Rhode Island environmental officials have started their annual mosquito trapping and testing program and so far the news is good. The state Department of Environmental Management announced this week that the first batch of mosquitoes trapped and tested this season for West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis were negative. The first trapping, conducted between June 2 and June 14,…

Rhode Island lawmakers have passed legislation that requires all public schools to provide feminine hygiene products at no cost to students. The legislation approved Friday says that starting in the 2022-2023 academic year, schools teaching grades five through 12 shall make feminine hygiene products available in all gender-neutral and female bathrooms. “We all know how necessary feminine hygiene products are,…

Nearly 7,900 more Vermonters need to get at least one dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 to reach the state’s goal of 80% of the eligible population vaccinated, Gov. Scott said Friday. Scott has said he will drop the remaining virus-related restrictions early before July 4 if the state reaches that milestone. The 80% target equals about 70% of Vermont’s…

A black bear out for a stroll managed to trek from Barre, Massachusetts, to Nashua, New Hampshire, in just 10 days, officials said. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife tagged the bear on May 17 and released it in the Worcester County town, MassLive reported. The bear opted not to stick around, however, and instead launched a 50-mile journey…

Maine officials are not planning to develop a statewide vaccine passport system for COVID-19 shot recipients. Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said such a system would be a challenge because of questions such as how it would work across state lines and how the state would protect residents’ privacy. She said Wednesday the state...

Police in Maine say a single-vehicle accident killed a 44-year-old motorcyclist in Limerick. The crash happened early Saturday morning and killed Kirk Fogarty of Waterboro. Police said a preliminary investigation showed Fogarty failed to navigate a curve in the road and struck a utility pole. Waterboro emergency medical workers pronounced Fogarty dead at the scene. Police said the crash was…

Rhode Island education officials have reached an agreement with the superintendent of Providence schools to terminate his contract in the wake of criticism about a hiring decision. Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green asked Providence Schools Superintendent Harrison Peters to resign several days ago. Peters had been the subject of criticism due to his hiring Olayinka Alege, a school administrator…

With no baseball team in town, McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket is being put to good use with the opening of a vaccination clinic at the site on Wednesday. The drive-up, walk-up site will be open every Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., according to a statement from the city. Residents can make an appointment for a shot at the…

Two people died when their sailboat sank off Rhode Island, state officials said. Environmental police and the marine task force responded to Greenwich Bay off of Warwick just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the state Department of Environmental Management. The victims were pulled unresponsive from the water and brought to shore at the Oakland Beach Boat Ramp where they…

University of Maine System seniors are getting their degrees during virtual ceremonies amid the pandemic. The University of Southern Maine and Universities of Maine at Augusta, Fort Kent, Machias, Presque Isle and Farmington held virtual celebrations on Saturday to keep students and staff safe. The University of Maine, the flagship campus, already held most of its commencement events. UMS Chancellor…