Which @ecorinews.bsky.social diehard was I behind yesterday

A slew of grocery store closures throughout Woonsocket and restrictive "scorched-earlth" covenants has left nearly 45,000 people with just one full-service grocery store. jonmaesha.bsky.social reports.

"Since we're heating their world to unaccommodating temperatures, it’s only fair we're also providing marine life with a cocktail of human vices to help them get through these stressful times," writes Frank Carini. Scientists have found cocaine and painkillers in Caribbean sharks.

If you didn't get Tuesday's newsletter, that's OK. I'm asking folks to help shape my reporting of the Port of Providence. I'd like to prioritize your questions as I report on the port. I'm not on social media that much, but I am on Yahoo. Please send your questions to [email protected].

Well-reported & eye-opening look at how grocery giants use restrictive covenants to limit competition & create food deserts in Woonsocket & elsewhere. From @jonmaesha.bsky.social @ecorinews.bsky.social ecori.org/walmart-stop...

A coalition of environmental groups released its 2026 legislative priorities as part of its annual lobby day, and they don’t look that much more different than previous years. They are fighting to "ensure the state doesn’t backtrack on progress." buff.ly/uaC4JKD

So there's a new, special-edition Rhode Island lighthouse kit by @ribrickartist.bsky.social that benefits @ecorinews.bsky.social, and I have never clicked "BUY" faster in my life.

Missing this deadline will cost our newsroom $1,000. buff.ly/E1uEjg4

The People’s Port Authority is pushing back on ProvPort’s “aspirational” master plan, arguing it’s toothless and lacks measurable outcomes. buff.ly/6qkJWWP

We were beyond flattered when @ribrickartist.bsky.social pledged 100% of proceeds from his lighthouse brick kit to our newsroom. "ecoRI News is one of the few bulwarks against the tides of ecological destruction in Rhode Island, and I am more than happy for this kit to support their work."

In today's newsletter: 🦷 Advocates say ProvPort’s master plan is toothless 🌳 Pawtucket neighborhood robbed of green space 🌿 Efforts afoot to put the "green" back in the state's Green Bond ✊️ State inaction means environmental groups' priorities remain the same buff.ly/Xwp4nvX

Tremendous turnout today at the RINC conference, held at the Pell Center. Two great keynote speakers, including RI Foundation head David Cicilline, and two great panels (this panelist photo, by my daughter Katy, is the RINC member panel). More to come! www.rinc.news

From park to parking lot, a Pawtucket neighborhood is likely to lose its last green space. “It’s inherently morally deficient,” said City Council member Clovis Gregor. buff.ly/LWORyIe

"Homo sapiens represent less than 1% of all living things, but our footprint is enormous. We stomp about in oversized clown shoes," writes columnist @frankcarini.bsky.social

The founding members of Rhode Island News Collaborative include Communities of Hope Civic Media, East Greenwich News, ecoRI News, Ocean State Stories, The Providence Eye, and RINews Today.

ecoRI News (@ecorinews.bsky.social) is not fucking around with today's newsletter subject line.

Their town removed invasive vegetation from the beach. Then some Jamestown residents complained the town had gone too far. buff.ly/xNBb8Yg

Got clothes you don't want? Need clothes you don't have? Come to our FREE Clothing Swap April 25 at Flatbread Company. buff.ly/ZY06nqQ

“Does it get discouraging? Very much. But I don’t give up.” A North Scituate woman is tackling the challenges of housing domesticated farm animals head-on. buff.ly/TtZuD0u

A lawsuit that could change the way Rhode Island Recycled Metals does business remains unresolved as South Providence residents grow frustrated that the company is allowed to continue operating without a municipal license. buff.ly/nMap0lA

In today's newsletter: ⚖️ Scrapyard scofflaw in court 🏢 PVD's fund for green buildings 🐓 N. Scituate woman shelters abandoned farm animals 🚜 Residents cry foul after Jamestown mows invasives 🗑️ Our throw-away culture critiqued Plus events, job listings, and community updates —> buff.ly/lqsluG7

Providence's announcement of a revolving fund to achieve net-zero emissions in city-owned buildings comes as even deep-blue Rhode Island is proposing slashing and capping its energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. buff.ly/hiIqxcF

These quahogs growing in a lab at Roger Williams University will help researchers identify why the clam population in Narragansett Bay is declining and what to do about it. buff.ly/iiurIBe

"Let’s hope Rhode Island’s plan to handle a fast-approaching tidal wave of data center projects doesn’t result in the same annihilation of green space caused by a stampede of ground-mounted solar," writes columnist Frank Carini

@eastgreenwichnews.bsky.social @whatsupnewp.com @ecorinews.bsky.social @thevalleybreeze.bsky.social @oceanstatemedia.bsky.social @rhodeislandcurrent.com @rinewstoday.bsky.social

Our publisher @jodetz.bsky.social says now's the time to sweat the small stuff. mailchi.mp/ecori/sustai...

"No News Is Bad News" a panel about the future of local news 4/17 w/ @thepvdeye.bsky.social @communitiesofhope.bsky.social @eastgreenwichnews.bsky.social @gwaynemiller.bsky.social , @rinewstoday.bsky.social @lmalphonse.bsky.social @elisherman.bsky.social @billbartholomew.bsky.social. bit.ly/3O9v02M

The Providence Eye, along with other local RI newsrooms, are participating in Local News Day tomorrow! Check it out 📍

RI indy journalism sickos arise

ecoRI News is a founding member of this local news collaborative along with @eastgreenwichnews.bsky.social @thepvdeye.bsky.social @rinewstoday.bsky.social @communitiesofhope.bsky.social @gwaynemiller.bsky.social Ocean State Stories oceanstatestories.org/local-news-s...

In today's newsletter: Trump pulls plug on RIPTA's electric busses 🚍️; Report says red tape smothers solar ☀️; Court nixes Matunuck oyster farm expansion 🦪; ProvPort's master plan has lofty goals. buff.ly/dh18Wh8 Never miss a story. Subscribe at: buff.ly/BK7a3bF

The Trump administration used whale welfare as an excuse to sideline offshore wind. Then it killed whale protections to boost fossil fuel drilling in the Gulf.

Our reporter @jonmaesha.bsky.social wants to help answer your questions about the Port of Providence: "Some of these questions and answers will appear only in our newsletter under a fun section I’m calling 'Questions from a New Rhode Islander’s Notebook.'” Subscribe to follow eepurl.com/i_-9dY

The Trump administration has essentially pulled the plug on RIPTA's plan to introduce a fleet battery-electric buses on Aquidneck Island this spring. buff.ly/Mh2hJwf

Got clothes you don't want? Need clothes you don't have? Come to our FREE Clothing Swap April 25 at Flatbread Company. buff.ly/ZY06nqQ

The programs Gov. McKee and Rep. Chippendale and Rep. Serpa want to nuke represent some of the best mechanisms Rhode Island has to take control of its energy future. They aren’t perfect, but that’s because special interests have to be appeased, writes columnist Frank Carini. buff.ly/josZYZq

One battle after another: Team of dedicated volunteers 69 years and up meets every Friday to rip up invasives and restore salt marsh habitat on this Massachusetts Audubon property on the shores of Buzzards Bay. buff.ly/tJTWrBW

A Rhode Island Superior Court judge negs Matunuck Oyster Bar owner's aquaculture farm expansion, saying state coastal regulators unlawfully approved a 2023 decision to allow expansion. buff.ly/qEh4NLM

Check out this amazing article from @ecorinews.bsky.social about our Knight Memorial Gardening Club, which is helping neighbors grow food and flowers for free. #PVD #401Gives #LibrarySky

"A White House crime spree leaves taxpayers and the natural world holding the bag," writes columnist @frankcarini.bsky.social. "It’s not difficult to understand why an estimated 20,000 turned out in Providence to protest this grotesquerie Saturday." buff.ly/nUIIfaR

South PVD residents grilled Mayor Smiley on the subject of the illegal scrapyard at the port. “Rhode Island Recycled Metals is a bad-news, bad-actor scrapyard...I have been working really hard to try to shut them down for a couple of years now." Smiley said. buff.ly/1L6bKlr

The subsidiary of a renewable energy developer is causing a stink among residents for proposing to build a new sludge incinerator in West Davisville. @robesmit.bsky.social reports buff.ly/50YNnof

Hey Rhode Islanders! What’s your favorite nonprofit to support on 401 Gives day? Challenge: I’ll give $20 to each you reply with! www.401gives.org

Absolutely! One of our very best local news organizations

In today's newsletter: Proposed incinerator burns Quonset neighbors 🔥; Troubled city scrapyard skips licensing hearing ⚖️ Gardeners urged to leaves and let bees be 🐝 MAGA monster motivates March marchers 👹 buff.ly/QMGUz96 Subscribe to get our free newsletter in your inbox buff.ly/1nndvXA

Drawing Inspiration from young climate activists, Cape Cod author @meerasub.bsky.social imagines a “Better World” in her new graphic novel produced in collaboration with illustrator Danica Novgorodoff. Subramanian will speak on April 2 @metcalfuri.bsky.social. buff.ly/V14Pe0y

White House crime spree leaves taxpayers, natural world holding the bag. ecori.org/creature-dou...

genuine good news as prices climb for heating your home: Ri is getting $35 million for heat pump incentives