Top Stories | Cranston Herald

The Rev. Nathan Ricci, who grew up in Warwick and graduated from Bishop Hendricken High School, with Pope Francis in 2015 when the pontiff came to visit the North American College in Rome, where Ricci was studying as a seminarian.

Local clergy remember Francis as advocate

Holy Week ended on a deeply somber note with the passing of Pope Francis, who died at 88 due to heart failure. In the days since, local Catholic leaders have noted his humility and unflagging … more

By ROSEGALIE CINEUS Beacon Media staff writer | 4/23/25

Budlong Pool out for this summer; rush on splash pad

The Budlong Pool’s opening date seems to have gone down the drain indefinitely, at least for this season. At a City Council public works committee last week, Chief of Staff Anthony Moretti … more

By ROSEGALIE CINEUS Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/22/25

City and state officials came to support the sign-lighting of Cranston’s iconic neighborhood diner. Pictured left to right: Councilman Chris Buonanno, Councilman Richard Campopiano, Planning Commission member Nicole Renzulli with her children Frankie and Jojo, Mayor Kenneth Hopkins and Rep. Chris Paplauskas.

Wein-O-Rama lights up a new era

A classic Cranston diner got a fresh start last week with a large crowd gathering to celebrate the sign-lighting of local treasure Wein-O-Rama after its shuttering last summer. New owners Eric … more

By ROSEGALIE CINEUS Beacon Media staff writer | 4/22/25

Falcons beat Bolts in extras

The Cranston West baseball team grabbed a 17-6 win over rival East last week in extra innings, adding another thrilling chapter to the city’s rivalry as each team seeks some momentum toward … more

By ALEX SPONSELLER | 4/22/25

Cranston East Senior Chase Russell is a one-person weather encyclopedia and reliable forecaster for the school.

WPRI meteorologist surprises East’s weatherman

Rain, snow, sleet or hail, Chase Russell is ready to tell his fellow students at Cranston High School East what the weather is and how to be prepared for it. Every morning, Russell, a senior, … more

By BARBARA POLICHETTI Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/16/25

Schools to city: Budget doesn’t cover the bases

Cranston Public Schools seek an increase in city funding following Mayor Kenneth Hopkins’ budget presentation two weeks ago. The school department had asked for $103 million earlier this … more

By ROSEGALIE CINEUS Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/16/25

Cranston West student Clayton Dilello types away at his latest letter to his pen pal at the Cranston Senior Center.

Building connections one letter at a time

Dear … That simple, one-word salutation has started some of the greatest letters in history as kings, philosophers, civil-rights leaders, artists and more have sat down to share their … more

By BARBARA POLICHETTI Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/16/25

Lawmakers push for universal Pre-K in RI

Rhode Island could be on the path to offering universal prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds under legislation sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Hanna M. Gallo and House Education … more

By TIM FORSBERG Beacon Media staff writer | 4/16/25

Champs roll to 3-0

The reigning Division III champion Cranston East softball team is rolling this spring as it sits at 3-0 in league play. The Bolts most recently beat Central at home on Monday in an 11-1 win. … more

By ALEX SPONSELLER | 4/15/25

Bolts come back to win thriller

The Cranston East girls lacrosse team erased a four-goal deficit to come back to beat visiting Toll Gate 9-8 last week. The Titans came out firing and built a 4-0 advantage after one quarter of … more

By ALEX SPONSELLER | 4/9/25

Members of the School Committee and school administration await Mayor Kenneth Hopkins’ budget presentation last week.

Proposed city budget focuses on schools

Mayor Kenneth Hopkins’ proposed budget for the coming fiscal year would result in a slight tax increase on residential and commercial properties. Hopkins presented his FY 2026 budget of … more

By ROSEGALIE CINEUS Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/9/25

1.The city’s review of redevelopment plans for the Cranston Print Works began in 2021 and is nearly complete. In its heyday, the factory was one of the largest 19th-century textile enterprise still operating in the world. It produced 60 to 70 million yards of printed cloth per year and employed about 700 workers.

New lease on life coming for Cranston Print Works

There may soon be signs of life at the former Cranston Print Works complex on Cranston Street in the city’s Kingsville section. Last week, the City Plan Commission unanimously approved … more

By BARBARA POLICHETTI Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/9/25

NEIT to offer two-year bachelor’s in four majors

The New England Institute of Technology will offer bachelor’s degrees that students can attain in only two years starting this fall. The four majors in which 24-month bachelor’s … more

By ADAM ZANGARI Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/9/25

Budlong Pool replacement delayed; splash pad on fast track

The Budlong Pool’s smaller replacement may not open this summer following the unexpected construction issue that surfaced when an undocumented aqueduct was found during excavation of the site. … more

By ROSEGALIE CINEUS Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/9/25

West sweeps Pilgrim for 1st win

The Cranston West boys volleyball team earned its first win of the season when it swept Pilgrim 3-0 on Monday night. The Falcons are coming off a Division II finals appearance and were bumped up … more

By ALEX SPONSELLER | 4/2/25

At a special press conference, Mayor Hopkins lauded city employee Savong Sam (second from the left) as a hero after he helped authorities locate a missing woman.

Mechanic recognized for role in finding missing woman

When Savong Sam decided to spend a recent Sunday morning working on a friend’s car, he could not imagine that he would end up in the news. When he got to the car, which had been parked … more

By BARBARA POLICHETTI Beacon Media Staff Writer | 4/2/25

Lots of energy legislation, but can it shrink customers’ bills?

Greg Cornett grew up in Tennessee in a blue-collar, lower-middle- income part of the state. He remembers winters when his father and he would deliver wood to less fortunate relatives who had … more

By JOHN HOWELL Warwick Beacon Editor | 4/2/25

WWII veteran Wilfred Barbeau, who will celebrate his 100th birthday this month, took out his clarinet and played along with bagpiper Allen Manley and the rest of the bagpipers who joined in at a Southwest Airlines departure gate at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport early Sunday.

Charlie went, too

Honor Flight “Charlie,” the 32 nd Honor Flight for veterans since retired Providence Fire Chief George Farrell started the flights to Washington, D.C. in 2012, departed early Sunday from … more

4/2/25

Celebrating Cranston’s best winter athletes

This week, the Cranston Herald sports department is honoring some of Cranston’s best athletes of the winter season with its All-City teams. As always, it was a fun-filled few months of big-time … more

3/26/25

Citywide Councilman Christopher E. Buonanno at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Council newcomer pursues role as advocate

A lifelong Cranston resident, citywide Councilman Christopher E. Buonanno has been on the City Council only since inauguration in January. Since the ceremony, he says, he has been familiarizing … more

By ROSEGALIE CINEUS Beacon Media Staff Writer | 3/26/25

July 19, 2025

PLEIN AIR 'Paint the Town'