News

The National Transportation Safety Board has proposed to lower the blood alcohol content for drivers from .08 to .05 percent.   Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports the proposal. Years ago the legal limit with alcohol in a driver’s breath was .10 percent.  Gabrielle Abbate spokesperson for Rhode Island’s chapter of MADD said they are happy that the spotlight is back on the drunk driving issue.

In Portsmouth, the town council wants to see if a private firm could help fix and run its broken wind turbine.

Westerly residents may be awakened to the sounds of helicopters overhead Thursday morning.  Continuing a practice begun in 1997, the town of Westerly is conducting aerial spraying against mosquitos.

The targeted areas are portions of Chapman Swamp and the swamp area adjacent to Hespar Drive.

The town uses Bti, a naturally occurring bacterium which prevents larval mosquitoes from developing into adults.  The state Department of Environmental Management says it safe to humans and the environment.

Spraying begins Thursday at 7:00am and continues through 2:00pm.

Former Brown University president Ruth Simmons is being honored by the French government for her contributions to the advancement of French arts and culture.

Brown has been named Chevalier in the French National Order of the Legion of Honor.  The award is the highest decoration offered by the French government.

Simmons is not only fluent in French but has written about French-speaking authors and poets.

As we celebrate the conclusion of our school-year-long series "Future Docs," guest blogger Dr. Stanley M. Aronson reflects on how far medical education has come since he entered the field 70 years ago.

On today's podcast, Rhode Island Moderate Party founder Ken Block considers another bid for the RI Governor's race, and Marcel Valois jumps his first hurdle to becoming the director of the Economic Development Corporation.

Plus, on This I Believe Rhode Island, twelve year-old Matt Lannon talks about growing up with same-sex parents.

A key house committee has put off voting on a bill that would allow campus police to carry guns at state universities, saying lawmakers need more time to gather information.

Rhode Island is currently the only state that prohibits guns on state college police forces, although some individual schools have decided against the practice. Proponents of the bill to arm campus police say it will speed response times in an emergency, a concern that was underscored during a gun scare at the University of Rhode Island last month.

Governor Lincoln Chafee’s choice to lead the state Economic Development Corporation appears on a fast-track to approval, following his unanimous approval Tuesday by a state Senate committee.  Marcel Valois is calling for more support for small innovators and entrepreneurs.

Valois says Rhode Island’s business climate doesn’t have to remain the butt of bad ratings in national surveys. Invoking the state motto of “hope,” he says Rhode Island can prosper by bringing a sharper focus and new approach to economic development.

The state may once again help out residents looking to add wind or solar power to their homes.  The senate finance committee will look at a plan Wednesday to restore a renewable energy tax credit.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is trying something new to make it easier for PawSox fans to get to McCoy Stadium.   

For Sunday Home Games beginning May 19th, fans may be picked up at Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence for the games.  Regular one way fare is $2.00 and a total of $4.00 for a round trip.  Fans may also buy regular monthly passes for $62.00.  Twenty Minutes after the game, fans are able to catch a ride back to Kennedy plaza.  RIPTA and the PawSox plan to continue to promote the service to fans during each game.