BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Burrillville High School received a special honor for its dedication to inclusivity on Friday. The school was named a Special Olympics national banner school for a second consecutive time. To celebrate this designation, a special ceremony took place at their football field, which saw the attendance of former Boston Bruins hockey player Bill Bennett. Representatives from the high school and Special Olympics Rhode Island were also present. This designation is awarded to schools that have sports programs where students with and without disabilities compete and train t ..read more

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Rhode Island residents, first responders and firefighters participated in the American Lung Association's annual 'Fight For Air Climb' at Providence's Omni Hotel on Saturday. This yearly event's goal is to raise awareness for lung disease and lung cancer research and advocacy. Participants climbed a total of 348 steps. "I've done this for many years," Nicholas Adam, a Cranston firefighter who participated and has asthma, told 12 News. "It's one of my favorite events to do only because I'm not really a runner, I'm kind of a sprinter. It opens your eyes to how hard it ..read more

BOSTON, Mass. (WPRI) -- More than 100 protestors from an encampment at Northeastern University's Boston campus that was protesting the situation in Gaza were arrested Saturday. Northeastern University Police (NUPD), with help from Boston Police and Massachusetts State Police (MSP), cleared the encampment, which was taking place on Centennial Commons. "What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern," a statement from Northeastern read. "Last night, the use of violent antisemitic slurs, including, 'Kill the Jews ..read more

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- The annual PanCAN PurpleStride Rhode Island walk stepped off Saturday at Roger Williams Park. This walk raises money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, which pays for programs and services to help those who have pancreatic cancer and their families. WPRI's very own Mike Montecalvo served as this year's emcee. The event also had two special guest speakers: Judge Frank Caprio, who recently announced he has pancreatic cancer, and U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, whose mother passed away from pancreatic cancer and has supported PanCAN in the past. MORE: Judge Caprio ..read more

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -- This weekend in What's happening, our Ashley Erling is at Roger Williams Park Zoo, visiting the Dragons and Mythical Creatures exhibit. Each weekend, Ashley brings you around Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts for a look at what’s happening as part of our all new, expanded 12 News This Morning. Join us on Saturdays for four full hours of local news, weather and more ..read more

Happy Saturday! Here's another edition of my weekend column for WPRI.com -- as always, send your takes, tips and trial balloons to tnesi@wpri.com and follow me on Twitter, Threads and Facebook. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Nesi's Notes SIGN UP NOW 1. Governor McKee made a splash in his State of the State speech last January when he announced a new goal: to raise Rhode Island’s per-capita income by at least $20,000 by 2030. Since that's roughly the size of the wealth gap between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, it sounded like the governor was e ..read more

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island lawmakers are mulling legislation that would allow for traffic cameras to give an automatic ticket to drivers who illegally block an intersection. State law already prohibits drivers from "blocking the box," or stopping in an intersection after the traffic light turns red. If caught, drivers can be fined up to $500 for blocking an intersection. The legislation would allow cities and towns to program traffic cameras to take photographs of vehicles that are illegally blocking an intersections. Those images would then be reviewed by officers and a ticket wou ..read more

WESTERLY, R.I. (WPRI) — Roughly 20,000 rubber ducks will be racing down the Pawcatuck on Saturday for the 24th Annual River Duck Race hosted by the Ocean Community Chamber Foundation. The event started in 1998 and was originally the Mystic River Duck Race. It bills itself as the largest charitable fundraiser in the Connecticut-Rhode Island region, with more than 25 local schools and nonprofits benefitting. SEE ALSO: 10 stranded dolphins rescued off Cape Cod coast The day begins at 11:30 a.m. at Donahue Park. The ducks will drop into the water ahead of the main event at 1:30 p.m. The free ..read more

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — The North Attleboro Fire Department was approved for $250,000 in overtime relief funding to help with recent staffing issues, Chief Christopher Coleman confirmed to 12 News. The staffing issues, according to Coleman, were the result of some firefighters being out with long-term injuries, another being deployed in the military, and two retirements. Coleman said his department needs a team of at least 14 to cover all four shifts, which involve two engines, a ladder truck, an ambulance, and a shift commander. ALSO READ: New private school opening in North Attleboro ..read more

FOXBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — Hours after welcoming their new quarterback to Foxboro, the Patriots picked out a new target for him. New England had the #34 pick in the NFL Draft, which they traded Friday night to the Chargers along with pick #137 in exchange for picks #37 and #110. With that #37 pick, the Patriots selected Ja'Lynn Polk from the University of Washington. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound wide receiver put up 1,159 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season, helping the Huskies reach the National Championship. With the third overall pick on Thursday, the Patriots drafted North Carolina qu ..read more