Starting Saturday, don't get mistaken for Bambi's mom

Stand out during Hunting Season with Orange Safety Clothing

During hunting season it’s safety first, fashion second. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reminds the public that it’s time to wear your fluorescent orange clothing and embrace high visibility fall fits. Bright and bold, orange clothing helps keep you safe while outdoors. 

Starting this weekend with archery deer season, anyone in state management areas and undeveloped state parks during hunting season must wear at least 200 square inches (a hat or vest) of orange from Saturday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 28. Archery hunters are exempt from this requirement during archery deer season. For more details, visit www.dem.ri.gov/orange.

For a complete breakdown of hunting season dates and regulations, please review the 2026-27 Hunting and Trapping Regulation Guide available online at www.eregulations.com/rhodeisland/hunting and at local sales agents.

 For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Follow DFW on Facebook and Instagram (@ri.fishandwildlife) to stay up to date on news, events and volunteer opportunities. You can also subscribe to DFW’s monthly newsletter here.

And Make sure you abide by these rules, too.

For the humor-impaired, this is satire.

Herbicide, Tree Cutting Underway at East Beach

Plan seeks to make the beach more open, sandier and bird friendly

Adriana Vossari, RI & Local Government

Photo by Will Collette

East Beach is a state-managed public beach and campground in Charlestown, and visitors will see active restoration crews, posted work areas and a more open, sandier landscape through 2027.

Crews began applying targeted herbicide to invasive plants at East Beach in Charlestown on August 25, the latest phase of a multi-year habitat restoration project on the Ninigret Barrier Beach, according to the Rhode Island State Parks project page. The beach, campground and permitted sand trail remain open, though visitors are told to follow posted signs and stay on designated trails and in parking areas.

The Town of Charlestown has posted its own notice pointing residents to the work, which is led by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the nonprofit Save The Bay. The town's page describes the effort as restoring dune and salt-marsh habitat, removing invasive plants and restoring natural tidal creeks.

For beachgoers, the practical effect is visual as much as anything: portions of the barrier beach that were shaded by pine stands are now open and sandy, and crews and equipment may be working in posted areas.

Worden Pond invasive weeds will be chemically treated on Friday

DEM says treatment will affect nothing but the weeds

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that Worden Pond in South Kingstown will be treated for the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla on Friday, August 7, with periodic repeated treatments through November. 

These treatments will not harm fish and will not impact boating, fishing, or swimming. The EPA-approved herbicide treatments will target hydrilla, which was first found in the pond in 2023. 

Worden Pond is RI’s largest natural lake at 1,098 acres and is popular for fishing, boating, and paddlecraft. The treatments for this federally designated noxious weed are funded by Congressionally Directed Spending secured by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  

Unhealthy Fine Particles Expected Saturday due to Wildfire Smoke

Heavy rain today and tonight should cut through the smoke but creates its own hazards

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) forecasts that air quality will reach UNHEALTHY levels for sensitive groups due to elevated fine particles on Saturday, July 18.

 Heavy smoke pushing south of Rhode Island on Friday, under a northwest flow, will recirculate back into the area on Saturday under a southwest flow. Some improvements in air quality are expected Sunday.

What to Expect:

• Poor air quality
• Reduced visibility
• Smell of smoke

Health Advisory:

Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles (and other pollutants) that can irritate eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. It can also worsen symptoms in individuals with asthma, lung, or heart conditions. To reduce exposure, the following precautions are recommended for those with asthma, lung, or heart conditions:

• Stay indoors with windows closed when fine particle levels are high.
• If running air conditioning, turn off any fresh intake options so as not to draw in outside air.
• Limit outdoor activity; choose less strenuous activities and reduce time spent outdoors
• Wear a properly fitted N95 mask when outside
• While driving, set the car’s air system to “recirculate”
• Learn how to create a clean air room in your home using a box fan
• Use high-efficiency (HEPA) air filters in heating and cooling systems

Stay Informed:

• www.airnow.gov or download the AirNOW app 
• www.dem.ri.gov/airquality.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Fire and Smoke Map has detailed information on current air quality readings, including DEM and RI Department of Health (RIDOH) air quality monitors, along with the network of regional low-cost sensors.

For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Sign up here to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.

Zapping lanternflies

URI entomologist suggests novel removal technique to help tackle invasive pest

Kristen Curry

Jack Whitney ’26 demonstrates the SLF vacuum technique;
 URI researchers say it can help tackle invasive
spotted lanternfly. (URI Photo / Dana Terrill)

Most of the student researchers in Lisa Tewksbury’s Biocontrol Lab at the University of Rhode Island were born after the film “Ghostbusters” came out in theaters, but they’re experimenting with an iconic technique from the popular 1984 movie as part of efforts to stop a local invasive pest leaving its own destructive, oozy impact on agriculture around the state, including local vineyards.

Tewksbury, an entomologist in URI’s Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, conducts research on biological control of species which can put local crops at risk. She says donning a URI-inspired version of the iconic vacuum pack could help Rhode Islanders do battle with the aggressive spotted lanternfly, one persistent planthopper making inroads in the northeastern U.S.

Tewksbury says that residents of impacted areas could even use this approach at home, deploying a handheld vacuum, then carefully disposing of the captured insects afterward.

July 15 invasive weed treatment scheduled for Carolina Trout Pond

DEM says pesticide won't harm fish but wants you to keep pets away and not fish for at least three days

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces Carolina Trout Pond in Richmond, Shippee Sawmill Pond in Foster, and Meshanticut Lake in Cranston will be treated for invasive aquatic plants on Wednesday, July 15.

Anglers and boaters should avoid using these waterbodies during treatment to not impede the licensed applicators. Temporary water use advisories will be posted where applicable and nearby residents and visitors should keep pets from drinking from these waters for at least three days. 

These EPA approved herbicide treatments will target specific invasive aquatic plants including variable water milfoil, fanwort, water chestnut, sacred lotus, and various algae species. The treatment will not harm fish. All three waterbodies are popular with anglers and boaters and are annually stocked with trout.

Invasive "Frankenfish" caught in South County

 

RIDOH and DEM Lift Advisory at Worden Pond. No word on Watchaug Pond

Now let's deal with the Reflecting Pool

Trump says vandals spoiled his multi-million dollar "fix"

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) have lifted the recommendation to avoid recreational activities at Worden Pond in South Kingstown. 

The harmful algae bloom (HAB) caused by blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) has cleared.

 Recent water testing laboratory results show algae levels are low and no toxins were detected at multiple locations, meeting safety guidelines. 

HAB conditions can change quickly. Water with HABs may exhibit bright to dark green scum along the shoreline with thick, floating algal mats on the surface. The water may resemble green paint, pea soup, or green cottage cheese. 

If you see water in this condition, keep people and pets away from it. Toxins may persist in the water after a blue-green algae bloom is no longer visible. 

To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov  or call 401-222-4700, Press 3, and select Office of Water Resources. If possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom. For more information and the Cyanobacteria Tracker Dashboard that lists current advisories and data, visit: www.dem.ri.gov/bluegreen

What do Charlestown’s Watchaug Pond and the Reflecting Pool in Washington have in common?

Dangerous algae bloom

RIDOH and DEM Recommend Avoiding Contact with Watchaug Pond

This morning in DC, workers poured bottles of peroxide
into the Reflecting Pool just days after the $14 million
repair job ordered by Donald Trump was completed.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Watchaug Pond in Charlestown due to harmful algae blooms (HABs).  Water samples were collected by DEM and tested by RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories.

All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk to health and recommended to be avoided at this location. This HAB is caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in bodies of water. HABs can produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals.

Use caution in all areas of Watchaug Pond as HABs can move locations in ponds and lakes. Initial samples collected at Watchaug Pond exceeded the advisory threshold. People should not drink untreated water or eat fish from affected waterbodies. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in this water. 

This is going to take a LOT off peroxide!

This advisory recommendation remains in effect until further notice. To confirm the water is free from toxins and high cell counts, water samples will be collected to lift the advisory when the bloom has cleared from the affected waterbody.

Skin contact with water containing HABs can cause symptoms such as skin rashes, sore throat and irritation of the eyes and nose. Swallowing water containing HABs can cause stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. More serious, but less common health effects associated with swallowing contaminated water may affect the liver and nervous system, cause irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or seizures.

Young children, pets and people with certain underlying health conditions or who are immunocompromised may be at greater risk for illness. Anyone who experiences symptoms after contact with water containing HABs should contact a healthcare provider.

If you or your pet come into contact with an algal bloom (HAB):

• Rinse your skin with clean water right away.
• Shower and wash your clothes when you get home.
• If your pet was exposed, wash it with clean water immediately and don’t let it lick algae from its fur.
• Call a vet if your pet shows signs of illness like tiredness, no eating, vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms within a day.
• If you feel sick after contact, call a healthcare provider.

Affected waters may exhibit bright to dark green scum along the shoreline, with thick algae floating on the surface. It may resemble green paint, pea soup, or green cottage cheese. If you see water like this, people and pets should avoid contact with the water.

To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov  or call 401-222-4700, Press 3, and select Office of Water Resources. If possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom. For more information and the Cyanobacteria Tracker Dashboard that lists current advisories and data, visit: www.dem.ri.gov/bluegreen

Aquatic Weed Treatment Scheduled for Meadowbrook Pond

No fishing on Thursday, then watch notices

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that Meadowbrook Pond, Richmond will receive treatments to control infestations of invasive aquatic plants on Thursday, June 18.

Anglers and boaters should avoid using the lake during the treatment. Signs will be posted with information about temporary water use advisories. 

Neighbors and other users of the pond should keep pets from drinking the water for at least three days. 

This treatment will target invasive plants in particular, variable water milfoil and curly-leaf pondweed, and it will not harm fish or other aquatic life. Meadowbrook Pond is popular with anglers and boaters and is stocked with trout several times per year.

Bird Flu hits Rhode Island market

Avian Flu Confirmed at Live Bird Market in Providence

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) want to alert consumers that birds at Antonelli Poultry in Providence tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza during routine quarterly testing by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The infected birds, which included live chickens and ducks, did not come from Rhode Island farms. They were from out-of-state dealers. 

Earlier today (June 13), the State Veterinarian oversaw the USDA-required humane euthanasia of about 445 asymptomatic birds at the market to prevent the spread of the disease to other birds. Per USDA regulations, Antonelli Poultry will be closed until 5 days after they have disposed of infected birds and have cleaned and sanitized all areas of the business. Antonelli Poultry is closely cooperating with DEM and RIDOH.

Because staff at Antonelli Poultry may have been exposed to avian influenza, and out of an abundance of caution, RIDOH is monitoring all staff for 10 days for symptoms of avian influenza. The overall risk of humans getting H5N1 remains low.

“Cooking poultry to the proper internal temperature of 165° kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza A viruses,” says Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “RIDOH recommends that if anyone still has poultry they bought between June 9 and June 12 that was killed and dressed by Antonelli Poultry, they should double bag the poultry and dispose of it in their regular trash. If you have properly cooked and eaten chicken from Antonelli Poultry, the risk of becoming ill is very low; however, if you develop symptoms of avian influenza, you should seek medical care.”

Symptoms of avian influenza include eye redness, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle or body aches, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or pneumonia that requires hospitalization. People who get avian influenza can be treated with antivirals.

To prevent any foodborne illness, RIDOH recommends:

• Wash hands, utensils, and cutting boards before and after contact with raw poultry, meat, seafood, and eggs.
• Keep raw poultry and meat away from food that won’t be cooked—like fruits and vegetables.
• Cook food to the proper temperature and use a food thermometer to check the food’s internal temperature. You cannot tell by looking at food if it is cooked to the proper temperature.

Avian influenza infections in humans are rare. The best way to prevent avian influenza in humans is for people to avoid exposure.

• Avoid direct contact with birds or other animals infected with, or suspected to be infected with, avian influenza.
• Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals.
• Do not touch surfaces or materials contaminated with saliva, mucous, or animal feces from wild or domestic birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza.
• Do not touch or drink raw milk (unpasteurized milk), especially from animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza
• Do not handle any sick or dead wild birds or other animals without wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

“DEM works closely with federal and State veterinary and public health officials to respond quickly to confirmed H5N1 cases in domestic birds,” said State Veterinarian Scott Marshall, DVM. “The USDA performs quarterly testing at live bird markets to ensure the public’s safety.” 

This is Rhode Island’s first confirmed domestic bird case of avian influenza in 2026. Rhode Island has previously confirmed infections in noncommercial flocks in 2022 and in 2025. 

To learn more about avian influenza in humans, visit RIDOH’s website. To learn more about avian influenza in animals, visit DEM’s website.

Wetlands a Vital Link in Ecosystem Chain for Hundreds of Species

Appreciating these vital lands

By Bonnie Phillips / ecoRI News staff

Amanda Andrews cradled the tiny eastern red-backed salamander in her hands.

“It’s warmer now,” she said. “It’s moving more.”

Bottom of Form

She had found the salamander in the damp, chilly soil under a rock in the North Woods at the University of Rhode Island, 225 acres of forest, wetlands, and streams adjacent to the college campus on Flagg Road.

It was a rainy, cool, late April evening, and the salamander was sluggish in the cold at first. After spending some time in the 18-year-old West Greenwich resident’s warm hand, it became more active, scooting around her palm.

Andrews said it wasn’t her first time holding one of the creatures.

“These are like the ones in my garden,” she said. “I catch them all the time in my yard.” Her mother Sandy, standing nearby, laughed and added, “We live for this.”

BAD air and heat today. Smog lifts Saturday

Air Quality Alert: Unhealthy Ozone for Sensitive Groups Expected Thursday

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) forecasts that air quality will reach UNHEALTHY levels for sensitive groups due to elevated ground-level ozone on Thursday, June 11. The alert is being issued statewide.

Key Details:

• UNHEALHTY ozone levels for sensitive groups are expected across the entire state.
• Peak levels begin early afternoon, continuing into the evening.
• Fine particles are also expected to be elevated, reaching MODERATE.

Health Impacts: Unhealthy ozone levels may cause:

• Throat irritation, coughing, and chest pain
• Shortness of breath and increased risk of respiratory infections
• Worsening of asthma and other lung conditions- particularly for children, the elderly, and others with pre-existing respiratory issues.

Recommended Actions:

• Reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
• Take frequent breaks and choose less strenuous activities.
• Monitor for symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath.
• People with asthma or lung conditions should follow their action plans and carry quick-relief medications.
• Schedule outdoor activities in the morning when ozone levels are lowest and typically GOOD on the Air Quality index.

Air quality can change throughout the day. To stay informed, download the AirNOW app or visit www.airnow.gov for real-time updates and forecasts.

Additional information is also available on DEM’s air quality forecast page at www.dem.ri.gov/airquality.

For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov [pvxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net]. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Sign up here to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.

After delay, Burlingame State Campground Opens for the Season

Opens Friday - Brace for another surge in summer people

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces the completion of three new shower and restroom facilities at Burlingame State Campground in Charlestown. Reservations will open for the 2026 season through Reserve America on Wednesday, June 10, at 9 AM. The first night to make a reservation will be Friday, June 12.

Phase One of the project brings exciting upgrades to the Midpark North, Fish Camp and Mills Camp sections of the campground with the addition of three modern restroom and shower facilities. 

Designed to enhance visitor comfort and accessibility, the new buildings are ADA-compliant and feature new septic systems, indoor/outdoor coin-operated hot water showers, energy-efficient lighting, and durable, water-conserving plumbing fixtures. 

The $18M project is funded primarily through the voter-approved 2021 Beach, Clean Water, and Green Economy Bond, along with $2M federal grant. Construction is expected to be fully completed in April 2027.

Bottle Bill, Producer Responsibility Again Topics of Legislative Debate, with No Resolution in Sight

Looks like we're going to kick the can (and nips and water bottles) down the road again

By Rob Smith / ecoRI News staff

House Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chair Rep. David Bennett, D-Warwick, tells the same story every year.

One year, for Christmas, he gave his 5-year-old grandson a toy truck. His grandson asked him for help opening the packaging on the truck, which had hard plastic, wire ties, buttons, and cardboard. It was difficult for his grandson to open, and, as Bennett tells the story, just as difficult for him as an adult to open.

Bottom of Form

“It took me penny cutters, write cutters, scissors, and pliers just to open the packaging on the truck,” Bennett said during a committee hearing May 27. “About 15 minutes later I’m done, and I turn around and he’s got three more trucks.”

For years now, Bennett has told that story when introducing his legislation (H7910) for extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging and paper. The program puts the onus on producers of plastic and paper packaging to come up with a recycling program for the materials.

There’s no easy way to recycle the hard plastic that encases toys, electronics, and other high-value products. The traditional catechism from some producers of some packaging is it makes it harder to shoplift and cuts down on theft — but it also all but guarantees packaging fills up Rhode Island’s already limited landfill.

“It’s a theft, we’re throwing all that stuff in our landfill,” Bennett said. “We have to pay for that.”

Stronger EPR legislation has struggled to make it out of the General Assembly in recent years, due in part to local business opposition to its close cousin, the bottle bill (H7911).

Bottle bills, or beverage container redemption systems, attach a fixed fee — 10 cents per container, according to this year’s legislation — that can be redeemed once returned to a recycling collection center.

The redemption fee is aimed at incentivizing consumers to recycle empty water bottles, soda bottles, and other plastic waste associated with drinks. Similar programs exist in Rhode Island already for two categories of products: mattresses and paint.

Bottle redemption programs, like EPR programs, are run by producer responsibility organizations, entities made up of the producers of the waste being recycled.

7,000 Local Food Benefit Cards Available for Eligible Seniors

No home delivery anymore due to Trump allowing funding to lapse

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) will distribute nearly 7,000 benefit cards to eligible seniors to purchase fresh, RI Grown fruit and vegetables, as well as local honey. The SFMNP benefit cards preloaded with $50 will be distributed from more than fifty senior centers and locations throughout the state starting June 1, 2026, and are valid through November 30. 

Eligible seniors can apply to participate in the SFMNP through their local senior center or other applicable nutrition program, with sign-up locations listed on the SFMNP webpage at www.dem.ri.gov/sfmnp.

The SFMNP helps eligible seniors access fresh, locally grown food, supports Rhode Island farmers, and keeps food assistance dollars in the state. DEM works closely with the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging (OHA) to identify communities in need and ensure an equitable distribution across the state. Due to the end of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, there will be no deliveries of produce boxes to homebound seniors this season. 

To provide RI SFMNP benefit access for homebound eligible participants, DEM encourages eligible homebound individuals to complete the application found on the SFMNP webpage and indicate a selected proxy. The proxy can take the completed application to a SFMNP Distribution Location to obtain a SFMNP benefit card and then shop for produce on the participant’s behalf.

Leave the babies alone!

Respect Wildlife - Don't Touch!

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) asks the public to give baby wildlife some space, especially fawns – the tiny spotted deer that are often mistakenly thought to be “abandoned” when they’re right where Mom left them. 

As tempting as it may be to “rescue” a lone fawn, touching or moving it is putting its survival at risk. 

“In nature, it’s normal for a fawn to be hidden in grass or brush for the first week after birth, as it can’t yet follow its mother,” said Dylan Ferreira, a wildlife biologist in DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). “Sometimes well-intentioned people wrongly assume that a fawn is abandoned and take it home and try to rescue it, but the mother is usually nearby and returns to feed it. If you see a fawn alone, please leave it alone – it does not need help and should not be handled.”

URI-DEM partnership will reopen W. Alton Jones campus in September

Beautiful spot to be put back into use

By Ryan Arruda, Rhode Island Current

The view of the lake from the Great Room of the Sycamore Lodge at the Whispering Pines Conference Center on the W. Alton Jones campus. (Photo by Ryan Arruda for Rhode Island Current)

Six years after pandemic lockdowns forced state officials to shut down the University of Rhode Island’s 2,300-acre environmental camp, nature preserve and conference center in West Greenwich, the site is finally set to reopen on Labor Day.

The W. Alton Jones Campus is now undergoing a $2 million renovation to its Environmental Education Center’s lodge, surrounding cabins and farm buildings as well as improvements to signs and public access. Up until the campus was shut down in 2020, the property saw as many as 20,000 visitors each year. But economic concerns kept the campus closed after pandemic lockdowns were lifted.

In addition to the Environmental Education Center, which contains the largest lodge, the campus is home to the Whispering Pines Conference Center, which includes the Whispering Pines Lodge, the Sycamore Lodge, and two smaller, unnamed lodges, and the 9-acre Woodvale Farm, which has two barns, two houses, and a classroom building.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Director Terry Gray, a West Greenwich resident, made reopening the campus a priority after he became the agency’s acting director in 2021. He took over the job permanently in 2022.

In an interview, Gray said DEM is focused on preserving the property while expanding public access and environmental education. The goal is to make Alton Jones a center for environmental education in the state.

McKee unveils 6 picks for revamped CRMC.

Critics are underwhelmed.

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

Three lawyers, two former state lawmakers and an entrepreneur whose business ventures include a word game app and organic salad dressings are Gov. Dan McKee’s picks for the reshaped Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.

The six nominees, all men, are slated for initial confirmation hearings before the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture Wednesday — nearly three months after the March 1 deadline for new appointees to join the volunteer council. 

McKee’s office did not respond to requests for comment Monday on the delay or on his choices of candidates. Copies of their resumes or applications were also not immediately available, nor was the total number of applications received.

McKee’s recommendation letters, submitted to the Rhode Island Senate on May 14, do not offer any details about the candidates besides their names, and, when applicable, their professional qualifications.

Requiring the volunteer panel members to have relevant work experience was a central part of the reform effort approved by state lawmakers on the final day of the 2025 legislative session. The law reduced the size of the council from 10 to seven people to fix the problem of recurring vacancies that force meetings to be canceled due to lack of quorum. 

BAD air today! Exercise caution and common sense outdoors

Pollen count is also high

Air Quality Forecast | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management