By Alex Nunes — The Westerly Town Council could soon consider a proposal to enter into settlement discussions over a lawsuit challenging the public’s right to access a popular beach and conservation area in Watch Hill. But shoreline access advocates are raising conflict of interest questions about the new town councilor who proposed the idea.

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.

By Alex Nunes — Expressing support for two bills under consideration by the General Assembly, Attorney General Peter Neronha told state lawmakers that the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council is “in desperate need of reform.”

By Alex Kuffner — Critics say that little has changed at the contentious state agency that has authority over everything from offshore wind projects to oyster farms along Rhode Island’s 400 miles of coastline.