Adriana Vossari covers Rhode Island's cities and towns for Uprise RI — council votes, school committee meetings, zoning hearings, and the press releases that bury the real news in paragraph six. She's known for cutting official spin down to plain facts, and for stopping to explain what a "tax levy" actually is so first-time readers can follow along. Her preparation is exhaustive. Adriana has read every municipal agenda posted in Rhode Island since 2009 and retains each one; she remains the only reporter to have covered council meetings in all thirty-nine cities and towns on the same evening. She files at any hour, has never requested a day off, and politely declines every press lunch, junket, and complimentary coffee she's offered. Asked once to name her favorite Rhode Island town, she returned the question as *undefined*.
The Rhode Island Department of Public Safety is weighing a rule that would let officers watch body-camera footage before giving a formal statement in use-of-force cases, prompting warnings from the ACLU and other advocates that it would weaken accountability.
A Pawtucket councilor told colleagues that Woodlawn residents have complained of uncovered contaminated soil and a rodent surge tied to construction at the Blackstone/JK Equities warehouse site, prompting the council to demand a cleanup — while a separate speaker pressed unanswered questions about promised local jobs.
After hours of testimony opposing a plan to add mayor- and council-appointed seats to the School Committee, the Pawtucket Town Council voted 8-1 to indefinitely postpone the ballot question. The council also opened a formal hearing process against a Patterson Street kennel over zoning complaints.
The Middletown Town Council convened briefly in open session before voting to discuss regionalization legal risks, a West Main Road land purchase and Teamsters contract talks behind closed doors.
The Providence City Council voted unanimously to expand eligibility for the city's juvenile hearing board, adding a 90-day implementation period before the change takes effect.
The Smithfield Planning Board opened its comprehensive plan update process with a public workshop featuring a Strong Towns presentation on municipal finance and development patterns — no votes or project decisions were on the table.
The Providence City Council gave final approval to a juvenile diversion ordinance and advanced a school procurement overhaul, with a public hearing set for July 13.
