post Road in the form of a “diet” from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. DOT officials are considering reducing part of the roadway from four lanes to three, with two travel lanes in other direction and a center turn lane.  Sunday, March 10 Rhode Island State Police arrested Janet A. Mastronardi, 52, of Cowesett for embezzlement and unlawful appropriation, state police Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell announced. Monday, March 11 Plans to install tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge still await federal approval, despite comments by state Department of Transportation (DOT) Director Michael P. Lewis to a legislative committee on Thursday that tolling would be implemented this summer. …

• Photos (1)

2012 Snowstorm in Rhode Island [SLIDESHOW]

Images from Rhode Island's first and last snowstorm of 2012

  Rhode Island's snow storm arrived a few days late for Christmas, but Father Time has always said Mother Nature is not known for her punctuality. We compiled images from across the state contributed by Patch readers and local editors.  Enjoy!

• Videos (1)

Tell Governor Chafee That It's Time To End Homelessness And Stop This Crisis

A submission from the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless

Cicilline, Langevin, Whitehouse win Re-Election

Rhode Island voters favor Democrats in election.

It was a good night for Democrats Tuesday in Rhode Island. In Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District David Cicilline was able to win a second term against a tough race fought against Republican Brendan Doherty. The former head of the Rhode Island State Police strongly criticized Cicilline during the course of the campaign over his final leadership of the city of Providence when he was mayor for eight before heading to Washington two years ago. In the 2nd Congressional District James Langevin was able to win a seventh term over Republican Michael Riley. Riley reportedly lent his campaign more than $600,000. Langevin cited as accomplishments his work to maintain submarine production at Electric Boat and efforts to strengthen job training …

•  53 Comments
• Photos (4)

Live Blog: November 2012 Rhode Island Election

Patch will have a team of editors in our Patch communities covering Tuesday's election in real-time in our live blog.

After more than a year of hype, hundreds of speeches and millions spent on campaign ads, the 2012 election is finally here — and Patch is covering it live in a real-time Election Day Blog. We will have more than a dozen editors throughout Rhode Island in our Patch communities on Tuesday, talking to voters, election officials and others — and providing updates and results in the blog from 2 p.m. until the final races are called. We also want to hear from you, so make sure your post a comment in the blog. Tell us how you voted for and why; share your experiences at the polls; or just weigh in on the big election of 2012. The Election Day blog will launch around 2 p.m. Tuesday...but you can sign up now to receive an email alert once the blog …

•  60 Comments
• Photos (1)

Poll: Should RI Re-Think its Motorcycle Helmet Laws?

Should Rhode Island join other states that require all motorcyclists wear helmets?

Motorcycle crashes killed 4,502 people in 2010 in the United States. In Rhode Island, news reports of motorcyclist deaths occur regularly throughout the summer and warmer months. Many of the victims weren't wearing helmets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, helmets are estimated to prevent 37 percent of crash deaths among motorcycle riders and 41 percent of crash deaths for motorcycle passengers. Rhode Island law requires anyone under 21 to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle. Passengers must wear helmets at all times. In the wake of numerous motorcycle-related traffic fatalities in Rhode Island, is it time for the state to re-think its helmet laws? Nineteen other states have universal helmet laws. Advocates …

•  141 Comments
• Photos (1)

PHOTO GALLERY: Irene Leaves Mark on East Bay Region

Hurricane Irene flooded many towns along the Bay. Reported tornadoes and high winds also wreaked havoc around the region.

Share your Irene photos with us. You can post them here. Get more great coverage of Irene and its aftermath across the nation from Patch and the rest of the Huffington Post Media Group.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (30)