The board approved the master plan for ‘Residences at 295’ at 34 Rocky Hill Road, granting density and percentage adjustments to the Economic Growth Overlay and requiring additional landscaping, integration of affordable units, and roadway improvements to Rocky Hill Road.

The board voted to recommend town council adoption of a federally framed Safe Streets and Roads for All action plan that maps high-injury road segments and identifies short- and long-term safety projects, making the town eligible for federal implementation grants.

The City Council approved a package of resolutions including urging municipal courts to offer virtual hearings to reduce exposure to ICE detentions, adopted an indigenous land acknowledgement and congratulated Dr. Eric J. Ritchie for service to the Fifth Ward.

The Providence City Council on Oct. 16 approved amended language to the Community Relations Act (CPRA) on first passage, limiting organizational suits to injunctive and declaratory relief and striking a provision that would have allowed organizations to sue officers independently.

The Glocester Town Council continued multiple public hearings, including a proposed FM Global planned-unit district and a Kaluch earth-processing use in B-2, moving formal action to Nov. 6 after the planning board completes its recommendation. Residents raised PFAS contamination concerns and asked the council to pause zoning action until state test

A town-appointed evaluation committee recommended Parasol Builders as construction manager for the renovation of the North Smithfield Police Station after a three-step CMAR evaluation. Councilors discussed widely varying cost estimates, funding options including a bond, and scheduled a formal vote after the meeting posting error prevented action.

The City Council approved an ordinance to create a housing-court division within municipal court as a pilot program; sponsors and the administration said it should speed enforcement of housing and property violations and could offset its costs with fines, while some council members and residents urged caution and noted fiscal questions.

The school building committee and district staff updated the school committee on construction progress at the Godet site, flexible furniture pilots at several schools, a planned transition of Forest Avenue into an early learning center, and winter readiness work including a district work-order system.

Cranston Police Chief Colonel Winquist and training staff told the City Council that the department has reduced outside use of its firing range, completed multiple mitigation studies and deployed rifle suppressors; Councilman Trafficante withdrew a resolution seeking further action after a planned meeting with neighbors was rescheduled.

Assistant Superintendent Michelle presented state assessment results showing increases in district proficiency and growth across ELA, SAT and science, with notable subgroup improvements for multilingual learners and substantial school-level gains at Quinick and GLA.

The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee heard an academic update Oct. 14: beginning‑of‑year diagnostics and recent RICAS/NGSA results show steady or improving ELA performance at several schools, Rhode Island Reads state grant has funded an additional reading/writing coach, the district will expand instructional coaching and MTSS support, and a

PMA construction managers updated the Bristol Warren School Committee on Oct. 14: steel erection for the new Mount Hope High School is imminent, a memorandum of agreement from the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) allows the project team to reforecast cash flow, and contingency exposure remains for several change orders including audio‑/A

The Middletown School Building Committee on Oct. 15 introduced a new Colliers owner’s representative and reviewed draft guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendments, a list of construction alternates, MWBE participation items and recent site work ahead of a planned Oct. 29 meeting to vote on GMP recommendations.

The town manager presented options for three town‑owned properties—South Road School, Oliver Watson House and Wakefield Elementary—seeking council direction on demolition, subdivision or reuse to support affordable housing and grant competitiveness.

After a lengthy public hearing and debate, the council approved a rental‑registration ordinance with tiered fees: $300 per unit for stays of 30 days or less; $50 per unit for longer‑term rentals (31+ days) capped at 20 units per owner (cap = $1,000). The council set an annual review of the fee schedule.

Commissioners said they could not comment to DEM by the Nov. 17 deadline without applicants and clearer wetland-flagging maps; they agreed to schedule a special meeting and request the applicants attend and provide clarifying materials.

Portsmouth will renew its five-year community electricity aggregation with NextEra after a competitive RFP. Council debated whether to change the default product but ultimately approved the standard Portsmouth rate and directed outreach to clarify product choices for residents.

Administrators proposed pursuing International Baccalaureate (IB) programming at every grade and school. Committee members praised the idea’s alignment with district priorities but asked for more analysis of costs, staffing, scheduling, and equity; the administration was directed to continue exploration and prepare a feasibility outline and a later

Superintendent Viveiros delivered district updates that included two new hires, Melville Schools state Blue Ribbon recognition, a Portsmouth High School student named a 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar, PBIS recognition for Portsmouth Middle School, testing results and a planned parent forum about the districts five-year capital plan on Nov. 5.

Town staff reported the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has obtained a Federal National Fish & Wildlife Foundation subaward for the Mill Creek resilience project on Prudence Island; a Portsmouth subaward agreement of about $1.2 million is being drafted and would expire in 2027.

Veolia and town officials told the council that aquifer levels remain low despite recent heavy rain, and that the company is monitoring levels weekly. Councilors and residents pressed for public education, possible odd/even restrictions, storage options and long‑term alternate water sources.

Following a first reading, the Warren Town Council voted to move forward with a zoning amendment that would allow retail cannabis sales in the town's business and rural business districts. The council directed staff to include a one‑mile separation rule between retailers, to refer the amendment to the planning board for a comprehensive review, and

Assistant Superintendent Seager presented statewide assessment results showing districtwide increases in several measures across RICAS, PSAT and SAT, with particular gains for students receiving special education services and economically disadvantaged students. Administrators called the results an early baseline for the strategic plan.

The council approved a third‑party code‑review contract and appointed a council representative to a change‑order review task force for the new high school project. Officials said the step aims to speed permitting and reduce later change orders as the construction enters major bid and foundation work.

Warren Town Council voted to continue a request by the Bristol Warren Regional School District asking Warren to waive local building-permit fees for planned renovations at Kickemuit Middle School and Hugh Cole Elementary School. Council members asked the district for a fiscal analysis and a written explanation of state reimbursement limits and said