Press & News

Cate Brown 4/1/26 Cate Brown 4/1/26

Rhode Island Current — ‘Do it again, but the right way.’ Judge tosses CRMC decision letting Matunuck restaurateur expand

By Nancy Lavin — Says coastal regulators violated their own rules when they approved scaled-down scallop farm… The 48-page order from Associate Justice Joseph Montalbano reopens the longstanding battle between acclaimed restaurateur and oyster farmer Perry Raso and nearby property owners, remanding the case back to the council for additional public hearings and consideration.

Cate Brown 3/11/26 Cate Brown 3/11/26

Rhode Island Current — Number of new CRMC members to come this year: 7. Number of nominees picked by McKee: Zero

By Nancy Lavin — Frustrated coastal advocates renew calls to nix politically appointed council

Cate Brown 7/22/25 Cate Brown 7/22/25

Rhode Island Current — CRMC gives Quidnessett another 30 days to submit shoreline restoration plan

By Nancy Lavin — Extension comes after North Kingstown country club appeals decision in Superior Court

Cate Brown 7/21/25 Cate Brown 7/21/25

Rhode Island Current — Quidnessett Country Club files suit against CRMC, alleging coastal panel broke its own rules

By Nancy Lavin — A dispute between state coastal regulators and Quidnessett Country Club has finally landed in court, with the North Kingstown country club filing an appeal in Rhode Island Superior Court on July 9 — one day before it was due to turn in a restoration plan for its coastline.

Cate Brown 7/11/25 Cate Brown 7/11/25

Rhode Island Current — Sewage-contaminated water made 60% of R.I. beaches unsafe for swimming in 2024

By Nancy Lavin — New data highlights need for wastewater infrastructure upgrades to prevent pollution in public waterways

Cate Brown 6/20/25 Cate Brown 6/20/25

Rhode Island Current — Compromises on assault weapons, casino smoking and CRMC reform mark end of 2025 session

By Nancy Lavin — Lawmakers keep their cool in marathon last day, mostly avoiding sweeping changes

Cate Brown 6/18/25 Cate Brown 6/18/25

Rhode Island Current — Bottle bill shelved in favor of another study while CRMC reform effort is set adrift

By Nancy Lavin — 2 high-profile environmental bills get taken down a notch, or two, or three

Cate Brown 3/21/25 Cate Brown 3/21/25

RI PBS — Rhode Island Senate Confirms Barrington Foot and Ankle Surgeon to CRMC

By Nancy Levin — The embattled Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) has had a tough time recruiting new members. The 10-member panel has been four seats shy of a full roster since December — not unusual in recent years. Controversy surrounding the appointed regulatory body did not dissuade Dr. Michael Reuter, a Barrington podiatric surgeon and avid sailor, from seeking an appointment to the council.

Cate Brown 7/29/24 Cate Brown 7/29/24

Rhode Island Current — Forced to submit a plan to remove illegal seawall, Quidnessett still backs water reclassification

By Nancy Lavin — Country club restoration plans appear ‘incomplete,’ says Save the Bay

Cate Brown 7/23/24 Cate Brown 7/23/24

Rhode Island Current — North Kingstown country club on rocky terrain in quest to keep illegal wall

By Nancy Lavin — CRMC hearing on proposal to ease water protections pits club members against environmentalists

Cate Brown 8/1/23 Cate Brown 8/1/23

Rhode Island Current — Neronha wants shoreline access lawsuit thrown out

By Nancy Lavin — The group of coastal taxpayers seeking to stop state agencies from enforcing the new shoreline access law has no grounds to sue.

Cate Brown 5/10/23 Cate Brown 5/10/23

Rhode Island Current — CRMC member from Narragansett appears to have lost her eligibility to serve

By Nancy Lavin — The state’s beleaguered coastal regulatory agency is facing new scrutiny amid allegations one of its members no longer meets the requirements of the position she was appointed to fill.

Cate Brown 4/20/23 Cate Brown 4/20/23

Rhode Island Current — An existential crisis for troubled coastal management agency?

By Nancy Lavin — The state’s coastal regulatory agency is ripe for reform. But how much? This is the key question lawmakers, residents and coastal advocates are considering when it comes to the politically appointed Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.