A connector from Route 4 to Interstate 95 South in Quonset is one step closer to reality as Sen. Jack Reed’s (D-RI) office announced Friday that two new federal grants totaling a combined $25.3 million were awarded to Rhode Island by U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to improve traffic flow in and around Quonset Business Park and the “Cranston Canyon” stretch of Route 37.

Officials say while no final decision has been made, there are numerous obstacles for preserving a pair of murals at the University of Rhode Island that were painted almost 70 years ago by a World War II veteran with strong ties to the university.

Every Sunday morning, Phyllis Farley fires up her laptop to attend the coffee hour for the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Kingston.

Throughout South County, another squad in the community COVID-response team has popped up: organizations that reach out to community members facing financial or mental health hardships.

The Independent has provided periodic stories about groups, organizations and businesses filling needs in the community. Their sponsors often say the motto “We’re in this together” is what draws supporters and volunteers into action.

Ballots are still being counted, but at press time Narragansett Democrat Alana DiMario led former North Kingstown Town Councilor Ellen Waxman by a 70-30 margin in the primary race to replace the outgoing State Sen. James Sheehan in District 36, which covers parts of Narragansett and North Kingstown.

At Crazy Burger restaurant on Boon Street in Narragansett, manager Alex McBurney said staff always wears masks, sanitizing happens on a regular schedule — and a surprise state inspection left him with smiles.

As the Sept. 8 primary next week draws closer and choices toss around in voters’ minds, local town clerks are seeing an uptick in early in-person voting that so far has been slower than expected, they report.

“It started out slow but word is getting out. The pace is picking up,” said Theresa Donovan, Narragansett town clerk.

Though these former high school seniors had an abrupt end to their last school year, it only helped to build excitement about starting their first year of college, said several while hauling belongings into University of Rhode Island dormitories this week.

When Joe Viele became Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce executive director last fall, he expected to be boosting business, but instead became a lifeline to survival.

Narragansett and North and South Kingstown fire departments are among those statewide that have received new federal funds to purchase vital equipment, including fire hoses, trucks, high-tech breathing equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

University of Rhode Island students or others who host off-campus parties this fall will face a $500 fine from South Kingstown, officials announced Wednesday.

Attendees of the parties would be fined $250, according to an executive order signed by South Kingstown Town Manager Rob Zarnetske.

Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite paid a visit to Quonset Friday morning for a tour of the General Dynamics Electric Boat facility with company President Kevin Graney and the entire Rhode Island Congressional delegation as well as Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT02) to get updates on and view firsthand the progress of the $10 billion Columbia-class submarine program, with construction taking place in Quonset, in Groton, Connecticut and in Newport News, Virginia.

Rhode Island’s beach towns are trailing their suburban neighbors to the north in their response rates to the 2020 Census, and local officials are stressing the importance of getting an accurate 10-year count of the nation’s inhabitants.

Narragansett, South Kingstown and North Kingstown combined have seen a tenfold increase — from 540 applications to 5,473 — for mail ballots for the upcoming Sept. 8 political primary compared to two years ago, according to a review by The Independent.

Ham and eggs, pancakes, sausage, coffee, tea — you name it — are available once more at the Breakfast Nook I and II in North Kingstown and Wakefield.

“I’ve been waiting for them to open,” said Ron Gardrel, who with his wife, Linda, has been going for decades to Breakfast Nook II on Kingstown Road in South Kingstown.