Here are some of The Providence Journal’s most-read stories for the week of Sept. 22, supported by your subscriptions .
- Private investigators are icons of pop culture, from Marlow to Magnum to Rockford. But what’s life like for a real PI? The Journal’s Tom Mooney gets the scoop from Bristol’s Charlie Galligan, who has nearly 35 years of experience talking his way into people’s confidence – and talking his way out of tense situations. For Galligan, likability is a super power.
- When hunger pangs strike on your next visit to Newport , but you don’t want to battle tourists and spend a fortune, check out these insider picks by a native , Journal reporter Antonia Noori Farzan, who offers pro tips on finding bargain-priced lobster rolls, creative coffee drinks and Italian food she argues is even better than in Providence.
- Fall is officially here, aka the season of pumpkin spice everything. Check out our fall fun bucket list , with activities for every weekend through November, and some fun food things to do , including Oktoberfest celebrations and USA TODAY Food & Wine Experience , featuring great local restaurants, breweries and makers. It runs today from 1 to 4 p.m. at 195 District Park in Providence.
- Spirits are running high with the return of high school sports – maybe a bit too high at the football season opener for South Kingstown and Portsmouth. A shoving match between two parents after the Rebels’ 21-20 overtime win led police to charge both parents with disorderly conduct this week. For more high school and college sports news and coverage of the New England Patriots , go to providencejournal.com/sports .
Here are the week’s top reads on providencejournal.com :
‘Every minute matters’: Are standby tow trucks really easing Washington Bridge traffic?
Posting tow trucks along Interstate 195 on an “emergency standby” basis is one of RIDOT’s strategies for trying to alleviate traffic issues associated with the Washington Bridge crisis .
The sooner a tow truck can haul out a disabled vehicle, the sooner the resulting traffic backup can end. That’s the DOT’s rationale for the practice. And it passes muster with Rhode Island State Police.
DOT spokesman Charles St. Martin justifies the $1.4 million spent so far to keep tow trucks at the ready around the clock, saying, “Every minute matters when we can clear lanes quicker.” But does standby towing really help? Read the full story to find out…