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1540 WADK.com Updates Archives for 2022-03

CDC, FDA, RI Health Dept: 4th vaccine (2nd booster) now...........

Screen Shot 2022-03-31 at 3.04.01 AM
 

CDC, FDA , RI Health Dept: 4th vaccine (2nd booster) now for those over 50, others

 
March 31, 2022/RINewsToday

 

In Rhode Island, getting the 4th shot was not yet available at most pharmacies, as their policy is waiting until the CDC issues their approval (following the FDA). Yesterday, that step happened and the RI Department of Health included information on their site. People should now be able to make their appointments at the various vaccine locations for their 4th shot – 2nd booster, following guidelines.

 

There is a link in Dr. Walensky’s quote you can follow to identify what medical conditions qualify you (see below) – if you are not in the category of ‘over 50’ and there has been sufficient time passed since your 3rd shot (1st booster).

 

From the RIDOH:

 

Federal health officials have authorized a second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine for some people. People age 50 or older may now receive a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) at least four months after their first booster dose. People age 12 or older who have moderately to severely compromised immune systems may also receive a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) at least four months after their first booster dose. People age 18 or older who got a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and booster dose may also get a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) at least four months after their first booster dose. If you have questions about whether a second booster dose is right for you, please talk to a healthcare provider.  

 

Thank you for your patience while we update our online systems.  To find a booster dose near you, please visit C19VaccineRI.org. To make an appointment over the phone, please call 2-1-1 and select option “9.” 

 

From the CDC:

 

Data continue to show the importance of vaccination and booster doses to protect individuals both from infection and severe outcomes of COVID-19. For adults and adolescents eligible for a first booster dose, these shots are safe and provide substantial benefit. During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21-times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and 7-times less likely to be hospitalized. CDC continues to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting an initial booster when eligible.

Following the FDA’s statement, CDC is updating its recommendations to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to be eligible for another mRNA booster to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19. Separately and in addition, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

These updated recommendations acknowledge the increased risk of severe disease in certain populations including those who are elderly or over the age of 50 with multiple underlying conditions, along with the currently available data on vaccine and booster effectiveness.

Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky:

“Today, CDC expanded eligibility for an additional booster dose for certain individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time. CDC, in collaboration with FDA and our public health partners, will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans.”

Photo: The White House

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A grand jury is not charging Providence police officers in an excessive force case.  The public's help is being sought in the investigation of fires that tore up two Rhode Island lawyer offices.  RI-based Ocean State Job Lot has collected plenty of supplies to support Ukraine.

>>Grand Jury Wont Charge Providence Officers Who Were Suspended

(Providence, RI)  --  A Providence County grand jury has declined to charge a Providence police officer who was reportedly seen on video spitting at a suspect.  Authorities arrested three teenagers who allegedly terrorized the city in a BMW with BB guns last July.  Officer Domingo Diaz had faced the possibility of a simple assault charge.  But neither he nor a second cop who was suspended, Mitchel Voyer, will face charges for roughing up the teens during the arrest.  Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare [[ parry ]] called the body-camera images they saw from the night of the incident appalling.  The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office notes two experts did not reach an agreement on whether excessive force was used.

>>Public Defender Who Represented Marathon, Shoe Bombers Retiring

(Boston, MA)  --  Wednesday is the last formal day of work for the longtime federal public defender covering the states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  The United States Courts for the First Circuit announced the pending departure of Miriam Conrad last summer.  Conrad represented several high-profile defendants, including Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev [[ joh-HAHR zar-NYE-ev ]] and Richard Reid, the man convicted of a plot to set off a bomb in his shoes on an airplane in 2001.

>>Investigators Ask Public For Assistance In Attorney Office Fires

(Undated)  --  The public is being asked to help investigations into fires at two Rhode Island law offices.  A fire last May on the 11th destroyed the Warwick office of Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, while another blaze torched the Conti Law Office in North Providence last July 20th.  Anyone who has images or videos from the nights of the fires should contact the Rhode Island Fire Marshal's Office.

>>UnitedHealthCare Fined For Denying Coverage

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner is fining UnitedHealthCare one-hundred-thousand dollars.  The Boston Globe reports the fine is due to United allegedly not following state law in making coverage decisions for treatments including drug rehab and detox.  UnitedHealthCare is not admitting wrongdoing, but the Globe reports the health insurer will have to submit a corrective action plan and address the 67 previous cases where the state determined the guidelines they used to deny coverage or reimbursement were faulty.  The time frame was between 2015 and 2018.

>>No Action From Barrington School Board On New Honors Plan

(Barrington, RI)  --  The Barrington School Committee did not take a vote Wednesday night on a proposed plan to bring back some level of high school honors program.  The school district angered students and parents by announcing that English and social studies honors classes will be dropped next school year.  Barrington High School principal Joseph Hurley said last night the proposal calls for quote-unquote "honors distinction" classes in the two subjects.

>>Ocean State Job Lot Collects Supplies For Ukraine

(North Kingstown, RI)  --  North Kingstown-based Ocean State Job Lot says it has collected six trailer loads of supplies to donate to Ukraine, according to MassLive.com.  The discount retailer is transporting the supplies overseas to Poland, where they will be distributed further on.  Ocean State Job Lot organized a relief effort across its nearly one-hundred-fifty stores in the Northeast.

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Jim McCabe/bs    MA) NH)
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03-31-2022 01:55:03

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The sale of National Grid Rhode Island is taking a big step forward.  We're learning new details about a murder in Providence.  A new chairman has been named for the council overseeing the public higher education system in the Ocean State.

>>Massachusetts A.G. Announces Settlement Affecting National Grid Sale

(Boston, MA)  --  The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is dropping its opposition to the sale of National Grid's Rhode Island division.  Under the terms of a settlement announced on Tuesday, National Grid is required to mitigate or absorb 29-million dollars in additional annual costs caused by the sale to PPL Corp.  The Mass A.G.'s office says the deal is meant to protect Bay State National Grid customers.  The agreement is only effective if the sale is closed, as it is still being challenged by the Rhode Island Attorney General.

[[ note nature ]]

>>Woman Shot Nearly Week Before Being Discovered In Providence Home

(Providence, RI)  --  Disturbing new details are emerging from a Providence homicide case.  According to court documents, Nathan Cooper shot his girlfriend Sherbert Maddox while she was taking a shower at their apartment on Parkis Avenue on March 16th.  That was almost a full week prior to police finding the body of Maddox in a refrigerator.  Both reportedly had smoked a marijuana cigarette laced with crack cocaine before the shooting.  Cooper is currently being held without bail.

>>Meeting Held On Topic Of Newport Cliff Walk

(Newport, RI)  --  The city of Newport might hire a geotechnical firm to study the portion of the Cliff Walk attraction which collapsed earlier this month.  WPRI-TV reports that information came out of a city commission meeting held on Tuesday.  Channel 12 reports it's estimated that it could take months before repairs start on the collapsed part of the Cliff Walk near the campus of Salve Regina University.

>>Series About Michelle Carter-Conrad Roy Case Airs On Streaming Service

(Undated)  --  A Hulu series about the so-called texting suicide case involving two teenagers from Southeast Massachusetts premiered on Tuesday.  "The Girl from Plainville" is a miniseries about the events leading to the 2014 death of Conrad Roy, who was from Mattapoisett, and Michelle Carter, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for coercing Roy to kill himself through mobile phone communications.  The character of Carter is played by Elle Fanning, while Roy is portrayed by Colton Ryan.

>>Large Fire Drill At Electric Boat Facility In Connecticut

(Groton, CT)  --  Electric Boat is conducting a major fire response exercise at its Groton, Connecticut campus on Thursday.  The drill is taking place at the shipyard during the morning hours.  Over twenty fire departments will be involved, and the company notes there may be the appearance of an actual emergency situation.

>>New Chair Of RI Postsecondary Ed Council

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is announcing a new chair of the state Council on Postsecondary Education.  Dennis Duffy will take over the position from Tim DelGiudice [[ del-JOO-diss ]], who had held the role since 2014.  The Boston Globe reported DelGiudice informed McKee earlier this year he planned to step away citing increased obligations to his job at Raytheon.  The governor's office says Duffy's day job is VP for Boston-based Energy Management Inc. and he has several decades of experience as a corporate and regulatory attorney.

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Jim McCabe/jb  MA) 
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-30-2022 01:15:12

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A Pawtucket man is sentenced to life behind bars for a killing in New Bedford.  A bill in the Rhode Island legislature would define a new area for public shoreline access.  The state is conducting a prescribed burn today on an island in Narragansett Bay.

>>Rhode Island Man Sentenced For 2014 Killing In MA

(New Bedford, MA)  --  A Pawtucket man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for a homicide in New Bedford.  Sayyid Coggins was convicted of first-degree murder for the brutal beating death of Justin Downey in 2014.  The Bristol County District Attorney's Office says Coggins and Downey apparently had a falling-out over a failed drug operation, leading to the fatal assault at Downey's residence.  Coggins was also convicted of arson for setting Downey's house on fire after the killing.

>>Pleas Entered In High-Profile Federal Gun Case

(Providence, RI)  --  A Burrillville man who was arrested for allegedly having over-two-hundred guns illegally on his property in February entered not-guilty pleas to federal felony charges on Monday.  Ronald Andruchuk was indicted for illegally possessing guns as a drug user, making a false statement to purchase guns and making a false statement to a federally-licensed firearm dealer.  Andruchuk remains at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls.  He is not due for another court appearance until July.

>>Proposed Bill Would Establish New Boundary For Public Shore Access

(Providence, RI)  --  A bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly which addresses the constitutional issue of shoreline access.  The Providence Journal reports House Bill 8055 would establish that the public has the right to be ten feet above the recognizable high-tide line on any sandy or rocky shoreline.  The bipartisan legislation is from Representatives Terri Cortvriend of Middletown and Blake Filippi of Block Island, who chaired a study commission on the issue.  A decision from the Rhode Island Supreme Court in 1982 determined the public access point was the mean high water line, but the bill claims it's impossible for people to know where that is.  The bill will be the subject of a future hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,521

(Providence, RI)  --  An upwards revision has been made to the Rhode Island coronavirus pandemic death toll.  The state health department on Monday indicated there were 83 new virus deaths counted.  The COVID death toll in the Ocean State is now three-thousand-521.  The number of virus patients in Rhode Island hospitals as of yesterday was fifty-one.

>>Prescribed Burn Happening Today On Dutch Island

(Jamestown, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is conducting a prescribed fire on Dutch Island between Jamestown and North Kingstown on Tuesday, weather-permitting.  Some smoke may be visible from the Jamestown Bridge and surrounding areas.  The DEM says the controlled burn will ensure the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat.

>>New Affordable Housing In Providence

(Providence, RI)  --  A ribbon-cutting was held on Monday for new affordable housing in Providence.  The nonprofit group ONE Neighborhood Builders was responsible for a new building on Bowdoin Street and a rehabbed property on Delaine Street in the city's Olneyville section.  The Bowdoin Street apartment is at the site of a deadly house fire in 2018.  The apartments combined include seventeen units.  The project benefited from about four-million dollars in federal funding.  Senator Jack Reed attended yesterday's celebration.

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Jim McCabe/jb
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-29-2022 01:40:09

Women and Burnout

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Women and Burnout – Mary T. O’Sullivan, MSOL

 
March 28, 2022/Mary OSullivan

 

By Mary T. O’Sullivan, MSOL

 

The problem is not that women don’t try. On the contrary, we’re trying all the time to do and be all the things everyone else demands from us.” – Emily Nagoski

 

In January 2022, McKinsey and Company published the findings of two researchers, studying working women during the pandemic. Over 65,000 people were studied. The study revealed an interesting point. As compared to men, women’s feelings of burnout had doubled since 2021. In fact, among the women surveyed, 42% felt burned out. Everyone else was just hanging on. However, their employers experienced no loss of productivity or revenue in this same time frame, although many women paid the price mentally and physically balancing work and their home lives.

 

            Another key finding was that women leaders stepped up and supported their colleagues more often than men leaders did, which means that women leaders were doing more in the workplace as well as their responsibilities at home, increasing the likelihood of being burned out. These feelings of burnout and overwhelm are obviously what’s behind our current Great Resignation.

 

            So how do companies avoid the specter of talent drain before it becomes a huge crisis? Rather than simply waiting it out and taking no action, the researchers suggest that taking a proactive approach makes the most sense. Since they found that 60% of women did an additional five hours of work each day (the equivalent of a part time job), employers are learning that some form of help is in order to keep their diversity, equity and inclusiveness balanced in the workplace.

 

            Supplemental support for childcare and elder care were found to be most beneficial and many companies recognized the need for this change. And since women are responsible for establishing a more enlightened employee experience with their backing and support, more progressive companies are rewarding women for supporting the well-being and mental health of their direct reports. The study showed that when women leaders stepped up and helped manage people’s workloads or simply stopped by to check up on people, burnout and resignations decreased. However, the number of participating companies is small. Only 25% of companies follow that pattern today. However, the study showed that those companies were ahead with diversity, equity and inclusion.

 

            After working from home for almost two years, it’s harder for companies to insist that workers return to the office. Companies that instituted flexible work hours are now most likely to maintain their workforce. Working flex hours is one way women have learned to reduce burnout. Other company initiatives such as instituting “norms” or “guardrails” around working hours also support mental health. Flex time does not mean work is 24/7. That round the clock mentality is a surefire path to burnout. People need to turn off phones and laptops after 6:00PM. Extracting oneself from electronic devices is a learned skill. If you look at your loved ones around the dinner table, they’re not expecting to see your head buried in your phone.

            In order for these anti-burnout remedies to work, managers must be trained and rewarded. The study showed that first line supervisors and managers were key in influencing how burned out their people felt. And, the researchers state, to make sure employees’ well-being is part of a manager’s job, it needs to be part of performance reviews. The study noted that women managers are far more likely to take this action than men, and it often goes unnoticed and unrewarded.

Maybe measuring the well-being of employees will do more than reduce burnout and quitting. Maybe it will bring us to the end of the command-and-control era.

“The current male-dominated model of success – which equates success with burnout, sleep deprivation, and driving yourself into the ground – isn’t working for women, and it’s not working for men, either.” – Ariana Huffington

Connect with Mary:

https://www.facebook.com/DaringBook

mary@encoreexecutivecoaching.com

https://www.visionaryleaderbook.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marytosullivan/

Read all Mary’s columns here: https://rinewstoday.com/mary-t-osullivan-msol-pcc-shrm-scp/

Mary T. O’Sullivan, Master of Science, Organizational Leadership, International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach, Society of Human Resource Management, “Senior Certified Professional. Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Career Coaching, University of Texas at Dallas.

Member, Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Honor Society.

Advanced Studies in Education from Montclair University, SUNY Oswego and Syracuse University.

Mary is also a certified Six Sigma Specialist, Contract Specialist, IPT Leader and holds a Certificate in Essentials of Human Resource Management from SHRM.

 

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The season has ended for the Providence College men's basketball team.  Officials say it's OK to go back into the Blackstone River.  A Rhode Island congressional candidate is arrested in Ohio.

>>Providence College Men's Basketball Eliminated In Sweet 16

(Providence, RI)  --  The Providence College men's basketball team was bounced from the NCAA Tournament on Friday.  The fourth-seeded Friars lost to the number-one seed in the Midwest Regional, the University of Kansas, 66-to-61.  PC reached the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in program history after the team won its first-ever Big East Conference regular-season championship.

>>RI DEM Gives Update On Blackstone River 

(Woonsocket, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has lifted an advisory for the Blackstone River between Woonsocket and Pawtucket.  Last week, the DEM asked people to refrain from recreational activities in the river after learning about a discharge of partially-treated wastewater from the Woonsocket Regional Wastewater Treatment facility.  The state says bacteria levels in the Blackstone have returned to normal, and that the facility's treatment process has been stabilized.  The discharge incident is being investigated.

>>State Police Advertises Special Victims Unit Interview Room, Comfort Dog

(Scituate, RI)  --  The Rhode Island State Police is developing its new Special Victims Unit.  The SVU was started last year.  On Friday, the state police held an open house for a quote-unquote "soft interview room" to make people more comfortable talking with detectives.  The RISP has also added a comfort dog to the new unit, a goldendoodle puppy named Gus.

>>Rhode Island Congressional Candidate Arrested In Ohio

(Undated)  --  A candidate for Congress in Rhode Island is facing charges out-of-state.  Michael Neary, a Democrat running for Jim Langevin's seat, was arrested in Ohio last week after a driver reported being followed from Columbus for about 60 miles.  Neary, who previously worked as an aide for Ohio governor John Kasich [[ KAY-sick  ]], was charged with menacing by stalking and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

>>MBTA Makes FlexPass Permanent Commuter Rail Option

(Providence, RI)  --  The MBTA is making permanent a commuter rail fare option that was introduced as a way to give more flexibility to riders whose work schedules were changed by the pandemic.  The FlexPass allows for unlimited travel within a 24-hour period.  It's valid for any five days within a month of being activated.  The pass is offered at a discount rate compared to the cost of ten one-way trip tickets.

>>Gillette Stadium Replacing Lighthouse

(Foxboro, MA)  --  Gillette Stadium is undergoing its first major renovations since opening up twenty years ago.  The iconic lighthouse at the stadium's entrance was demolished last week.  A replacement lighthouse is being built.  It will be over two-hundred feet tall with an observation deck.  The structure is expected to be ready in time for the 2023 New England Patriots' season.

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Jim McCabe/jb  OH)
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-28-2022 01:24:13

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A teenager is facing charges for a stabbing in downtown Providence.  A medical marijuana dispensary permit is denied in Woonsocket.  The city of Newport is announcing new rules governing short-term rentals.

>>Arrest Made For Providence Stabbing

(Providence, RI)  --  An arrest has been made in connection to a stabbing in Providence on Wednesday night.  The Providence Police Department says a 19-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries from the stabbing in Waterplace Park.  The victim was listed in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.  The Providence Journal reports a 15-year-old boy was picked up for felony assault.

>>RI DCYF Says Abuse A Factor In Child's Death

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families has ruled that abuse was a contributing factor in the death of a child last year.  The case involves a five-year-old boy who died in West Warwick in September.  The DCYF reportedly did not have any previous involvement with the family.  No names have been released.

[[  note nature  ]]

>>School Custodian Faces Charges

(Cranston, RI)  --  A custodian at a school in Cranston is facing child pornography charges.  The Rhode Island State Police says 34-year-old Michael Macari is accused of possessing and distributing materials.  The state police said they found no evidence that Macari had any inappropriate contact with students at Western Hills Middle School.  He worked in the Cranston School District for about five years and has been placed on leave.

>>Gas Tax Cut In Connecticut

(Hartford, CT)  --  A 25-cent cut in the state gasoline tax has been approved in Connecticut.  The gas tax holiday will last until June 30th.  Triple-A reported the average gas price in Connecticut as of Thursday was four dollars and 32 cents.  Rhode Island's current average is about a dime less.

>>Proposed New Medical Marijuana Centers In Rhode Island Encountering Problems

(Undated)  --   Rhode Island's medical marijuana industry is struggling through an expansion effort.  Lawmakers three years ago approved six new dispensaries and a lottery was held.  But WPRI-TV reports one of the compassion centers has been denied a special use permit to open in Woonsocket.  The city's zoning board last week rejected a proposal to open a center in a strip mall on Diamond Hill Road.  Two other lottery winners, which are in South Kingstown and Cranston, have also not yet gotten their required zoning approvals, with a deadline approaching in July.  A disqualified applicant is still appealing the handing-out of one of the other licenses.

>>Newport Restricting Short-Term Rentals

(Newport, RI)  --  The city of Newport is restricting where short-term rental homes can be located.  Property owners in residential zones are no-longer permitted to rent out their houses for less than thirty days unless the home serves as a primary residence.  Up to two rooms can be rented to a maximum of four guests.  Short-term rentals are also being prohibited in Newport's Limited Business Zone unless a special use permit is granted by the Zoning Board of Review.  The city is requiring owners to register their rental homes as a transient guest facility.

>>Whitehouse Presses Alabama A.G. On Legitimacy Of Biden Holding Office

(Washington, DC)  --  Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall declined to confirm a question from Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse during Thursday's Supreme Court nominee hearing about the legitimacy of Joe Biden's presidency.  Whitehouse repeatedly asked Marshall if Biden is the duly-elected and lawfully-serving president of the United States.  Marshall only responded by saying, quote, "He is the president of this country".  Whitehouse was participating in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson.  Marshall was in Washington to testify in opposition.  Whitehouse later tweeted, "If you cannot accept the results of a free and fair democratic election, you have no grounds to criticize or evaluate a Supreme Court nominee."

>>Friars Versus Jayhawks Tonight

(Providence, RI)  --  The Providence College men's basketball team plays in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night.  Fourth-seeded PC takes on number-one seed Kansas at the United Center in Chicago.  Tipoff is at 7:29 p.m. Eastern Time.  The Friars are bidding for their third-ever appearance in the tournament Final Four.

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Jim McCabe/jb AL)
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-25-2022 01:32:13

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: There is a new chief of police in Westerly.  A man has agreed to plead guilty to a new charge in connection to the 2020 Providence riots.  A Cranston native plays in his first game with the Boston Red Sox.

>>No New COVID Deaths Reported Yesterday In Rhode Island

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported zero new coronavirus deaths on Tuesday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State is three-thousand-431.  The state reported one-hundred-40 new virus cases yesterday and 64 COVID hospital patients.

>>New Police Chief Named In Westerly

(Westerly, RI)  --  The town of Westerly has a new police chief.  Paul Gingerella [[ JIN-jer-ELL-uh  ]] was promoted from the rank of lieutenant.  Former police chief Shawn Lacey became the Westerly town manager last month.

>>Catalytic Converter Thieves Target North Kingstown School Department Vehicles

(North Kingstown, RI)  --  Channel 10 reports catalytic converters were stolen from two North Kingstown school buses last week.  Several maintenance vehicles for the school district were also hit.  The North Kingstown Police Department is investigating.

>>Man Pleading To New Charge In Providence Police Car Fire Case

(Providence, RI)  --  A man accused of helping to set a Providence police cruiser on fire during the June 2020 riot is pleading guilty to a lesser federal charge.  The Providence Journal reports Nicholas Scaglione of Cranston agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit arson last week, a downgrade from a charge of attempted malicious destruction of a vehicle by fire, which carried a minimum sentence of five years.  That is now the maximum amount of time Scaglione faces at a future sentencing.

>>Ed Pacheco Drops Out Of RI-2 Congressional Race

(Undated)  --  A candidate for the Rhode Island 2nd Congressional District is dropping out.  Ed Pacheco, a former state representative and the chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, says he does not believe the money is there to support a competitive campaign.  Longtime incumbent Congressman Jim Langevin is retiring after his current term ends.

>>Thomas Pannone Of Cranston Signed By Red Sox

(Fort Myers, FL)  --  A Cranston native made his debut with the Boston Red Sox last weekend.  Pitcher Thomas Pannone picked up a save in the Sox spring training win against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.  Pannone tallied nearly one-hundred Major League strikeouts in two seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays.  The Red Sox signed the 27-year-old Bishop Hendricken alum to a minor league contract earlier this month.

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Jim McCabe/jb
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-23-2022 01:35:13

What you need to do NOW to protect against possible cyberattack

What you need to do NOW to protect against possible cyberattacks

 
March 22, 2022/RINewsToday

 

On Monday, the White House issued a statement regarding potential Russian cyberattacks against the U.S., in connection with the Russian-Ukraine war. The statement was issued by President Biden and implied a heightened warning to Americans that cyberattacks may be imminent, without providing confirming information.

 

Following the statement is a Fact Sheet on steps to take. For the average home computer user, we’d recommend changing passwords on your accounts – all of them – especially banks and credit cards – do a computer backup on an external hard drive – write down all your passwords in a secure location. Don’t forget your cell phone – make sure you have icloud backup, shut down your phone (many of us never do this) and let it fully start up again. Go through your apps that you don’t use and delete them. Remember to change your passwords on apps that handle money such as Venmo, your bank’s app, etc. Don’t forget Facebook and social media. This will all take some time, but like spring cleaning, you’ll feel good about it once it’s done.

 

The statement noted this is a critical moment to accelerate our work to improve domestic cybersecurity and bolster our national resilience. Previous warnings have been issued about the potential that Russia could conduct malicious cyber activity against the United States, all part of their playbook.

 

The federal government has worked to strengthen national cyber defenses, mandating extensive cybersecurity measures for the government and critical infrastructure sectors. They’ve created innovative public-private partnerships and initiatives to enhance cybersecurity, and partnered with Congress.

 

Saying the federal government can’t protect against all threats alone, the statement issued noted that most of America’s critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector and critical infrastructure owners and operators must accelerate efforts to lock their digital doors.

 

The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been actively working with organizations across critical infrastructure to rapidly share information and mitigation guidance to help protect their systems and networks

 

The government urges its private sector partners to harden your cyber defenses immediately, noting that they need everyone to do their part to meet one of the defining threats of our time — your vigilance and urgency today can prevent or mitigate attacks tomorrow.

 

FACT SHEET: Act Now to Protect Against Potential Cyberattacks

 

The U.S. Government will continue our efforts to provide resources and tools to the private sector, including via CISA’s Shields-Up campaign and we will do everything in our power to defend the Nation and respond to cyberattacks. But the reality is that much of the Nation’s critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector and the private sector must act to protect the critical services on which all Americans rely.

 

We urge companies to execute the following steps with urgency:

  • Mandate the use of multi-factor authentication on your systems to make it harder for attackers to get onto your system;
  • Deploy modern security tools on your computers and devices to continuously look for and mitigate threats;
  • Check with your cybersecurity professionals to make sure that your systems are patched and protected against all known vulnerabilities, and change passwords across your networks so that previously stolen credentials are useless to malicious actors;
  • Back up your data and ensure you have offline backups beyond the reach of malicious actors;
  • Run exercises and drill your emergency plans so that you are prepared to respond quickly to minimize the impact of any attack;
  • Encrypt your data so it cannot be used if it is stolen;
  • Educate your employees to common tactics that attackers will use over email or through websites, and encourage them to report if their computers or phones have shown unusual behavior, such as unusual crashes or operating very slowly; and
  • Engage proactively with your local FBI field office or CISA Regional Office to establish relationships in advance of any cyber incidents. Please encourage your IT and Security leadership to visit the websites of CISA and the FBI where they will find technical information and other useful resources.

 

We also must focus on bolstering America’s cybersecurity over the long term. We encourage technology and software companies to: 

  • Build security into your products from the ground up — “bake it in, don’t bolt it on” — to protect both your intellectual property and your customers’ privacy.
  • Develop software only on a system that is highly secure and accessible only to those actually working on a particular project.  This will make it much harder for an intruder to jump from system to system and compromise a product or steal your intellectual property.
  • Use modern tools to check for known and potential vulnerabilities. Developers can fix most software vulnerabilities — if they know about them.  There are automated tools that can review code and find most coding errors before software ships, and before a malicious actor takes advantage of them. 
  • Software developers are responsible for all code used in their products, including open source code. Most software is built using many different components and libraries, much of which is open source.  Make sure developers know the provenance (i.e., origin) of components they are using and have a “software bill of materials” in case one of those components is later found to have a vulnerability so you can rapidly correct it. 
  • Implement the security practices mandated in the President’s Executive Order, Improving our Nation’s Cybersecurity. Pursuant to that EO, all software the U.S. government purchases is now required to meet security standards in how it is built and deployed. We encourage you to follow those practices more broadly.

Rhode Island Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Rhode Island reaches a final settlement for an opioid crisis lawsuit.  A Pawtucket police officer accused of an improper shooting last summer is facing new charges.  Rhode Island State Police Superintendent James Manni is taking a town manager job.

>>One Last Settlement Reached In Rhode Island Opioid Lawsuit

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office says the state is concluding its principal litigation against the opioid industry.  A new settlement with the drugmakers Teva and Allergan will pay twenty-eight-point-five million dollars and free addiction and overdose treatment.  A.G. Peter Neronha says Teva is agreeing to supply enough Naloxone to meet projected demand for the next decade.  In total, Neronha negotiated over two-hundred-fifty-million dollars for opioid treatment, rescue, prevention and recovery in Rhode Island.

>>Rhode Island Motorist Killed In I-95 Crash ID'd

(East Greenwich, RI)  --  The driver from Rhode Island who was killed in a crash on Route 95 in Massachusetts last week has been identified.  Benjamin Galiatsatos was a 27-year-old from East Greenwich.  The single-vehicle wreck which happened last Thursday in Foxboro remains under investigation.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,431

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths this past weekend.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State as of Monday's update was three-thousand-431.  There were nearly four-hundred new virus cases.  However, the COVID patient count in Rhode Island hospitals continues to drop, it's down to 61.

>>Pawtucket Policeman Charged With Shooting Appears In Court

(Warwick, RI)  --  A Pawtucket police officer charged for shooting a civilian last year was arraigned on Monday on an unrelated charge.  Daniel Dolan pleaded not guilty in Kent County Court to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and vandalism.  The charges stem from a domestic incident, according to court documents.  Dolan, while off-duty last June, stopped a teenage driver in a parking lot off Route 3 in West Greenwich and shot at him when he drove away, causing non-life-threatening injuries.  WPRI-TV reports a judge granted Dolan bail yesterday and ordered him to have no contact with his wife or children.

>>Head Of RISP James Manni Returning To Town Manager Role

(South Kingstown, RI)  --  The superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police is becoming the town manager of South Kingstown.  Colonel James Manni is set to transition to the new job next month after the S.K. Town Council approved the appointment on Monday.  Manni used to be the town manager of Narragansett.  Another South County town saw its former police chief become the town manager in February.  That happened in Westerly.

>>Popular Free Tree Program Returns

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is joining several partners to provide one-thousand free trees to residents this spring.  The popular program is in its thirteenth year.  The DEM says the strategic planting of trees on properties helps Rhode Islanders save energy and lower utility bills.  Registration is required and a link can be found on the DEM website.

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Jim McCabe/jb 
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-22-2022 00:40:13

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A Rhode Island official outside of Providence apologizes for a negative comment about people from the city.  Providence College men's basketball has reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.  Gas prices are stabilizing.

>>Police Investigating Providence Stabbing 

(Providence, RI)  --  A man reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries from a stabbing in Providence on Sunday night.  The incident happened on Pennsylvania Avenue in the capital city's Lower South Side section at around 7:30.  WPRI-TV reports the victim was stabilized at Rhode Island Hospital.  The Providence Police Department is looking for a suspect.

>>Pawtucket Police Officer Faces New Charge 

(Pawtucket, RI)  --  The Pawtucket police officer who has been charged for the shooting of a civilian is facing a new count from the state.  The attorney for Daniel Dolan tells WJAR-TV he has been arrested for disorderly conduct on top of the original charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and discharge of a firearm during a crime.  Dolan, while off-duty last June, attempted to detain an 18-year-old driver in West Greenwich and shot him when he fled, causing non-life-threatening injuries.

>>Apology Issued For "People From Providence" Comment

(Charlestown, RI)  --  A South County official is saying sorry for a comment about the residents of Providence that was viewed as racially insensitive.  At a town council meeting last week, Charlestown Emergency Management Agency director Kevin Gallup said there would need to be a police detail for food trucks to cover the possibility of, quote, "people showing up from Providence".  Mayor Jorge Elorza called the comment coded and derogatory and said public officials must hold themselves to higher standards.  Elorza has accepted an apology from Gallup, who directed it toward people of color everywhere for the meaning of his words.

>>Friars Basketball Beats Richmond To Advance In Tourney 

(Providence, RI)  --  The Providence College men's basketball team is dancing in the Sweet 16.  The Friars beat the University of Richmond in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, 79-to-51.  PC, which has two Final Four appearances in team history but has never won the championship, hasn't gotten this far in the tournament since 1997.  Their next game is against number-one-seed Kansas at the United Center in Chicago on Friday night.

>>Providence 7-Day Forecast Lacking Any Winter Weather 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Islanders will get to enjoy some spring weather in the first official week of the season.  The National Weather Service is forecasting highs mainly in the 50s for the Providence area for the next seven days.  Expect sunny skies Monday and Tuesday, followed by chances for rain Wednesday and Thursday.

>>RI Gas Prices Down About 15 Cents From Peak 

(Undated)  --  The average Rhode Island gas price has eased downward since reaching a record earlier this month.  RIGasPrices.com says the current total is four dollars and 23 cents.  At the peak of the March increase related to the Russian war in Ukraine, the average price in the Ocean State reached four-37.

>>Legislation Filed To Procure More Wind Power 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is pushing forward a plan from his predecessor to boost the state's renewable energy commitment.  The Providence Journal reports legislation has been introduced in the General Assembly at McKee's request to issue a request for proposals this summer to purchase six-hundred megawatts of electricity from offshore wind turbines.  Rhode Island is home to the nation's first wind farm off Block Island, which produces thirty megawatts.  National Grid has also contracted to buy four-hundred megawatts from the Revolution Wind project that has been proposed in the Rhode Island Sound.

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Jim McCabe/bs             RI) BN)
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03-21-2022 00:54:07

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A legislative hearing is held on a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island.  Former governor Gina Raimondo returns to Rhode Island for a speaking engagement.  Cox Communications is announcing a big investment in the Ocean State's internet infrastructure.

>>Rhode Island Legislative Committee Holds Marijuana Hearing 

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Tuesday night about a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana.  WPRI-TV reports Governor Dan McKee opposed the plan to create a cannabis control commission which would oversee the industry because he would have to select commissioners from lists provided by the leaders of the Senate and House.  The Rhode Island Police Chiefs' Association testified that marijuana is a dangerous drug which harms public health and safety.

>>Bill Approved Making Daylight Saving Time Permanent

(Washington, DC)  --  A bill locking-in Daylight Saving Time as the nation's permanent time is closer to becoming law.  The U.S. Senate approved it unanimously in a voice vote, sending the measure to the House.  The bill partially sponsored by Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse would end the twice-yearly changes we make to our clocks.

>>Gina Raimondo Speaks At Brown University Lecture 

(Providence, RI)  --  Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo spoke publicly in the state for the first time since become U.S. Commerce Secretary on Tuesday.  Raimondo participated in a lecture event with the president of Brown University.  Raimondo talked about the war in Ukraine and the role she played in the Biden administration's sanctions against Russia.  She said it is essential that the U.S. brings manufacturing back through public-private partnerships.

>>Cox Announces Investment In Rhode Island Internet Infrastructure 

(Newport, RI)  --  Cox Communications is announcing a three-year, 120-million-dollar investment to upgrade its broadband network across Rhode Island.  Governor McKee was among those who spoke at a press conference about the investment at the Old Colony House in Newport on Tuesday.  Officials said the money will help build a system with multi-gigabit speeds for residents and businesses.  Some of the funds will be used to create one-hundred-percent fiber-optic buildouts for the towns of Aquidneck Island.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,423

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported one new coronavirus death on Tuesday.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to three-thousand-423.  The number of new virus cases was one-hundred-77.

[[ note nature ]]

>>Woman Sentenced For Child Porn Possession 

(Providence, RI)  --  A Rhode Island woman is being sentenced to five years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.  The Justice Department says 25-year-old Karissa Cave of Newport pleaded guilty to the charge in 2020.  Prosecutors said Kave received explicit videos through Facebook Messenger.  The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

>>Prescribed Burn Coming Soon On RI Island 

(Jamestown, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is conducting a prescribed burn on Dutch Island in Narragansett Bay between Jamestown and North Kingstown.  The fire will be set sometime in the next 30 to 45 days, depending on when the conditions are right.  The DEM says this is an ecological restoration project as well as an opportunity for firefighters to train for future emergencies.
 
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Jim McCabe/jb        RI)  
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03-16-2022 00:35:05

Biggest little state waves off bold, goes for subtle. Not for most....

 off bold, goes for subtle – not so for most states

 
March 15, 2022/RINewsToday

 

The new Rhode Island license plate will be one of the five you see here.

 

Submitted designs by Rhode Islanders were whittled down from over 900 to these five by an internal committee at the RI Department of Motor Vehicles. Now, YOU can vote – you have two weeks to vote for your choice to replace the “wave” plate. Go here to vote:

 

 

https://appengine.egov.com/apps/ri/DMV/contestvote

 

Warning! You’ll be very, very sure of your choice – and looking twice you might change it – so take your time! It’s a natural tendency to look close at designs, like in an art gallery – but no one will view these plates up that close – so take a step back and see what they look like from a distance. Because that’s how people will view our new – subtle – designs. When we looked at the plates this way, we changed our vote.

 

The plates will be made out of state until the correctional facilities in Rhode Island get the equipment to make the new digital-reads. The new plates have twice the reflectivity of the existing plate, and the plate itself is designed completely flat with a debossed area.

 

Plates will be replaced on a rolling basis, as registration times come around for individuals. They will be mailed direct from the company.

 

Costs to produce and mail the new plates are approximately $12 – offset by $8 fees – costing the state approximately $4.00.

 

So – excited or not – make your selection today!

 

Gov. McKee said they may release the designer’s name/s in the future.

 

Other NEW, digital-read plates around the U.S. – and why can’t we have pretty colors?

 

 

Waving good-bye to the Rhode Island wave – one bold statement, one loved by – almost everyone… not an easy thing to have happen in our biggest little state of a million voices and opinions:

 
 
 

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: The Ocean State gas price increase is slowing down.  A man is facing charges for an incident on Route 6.  The state of Rhode Island is allowing a dentist who did not comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate to resume his practice. 

>>Rhode Island Gas Price Average: $4.33

(Undated)  --  The average gas price in Rhode Island as of overnight Tuesday was four dollars and 33 cents, according to RIGasPrices.com.  The gas price spike has slowed in the Ocean State, as the current price is a nickel above the total from one week ago.  Rhode Island remains right at the same number as the national average, which has reached a record. 

>>Man Charged After Allegedly Ditching Police At Seekonk Store 

(Seekonk, MA)  --  A Providence man is facing multiple charges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for an incident that happened on Monday.  Albert Rosario allegedly struck a police officer with a car while fleeing the scene of a shoplifting incident at the Home Depot off Route 6 at around noon.  Reports indicate Rosario hit several vehicles on the highway before crashing in East Providence.  The police officer who was hit, as well as one of the other drivers, were hospitalized for minor injuries.

>>Dentist Who Didn't Comply With COVID Policy Allowed To Practice Again 

(Cranston, RI)  --  A Rhode Island dentist who sued over the state's requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is being allowed to work again.  WPRI-TV reports Dr. Stephen Skoly was notified that he could re-open his practice last week.  The Rhode Island Department of Health said the compliance order was related to an emergency regulation that has expired.  Skoly, whose practice on Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston was shut down last October, has avoided getting the shot because he says he has a history of Bell's palsy.  Channel 12 reports Skoly's legal team has withdrawn a federal restraining order request, but is still discussing whether to drop a pending lawsuit.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,422

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported one new coronavirus death over the weekend.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State as of Monday's update was three-thousand-422.  There were over four-hundred new virus cases.  The number of COVID patients in Rhode Island hospitals is down to seventy.

[[ note nature ]]

>>New Report On Alleged "Naked Fat Test" Scandal In N.K. 

(North Kingstown, RI)  --  A new report has been released concerning the quote-unquote "naked fat test" scandal involving the former boys' basketball coach at North Kingstown High School.  The independent investigation from attorney Matthew Oliverio into the alleged actions of Aaron Thomas, conducted on behalf of the North Kingstown School District, focuses criticism on the superintendent who resigned last week.  It claims that Philip Auger did not properly follow up to make sure the alleged fat tests had stopped.  Thomas has not been criminally charged in the case and he has denied any wrongdoing.

>>Rhode Island Tire Magnate Dies 

(Warwick, RI)  --  A Rhode Island businessman who was known for his appearances in TV commercials has died.  Leon Kayarian of Warwick was 93 when he passed away last month.  Kayarian constructed the Dayton Tire Warehouse on Route 95 in Cranston in 1964.  According to a story from The Providence Journal, Kayarian once shaved his head for a commercial to warn drivers not to go out on bald tires.  His obituary claims Kayarian's tire changeover business revolutionized the industry.  His funeral was held on Friday.

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Jim McCabe/jb          RI)  
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03-15-2022 01:50:08

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A Rhode Island high school hockey player who was killed by an alleged drunk driver was honored this weekend.  CVS has fired several executives.  Providence College and Bryant University have learned their opponents in the NCAA Tournament. 

>>Memorials For Rhode Island High School Hockey Player Who Died  

(West Warwick, RI)  --  The Boston Bruins honored a Rhode Island high school hockey player who was killed in a car crash involving an alleged drunk driver on Saturday.  The Bruins hung a customized Matt Dennison jersey behind their bench before their home game versus Arizona.  Dennison, the captain of the West Warwick-Exeter-West Greenwich team, died on Thursday after the crash in Exeter which happened on February 12th.  There was a moment of silence for Dennison at the Rhode Island Division 1 boys' hockey championship at Schneider Arena, Providence College on Friday. 

>>Multiple Crashes During Weekend Snowstorm; Weather Warming Up 

(Lincoln, RI)  --  Saturday night's snowstorm caused a half-dozen car crashes on Route 146 in Lincoln.  Twelve cars were involved total, according to the Rhode Island State Police, which reported four hospitalizations for minor injuries.  Only one inch or less of snow was measured across the state, according to the National Weather Service.  The forecast for the Providence area calls for more spring-like temperatures this week, with a shot at highs in the 70s on Friday.

>>"Swatting" Incident In Southeast Massachusetts

(Taunton, MA)  --  Authorities are investigating a "police swatting" incident in Taunton, Massachusetts.  A large police response was drawn to a residence on Williams Street last Thursday after someone reportedly told a dispatcher that someone had just been murdered at the address.  Officers realized it was a hoax when they saw there was no one home, and they eventually made contact with the homeowner who was apparently not the source of the call.  Several neighboring houses were briefly evacuated.  The Taunton police chief says "swatting" is an extremely dangerous crime to commit.

>>Man With Large Cache Of Guns Ordered Held Without Bail

(Providence, RI)  --  A judge on Friday ordered Ronald Andruchuk of Burrillville to remain at the Wyatt Detention Facility without bail on federal firearms charges.  Police reportedly found over two-hundred guns on Andruchuk's property when he was arrested last month.  He is charged with possession of a gun by a prohibited person for a previous drug record, and also lying on a firearm application.  U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan cited new evidence in the case that reveals deep mental health and substance abuse issues.

>>CVS Fires Execs After Investigation 

(Woonsocket, RI)  --  CVS Health has fired several executives after an internal investigation into their handling of sexual harassment allegations in the company.  The Wall Street Journal reports CEO Karen Lynch took the action after becoming aware of complaints about alleged inappropriate activity from a regional manager in New Jersey.  CVS said it will not tolerate such inaction, and that the allegations were not treated with a level of expected seriousness.

>>Returning To Play Football Next Season: Tom Brady, Devin McCourty 

(Undated)  --  Tom Brady is un-retiring to once again quarterback the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Brady is returning for his 23rd season.  Meanwhile in Foxboro, three-time Super Bowl-winning Patriots safety Devin McCourty is signing a one-year deal reportedly worth nine-million dollars.  McCourty will be playing his thirteenth season for New England.

>>Providence, Bryant Men's Basketball Teams Set To Dance 

(Undated)  --  Providence College and Bryant University are the Rhode Island representatives in this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament, which was bracketed on Sunday.  PC got a number-four seed after losing to Creighton in the second round of the Big East Tournament.  They will play South Dakota State on Thursday.  Bryant, which is playing in its first-ever Division 1 tournament, must win a play-in game to earn the number 16 seed versus Wright State on Wednesday. 

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03-14-2022 00:21:06

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A Rhode Island high school hockey player who was injured in a crash has died.  State regulators are determining the fate of a Rhode Island Italian-American club where a fatal shooting occurred.  Legislative leaders unveil a package of bills aimed at addressing the Ocean State housing crunch. 

>>West Warwick Teen Injured In Drunk-Driving Crash Has Died 

(West Warwick, RI)  --  A West Warwick teenager who was injured in a serious crash last month has died.  Seventeen-year-old Matt Dennison was the captain of the West Warwick, Exeter and West Greenwich boy's hockey team.  He had been at Rhode Island Hospital since the February 15th crash on Ten Rod Road in Exeter which was allegedly caused by a DUI.  The driver facing charges is Alexander Krajewski of North Kingstown. 

[[ note nature ]]

>>Hearing Shows Leadup To Shooting At Warren Club 

(Providence, RI)  --  EastBayRI.com reports the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation held a hearing Thursday over the fate of the Italo-American Club in Warren following a fatal shooting last September.  The hearing was continued as no decision was made yesterday on whether the town of Warren rightfully revoked the club's liquor license.  The gunman, Michael Ouellette of Warren, shot and killed assistant town fire chief Brian Remy inside the bar and engaged in a shootout with police outside his residence before killing himself.  New details shared at the hearing indicated Ouellette had six beers prior to shooting Remy in the back of the head and wounding one other person.  The issue debated yesterday was whether Ouellette should have been cut off by the bartender. 

[[ watch for updates ]]

>>Fog Could Mean Black Ice This Morning 

(Undated)  --  The National Weather Service says freezing fog may produce areas of black ice Friday morning in the Providence area and in southeast Massachusetts.  Drivers who encounter fog should be aware of the dangerous conditions.  Forecasters are tracking a snow possibility for Southern New England on Saturday.

>>RI Gas Price Average: $4.36

(Undated)  --  RhodeIslandGasPrices.com reported the average price for a gallon in the Ocean State was four dollars and 36 cents as of overnight Friday.  The price has increased nearly one dollar from a month ago.  Rhode Island's average gas price is currently the same as the national total. 

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,421

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island public health department reported two new coronavirus deaths on Thursday.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to three-thousand-421.  There were one-hundred-64 new virus cases counted in RI yesterday and 89 COVID patients were hospitalized. 

>>Rhode Island Legislative Leaders Unveil Housing Bills 

(Providence, RI)  --  A package of nearly a dozen bills was unveiled at the Rhode Island State House on Thursday to address the state's housing crisis.  The bills came out of a commission created by the legislature to address the issue.  One which is likely to cause pushback over the issue of local municipal control would let single-family homeowners add accessory units to their properties.  Cities and towns would be banned from limiting the tenants to family members, according to The Providence Journal.  Another bill proposes a nine-month time limit on decisions from the state housing appeals board and gives developers the automatic win if no decision is reached.

>>Rhody Bounced From A-10 Tourney, Friars Win Big 10 Opener 

(Undated)  --  The University of Rhode Island's men's basketball season is over after a 64-to-59 loss versus Richmond in the Atlantic 10 Tournament second round on Thursday night in Washington, DC.  Providence College won its Big 10 Tournament opener over Butler, 65-to-61.  The Friars will play Creighton next at 6:30 tonight at Madison Square Garden. 

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Jim McCabe/jb          RI) MA)  
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TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-11-2022 02:46:06

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: A new director has been named for the Rhode Island agency that advocates for older citizens.  A Rhode Island lawmaker proposes decriminalizing magic mushrooms.  Three NCAA Division 1 men's basketball teams from the Ocean State remain alive in March Madness. 

>>Some Snow Measured In RI Wednesday, Temperature Roller Coaster Ahead

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island is climbing unsteadily into spring.  A shot of winter weather on Wednesday left about three inches of snow in Burrillville, Foster and Warwick, according to the National Weather Service.  The forecast from the weather service calls for high temperatures in the Providence area to swing between the 50s and 30s over the next seven days.

>>New Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging Director Appointed

(Providence, RI)  --  Governor Dan McKee has announced the appointment of a new director of the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging.  The position is going to Maria Cimini, a former state representative with an extensive career in social work and public policy, according to the governor's office.  Cimini's most-recent position was associate director at the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.  The Healthy Aging Office director position became vacant when previous director Rose Amoros resigned amid controversy last summer. 

>>Proposal In Rhode Island Legislature To Legalize Shrooms 

(Providence, RI)  --  A Rhode Island lawmaker has proposed decriminalizing possession of magic mushrooms.  The hallucinogenic drugs are currently only legal for medical use in one other state, Oregon, which took that action in 2020.  The Providence Journal reports state Representative Brandon Potter, a Cranston Democrat, put forward the bill because he says there is evidence magic mushrooms are effective in treating mental health issues.

>>Zero New RI COVID Deaths Reported Wednesday 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported zero new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday.  Yesterday was the second straight day of no new virus deaths in the Ocean State.  The number of new virus cases was one-hundred-47, and the COVID patient count in Rhode Island hospitals remained below one-hundred. 

>>University Of Rhode Island Men's Basketball Still Dancing 

(Undated)  --  March Madness has arrived in Rhode Island.  The URI Rams men's basketball team, needing a conference tournament win to get to the dance, won its Atlantic 10 playoff opener in Washington, DC on Wednesday, 79-to-77 over Duquesne.  Rhody will play Richmond next on Thursday night.  Providence College, which has already punched its ticket, hosts Butler in the first round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden this afternoon.  Bryant University is awaiting its opening opponent in the NCAA Tourney after winning its first-ever Division 1 conference championship on Tuesday.

>>New Flights At T.F. Green 

(Warwick, RI)  --  Frontier Airlines is announcing new routes from T.F. Green International Airport in Rhode Island.  The ultra-low-fare airline will launch nonstop service between Warwick and two new destinations: Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and its headquarters in Denver, Colorado.  The service begins in the spring and is scheduled to operate on a seasonal basis. 

>>Westerly Route 1 Project Website Launched 

(Westerly, RI)  --  A new website has been launched for the town of Westerly's development plan to revitalize the U.S. Route 1 corridor.  The website, which launched this week, is Route1Westerly.com with the number typed out.  Town officials say community engagement with the project is critical.  The Westerly Sun reports about a thousand letters were sent on Tuesday to property owners on the corridor to encourage their participation.

>>"The Gilded Age" Seeking Sporty Actors For Filming In Newport 

(Newport, RI)  --  HBO series The Gilded Age is coming back to Newport for its upcoming second season.  Several Newport mansions hosted scenes in the premiere season which aired in January.  Rhode Islanders are once-again being invited to a casting call.  The show is looking for highly-skilled tennis players who will be playing characters in a match from the 1880s.  The scenes will be filmed in May.

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Jim McCabe/jb          RI) OR)  
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03-10-2022 02:12:12

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Rhode Island gas prices have reached a new record.  Providence is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the remaining few city workers who have not complied.  The head of the Rhode Island Health and Human Services Department is resigning.

>>Rhode Island Gas Price Average About Four And A Quarter 

(Undated)  --  The average Rhode Island gas price as of overnight Tuesday was four dollars and 23 cents, according to RIGasPrices.com.  The state average, as well as the national average of four-15, are new records, and prices are expected to continue increasing due to the Russian war in Ukraine.  To relieve the pain at the pump, President Biden is considering easing sanctions on Venezuela, who along with Russia is a major oil producer.

>>Providence No-Longer Requiring Remaining Unvaccinated To Get COVID Shots 

(Providence, RI)  --  The city of Providence is adjusting its coronavirus vaccination policy for the remaining few employees who have not gotten the shot.  Ninety-five percent of the municipal workforce is vaccinated, according to WPRI-TV.  Those who are not can instead comply with the mandate by getting weekly virus testing.  The Providence Journal reports the capital city's police department stood to lose about thirty officers for non-compliance with the requirement to get vaccinated as of late February.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,419

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths this past weekend.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State as of Monday's update was three-thousand-419.  The number of new virus cases was about three-hundred-fifty.  There were less than one-hundred COVID patients counted in Rhode Island hospitals.

>>RIPTA CEO, Former Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian Injured In Crash

(Warwick, RI)  --  Former Warwick mayor and current head of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Scott Avedisian [[ AV-uh-DEE-zhin ]] was reportedly injured in a motor vehicle accident over the weekend.  The solo rollover crash happened Sunday night on Warwick Neck Road in Warwick.  Avedisian was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Warwick police.  The crash is under investigation.  The RIPTA CEO has not been cited or charged.

>>Fire Destroys House In Central Falls

(Central Falls, RI)  --  A fire destroyed a multi-family home in Central Falls on Monday afternoon.  WPRI-TV reports two firefighters who responded to the house on Barber Avenue were treated for heat exhaustion.  The Rhode Island Fire Marshal told the news station the cause was electrical.  The fire started on the first floor from lithium batteries inside a device that was plugged in.  The Red Cross is assisting the four adults and two children who were displaced.

>>RI Health And Human Services Secretary Stepping Down 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island Health and Human Services Secretary Womazetta Jones is resigning.  Jones was appointed by former governor Gina Raimondo in 2019.  The Chicago native says she is leaving for family reasons.  Governor McKee's office says an interim secretary will be named before Jones departs on May 1st.

>>Patriots Release Linebacker Kyle Van Noy

(Foxboro, MA)  --  The New England Patriots are moving on from a two-time Super Bowl champion.  The Pats have released linebacker Kyle Van Noy.  The 30-year-old was set to earn about seven-and-a-half-million dollars against the salary cap this upcoming season.  Van Noy signed a two-year deal with the Patriots last March after a previous three-year stint with the team.

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Jim McCabe/nf         RI)  IL) 


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03-08-2022 02:20:06

INternational Women's Day, Rescue Plan

International Women’s Day, Rescue Plan – Timothy Ham

 
March 8, 2022/RINewsToday

 

by Timothy Ham, special to RINewsToday

 

Women and children are suffering in Ukraine and Afghanistan and are subjected to crimes of war and atrocities in other countries around the world.  How does an artist reflect the pain of this?  The painting “Afghan Mother”, so deeply in pain, is created by a gifted Afghan artist.  Abdul (name disguised to protect him and his family) continues to work even though his life is endangered by the Taliban just for the act of painting beautiful portraits and showing his country’s agony with his work.

 

 

Because March 8 is UN International Women’s Day, I want to make you aware of the struggle to bring this talented young man and his family here to the Pacific Northwest. I first met Abdul while working in Afghanistan in 2009.  He was an Art Instructor for the teenage son of one of my senior staff.  I was contacted by Abdul shortly after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 and banned all art of “living things”.  Abdul had to close his art school and art gallery and was in hiding, having been threatened by the Taliban for his art.  He was seeking a way to escape.  I’ve made every effort to bring him and his family to safety.  We’ve found him a position at the Tacoma School of the Arts high school, but now we need your help in telling the story. His life and the lives of his family are at stake. 

 

 

With the help of the immigration attorneys, we are finalizing his application for a US visa.  The family needs to get out of Afghanistan and make it to a US Embassy for a visa interview and then to the US to settle in Tacoma.  We need funding to help in the travel, hotel costs for the expected waiting period, to settle the family in Tacoma and to fund his Fellowship at the School.  We established a Go Fund Me account ”https://www.gofundme.com/f/rescuing-an-afghan-artist-and-family” with the hopes that others will support Abdul’s desire to once again paint, to teach and to share his story.

 

Timothy Ham is a 1974 graduate of Providence College who worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Jordan on USAID funded efforts and met Abdul Habibi in 2009 in Herat Afghanistan.

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Rhode Island gas prices have reached a new record.  Providence is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the remaining few city workers who have not complied.  The head of the Rhode Island Health and Human Services Department is resigning.

>>Rhode Island Gas Price Average About Four And A Quarter 

(Undated)  --  The average Rhode Island gas price as of overnight Tuesday was four dollars and 23 cents, according to RIGasPrices.com.  The state average, as well as the national average of four-15, are new records, and prices are expected to continue increasing due to the Russian war in Ukraine.  To relieve the pain at the pump, President Biden is considering easing sanctions on Venezuela, who along with Russia is a major oil producer.

>>Providence No-Longer Requiring Remaining Unvaccinated To Get COVID Shots 

(Providence, RI)  --  The city of Providence is adjusting its coronavirus vaccination policy for the remaining few employees who have not gotten the shot.  Ninety-five percent of the municipal workforce is vaccinated, according to WPRI-TV.  Those who are not can instead comply with the mandate by getting weekly virus testing.  The Providence Journal reports the capital city's police department stood to lose about thirty officers for non-compliance with the requirement to get vaccinated as of late February.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,419

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths this past weekend.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State as of Monday's update was three-thousand-419.  The number of new virus cases was about three-hundred-fifty.  There were less than one-hundred COVID patients counted in Rhode Island hospitals.

>>RIPTA CEO, Former Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian Injured In Crash

(Warwick, RI)  --  Former Warwick mayor and current head of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Scott Avedisian [[ AV-uh-DEE-zhin ]] was reportedly injured in a motor vehicle accident over the weekend.  The solo rollover crash happened Sunday night on Warwick Neck Road in Warwick.  Avedisian was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Warwick police.  The crash is under investigation.  The RIPTA CEO has not been cited or charged.

>>Fire Destroys House In Central Falls

(Central Falls, RI)  --  A fire destroyed a multi-family home in Central Falls on Monday afternoon.  WPRI-TV reports two firefighters who responded to the house on Barber Avenue were treated for heat exhaustion.  The Rhode Island Fire Marshal told the news station the cause was electrical.  The fire started on the first floor from lithium batteries inside a device that was plugged in.  The Red Cross is assisting the four adults and two children who were displaced.

>>RI Health And Human Services Secretary Stepping Down 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island Health and Human Services Secretary Womazetta Jones is resigning.  Jones was appointed by former governor Gina Raimondo in 2019.  The Chicago native says she is leaving for family reasons.  Governor McKee's office says an interim secretary will be named before Jones departs on May 1st.

>>Patriots Release Linebacker Kyle Van Noy

(Foxboro, MA)  --  The New England Patriots are moving on from a two-time Super Bowl champion.  The Pats have released linebacker Kyle Van Noy.  The 30-year-old was set to earn about seven-and-a-half-million dollars against the salary cap this upcoming season.  Van Noy signed a two-year deal with the Patriots last March after a previous three-year stint with the team.

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Jim McCabe/nf         RI)  IL) 
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-08-2022 02:20:06

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Rhode Island gas prices have gone above four dollars per gallon.  Representative David Cicilline visited the Ukrainian border this weekend to see the crisis caused by the Russian military attack.  Masks will not be mandatory in many Rhode Island schools this week.

>>Average Rhode Island Gas Price Soars Above $4 A Gallon

(Undated)  --  The price of gasoline in Rhode Island is reaching a historic level.  RIGasPrices.com reported the average price for a gallon in the Ocean State was four dollars and 18 cents as of overnight Monday.  That's an increase of sixty cents per gallon from one week ago.  There are growing, bipartisan calls in Washington to ban Russian oil imports because of the invasion of Ukraine.  The White House press secretary has not confirmed speculation that President Biden will consider that action.

>>David Cicilline Witnesses Crisis At Ukrainian Border 

(Undated)  --  Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline went to the border between Poland and Ukraine this weekend and said it was the worst humanitarian crisis he had ever seen.  Cicilline said the amount of human suffering being caused Vladimir Putin right now is unspeakable.  A congressional delegation led by the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee met in Poland with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has since confirmed that NATO is getting the green light to send fighter jets to Ukraine.

>>Poultry Owners Warned About Avian Flu Strain 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island commercial poultry producers and household keepers of chicken coops are being advised that a highly-infectious avian flu strain could cause big issues for their livestock.  The Department of Environmental Management says the strain has been detected in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  It could cause widespread mortality among infected birds.  Poultry owners are being urged to take a number of essential measures, including maintaining separation from wild birds, keeping cages and coops clean, and reporting unusual bird deaths to the DEM.

>>New Quarantine Guidelines For Childcare 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is announcing new guidelines for COVID-19 quarantine in childcare settings.  The state is recommending childcare programs use a test-to-stay approach when there is a high level of virus transmission risk, and monitor-to-stay when at low or medium levels.  Based on new guidance from the CDC, Rhode Island is now considered to be in the low-risk category.  McKee says the new protocol will ensure the continued safety of children and reduce the burden of quarantine on families.

>>Masks Off In Most Schools This Week 

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island schoolchildren can ditch the masks this week.  The McKee administration previously announced plans to let the statewide mask mandate in school settings expire last Friday.  WPRI-TV reports many school districts will be mask-optional starting Monday.  The Providence and Central Falls districts are keeping mask requirements in place because of low COVID vaccination rates.

>>"Good Night Lights" For Outgoing Military Medical Team 

(Providence, RI)  --  A military medical team deployed to help Rhode Island Hospital at the peak of the winter COVID spike got a unique sendoff on Friday.  The team of about two-dozen doctors, nurses and staff from Fort Stewart, Georgia was honored with Hasbro Children's Hospital's "Good Night Lights" celebration.  Rhode Island Hospital president Dr. Saul Weingart said the unit, which ended its operation on Sunday, provided much-needed relief and allowed the hospital to open additional critical care beds.

>>P-Bruins Beat Thunderbirds, Penguins 

(Providence, RI)  --  The Providence Bruins picked up two wins this weekend.  The P-Bruins defeated the Springfield Thunderbirds 5-to-1 on the road Saturday to take the lead over their Southern New England rivals for first place in the AHL Atlantic Division.  Providence knocked off the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in overtime at the Dunk on Sunday, 5-to-4.  The Bruins go to Canada to play the Toronto Marlies on Tuesday and the Belleville Senators on Wednesday.  

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Jim McCabe/bs            RI) MA) CT) GA)
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-07-2022 01:19:02

World Issues pushed nursing home reform to the side in State of the Union but it's here.

World issues pushed nursing home reform to the side in State of the Union. But it’s there – Herb Weiss

 
March 7, 2022/Herb Weiss

 

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging

 

More than a week ago, President Joe Biden, with Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sitting behind him in the House Chamber in the United States Capitol, delivered his first State of the Union Address. Harris and Pelosi made history marking the first time two women have been on the dais during a presidential address before the joint session and the American people

 

According to C-SPAN, Biden’s speech was the fourth-longest of the seven most recent presidents’ speeches, beating out Presidents George H.W. Bush, George H. Bush and Ronald Reagan. Amid frequent applause breaks, chanting from both sides of the aisle and heckling, Biden’s prepared remarks delivered Tuesday, March 1, 2022, totaled around 7,762 words, lasting over one hour and two minutes.

 

Biden spoke mostly on-script with his prepared remarks on a wide range of topics before lawmakers, Supreme Court Justices, guests, many waving small blue and yellow Ukraine flags or wearing the country’s colors to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine. While the first half touched on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the need for a global coalition to respond, the second half addressed inflationCOVID-19 and the “new normal,” increasing domestic manufacturing, health care, prescription drugs, energy and taxes, voting rights legislation, and the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

 

Biden concluded his speech by proposing a “Unity agenda” calling for a fight against the opioid epidemic, pushing Congress to pass a mental health package, supporting Veterans returning from the battlegrounds of Iraq and Afghanistan and finding a cure for cancer.

 

The State of the Union and nursing homes

 

While Biden’s speech briefly touched on the quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes, his Administration is clearly making this a major domestic issue.  

During the address, Biden expressed strong concerns about Wall Street firms that were taking over many nations’ nursing homes. “Quality in those homes has gone down and costs have gone up. That ends on my watch,” he told the packed chamber. “Medicare is going to set higher standards for nursing homes and make sure your loved ones get the care they deserve and expect and [they’ll be] looked at closely,” he said.

 

A day before the State of the Union address, the White house released a detailed document, entitled, “Fact Sheet: Protecting Seniors and People with Disabilities by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes,” outlining dozens of proposed changes on how U.S. nursing homes are regulated and operate, including a vow to adopt federal minimum staffing requirements for facilities, step up enforcement of regulations and to eliminate overcrowded patient rooms.

 

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that continues to wreak havoc on the nation’s nursing homes, where 200,000 residents and workers have died from COVID-19, nearly a quarter of all COVID-19 deaths in the United States, the Biden Administration says that staffing shortages are getting worse, reducing the quality of care provided to residents

 

Poorly performing facilities will be held accountable for improper and unsafe care and must immediately improve their services or will be cut off from tax payor dollars. Biden calls for better information to be provided to the public to assist them in better understanding the conditions they will find in each facility and to assist them in choosing the best care options available.  

 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin to explore ways to reduce resident room crowding in nursing homes by phasing out rooms with three or more residents and promoting private, single occupancy rooms. Multi-occupancy rooms increase the risk of the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.  The agency will also establish a minimum nursing home staffing requirement, the adequacy of staffing is closely linked to quality of care provided.

 

Meanwhile, CMS also plans to strengthen the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing Program and base payment on staffing adequacy (including over weekends) and retention and the resident experience.  Although the nation has seen a dramatic decrease in the use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes in recent years, CMS will continue its efforts to identify problematic diagnoses and bring down “inappropriate use” of such drugs.

 

Enhancing accountability and oversight

 

The Biden Administration calls for the enhancing and accountability and oversight of the nation’s nursing homes by adequately funding inspection activities, beefing up scrutiny on more of the poorest facility performers, expanding financial penalties and other enforcement sanctions, and increasing the accountability for chain owners whose facilities provide substandard care. CMS will work with nursing homes to improve care by providing technical assistance.

 

To enhance transparency, CMS will create a new database that will track and identify owners and operators across states to highlight previous problems with promoting resident health and safety.  The agency will also collect and publicly report data on corporate nursing home ownership and will enhance the Nursing Home Care website. Finally, CMS will examine the role that private equity investors play in the nursing home sector.

 

Biden’s nursing home reforms will ensure that every nursing home has a sufficient number of adequately trained staff to provide care to the 1.4 million residents residing in over 15,500 Medicare and Medicaid facilities across the nation.  Nursing home staff turnover can be reduced by creating pathways to good-paying jobs along with ensuring staff to join a union.  CMS calls for lowering financial barriers to Nurse Assistant Training, adequate compensation and access to a realistic career ladder. The agency launches a National Nursing Career Pathways Campaign with partners including the Department of Labor.

 

Finally, Biden puts together his strategy to ensure emergency preparedness in nursing homes during the ongoing pandemic.  He calls for continued COVID-19 testing in nursing homes and continued COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to be provided to residents and staff. CMS will strengthen requirements for on-site infection prevention, and make changes to its emergency preparedness requirements,   Finally, the agency will take what it has learned during the pandemic and integrate new lessons on standards of care into nursing home requirements around fire safety, infection control, and other areas, using an equity lens.

 

Point/Counter Point

 

In a released statement after Biden’s State of the Union address, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins stated: We were also encouraged to hear the President describe new actions to ensure that residents in nursing homes will receive the safe, high-quality care they deserve. For yearsAARP and AARP Foundation have sounded the alarm about problems in America’s nursing homes. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the chronic, ongoing issues with our long-term care system and emphasized the need for reform. It is a national disgrace that more than 200,000 residents and staff in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities died. AARP urges the federal government to act swiftly to ensure minimum staffing standards, increase transparency, and hold nursing homes accountable when they do not provide quality care.”

 

On the other hand, the nursing home industry had its views as to Biden’s call for nursing home reforms.  “The nursing home profession has always been committed to improving the quality of care our residents receive, and we appreciate the Biden Administration joining us in this ongoing effort. Over the last decade and prior to the pandemic, the sector made dramatic improvements. Fewer people were returning to the hospital, staff were providing more one-on-one care than ever before, and the unnecessary use of antipsychotic medications significantly declined,” said Mark Parkinson president and CEO of AHCA, in a released statement.

 

“Those who continue to criticize the nursing home sector are the same people who refuse to prioritize our residents and staff for resources that will help save and improve lives,” noted Parkinson, whose Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the nation. “Additional oversight without corresponding assistance will not improve resident care. To make real improvements, we need policymakers to prioritize investing in this chronically underfunded health care sector and support providers’ improvement on the metrics that matter for residents,” he said.

 

It’s time to stop blaming nursing homes for a once-in-a-century pandemic that uniquely targeted our residents and vilifying the heroic caregivers who did everything they could to protect the residents they have come to know as family,” said Parkinson. ““Long term care was already dealing with a workforce shortage prior to COVID, and the pandemic exacerbated the crisis. We would love to hire more nurses and nurse aides to support the increasing needs of our residents. However, we cannot meet additional staffing requirements when we can’t find people to fill the open positions nor when we don’t have the resources to compete against other employers,” he said.  

 

To read the White House Fact Sheet to improving the quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes, go to:

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/28/fact-sheet-protecting-seniors-and-people-with-disabilities-by-improving-safety-and-quality-of-care-in-the-nations-nursing-homes/

 

On Monday, March 7th at 9am, AARP Rhode Island and US Senators Reed and Whitehouse will speak on the need for lower prescription drug prices in a virtual press conference.

 

AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor, Volunteer State President Marcus Mitchell and Volunteer Lead Federal Liaison Dr. Phil Zarlengo will join Rhode Island US Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse for a virtual news conference highlighting the need for Congress to lower prescription drug prices. AARP Rhode Island will present the Senators with a petition signed by more than16,000 Rhode Islanders calling for Congress to act now and stop unfair drug prices.

 

You can listen in via ZOOM at:  

 

https://aarp-org.zoom.us/j/98668832992?pwd=bktuTjJBMUZhUDRaVDkvN2dCSXZqUT09

 

Passcode: 618357

 

Participants will respond to on-topic media questions posted in chat.

 

More information about AARP’s Fair Drug Prices campaign can be found at aarp.org/rx.

 

_____

 
RINewsToday

 

Herb Weiss, LRI’12, is a Pawtucket writer covering aging, health care and medical issues. To purchase Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly, a collection of 79 of his weekly commentaries, go to herbweiss.com.

 
 

7 Agencies plan to improve behavioral with new funding

7 agencies plan to improve behavioral health with new funding from Rhode Island Foundation

 
March 4, 2022/RINewsToday

 

Photo: Cranston HEZ

 

The Rhode Island Foundation today announced that it has awarded $1.375 million in grants focused on improving behavioral health across the state.

 

“These are extraordinarily stressful times for so many people in our state. Existing behavioral health challenges have been exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19. These grants focus on addressing disparities in access to behavioral health services and substance use treatment that are having a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, including communities of color,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO.

 

The seven nonprofit organizations that received funding will work in collaboration with community partners to tackle the behavioral health challenges of underserved populations in Central Falls, Cranston, West Warwick, Woonsocket, Newport County and South County. All seven proposals align with the Foundation’s long-term plan for health that has been endorsed by the Governor’s office and legislative leaders.

 

The Center for Health and Justice Transformation (CHJT) and ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) received $100,000 to develop new models for affordable apartments that include supportive services for people who have been incarcerated.

 

“The target populations are recently incarcerated people ages 55 plus who have chronic medical conditions resulting in disability. We will propose housing types and subsidies, while CHJT will recommend a supportive service model,” said Jennifer Hawkins, ONE|NB’s president and executive director.

 

This work will build on the efforts of CHJT’s Lifespan Transitions Clinic, which provides primary care and supportive services to individuals who were recently incarcerated and have multiple chronic health issues.

 

“We’ve learned many lessons over the years from our Transitions Clinic, and housing remains an indelible factor in long term successful health and social outcomes. We are thankful for our partnership with ONE Neighborhood Builders and the support from the Rhode Island Foundation,” said Mavis Nimoh, CHJT’s executive director.

 

The Children and Youth Cabinet (CYC) was awarded $250,000 to provide behavioral health care and prevention programs designed specifically for Latino youth and their families. The CYC is working with the Central Falls School District.

 

“We employ a workforce that represents the residents of Central Falls to provide culturally relevant programming that we know leads to better retention, engagement and outcomes,” said Rebecca Boxx, CYC’s executive director. “We can best improve behavioral health equity by implementing specialized programs and services that speak directly to community members’ culture, ethnicity and unique needs because they have been designed by Hispanic/Latinx program developers.”

 

The programs include “Act and Adapt,” which addresses acute depression in youth of color; and “Familias Unidas,” a Spanish-language program for Latino, immigrant families.

 

The objectives are to screen 200 students for acute depression, to serve 120 students with “Act and Adapt,” to serve 132 students and 72 caretakers with “Familias Unidas;” and to train 200 educators.

 

“Latino youth are at greater risk for depression relative to youth of other ethnic groups and Latino and Black youth are less likely to receive services for depression and other internalizing problems,” said Boxx.

 

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Washington County, one of 15 state-designated Health Equity Zones, received $250,000 to hire youth organizers to work in four challenged communities in the region.

 

“These communities face significantly more medical, behavioral health, educational and socio-economic challenges than most of South County,” said Sue Orban, director of Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds. “There is a growing body of literature that suggests when youth are engaged and have a seat at the decision-making table, they present innovative and effective solutions.”

 

Each location already has a community health worker who will work with the youth organizers to connect young residents with appropriate behavioral health, social service and school supports.

 

The OneCranston Health Equity Zone received $250,000 to launch a family support center to improve the behavioral health of Cranston children and adolescents. As the health equity zone’s “backbone agency,” the Comprehensive Community Action Program will facilitate the work.

 

Located across from Bain Middle School, the center will provide a wide range of resources and services, including evidence-based parenting education and support, which will offer tools for building a foundation for emotionally healthy children and adolescents, and their families. The center is an intervention that builds on OneCranston Health Equity Zone’s priorities around youth opportunity and community trauma.

 

“The goal is to promote responsive, strength-based parenting and reduce the incidence and impacts of adverse childhood experiences that often accompany family challenges such as mental health, domestic violence, substance use and instability, all of which have been worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sarah Cote, director of the health equity zone initiative. “This builds on our priorities around youth opportunity and community trauma.”

 

The Strategic Prevention Partnership received $125,000 to support the ‘No Wrong Door’ system of care in Newport County.

 

“Our initiative brings together a range of key local stakeholders from within and beyond the behavioral health sector, including participation from the Newport Health Equity Zone,” said Rebecca Elwell, director of the Newport County Prevention Coalition.

 

The grant will support the design and implementation of the Behavioral Health Community Council (BHCC) and the Interagency Care Coordination Team (ICCT). The BHCC, made up of local behavioral health providers and community stakeholders, is a governing council that will identify barriers to care, service gaps and determinants of health that will inform the system of care’s areas of focus. The ICCT will share information and collaborate on care for the clients with the most complex treatment needs.

 

“The vision is an engaged community collaborative that works together to ensure better behavioral health outcomes for all children and youth, especially those from under-resourced communities and with complex treatment needs,” said Elwell.

 

The West Warwick Healthy Equity Zone received $125,000 to lead a broad, community-driven planning initiative to help increase the supply of affordable housing in town. The work will be led by residents and several local organizations, including Better Lives Rhode Island, Women’s Development Corporation, Thrive Behavioral Health, Help the Homeless RI and Thundermist Health Center.

 

“We’re focused on ensuring residents have safe and affordable housing and are experiencing a mutually beneficial landlord relationship with a focus on health equity,” said Susan Jacobsen, senior director of health equity initiatives for Thundermist Health.

 

The partnership plans to strengthen partnerships with housing developers, the West Warwick Housing Authority and a range of health and human service providers to create sufficient affordable, supportive housing, specifically targeting people who have behavioral health challenges who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

 

“By increasing access to medical care, behavioral health care and housing as a package, we can ensure that people who are most vulnerable have access to the appropriate level of care in the community,” said Jacobsen.

 

Wendy Boudreau, a West Warwick resident and community organizer for the health equity zone, said she is excited about the initiative.

 

“There is a very high rate of people in our community who experience being cost burdened by housing. We need to increase the housing stock and improve access to safe, healthy and affordable homes. Our community needs this to continue to improve our health,” said Boudreau.

 

The Woonsocket Health Equity Zone received $250,000 to launch the “Child Friendly Woonsocket” initiative. The work will be led by the Health Equity Zone Steering Committee, which is comprised of residents and dozens of local organizations, including Thundermist Health, the Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association and the WATCH (Woonsocket Alliance to Champion Hope) Coalition.

 

“Places are child friendly when all children and families live in neighborhoods where people are connected to each other and to community resources that reinforce health and well-being,” said Thundermist Health’s Jacobsen.

 

“We’re talking about creating and nurturing places where trusting relationships are built on a foundation of mutual respect, where cultural sensitivity and humility exist between residents of all ages, where children and youth live in safe, nurturing homes within families and communities that support healthy development,” she said.

 

The partnership will develop a data-driven strategy by engaging residents, including caregivers, youth, local partners and state agencies. The goal is to use the data to build a resilient community that addresses the social and structural determinants of good mental health.              

 

“Our partners will seek to impact population-level health equity, including reducing police involvement in school discipline events, expediting child and caregiver behavioral health treatment; increasing the number of infant child care slots in Woonsocket and increasing on-time well visits to pediatricians,” said Jacobsen.

 

The Foundation received 39 applications. The recipients were selected based on how well they brought together clinical and community-based organizations, engaged residents, proposed measuring outcomes and leveraged other funding or in-kind support.

 

“We sought place-based initiatives that will bring together partners that have a shared vision and action plan to address the crucial social determinants of health,” said Foundation CEO Steinberg.

 

The funding is through the Foundation’s Fund for a Healthy Rhode Island.

 

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $98 million and awarded $76 million in grants in 2021. Through leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Part of the Newport Cliff Walk collapses.  The sale of National Grid's Rhode Island operation is on hold.  Gas prices in the Ocean State are approaching four dollars per gallon.

>>Portion Of Newport Cliff Walk Collapses

(Newport, RI)  --  The city of Newport says a stretch of the famous Cliff Walk collapsed into the ocean on Thursday.  Officials say the affected portion of the Cliff Walk near Salve Regina University will be closed for the foreseeable future.  No injuries were reported, but the Rhode Island State Police used a cadaver dog to make sure there was no one underneath the debris.  The Newport Daily News quoted the director of the city's public service department as saying he thinks yesterday's collapse was worse than the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy.

>>Massachusetts Steps Into RI National Grid Sale

(Boston, MA)  --  The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is getting involved in the sale of National Grid's electric utility operation in Rhode Island.  Mass A.G. Maura Healey has raised concerns about ratepayers facing additional costs in her state.  National Grid is attempting to sell Narragansett Electric Company to Pennsylvania-based energy company PPL.  The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial court froze the transaction on Thursday, which also puts a pause on a separate challenge that has brought forth by the Rhode Island attorney general.

>>RI Gas Prices Nearing $4 A Gallon

(Undated)  --  Rhode Island's average gas price is up to three dollars and 74 cents, according to RIGasPrices.com.  One month ago, the average was three-42.  There is talk of the U.S. banning Russian oil imports in response to the war in Ukraine, but the White House is reportedly lukewarm to the idea because it would cause gas prices to escalate even higher.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,415

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths on Thursday.  The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to three-thousand-415.  The number of new virus cases was one-hundred-89.

>>Providence Students Go To Hospital After Science Experiment

(Providence, RI)  --  Several students at PVD Prep school in Providence were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure on Thursday.  The students were reportedly working on a volcano-building experiment that involved hydrogen peroxide and experienced a burning sensation on their hands.  School officials say additional safety measures will be taken during future science-based activities.

>>Convicted Ex-Fall River Mayor's Prison Sentence Delayed To April

(Fall River, MA)  --  Former Fall River, Massachusetts mayor Jasiel Correia [[ JAY-seel core-RAY-uh ]] is continuing to avoid the start of a federal prison sentence.  Correia was convicted in 2021 on charges related to defrauding investors for a cell phone app and shaking down potential marijuana businesses in the city for bribes.  He was sentenced to six years.  A judge has granted an extension of Correia's prison term start to April 5th, citing a filing deadline for attorneys in federal appeals court.  Correia previously asked to be able to remain a free man so he could help with his wife's restaurant in Fall River and due to coronavirus cases in the prison system.

>>Bruins Visit Thunderbirds, Host Penguins 

(Providence, RI)  --  The Providence Bruins have two games this weekend.  The P-Bruins are coming off a 5-to-3 road win versus Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.  They'll stay on the road to play the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday night.  Providence hosts the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Sunday at 3:05 p.m.

###
Jim McCabe/nf          RI) 
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-04-2022 03:38:08

RI Veterans - Did You Know?

RI Veterans: Did you know? 3 March 22 – John A. Cianci

March 3, 2022/John Cianci

by John A Cianci, Department Veterans Service Officer, Italian American War Veterans (ITAM)

How to obtain a VA Home Loan Guarantee while awaiting a copy of your DD214 or Discharge papers

Did you know a veteran home loan is a lifetime benefit; you can use the guaranty multiple times.

Did you know it’s possible to obtain your eligibility for a VA loan even if you don’t have a copy of DD214 or discharge available thru the VA in a day or two in most cases?

How do I obtain a copy of my DD214 to use for my eligibility for a VA home loan? Tami I, Navy Veteran, North Kingstown RI

First, Tami, did you ever apply for a tax exemption in any town or city in Rhode Island. If yes, contact the town or city, who should have a copy on file.

If you didn’t apply at a town or city, option 1 is a free copy of your DD214 from National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records. Under normal conditions, this process takes an average ten days. However, due to COVID 19, average wait time is 12-18 months.

However, the Italian American War Veterans of the US has uncovered a way to obtain a copy of your DD214 on the same day you start the process.

Tami followed the steps below, and within a few hours, she was able to obtain a Certification of Eligibility for VA Home Loan, without her DD214.

Step 1 Register with the VA on https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage

If you are using the VA and not signed up for ebenfits.va.gov, sign up. Don’t give up if you receive a message to update DEERS information by calling a number. Call the number.

VETTIP – Expect to be on hold for 30-40 minutes, however, once the next operator is available, they will assist you and update DEERS.

If you are not using the VA health care system and have never registered with the VA, more than likely you still will be able to register on ebenefits.va.gov.

Step 2 – Log-on to e-benefits. After signing in, a screen will appear to give you options. One option is Your VA Letters, click below on letter generator.

Follow the instructions on the screen:

  • Another screen will appear, click on Sign In or Create Account under download VA benefit letters.
  • After clicking download VA letters, you click on View Letters.
  • Select Sign in to ebenefits to request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for your home loan benefits.
  • In a few minutes, the letter will appear. Print the COE, and you now have the required paperwork a bank, mortgage, loan company or other financier will require as proof you are eligible for a VA Home Loan Guarantee.

More about VA Home Loans from the VA Home Loan Guaranty Buyer’s Guide, https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/documents/docs/VA_Buyers_Guide.pdf

About Home Loans

VA helps Servicemembers, Veterans, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of our mission to serve you, we provide a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help you buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy.

VA Home Loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks and mortgage companies. VA guarantees a portion of the loan, enabling the lender to provide you with more favorable terms.

Interested in buying a home?

  • Before you buy, be sure to read the VA Home Loan Buyer’s Guide. This guide can help you under the homebuying process and how to make the most of your VA loan benefit. Download the Buyer’s Guide here.
  • Main pillars of the VA home loan benefit
  • No down payment required 
    (*Note: Lenders may require down payments for some borrowers using the VA home loan guaranty, but VA does not require a down payment)
  • Competitively low interest rates
  • Limited closing costs
  • No need for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
  • The VA home loan is a lifetime benefit: you can use the guaranty multiple times

What is the VA Home Loan ‘Guaranty’?

The VA home loan guaranty is an agreement that the VA will reimburse a lender (such as banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, etc.) in the event of loss due to foreclosure. This guaranty takes the place of your down payment.

Who is eligible for a VA Home Loan?

Active-duty servicemembers and Veterans with discharges other than dishonorable, National Guard and Reserve service members and Veterans with an honorable discharge, certain eligible spouses, and other uniformed service personnel may be eligible for VA home loan guaranty benefits. The full listing is available online at: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/eligibility/.

Is there a fee to use the VA Home Loan Guaranty?

Yes, but the funding fee can be waived (see list below). To keep the program viable, Congress instituted a program funding fee, which is a percentage of the total loan amount. This user fee varies based whether the loan is a first-time or subsequent (second, third, etc.) use of the benefit. The funding fee may be paid in cash or included in the loan at closing.

*The funding fee can also be paid by the seller, lender, or any other party on your behalf. 

The following individuals do not pay the VA funding fee:

  • Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability.
  • Veterans entitled to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability, but receive retirement pay or active service pay.
  • Un-remarried surviving spouses of Veterans who died in active service or from a service-connected disability.
  • Service member with a proposed or memorandum rating from VA, prior to loan closing, as eligible to receive compensation as a result of a pre-discharge claim.
  • Service member on active duty who provides, on or before the date of loan closing, evidence of having been awarded the Purple Heart.

Is there a limit to the size of a VA-backed mortgage?

There are no loan limits if one has full home loan benefit or full entitlement. If you are a first-time homebuyer or have sold your previous VA-backed home and paid your loan in full, you can enjoy VA- backing on a home loan regardless of home price and without the need for a down payment. Of course, you must be able to afford the home and the property must appraise for at least the purchase price, otherwise you may have to make a small down payment.

What if I want to buy a home while I still have another VA Home Loan?

While you can buy a home for any loan amount, you must either sell your previous home or understand VA rules on subsequent purchases and remaining entitlement. Those who purchase a subsequent home without selling their previous VA-guaranteed home will continue to follow their county conforming loan limit for the VA loan guaranty. This may mean a down payment on any amount above the loan limit.

Note: You must be able to afford all your VA loans at the same time and the subsequent home must become your residence.

Why choose VA?

The VA Home Loan is often the best home loan product for Veterans. Some benefits include:

  • No down payment as long as the sales price is at or below the home’s appraised value (the value set for the home after an expert review of the property) No loan limit with full entitlement if you can afford the loan, VA will back loans in all areas of the country, regardless of home price.
  • Competitive terms and interest rates from private banks, mortgage lenders, or credit unions
  • No need for private mortgage insurance (PMI) or mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) Fewer closing costs, which may be paid by the seller, lender, or any other party
  • No penalty fee for paying off the loan early
  • Access to VA loan staff who can answer questions by mail or phone (1-877-827-3702). (Contact information is online at: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/contact_rlc_info.asp)

In summary, veterans eligible for VA Home Loan can obtain his or her Certificate of Eligibility (CUE) for home loan guarantee on the same day even without his or her DD214 and or discharge papers, simply by registering with VA ebenefits.va.gov

Veterans you earned VA home loan guarantee. Applying and receiving your eligibility could save you thousands of dollars to finance a home even if you don’t have a down payment.

RESOURCES

AARP offers a free career center for veterans, http://campaigns-aarp-org-stage.targetclose.com/veteran-job-center . The center offers a free course, Veterans Career Advantage,  job search tool for companies seeking veteran employees, link to access what a good resume looks like, and other tips for veterans seeking employment. 

March 11-13, Friday thru Saturday 11am thru 8pm. VFW is hosting a veteran community outreach program at the Warwick Mall, Community Booth. For more information, call Tiger at 401-677-9374 .

EVENTS

March 19, 2022, 1pm – 5pm, Rhode Island Veterans Home, Bristol RI, St Joseph’s and St Patrick’s’ Day Celebration for resident veterans at the Rhode Island Veterans Home Gally hosted by the Italian American War Veterans of the US, Inc and Auxiliary, Berard Desjarlais American Legion Post #88 and Auxiliary, War Car Cruise, and Veterans of Foreign War Post #237, Bristol RI.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact ITAM at (401) 677-9828 or email itamri4vets@gmail.com for more information on volunteering, looking for volunteer accordion player for Italian music and other traditional Italian and Irish ideas.

March 24, 2022, 1:00-5pm, Rhode Island Veterans Home, Bristol, RI, women veterans and active-duty women are invited to the annual tea event which also will recognize Women’s Military History.

All Military Active-Duty Women and Women Veterans are invited to the RI Veterans Home to honor and celebrate the annual tea. All services, all eras, all wars, please come and enjoy coffee, tea and refreshments. Recognize Women’s History Month by telling your stories or listen to stories of Women who served in the Military, Women who served their country in many ways

and legacy of achievements.

DISCOUNTS

Restaurants

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 Ave, 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

AT&T Wireless Discount – Active Duty, Reserves, National Guard, Spouses and Veterans get 25% off on mobile phone services. Just present identification or proof veteran status to any AT&T store

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. BJ’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 – 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% discount offers for 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 – 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.

T-Mobile – T-Mobile offers up to half off military discount wireless plans. Save $25 per line on up to four lines with the Magenta Military signature plan, and $35 per line on up to four lines with the premium plan, Magenta Plus Military. The military programs are available to active-duty military, veterans, retirees, and reservists.

Verizon Fios – Veterans, active-duty military, retirees, and reservists can receive a discount on either new or existing Verizon Fios services (Internet, TV, Landline). Offer includes $10 off Fios Triple Play, $5 off Fios Double Play, or $5 off standalone internet.

Verizon Wireless – Active-Duty military and all Federal Government employees can get 15% discount on monthly plans $35 and above and 25% off accessories.

Xfinity Residential – If you are currently serving in the military or you are a veteran Xfinity offers a $100 Visa® Prepaid card and $25 Xfinity Coupon that can be used toward your next Xfinity On Demand rental or purchase or as a credit toward your bill.

_____

If you are a retailer and or a veteran aware of a business not listed above, please forward , itamri4vets@gmail.com:  the business’s 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.

ART! Elliott Landy photographs at the Hammet Hotel in Newport

ART! Elliott Landy Photographs at Newport’s Hammetts Hotel

 
March 2, 2022/Nancy Thomas

 

The third collaboration between Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design and the Hammetts Hotel in Newport will feature the exhibition of Elliott Landy Photographs at the hotel’s Sarah Langley Gallery. Called Newport Curates, the collaboration features the work of Landy, who has been with Jessican Hagen’s gallery since his first solo exhibition at the Newport Antiques Show in 2017.

 

The exhibition runs February 12th through March 31st. A Preview event will take place Thursday, March 3rd from 6 to 8pm.

 

The Hotel is at 4 Commercial Wharf, in Newport.

 

Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design is pleased to announce the new exhibition: Elliott Landy Photographs at the Sarah Langley Gallery in the Hammetts Hotel in Newport, RI. This show marks Jessica Hagen’s third collaboration at the hotel with Newport Curates. Photographer Elliott Landy been with Jessica Hagen’s gallery since his first solo exhibition with her at the Newport Antiques Show in 2017.

 

Elliott Landy began his photographic career in the late 1960s, working with underground newspapers to express his own “visual voice” in support of the rising tide of antiwar sentiment in the U.S. at that time. His press pass and camera not only gave him access to the political scene but also provided him a personal entry into the new rock music counterculture.

 

 

Elliott Landy photographed the Newport Folk Festival in 1968, capturing music legends Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Janis Joplin, to name a few. Landy’s iconic photographs of Bob Dylan and The Band during the years they resided and recorded in Woodstock, New York, and his coverage of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, captured the attention of a new generation seeking spiritual and artistic freedom. Landy’s celebrated works include portraits of Bob Dylan (Nashville Skyline), The Band (Music from Big Pink, The Band), Janis Joplin (Big Brother & The Holding Company, Cheap Thrills), Van Morrison (Moondance), Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and many others. Elliott Landy’s photographs have been exhibited and published worldwide.

 

Best known for his classic “rock” photographs, Landy was one of the first music photographers to be recognized as an “artist.” His celebrated works include portraits of Bob Dylan (Nashville Skyline), The Band (Music from Big Pink, The Band), Janis Joplin (Big Brother & the Holding Company, Cheap Thrills), Van Morrison (Moondance), Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and many others.

 

Since 1967, Landy’s work has been exhibited and published worldwide. He is the author of eight books and is the architect of a new software system and app, LandyVision, that blends moving imagery with music to create an interactive sound and visual experience that has never been seen before.

 

 

Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design was founded in 2005 and features contemporary American art, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, and jewelry. Located in the historic Point section of Newport, the gallery’s winter hours are Thursday and Friday 11:00- 4:00 and Saturday 11:00- 5:00, as well as by appointment.

 

Contact: Jessica Hagen at jessica@jessicahagen.com or 401-835-7682

Rhode Island News Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news:  Rhode Island health officials are seeking applicants to open facilities where illegal drugs can be safely used.  Former Rhode Island governor and current U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was the "designated survivor" during last night's State of the Union address.  Providence College men's basketball has concluded its regular season.

>>Applications Accepted For Rhode Island Injection Sites; Marijuana Bill Proposed

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Health is now accepting applications from organizations that want to host the state's first so-called "harm reduction centers".  Those are safe spaces for people to inject illegal drugs under medical supervision.  Legislation was approved by Governor McKee in 2021 authorizing a two-year pilot program.  Meanwhile, a new bill which would legalize recreational marijuana sales in Rhode Island was introduced in the state legislature on Tuesday.

>>Gina Raimondo "Designated Survivor" During SOTU

(Washington, DC)  --  Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo was the designated survivor of President Biden's cabinet during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday.  Raimondo, now serving as the United States Secretary of Commerce, did not attend Biden's address but instead watched it from a secure location in the event of a catastrophe.  Raimondo is returning to Rhode Island later this month.  Brown University announced on Monday that she will be delivering a lecture on the campus March 15th.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,413

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported one new coronavirus death on Tuesday.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to three-thousand-413.  There were one-hundred-fifty new virus cases and one-hundred-17 COVID patients in Rhode Island hospitals as of yesterday's update.

>>Members Of Providence Gang Plead Guilty To Racketeering Charges

(Providence, RI)  --  The Justice Department says four members of a gang in Providence have pleaded guilty to federal charges.  Prosecutors say the leaders of the Chad Brown gang admitted to participation in a racketeering enterprise that was responsible for gun violence which targeted rival gang members, plus drug trafficking.  The men are looking at a decade in prison.

>>Homeless At Warwick Hotel Leaving This Spring

(Warwick, RI)  --  It's almost checkout time for those who have been using a Warwick hotel as a homeless shelter since November.  The non-profit organization Crossroads RI says the guests at the NYLO Hotel are leaving next month.  Crossroads is working on finding alternate housing options for those sheltered at the hotel that's located off State Route 5.

>>PC Regular Season Ends With Loss To 'Nova

(Villanova, PA)  --  The Providence College men's basketball team concluded the regular season with a 76-to-74 loss at Villanova on Tuesday night.  The Friars finished the season 24-and-4 overall and they went 14-and-3 in the Big East Conference.  They will have a first-round bye as the top seed in the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.  PC's first game will be next Thursday. 

###
Jim McCabe/nf      RI) 
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-02-2022 03:13:10

17th Poetry Out Loud competition

17th Poetry Out Loud competition

 
March 1, 2022/RINewsToday

 

10 RI high school students compete in the 17th Poetry Out Loud competition, March 6

 

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) announced today that 10 RI high school students will participate in the Poetry Out Loud state finals on March 6 in a private ceremony at The Greenwich Odeum at 11 a.m. To watch the event and learn more about Poetry Out Loud RI, visit the Poetry Out Loud RI Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/Poetryoutloudri/

 

Poetry Out Loud state finalists:  

  1. Mariama Bandabaila, Classical High School, Providence.
  2. Kaleah Bodden, Providence Country Day School, East Providence.
  3. Johanny Duran, Central High School, Providence.
  4. Claire Fitzgerald, La Salle Academy, Providence.
  5. Leanne Gomes, St. Patrick Academy, Providence.
  6. Virginia Keister, Chariho Regional High School, Wood River Junction. 
  7. Ailyn Mendoza, Central Falls High School, Central Falls.
  8. Kaleb Pereira, Cranston West High School, Cranston.
  9. Nazarae Phillip, East Providence High School, East Providence.
  10. Jennifer Shon, Portsmouth Abbey, Portsmouth.

 

At the Rhode Island State Finals, contestants will recite works they selected from an anthology of more than 900 classic and contemporary poems. Additionally, Damont “Mr. Orange” Combs, Providence, will be presenting as the guest poet. 

 

Under the direction of 39 teachers, some 1,901 RI high school students participated in this year’s Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. The contest, a partnership with RISCA, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation, inspires high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition. 

 

Our community partners include POL RI Program Coordinator Martha Lavieri, Teaching Artists Kate Lohman and Combs, The Providence Athenaeum, the Rhode Island Center for the Book and RISCA. Special thanks to the Greenwich Odeum in East Greenwich for hosting the private in-person portion of the event.

 

The Poetry Out Loud competition uses a pyramid structure, which begins in the classroom. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to the state competition, and ultimately to the national finals in Washington, D.C. (To be held virtually this year.) 

 

Students participating in the Poetry Out Loud program have benefited from educational materials created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. These standards-based curriculum materials include an online anthology, a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and video and audio on the art of recitation. Schools are welcome to download these free resources at www.poetryoutloud.org.? 

 

___

 
 
 
 
 
 

National Endowment for the Arts  was established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. 

The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative partnerships, prizes, and programs. 

RINewsToday

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) is a state agency, supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders. 

 
Posted in 

Rhode Island Summary

(Undated)  --  Here is the latest news: Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee tells President Biden his state is ready to accept refugees from Ukraine.  A racial reparations committee is being formed by the city of Providence.  The RI Department of Environmental Management has a new website that will help outdoor recreational enthusiasts. 

>>Governor: Rhode Island Ready To Accept Ukrainian Refugees

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island is ready to host refugees from Ukraine, according to Governor Dan McKee.  The governor sent a letter to President Biden on Monday saying he was shocked and saddened to witness the devastation taking place during Russia's ongoing military incursion.  McKee called it a despicable act of war which has forced hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to flee for their lives.

>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,412

(Providence, RI)  --  Rhode Island reported six new coronavirus deaths over the weekend.  The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State as of Monday's update was three-thousand-412.  There were one-hundred-23 new virus cases.  The Providence Journal reported on Friday that the McKee administration announced plans to close the COVID vaccination site at the Rhode Island Convention Center over the weekend as the state transitions to an endemic strategy. 

>>State Looking To Extend Providence Public Schools Turnaround Plan

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Education is seeking to extend the deadline for its Providence School District turnaround plan.  The state took over the district in 2019 following a scathing public report on its performance.  The turnaround plan was supposed to be five years, but State Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green [[ ahn-HELL-ick-uh in-FAHN-tay ]] told WPRI-TV the coronavirus pandemic caused a delay.  A progress report on the turnaround plan was given to the Rhode Island Senate Oversight Committee on Monday night. 

>>Providence Reparations Committee Announced

(Providence, RI)  --  Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza signed an executive order on Monday to form a commission focused on racial reparations.  Elorza has proposed spending 15-million dollars of the city's share from the American Rescue Plan Act.  Elorza's administration is focusing on urban renewal projects which displaced communities of color in Providence in the 1950s and 60s instead of the U.S. slavery era.  The reparations commission has three months to submit a report. 

>>Windshield Smashed By Flying Ice

(Undated)  --  A Rhode Island driver survived after a sheet of ice smashed her windshield this past weekend.  Laura Stebbins of Exeter says she was driving on the South County Trail on Saturday afternoon when the ice from another vehicle hit hers.  Stebbins told multiple media outlets the impact knocked off her E-ZPass transponder and sent pieces of glass flying.  She said police caught up with the other driver and fined them 85-dollars.

>>Rhode Island DEM Has New Consolidated Services Website

(Providence, RI)  --  The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has launched a new website.  The DEM says the new site, called Rhode Island Outdoors, will serve as a one-stop shop for fishers, hunters and boaters who are looking to obtain licenses, permits and tags.  The website address is RIO.RI.gov. 

###
Jim McCabe/jb          RI) BN)  
Copyright © 2022
TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

03-01-2022 02:58:09

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