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1540 WADK.com Updates Archives for 2021-10

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: National Grid is close to getting power back to almost all Rhode Islanders who lost it during this week's storm.  Several teachers in one Rhode Island school district could lose their jobs for not getting vaccinated against COVID.  A controversial street project is celebrated in Providence.

[[ watch for updates ]]

>>National Grid Outages In RI Under 2K

(Undated)  --  National Grid has the number of Rhode Island customers who lost power from this week's nor'easter down to about 15-hundred as of overnight Friday.  Nearly one-hundred thousand did not have electricity at the height of the storm.  The Providence Journal reports a spokesman for National Grid said the vast majority of those still impacted should have service restored by Friday night, but for some customers, it could still be days before they get power back.

>>Barrington Teachers Face Firing Over Refusal To Get COVID Vaccine

(Barrington, RI)  --  Three teachers in the Barrington School District are facing the loss of their jobs because they are refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.  The teachers, who are citing religious objections, appeared before the Barrington School Committee on Thursday.  The deadline is November 1st.  After that, the district plans to place the teachers on unpaid leave, and fully-terminate them if they don't get vaccinated by the end of the year.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,878

(Providence, RI)  --  One new coronavirus death was reported in Rhode Island on Thursday.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-878.  The number of new virus cases reported in RI yesterday was two-hundred-six.

>>Patriots At Chargers Sunday 

(Inglewood, CA)  --  The New England Patriots are on the road this weekend.  They've got a Sunday afternoon game at the Los Angeles Chargers.  Kickoff from SoFi [[ sophie ]] Stadium in Inglewood, California is 4:05 p.m. Eastern time.  The 3-and-4 Patriots are one game back of Buffalo for first place in the AFC East Division.

>>Providence Mayor Celebrates Controversial Street Project 

(Providence, RI)  --  Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza participated in a ribbon-cutting for a controversial road upgrade project on Thursday.  Part of the Elorza administration's "Great Streets Initiative", the project on South Water Street widened bicycle traffic while reducing motor vehicles on the one-way street to a single lane.  Businesses in the Jewelry District voiced their concerns about the new logistics, and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation put up a brief fight against the project.  Elorza yesterday touted support from bike-riding advocates and said the enhancements will benefit everyone.

>>Big Blue Bug Gets Temporary Makeover 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island's famous Big Blue Bug is now the Big Green Bug.  The business behind the mascot that looms over I-95 which once appeared in the movie Dumb and Dumber, says the change is temporary.  The bug was made to look like the Incredible Hulk to celebrate Halloween and Rhode Island Comic Con.  The pest control service is promising an upcoming special appearance from Lou Ferrigno [[ fur-IGG-no ]], the actor who played the Hulk in the TV series from the 70's and 80's.

###
Jim McCabe/jb         RI) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-29-2021 01:39:08

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: National Grid is close to getting power back to almost all Rhode Islanders who lost it during this week's storm.  Several teachers in one Rhode Island school district could lose their jobs for not getting vaccinated against COVID.  A controversial street project is celebrated in Providence.

[[ watch for updates ]]

>>National Grid Outages In RI Under 2K

(Undated)  --  National Grid has the number of Rhode Island customers who lost power from this week's nor'easter down to about 15-hundred as of overnight Friday.  Nearly one-hundred thousand did not have electricity at the height of the storm.  The Providence Journal reports a spokesman for National Grid said the vast majority of those still impacted should have service restored by Friday night, but for some customers, it could still be days before they get power back.

>>Barrington Teachers Face Firing Over Refusal To Get COVID Vaccine

(Barrington, RI)  --  Three teachers in the Barrington School District are facing the loss of their jobs because they are refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.  The teachers, who are citing religious objections, appeared before the Barrington School Committee on Thursday.  The deadline is November 1st.  After that, the district plans to place the teachers on unpaid leave, and fully-terminate them if they don't get vaccinated by the end of the year.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,878

(Providence, RI)  --  One new coronavirus death was reported in Rhode Island on Thursday.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-878.  The number of new virus cases reported in RI yesterday was two-hundred-six.

>>Patriots At Chargers Sunday 

(Inglewood, CA)  --  The New England Patriots are on the road this weekend.  They've got a Sunday afternoon game at the Los Angeles Chargers.  Kickoff from SoFi [[ sophie ]] Stadium in Inglewood, California is 4:05 p.m. Eastern time.  The 3-and-4 Patriots are one game back of Buffalo for first place in the AFC East Division.

>>Providence Mayor Celebrates Controversial Street Project 

(Providence, RI)  --  Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza participated in a ribbon-cutting for a controversial road upgrade project on Thursday.  Part of the Elorza administration's "Great Streets Initiative", the project on South Water Street widened bicycle traffic while reducing motor vehicles on the one-way street to a single lane.  Businesses in the Jewelry District voiced their concerns about the new logistics, and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation put up a brief fight against the project.  Elorza yesterday touted support from bike-riding advocates and said the enhancements will benefit everyone.

>>Big Blue Bug Gets Temporary Makeover 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island's famous Big Blue Bug is now the Big Green Bug.  The business behind the mascot that looms over I-95 which once appeared in the movie Dumb and Dumber, says the change is temporary.  The bug was made to look like the Incredible Hulk to celebrate Halloween and Rhode Island Comic Con.  The pest control service is promising an upcoming special appearance from Lou Ferrigno [[ fur-IGG-no ]], the actor who played the Hulk in the TV series from the 70's and 80's.

###
Jim McCabe/jb         RI) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-29-2021 01:39:08

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Nearly twenty-thousand National Grid customers in Rhode Island are still in the dark.  A jury has awarded a settlement to a couple of workers at T.F. Green Airport who suffered injuries from a carbon-monoxide poisoning.  Rhode Island is set to receive its first evacuees from Afghanistan.

>>Overnight RI Power Outage Total Whittled Down To 19K

(Undated)  --  National Grid is continuing to restore power to Rhode Islanders who lost it in a nor'easter that struck Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.  National Grid reported nearly 19-thousand power outages in Rhode Island as of 2 a.m. Thursday.  A spokesperson for the power company tells The Providence Journal the effort to fully-restore electricity will take days.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,877

(Providence, RI)  --  One new coronavirus death was reported in Rhode Island on Wednesday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-877.  The number of new virus cases reported in RI yesterday was two-hundred-41.

>>Settlement Awarded To Airport Workers Who Suffered CO Poisoning 

(Warwick, RI)  --  A jury has awarded a 26-million-dollar verdict to a pair of TSA workers who alleged they suffered permanent brain damage from a carbon monoxide-poisoning incident at T.F. Green Airport.  The jury's action on Wednesday followed a month-long trial in Kent County Superior Court.  The two workers, identified in a Providence Journal report as Carolyn Scire of Coventry and Daniel Traficante of South Kingstown, fell ill from the gas in 2015.  They had previously complained to the airport commission about fumes entering their office.

>>Providence Bar Where Shooting Happened Given OK To Reopen 

(Providence, RI)  --  A bar in Providence is being allowed to re-open after a shooting.  The city licensing board determined at a meeting on Wednesday that the Sports Tap on Harris Avenue was not at fault for a shooting that took place outside the bar over the weekend.  The victim, a 43-year-old man, is expected to recover.  Reports indicate the bar has decided to stay closed for an additional period of time.

>>Afghan Family Expected In Rhode Island Next Week 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island is getting its first Afghanistan evacuees next week, according to the Dorcas International Institute, one of the organizations helping with the resettlement effort.  Thirty-one-year-old Amin Faquiry [[ fick-EER-ee ]], who worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military, is moving to the Ocean State along with his pregnant wife and their four children.  The estimated number of Afghan refugees coming to the Ocean State in total is two-hundred-fifty.

>>New England Revolution Set MLS Points Record 

(Foxboro, MA)  --  The New England Revolution have made history in Major League Soccer.  The Revs defeated the Colorado Rapids at Gillette Stadium Wednesday night 1-to-0 to set the league record for most points by a team in a single season.  New England has a record of 22 wins, seven ties and four losses, which equals 73 points.  They have one regular-season game remaining before the MLS playoffs start next month.

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Jim McCabe/jb          RI)  
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-28-2021 00:58:07

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A windy nor'easter has caused thousands of power outages in Rhode Island.  Two new COVID deaths reported in the Ocean State Tuesday.  A woman has been named fire chief in a southeastern Massachusetts town.

[[ watch for updates ]]

>>Fall Nor'easter Howling Through RI

(Undated)  --  A windy late-October nor'easter is blowing through Rhode Island.  Eversource reported over three-thousand power outages in the Ocean State overnight Wednesday.  As of 3:00 this morning, the top wind gust reported in the state by the National Weather Service was 64 miles per hour on Block Island.  The weather service has a High Wind Warning for southern RI until Wednesday afternoon.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,876

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths on Tuesday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-876.  The number of new virus cases reported in RI yesterday was one-hundred-71.

>>State Hospital Patient Visits Paused Due To Virus Cases 

(Burrillville, MA)  --  Patient visits are being suspended at the state hospital in Burrillville.  The Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals said Tuesday that two staff members tested positive for COVID.  The no-visit policy will be in effect for two weeks.

>>ACI Inmate Receives Federal Sentence 

(Providence, RI)  --  A state prison inmate in Rhode Island has been ordered to serve federal prison time.  The Justice Department says 29-year-old Tyler Bagley arranged drug and gun sales via telephone from the Adult Correctional Institutions last year, but unwittingly did so with an undercover federal agent.  Bagley was sentenced to four years in federal prison on Monday.

>>Woman Named Fire Chief In Seekonk

(Seekonk, MA)  --  Seekonk, Massachusetts has its first female fire chief.  The position officially went to Sandra Lowery, a 20-year member of the force who had been serving as interim chief, last week.  WJAR-TV reports Lowery is the fifth female fire chief in Massachusetts history and one of two currently serving as fire chief in the commonwealth.  The other is in Topsfield.

>>New East Providence High School Celebrated 

(East Providence, RI)  --  A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the new East Providence High School on Monday, according to a report from EastBayRI.com.  The nearly-two-hundred-million-dollar high school has been open since the late summer.  Voters approved a bond referendum to pay for the facility in 2018.  East Providence superintendent Kathryn Crowley noted this was the first new high school built in the state since North Kingstown 26 years ago.

>>Xander Bogaerts Planning To Opt-Out, Re-Sign With Sox

(Boston, MA)  --  Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is reportedly planning to opt out of his contract at the conclusion of the 2022 season.  Sources say Bogaerts wants to re-up with the Red Sox and finish his career in Boston.  He is also willing to switch to second or third base.  The Sox are also planning to focus on a contract extension with Rafael Devers this offseason.

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Jim McCabe/Source Staff/jb        MA) RI) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-27-2021 01:48:08

$1.1 Billion for Rhode Island: What's your big idea? Inquiring Leaders want to know

$1.1 Billion for Rhode Island: What’s YOUR big idea? Inquiring leaders want to know.

 
October 26, 2021/RINewsToday

 

TONIGHT is the first public input session where attendees can ask questions and make suggestions on the spending of the recovery funds in Rhode Island (see bold for information)

 

The state of Rhode Island wants to know what you think the ARPA funds should be invested in. That’s $1.1Billion. To that end, there is a website where you can post your ideas. Know that they are able to be read by anyone going on the site.

 

There is a cover letter to complete with your contact information and this will then be what people see when they click on the dropdown tab.

 

In addition to the website, the Governor has announced that a series of events will be held in 5 communities, at this time, to gather public input in a group setting.

 

These events are:

 

Public input sessions to be held

 

Tuesday, October 26 at 6 PM at Harry Kizirian Elementary School, (60 Camden Ave., Providence).

 

Additional public input sessions will be held at 5 PM on the following dates:

 

Thursday, October 28, Hope & Main (691 Main Street, Warren)

 

Tuesday, November 2, Community College of Rhode Island (400 East Ave., Warwick)

 

Thursday, November 4, Innovate Newport (513 Broadway, Newport)

 

Tuesday, November 9, Untied Theatre (5 Canal Street, Westerly)

 

_____

 

American Rescue Plan Act State Fiscal Recovery Fund Recommendation Portal

 

To maximize transparency the General Assembly is committed to posting all ideas and proposals received regarding use of ARPA funds for public availability. This page will serve as a public, digital repository and is available for review by anyone interested. Please check back often for updates.


Such submissions should be emailed (pdf preferred) to: ARPAideaportal@rilegislature.gov

 

Each should be accompanied by this cover sheet for proper cataloging.
Please note, this is not an application for funding or for a public hearing.

 

To submit your document, and view others, go to:

 

https://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/Pages/ARPASFSFRP.aspx

 

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Southern Rhode Island is under a High Wind Warning.  A Rhode Islander is pleading guilty to charges filed in the Varsity Blues case.  Two more COVID deaths are being in Rhode Island.

[[ watch for updates ]]

>>High Wind Warning For Southern RI

(Undated)  --  A High Wind Warning is in effect for southern Rhode Island for a nor'easter currently impacting New England.  The warning is in effect from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon.  Forecasters are predicting northeast winds of 25-to-35 miles per hour with gusts up to 60.  The Ocean State is also expected to pick up two-to-four inches of rain.

>>Man Killed While Working On Cement Truck In Smithfield 

(Smithfield, RI)  --  Police say a Burrillville man was killed in an accident while performing maintenance on a cement truck in Smithfield last week.  It happened at Greenville Ready Mix on Cedar Swamp Road last Thursday morning.  Thirty-three-year-old Matthew Maynard apparently got caught in the cement truck's hopper and sustained a fatal injury.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

>>Woman Sentenced To ACI For Fatal DUI In East Greenwich

(Providence, RI)  --  A North Kingstown woman is being sentenced to seven years in state prison for a fatal drunk-driving crash.  The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office says Barbara Trojan was sentenced on Monday after pleading no contest earlier this year.   Prosecutors said Trojan hit another vehicle on Frenchtown Road in East Greenwich in September of 2019, resulting in the death of Patricia Daniels.

>>Providence Bar Closed Following Shooting 

(Providence, RI)  --  The Providence Board of Licenses is ordering a bar to remain closed after a shooting.  A man was reportedly shot at the Sports Tap on Harris Avenue over the weekend.  The business will stay closed until at least Wednesday.  The victim was reported in stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital.  Providence police are continuing to investigate the shooting.

>>Gordon Ernst Pleads Guilty In Varsity Blues Case

(Boston, MA)  --  Former Rhode Island high school star athlete and briefly the head women's tennis coach at the University of Rhode Island, Gordon Ernst, is pleading guilty as part of the Varsity Blues college admissions fraud case.  Ernst admits that he solicited and accepted bribes to help get students admitted to Georgetown University as fake tennis recruits when he was the coach there.  Ernst also pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges related to the bribes he received in Boston federal court on Monday.  He has agreed to a sentence of at least one year in prison and the forfeiture of more than three million dollars.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,874

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island officials are reporting two new coronavirus deaths over the weekend.  The updated pandemic death toll on Monday was two-thousand-874.  The state also reported yesterday that 90-percent of Rhode Islanders who are 18 and older are now at least partially-vaccinated against COVID.

>>Pats' Jonathan Jones Done For The Year

(Foxboro, MA)  --  New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones is undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.  The news on Monday came several days after Jones was placed on injured reserve.  He suffered the injury during New England's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

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Jim McCabe/Source Staff/kkl          RI) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-26-2021 02:34:12

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A coastal storm is expected to bring wind and rain to Rhode Island this week. The RI Department of Transportation is dropping a fight over a street project in Providence.  The Patriots beat the Jets in a blowout on Sunday.

[[ watch for updates ]]

>>Flash Flood And High Wind Watches For RI

(Undated)  --  Rhode Island is under a Flash Flood Watch and a High Wind Watch from the National Weather Service.  A potential slow-moving significant coastal storm is being tracked through Wednesday.  Forecasters say Rhode Island could see wind gusts of up to 55 miles per hour and a half-foot of rain.

>>Boat Crashes Into Jetty 

(Narragansett, RI)  --  Three people were reportedly injured when a boat crashed onto a jetty in Narragansett on Sunday night.  WPRI-TV reports a vessel wedged into the rocks at around 7:30 p.m. near Jerusalem.  The extent of the injuries was unknown.  The crash is being investigated.

>>Contract Extended To Keep Warwick School Buses Running This Week 

(Warwick, RI)  --  School bus service is expected to run in Warwick this week.  First Student says it reached an agreement on a one-week contract extension with the Warwick school bus driver union to allow for continued negotiations on a new deal.  A strike in the event of a failure to reach an agreement was authorized by union members last week.

>>RIDOT No-Longer Pursuing Stop To Road Work In Providence

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is dropping a fight over a street update project in Providence.  RIDOT heard from businesses earlier this month about the city's work on South Water Street, which included narrowing vehicle traffic to one lane and widening a bike path.  RIDOT agreed that the moves create traffic and safety issues, and warned the city that the work possibly violated an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration from 1999.  However, the F-H-A apparently does not want to get involved.

>>Rhode Islander Shaves Long Beard To Help Friend 

(Burrillville, RI)  --  A Rhode Island man who grew out his beard for over twenty years had it shaved for charity last week.  Ryan Lagace [[ LAG-uh-see ]] of Burrillville said he would shave the beard if an online fundraiser for a friend reached one-hundred-thousand dollars.  Troy Peck, who is from Newport, has a young daughter who is battling a rare form of leukemia.  The Peck family is working with a doctor in Seattle on a cure for the specific cancer mutation.

>>Patriots Dominate Jets

(Foxboro, MA)  --  The New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, 54-to-13.  Mac Jones had his first career three-hundred-yard passing game and notched two touchdown passes.  The Patriots improved to 3-and-4 on the season.  Next up is a Halloween road game versus the San Diego Chargers.

>>Red Sox Fall Short Of World Series Trip 

(Boston, MA)  --  The 2021 Boston Red Sox season has come to an end.  The Red Sox fell to the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series with the final game ending in a 5-to-0 loss on Friday.  The Astros will play the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

>>New York Yacht Club Drops Out Of America's Cup

(Undated)  --  The New York Yacht Club says it will not challenge for the America's Cup in 2023.  The New York City and Newport, Rhode Island-based club cited the continuing uncertainty about the venue, timing and rules.  The New York Yacht Club was first awarded the America's Cup trophy in 1851 and held it until 1983.  It competed in the 2021 America's Cup, which was won by Team New Zealand in March.

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Jim McCabe/jb         RI) NYC) WA)  
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-25-2021 01:40:04

BankNewport donates Halloween treat bags to MLK Center

BankNewport donates Halloween treat bags to Newport’s MLK Center’s “Food 2 Friends”

 

BankNewport Donates Halloween Treat Bags to Support Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center’s “Food 2 Friends” Program

 

Members of Bank’s Retail Team assembled and delivered more than 100 treat bags and handwritten notes of good wishes for homebound neighbors 

 

BankNewport, one of the country’s longest-standing community banks whose hallmark is its dedication to the communities it serves, has donated more than 100 Halloween treat bags to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport in support of its “Food 2 Friends” program: a monthly grocery delivery service for homebound neighbors and people who are otherwise unable to visit its onsite food pantry. 

 

Members of BankNewport’s Retail Team assembled the treat bags, which include Halloween candy and wrote notes of good wishes to accompany them; the bags were delivered to the MLK Center on October 4th by members of BankNewport’s Retail Team.

 

“With Halloween just a few short weeks away, our Retail Team wanted to do something ‘sweet’ for our neighbors,” said Amy Riccitelli, Senior Vice President, Director of Retail Sales, BankNewport. “We are proud to support the MLK Center’s ‘Food 2 Friends’ program and hope that our treat bags put a smile on the face of those who receive them this Halloween season.”

 

“We are grateful to BankNewport for continuing to partner with the MLK Center to lift up the lives of so many in our community time and time again. These cards and treat bags will bring hope and happiness to so many in Newport County who are homebound,” said Heather Hole Strout, Executive Director of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. 


About BankNewport:
Founded in 1819 and headquartered in Newport, BankNewport offers a full suite of loan and deposit products and services for families and businesses throughout Rhode Island.  With $2.0 billion in assets, BankNewport is one of the longest-standing community banks in the United States and, as a mutual organization, is committed to the financial success of its customers, employees and communities. BankNewport has 17 branch locations, with commercial lending offices in Cumberland and Providence. 

BankNewport business lines include OceanPoint Marine Lending, specializing in consumer marine and recreational vehicle financing programs, and OceanPoint Insurance, a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency, providing a broad range of property casualty insurance products, including employee benefits and marine related insurance products.

Bradley Hospital Virtual Conference

 
 

Bradley Hospital Virtual Conference open to public – Suicide Prevention & Response 

 
October 23, 2021/RINewsToday

 

Photo: Bradley Hospital

 

The Bradley Conference Fall 2021 series is grant-supported by the Rhode Island Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program and focuses on Suicide Prevention and Response.

 

Suicide: Prevention, Screening and Response Training for the General Public

 

Every 11 minutes, someone in the United States dies by suicide. Suicide is a preventable public health problem and prevention depends in large part on appropriate screening and response. Knowing a few simple questions to ask may save someone’s life. 

 

The clinicians at Bradley Hospital designed a training program specifically for individuals who do not have a background in mental health. This class is offered to anyone who may wish to learn more about suicide prevention. Educators, public safety personnel, family members, health care workers, faith leaders, transportation workers, food service employees, community members – anyone who interacts with children or adults will benefit.

 

Suicide: Prevention, Screening and Response Training for the General Public

 

 

Presenters: Scott Sylvester, LMHC, Kimberly Lafountain, LMHC, and Margaret Paccione-Dyszlewski, PhD

 

In accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols, all Fall 2021 sessions will be held virtually over ZOOM. Participants will receive course materials electronically.

 

There is no cost as the program has been grant-funded. 

 

For more information or to register, visit www.bradleyconference.org.

 

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Red Sox are on the brink of elimination after a Game 5 ALCS loss to Houston.  Two new COVID deaths reported in Rhode Island on Wednesday.  A homeless camp in Providence has again been ordered to leave.

>>Red Sox Lose To Astros In Game 5

(Boston, MA)  --  The Boston Red Sox are facing playoff elimination.  They lost 9-to-1 to the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on Wednesday evening.  Houston leads the best-of-seven series 3-to-2.  Game 6 is Friday night.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,869

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-869.  The state reported about two-hundred new virus cases yesterday.

>>Rhode Island Recreational Marijuana Legalization Update

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island legislative leaders are progressing towards an agreement on legalizing recreational marijuana, according to a report from WPRI-TV.  Lawmakers are still working out regulatory details for a proposed bill.  There is still a possibility that a special fall session could be held at the State House for a vote.

>>Man Sentenced For Fatal Attack In Fall River

(Fall River, MA)  --  A man has been sentenced to 15-years-to-life in prison for a fatal beating in Fall River.  The Herald News reports Scott Rodrigues of Somerset, Massachusetts was sentenced in Bristol County Superior Court on Tuesday on a second-degree murder conviction for the beating of Dennis Cousineau.  No motive was given for the incident in October of 2017, which also led to a lesser prison sentence for Rodrigues' girlfriend on an involuntary manslaughter charge.  Cousineau was reportedly found lying on the ground at the intersection of Bedford and Albion streets with severe injuries.  He died days after the assault at Rhode Island Hospital.

>>Providence Again Orders Homeless Camp To Clear Out

(Providence, RI)  --  The city of Providence is once-again ordering a homeless encampment to clear out.  The people living in an empty lot on Wilson Street are being given until November 1st to leave.  A previous eviction order was stayed earlier this year by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza until a housing solution was found.  On Wednesday, Elorza said the city is working with service providers to help the group.

>>School Bus Involved In Crash In South County

(South Kingstown, RI)  --  A car and school bus were involved in a crash in South Kingstown on Wednesday afternoon.  The crash happened on Route 1 south between Spartina Cove and McGrath's Corner.  No students were on-board the bus, and no injuries were reported.

###
Jim McCabe/jb          RI) C

opyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-21-2021 01:59:09

RI Veternans: Did you Know?

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RI Veterans: Did you know? 22 October 21 – John A. Cianci

October 21, 2021/John Cianci

by John A Cianci, Department Veterans Service Officer, 

                             Italian American War Veterans (ITAM)

Taking your questions

Q – Sadly I just lost my second leg to amputation, and I need a medical electric hospital bed for my home, and the VA told me they are back ordered (3-4 weeks). Is there another source I can get one, as a veteran? George, Vietnam Veteran Willimantic

A – Yes. Thanks to the power of social media, the Italian American War Veterans (ITAMVETS) post to Facebook, “911 Veteran Help Needed,” attracted offers from almost 20 sources for a hospital bed for George. Within 48 hours after George contacted ITAMVETS, members of the ITAMVETS picked up a brand new, never used, still in packaging, hospital bed. After pickup,  ITAMVETS delivered and setup the hospital for George.

In the responses from Facebook, ITAMVETS discovered a source for medical equipment not only for Veterans, but anyone in need of medical related devices:

Shrines Masonry

118 Long Street, Warwick RI

Friday 9am-12pm (first come, first serve)

Telephone Number :401-451-0184

VETTIP – Shrines Masonry program is first come, first serve. No paperwork. In addition, the Shrines Masonry also accept donations of medical supplies on Fridays.

The hospital bed for George did not come from Shrines Masonry; a team effort of former and current members of the Rhode Island National Guard who collaborated to acquire, deliver, and setup the bed for George. Moreover, George contacting ITAMVETS started with this RINEWSTODAY.com Veteran contributor giving his business card to a friend of George’s; she also reads the veteran column – like this one! – every Thursday. 

George wants to thank everyone who made this happen, which saved him hundreds of dollars renting one while awaiting a hospital bed from the VA. 

Emergency Medical Care -Information for Veterans

Did you know? A Veteran, during a medical emergency, should immediately seek care at the nearest medical facility, and will pay ZERO out of pocket if the facility is advised the patient is a Veteran and all billing should be sent to the VA.

According to the VA website, during a medical emergency, the veteran should immediately seek care at the nearest emergency department (ED). A medical emergency is an injury, illness, or symptom so severe that a delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be reasonably expected to be hazardous to life or health. If you believe your life or health is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.

Veterans do not need to check with VA before calling for an ambulance or going to an emergency department. During a medical emergency, VA encourages all Veterans to seek immediate medical attention without delay. It is, however, important to promptly notify VA within 72 hours of presenting to the emergency room.

72-Hour Notification, Phone: 844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842)

Veterans, their representatives, and in-network community providers should report instances of a Veteran presenting to a community emergency room to VA within 72 hours of the start of emergent care. Out-of-network providers are encouraged to notify VA as soon as possible.

Notifying VA in a timely fashion is important because it allows VA to assist the Veteran in coordinating necessary care or transfer and helps ensure that the administrative and clinical requirements for VA to pay for the care are met and may impact a Veteran’s eligibility for VA to cover the cost of emergency treatment.

Case-specific details are necessary for care coordination and eligibility determinations. Providers, Veterans, and representatives can utilize any one of the following options to report emergency services:

Online: Emergency Care Reporting

Phone: 844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842)

In-person: Appropriate VA official at the nearest VA medical facility

The person contacting VA should be prepared to supply the information shown in the table below.

IMPORTANT: An emergency department is a facility that is staffed and equipped to provide emergency treatment and does not include community facilities that only provide medical treatment in situations other than emergencies.

Eligibility

·      You must be enrolled in the VA health care system or have a qualifying exemption from enrollment.

·      A VA health care facility or other federal facility with the capability to provide the necessary emergency services must not be feasibly available* to provide the emergency treatment.

·      The medical situation is of such a nature that a prudent layperson would reasonably expect that a delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be hazardous to life or health.

·      The claim is timely filed.

NOTE: Emergency treatment is only covered until you can safely be transferred to a VA or other federal facility. If you refuse to be transferred to a VA or other federal facility after your emergency condition is stabilized, you may be liable for the cost of care beyond the point of stabilization. The single exception to this rule is if VA is contacted and unable to accept the transfer. If this happens, it is important that any attempt to transfer you be documented by the community emergency treatment facility.

Additional Requirements for Authorized Emergency Treatment (38 CFR 17.4020(c))

In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the following criteria must also be met:

·      In-Network Status: The treatment was provided at a community emergency facility that is in VA’s Community Care Network (CCN) or Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) network.

·       72-Hour Notification to VA: VA must be notified , Phone: 844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842) of the treatment within 72 hours of your arrival at the emergency treatment facility. If VA is not notified within that window, the treatment cannot be authorized under this section. 

Case-specific details are necessary for care coordination and eligibility determinations. Providers, Veterans, and representatives can utilize any one of the following options to report emergency services:

Online: Emergency Care Reporting

Phone: 844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842)

In-person: Appropriate VA official at the nearest VA medical facility

The person contacting VA should be prepared to supply the information shown in the table below. If the caller is unable to supply all information, VA will engage with the appropriate parties to attempt to collect the information.

Case-specific details for 72-hour notification
Veteran Information Treating Facility Information
Name National Provider Identifier (NPI)
Gender Name
Social Security Number Address
Date of Birth Point of Contact (POC) Name
Veteran Address POC Phone #
Date Presenting to Facility POC Fax #
Date of Discharge POC Email
Admitted? (Yes/No) NOTE: POC will receive VA authorization decision information
Chief Complaint/Admission DX and/or Discharge DX
Originating Location
(address where the emergency event occurred)
Mode of Arrival
Other Health Insurance

The primary purpose of notifying VA of a Veteran in need of emergency treatment presenting to a community provider is to ensure proper care coordination. Notifying VA also allows covered Veterans to have their emergent treatment authorized by VA under Title 38 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) §17.4020(c). The local VAMC will engage with community providers who report notification through the centralized notification process. However, if you have an urgent or emergent need to coordinate care and/or transfer a Veteran to a VAMC, please make immediate contact the nearest VAMC.

Besides calling, are there other ways to contact the VA?

Case-specific details are necessary for care coordination and eligibility determinations. Providers, Veterans, and representatives can utilize any one of the following options to report emergency services:

Online: Emergency Care Reporting

Phone: 844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842)

In-person: Appropriate VA official at the nearest VA medical facility

It is extremely important the veterans or his or her family for the rules of the VA to ensure the VA pays for the care. Additionally, if after the Veteran is discharged, follow the VA rules:

1.    Contact the aforementioned number.

2.    Document the mode of how you contacted the VA

3.    Do not ignore any bills that come in, other than the VA.

4.    After receipt of a bill, IMMEDIATELY contact the facility that treated you, and remind the facility you are a Veteran and want the VA to cover all costs.

VETTIP – Call ITAMVETS for more information on assisting a spouse of a Veteran to have the facility who treated reverse the charges submitted and paid by the VA.

Why? 

The veteran owes additional $30K in co-payments not covered by Medicare. If the charges are reversed, the VA will not pick up the balance.

In conclusion, follow the VA rules for emergency care:

1.    Go to the nearest facility.

2.    Immediately, when times allows, contact should be made by family by calling 844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842)

3.    Ask for the name , contact information who you are talking to.

4.    Ask for the control number from who is assisting from the community emergency facility

If you don’t meet the 72 hours notification, ITAMVETS recommends you still follow the above procedures. 

VETTIP – Document and save. Moreover, spend the time and Google VA NEXUS, this should help you understanding the VA process for filing and submitting a claim.

EVENTS/REUNIONS

 Oct. 23-24. Calling all Veterans and Active Duty Military! Smoltz Farms, North Andover  ?This coming weekend and next, October 23-24 and October 30-31, we welcome you to the farm for a FREE peck-sized bag of apples with a valid ID.? It’s a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy all that Fall in New England has to offer! ?This is just a small token to say THANK YOU for all that you have done and continue to do. North Andover’s Smolak Farms offers fun for everyone—blending a 300 year old New England Farm complete with orchards, berry fields, family activities and more. 315 S Bradford St North Andover, MA 01845 http://www.smolakfarms.com/

Nov. 7, Salute to Veterans, Assembly Theatre, Harrisville, doors open 430pm, show starts at 6pm. ComedyFactory RI John Perrotta’s, will be joined by comedians Prince of Mystery and Mike Murray for a fun filled night. Beer, wine, Rhode Island Saugy dogs, popcorn, and other refreshments will be sold at the event. Tickets are free for all Veterans and one guest. ComedyFactory RI  All patrons attending are asked to bring one or two canned goods, which will be donated to the local food pantry. Tickets can be obtained from: Eventbrite, https://www.eventbrite.com/organizations/events and or on Assembly Theatre ‘s website, https://www.assemblytheatre.org/events

Saturday, Nov 20. Comedy/Dinner show at the Officers Club, Newport RI. ComedyfactoryRI comedians will perform at the Veteran Fundraiser. Tickets are $50 per person, dinner at 5:00. Show starts at 6:00PM. Event is sponsored by the Italian American War Veterans and all Veterans residing at the Veterans Home the event will be free, to include a ticket for their guest. Sponsorships for a Veteran attending from the Veterans Home are encouraged for those who can’t attend, $50 (which covers the veteran and a guest). Tickets available on Eventbrite.
If you have an event, meeting, other pertinent Veteran information, or email questions or help needed, contact the Italian American War Veteran Service Officer, John A Cianci, itamri4vets@gmail.com, ITAM Office 1-(401)677-9VET(9838)  

Discounts

Restaurants

Applebees Applebee’s – Military Discount … With more than 2,000 locations, Applebee’s is a family grill restaurant. Applebee’s gives 10% off for active duty and veteran. Last verified 07/31/2028 

Denny’s, Hartford Save Johnston Offers 10% discount for veterans and active duty. Denny’s is a table service diner-style restaurant chain.  Last verified 07/31/2028 (PS I had breakfast there on Saturday).

Outback Steakhouse 10% Discount to active and veterans. Last verified 07/28/2021

99 Restaurant & Pub: The 99 Restaurant & Pub offers a 10% military discount to members of Veterans Advantage. Available at select locations only. Bring valid military ID

Retailers

Advance Auto Parts 10% for Active Duty, Veterans and families. Last verified 07/28/2021 

Bass Pro Shops: Bass Pro Shops offers a 5% discount to active duty military, reservists, and National Guard. Sign up and verify your status online or bring your military ID when you shop at your nearest Bass Pro store (source).

BJs Wholesale Reduced membership fee. J’s offers all military personnel over 25% off their Membership. Last verified 07/28/2021

Lowes. Enroll in the Lowe’s Military Discount Program to Activate Your 10% Discount – Our way of saying “Thank You” to our active duty, retired and military veterans and their spouses with a 10% discount on eligible items. 

Verification of your military status is fast and easy through our partner, ID.me.

ID.me is our trusted technology partner in helping to keep your personal information safe.

GameStop is offering a 10% in-store military discount on all pre-owned products, collectibles, and select new products. Available to current and former military members who bring any valid proof of service or when they verify through ID.me.

Home Depot Home Depot offers a 10% OFF military discount on regularly priced merchandise for in-store purchases for active duty, retired military, and reservists at participating locations. Customers are required to show a valid government-issued military ID card to redeem this offer.

Kohls 15% Kohl’s offers active military, veterans, retirees and their immediate family members a 15% discount on purchases made on Mondays, in store only. In order to receive the military discount, eligible customers must present proper identification along with any tender type.

Jiffy Lube. HONORING VETERANS ALL DAY EVERY DAY!

We didn’t want to wait for Veteran’s Day to express our appreciation and gratitude for your service. That’s why every Team Car Care owned and operated Jiffy Lube® service center is offering our BEST discount of 15% OFF as a “Thank You” to the men and women of our Armed Forces for their service to our country. *Disclaimer*- I.D. required. No coupon is required. Excludes batteries and brakes, alignment, and diagnostic services. Available only at select locations listed below:

Tioque Ave, Coventry RI

Bald Hill Road, Warwick RI

Park Ave, Cranston RI

Michaels Michaels Stores offers a 15% OFF military discount on the entire in-store purchase including sale items for active duty, retired military, guard, reservists, Veterans and family members. How to get – 

1.    Create an Account. Log in or create a Michaels Rewards account.

2.    Get Verified. Provide your military information to get verified instantly.

3.    Go Shopping! To use your discount online and in store, just sign into your account or provide your Michaels Rewards phone number at checkout.

O’Reilly Auto Parts 10% discount on in store items for Active Duty, Veterans and families. Last verified 3/4/21

If you are a retailer and or a veteran aware of a business not listed above, please forward, itamri4vets@gmail.com:  the business name, location, and military and Veteran discount offered.

If you have an event, meeting, other pertinent veteran information, or email questions or help needed, contact the Italian American War Veteran Service Officer, John A Cianci, itamri4vets@gmail.com, ITAM Office 1-(401)677-9VET(9838).  

_____

To read all columns in this series go to: https://rinewstoday.com/john-a-cianci/

_____

John A. Cianci is a Veteran Service Officer. Retired, U.S. Army MSgt., Persian Gulf War and Iraq War combat theater.

Cianci, a combat disabled Veteran, served in Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards include Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Good Conduct, and others.

Cianci belongs to numerous veterans organizations – Italian American War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, United Veterans Council of Rhode Island, and many more organizations. He is an active volunteer assisting veterans to navigate federal and state benefits they have earned. He is Department of Rhode Island Department Commander Italian American War Veterans and Veteran Service Officer.

He is a graduate of Roger Williams University (BS Finance), UCONN business school* (Entrepreneur Bootcamp For Veterans), Solar Energy International Residential, Commercial and Battery Based Photovoltaic Systems certificate programs, numerous certificates from the Department of Defense renewable energy programs, including graduate of the Solar Ready Vets Program.

Rhode Island Foundation offers "big ideas" for RIs 1.1 Billion

Rhode Island Foundation offers “big ideas” for RI’s $1.1 billion

October 20, 2021/RINewsToday

The RI Foundation announcement caps a six-month-long, rigorous research and public input process to identify “big ideas” with long-term benefits, especially for those impacted the most by the pandemic, to guide decision-making by state leaders

The Rhode Island Foundation today released recommendations for spending $1.1 billion in broad stimulus funding the state is receiving from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The announcement comes as the Foundation and its partners wrap up six months of research and public input into Make It Happen: Investing for Rhode Island’s Future, which studied and analyzed options for spending the federal COVID-19 recovery funding over the next three years.

“This huge infusion of federal funding offers leaders a once-in-a-lifetime chance to positively change the direction of the state and to focus on tackling pre-existing challenges exacerbated by COVID-19. The recommendations we’ve outlined via Make It Happen: Investing for Rhode Island’s Future have the potential to equitably address decades-long challenges, produce benefit for all Rhode Islanders and specifically assist those hardest hit by COVID-19.”- Neil D. Steinberg, Foundation president and CEO

The recommendations were developed with the support of the Economic Progress Institute (EPI), the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC), robust public input and a diverse 15-member steering committee following a set of guiding principles that focused on equity, sustainability, impact and process.

The findings will be shared with Gov. Dan McKee and the Rhode Island General Assembly to inform their decisions.

“I thank the Rhode Island Foundation and its partners for contributing these recommendations to the public dialogue,” said Governor Dan McKee. “As Rhode Island emerges from a once-in-a-century public health crisis, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a more resilient, prosperous, and equitable state for all. We will closely review the recommendations put forward by the Foundation and evaluate them in the context of the 2030 policy framework that our Administration recently released.”

“We thank Neil Steinberg and the Rhode Island Foundation for their leadership efforts and their collaboration with so many talented professionals to develop insightful suggestions on how to best invest these federal funds. The House and Senate Finance Committees will carefully review all of the proposals in a very public and transparent manner as we ensure our state makes the proper investments for a brighter future.”- Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio

The report recommends investing in six key areas: housing, behavioral health, workforce development, small business, neighborhood trusts and immediate relief.

The recommendations were developed in alignment with four guiding principles:

  1. Equity
    Recommended investments will address the root causes and conditions of systemic inequalities based on race, gender, disability, economic status, and other historically marginalized or oppressed communities which predated and were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. Sustainability
    Recommended investments will deliver enduring change and solutions that enhance the resilience of impacted communities.
  3. Impact
    Recommended investments will transform economic opportunities and quality of life, and build community assets for impacted communities for the short and long term.
  4. Process
    Recommended investments will reflect both broad input from impacted communities and public stakeholders, as well as solid data and research.

“The focused use of these funds over the allowed time frame has the potential to be life-changing for many Rhode Islanders. And, allocation of the funding is only the first step. Planning and implementation, capacity and oversight are critical to success,” said Steinberg.

The public input included approximately 400 ideas submitted by the public via email, stakeholder conversations with more than 140 people, five focus groups with Rhode Islanders from communities hardest hit by COVID and 11 nonprofit-led, community visioning sessions throughout the state.

“The work this widely diverse steering committee did together, respecting each other’s opinions and ideas, and coming to consensus was both impressive and important,” said Steinberg. “In addition, while there were some debates along the way, they really listened to each other and learned from each other, closely examining values and priorities and considering the needs/ideas of all our communities.”

Both EPI and RIPEC contributed policy analysis, and significant research and data collection efforts to Make it Happen, after contracting with the Foundation last spring to assist in this effort. RIPEC is a public policy research organization focused fiscally responsible government and competitive tax policies. EPI is a nonprofit research and policy organization that focuses on the impact of economic policies on low- and modest-income Rhode Islanders.

“RIPEC deeply appreciates the opportunity to work with the Economic Progress Institute and the Rhode Island Foundation, and with a distinguished and diverse group of steering committee members, in formulating recommendations for these once-in-a-generation federal funds,” said Michael DiBiase, RIPEC’s president and CEO. “The recommendations recognize the one-time nature of these funds in making bold, comprehensive investments in critical areas of need that will substantially improve the quality of life in our state.”

“This has been an invigorating process. We appreciated working with the Foundation and RIPEC and especially with the steering committee comprised of people with diverse backgrounds and passions,” said Linda Katz, EPI’s co-founder and policy director. “We are pleased that equity was centered in the committee’s work and recommendations. We hope this process sets an example for how we can work together to plan for and implement the investments and policies needed to ensure economic prosperity for all Rhode Islanders.”

The Make It Happen report does not examine or make recommendations for uses of other buckets of earmarked ARPA funding, such as the $542 million for local cities and towns, the $400 million for K-12 education, the $168 million for higher education and the $112 million capital project fund.

“There must be collaboration and coordination in use of the funds between cities and the state to achieve the best outcomes for their residents. Similarly, while each recommendation-area addresses an individual component of need, the areas are interrelated,” said Steinberg. “There should undoubtedly be opportunities to maximize and leverage these additional interrelated investments in coordination with our recommendations.”

The recommendations in the report are briefly outlined here:

HOUSING $405 million

The goals and recommendations address the decades-long acute shortage of housing in Rhode Island, especially for people with low-to-moderate incomes.

GOALS: Provide at least 5,150 units of affordable housing to Rhode Islanders by investing in affordable rental housing, permanent supportive housing, and homeownership opportunities; remediate lead paint for at least 2,850 units; and renovate and/or repair code violations for at least 4,000 homes.

RECOMMENDATION 1: Invest $200 million for affordable rental housing production and preservation.

RECOMMENDATION 2: Invest $50 million to build 500 units of permanent supportive housing and provide temporary housing for targeted populations.

RECOMMENDATION 3: Invest $50 million to expand first-time home buyer programs to increase home ownership opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) populations and/or in areas disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

RECOMMENDATION 4: Invest $100 million for healthy homes repairs, including the remediation of lead paint and assistance to low-income homeowners and qualifying landlords for renovations to substandard units for code compliance.

RECOMMENDATION 5: Invest $5 million to develop a strategic plan and to improve capacity and expedite processing of housing projects that are accessing ARPA funds.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH $255 million

The goals and recommendations address the well-documented, ongoing, epidemic among those battling mental health and substance abuse challenges.

GOALS: Decrease statewide emergency department visits by children and adults for acute behavioral health crises by 20 percent each; decrease the number of unintentional opioid overdoses and suicides by 15 percent each; increase the number of RI licensed outpatient mental health counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists to reach New England’s behavioral healthcare occupational median.

RECOMMENDATION 1: Invest $170 million to build new facilities and renovate and upgrade existing facilities to expand and improve services and treatments across the behavioral health continuum of care.

RECOMMENDATION 2: Invest $50 million in technology infrastructure, including electronic medical records and other non-facility infrastructure, including one-time investments in mobile response and stabilization services, and technology that could increase the availability and access to telemedicine.

RECOMMENDATION 3: Invest $30 million to increase provider capacity through a loan forgiveness program, as well as stipends/bonuses, to recruit and retain behavioral health professionals. The program should target BIPOC populations to build a culturally and linguistically diverse behavioral health workforce.

RECOMMENDATION 4: Invest $5 million to complete a strategic plan for a behavioral health system of care for adults and children.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT $205M

The goals and recommendations that follow aim to address the fact that businesses of all sizes in Rhode Island are facing worker shortages, while many residents remain unemployed or underemployed and encountering barriers to employment, such as lack of affordable childcare.

GOALS: Provide 15,000 Rhode Islanders with high-quality jobs through robust training, adult education, workforce skills services and the elimination of barriers to employment.

RECOMMENDATION 1: Invest $150 million in high-quality “earn and learn” job training programs that lead to a promotion, certificate, academic credential and/or higher salary.

RECOMMENDATION 2: Invest $30 million in high-quality and accessible adult education/foundational workforce skills including English language, literacy and digital skills.

RECOMMENDATION 3: Invest $15 million for one year to continue and expand the RI Reconnect initiative that provides assistance to individuals to mitigate barriers to participation in a job training or employment opportunity.

RECOMMENDATION 4: Invest $10 million in IT data structure improvements to the state’s longitudinal data system and support a plan for long-term sustainability of that system.

SMALL BUSINESS $100M

The goals and recommendations recognize that, as the backbone of Rhode Island’s economy, small businesses require significant additional support to sustain and grow their businesses.

GOALS: Provide significant financial assistance to at least 2,250 small businesses, targeted to minority-owned businesses, through forgivable loans, low-interest loans and grants.

RECOMMENDATION 1: Invest $50 million in Rhode Island small businesses and cooperatives through forgivable loans.

RECOMMENDATION 2: Invest $35 million to provide technical assistance to small businesses by awarding one-time grants for business services through a newly established business resource network.

RECOMMENDATION 3: Invest $10 million to create a new Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) or expand capacity of one or more existing CDFIs to provide financing for projects in distressed and underserved neighborhoods in Rhode Island.

RECOMMENDATION 4: Invest $5 million to establish a loan program for certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs).

NEIGHBORHOOD TRUSTS $50M

This recommendation suggests that investments, directed by residents in places whose populations and communities have been impacted most by the pandemic may prove to make a significant, innovative impact for those living in a Qualified Census Tract.

RECOMMENDATION: Invest $50 million for the creation of Neighborhood Trusts in Qualified Census Tracts.

IMMEDIATE RELIEF $50M

The recommendation recognizes that there is a continued short-term need to support those most impacted by COVID-19.

RECOMMENDATION: Invest $50 million in Rhode Island nonprofit organizations to provide immediate relief to residents suffering from behavioral health disorders; economic, food and housing insecurity; lack of affordable childcare and domestic violence, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

IMPLEMENTATION, CAPACITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, and OVERSIGHT

RECOMMENDATION: We recommend that an office be established within the Governor’s Office and reporting directly to the Governor with the authority to oversee the recommended spending of ARPA funds pursuant to clear goals, performance metrics, and transparency. The critical responsibilities of this office would include ensuring that funds are expeditiously used and oversight of expenditures. This office would need additional staffing for the expenditure period and would coordinate with legislative input and oversight.

READ THE FULL PLAN, HERE:

 
 

Rhode Island's Local News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Red Sox lose to the Astros in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.  Texas Congressman Ted Cruz is proposing to relocate illegal immigrants to new ports of entry in Rhode Island and other Democratic-led states.  RI reported six new COVID deaths on Tuesday.

>>Red Sox Lose To Astros, ACLS Knotted Up

(Boston, MA)  --  The American League Championship Series is tied at two.  The Houston Astros beat the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park Tuesday night, 9-to-2 to even the series up.  Jose Altuve hit a game-tying home run in the eighth inning and Michael Brantley broke the game open with a bases-clearing double for Houston in the ninth.  Game 5 is at Fenway Park Wednesday with a first pitch scheduled at 5:08 p.m.

>>Ted Cruz Proposes New Ports Of Entry In Blue States

(Washington, DC)  --  Senator Ted Cruz has proposed legislation to send immigrants who illegally cross the border in Texas to new ports of entry in Southern New England and other Democratic strongholds.  Speaking on FOX News Tuesday, Cruz said the "Stop the Surge Act" would establish 13 ports total in places where Democrats, quote, "host their elite cocktail parties".  The proposal includes Newport, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.  Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin called Cruz's legislation a bad-faith proposal that does nothing to fix America's broken immigration system.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,867

(Providence, RI)  --  The state of Rhode Island reported six new coronavirus deaths on Tuesday.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-867.  Nearly two-hundred new virus cases were reported yesterday.

[[ note nature ]]

>>RI Man Accused Of Illegal Recording In Wrentham Outlets Bathroom

(Wrentham, MA)  --  A Woonsocket man accused of violating an "upskirt" law in Massachusetts is facing charges.  The Wrentham Police Department says 23-year-old Jacob Guerrero went into the women's bathroom at the Wrentham Outlets on August 24th, dressed as a woman himself, and appeared to use a camera attached to a shoe he was wearing to record people in adjacent stalls.  The Wrentham PD says Guerrero is being charged with possession of child pornography after evidence was obtained including a dozen videos of unsuspecting minors.  Reports indicate Guerrero was a delivery driver for Amazon, but the company told WFXT Boston he is no-longer employed.

>>Police Release Image Of Suspect In Fall River Shooting

(Fall River, MA)  --  Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a convenience store owner in Fall River.  The Bristol County District Attorney's Office says a customer walked into the Stop N Save store on Rock Street at around 10:30 Monday night and found Lal Kishor Mahaseth with a gunshot wound.  The Fall River Police Department has released an image of the suspect and is asking for the public to help identify him.

>>Wage Theft Charges Filed For Work Done On Barrington School

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office is charging two owners of a Massachusetts-based asbestos remediation company with wage theft.  The charges stem from work performed during the construction of Barrington Middle School in 2019.  The A.G.'s office alleges Thomas McCoog and Amy Franklin, owners of Franklin Analytical Services in Marion, failed to pay prevailing overtime wages totaling at least twelve-thousand dollars to five former employees.

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Jim McCabe/jb         RI) MA) TX) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-20-2021 00:41:08

Rhode Island Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Another grand slam propels the Red Sox over the Astros in the ALCS.  The University of Rhode Island is investigating an alleged racist social media post from a student sent to an NFL player.  A Rhode Islander has been sentenced in a federal fentanyl-trafficking case.

>>Red Sox Beat Astros To Take ALCS Lead

(Boston, MA)  --  The Boston Red Sox have taken a two-games-to-one lead in the American League Championship Series over the Houston Astros following a 12-to-3 win at Fenway Park on Monday night.  Kyle Schwarber hit a grand slam home run for the Red Sox, making them the first MLB team to hit three grand slams in a single playoff series.  Game 4 is at Fenway tonight with a first pitch at 8:08 p.m.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,861

(Providence, RI)  --  The state of Rhode Island reported one new coronavirus death over the weekend.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-861.  More than six-hundred new virus cases were reported.

>>NFL Player Shares Alleged Hateful Post From URI Student, School Investigating

(Kingston, RI)  --  A student from the University of Rhode Island allegedly sent a racist social media post to an NFL player after a game this past weekend.  Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah posted a screenshot of the message on his Twitter account before eventually deleting it.  The university president says the matter has been referred to the student conduct process for review.

[[ note nature ]]

>>Subway Worker Fired After Videos Show Food Stunts

(Providence, RI)  --  A worker at Subway restaurant in Providence has been fired after a viral social media stunt.  According to WJAR-TV, Jumanne Clary worked at the Subway on Waterman Street.  He was seen in videos stepping on food in containers and arranging deli meats on a toilet seat.  Clary told the news station he accepts the consequences of his actions.  He said he was the store's closer and that none of the food was served to customers.  Channel 10 said the store owners notified the Providence Police Department, but it's unclear if authorities have taken any action.

>>Pawtucket Man Sentenced In Fentanyl-Trafficking case

(Fargo, ND)  --  A Rhode Island man has been sentenced to over three decades in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl-trafficking operation.  The Justice Department in North Dakota announced the sentence last week against 40-year-old Steven Pinto of Pawtucket after a jury conviction.  Federal prosecutors said Pinto was part of a Rhode Island organization that was receiving the drugs from Canada and China.

>>Fall River Police Notify Public About Missing Teen

(Fall River, MA)  --  The Fall River Police Department is looking for a missing teen girl.  Jazzlyn Champagne, age 15, did not return home from school on Friday and did not return to class on Monday, according to the police department.  She was reportedly last seen wearing an Argosy Collegiate Charter School shirt, jeans and sneakers.  Anyone who knows where Champagne is should call police.  

###
Jim McCabe/jb         RI) FL) 

Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-19-2021 01:03:13

Colin Powell dies at 84

Screen Shot 2021-10-18 at 8.24.21 AM
 

Updated: Colin Powell dies at 84 of COVID-19. His “13 Rules” to live by

October 18, 2021/RINewsToday

Word came early Monday that an icon among charismtic military, political officials, former Secretary of State Colin Powell died at the age of 84 of COVID-19 complications. He was at Walter Reed Hospital. His family said he was fully vaccinated.

UPDATE: Powell was suffering from a blood cancer, multiple myeloma and Parkinson’s Disease. It was also disclosed that Powell had had his two vaccinations, but not yet the third, booster.

Powell had had prostate cancer at 66 and opted for a radical prostatectomy, wanting to “take care of it all at once”, even though other surgical and treatment options were available. His approach to knowing that a prostate cancer diagnosis was most likely in his future expressed in this quote how he approached what he thought was his fate – “Read as much as you can, study the nature of the disease, share it with your family, put your faith in your doctor and have a positive attitude. Then you can set your sights on defeating the cancer.”

He was a 4-star General, born in New York, from Jamaican descent, and the first Black Secretary of State. Prior to become SOS, he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His detailed bio can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Powell

 

In Powell’s memoir, It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership , a collection of lessons learned and anecdotes drawn from his life, he wrote about life and relationships as being what truly matters in this life.

In the book, Powell wrote “13 Rules” and why he hung on to them over the years. Here they are with some of his thoughts on each:

  1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. This rule reflects an attitude and not a prediction. I have always tried to keep my confidence and optimism up, no matter how difficult the situation. Things will get better. You will make them better.
  2. Get mad, then get over it. I’ve worked hard over the years to make sure that when I get mad, I get over it quickly and never lose control of myself.
  3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. Accept that your position was faulty, not your ego. Loyalty is disagreeing strongly, and loyalty is executing faithfully.
  4. It can be done! Don’t surround yourself with instant skeptics. At the same time, don’t shut out skeptics and colleagues who give you solid counterviews.
  5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it. Don’t rush into things.
  6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. Superior leadership is often a matter of superb instinct. Often, the factual analysis alone will indicate the right choice. More often, your judgment will be needed to select from the best courses of action.
  7. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours. Since ultimate responsibility is yours, make sure the choice is yours and you are not responding to the pressure and desire of others.
  8. Check small things. Success ultimately rests on small things, lots of small things. Leaders have to have a feel for small things—a feel for what is going on in the depths of an organization where small things reside. The followers, the troops, live in a world of small things. Leaders must find ways, formal and informal, to get visibility into that world.
  9. Share credit. People need recognition and a sense of worth as much as they need food and water. Share the credit, take the blame, and quietly find out and fix things that went wrong. Whenever you place the cause of one of your actions outside yourself, it’s an excuse and not a reason.
  10. Remain calm. Be kind. In the “heat of the battle”—whether military or corporate—kindness, like calmness, reassures followers and holds their confidence. Kindness connects you with other human beings in a bond of mutual respect. If you care for your followers and show them kindness, they will recognize and care for you.
  11. Have a vision. Be demanding. Purpose is the destination of a vision. It energizes that vision, gives it force and drive. It should be positive and powerful and serve the better angels of an organization.
  12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Fear is a normal human emotion. It is not in itself a killer. We can learn to be aware when fear grips us and can train to operate through and in spite of our fear. If, on the other hand, we don’t understand that fear is normal and has to be controlled and overcome, it will paralyze us and stop us in our tracks. We will no longer think clearly or analyze rationally. We prepare for it and control it; we never let it control us. If it does, we cannot lead.
  13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Perpetual optimism, believing in yourself, believing in your purpose, believing you will prevail, and demonstrating passion and confidence is a force multiplier. If you believe and have prepared your followers, the followers will believe.

_____

In 2019, on his way to Water Reed, Gen. Powell had a flat tire and a veteran stopped to help him change it – here is his post on that day, 3 years ago…

 
Posted in 

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Patriots lose to the Cowboys in overtime, while the Red Sox look to take the lead in the American League Championship Series.  Another shooting has happened at one nightclub in Providence.  Rhode Islanders are being asked to weigh in on a guiding document for the state over the next decade.

>>Patriots Lose To Cowboys At Home In OT

(Foxboro, MA)  --  The New England Patriots lost to the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, 35-to-29 in overtime.  Mac Jones was 15-of-21 passing for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception which was returned for a score.  The loss puts New England at a record of 2-and-4.  They welcome in the New York Jets to Foxboro next Sunday afternoon.

>>ALCS Shifts To Boston For Game 3

(Boston, MA)  --  The Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series Monday night.  The Red Sox and Astros are tied at one in the best-of-seven series.  The Sox won Game 2 in Houston Saturday night by a 9-to-5 score and became the first team in Major League Baseball history to hit two grand slams in one postseason match.  The first pitch from Fenway Park tonight is at 8:08.

>>Shooting At Providence Club

(Providence, RI)  --  Three people were injured at a shooting in a nightclub in Providence early Sunday morning.  This is the second shooting that has happened this year at the Revel Lounge and Bistro on O'Connell Street.  There was a fatal one on August 28th.  WPRI-TV reports the Providence Board of Licenses has voted to temporarily shut down the lounge again following the latest shooting.  Police say the three victims are in stable hospital condition.

>>Taunton Boy Hurt After Being Hit By Vehicle

(Taunton, MA)  --  A twelve-year-old boy was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in Taunton, Massachusetts on Friday night.  Reports indicate the boy was taken to Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence.  According to an initial investigation by the Taunton Police Department, the boy was crossing Plain Street with a family member when he slipped and fell backward into the path of an oncoming vehicle.  No charges have been filed against the driver.

>>City Of Providence Workers Let Go For Vax Mandate Noncompliance

(Providence, RI)  --  A dozen part-time workers for the city of Providence were let go for non-compliance with a mandate to either get vaccinated against COVID or submit to regular testing.  That's according to a report from the Providence Business News, citing a spokesperson for Mayor Jorge Elorza's office.  The number of people let go represents less than one-percent of the city's workforce.  Elorza announced in August that workers would have until early October to comply with the requirement.

>>Public Input Sought For 'RI 2030' Plan

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is seeking public input for a guiding document for the state over the next decade.  McKee says the goal of RI 2030 is to address issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and also issues that existed before.  McKee's administration has contributed its initial thoughts on goals and objectives, which can be viewed online at RI2030.com.

>>RI Foundation Purchasing Narcan Kits For Organizations

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Foundation is purchasing thousands of Narcan opioid overdose prevention kits for community-based recovery and harm reduction organizations in the state.  Right now, the RI Foundation says naloxone supplies are seriously depleted and more people than ever are at risk for an opioid overdose.  The Rhode Island Department of Health says a record number of overdose deaths, 384, were counted last year.  

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Jim McCabe/jb           RI)
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-18-2021 00:34:07

In the Arena - with Mark Haywood

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In the Arena – with Mark Hayward, SBA

October 17, 2021/RINewsToday

Each week Joe Paolino, Jr. interviews people of interest on his program, “In The Arena”.  The show airs at 7am on Sundays on ABC6.

This week his guest is Mark Hayward of the Small Business Administration.

They talk about the help in Rhode Island for small businesses, the programs of the past, present and what may come in the future.

Here is “In The Arena” – remotely – for Oct. 17, 2021:

Flu Shots twice as important this year

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Flu shots twice as important this year – fast, easy, free

October 15, 2021/RINewsToday

Rhode Island Kicks Off Flu Vaccination Campaign

All Eligible Rhode Islanders Urged to Get Flu Shots

Governor Dan McKee kicked off Rhode Island’s annual flu vaccination campaign today by urging all eligible Rhode Islanders to get vaccinated to keep themselves and their loves ones as healthy and safe as possible this flu season.

Lieutenant Governor Matos was vaccinated at the event, which was held at Anthony’s Pharmacy in Providence. Governor McKee and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, were vaccinated earlier in the flu season. 

“I got my flu shot a few weeks back. It was quick, painless, and I didn’t have any side effects,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I encourage all Rhode Islanders to get their flu shot and their COVID-19 vaccine. Both shots are important to building a healthy, resilient Rhode Island.” 

People can get flu shots and COVID-19 shots during the same visit to a pharmacy or other site where both vaccines are available. 

“Getting your flu shot is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick during flu season,” said Lieutenant Governor Matos. “I get mine every year. With school-aged children and working in a public building, it’s important to me that I do everything I can to keep myself, my family, and my coworkers as healthy as can be. Flu season is approaching, so I hope you will get yours today – like me.”

Everyone six months of age and older should get a flu shot every year. Vaccination is especially important for certain people, including:

  • Pregnant women
  • People 65 and older
  • Younger children
  • People with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and asthma
  • Healthcare workers, and
  • People who live with or care for those at high risk of flu-related complications

There are hundreds of places throughout Rhode Island to get vaccinated, including pharmacies and the offices of many primary care providers. Additionally, school-located flu vaccination clinics are running throughout Rhode Island. These clinics are open to students and staff, and many of them function as community clinics as well. (For more information health.ri.gov/flu.)

“Flu shots are fast, easy, and free. You don’t need health insurance to get your flu shot, and they are available in every community in Rhode Island,” said Dr. Alexander-Scott. “The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones this flu season is to get your flu shot.” 

The flu results in hospitalizations and fatalities every year in Rhode Island. During the 2019-2020 flu season in Rhode Island, there were 950 hospitalizations due to the flu and 20 flu-associated deaths. (The 2020-2021 flu season was atypical in Rhode Island, given the community mitigation measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.)

Rhode Island has some of the highest flu vaccination rates in the nation. In the 2019-2020 flu season, 57% of Rhode Islanders age 18 or older got the flu shot, and 61% of Rhode Islanders six months or older got the flu shot.

This year’s flu vaccine protects against two influenza A strains (including the H1N1 strain) and two influenza B strains, based on what experts believe will be circulating. 

For adults age 65 or older, enhanced flu vaccines are available that help older adults get a higher immune response from their body and gives them better protection from the flu and flu-related illnesses.  

After getting a flu shot, a person might feel achy or have a low-grade fever. This is a sign that the person’s body is building an immune response to the flu virus. This response is much milder than the average case of the flu.

Other ways to stay healthy this flu season 

  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Flu virus is spread to other people when you cough or sneeze into your hands and then touch other things. 
  • Clean and sanitize places that are touched regularly, such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. 
  • Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. 
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way. 
  • Get plenty of sleep, exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food. 

Additional resources: 

(Evening school clinics are open to the entire community. Registration for school clinics is strongly encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.) 

  • Information about the flu in Spanish: http://health.ri.gov/gripe
  • People with additional questions can call RIDOH’s Health Information Line at 401-222-5960 / RI Relay 711. 

Many pharmacies are offering coupons when you get your flu shot, or some promotional item. No appointment is necessary at most pharmacies.

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Red Sox are set to play the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.  Rhode Island will roll out the coronavirus vaccine for children when the federal government gives the green light to do so.  A company must stop its asphalt operation in Providence after a decision this week from the city zoning board.

>>Red Sox Versus Astros ALCS Preview

(Houston, TX)  --  The Boston Red Sox open up the American League Championship Series tonight at the Houston Astros.  First pitch from Minute Maid Park is at 8:07 p.m. Eastern time.  The Red Sox have reached the World Series four times in the 21st century, and have won the championship each time.  The Astros moved from the National League in 2013 and won their first-and-only title in 2017.  Major League Baseball sanctioned Houston for stealing in-game strategy signs that year and in 2018.  Current Red Sox manager Alex Cora was previously with the Astros and was suspended for a full season for his alleged role in the cheating scandal.

>>Patriots Taking On Cowboys

(Foxboro, MA)  --  The New England Patriots host the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.  Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is at 4:25 p.m.  The 2-and-3 Pats are looking to get back to a 500 record.  The Cowboys are 4-and-1.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,860

(Providence, RI)  --  The state of Rhode Island reported three new coronavirus deaths on Thursday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-860.  The state reported about three-hundred new virus cases yesterday.

>>RI To Follow Federal Lead On Vaccinating Children Against COVID

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island is prepared to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-to-11 upon federal approval which is expected next month.  That was the indication from officials during a briefing on Thursday.  There are about 80-thousand Rhode Islanders within that age category.  Governor Dan McKee added at yesterday's briefing that the field hospital on Sockanossett Cross Road in Cranston is being decommissioned due to declining hospitalizations and high COVID vaccination rates.

>>School Buses Running In Warwick Today

(Warwick, RI)  --  The union representing school bus drivers in Warwick says students will get picked up and dropped off on Friday.  Parents were warned by the school district earlier this week that a failure to reach a new contract between transportation provider First Student and ATU Local 618 had created the possibility of a work stoppage.  However, a strike could be looming as union members have voted to authorize the action.

>>RI Man Found Dead In North Carolina

(Undated)  --  A Rhode Island man was reportedly found dead in North Carolina earlier this month.  The National Park Service says 33-year-old Josue Calderon, address unknown, was found dead on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the western part of the state last weekend.  The death is being investigated as a homicide by federal and North Carolina authorities.

>>Providence Zoning Board Denies Variance For Waterfront Asphalt Op

(Providence, RI)  --  The city of Providence zoning board has denied a zoning variance which would allow for continued use of the city waterfront for an asphalt operation.  The decision at a meeting on Wednesday went against Narragansett Improvement Company, which has been storing and processing asphalt on a waterfront parcel on Allens Avenue for several years.  The company's main site is down the street and its president argued they needed the secondary site to keep costs down.  But the zoning board said the area is designated for water-dependent industrial use or maritime activities only.

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Jim McCabe/jb      RI) NC) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-15-2021 00:34:11

Rhode Island News

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Police identify the victim of an armed robbery in Providence.  Several murals depicting children at a Providence school that was previously an all-white school have been removed.  The remains of a Rhode Island soldier who went MIA in the Korean War have returned to the U.S.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,857

(Providence, RI)  --  The state of Rhode Island reported one new coronavirus death on Wednesday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-857.  The number of new virus cases reported in Rhode Island yesterday was two-hundred-61.

>>Police ID Providence Laundromat Robbery Victim

(Providence, RI)  --  Police have identified the victim of a fatal armed robbery at a laundry facility in Providence.  Authorities say someone walked into the Laundromax at Broad and Fisk streets Tuesday night and demanded jewelry being worn by 38-year-old Melvin Reyes.  The suspect reportedly fired gunshots when Reyes fought back.  The incident remains under investigation.

>>Murals Removed Over Racial Concerns At Providence School

(Providence, RI)  --  Several murals at a Providence elementary school were removed over concerns about racist portrayals of children.  The Providence Journal reports the murals were painted over at Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School before classes resumed this fall.  Providence City Councilor David Salvatore told the newspaper he consulted with the city's art, culture and tourism department after hearing complaints from residents about the murals.  The building was previously known as Nelson Street School, an all-white school.  It's not clear when the murals were painted.

>>Remains Of Soldier Who Went MIA In Korean War Returned

(Johnston, RI)  --  A Johnston soldier who went missing in action in the Korean War has returned home.  WPRI-TV reports the remains of Army Lieutenant Anthony Mazzulla arrived on Tuesday, with funeral services planned for this upcoming weekend.  Mazzulla went missing in 1950.  He was positively identified after North Korea agreed to return the remains of numerous soldiers in 2018 following the summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

>>Work Stoppage Ordered For Large Greenhouse Project In Exeter

(Exeter, RI)  --  A cease-and-desist order has been issued for a massive greenhouse project in Exeter.  The Providence Journal reports the town's zoning inspector issued the order against Tim Schartner, who is building the one-million-square foot greenhouse on his family's farm off Route 2.  The apparent issue is that Schartner missed a deadline to make a presentation to the town on why he was exempt from a zoning review.  The plan is for the greenhouse to produce 42-thousand pounds of tomatoes daily.

>>Bald Eagle Rescued In Smithfield Has Been Put Down

(Saunderstown, RI)  --  A bald eagle that was rescued in Smithfield earlier this month has been euthanized.  The Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island says the adult eagle had severe head trauma and was completely blind.  Officials said they didn't get the outcome they hoped for, but that they would not have been able to release the bird or give it any quality of life in captivity.    

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Jim McCabe/jb         RI) BN) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-14-2021 02:06:14

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The CEO of Hasbro has died.  The Red Sox learn their opponent in the next playoff round.  A new hotel has opened in downtown Providence.

>>Hasbro Announces Death Of CEO Brian Goldner

(Pawtucket, RI)  --  Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner has died.  Goldner was 58 years old.  The company had just announced he was taking a medical leave of absence for prostate cancer treatment.  Goldner was the CEO of Hasbro dating back to 2008.  Interim CEO Rich Stoddart said Goldner was the heart and soul of the Pawtucket-based toymaking company.

>>Fatal Shooting At Providence Laundromat Started As Apparent Attempted Robbery

(Providence, RI)  --  A man was shot and killed in Providence on Tuesday night.  The Providence Police Department says the shooting at the Laundromax on Broad Street at around 8 p.m. was apparently a robbery gone wrong.  The suspect reportedly drew a gun on the victim, who was a man in his 30s, demanded jewelry he was wearing, and the two struggled before the gun fired.  This is homicide number 21 in the capital city this year.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,856

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths over the extended holiday weekend.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-856.  Nearly one-thousand new virus cases were reported.

>>Red Sox Will Face Astros In American League Championship Series

(Boston, MA)  --  The Boston Red Sox are playing the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.  The Astros punched their ticket to the 2021 ALCS after dispatching the Chicago White Sox, 3 games to 1 in the division Series.  The Red Sox and Astros won the World Series in 2017 and 2018, respectively.  They faced each other in the playoffs both of those years.

>>Opening Of New Downtown Providence Hotel Celebrated

(Providence, RI)  --  A new boutique hotel has opened in downtown Providence.  The Beatrice Hotel is located in the 1887 Exchange Building on Westminster Street.  It features 47 rooms and a New England branch of the popular Italian restaurant Bellini.  Former Providence mayor Joseph Paolino Jr., whose property management company developed the hotel, says the opening of the Beatrice marks a new chapter for the city's hospitality scene.

>>Portsmouth Councilor Ousted In Last Year's Election Has Returned

(Portsmouth, RI)  --  The Portsmouth Town Council is filling a vacant council seat with an ex-member.  EastBayRI.com reports the council voted 3-to-2 on Tuesday night to appoint Leonard Katzman to fill the unexpired term of Michael Buddemeyer, who resigned because he was moving out of the area.  Katzman was narrowly defeated in last year's election.

>>Gas Prices On The Rise In RI

(Undated)  --  Rhode Island gas prices have jumped up nearly a dime in the last week.  RIGasPrices.com reports the average price in the Ocean State is three-eighteen.  The national average is three-29.  Oil industry analysts are blaming increasing gas prices on the surging price of crude oil, which is now above 80-dollars a barrel. 

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Jim McCabe/Source Staff/jb         RI) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-13-2021 01:05:12

Friday Fishing Tips - Jeff Gross

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Friday Fishing Tips – Jeff Gross

October 8, 2021/Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, contributing writer

As Fall is here, starting next week, we will be generating a weekly Hunting article in the same format as the Friday fishing tips. I encourage all of you to write to us at news@RINewsToday.com about what questions you have and what topics you would like to see covered.

That said, the sun is setting on the fishing season. Many are securing their boats and gear for the season.  It is imperative to winterize one’s outboard motor.  With ethanol in the gasoline, it takes very little to gum up a carburetor or full injectors and cause the motor to run poorly next year. This writer has encountered that. 

One should start the motor with a water supply attached to the intake and run the motor while disconnecting the gas tank. Once the motor runs out of gas make sure the gas lines are empty and then drain any residual gas from the carburetor (newer carburetors have drain screws) and also empty the gas filter inside the motor.  Some boaters use fuel stabilizers in the fuel for over the winter, but this writer has not had good luck with that method.  Don’t forget to change the lower unit oil, as any water in the lower unit will cause the unit to crack.  It is also a good idea to do an oil change as well.

Another task to secure is eliminating any weeds or debris off your trailer or boat and associated gear.  This gear can be nets, anchors, ropes, or even trailers.  Milfoil seeds will survive the outdoors over the winter and can be spread the following spring.  Power washing the gear in your yard is an effective way to remove the noxious weeds if you haven’t already done so.

The RI DEM made a diligent effort to de-weed Carolina and breakheart ponds this year.  But like so many in America that are not interested in working, the de-weeding contractors failed to submit bids to do the job.  RI law requires a minimum of 3 bids to perform contract work for the state.  I can understand the frustration at the DEM as a contractor failed to get back to this author regarding an emergency job in the last 48 hours.  Even a phone call stating they were unable to assist would have been helpful. But alas, that is a chronic problem in the business world these days.

If we are fortunate to get rock solid ice this winter, you’ll see a few ice fishing reports here as well. It has been a pleasure writing for all of you and a learning experience as well. See you next spring.

Stay tuned…

_____

Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”. 

Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative and Legal Officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Whimsical.

He can be reached at: trainsbythe144@aol.com

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Red Sox lose their division series opener to Tampa Bay.  Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza says work will not stop on the road upgrade project on South Water Street.  Providence College is announcing new safety measures after several recent incidents.

>>Red Sox Lose To Rays In ALDS Game 1

(St. Petersburg, FL)  --  The Boston Red Sox lost 5-to-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series opener on Thursday night.  The series continues at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Friday night.  First pitch is at 7:02 p.m.

>>Patriots At Texans

(Houston, TX)  --  The New England Patriots are at the Houston Texans this Sunday.  Kickoff from NRG Stadium is at 1 p.m. Eastern time.  Both teams are 1-and-3 on the season.

>>Human Case Of West Nile Reported In Rhode Island

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Health has reported its first human case of West Nile virus in 2021.  The state says the patient was a Providence County resident in their 50s who reported regular trips between RI and Massachusetts.  The last human case of West Nile in Rhode Island was in 2018.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,852

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported four new coronavirus deaths on Thursday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-852.  The state reported over 200 new virus cases yesterday.

>>Man Sentenced For Fraudulent Request For Pandemic Loan Money

(Providence, RI)  --  A Massachusetts man who was the first person in the country to be charged with fraudulent solicitation of federal pandemic relief small business loans has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.  The Justice Department says David Adler Stavely of Andover admitted to conspiring with another man to get the loans for businesses they did not own, seeking over a half-million dollars.  The DOJ says Stavely faked his suicide death after his arrest and traveled to various states using false identities and stolen license plates before he was picked back up by the U.S. Marshals in July 2020.

>>Elorza Reacts To RIDOT Request Regarding South Water Street Project

(Providence, RI)  --  Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is dismissing a directive from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to stop a road upgrade project in a busy part of town.  RIDOT asked for the pause on the work on South Water Street over concerns whether it was compliant with an agreement on using federal reconstruction funds from 1999.  RIDOT made the request after local business owners directed their concerns to the state about the project, which has narrowed motor vehicle traffic to one lane while expanding a bicycle lane.  Elorza called the transportation department's cease-and-desist request, quote, "dubious at best."

[[ note nature ]]

>>Providence College Announces Additional Safety Measures

(Providence, RI)  --  Providence College is making safety changes after several recent incidents.  Two students were reportedly ambushed while walking back from a bar.  WJAR-TV reported late last month there was a peeping tom incident at an all-girls' dorm at PC.  Among the changes the college is making is the addition of a public safety officer patrol to residence halls.  A late-night shuttle service is also being made available for students who travel to the surrounding Providence neighborhood.

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Jim McCabe/djc           RI) MA)
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-08-2021 02:56:07

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Red Sox battle the Rays in the playoffs.  Three new COVID deaths reported in Rhode Island on Wednesday.  The state department of transportation is asking the city of Providence to pause a road construction project so it can be reviewed for compliance.

>>Red Sox Open Division Series At Rays

(St. Petersburg, FL)  --  The Boston Red Sox begin the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.  The first pitch from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg is at 8:07 p.m.  The Red Sox earned a spot in the ALDS by beating the Yankees in the Wild Card Game on Tuesday night.  Boston is bidding for its first World Series title since 2018.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,848

(Providence, RI)  --  The state of Rhode Island reported three new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-848.  Rhode Island reported about three-hundred new virus cases yesterday.

>>Two Victims In I-95 Crash In West Warwick ID'd

(West Warwick, RI)  --  We've learned the names of two of the three victims of a fiery car accident on I-95 in West Warwick.  One of them was 22-year-old Gianni Guerrieri of West Greenwich. Guerrieri made headlines in 2016 when he pulled a woman from a burning car that had crashed near his home.  WJAR-TV reports another victim was 21-year-old Alex Banner of Exeter.  Banner was a senior at the University of Rhode Island.  These ID's have come from family members, not police.

>>Rhode Island Gas Prices Tick Up Several Cents

(Undated)  --  The average Rhode Island gas price has increased.  GasBuddy reports the current average in the Ocean State is three dollars and nine cents.  That is up three cents from one week ago.  The national average is three-23.

>>RITBA Assigns Incoming State Troopers To Bridge Detail

(Jamestown, RI)  --  Motorists going over the four bridges operated by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will start seeing more radar guns next summer.  The Newport Daily News reports the RITBA board of directors voted on Wednesday to permanently assign two state troopers to the bridges next July, after they graduate from the police academy.  A recent study conducted by RITBA indicated drivers rarely go the speed limit on the Pell and Verrazzano Bridges.

>>State Reviewing South Water Street Project In Providence

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is directing the city of Providence to pause a construction project so it can be reviewed.  RIDOT says it was not notified about significant changes being made to South Water Street that are inconsistent with a maintenance agreement with the Federal Highway Administration from 1999.  The project includes reducing traffic from two lanes to one, and adding a bike lane.  Local business owners expressed concerns in a letter to the state transportation department last week, including that South Water Street is the only access road to I-195 from the city's Jewelry District and the East Side.

>>Little Caesars Wants To Open More Stores In Providence, Boston

(Undated)  --  Pizza chain Little Caesars is planning a major expansion in Southern New England.  The Detroit-based company is setting a goal of awarding over fifty franchises across Boston and Providence by 2026.  The number of stores currently listed in the area is 17.

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Jim McCabe/djc           RI) MA) MI)
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-07-2021 02:18:09

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Red Sox beat the Yankees in the 2021 American League Wild Card Game.  A winner comes out of a Democratic primary race for a state Senate seat in Providence.  Lane closures are being announced on the Pell-Newport Bridge as part of the transition to all-electronic tolling.

>>Red Sox Beat Yankees In American League Wild Card Game

(Boston, MA)  --  The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball's Wild Card Game Tuesday night.  The final from Fenway Park was 6-to-2.  Xander Bogaerts and Kyle Schwarber hit home runs for the Sox, who will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series.  Game 1 at Tampa Bay is Thursday night.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,845

(Providence, RI)  --  The state of Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths on Tuesday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-845.  The number of new virus cases reported in RI yesterday was 238.

>>Three People Killed In Fiery Crash On I-95

(West Warwick, RI)  --  Three people are dead after a violent one-car crash on I-95 in West Warwick overnight Tuesday.  The Rhode Island State Police says a car going over 100 miles per hour on a wet roadway crashed into a tree and caught fire on 95 south at around 2 a.m.  There were three occupants who were all in their 20s.  Their identifies are still being determined.

>>Sam Zurier Wins Democratic Primary For State Senate Seat

(Providence, RI)  --  A special election was held Tuesday in Providence for a vacant Rhode Island Senate seat.  Sam Zurier [[ ZIR-ee-ur ]] won over a field of four other Democrats in the race for the District 3 seat.  That district covers the East Side and Fox Point.  Zurier will face Republican candidate Alex Cannon in the November general election.  They are running to replace Gayle Goldin, who stepped down over the summer to take a post in the Biden administration.

>>Report: Promenade Apartments Sold

(Providence, RI)  --  The Promenade Apartments at the Foundry complex in Providence is being sold, according to a report from the Providence Business News.  The expected final price tag is 105-million dollars.  The buyer's mailing address was The DSF Group, a real-estate developer headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.  The two converted mill buildings across I-95 from Providence Place feature over 400 luxury apartments.

>>RIBTA Announces Closure Of Open-Road Tolling Lanes On Pell Bridge

(Jamestown, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority is announcing that the open-road tolling lanes on the Pell Bridge will mostly be closed from October 14th to the 28th.  This is being done to allow the agency to transition the bridge to all-electronic tolling.  The outer lanes in each direction will be open during rush hours: 7 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m.

###
Jim McCabe/djc           RI) MA)
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-06-2021 02:26:08

Getting the Lead Out of RI Drinking Water

Getting the lead out of drinking water in RI – Richard Asinof

 
October 5, 2021/Richard Asinof

 

by Richard Asinof, ConvergenceRI, contributing writer

 

Photo by Richard Asinof – State Rep. Rebecca Kislak addresses the rally at the State House urging the state to invest $500 million to replace all the lead water pipes in Rhode Island.

 

Community advocates urge the state to invest $500 million in eliminating all lead service lines in RI

 

The facts are not in dispute. There is no safe level of lead. Anything above zero in blood level levels is dangerous. Lead poisoning in children can cause permanent brain damage. Research studies of Providence school children have documented the long-term impacts in lowered testing scores, increased school suspensions, increased need for special education classes, and a marked tendency toward increased violence and incarceration as adults.

 

Lead service lines are a major source of lead contamination in drinking water in Rhode Island. For 14 of the last 15 years, the Providence Water’s service area has exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level for lead in water.


There are approximately 100,000 lead service lines remaining in Rhode Island, with an estimated 27,000 in Providence Water’s service area alone.


In 2020, 631 children, or 3.2 percent of all children tested statewide, had elevated blood lead levels, according to the R.I. Department of Health. The city of Providence was recently ranked second on a national priority watch list for lead in water

 

On Thursday, Sept. 30, a coalition of advocates, known as Lead-Free Water RI, organized by the Childhood Lead Action Project, staged a demonstration on the State House steps, calling on state leaders to invest some $500 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds as well as other federal stimulus funds to replace all the remaining lead service lines in Rhode Island, at no cost to homeowners, landlords, or renters.


The coalition said that it had received support from 40 state and local organizations, 25 political leaders and state legislators, and from more than 150 individuals for the coalition’s request to state leaders to invest in full, free lead service line replacement for all Rhode Islanders.

 

“It is outrageous that we’re still here in 2021 talking about lead in drinking water,” said Devra Levy, a community organizer with the Childhood Lead Action Project, the state’s leading advocacy group founded in 1992 that is dedicated to eliminating lead poisoning of children in Rhode Island.

 

Other speakers at the event included state Reps. David Morales and Rebecca Kislak. Morales called the initiative “a cost-efficient, one time investment” that would create a permanent solution, addressing decades of lead exposure. Kislak, in turn, said that it was time “to make sure that all of us in Rhode Island have access to safe and healthy water.”


Following the rally, ConvergenceRI spoke with Devra Levy, who said that the investment should be appealing to elected officials because it represented a one-time solution.

 

“We still want to see lead paint and lead in soil get addressed and we are advocating for that as well. But replacing lead pipes and lead service lines is even more straightforward. Lead service lines are by far the main contributors to lead contamination in water,” she said.

 

Among the long-term impacts that will be achieved by removing lead service lines are lowering the costs of special education, helping kids do better in school, and keeping more folks out of the criminal justice system, according to Levy.


Levy also raised the fact that lead is an environmental justice issue, with the burden falling disproportionately on people of color, on low-income people, and on renters. She pointed out that the U.S. Treasury has recommended that the federal ARPA funds be spent on replacing lead pipes as a priority.

 

“With children continuing to be harmed by lead exposure, it is critical that we reduce all possible exposures to protect our children,” said Dr. Patrick Vivier, a pediatrics specialist whose research work has focused on lead poisoning in children.

 

To read this article in its entirety, go 

to: http://newsletter.convergenceri.com/stories/getting-the-lead-out-of-drinking-water-in-ri,6810

 

 

To read more articles from ConvergenceRI, printed in RINewsToday, go to: https://rinewstoday.com/richard-asinof/

 

___

 
 
Richard Asinof

Richard Asinof is the founder and editor of ConvergenceRI, an online subscription newsletter offering news and analysis at the convergence of health, science, technology and innovation in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The archrival Red Sox and Yankees meet again in October.  Police release the name of a victim in a Providence shooting from over the weekend, and say an arrest has been made in connection to a fatal shooting from February.  A Rhode Islander who served as the music director for the TV show Sesame Street has died.

>>Red Sox And Yankees Face Off In Playoff Game

(Boston, MA)  --  The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, a historic baseball rivalry, will be a part of the Major League Baseball postseason for a fifth time Tuesday night.  The Red Sox host the Yankees at Fenway Park for the one-game American League Wild Card Playoff.  This is the fourth time the Yankees have played in the game since MLB expanded the playoff format to include two wild card teams, while Boston is in it for the first time.  First pitch from Fenway is set for 8:08 p.m.

>>Bucs-Pats Draws High Sunday Night Football Ratings

(Providence, RI)  --  Sunday night's game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots drew more viewers than any other Sunday night NFL game in nearly a decade.  NBC Sports says the Tom Brady homecoming game averaged about 28-and-a-half-million viewers on all of its platforms, making it the most watched Sunday Night Football game since 2012.  Providence, Boston, Hartford and Tampa were the top-four markets.  NBC said it was the highest viewing for a Sunday night game ever in Providence.

>>Victim, Suspect ID'd In Providence Shootings

(Providence, RI)  --  A man who was reportedly shot while sitting in a vehicle in Providence over the weekend has died.  The victim was 21-year-old Niberto Diaz of Providence.  The shooting that happened early Sunday morning on Glasgow Street is now the capital city's 20th homicide of the year.  In a separate case, a 17-year-old from Providence has been arrested in connection to a fatal shooting in February.  This one also involved a victim sitting in a car, 19-year-old Johnjairo Brito at his residence on Academy Avenue.  Authorities are seeking to charge the juvenile as an adult.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,843

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported five new coronavirus deaths over the weekend.  The updated pandemic death toll for the Ocean State on Monday was two-thousand-843.  Over 600 new virus cases were reported statewide.

>>Michael Renzi Of RI, Sesame Street Music Director, Has Died

(Newport, RI)  --  Rhode Islander Michael Renzi, who was the music director on Sesame Street for nearly a decade, has died.  Renzi, who was born in Providence, passed away on September 28th at Newport Hospital after a brief illness.  He was 80.  Renzi received 16 Emmy nominations and won seven awards for his work on the children's TV show and also the soap opera "All My Children."

>>Drying Out After Rains In Southern New England

(Undated)  --  Monday was a rainy day in Rhode Island.  The National Weather Service reported only Providence County got over the inch mark, with about one-and-a-quarter inches measured in Cumberland and Woonsocket.  More rain was falling overnight Tuesday, but forecasters expect dry weather in the Ocean State for the rest of the week.

###
Jim McCabe/djc           RI)
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-05-2021 02:18:02

Your Coronavirus Update - 10-04-21

Your Coronavirus Update – Oct. 4, 2021

 
October 4, 2021/RINewsToday

 

Photo: White flags mark the 700,000+ deaths from COVID-19, on display until today in Washington, D.C.

 

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

 

Lifespan & Care New England will stay with Friday deadline on vaccinations. Both hospital groups say they will be able to handle what they see as the small number of people who may select out.

 

3% of RI firefighters are not getting vaccinated so far – out of 1,500 that is approx. 45 who may be impacted by terminations.

 

On Friday 6 staff members have left Cherry Hill – 6  extended until end of Oct, and of those, 4 will get vaccinated.

 

RI hospitals, nursing facilities, and other healthcare agencies filing for a one month extension to comply with vaccination requirement and file their plan to do so – can be viewed here:

 
 

 

Uptick of cases at Smithfield High School – 24 new cases – ½ are from football team

 

In Vermont, over 30 state health dept officials have written the Governor out of concern that the state needs to do more as numbers infected rise. They are now recommending schools require masks, and he’s urging people to wear masks in crowded indoor locations. But he won’t reinstitute required mitigation measures that were in place during the state of emergency. “We can’t be in a perpetual state of emergency,” Scott said this week.

 

Connecticut has called up the National Guard to be prepared today to fill in for schools, other state offices, etc. if people do not show up for work because they are not vaccinated. – same with New York.

 

In Fall River, those between 12 and 24 are eligible for prizes when they get vaccinated – the first two winners got a brand-new Nintendo Switch. Other prizes to be given out include televisions, bikes and iPads. This is sponsored by the local United Way.

 

The MA Dept. of Transportation unvaccinated staff that they have until Oct. 8 to submit an exemption request or Oct. 17 to get vaccinated. Because of that rapidly approaching deadline, Tesler writes, those who haven’t already received the first dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines would need to get the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot.

 

A 36 year old man from Warwick died at RI Hospital after being removed from a ventilator. He wanted people to know that he hesitated to get the vaccine and wished he had gotten it.

 

The Rhode Island Political Cooperative on Thursday parted ways with a state Senate candidate from Newport, Jennifer Jackson, over social media posts supporting anti-vaccine protesters.

 

Friday afternoon there was a protest of several hundred people who lost their jobs and those who supported them regarding vaccination mandates.

 

The Superman building will be focusing on housing, not office space, per Stefan Pryor of CommerceRI.

 

RIDOH Notice – Important Reminder For All Licensed Healthcare Providers and Workers

 

This is an important reminder to all licensed healthcare providers and healthcare workers that you still have time to receive your COVID-19 vaccination prior to the October 1 deadline. The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine is only one dose and is available across the state with times and locations easily accessible. Please take a moment to visit VaccinateRI.org to find a time and place that will work for you prior to October 1. If you need help making an appointment, please call 844-930-1779 or call 211 and press option 9. Thank you for your continued efforts in our fight against COVID-19.

 

 

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

 

Dr. Fauci said Sunday that it is too early to say if “we can gather for the holidays this year” because we don’t know how the virus will act depending upon how vaccinated we are.

 

Prior to the Delta variant, herd immunity was estimated to take place at 70-75% vaccination or natural immunity. The variant is so much more contagious that estimates are now 85-90% or more would be needed to achieve herd immunity.

 

Stephen Kissler, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the US will not be able to ever obtain herd immunity now, after Delta.

 

The optimistic expectation is that the pandemic will die down, and the virus will become one of the world’s many endemic viruses that continue to circulate but cause much less and death. It’s predicted to become an infection that sweeps through the adult population in the winter, sickening some but generally delivering serious illness only to the very old, those with compromised immune systems and pregnant women who are unvaccinated, said Dr. Gregory Poland, editor-in-chief of the journal Vaccine. People will get an annual shot and a booster to deal with new variants.

 

The White House issued a plea to Americans to get vaccinated if they have not been. This, as death totals exceed 700,000 in the U.S., now 702,000 – 5 million deaths worldwide.

 

Former President Trump said, “I got the Pfizer and I would have been very happy with any of them. “I believe totally in your freedoms, I do, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, but I recommend that you take the vaccines,” Trump said. He also said he would be open to the booster shot, but has not received it yet. He did say he was opposed to mandates. Trump received the vaccine in January – he had COVID, as did his wife and son, in October of 2020. He went on to recover after receiving almost every possible treatment regimen. He also said, “I thought it (COVID) would be over by now.

 

$18 billion dollars was invested in Operation Warp Speed to develop and deliver multiple vaccine candidates from firms like Pfizer (PFE) Moderna (MRNA) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) although Pfizer developed its vaccine without any money from the U.S. government.

 

NBA player Jonathan Isaac said he was badly misrepresented by The Rolling Stone about how he came to his opinion on vaccinations and Isaac’s position that he does not need the shot because he has had COVID.

 

U.S. orders 1.4 million more doses of Regeneron

 

The new Merck drug, if approved, would be one pill a day for 5 days, if testing positive and caught early for COVID.

 

The hope is that the Merck drug will be cheap and widely used, as opposed to Remdesivir and Regeneron, both expensive treatments.

 

77.3% of American adults have gotten at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, according to the CDC.

 

700,000 people plus have now died of COVID in the US

 

Gainesville, FL has rescinded its city-employee vaccine mandate.

 

YouTube will ban anti-vax content, of any kind, according to their experts, about the vaccines. Google owns YouTube. There is no independent group determining the statements – it’s determined by Google. The comments about one’s personal experience would be allowed as long as it does not promote a pattern of anti-vaccines.

 

California is now the first state to say it will require students to get vaccinated for Covid-19 once the FDA gives full approval

 

Cheryl Burke and Cody Rigsby will compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ virtually – as they both recover from Covid

 

Health experts say the fourth wave of the pandemic has peaked overall in the U.S., particularly in the Deep South, where hospitals were stretched to the limit weeks ago.

 

Florida has opened 20 treatment clinics to treat with infusion Regeneron.

 

American, other airlines will require employee vaccinations

 

Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh is testing positive, though is asymptomatic.

 

A new advisory by CDC for pregnant women advises women to be vaccinated due to increased risks for mother and baby – presently only 30% of pregnant women are vaccinated.

 

A Michigan hospital has issued personal panic buttons to medical staff, because assaults have increased 3-fold since COVID-19 began. Pushing the button alerts hospital security and launches a tracking system that will send help.

 

In NY – as of Monday evening, 92% of employees at hospitals and nursing homes and 89% of adult-care facility staff had received at least one dose of the vaccine

 

Broadway production of Aladdin has been shuttered as a few cast members test positive

 

Harvard Business School with a 95% vaccination rate has an outbreak and will move to virtual.

 

Major hospitals and healthcare clinics in southwestern Idaho are seeing more premature babies born to COVID-19-positive mothers

 

YouTube booted popular anti-vaccine influencers from its site and deleted false claims that have been made about a range of immunizations.

 

In several states, almost all medical workers have been vaccinated.

 

A group of NYC teachers have asked an appeals court step in – to protect them from being fired if they are not vaccinated. The ruling did not uphold the request.

 

Product shortages are expected by Bed & Bath – Christmas Tree Growers Assoc – and even turkeys.

 

The largest health system in Louisiana will soon start charging employees $200 per month if their spouses or partners who have benefits through the health system are unvaccinated.

 

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Patriots come close, but Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prevailed in Foxboro on Sunday night.  The Boston Red Sox will host the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball's one-game wild card playoff.  The Providence City Council is considering firing the city clerk after the release of an independent investigation.

>>Patriots Lose To Tampa Bay In Tom Brady's Return

(Foxboro, MA)  --  The New England Patriots lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, 19-to-17.  A missed 56-yard field goal attempt by Nick Folk allowed the Bucs to escape Gillette Stadium with the win.  Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady set the record for all-time passing yards in the NFL.  Current Pats QB Mac Jones had two touchdown passes last night.  New England is now 1-and-3.  The Patriots are at the Houston Texans next week.

>>Girl Playing Quarterback For Pee Wee Team Given Pats Tickets

(Westerly, RI)  --  A girl who is a starting quarterback for a Pee Wee football team in Westerly was surprised with tickets to Sunday night's Patriots game.  The Westerly Sun reports ten-year-old Tessa Bliven received six tickets to the game as part of the Dunkin' Donuts Local Heroes program.  Bliven told WJAR-TV in an interview last month that she wants to make it to the NFL.

>>Red Sox Versus Bronx Bombers In Wild Card Game

(Boston, MA)  --  The Red Sox and the Yankees are playing each other in Tuesday's American League Wild Card Game.  Boston swept the Washington Nationals in DC this weekend, finishing with a 7-to-5 win on Sunday.  The winner of the AL Wild Card Game will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the division series.

>>Providence City Council Considering Firing Clerk

(Providence, RI)  --  The Providence City Council is holding a hearing this upcoming Thursday to consider the firing of the city clerk.  This comes after an independent report commissioned by the council which determined Shawn Selleck created a toxic work environment.  Selleck was briefly placed on administrative leave over the summer as a result of an internal investigation by the city.

>>Two Critically Injured In Providence Shooting

(Providence, RI)  --  Two men are in critical hospital condition after a shooting in Providence on Sunday morning.  Authorities say someone fired several shots at the 22-year-old and 29-year-old sitting in a vehicle on Glasgow Street in the Wanskuck neighborhood.  The victims were reportedly taken to Rhode Island Hospital.  No arrests have been made.

>>Cranston Bank Robbery Suspect Caught

(Cranston, RI)  --  A suspect in the robbery of two banks in Cranston was arrested on Friday.  The Cranston Police Department says its new license plate-reading surveillance tech led them to Edward Diamante of Woonsocket.  Diamante reportedly led police on a chase that ended with him crashing on Reservoir Road in Johnston.

###
Jim McCabe/jb          RI) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-04-2021 02:39:07

Rhode Island News Today

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Today's the day Rhode Island healthcare workers must get vaccinated against COVID, or they won't be able to do their jobs.  The New England Patriots host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football.  A historic Newport mansion has sold.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 2,838

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths on Thursday.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to two-thousand-838.  The number of new virus cases reported yesterday in Rhode Island was three-hundred-31.

>>Friday Deadline For Healthcare Workers To Get Vaccinated

(Providence, RI)  --  Friday is the deadline for Rhode Island healthcare workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or risk losing their jobs.  A federal judge on Thursday blocked a request from the state's healthcare workforce to block the vaccine mandate issued by Governor Dan McKee's administration because it does not allow for religious exemptions.  The mandate does grant exemptions for medical reasons.

[[ watch for updates ]]

>>Patriots Versus Buccaneers Sunday Night

(Foxboro, MA)  --  The most anticipated Patriots game since the departure of Tom Brady is the game in which he returns.  Brady, now the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will play the Pats at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night.  Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m.  Much has been made about the end of a 20-year marriage between Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, but both have only had praise for each other in public comments this week.  Former Pats star tight end Rob Gronkowski was reported as "likely to play" earlier this week, but Gronk missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

>>Red Sox Lose To Orioles, Close Out Regular Season Versus Nationals

(Washington, DC)  --  The Red Sox failed to help themselves in the playoff hunt by losing two of three to the lowly Baltimore Orioles.  The O's, a team that has lost 107 games this season, won Thursday night, 6-to-2 was the final from Camden Yards.  The Red Sox stay in the Mid-Atlantic and play three games at the Washington Nationals this weekend.  The Seattle Mariners have moved into a tie with Boston for the second American League Wild Card.  The Toronto Blue Jays are one game back.  Toronto plays Baltimore this weekend and Seattle plays the Angels.

>>Two Stabbed At Crossroads RI

(Providence, RI)  --  Two people were stabbed at the Crossroads Rhode Island housing complex in Providence on Thursday afternoon.  The victims went to Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  WJAR-TV reports there was an altercation beforehand.  An arrest was made in connection to the stabbing.

[[ watch for updates ]]

>>North Attleboro Police Cruiser Struck On 95, Injuries Reported

(North Attleboro, MA)  --  A North Attleboro police cruiser was struck while on construction detail on Interstate 95 Thursday night, according to the Massachusetts State Police.  The incident was reported at around 10 p.m. on I-95 south in Attleboro.  State police reported there were injuries, but no further details were immediately available.

>>Newport Mansion Sold

(Newport, RI)  --  A historic Newport estate has been sold.  Multiple media reports indicate the Miramar Mansion on Bellevue Avenue, situated on the Newport Cliff Walk, has sold for 27-million dollars.  The buyer's name wasn't available. The Miramar, built in 1915, is one of the "Gilded Age" mansions of Newport.  The initial residents were George Widener's family.  He was a Philadelphia businessman who died in the sinking of the Titanic.  

###
Jim McCabe/jb          RI) PHL)  PA) 
Copyright © 2021
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

10-01-2021 01:39:08

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