On Monday, NBC10 reported on the case of a Johnston mom who told the station's "I-Team" that her son had been bullied at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School — incuding a recent incident where her son wound up at Hasbro Children's Hospital for treatment. Roberta Thompson told reporter Jim Taricani that her son had been the victim of bullying at the school for the "past couple of years," according to NBC10.com. About a week and a half ago, Thompson told Taricani, a 13-year-old student taunted her son and two others blocked his path when he tried to escape. Thompson alleged that the first student …

  Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? When it comes to season’s greetings, a new poll shows the majority of Americans prefer “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays.” According to a survey from Rasmussen Reports, 68 percent of people polled prefer the traditional “Merry Christmas” while just 23 percent like "Happy Holidays," which can cover a variety of occasions. When it comes to holiday signs, a whopping 70 percent of shoppers polled said they prefer to be greeted with “Merry Christmas” in stores rather than the more neutral Happy Holidays, according to a Rasmussen Reports national telephone …

There will be a tree-lighting ceremony this year, after all. Gov. Lincoln Chafee's top press aide said Tuesday that she spoke in error when she previously announced that there would be no tree lighting ceremony.  "There will be an official tree lighting ceremony at the State House with the Governor in attendance," said Christine Hunsinger in an email statement, adding that no date has been set. Now, the question is, will protesters turn up again as they did last year, when Gov. Lincoln Chafee referred to the large evergreen in the middle of the State House rotonda as a "holiday tree" instead …

  Named for the color used to show that businesses have turned a profit, "Black Friday" has become a bellwether for predicting how well the holiday shopping season will be. But with America still recovering from The Great Recession and stubborn unemployment, there's a chance that this year's Black Friday may be further proof of ongoing problems. Then again, the first official day of the holiday shopping season — and the deep discounts offered by most retailers — usually draw hordes of deal-hunting shoppers and could be a sign of a rebound in consumer spending. So, which are you — a deal …

  Now that you've braved the crowds at Stop & Shop or BJ's Wholesale Club for your Thanksgiving turkey — or, if you're the type who likes to "eat local," you've picked up your bird at Baffoni's Poultry Farm — is there a special ingredient or dish that you're getting ready to place on your Thanksgiving table? JohnstonPatch is looking for favorite recipes from our readers — whether it's that secret trick to perfectly roasting the turkey, the best way to make stuffing, or a family recipe handed down from Nonni (as Italians call their grandmothers) or Mémère (as the French-Canadians say). Post …

  Christmas music is already being played around the clock on the radio and some of us have already "decked the halls."  While we applaud enthusiasm for the holidays, we want to know when you plan to dig the Christmas boxes out of the attic. Do you wait until the day after Thanksgiving or the week before? Tell us in the comments section below. 

  What's better than getting the kids home from trick-or-treating, "checking" their bags of candy — and confiscating those that could possibly "pose a danger" to them? Why does it always seem that the questionable candies — you know, the sweetest, stickiest, and sometimes the most classic treats — just happen to be mom and dad's favorite kind? JohnstonPatch Asks You: What is your favorite candy to pull out of the kids' bag after trick-or-treating is over? Take our poll and confess in the comments.

The town-hall-style debate at Hofstra University on Tuesday night proved much more combative than the first debate between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.  Obama, who was roundly panned for his performance in Denver Oct. 3, came out much stronger, but Romney was equally forceful.  JohnstonPatch Asks You: who won? Was it enough for Obama to do better? Or was Romney's ability to stay the course the deciding factor?  Let us know in the comments section below. And share your favorite debate moment.

  Maybe you're a die-hard Democrat, and you think President Obama staged a needed comeback during his debate with Mitt Romney last night. Or maybe you're a staunch Republican, and you think Romney scored another victory against the President. Do you share these opinions with your Facebook friends? Maybe you shouldn't, suggests a recent article on Boston.com. People of all political leanings told the Globe they're learning too much about their friends' and relatives' attitudes. The article is informed by data from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. The study found that…

  While most voters have already made up their minds whether they want to re-elect President Barack Obama or cast their ballots in favor of former Gov. Mitt Romney, about 7 percent of the likely voting population remains undecided, according to the Huffington Post. It’s that undecided group we want to reach out to today. We’d like to hear from those of you in Johnston who remain unsure which way you’ll go on Nov. 6. [Need to know important information about voting in Johnston this year? Check out the JohnstonPatch Election Guide.] JohnstonPatch Asks You: What has prevented you from making up …

  As the mercury has dropped over the last few days, leaving the stretches of 90+ degrees behind, folks around Johnston are starting to turn on their heating systems — if they haven't already. With tonight's freeze warning — with lows in the 30s expected overnight into Saturday — thermostats all over town will be clicking back to life, and residents will start the annual concern over heating fuel costs. We posted a question on our Facebook page on when is the right time to turn on the heat — here are the responses we received through last night: Kimberly Webster Halliwell Only when it is …

  Heading into tonight's Vice Presidential debate in Kentucky, political pundits of all stripes were wondering whether each candidate — Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) — would stay on-script. Would Biden, known for his often colorful remarks, veer off-topic and potentially damage President Barack Obama? [Link goes to 'Bidenisms' page on About.com] Or would Ryan, whose budget plan has been getting lots of attention, make statements agreeing with his running mate, former Gov. Mitt Romney? [Link goes to factcheck.org "Paul Ryan" topic page.] Now that the lone VP debate …

  Rhode Island tacks on more sales taxes starting today. The Rhode Island Division of Taxation sent out the following information last week and urged retailers and consumers to take note of the following changes to Rhode Island’s sales tax that take effect today, Oct. 1 The 7 percent sales and use tax will apply to articles of clothing, including footwear, priced at more than $250 per item. Only the increment above $250 will be taxed. For example, for a suit that costs $275, the tax rate will be applied only to $25, resulting in a tax of $1.75. The 7 percent sales and use tax will apply to …

  It's been just over five months since gas prices in Johnston nudged up against $4 gallon for regular unleaded — and after a summer of up-and-down bounces, the average price is on a decline, according to Marketwatch.com. According to AAA.com, the average price of a gallon of 87-octane was $3.87 as of Sept. 28, down a penny from Thursday and five cents lower than the average a week ago. In Johnston, two local stores were offering regular unleaded at $3.80 per gallon this morning, according to the JohnstonPatch Commute page. JohnstonPatch wants to know: Are lower gas prices making any …

  If you're a local football fan, the New England Patriots' controversial Sunday Night loss to the Baltimore Ravens probably left you with a bad taste in your mouth — and a strong opinion about the status of officiating in the NFL. The much-discussed replacement referee issue was forced front-row center again Monday night, when a nationally-televised game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers appeared to be determined by an incorrect call made by a team of back-up officials. JohnstonPatch wants to know: What do you think about the quality of officiating in the NFL? Do you …

  The cost of banking is going up — and lending institutions are finding ways to tack new fees onto checking and other accounts. Bankrate.com reported recently that charges for use of bank accounts have reached an all-time high this year. Whether it's higher costs for using ATMs at other banks, monthly "maintenance fees" averaging more than $5, or overdraft charges of $30 or more, bank customers are paying more to get access to their money. JohnstonPatch wants to know: How have you been affected? Does more of your money every month go toward banking fees? Where do you keep your money — and …

  A secret video obtained by Mother Jones magazine has rocked the political world. In the video, Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said 47 percent of Americans believe they are victims, are dependent on the government and will never vote for him. He went further, saying he wasn't worried about them. The magazine released a portion of the video Monday. In a late night press conference Monday, Romney said the comments were not "elegantly stated," but were part of a larger conversation about the role of personal responsibility. Romney went on to say the comments were a reflection on…

The Barrington School Committee made a splash earlier this week when they said the School Department would accept out-of-district students willing to pay $12,800 a year to attend Barrington schools. They have since stepped back a bit, but with ever-tightening school budgets, we wondered whether our readers thing the Johnston School Department should explore such a proposal here. “We’re looking at new sources of revenue,” said Barrington Supt. Robert McIntyre in a story on the topic in Thursday's Providence Journal. “This is new. It’s different. It’s an opportunity for us.” Two things drove …

It's Valentine's Day, and love is in the air... on the radio, in the coffee shops and maybe on your iPod. You know there's that one song that melts your heart every time you hear it. For me, it's "Over the Rainbow," sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. I don't know what it is, but that song makes stop in my tracks whenever those first notes are played. A colleague of mine and I came up with this list of classic love songs: "Wonderful Tonight," Eric Clapton "Love Song," The Cure "At Last," Etta James "Unchained Melody," The Righteous Brothers "All I Want is You," U2 Is your favorite on our short …

JohnstonPatch asked some local residents what they like to do during a snow day. We found respondents all over town, including at Brewed Awakenings. Read what some of our residents like to do when the flakes are falling.