PROVIDENCE, R.I.—A Rhode Island dress rehearsal for the 2020 census is turning into an early battleground for the Trump administration’s recent decision to ask respondents if they are U.S. citizens. Last month, residents in Providence County began receiving a federal mailer asking them to answer 10 questions about their age, race and the size of their household. It is a trial run for the Census Bureau’s decennial population count, which will reshape the congressional district map and determine where billions of dollars a year... … [Read more...] about Census Citizenship Question Rankles Rhode Island, Site of Only Count Trial Run
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Alabama rated top state for the gun industry, Rhode Island the worst
(iStock) Red Alabama is the best state for the firearms industry when it comes to factors such as jobs and gun culture, while blue Rhode Island is the worst, according to the jobs website Zippia. The rankings reflect the sharp regional and political divide in the country on guns. “A general rule of thumb emerged from the data — head south if you are looking to get one of as many as 141,500 jobs generated by companies that make, distribute, and sell guns,” the website said. The advice to head south also pertained to another 159,623 jobs in ancillary industries such as gun component suppliers. But another “rule of thumb” is also apparent: If you want a job in the gun industry, head into Trump country. Each of the study’s top ten states - Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Alaska, Missouri, and Louisiana - went for President Trump in the 2016 presidential election, most of them decisively. Of the ten worst states … [Read more...] about Alabama rated top state for the gun industry, Rhode Island the worst
Dozens of Rhode Island schools exempted from 180-day rule
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Students from 25 schools won't have to make up some of the days they missed this school year.The Rhode Island Department of Education confirmed 25 schools across the state have been exempted from the rule requiring 180 days of classes due to circumstances like power outages or broken water lines.RIDE's Megan Geoghegan said, as a rule, if an entire district is closed on a particular day – such as a typical snow day – there will be no waiver granted. She said the waivers are usually for closures of particular buildings - like when the Toll Gate complex in Warwick was without power following a storm last fall.Two requests for waivers were denied and another 14 are pending, Geoghegan said. WAIVERS GRANTED Barrington Hampden Meadows Elementary - 1 day Sowams Elementary -1 day Central Falls Central Falls High School - 2 days Chariho Cranston Cranston High School East - 1 Cumberland Blackstone Valley Prep High School -1 … [Read more...] about Dozens of Rhode Island schools exempted from 180-day rule
‘World famous’ Big Blue Bug has its own billboard in Rhode Island
by MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL, NBC 10 NEWS Rhode Island's most famous insect now has its own billboard. (WJAR) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) - Rhode Island's most famous insect now has its own billboard. Big Blue Bug Solutions is promoting its 59-foot termite mascot, named Nibbles Woodaway, as a tourist destination. The pest control company put up a billboard on Interstate 95 south in Providence Tuesday. “Believe it or not, but we get requests from all over about the Big Blue Bug -- and it is world famous,” said Tony DeJesus, vice president of Big Blue Bug Solutions. “We had people come last summer from Australia -- all the way from Australia -- they came to visit Rhode Island. They had relatives here. So, it wasn't just for us but they wanted to see the bug.” The blue bug went up in 1980 and sits on the roof of the company’s Providence office, overlooking I-95. DeJesus told NBC 10 News the company never imagined it would become this famous. “We get … [Read more...] about ‘World famous’ Big Blue Bug has its own billboard in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s ‘Big Blue Bug’ now even harder to miss
Visit The Boston Globe Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Comment on this Scroll to top of page By Associated Press April 12, 2018 PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The nearly 60-foot long blue termite that overlooks Interstate 95 in Rhode Island is now even harder to miss.Big Blue Bug Solutions put up a billboard in Providence on Tuesday alerting drivers that their building and its ‘‘World Famous Big Blue Bug’’ are only a mile away.Company vice president Tony DeJesus tells WJAR-TV that they get visitors from all over the world looking for the bug known as Nibbles Woodaway. It has been a landmark for drivers for nearly 40 years and doubles as a quirky symbol of the state, showing up occasionally in movies and TV shows. Advertisement Loading comments... … [Read more...] about Rhode Island’s ‘Big Blue Bug’ now even harder to miss