North Providence News

Financial constraints have forced Cranston, Glocester and North Providence to cancel their traditional Fourth of July fireworks shows.

The Town Council approved a 17-percent increase in the tax rate Tuesday night after officials held a final hearing on their spending plan for the fiscal year that starts Wednesday.

As the last day of fiscal year 2009 wound down Tuesday, taxpayers in North Providence were confronted with higher property taxes in order to close a multi-million dollar budget deficit in the town.

How a worker is "classified" - either as an employee or an independent contractor - can make a big difference, according to a General Assembly commission.

Few battles are expected to be more intense in the state House of Representatives than the one Wednesday afternoon over a move to kill the flat tax.

A public hearing on a proposed rate hike for the Providence Water Supply Board drew just one member of the public and one representative of the Attorney General's office when it opened at the Providence Public Safety Complex auditorium Wednesday night.

The last of five Bickford's Family Restaurants in Rhode Island closed Sunday afternoon, nine days before the company's 10-year lease on its location at 1802 Post Rd.

Still a good 45-60 minutes from the actual reception of his diploma, Miguel Trejo, an 18-year-old from Central Falls, stood by a stairway railing overlooking the decorated Vincent A. Cullen Field House and just blurted out: "I really can't believe it's over.

This weekend, the third Sunday in June, is Father's Day. A special day set aside to celebrate dads everywhere, officially since 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring it so.

It's the state budget, stupid! Will I-Way traffic distract you? Do you remember the days when your baseball or softball coach told you to "Keep your eye on the ball?" For the next week, you'd better keep your eye on the ball again.

The town did not use more than $380,000 in federal stimulus money to help make its payroll Friday, Mayor Charles A. Lombardi said Tuesday, correcting his statement of last week.

The Rhode Island Department of Health isn't recommending schools close to prevent the spread of swine flu.

A North Providence man who had been looking to open a massage parlor on Broad Street will now have to start from scratch if he still wishes to do so, according City Council President William Benson Jr.

The police were investigating two house breaks last weekend that yielded thousands of dollars in jewelry and cash.

The police are investigating three house breaks, including two that yielded thousands of dollars in jewelry and cash.

A 43-year-old immigrant from Cape Verde was arrested on charges of domestic family assault Sunday after family members said they saw her hit her husband on the head with a wooden shelf.

Johnston and North Providence officials say they might change their communities' trash-collection services to save money.

Classes have been canceled at the Greystone Elementary School through Friday due to an outbreak of swine flu, Schools Supt.

Rhode Island lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow about 500 more video slot machines at Twin River and about 400 more at Newport Grand.

Public health officials in Rhode Island say they have confirmed an outbreak of swine flu cases at two elementary schools.