Latest news with #Touchette
Boston Globe
16-06-2025
- Boston Globe
‘Unsecured propane line' triggered Block Island explosion that injured two, officials say
A home on West Beach Road on Block Island exploded on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Five people were in the house and three were trapped, according to the Block Island Volunteer Fire Department. A preliminary investigation shows that an unsecured propane line may have caused the explosion. Block Island Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department According to Matthew Touchette, a spokesman for the state fire marshal, two people were airlifted to Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement 'One person suffered a broken femur, another had second-degree burns,' the fire department said. Firefighters also extinguished two small fires at the scene. In an email on Monday, Touchette wrote the incident was 'caused by a propane explosion.' 'The homeowners were at the house over Memorial Day weekend and had no propane which prompted them to call their propane company, who told them the tank was turned off,' Touchette wrote. 'When they returned this past weekend, the homeowner turned the propane on, and the explosion occurred a short time later.' After excavating the site, officials discovered an unsecured propane line in the crawl space of the house, 'which indicated propane was released into the crawl space, triggering the explosion.' 'The Office of the State Fire Marshal has ruled the incident accidental,' Touchette wrote. Advertisement A home on West Beach Road on Block Island exploded on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Five people were in the house and three were trapped, according to the Block Island Volunteer Fire Department. A preliminary investigation shows that an unsecured propane line may have caused the explosion. Block Island Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
R.I. Commerce commits nearly $1M to HISTORY Channel deal
A mural designed by James Allen King of Scituate on the interior of dome of the Rhode Island State House depicts Roger Williams and his followers meeting Native Americans. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) State tourism officials plan to spend nearly $1 million to promote Rhode Island on the HISTORY Channel through next July as the network commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation has partnered with the HISTORY Channel to air commercials promoting the first state to declare independence from Great Britain as part of the networks' 'History Honors 250' campaign. The deal is the network's first with any state, according to the corporation's April 25 announcement. 'You can't tell the story of America without telling the story of Rhode Island,' Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. 'Showcasing Rhode Island's rich HISTORY through this partnership with the HISTORY Channel not only honors our state's heritage — it drives tourism and strengthens our local economy.' 'History Honors 250' will share Rhode Island's role in American HISTORY through specially produced segments to air on the cable network, along with ads during select prime-time shows. But the Commerce Corporation is keeping hush on what historic moments will be featured in the $965,000 campaign. Spokesperson Matt Touchette said ads were still being developed by a third-party company as of Tuesday afternoon. He declined to name the third party company, saying the terms of the contract are confidential. 'When we're ready to release more details, I'll be sure to let you know,' Touchette said in an email. Meanwhile, in response to an inquiry from Rhode Island Current, McKee's office offered via email: 'The Governor is excited to see the rich history of Rhode Island showcased nationally—including the legacy of Roger Williams and the Burning of the Gaspee.' Rhode Island's partnership with the HISTORY Channel will include themed editorial articles and video content posted online, as well as social media engagement through branded posts and influencer collaborations, Touchette said. The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation will hold a sweepstakes, which the HISTORY Channel will promote on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook along with an interactive trivia unit to highlight the state's historic milestones, cultural contributions, and notable figures. The ad campaign is scheduled to kick off May 22 and run through July 5, 2026. 'Rhode Island holds a pivotal role in the rich tapestry of our nation's HISTORY, and we are excited to craft engaging content that not only resonates with audiences today but also inspires future generations,' Niki Mandell, vice president of media solutions at A+E Global Media, HISTORY Channel's parent company, said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
R.I. Commerce offers up to $12,500 grants for manufacturing equipment
Rhode Island Commerce is accepting applications through March 24 from local manufacturing companies eligible to receive grants equal to half the $25,000 cost of capital equipment. Rhode Island manufacturers can get reimbursement for up to half the cost of new capital equipment or machinery under a new state program unveiled Thursday. The Manufacturing Equipment Grant Program administered by Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, offers grants reimbursing local manufacturing companies for up to 50% of the costs of new equipment, capped at $12,500 per applicant based on a $25,000 maximum equipment or machinery price. Applications are available online now, with grants awarded based on scores set by a review committee of Commerce employees and industry partners, Matt Touchette, a Commerce spokesperson, said in an email Friday. The program is funded through a $500,000 allocation of general revenue included in the state's fiscal 2025 budget, Touchette said. Recipients must be Rhode Island-based manufacturing companies established on or before Jan. 1, 2021, with 50 or fewer employees and gross receipts less than $5 million in 2023. The program aims to help the state's manufacturing sector remain competitive, recognizing feedback and concerns of local business owners, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner said in a statement. 'By easing the financial burden of modernization, we are empowering businesses to be competitive, efficient, and innovative — all things that help drive economic growth,' Tanner said. The state's manufacturing sector was responsible for 40,900 jobs in December, a 600-job increase from the prior year, according to the latest monthly jobs report from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. Applications close on Monday, March 24. Correction: The headline on this story has been updated to reflect that grants of up to $12,500 may be awarded through the program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
