The new Budlong Pool in Cranston will soon (but never soon enough) open (2025) with a tip of its hat to the past, to the work and workers of the WPA, to history, and to historic preservation. The Budlong Pool, located at 198 Aqueduct Road, off Reservoir Avenue is the city’s only outdoor public pool. Bigger than two Olympic-sized swimming pools, the pool was built in the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration project. The pool was closed in 2019 after an architect’s report stated that the pool was “close to the end of its serviceable life”. During the pandemic years, the pool stayed closed wi ..read more

Town of Johnston Secures Federal Funding for Home Buyouts to Address Persistent Flooding Issues on Belfield Drive The Town of Johnston and Mayor Joseph M. Polisena, Jr. announced that the Town has successfully secured federal funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to address persistent flooding issues on Belfield Drive, an area so much in the news this season for persistent flooding that left people cut off from the rest of the community, necessitating special permission to cut an access road directly on to Route 295, a ..read more

Photo, top: Art of Herman Brewster Celebrating 13 Years of Connecting Lives With Art! Art Connection RI is throwing a fundraising party to help strengthen their mission to Connect Lives With Art! We are thrilled to have the event at Shri Yoga, whose community-driven values align with their own. Come help celebrate the positive impact of art in the community while enjoying great food, drink, music and a raffle for baskets filled with items and gift certificates generously donated by local businesses. The event will be held on Friday April 26th from 5:30-8:00PM at SHRI Yoga Studio, 390 Pine Stre ..read more

by John Donnelly, meteorologist High pressure remains to our south and keeps us in the clear for another day. Calm winds and clear skies overnight lead to some frosty windshields in the morning as surface temps will dip into the freezing zone. Actual surfaces, that is, like the ground and windshields, high and low temps are officially measured at 2 meters, so in that small distance, you can have a significantly different temp. “Official” lows in the upper 30’s and highs in the low 60’s with a light southerly breeze. It’s an “A” day! ___ Follow John’s weather forecasts, here: WEATHER WITH JOHN ..read more

Responding to an official complaint by the Collective Action Network RI, Cranston has asked the Rhode Island State Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding Cranston City Councilwoman’s sudden resignation from the Council and a planned appointment, tonight, of a person already announced to primary her in September, Kristen Haroian. The letter to the RI State Police came Monday afternoon: The complaint submitted to the entire Cranston City Council, Mayor Hopkins and administrators in Cranston City Hall – by Melissa Jenkins, Collective Action Network RI Subject: Cranston City Council ..read more

There are a few networking events that are not-to-miss’s – and the multi-Chamber of Commerce one in Spring is one – so plan to attend this Wednesday, April 24th, from 5 to 7pm at the Crowne Plaza, 801 Greenwich Ave in Warwick. $20 per person includes food selections. Bring a friend or colleague, or come alone. You do not need to be a Chamber member to attend. In addition to attendees, there will be vendors. Join us at the Crowne Plaza for a fun evening of building connections, marketing your business, and enjoying delicious food from local restaurants and caterers. Partners and Sponsors you ..read more

May is Mental Health Month. Each year the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island hosts a kickoff at the Rhode Island State House. This year it will be held on Wednesday, May 1st at 1:30pm. The recognition of the month of May as Mental Health Month is a national tradition going back 50 years. The MHARI hosts a series of events while highlight the importance of mental health and to encourage the sharing of stories of lived experience to spread hope, and end discrimination.  The State House event will be hosted by NBC10’s health reporter and anchor, Barbara Morse. Morse and others wi ..read more

by John Donnelly, meteorologist High pressure from the southwest helps clear out all but some thin cloud cover here and there through the day with a light westerly breeze. Highs in the upper 50’s and lows around 40. It’s an “A-” day! ___ Follow John’s weather forecasts, here: WEATHER WITH JOHN DONNELLY John Donnelly was born in Hialeah, Florida and moved back to Rhode Island and settled in Johnston, where he grew up until graduating from Lyndon State College in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology. Sign up HERE for RINewsToday’s free email newsletter The post Rhode Island Weather f ..read more

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Last week, at  the Senate Dirksen Building, Room SD-562,  Chairman Bob Casey, of the U.S. Special Committee on Aging, (D-PA), showcased S. 4120, legislation that he introduced with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). The Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act, introduced during the 118thCongress, would ensure that direct care professionals have a sustainable, lifelong career by providing substantial new funding to support these workers in every part of the long-term care industry, from nursing homes to home c ..read more

Employee Engagement Hits a New Low, Again By Mary T. O’Sullivan, MSOL, contributing writer on business and leadership “People do want to work; they just want fair wages, inspirational and empathetic leadership, and a strong purpose to which they can connect.” – Culture Partners The business jargon that has described the work environment for the last few years says it all. “The Great Resignation”, “Quiet Quitting”, “Quiet Cutting”, and even some new ones, “Lazy Girl Job” (with 40 million Tik Tok views), and now “Bare Minimum Mondays” with over three million searches on Tik Tok. No wonder Gallup ..read more