Former Providence mayor named CEO of education organization
April 4, 2023 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Former Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza has been named chief executive officer of the political advocacy organization Democrats for Education Reform.
Rhode Island mayor proposes $10M reparations spending plan
August 25, 2022 GMTProvidence’s mayor proposed spending $10 million in federal coronavirus pandemic aid on financial literacy and homeownership, workforce training, small business development and other programs recently recommended by the city’s reparations commission.
Providence mayor forms reparations commission
February 28, 2022 GMTProvidence’s mayor announced a city commission on reparations Monday as he and community leaders laid out their plans for the next phase in the Rhode Island capital city’s efforts to atone for its role in Black slavery, systemic racism and the mistreatment of Native Americans.
Man found dead after firing ‘hundreds’ of rounds at police
February 10, 2022 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — One man is dead after an hours-long standoff in Providence early Thursday morning during which he fired “hundreds" of rounds at police, prompting officers to return fire, authorities said.
Police: Providence’s 1st homicide victim of year from Maine
January 18, 2022 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence, Rhode Island's first homicide victim of 2022 was identified by police on Tuesday as a resident of Maine.
Biniam Tsegai, 35, of Portland, Maine, and Merhawi Berhe, 28, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, had apparently been at an illegal after hours club when they were approached by a group of four men on the street at about 3 a.m.
1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Providence
January 16, 2022 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A shooting in Providence left one man dead and another injured early Sunday morning, police said.
Providence police were called to Elmwood and Potters avenues around 3 a.m.
Providence allocates $500K to addresses homelessness
December 12, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence is allocating nearly $500,000 in federal pandemic relief funds to address homelessness in the city, officials said.
Mayor Jorge Elorza and several city councilors announced last week that the money would go to Crossroads Rhode Island, a leading housing and homeless services organization, to operate a citywide mobile diversion program.
Low-income Providence residents begin getting monthly income
December 1, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence has begun providing guaranteed monthly payments to some low-income residents, the mayor said Wednesday.
The city received more than 4,000 applications, and 110 residents were randomly selected to participate in the pilot program, said Mayor Jorge Elorza, a Democrat.
Providence, city firefighters, reach tentative contract deal
December 1, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Providence Firefighters Union and the city have reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract that includes 4% annual pay raises, but also increases union members' pension and medical contributions.
Police: Man trying to fight off robber killed at laundromat
October 13, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A man apparently trying to fight off an armed robber inside a Providence laundromat has been shot and killed, police said.
The victim, described only as a man in his 30s, was shot inside the Broad Street business at about 8 p.m.
Providence wants to spend up to $1.6M on violence prevention
October 12, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza wants to spend up to $1.6 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to establish nonviolence training and youth mentorship programs to address an increase in violence in the city.
State to Providence: Stop work on bike lane or pay $4.4M
October 7, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence must stop all work on a bike lane project or may have to reimburse the state and the federal government for the cost of a previous infrastructure project at the same location because of an agreement signed by the city's former mayor, the state's transportation department has said.
Providence sues state in dispute over city school funding
September 30, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The mayor and city council of Providence sued the state Department of Education on Tuesday over a disagreement about the amount of money the city should put toward its schools this year.
Providence Mayor Elorza says he won’t run for governor
September 15, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza said Wednesday that he won't run for governor next year.
While many expected Elorza to seek the Democratic nomination, he emailed supporters to say it would be impossible to campaign statewide while running the capital city and as the parent of a young child, he must prioritize his family.
Downtown arts festival canceled amid rising virus cases
August 20, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence's downtown arts festival has been canceled for the second year in a row amid rising cases of COVID-19, city officials announced Friday.
PVDFest, a weekend festival that typically draws more 100,000 people to downtown Providence, was scheduled to make its comeback Sept.
Owners of Superman Building pledge to pay back taxes
August 3, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The owners of Providence's so-called Superman Building avoided a scheduled tax sale of the vacant landmark by agreeing to pay nearly $450,000 in back taxes to the city, a spokesperson for Mayor Jorge Elorza said Monday.
Providence mayor yells at governor over teachers’ contract
July 29, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza had to be held back from Gov. Dan McKee during a disagreement over a proposed contract for the city's public school teachers.
During a ceremonial lighting of the WaterFire basins along the Providence River to mark the return of the city arts festival on Wednesday, Elorza was seen on video pointing his finger at McKee and yelling, “You’ve got to face the community on this.”
Providence taps behavioral health groups to improve policing
July 22, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence is working with local mental health experts to change the way city law enforcement responds to public safety calls.
Mayor Jorge Elorza announced Thursday that the city has tapped The Providence Center and Family Service of Rhode Island to create recommendations for a behavioral health crisis response program.
Providence launches guaranteed income pilot program
July 13, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence on Tuesday joined a small but growing number of U.S. cities pledging to provide a guaranteed monthly income to a certain number of low-income residents.
Under the Providence Guaranteed Income pilot program announced by Mayor Jorge Elorza and others, 110 city families living at or under 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible to apply for the opportunity to receive $500 a month for 12 months.
Police investigate Providence’s 12th homicide of year
July 12, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A 20-year-old man has been shot and killed in Providence, the city's 12th homicide of the year.
The victim was shot in the backyard of a Public Street home at about 7 p.m.
‘All Black Lives Matter’ mural installed in Providence
June 6, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A street mural saying “All Black Lives Matter” is being installed in downtown Providence.
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza was on hand Saturday for the unveiling of the public art project in Kennedy Plaza, the transit hub overlooking City Hall, which came as the city kicked off PVDFest, its summerlong art festival.
RI war memorial vandalized over Memorial Day weekend
June 1, 2021 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island authorities have opened an investigation after a war memorial was vandalized in downtown Providence over Memorial Day weekend.
Providence Police Cmdr. Thomas Verdi said that there have no arrests in connection to the spray-painted Providence War Memorial at LaSalle Square.
Cities win immigration policing dispute with US government
April 10, 2021 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped its challenge to a court decision that said the federal government could not force two Rhode Island cities to turn local police into federal immigration agents...
Historical report released as part of reparations effort
March 29, 2021 GMTProvidence released a lengthy historical report on racism on Monday as part of the Rhode Island capital city's efforts to