Business

By ALEX NUNES

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Faith leaders in the state are calling on the religious community, businesses and philanthropists to help address what they say is a shortfall in the number of beds available at emergency shelters.

Rev. Don Anderson, of the State Council of Churches, says people of faith should make donation at their local place of worship or to the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless.

By CATHERINE WELCH

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The head of the state's Coastal Resources Management Council said he will make sure fishermen are treated fairly as Deepwater Wind rolls out its proposal for 200 turbines off the Rhode Island, Massachusetts coast. State and federal officials meet Friday to discuss the plan.

Deepwater Wind wants to put 200 turbines 20 miles off the coast to provide electricity for the northeast. Coastal Resources Management Council Executive Director Grover Fugate said he wishes Deepwater Wind had started with smaller projects.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Gas prices in Rhode Island have climbed for the fifth straight week to an average $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded.

AAA Southern new England says in its weekly survey released Monday that the price of a gallon of gas rose two cents from last week.

Since this time last year, prices have risen 39 cents a gallon, up nearly 15 percent.

AAA says prices in Rhode Island are 11 cents above the national average of $2.95 per gallon.

By FLO JONIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Years of planning and construction will become reality today with the start of commuter rail service from Warwick to Providence and on to Boston.

Rhode Island's two United States senators will join Governor Carcieri in a special train ride from Providence to Warwick this morning. When the train pulls up to the new intermodal facility at T.F. Green Airport the Pilgrim High School marching band will be playing.

By FLO JONIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Remember all the detours caused by the Iway project? Well, something similar is about to start in Pawtucket.

A portion of Taft Street will be closed today in Pawtucket, the first of many road closures prompted by the replacement of the Pawtucket River Bridge. This section of road will remain closed for approximately three years.

By ALEX NUNES

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – At Roger Williams University in Bristol, water rushes into a bathtub-sized tank on a dock at Mount Hope Bay. Dale Leavitt, an associate professor of marine biology, removes a cover revealing quahogs and oysters.

"If you look in here, these are all baby oysters that we've reared up this summer," Leavitt says. "We like to think of them as about the size of a quarter."