Woonsocket as a town was not established until 1867 when three villages in the town of Cumberland, namely Woonsocket Falls, Social and Jenckesville, officially became the town of Woonsocket.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: Friday is another fire danger day in Southern New England. A Rhode Island man is fatally shot after an attempted apprehension by state police and the U.S. Marshals. The Patriots make a trade in the first round of the '22 NFL Draft.
>>Elevated Fire Risk In RI Friday
(Undated) -- Rhode Island remains under an elevated fire weather risk on Friday. The National Weather Service says the raised concerns are due to a very dry air mass and gusty winds. Forecasters say the winds will be out of the northwest at 15 to 25 miles per hour, and minimum relative humidities will range between 20 and 30 percent.
>>Law Enforcement Fatally Shoots Wanted Man In Woonsocket
(Woonsocket, RI) -- The Rhode Island State Police provided an update on Thursday afternoon about an officer-involved shooting which resulted in the death of a suspect. Russell Dufault of Portsmouth was wanted for a kidnapping and felony assault in Little Compton on Wednesday morning. The state police and U.S. Marshals tracked down Dufault because he was allegedly armed during the incident and because he had a criminal history including several counts of armed robbery. The Violent Fugitive Task Force found Dufault behind the wheel of an SUV on North Main Street in Woonsocket Wednesday night. With a gun in the vehicle, he allegedly attempted to drive away and was shot after knocking a marshal onto the hood and pinning a detective against a police cruiser, causing them minor injuries. State police superintendent James Manni says officers tried to save Dufault's life at the scene, but he was pronounced dead at Landmark Medical Center. The incident is under investigation by the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office.
>>Another Complaint About A North Kingstown Coach
(North Kingstown, RI) -- The Providence Journal reports the U.S. Attorney's Office is again being asked to investigate how North Kingstown school officials handled a complaint against a sports coach. The coach, who has not been named, was reportedly removed from his position in 2019 after he was accused of inappropriate behavior with a young girl. The attorney handling the case is also representing several former North Kingstown high school students who have alleged that the former basketball head coach performed questionable body fat tests on them.
>>RI Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Stealing Employee Tax Money
(Providence, RI) -- A Rhode Island businessman is being sentenced for pocketing employee federal withholding taxes. The Justice Department says Steven Allard of North Scituate was ordered to serve nearly three years in prison. Allard, who owned and operated the corporations BR Steel in Burrillville and Greystone Iron in Smithfield, admitted to keeping over a half-million dollars. This is the third time he has been federally convicted and sentenced.
>>Patriots Draft Offensive Lineman In First Round
(Foxboro, MA) -- The New England Patriots are re-stocking the roster as the 2022 NFL Draft has gotten underway. New England traded their 21st overall selection to the Kansas City Chiefs for three picks, including the 29th. The Patriots used that first-round pick to take offensive lineman Cole Strange out of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Strange was named the top offensive lineman in his conference for the last two years. The draft concludes on Saturday.
>>Bruins Host Thunderbirds, Comets
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins are playing their last two games of the season before the American Hockey League playoffs begin. The P-Bruins are hosting Springfield and Utica at the Dunk on Friday and Saturday. Both games start at 7:05 p.m. Providence lost 2-to-1 in overtime versus the Syracuse Crunch on the road Wednesday.
>>Pawtucket Mills Purchased
(Pawtucket, RI) -- A developer who has purchased a number of old mill properties in Pawtucket is adding two more. According to a report from the Valley Breeze, Jonathan Savage, whose portfolio includes the Miss Lorraine Diner mill building on Mineral Spring Avenue, bought two properties near the Providence line for about six-million dollars. There are no changes anticipated to the current tenant mix at the mills on Pawtucket and Esten avenues.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: A Rhode Island state police trooper was reportedly involved in a shooting last night. History has been made with the choosing of a new state police superintendent. A Massachusetts man has been sentenced in Rhode Island federal court for distributing illegal steroids.
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>>State Police Trooper Reportedly Involved In Shooting In Woonsocket
(Woonsocket, RI) -- The Rhode Island State Police is investigating a trooper-involved shooting in Woonsocket. Multiple reports indicate a suspect was shot on North Main Street after a motor vehicle crash took place at around 7:00 Wednesday night. The condition of the individual who was shot was not immediately available. The state police reportedly planned to hold a press conference Thursday morning about the incident, but that has since been canceled.
>>First POC Head Of RI State Police
(Providence, RI) -- The Rhode Island State Police has its first person of color superintendent. Lieutenant Colonel Darnell Weaver will be promoted to take over for James Manni, who is stepping down next month for the town manager job in South Kingstown. Weaver has been with the state police for nearly three decades. He will be sworn in by Governor Dan McKee on Friday.
>>Tuskegee Airman Celebrating 100th Birthday, Asking For Cards
(Cranston, RI) -- A Rhode Island member of the Tuskegee Airmen is celebrating his 100th birthday. Retired Sergeant Victor Butler was a mechanic for the Airmen, which was a World War Two group of mostly black men who were the first to take to the skies to fight for the United States military. Cards for Butler, whose birthday is May 21st, can be mailed to the address: P.O. Box 3523, Cranston, Rhode Island, 02910.
>>No New RI COVID Deaths Wednesday, Nearly 400 New Cases
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported zero new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday. The number of new virus cases was three-hundred-81. Rhode Island hospitals counted 72 COVID patients in yesterday's update.
>>Local Man Sentenced For Distributing Illegal Steroids
(Providence, RI) -- A North Attleboro man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for a steroid distribution conspiracy. David Esser was arrested a second time for continuing the conspiracy while he awaited trial in 2020. Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Zach Cunha [[ PRO ]] says Esser oversaw a sprawling illegal drug operation and funneled the profits into cryptocurrency, which he now has to forfeit.
>>Boil Order For Burrillville Apartments
(Burrillville, RI) -- A boil water notice has been issued for an apartment complex in Burrillville. People living in the Apartments at 970 Victory Highway are being advised because of the detection of E. coli bacteria, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. The order will be in effect until the water system investigates the source of the bacteria and completes corrective actions, according to the state.
>>Cashless Policy At Fenway Park Okay
(Boston, MA) -- The Massachusetts Attorney General's office says the new cashless policy at Fenway Park is not a violation of state law. For fans without a credit card or smartphone app, there are kiosks in the park that allow for the loading of cash onto debit cards. Mass A.G. Maura Healey says she's been persuaded that the Red Sox are following the law which says that retailers cannot refuse cash payments.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: Former president Bill Clinton was in Rhode Island on Tuesday. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is proposing his final budget before term limits take him out of the office. The RI State Police makes several arrests after searching a motorcycle club.
>>Bill Clinton Participates In Brown Lecture Series
(Providence, RI) -- Former president Bill Clinton spoke at Brown University on Tuesday. Clinton took part in a lecture series that's named for Casey Shearer, a Brown student who died days before he was set to graduate in 2000. His father Derek Shearer, a U.S. ambassador to Finland during Clinton's presidency, also took the stage yesterday. Among the topics discussed were global politics, including the war in Ukraine.
>>RI Senate Passes Voting Bill
(Providence, RI) -- A voting rights bill has cleared one chamber of the Rhode Island General Assembly. The state Senate has approved the Let RI Vote Act, which makes permanent several provisions which were put in place to protect voters during the pandemic in 2020. The legislation would expand the use of mail ballots, and it would drop the requirement for the ballots to be signed by two witnesses or get notarized. All Rhode Island municipalities would have to maintain a ballot drop box. The bill moves to the House of Representatives.
>>Providence FY 23 Budget Submitted
(Providence, RI) -- Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza has presented his final budget. The total for the FY 2023 spending plan is around 567-million dollars, an increase of 27-million from the previous fiscal year. While the city previously faced a deficit, since Elorza was elected, Providence has had six consecutive operating surpluses. Although the pension system remains a pressing challenge, the mayor's office says Providence has made the required payment for the last ten years, and this proposed budget will enable the city to continue doing so.
>>First Mayor Of East Providence Running To Retain Office
(East Providence, RI) -- East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva is running for re-election. DaSilva made history as the first-ever mayor of E.P. in 2019 after a change was made to the city's government structure. Governor Dan McKee attended DaSilva's campaign announcement at Amaral Custom Fabrications in Rumford on Tuesday.
>>Motorcycle Club Members Arrested
(Woonsocket, RI) -- The Rhode Island State Police says several people are facing drug charges after a search warrant was executed on a motorcycle club. Police targeted the Outlaws clubhouse on Fabien Street in Woonsocket. Among the items seized allegedly included a pound of methamphetamine. Three people, including two known members of the club, are facing charges.
>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,538
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported three new coronavirus deaths on Tuesday. The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to three-thousand-538. The number of new virus cases yesterday was three-hundred-61. There were 65 COVID patients in Rhode Island hospitals.
>>Center For Vital Health Records Moving
(Providence, RI) -- The Rhode Island Department of Health's Center for Vital Records is moving from its Providence address. The center's new location will be at 6 Harrington Drive in Cranston. The office will be closed the rest of this week for the move. The new place in Cranston is expected to open on May 2nd. Officials will work to fulfill any emergency vital record requests in the meantime.
Cranston is home to the Budlong Pool, one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the country.
Built in the 1940s as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, it is a staple of the community. The WPA built thousands of roads, schools, and government buildings throughout the US - giving millions of people jobs during the Great Depression.
Undated) -- Here is the latest news: The Celtics sweep the Nets to move on to the NBA Playoffs second round. Governor McKee has appointed an acting secretary of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Supreme Court is declining to consider a challenge of a Rhode Island campaign finance law.
>>Celtics Sweep Nets In First Round
(Brooklyn, NY) -- The Boston Celtics are advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Boston beat the Brooklyn Nets Monday night 116-to-112 in New York to sweep the four-game series. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 29 points in Game 4. Boston will face the winner of the series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls.
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>>Child Rape Case Defendant In Court
(Plymouth, MA) -- A suspect in a statutory rape case in Plymouth County, Massachusetts who was from Rhode Island made a court appearance on Monday. NBC Boston reports 23-year-old Jared Soltys [[ SAUL-tiss ]], a graduate student at Brown University, allegedly met a twelve-year-old and thirteen-year-old girl over the weekend. The Hanson Police Department was notified about an inappropriate social media post involving the group, according to prosecutors. Soltys was released on bail and is due back in Plymouth District Court in June.
>>RI Man Sentenced For Bank Fraud
(Providence, RI) -- A Johnston man is being sentenced to about one-and-a-half years in federal prison for bank fraud. The Justice Department says Nestor Concepcion coordinated the deposits of multiple counterfeit checks with an intended loss to banks totaling about seventy-thousand dollars. The DOJ says Concepcion was previously sentenced for a similar conspiracy in 2019.
>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,535
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island has reported three new coronavirus deaths. The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State as of Monday's update was three-thousand-535. There were over eight-hundred new virus cases this past weekend. The COVID patient count in Rhode Island hospitals is 54.
>>Acting EOHHS Secretary Named
(Providence, RI) -- Governor Dan McKee has appointed an acting secretary of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services. WPRI-TV reports the position is being filled by Ana Novais. She most recently served as assistant secretary to Womazetta Jones, who resigned. Novais was also a deputy director at the Rhode Island Department of Health.
>>Supreme Court Won't Consider Suit Against Rhode Island Election Law
(Providence, RI) -- The United States Supreme Court is passing on a Rhode Island case. The Gaspee Project, a conservative group, sued over several transparency requirements in the Ocean State's campaign finance disclosure law. The Campaign Legal Center, which defended the state along with the attorney general, said the Supreme Court's denial of review will continue to enable Rhode Islanders to be well-informed heading to the polls.
>>Garth Brooks Playing Back-To-Back Shows At Gillette
(Foxboro, MA) -- Garth Brooks has announced a second concert at Gillette Stadium next month. The country music legend is performing on May 20th, in addition to his previously-scheduled show on the 21st. Brooks was set to make his debut at Gillette last year, but the show was canceled because of COVID concerns.
Small business owners across the country - and in Rhode Island - are reporting inflationary pressures are hurting their bottom line and adversely impacting their ability to hire and retain workers, according to new survey data of small business owners from Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices.
? 91% of small business owners say broader economic trends, such as inflation, supply chain issues, and workforce challenges, are having a negative impact on their business.
? 73% of all small business owners across all sectors said increasing energy costs are having negative impacts on their bottom lines.
? 42% reporting they have lost employees to larger businesses that are paying more
? 65% of businesses impacted by supply chain challenges saying it is a problem for their business that suppliers are favoring large businesses over small businesses
? 70% worry about employees leaving their businesses because larger businesses can offer higher pay and more generous benefits
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: The former mayor of Fall River who was convicted on federal charges has reported to prison. A new affordable housing building in Providence gets approval. The Celtics are looking to close out their first-round playoff series tonight.
>>Jasiel Correia Reports To Prison
(Berlin, NH) -- Former Fall River, Massachusetts mayor Jasiel Correia [[ JAY-seel core-RAY-uh ]] is now serving his federal prison sentence. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed Correia surrendered at a facility in New Hampshire on Friday. Correia was sentenced to six years in federal prison for fraud, extortion and conspiracy in September 2021. According to multiple media reports, Correia was granted a total of seven delays. A federal panel of judges denied him another extension last week as he appeals his conviction.
>>Nicholas Alahverdian Appears In Court
(Edinburgh, Scotland) -- The Providence Journal reports former Rhode Island child welfare activist Nicholas Alahverdian, who allegedly faked his own death, appeared at a preliminary extradition hearing in Scotland last Thursday. Although the man in question claims he is a victim of mistaken identity, authorities say they've positively identified him as Alahverdian, who is wanted for a rape charge in Utah and a fraud case in Ohio. A full extradition hearing is scheduled for June 9th.
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>>Providence Man Facing Sex Charge In Massachusetts
(Plymouth, MA) -- A Providence man is facing a charge of aggravated statutory rape of a child in Massachusetts. Twenty-three-year-old Jared Soltys was picked up by police in Hanson, Plymouth County over the weekend. Authorities were reportedly made aware of a social media video showing Soltys with a child. He's being held on twenty-thousand-dollars bail and is expected to be arraigned in district court on Monday.
>>New Crossroads RI Housing Approved
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Plan Commission has approved the design of a new affordable housing building that would be run by homeless service provider Crossroads Rhode Island. The vacant site in Upper South Providence would replace the nearby Crossroads "Tower" building on Broad Street where nearly two-hundred tenants have no private bathrooms or kitchens. Crossroads is hoping for construction to start in the fall.
>>Gilded Age Hiring Extras
(Newport, RI) -- HBO is seeking paid extras for the second season of the HBO series "The Gilded Age" in Newport. The Daily News reports the casting company is looking for Newport-area men to portray upper-class spectators of a tennis match, as well as gala attendees and waitstaff. Fitting sessions are happening Monday and Tuesday. Filming will take place May 9th to the 12th. Interested parties can email GildedAge@gycnyc.com.
>>Celtics Looking To Sweep Nets
(Brooklyn, NY) -- The Boston Celtics can advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs on Monday night. The C's are up three-games-to-none over the Brooklyn Nets after winning Game 3 Saturday night, 109-to-103. Game 4 in Brooklyn tips off tonight at 7:00.
>>Bruins Lose To Penguins, Checkers, Thunderbirds
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins had a tough weekend. A five-game winning streak has been replaced by a three-game slide. The Bruins lost to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4-to-1 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Friday. The Charlotte Checkers came to the Dunk on Saturday and picked up a 2-to-1 win, which earned them the Atlantic Division title. Providence was shut out 4-to-0 on the road by the Springfield Thunderbirds on Sunday. There are three regular season games remaining before the start of the AHL playoffs.
Earth Day began in 1970, when Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson, noticed people protesting the Vietnam War, but not putting any pressure on government about the damage being done to the planet via contaminants like oil spills, pesticides, and deadly smog.
The date was picked to appeal to college-based activities. Earth Day was the inspiration to start the EPA.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: There is elevated fire weather potential today. A proposed expansion at the Port of Providence will have to go through the full regulatory review process. Hasbro says it's increasing the price of its products.
>>Elevated Fire Risk In SNE Today
(Undated) -- The National Weather Service says there is an elevated potential for fire weather in Southern New England on Friday. Winds will be gusty out of the northwest at 25-to-30 miles per hour. Those winds are combining with low relative humidity values to raise the risk. Open burning is not recommended.
>>ProvPort Expansion Fast-Track Request Denied
(Providence, RI) -- A request to fast-track an expansion project at the Port of Providence is being denied. The Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board voted on Thursday against the sped-up application from propane storage company Sea 3 Providence. The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office was among those who argued that the environmentally-controversial project needed a full review.
>>No New RI COVID Deaths Thursday, About 300 New Cases
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported zero new coronavirus deaths on Thursday. The number of new virus cases in the Ocean State was three-hundred-36. COVID hospitalizations went down to 63.
>>Woonsocket Woman Sentenced For Running Drugs
(Providence, RI) -- A Rhode Island woman is being sentenced to federal prison for delivering narcotics. The Justice Department says Natalie Cassidy of Woonsocket has been ordered to serve one year and one day behind bars for conspiring to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Two co-conspirators are awaiting sentencing.
>>Hasbro Announces Price Increase
(Pawtucket, RI) -- Hasbro is planning to raise the price of its toys. The Pawtucket-based company is blaming the increased costs of supplies. Hasbro told stockholders this week that the company could lose 100-million dollars in 2022 because of the decision to pause toy shipments in Russia.
>>Bruins Versus Pens, Checkers, T-Birds This Weekend
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins are looking to lock down the division this week with two home games and a road match. The P-Bruins host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Dunk Friday, followed by the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday. Both games start at 7:05 p.m. Providence is at Springfield on Sunday afternoon. The American Hockey League playoffs start next month.
Calamari is the official state appetizer of Rhode Island - it became even more famous when a photo was used at a political convention to represent the state.
119 RI fishing vessels bring an average of 22 million pounds in each year, valued at more than $28 million. Galilee is the number one port for squid on the East Coast.
Calamari is the official state appetizer of Rhode Island - it became even more famous when a photo was used at a political convention to represent the state.
119 RI fishing vessels bring an average of 22 million pounds in each year, valued at more than $28 million. Galilee is the number one port for squid on the East Coast.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: Former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia [[ JAY-seel core-RAY-uh ]] is being ordered to report to prison. A former Rhode Island lawmaker and Providence City Council member is running for Congress. The Celtics win another exciting playoff game versus Brooklyn.
>>Appeals Court Orders Jasiel Correia To Begin Prison Term
(Boston, MA) -- A federal appeals court is ordering former Fall River, Massachusetts Mayor Jasiel Correia [[ JAY-seel core-RAY-uh ]] to report to prison on Friday to begin serving his sentence for corruption. The court has ruled that Correia does not deserve any more delays, as he has already gotten a half-dozen. Correia was sentenced to spend six years in federal prison for fraud, extortion and conspiracy last year.
>>Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson Running For Reelection
(Westport, MA) -- Bristol County, Massachusetts Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is officially running for re-election. Governor Charlie Baker was on-hand for Hodgson's campaign launch at a restaurant in Westport on Wednesday. Baker told WJAR-TV he is endorsing Hodgson, who was the honorary chair of Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign and visited the White House while Trump was in office. There have been controversies while he has served as sheriff, including last year when ICE ended its contract with the B-C-S-O following a determination from the Mass attorney general that immigrant civil rights were violated. There are three Democrats running to replace Hodgson, including Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux [[ hee-ROE ]].
>>RI-2 Race Gains Dem Candidate
(Providence, RI) -- The Rhode Island 2nd Congressional District race is adding a candidate. Former state representative and Providence city councilman David Segal, a Democrat, announced his run on Wednesday. Segal previously ran in the 1st RI District primary against David Cicilline in 2010.
>>No New RI COVID Deaths Wednesday, Nearly 300 New Cases
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported zero new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday. The number of new virus cases was two-hundred-61. Hospitalizations increased to 71. The state announced yesterday it will stop reporting COVID positivity rates on its data website because the metric has become less meaningful as virus testing has shifted to traditional health care and home settings.
>>Rhode Island Legislator Proposing Fines Against The Unvaccinated
(Providence, RI) -- A Rhode Island state lawmaker has proposed fining residents of the state who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. WPRI-TV reports Democratic state Senator Sam Bell's proposed bill would cause a fifty-dollar monthly fine to be issued for all Rhode Islanders who are eligible for the shot but have not gotten it. Plus, they would have to pay twice the normal amount of personal income taxes. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Ninety-seven percent of people living in the Ocean State are at-least partially vaccinated against coronavirus.
>>Food Hall Said To Be First Of Its Kind In State Approved
(Providence, RI) -- Plans have been announced for Rhode Island's first-ever food hall. The Providence Capital Center Commission is supporting a 23-and-a-half-million-dollar project from Marsella Development Corporation on the lower level of Union Station. The Providence Business News reports the food hall will take up space formerly occupied by the Capital Grille and Bar Louie, along with the tunnel in between the two. It's expected to open next year.
>>Celtics Come Back Over Nets To Take Two-Games-To-None Lead
(Boston, MA) -- The Boston Celtics came back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Brooklyn Nets in Game 2 of their NBA first-round playoff series on Wednesday night. The final score from T.D. Garden was 114-to-107. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics in scoring with 22 points, while Jayson Tatum recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists. The series shifts to Brooklyn for Game 3 on Saturday.
24/7 News Source 04/20/2022 01:17:33 Rhode Island Summary AM
>>The Latest
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: Masks no-longer have to be worn on Rhode Island buses, trains or planes. A mental health crisis has been declared for Rhode Island children two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. The Providence Bruins have won five straight as the regular season winds down.
>>Southern New England Public Transit Mask Rules Rescinded
(Undated) -- Mask-wearing is now an option for Rhode Island public transit services. Mask mandates have been dropped on RI Public Transit Authority buses, MBTA and Amtrak trains, and at T.F. Green Airport. Agencies are making decisions this week following a federal judge's action against a national public transit mask requirement. The latest from Washington is that the Justice Department will appeal that judge's ruling if the CDC determines the mandate remains necessary for the public's health.
>>Shooting At Cranston Apartment
(Cranston, RI) -- WJAR-TV reports two people were arrested in connection to a shooting at a Cranston apartment complex on Tuesday night. The incident reportedly happened at Riverbend Apartments on Dyer Avenue after a fight occurred. There were no injuries. The names of the suspects were not immediately released.
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>>Scituate Man Sentenced For Child Porn
(Providence, RI) -- A Rhode Island man is being sentenced to federal prison for child pornography crimes. The Justice Department says 54-year-old David Duquette of Scituate was given five years for possession and distribution on Tuesday. Prosecutors said Duquette shared materials with an undercover agent before he was arrested in 2019.
>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,532
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported three new coronavirus deaths on Tuesday. The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to three-thousand-532. The number of new virus cases reported yesterday was two-hundred-71. There were sixty-six COVID patients in Rhode Island hospitals.
>>Mental Health Emergency Declared For RI Youths
(Providence, RI) -- A coalition of doctors is declaring a state of emergency for children's mental health in Rhode Island. WPRI-TV reports the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the RI Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has issued the advisory along with Hasbro Children's and Bradley Hospital. The groups say there's been a significant increase in mental health challenges for kids and their families during the pandemic. Officials are pushing for more state funding for mental health treatment options.
>>Bruins Rolling, Beat Phantoms At Dunk
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5-to-4 in overtime at home Tuesday night for their fifth win in a row. Providence is hot with the AHL playoffs right around the corner and they've got first place in the Atlantic Division. The P-Bruins are staying at the Dunkin' Donuts Center for two more home games this week, on Friday and Saturday.
Recently Elon Musk sat down with TED Talks founder, Chris Anderson. The nearly one hour interview was recorded live at TED2022 on April 14, 2022. It is well worth your time to listen in.
Your mind will be stretched just thinking of Musk’s own mind, and you will be left with a feeling of hope for mankind now and into the future.
Some comments in the interview:
Climate catastrophe – “I’m not one of the doomsday people. I actually think we are on a good path. So long as we are not complacent and have a high sense of urgency moving toward a sustainable economy, then we will be fine. The future’s going to be great. Don’t worry about it – or it will become a sustainable prophecy.”
Energy – It will be primarily solar and wind. I’m pro-nuclear. We will need battery packs. Electric transport. We can have a fully sustainable energy economy. Limiting factor will be battery cell issues.
People should be optimistic about the future. The future is bright and good from an energy viewpoint.
To solve driverless transport we must solve real world AI.
We have a computer in our pocket – some day we’ll have a computer buddy in our home, a butler, even a catgirl.
We’re really just monkeys with a computer stuck in our brain.
AI – For a decade we will solve brain injuries – then we will move beyond.
Space – Starship is extremely fundamental now. 2029 will be a target date for a man on Mars. Then every 2 years, hundreds will leave for Mars with tickets in the low hundreds of thousands. Goal is to build a self-sustaining city with a million people. Mars will not be luxurious – it will be cramped, hard work, dangerous, you might not make it back, etc. We want to become a multi-planet species.
Musk’s networth is hundreds of billions of dollars, which varies on every given day by billions.
“I try to work on [ideas] – every high quality moment of thinking – is worth a million dollars – I work to the edge of insanity.”
To those who hate billionaires: “I don’t own a home. I don’t take vacations. I basically rotate among people’s spare bedrooms. I don’t have a yacht. I don’t have high personal consumption. I do have a plane, but if I don’t use a plane, I would have less hours to work.”
Philanthropy is love of humanity. Tesla, SpaceX, Boring Company, Neuralink are all “philanthropy” by that definition.
Musk is a father of 7, all boys. His first child died of SIDS at 10 weeks. He and his wife, Justine (they are now divorced) went on to have, by IVF, twin sons Griffin and Xavier, born in 2004, and then triplet sons Kai, Saxon, and Damian, in 2006. He and singer, Grimes, had a son named “X” in 2020, and a girl named “Y” in 2022 by surrogate.
“I want to think about the future – and not be sad.”
Population collapse is a major issue – the birth rate is far below what is needed to sustain civilization.
If you want the future to be good, you must make it so. Take action – to make it good. And it will be.
Twitter palooza and poison pills
Elon Musk became a considerable stock owner of Twitter, then refused a position on the board. He is now offering to buy the entire company. Musk pledges to return it to a true service to the first amendment and refuse all but the most serious case edits needed. The company is choosing a “poison pill” strategy to put it off. Here, Shark Tank’s “Mr. Wonderful” talks about what worst case scenario – what happens if Musk walks away?
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: Rhode Island public transportation officials are reviewing a judge's ruling against a mask-wearing mandate. A Rhode Island senator applauds federally-funded renovations at a southern RI apartment complex. "The Fonz" is delivering another college commencement speech in the Ocean State.
[[ watch for updates ]]
>>RIPTA Reviewing Mask Rule
(Providence, RI) -- The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is reviewing a federal judge's decision to strike down a nationwide mask mandate on public transportation. In the meantime, RIPTA is asking passengers to please continue mask-wearing while on board buses, according to a report from The Boston Globe. The MBTA in Massachusetts is also reviewing the ruling.
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>>Wind Advisory For Part Of RI
(Undated) -- Bristol, Washington and Newport counties in Rhode Island are under a Wind Advisory from the National Weather Service until 10 a.m. Tuesday. The forecast calls for southeast winds 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 55. Some power outages may happen, according to the weather service. A storm moving through Rhode Island is expected to drop up to an inch of rain before conditions dry out Tuesday night.
>>New Yorkers Arrested For Alleged Cooking Oil Larceny
(Mystic, CT) -- Two men are being charged with attempting to steal a supply of cooking oil from a restaurant in Mystic, Connecticut. The Westerly Sun reports Stonington police arrested New York City residents Gerard Adonis Marichal and Juan Francisco Rivas outside the Sea View Snack Bar on April 12th. The owner reportedly told police they were missing about two-hundred gallons of used oil. A recycler collects the oil, but Marichal and Rivas were apparently not affiliated with any business.
>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,529
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island has reported two new coronavirus deaths. The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State as of Monday's update was three-thousand-529. There were over seven-hundred new virus cases. The number of COVID hospital patients in Rhode Island remains at approximately fifty.
>>Reed Attends Gathering For Renovated Apartments
(Narragansett, RI) -- Senator Jack Reed celebrated the renovation of a South County apartment complex on Monday. Reed said six units at Beachwinds Apartments have been converted to become fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reed said the buildings, which contain over one-hundred units total, are also more environmentally-friendly. Rhode Island Housing played a key role in distributing financing, and Reed said the project was also made possible through nine-million dollars in federal low-income housing tax credits.
>>Henry Winkler To Give Commencement Speech At NEIT Again
(Undated) -- Actor Henry Winkler is delivering this year's commencement speech at the New England Institute of Technology. Winkler, who starred in the TV show Happy Days, previously spoke to N-E-I-T graduates in 2006. The school said he was immensely popular with students and their families. East Greenwich-based New England Tech will hold its commencement at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence on May 1st.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: A young person has died in a Connecticut boating accident. A Providence-area man is going to federal prison for gun-trafficking. Rhode Islanders will be on hand for the first springtime running of the Boston Marathon since the start of the pandemic.
>>Fatal Boat Accident In Southeast Connecticut
(North Stonington, CT) -- A child has died in a boating accident in North Stonington, Connecticut. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says a boat capsized at Wyassup Lake on Friday night. WTNH-TV reports a family of four was on board a canoe. The lake is a popular summertime spot for North Stonington families, but at this time of year, the water is still cold. Authorities are investigating.
>>Most, But Not All Farm Animals Saved From Warren Fire
(Warren, RI) -- Livestock were killed in a barn fire in Bristol County, Rhode Island this weekend. It happened late Saturday night in Warren at a property on Barton Avenue. Although the structure was fully engulfed, most of the animals inside were successfully evacuated. WPRI-TV reports Massachusetts fire departments from Swansea, Rehoboth and Westport assisted.
>>Car Pulled From Water In Providence
(Providence, RI) -- A car was found submerged underwater at Roger Williams Park in Providence on Easter Sunday. The vehicle was towed out with no one inside. WJAR-TV reports the Providence Police Department listed the vehicle as stolen out of Cranston about a half-hour before the morning-time incident.
>>Man Sentenced For Trafficking Guns, Including One Used In Mall Shooting
(Boston, MA) -- An Attleboro man is being sentenced to about five years in federal prison for gun-trafficking. The Justice Department says Richard Philippe admitted to bringing in dozens of weapons from a straw purchaser in Georgia. Prosecutors say one of the guns Philippe transported was used in a shooting at a mall in Braintree, Massachusetts two years ago. The gang-related shooting injured an innocent bystander, a 15-year-old girl. Officials said she narrowly avoided being killed. The shooter was sentenced to eight years in state prison in January.
>>Rhode Islanders Running In 2022 Boston Marathon
(Boston, MA) -- Monday is the 126th running of the Boston Marathon. Two Rhode Island State Police troopers, Chris D'Angelo and Jacquelyn Applin, are running to raise money for the nonprofit Cops for Kids with Cancer. Another runner from the Ocean State to follow today is Robert Sanchas. The Warren native suffered an injury from a bungee cord accident in the U.S. Army which left him legally blind. The 54-year-old Sanchas will be running the Marathon with a guide.
>>Celtics Survive Playoff Opener Over Brooklyn
(Boston, MA) -- The Boston Celtics are up one-to-nothing in their first-round playoff series with the Brooklyn Nets. The C's beat the Nets 115-to-114 at T.D. Garden on Sunday. Jayson Tatum scored the buzzer-beating game-winner at the end of the fourth quarter. Game 2 at the Garden is on Wednesday night.
>>P-Bruins Clinch Playoff Spot
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins are going to the AHL playoffs. The Bruins clinched a spot over the weekend. They beat the Phantoms in a shootout in Lehigh Valley Saturday night and picked up a one-to-nothing win over the Hershey Bears on the road Sunday. Providence plays Lehigh Valley again at the Dunk Tuesday evening.
According to Fr. Michael Rennier, “On a day like Easter, the world is brimming over with new life. Megan Devine adds: “The language of death and resurrection is going to find its way to your ears. Despite your religious beliefs, everyone knows the story of Easter. Jesus is crucified on Friday. Saturday grievers reel from the loss. Sunday, Jesus rises from the death. “Saturday is all about pain. Those of us who are in deep pain, we are Saturday people. “
My dear friend, David, is a Saturday person this Easter. His mom, Mother N, passed on March 25th. Catherine was a lovely woman and David a devoted son. I knew this Easter would be difficult for him, as will Mother’s Day. In an effort to do something special and provide a new memory associated with all future Easters, I decided on a nontraditional Easter basket. “A grief basket – one whose contents would provide solace, companionship, and peace. A candle called a “Hug in a Jar”, a wind chime of the tree of life, teas, socks, a few books, a comfy little stuffed animal that, when heated, warms him. Also included is an ocean soap, monogrammed personalized note cards, “Message” rocks, and of course, candy. David has a considerable sweet tooth and thus several collector chocolates, along with all the fixings for pumpkin cake and a monogrammed kitchen towel can also be found. I purchased a considerably large white, hand woven basket (certainly not designed for my purposes!) but it worked well. I had a wooden rabbit name Tag made with David’s name painted on it and lamented using the traditional “grass”- it makes a mess. Google has been a good friend, because when I googled “Easter basket grass alternatives, I found edible grass!
The final item, meant for Mother’s Day, is Willowtree Mother and Son statue.
I believe I am more excited for David to undress this basket than he is! He was astounded when he saw it, and beyond grateful. He brought it out of state to his hometown to open with his family.
I hope my wishes of gratitude and hope encourage David to slowly move out a Saturday person and eventually rejoice in the resurrection on Easter and his memory and legacy of Mother N.
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Dr. Mari Dias is a nationally board-certified counselor, holds a Fellow in Thanatology and is certified in both grief counseling and complicated grief. Dias is a Certified death doula, and has a Certificate in Psychological Autopsy.
She is Professor of Clinical Mental Health, Master of Science program, Johnson & Wales University. Dias is the director of GracePointe Grief Center, in North Kingstown, RI. For more information, go to: http://gracepointegrief.com/ .
Dias is the author of GriefSPEAK, Vol. 1: Stories of Loss
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: We're learning new information about last year's cyberattack at RIPTA. A state lawmaker is ending their Congressional bid. An interim president has been named at Rhode Island College.
>>Transit Agency Issued Ransom Payout After Cyberattack
(Providence, RI) -- The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority paid one-hundred-seventy-thousand dollars in ransom money following last summer's cyberattack, according to multiple news reports. The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office is continuing to investigate the incident. Many Rhode Island state employees who had no direct connection with RIPTA had their personal information compromised.
>>No New Rhode Island COVID Deaths, Nearly 400 New Cases
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island has not reported any new coronavirus deaths since last weekend. The number of new virus cases included in Thursday's update was three-hundred-79. COVID patients in Rhode Island hospitals totaled 57.
>>Raccoon Found In Park Had Rabies
(East Providence, RI) -- The state of Rhode Island is alerting the public about a rabid animal discovery. A raccoon found at Bold Point Park in East Providence last week reportedly tested positive for rabies. Because it is a fatal disease, officials are urging anyone who may have had contact with the animal to contact the RI Department of Health right away.
>>Republican Exits RI-2 Congressional Race
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island state Senator Jessica de la Cruz is ending her Congressional campaign. The Republican is now endorsing former Cranston mayor Allan Fung in the race for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Longtime incumbent Democrat Jim Langevin is not running for another term. De la Cruz says she was encouraged by the support her campaign received, but she believes the best place for her right now is the Rhode Island Senate, so that she can support important causes like suspending the gas tax and parental rights in education.
>>Rhode Island College Interim President Named
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island College has named an interim president. Former state commissioner of higher education Jack Warner has been appointed. Current RIC president Frank Sanchez plans to step down after his contract ends in June so that he can pursue other opportunities.
>>Celtics Versus Nets In NBA Playoffs First Round
(Boston, MA) -- The Boston Celtics are getting ready for another NBA playoff run. The C's will look for some first-round revenge against the Brooklyn Nets, as the two teams are facing each other in the postseason for the second straight year. Games 1 and 2 at T.D. Garden will be played on Sunday and Wednesday. The best-of-seven series shifts to Brooklyn for Game 3 on April 23rd and Game 4 on the 25th.
by John A Cianci, Department Veterans Service Officer, Italian American War Veterans (ITAM)
Spouse and Dependent Child or Parent Could Be Entitled to Thousands of Dollars of Veteran’s Claim Pending Prior to Death
We start off with a question from one of our readers.
Q – My husband passed away prior to a final decision on his claim for an illness that was already considered service connected. What happened to the claim? Cindy, Cranston RI
First, prayers and condolences for your loss. As the surviving spouse you can continue the claim or appeal with a substitution.
BUT! The VA will NOT automatically inform your survivors of the possibility to continue your claim or appeal.
VETTIP – If you are a veteran in the process of any claim or appeal, make sure your spouse or eligible children know about the pending claim. The Italian American War Veterans of the United States (ITAM) veteran service officer encourages veterans to have a separate folder, marked VA, which has the following information:
1. 3 copies of DD214 or discharge papers
2. Copy of the original claim (veteran can sign in to VA.gov and print verification of the claim, which will also be used as proof of pending claim)
3. Any document showing proof of marriage or dependency.
Since the veteran died during a pending claim or appeal, someone eligible to receive accrued benefits can act as substitute to complete the claim.
Step 1
As the spouse, or someone eligible (dependent child or parent or common-law spouse) you would file for accrued benefits and establish being the veteran’s substitute. Substitution is a type of accrued benefit.
TheVA will recognize a common law marriage if the state in which the Veteran resides recognizes common law marriage, and the state’s requirements for a common law marriage are met.
Elements Required When Establishing a Common Law Marriage
The legal requirements for establishing a common law marriage vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Per Burden v. Shinseki, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must use the evidentiary standard of the state in which a common law marriage took place in order to determine the validity of a common law marriage. Typically, all of the elements listed below must be present before a common law marriage may be established.
Element
Description
An agreement between the parties to be married
Often this agreement is explicit, but it can be inferred from the conduct of the parties. The statement of one of the parties that there was no agreement to be married is not necessarily conclusive, especially when · the statement is self-serving, and · there is evidence that the parties held themselves out as married.
Cohabitation
The parties actually lived together for some period of time.
Holding out to the public as married
The parties represented themselves to members of the community as spouses. It is not necessary to have used the same last name.
Reference: For the procedure for developing for common law marriage, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 5.C.2.b.
The Italian American War Veteran of the United States Service Officer also recommends the following when applying for any benefit –
1. Make a copy of the complete claim filed.
2. Mail to :
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
3. If you do not receive acknowledgement of the claim by the VA within 60 days, call the VA, 1-1-800-827-1000.
VETTIP – Recommend proof of mailing. The ITAM service officer was privy to VA Providence Regional Office denying ever receiving a veteran’s claim to a congressional inquiry to a local senator’s office on status of claim. However, acknowledging receipt only after the local veteran service officer provided a copy of a signed United States Postal receipt by the VA. Sadly, the Providence Regional Office has a documented track record of “losing” claims filed by veterans and their survivors, costing veterans thousands of dollars of benefits.
Simply put, the claim does not die because the veteran has passed away. Moreover, the surviving spouse, dependent, or parent could be entitled to thousands of dollars of retroactive benefits the veteran was entitled to, however, died before a final decision was made by the VA.
Nevertheless, a surviving spouse or dependent child or dependent parent should have a right to continue the claim or an appeal before the BVA on behalf of the claimant. Congress recognized the inequity of this situation and passed legislation in 2008 to correct it, §3.1010 Substitution under 38 U.S.C. 5121A following death of a claimant.
More information from the VA website:
How and When Can a Person File for Accrued Benefits?
o VA Form 21P-534EZ, “Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits,” at VA Form 21P-534EZ
o VA Form 21P-535, “Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s) (Including Accrued Benefits and Death Compensation When Applicable),” at https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21P-535-ARE.pdf
VA must receive an accrued benefits claim within one year of:
• The Veteran’s death and/or
• The date of notification to the Veteran
If you have a claim or appeal in process and you pass away, your surviving dependents can continue the claim or appeal with a substitution form from the original substitute’s death to file a claim, https://www.benefits.va.gov/…/facts…/general/accrued.pdf
Accrued benefits are benefits that are due, but not paid prior to a Veteran’s death. Examples include:
1. A claim or appeal for a recurring benefit was pending at the time of death, but all evidence needed for a favorable decision was in VA’s possession.
2. A claim for a recurring benefit had been allowed, but the beneficiary died before award.
At the time of death, one or more benefit checks were not deposited or negotiated.
Who Is Eligible to Receive Accrued Benefits?
VA pays accrued benefits based on the claimant’s relationship to the deceased Veteran. If there is no eligible living person, VA pays accrued benefits based on reimbursement.
Relationship
Accrued benefits are paid to the first living person listed below:
Relationship to the Deceased Veteran
Surviving spouse
Parents (both) Sole surviving parent
Accrued Benefit
Full amount to surviving spouse
Equal shares, if parents are dependent at time of Veteran’s death
Full amount to surviving parent, if dependent at the time of Veteran’s death
In conclusion, the Italian American War Veteran of the United States veteran service officer recommends to all spouses and or next of kin of deceased veteran to file organization file VA Form 21P-601 since the VA has a backlogged of claims going back several years. Worst case scenario, the VA responds in writing the deceased veteran had no claim pending upon his death.
Now Cindy and our readers know more who is entitled to continue a claim of a deceased veteran and how to file to the VA for possible thousands of dollars the veteran was entitled to prior to his or her death.
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)
EVENTS
Marine Corps League Open House second Wednesday of every month from 6 to 8pm. Reserve Center, Narragansett Ave, Cranston. The Department of Rhode Island of the Marine Corps League is looking to add some more ranks. If you are Active Duty, Marine veteran or Navy personnel who served with the Fleet Marine Force and miss the camaraderie , serving your community, enjoying time with those who understand you than this is the organization for you.
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
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.
_____
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)
Veterans Administration News
Greetings GI Bill Beneficiary
A friendly reminder that Veterans Benefit Administration’s Education Service (EDU) will be hosting the first ever GI Bill® Summit on April 14, 2022, and you are invited to attend!
This is YOUR opportunity to hear from EDU leaders to get your education benefits questions answered and get the latest updates on how we are modernizing your GI Bill experience.
When: TODAY! Thursday, April 14, 2022, from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. EDT
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)
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.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: A Rhode Island man is facing a murder charge for the stabbing of his father. A Massachusetts man allegedly led police on a chase yesterday that went through the Ocean State. A meteor with a nucleus about the size of Rhode Island is moving through the solar system.
>>Man Accused Of Stabbing Father Now Charged With Murder
(North Providence, RI) -- A man is now facing a murder charge for the stabbing of his father in North Providence. Dayne Kerzner had been charged with felony assault after Steven Kerzner was reportedly found with stabbing and blunt force trauma injuries at a home on Whipple Avenue Monday afternoon. WPRI-TV reports the elder Kerzner died Wednesday night.
>>Arrest Made After SNE Chase
(Undated) -- A Massachusetts man allegedly caused a police chase through Southern New England on Wednesday. The chase involving Ian Grant of Dartmouth reportedly started in New Bedford, went through Rhode Island and concluded in Connecticut. The chase through Rhode Island included Westerly and Charlestown. Grant was arrested by the RI State Police after a standoff in North Stonington. He is being held as a fugitive from justice and is accused of setting fire to his house.
>>No New RI COVID Deaths, Over 300 New Cases
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported zero new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday. The number of new virus cases reported in the Ocean State was three-hundred-14. There were 58 COVID patients in Rhode Island hospitals as of yesterday's update.
>>Superman Plan Well-Received
(Providence, RI) -- Local officials are reacting positively to a state-announced plan to redevelop the Superman building in Providence. Rhode Island's tallest tower, formally known as the Industrial National Bank Building, has sat vacant downtown since Bank of America left in 2013. Providence City Council President John Igliozzi calls the 220-million-dollar project a strong public-private partnership. Governor Dan McKee says the city and state are partnering with Rhode Island Housing and the RI Foundation, along with the owner of the building, on a project that includes nearly three-hundred apartments.
>>Gas Average Dips Below $4
(Undated) -- Gas prices have shot back down to below four dollars per gallon in Rhode Island. RIGasPrices.com reports the current average in the Ocean State is three dollars and 98 cents. That is a decrease of thirty-five cents from one month ago.
>>NASA Detects Meteor With Nucleus As Big As Rhode Island
(Washington, DC) -- The Hubble Telescope has detected a meteor with the largest comet nucleus ever seen. And NASA is comparing it in size as larger than the state of Rhode Island. The estimated diameter of the icy comet, which is coming inbound from the edge of the solar system, is about eighty miles across. NASA says the nucleus is about fifty times larger than any found at the heart of most known comets. Officials say this one is not a threat to Earth.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: A Rhode Island man is under arrest for murder on the West Coast. The RI Attorney General's Office announces a settlement involving several major gasoline refiners. A former Providence ballplayer is in the big leagues.
>>Warwick Man Arrested For California Murder
(Eureka, CA) -- A Rhode Island man has been arrested in connection to a California homicide. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office says Austin Medeiros of Warwick was picked up on Sunday. Medeiros is a suspect in the murder of Emily Rose May Lobba of Kneeland, in the northern part of the state, earlier this month. Medeiros was arrested while allegedly trying to steal a boat in the city of Santa Cruz.
[[ note nature ]]
>>Domestic Stabbing In North Providence
(North Providence, RI) -- A man is being accused of stabbing his father in North Providence. Dayne Kerzner is charged with felony assault after Steven Kerzner was reportedly found with a stab wound to his throat and blunt-force trauma to his head at a home on Whipple Avenue Monday afternoon. The elder Kerzner's girlfriend was also apparently attacked. The younger Kerzner is being held without bail at the ACI pending a court appearance on Tuesday.
>>Pawtucket Man Dies In Crash On Route 1
(Attleboro, MA) -- A Pawtucket man was killed in a crash in Attleboro this past weekend. The Bristol County, Massachusetts District Attorney's Office says the victim was David Lusignan of Pawtucket. The single-vehicle, single-passenger wreck happened Sunday morning on Route 1. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,527
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported two new coronavirus deaths over the weekend. The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State increased to three-thousand-527. There were about seven-hundred new virus cases. The number of COVID patients in Rhode Island hospitals as of Monday's update was 42.
>>AG Says Settlement Reached With Several Gas Refiners
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is announcing a settlement with major oil and gas companies over pollution allegations. The state claimed that gasoline refiners Shell, Sunoco, and CITGO contaminated Rhode Island's soil and groundwater with the gasoline additive methyl tertiary-butyl ether, or M-T-B-E. The companies will pay fifteen-million dollars, which will be dedicated to an ongoing remediation effort by the state Department of Environmental Management. Lawsuits against other major gas refineries remain active.
>>Route 295 Exit Closing
(Cranston, RI) -- The Rhode Island Department of Transportation says an exit on Interstate 295 north will be closed for several days starting Tuesday. The ramp to Route 37 in Cranston, Exit 3A, will be closed for bridge repair work. A detour will be posted for drivers to use Exit 3B.
>>Local Product Jeremy Peña Makes MLB Debut With Houston
(Houston, TX) -- A former Providence high school baseball player is off to a hot start to his Major League Baseball career. Jeremy Peña was a standout at Classical High School in the mid-2010s. In sixteen at-bats with the Houston Astros this season, Peña has six hits and one home run. He was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in his second game.
>>Bruins Beat Phantoms
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins got the win at the Dunkin' Donuts Center over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Monday night. The final score was two-to-one. The Bruins look to lock down a playoff spot with nine games left. They are in third place in the AHL Atlantic Division with the top six teams making the playoffs.
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues
It’s just 214 days until the upcoming midterm elections scheduled for Nov. 8, 2022, (Rhode Island’s primary is 167 days away scheduled for Sept. 13, 2022). During the 117th Congress, with a slim majority of 222 Democrats to 212 Republicans, the Democrats control the House chamber. When the dust settles after the election we’ll see if the Democrats retain their grip on this chamber. Washington insiders say that Senate Democrats, holding the majority with a 50-50 split with vice president Kamala Harris’ having a tie-breaking vote, could lose control of the upper chamber if the Republican Party flips seats. Thirty-five Senators are up for reelection.
Twenty Republican and 16 Democrat gubernatorial seats (including Rhode Island) are also up for grabs this election cycle, too.
A new AARP study finds that women voters aged 50 and over who haven’t decided which candidate to support will decide who controls Congress and state capitols across the nation in the next election.
Taking a Look at Older Women Voters
AARP’s new research findings released April 6th, in partnership with pollsters Celinda Lake, Christine Matthews, Kristen Soltis Anderson, and Margie Omero, found that only 17% of women in this key voting bloc have made up their mind about who they will support in the upcoming 2022 elections. Not quite two-thirds (65%) of these voters say they will not make their decisions until weeks or even days before Election Day.
“Contrary to conventional wisdom, women voters aged 50 and over do not solidly belong in either party’s camp — and the vast majority haven’t made up their minds about how they’ll vote in November,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer. “The instability and uncertainty of the economy, the pandemic, and the political environment are leading these women to demand that candidates address quality of life and pocketbook issues like the cost of living, supply chain problems, and ways to end the discord permeating politics today,” she says.
The pollsters found that the most important issues for r women voters aged 50 and over are “kitchen table budgets” and the “day-to-day experience of rising prices.” Nearly half of those surveyed (46%) see rising cost of living as the most important issue facing the nation today. And 59% say rising prices are the most important issue to them, personally, when reflecting about the economy.
According to AARP, women aged 50 and over are one of the largest, most reliable group of voters. According to voter file and census bureau data, they make up a little more than one-quarter (27%) of registered voters and cast nearly a third (30%) of all ballots in both the 2020 and 2018 elections. In 2020, 83% of registered women voters in this age group turned out and in 2018, the last midterm election, they were 15% more likely to vote than the population at large, says the nation’s largest advocacy group.
Concerns About Rising Costs and the Nation’s Economy
AARP’s national survey also found that 72% of the woman respondents are concerned about having enough income to cover rising costs, with 48% saying they are very concerned. Fifty two percent say the economy is not working well for them, a 15-point change from 2019, when just 37% of women said the economy was not working well for them.
The pollsters found that most are not optimistic about their own financial futures in the next 12 months – with 47% saying they think their personal financial situation will stay the same, while 39% think it will get worse and only 13% think it will improve. The survey findings also indicated that those respondents age 50-64 are intensely worried about saving for retirement and their financial future – with 51% saying they are very concerned about Social Security being there for their retirement and 30% saying they are most concerned about having saved enough for retirement.
According to the AARP survey, women voters aged 50 and over also expressed concern about political division in the country, and they are unimpressed with the job elected officials are doing on a range of issues, including their dominant concern of rising prices.
By more than a two-to-one margin, the pollsters say that these voters want politicians who are willing to work together to get things done, even if the result is an occasional compromise that goes against voters’ values (67%), over politicians who consistently fight for their values but don’t often find solutions (30%). This finding remains consistent across party identifications, with 77% of Democratic women and 57% of Republican women preferring a politician compromise to get things done, while 21% of Democratic women and 40% of Republican women prefer a values-prioritizing politician.
Taking a deeper look, the pollsters found that women voters 50 and over are divided evenly by party (44% R – 45% D), in sharp contrast to their male counterparts who are solidly Republican (51% R – 38% D). In a generic ballot, the Democratic candidate for Congress (48% will vote for) has a 7-point advantage over the Republican candidate (41% will vote for) among these women voters.
Similar Observations from the Pollsters
“Addressing the rising cost of living is an issue that any smart candidate for office will put front and center this year,” said Kristen Soltis Anderson, founding partner, Echelon Insights. “Especially in midterm elections, women voters aged 50 and over will be a critical group that both parties must compete for, and cost of living is clearly the top issue on which they want leaders to be focused,” she said.
Celinda Lake, founder and president, Lake Research Partners, agrees with Anderson that women aged 50 and over can be the significant voting bloc in the 2022 elections. “They are sure to turn out in high numbers when many other voters are disengaging. These voters have yet to make up their minds and are dissatisfied with the jobs their elected leaders are doing, especially on the kitchen table economic issues they face every day,” she notes.
“Women over 50 may not only be the decision-makers in their households, but they may also be the decision-makers of the midterm elections,” said Margie Omero, Principal at GBAO.
Christine Matthews, President of Bellwether Research, says“Women over 50 are arguably the most important voting cohort for the 2022 midterm elections – and they are not happy,” “They are extremely worried about the impact rising prices – particularly groceries – are having on their budget and their ability to save for retirement,” she says.
Matthew adds,” A majority say the economy is not working for them – a significant uptick from two years ago. They want politicians to work together to find solutions to inflation and other key issues, but they are not pleased with what they see. Elected officials should be prepared to demonstrate to this key group that they are working productively on cost-of-living issues,” she says.
The AARP national survey was conducted by phone and online from Feb. 18 to March 3, 2022, using 1,836 voters aged 50 and over who are likely to vote in 2022, with samples of Black voters, Hispanic/Latino voters, Asian American/Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voters, as well as American Indian/Alaska Native voters.
A Final Note…
It’s just seven months before the upcoming midterm elections. The historical voting pattern of midterm elections is clear. “The sitting president’s party almost always loses House seats in the midterms. Going back to Harry Truman’s presidency, the president’s party has lost, on average, 29 House seats in each president’s first midterm election,” says James M. Lindsay, senior vice president, director of studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg chair at the Council on Foreign Relations, in a blog article, “The 2022 Midterm Congressional Elections by Number,” published on March 8, 2022.
Lindsay, senior vice president and director of studies and Maurice R. Greenberg chair, says, “The betting money is that the Republican Party will be the winner on election night, taking back control of one, if not both houses of Congress,” he says, noting that eight months can be a lifetime in politics.
Republicans are optimistic in picking up seats because of Biden’s low job approval rating, inflation being at a 40-year high, 31 incumbent Democrats retiring (it’s more difficult to defeat an incumbent) and the COVID-19 pandemic still killing 1,500 American’s daily, says Lindsay. But Lindsay predicts Democrats may do better at the polls just because “the midterms are still eight months away,” and who knows where the country will be then. “The redistricting of House seats is going well for the Democrats with several states throwing out Republican redistricting plans and others enacting redistricting plans to benefit the Democrats, he says.
“The Senate math favors Democrats, the party just defending 14 seats while Republicans must keep 21 Senate seats,” adds Lindsay. “Ideologically extreme candidates” will push away moderate voters in House and Senate races, he says.
But AARP’s national poll warning to Senators, House lawmakers, and Governors to not ignore the concerns of older women voters should be heeded. Not listening has a political cost. It may well determine the balance of power in the next election.
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.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: Providence has recorded its fifth homicide of 2022. A former Providence Public Schools administrator has been convicted in a criminal case. Former Late Show host David Letterman expresses his appreciation after being treated at Rhode Island Hospital.
>>Man Shot Outside Providence Strip Club Dies
(Providence, RI) -- A man who was shot outside a Providence strip club last weekend has died of his wounds. Angelo Gomez was shot multiple times by an unidentified gunman shortly before midnight on April 1st outside the Wonderland Gentleman's Club. The 30-year-old Gomez is the fifth homicide victim in the capital city this year.
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>>Man Accused Of Assaulting Group Outside Prov Club
(Providence, RI) -- Someone allegedly yelled homophobic slurs and punched four men at a Providence club this weekend. Authorities say 27-year-old Jacob Manning was arrested after the incident outside The Dark Lady on Snow Street overnight Sunday. Manning is facing assault charges. The group reportedly told police investigators they did not have any previous interactions with him.
>>RI Native Wanted For CA Murder
(Eureka, CA) -- A Rhode Island man has been named a suspect in a California homicide. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office says a warrant is out for Austin Michael Medeiros of Warwick. Medeiros is wanted in connection to the death of a woman in Kneeland, which is near Eureka, earlier this month.
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>>Former Providence School Official Convicted For Incident At Fitness Center
(Warwick, RI) -- A former Providence School District administrator has been found guilty for a 2021 incident. Olayinka Alege [[ ole-lay-INK-uh uh-LEG-ay ]] was convicted by a District Court judge on Friday of simple assault for giving a teenager an unwanted foot massage at a gym in Warwick. A one-year filing was issued, meaning Alege's record will be expunged if he stays out of trouble.
>>High School Volleyball Coaches Fired
(East Greenwich, RI) -- The East Greenwich School District has fired two coaches in its athletics department. The school district said head coach Justin Amaral and assistant coach Donovan Baker of the girls' and boys' volleyball teams were let go after a sexual harassment investigation involving the assistant, according to the East Greenwich News. The complaints were forwarded to authorities, but school officials say no criminal charges have been filed to their knowledge.
>>Bill Proposed To Waive New License Plate Fee
(Providence, RI) -- A Rhode Island lawmaker has introduced a bill to remove the eight-dollar fee that's coming for drivers when they switch to the state's new license plate. Democrat Edward Cardillo, whose district covers Johnston and Cranston, says the fee seems unreasonable to him since car owners already pay registration fees. The new license plate, which is nearly-identical to the current ocean wave design but with more waves, was unveiled last week. The Division of Motor Vehicles is expected to begin the rollout this summer.
>>David Letterman Thanks Local Hospital For Treatment
(Providence, RI) -- Comedian David Letterman is revealing he spent time in a Rhode Island hospital last year. In a video posted on YouTube by Lifespan Health System, the late night talk show legend detailed the fall he suffered in Providence in August. He said he tripped, hit his head on a sidewalk and got knocked unconscious. He used the video to thank Rhode Island Hospital, saying the staff turned something scary into a "fun little project." He added he has "nothing but lovely things to say and think about in regards to the Rhode Island Hospital and the emergency department."
>>Bruins Split Weekend Series With Islanders, Host Phantoms Tonight
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins split two games with the Bridgeport Islanders this weekend. Providence lost 3-to-2 in Bridgeport on Friday. The P-Bruins beat the Isles at the Dunk on Saturday, 6-to-2. The Bruins host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Monday night at 7:05.
There’s a reason the Newport Car Museum appeals to everyone who loves art. On their own, the fabulous cars on display (numbering more than 85) are breathtakingly beautiful, but stage them with platforms, turn tables and theatrical lighting, then surround them with artwork by David Lloyd Glover, and you have a true modern design experience.
Described as a “vivid impressionist painter,” Glover was the perfect artist to blend brilliant color with light and personality to make the Museum’s six galleries pop. His giant specially commissioned paintings include the Fin Car Gallery’s “Marilyn (Monroe) and Joe (DiMaggio)”; the Corvette Gallery’s C7-R in race mode; the American Muscle Gallery’s depiction of David Donohue in his early racing years ; and, likewise, in the Ford/Shelby Gallery, Carroll Shelby with the cars that meant the most to him. For movie buffs, Lloyd Glover’s portrait of Vin Diesel and his fellow stars from “Fast Five” (2011) embellishes a corner in the Ford/Shelby Gallery where sits a recreation of the 1965 Ford GT40 used in the filming of that classic from the “Fast and Furious” franchise.
Lloyd Glover started work as a full-time professional artist in 1969. His early years were as a newspaper illustrator and included work for Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper columnists Russell Baker of the New York Times and Nicholas Von Hoffman of the Chicago Daily News. After a stint in advertising, he returned to his artist’s studio to master the difficult medium of translucent watercolors using the classic British technique. Almost immediately he was represented by two major galleries in Vancouver, BC and quickly earned a reputation for his work as a watercolor master.
After three galleries in Los Angeles began to represent his work in the 1980s, Glover opened a Southern California studio in Pacific Palisades overlooking Malibu beach. Working in that sunny environment set him on a path to establishing his reputation with movie celebrities, recording stars and business leaders in the U.S. His paintings were featured at international art fairs, and that exposure led him to Asia. Japan was a hot art market, and Glover’s work became highly sought after by Japanese collectors. Year after year, he traveled to the orient to appear in one-man exhibitions. Every art event was a sell-out, and his collector following grew larger every year. Glover had also begun working in oil and acrylic on canvas, utilizing his emotional application of light and shade with a vivid impressionist palette. In addition to conducting traveling exhibits throughout every major city in Japan, Glover has exhibited in the largest gallery on Beverly Hill’s Rodeo Drive.
Glover has been an ardent admirer of the artistic styles of the Impressionists Monet, Pissarro and Sisley. He has also been inspired by the art of American painters, namely Winslow Homer, John Sargent, James Whistler and Andrew Wyeth.
David lives and works at his studio in Southern California, and some of his best work, we think (and our visitors agree) is in the Newport Car Museum!
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: A consultant is being brought on for the Rhode Island state hospital. Voters in the town of Johnston have approved spending for new schools. The Red Sox are getting ready for Opening Day.
>>Consultant Hired To Help Rhode Island State Hospital
(Providence, RI) -- The state of Rhode Island is hiring a consulting firm to help Eleanor Slater Hospital. WPRI-TV reports the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals has brought on Courtemanche and Associates, a specialist in healthcare accreditation, to help the state hospital address multiple patient care issues in the last year. The firm visited the hospital in March to conduct inspections as a follow-up to inquiries launched by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The one-year deal worth about a half-million dollars was authorized on an emergency basis without competitive bidding, which state officials said was necessary because of a deadline with federal regulators.
>>Johnston School Construction Approved
(Johnston, RI) -- Johnston voters approved a 215-million-dollar school building bond on Tuesday. The school district is planning to combine its four elementary schools into one new building, add an early childhood center and perform major renovations to the middle and high schools. The official vote in yesterday's referendum was 11-hundred for, 178 against. Officials say construction could start later this year.
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>>Attleboro Man Sentenced In Child Sex Case
(Fall River, MA) -- An Attleboro man is being sentenced to nine-to-twelve years in Massachusetts state prison for sex crimes. Forty-four-year-old Kyle Beauchemin pleaded guilty to charges including child rape and indecent assault and battery on a person under 14. The victim in the case was the young daughter of Beauchemin's girlfriend.
>>Coronavirus Death Toll In Rhode Island: 3,523
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported one new coronavirus death on Tuesday. The pandemic death toll in the Ocean State increased to three-thousand-523. The number of new virus cases was two-hundred-18. The COVID patient count in Rhode Island hospitals increased to 54.
>>Embattled Pawtucket Officer Has Side Case Dropped, Faces Lawsuit
(Pawtucket, RI) -- A Pawtucket police officer charged for shooting a civilian last year has had an unrelated court matter dismissed. WJAR-TV reports Daniel Dolan no longer faces charges of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and vandalism, which stemmed from a domestic incident. Dolan, while off-duty last June, reportedly stopped a teenage driver in West Greenwich and shot at him when he drove away, causing non-life-threatening injuries. Dolan is still on the hook for that, and he is also facing a new federal lawsuit filed by a Pawtucket couple who allege that he used excessive force during a 2019 arrest.
>>Sox Conclude Spring Training, Open At Yankees Thursday Weather-Permitting
(Undated) -- The Boston Red Sox played their final spring training game on Tuesday, beating the Minnesota Twins at their home stadium in Fort Myers, Florida, ten-to-six. The Red Sox are scheduled to open the 2022 Major League Baseball regular season at the Yankees in the Bronx on Thursday afternoon. However, the National Weather Service forecast for New York City is calling for storms all day tomorrow.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: Former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia [[ JAY-seel core-RAY-uh ]] is being allowed to wait additional time before starting his prison sentence. A Rhode Island man whose case went to the Supreme Court is getting a settlement. A bill has been introduced in the RI legislature to fight catalytic converter thieves.
>>Former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia's Prison Sentence Delayed Again
(Boston, MA) -- Former Fall River, Massachusetts mayor Jasiel Correia [[ JAY-seel core-RAY-uh ]] has been granted yet another delay to the start of his federal prison sentence. This is the seventh time it's happened. As of the previous extension, Correia was supposed to report on Tuesday, but a judge has pushed the date to April 22nd. It has been indicated that this will be the final reprieve. Correia is being given the extra time to properly appeal his conviction for defrauding investors of a cell phone app and shaking down potential Fall River marijuana businesses for bribes. He is due to spend six years behind bars.
>>Providence Man Sentenced For Gun Possession, Drug-Trafficking
(Providence, RI) -- A Providence man is being sentenced to about four years in federal prison. The Justice Department says Joaquin Fabian pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and charges of possessing cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute. Authorities determined Fabian regularly drove to Southeastern Massachusetts to conduct drug-trafficking business. He was nailed in April 2021 when he posted a photo on social media of a handgun positioned between his legs while he was seated in a motor vehicle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested Fabian upon his return to Providence.
>>Cranston Man, Attorneys Get Payout In Gun Seizure Case
(Cranston, RI) -- The book is being closed on a Fourth Amendment case involving a Cranston resident who had his guns improperly taken by the police. The city will pay Edward Caniglia and his attorneys from the ACLU nearly a quarter-million dollars in damages and fees. The United States Supreme Court rejected the Cranston Police Department's assertion that they had the power to seize the guns as part of a wellness check on Caniglia in 2015. No warrant was issued when police searched his home.
>>No New RI COVID Deaths, About 400 New Cases
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported zero new coronavirus deaths this past weekend. The Ocean State counted about four-hundred new virus cases over the three-day period. Less than fifty COVID patients were in Rhode Island hospitals as of Monday's update.
>>Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Bill Filed
(Providence, RI) -- Legislation is being introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly to address the issue of catalytic converter thefts. State Representative Joseph Solomon of Warwick introduced the bill. It would require anyone purchasing a catalytic converter to obtain a copy of the registration for the vehicle from which it was removed and provide a copy to law enforcement. Solomon says the crime is extremely costly to car owners.
>>Red Sox Pitcher Chris Sale On 60-Day IL
(Fort Myers, FL) -- Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale has been placed on the sixty-day injured list. The pitcher suffered a right rib stress fracture. Team officials said Sale got the injury while working out in February. The Red Sox open the 2022 Major League Baseball season at the Yankees on Thursday.
The Washington, DC-based AARP releases its latest Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) report citing strong scientific evidence that behavior changes and lifestyle habits can positively impact one’s brain health – yet many adults struggle to implement such simple changes.
The World Health Organization predicts that the number of people living with dementia is expected to grow to 82 million by 2030 and skyrocketing to 152 million by 2050. The GCBH report notes to lower this expected trajectory it will take “effective behavior and cultural changes, initiated and driven by all the pertinent actors working in concert at all levels of society.”
The 38-page report and its recommendations are based on a review of the current state of science and the consensus of 20 experts from across the world in an array of disciplines, notes the report. GCBH is an independent collaboration of scientists, health professionals, scholars and policy experts from all over the world who are working in the area of brain health related to human cognition to promote brain health.
GCBH’s 38-page report, released March 15, 2022, provides tips to support brain-healthy behavior. Over the past six years, the GCBH has issued reports on broad topics taking a look at whether adults’ behavior and lifestyle style habits could affect their brain health as they grow older.
“While we encourage people to make good decisions, the GCBH recognizes that an effective strategy to enhance brain health must be framed broadly, and that individual choices are made in a larger social and environmental context… Simply putting research findings forward and expecting people to change their behaviors and sustain healthy lifestyles accordingly is unrealistic,” say the report’s authors.
Calls for Supporting Positive Brain Health
In the latest GCBH report, the authors share what they have learned about how to persuade and motivate people to maintain brain-healthy lifestyles, and how community policies can be shaped to promote this vital goal.
“We know what works to support brain health – this report focuses on how to make that happen,” says Sarah Lenz Lock, GCBH’s Executive Director. “Our experts have identified specific, practical tips to help older adults, communities and policymakers support the habits that are good for brain health. We show that change is possible, and why supporting brain health for an aging population makes good health and economic sense for communities and society as well as individuals,” Lock says.
“We describe why implementing programs designed to promote brain health for older adults makes good health and economic sense for communities and societies as well as individuals. GCBH experts advise individuals to set specific goals, be realistic about what they choose, and approach their goals step by step,” says the report’s authors.
“We encourage community-based organizations to create opportunities for peer-to-peer coaching. And we urge policymakers to raise public awareness that people can take steps to help themselves. These and many other recommendations along with a framework for achieving change for individuals, community organizations and policymakers are provided in the final report approved by the GCBH Governance Committee,” they add.
The GCBH report also calls for addressing the disparities in health and access to care that undermine the cognitive well-being of underserved communities including many African Americans and Hispanics.
Hearing loss, high blood pressure, obesity, and depression are among the health issues that may be linked to cognitive decline and should be properly managed with access to health care.
The Six Pillars of Brain Health
After a careful analysis of scientific findings, GCBH’s report notes that “evidence continues to mount” that people may be able to lower their risks for cognitive decline by engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors, referred to as the six pillars of brain health.
Specifically put:
“Be social” and continue to maintain and expand your social network. Keep tabs on family and friends and don’t isolate yourself from others.
Find new interests and hobbies to “engage your brain” and to stimulate your thinking.
Meditate, relax, and maintain a consistent schedule to “manage stress.”
Don’t forget the importance of “ongoing” exercise” and schedule at least 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous exercise a week.
Achieve “restorative sleep” by at least getting 7-8 ours of restful sleep daily.
Finally, “eat right” by choosing a nutritious, heart healthy diet to limit high blood pressure, of fish, poultry, nuts, low-fat dairy, vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and vegetable oils.
The GCBH recommendations urge people to avoid smoking and not drink alcohol. But if you drink, limit alcohol to more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
The Brain-Heart Connection is examined in GCBH’s report. Hypertension is a serious risk to brain health that can lead to stroke, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. With knowledge of this, the report notes that people can lower blood pressure by increasing physical activity and reduce overeating, excess drinking, smoking and even reducing sodium (salt) intake.
The GCBH report provides simple, easily obtainable steps to make successful behavioral changes to improve brain health. Specifically, people can:
Set a goal, identify a specific action you want to take on.
Be thoughtful and realistic about the goals you choose.
Find something that is fun and choose what is enjoyable for you.
Re-purpose some of your free time.
Rethink your environment to reduce the temptations and encourage better choices.
Celebrate the wins.
Learn from the setbacks.
Involve friends and family with common goals to reinforce healthy choices; and
Pick a good start time.
While brain health behavior changes can be achieved by individuals, these changes require the support health care providers, employers, and community organizations. Health care providers can help their patients improve their lifestyle habits and make healthy choices to reduce risks and alleviate the symptoms of disease. Employers can promote healthy behaviors too by creating healthier work environments, offering wellness initiatives, health screenings, immunizations, supporting healthy sleep by minimizing shift work, not requiring employees to respond to emails 24/7 and respecting vacations and breaktimes. These all can promote better brain and mental health, says the GCBH report.
Mission-driven organizations, like AARP, the Arthritis Foundation, and the Heart Association, can also provide individuals with needed information and tools to access their own wellness and motivate a person to make positive behavior changes.
Finally, policymakers can set goals to improve the public’s brain health with a focus on building equity, fighting the sigma of dementia, and implementing best practice to improve brain health from around the world. They can also become aware of how public policies in other areas, such as the built environment, nutrition, and education, can have a lifelong impact on brain health. Some specific examples of successful public health policies include seat-belt laws and smoking cessation requirements.
“A chasm remains between what researchers are discovering about brain health and how little this knowledge has been applied for the public good. Progress will require the combined actions of individuals and communities, reinforced by public policies that facilitate healthy lifestyles,” says the report’s authors. “By applying lessons of public health and science, we can improve brain health for the benefit of individuals, communities and countries around the world,” they say, noting that this report lays out the steps needed to achieve this goal.
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.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: Two shootings in Providence this weekend. A Rhode Island man is charged with dealing drugs that caused someone to die from an overdose. The National Grid sale is being put on hold.
>>Four Injured In Two Separate Providence Shootings
(Providence, RI) -- Two weekend shootings are under investigation in Providence. One of the incidents happened in connection to a fight at the Wonderland Gentlemen's Club on Allens Avenue Friday night, according to the Providence Police Department. The club has been temporarily shut down as a result. The victim reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries. There was also a triple-shooting in the city's Elmwood section on Lenox Avenue early Sunday morning. One of the victims was listed in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.
>>Pawtucket Man Charged With Dealing Deadly Drugs
(Pawtucket, RI) -- A Pawtucket man is being charged with supplying drugs that led to a fatal overdose. Walik Morrison allegedly possessed cocaine, fentanyl and other drugs with intent to deliver. The overdose reportedly happened at a residence in the city in January. Morrison is due for arraignment in Providence Superior Court on Wednesday.
>>Judge Hits Brakes On National Grid Sale
(Providence, RI) -- A Rhode Island Superior Court judge is postponing the sale of National Grid's electric and natural gas operations in Rhode Island. The buyer in the multi-billion-dollar sale is Pennsylvania-based utility company PPL. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha has argued that the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers gave improper approval of the transaction earlier this year. A hearing is scheduled next week.
>>Renovation Will Close Providence School
(Providence, RI) -- A Providence school will be closed one year for renovations. The Providence Journal reports this is happening at D'Abate Elementary in Olneyville. Officials say the 21-million-dollar project will create a 21st century learning environment. Students will be relocated to Lauro Elementary School in Federal Hill for the 2022-2023 school year. Those who live over a mile away will receive transportation from the school district.
>>Ed Cooley Named Coach Of The Year
(Providence, RI) -- Providence College men's basketball coach Ed Cooley is being named the Naismith College Coach of the Year. Cooley led the Friars to their first-ever Big East Conference regular season championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. He is the first PC head coach to win the award.
>>Bruins Lose To Thunderbirds, Crunch
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins are looking to end their six-game homestand on a winning note. The P-Bruins lost 1-to-0 in overtime to the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday. Providence fell to the Syracuse Crunch on Sunday, 4-to-1. The Hartford Wolf Pack visit the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Monday evening. The puck drops at 7:05.
Did he always feel this way, or had it just begun?
There’s so much life that he never tasted
He has so much love to give – so sad to see it wasted….
We missed the signs of suffering
He never really let us in
We’ll never know if it would have mattered…”
(“Wasted” reprinted with permission. Lyrics by: Dean Petrella and Joe Martira)
The month of April is the start of “high season” for suicide. Beginning in spring and lasting throughout the summer, suicide rates worldwide are highest during this season. In recent years, suicide rates among adults between the ages of 25-44 have increased exponentially during COVID. They have surpassed the suicide rates of middle to late middle age as the norm. Men are far more like to successfully complete a suicide attempt, (based on the method used, which tends to be more lethal; yet women attempt suicide more often than men). Of course, suicide can occur at any time of the year, but over the past 50 years we have seen this “spring suicide” phenomenon. Suicide rates are higher in those struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse.
What can we do?
So often I hear survivors state:
“We never saw it coming! He/she seemed happy and content without any life issues. This is a shock.”
Many of those struggling with suicidal ideation (SI) do all they can to hide it from their loved ones. The above quote is evidence of how successful many of them are. However, most unsuccessful suicide attempt individuals I have worked with often state:
“The overwhelming feeling is very short lived. Maybe just a few minutes. Yet during those minutes, all else doesn’t just fade – it disappears. There is no worrying about our loved ones, as we think we are doing them and the world a favor as we (I am a burden). There is no rational thought – just the need to relieve the pain of living with (my depression, my anxiety, etc.). I don’t want to die; I just don’t want to live like this anymore.”
It’s difficult when the individual struggling with SI tries so desperately to hide it from us.
Be observant. Have they been acting differently? Happier? More content? Or perhaps isolating themselves from others. Any behavior that is not the norm for the individual deserves some attention.
If you call 911 because you believe the person is in danger of hurting themselves, there are 3 basic questions the professionals will ask:
“Are you thinking of killing yourself?
Do you have the means?
Do you have the method?
If the answer to all three is in the affirmative, they will be admitted. If not, (and many will not tell the truth as they don’t want anyone to thwart their plans) they are released.
If you find someone in an active suicide state, you can attempt to ground them in reality by asking a series of questions:
Name 5 things you see.
Name 4 things you can hear.
Name 3 things you can taste.
Name 2 things you can smell.
Name 1 thing you can feel.
Sometimes it only takes this grounding exercise to get them out from under the emotional weight and focus on the here and now. Other quick methods include having them hold a handful of ice cubes. This immediately tells the brain to focus on the cold and shifts the immediacy of the thought. Eating something distasteful (like a tablespoon of salt) is often used.
It’s up to the professionals to stop the SI long term, as chances are the individual is not open to your protestations.
Unfortunately, most who die by suicide do not leave notes. (Medpage Today). If they are successful, we spend the remainder of our lives trying to identify the reason. “Why?”
It’s usually not one issue. It is the perfect storm. It can be a culmination of childhood issues of trauma and neglect, combined with substance abuse, mental health issues, physical problems, legal issues and social environment. As a psychological autopsy specialist, we often investigate deaths to determine an unintentional/intentional suicide. We look at their social media accounts, their phones for texts and emails, interview key figures in their life, including friends, family, spouses and children.
We also spend a great deal of time reviewing their mom’s pregnancy with them, their birth, childhood and social life, to assess any unresolved issues. Were they bullied in school? Have their experienced a major life stressor (divorce, loss of job, a death, etc.)? Is there any evidence of genetic clues or history of suicide in the family? Research indicates that familial transmission of suicide is a key factor, along with a familial transmission of mental illness (Psychiatric Times).
There is no one reason why one suicides. It can sometimes be planned, sometimes impulsive. And very often we cannot see it. We blame ourselves, feel guilty or ashamed. If someone is intent on suiciding, they will. There are cases of individuals hospitalized for a suicide attempt who successfully complete the suicide while hospitalized.
Many ask me if self-harm (cutting, etc.) is a precursor to SI. There is no one answer to that as it depends on many other factors. Just like the ice cubes and the salt, cutting oneself forces the brain to focus on the physical pain rather than the psychological pain. The more cutting, the more psychological pain.
There a still a major stigma around suicide. Some believe that individuals that suicide are selfish. Some believe that attempts are “just wanting attention.” Yes. It is a cry for help. See me. Hear me. I am here and in pain, but I can’t tell you any of this.”
Some have suicidal ideations without ever acting upon it. People tell me that there is a comfort in knowing that if everything goes wrong, there is a way out.
Dear readers, there is always a way out without dying. The high season reminds you that people will come out of winter hibernations and begin to live. Let’s try to live with them.
_____
Dr. Mari Dias is a nationally board-certified counselor, holds a Fellow in Thanatology and is certified in both grief counseling and complicated grief. Dias is a Certified death doula, and has a Certificate in Psychological Autopsy.
She is Professor of Clinical Mental Health, Master of Science program, Johnson & Wales University. Dias is the director of GracePointe Grief Center, in North Kingstown, RI. For more information, go to: http://gracepointegrief.com/ .
Dias is the author of GriefSPEAK, Vol. 1: Stories of Loss
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: A Massachusetts man is the first to benefit from a new Rhode Island law which compensates people who were wrongfully-imprisoned. National Grid is predicting Rhode Island electric bills will increase next winter. The Rhode Island DCYF allegedly failed to provide an interpreter for deaf parents while conducting a number of investigations.
>>Wrongfully-Convicted Man Gets Payout For Time In Prison
(Providence, RI) -- A man who spent over a decade in prison for a crime he did not commit has become the first to benefit from a new Rhode Island law which lets the wrongfully-imprisoned seek reimbursement. Paul Courteau of Brockton was convicted in 1981 of an armed robbery at a North Providence jewelry store. A new law signed by Governor Dan McKee last year allows people like Courteau to be compensated fifty-thousand dollars for each year of wrongful imprisonment. He got a payout of over a half-million dollars in Superior Court on Thursday.
>>National Grid Predicts Electric Bill Increases
(Providence, RI) -- National Grid customers in Rhode Island are being told to prepare for a jump in electric bills next winter. The Providence Journal reports the monthly bill for a typical residential customer could go up by about 40 dollars, according to estimates from the company. Officials say the surge is tied to the rising price of natural gas and that the Russian war in Ukraine is making things worse.
>>Feds Ask DCYF To Improve Communication With Deaf Parents
(Providence, RI) -- The Justice Department is announcing a settlement with the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families. The federal government says DCYF allegedly failed to provide sign language interpreter services to parents who are deaf during several child protection investigations, including when children were removed from homes. DCYF is being directed to develop a policy for effectively communicating with people who have such disabilities.
>>No New COVID Deaths In RI, Over 200 New Cases
(Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island reported zero new coronavirus deaths on Thursday. The pandemic death toll for the Ocean State is three-thousand-522. There were two-hundred-28 new virus cases reported yesterday and fifty COVID patients in Rhode Island hospitals.
>>Polisena Name Could Remain In Johnston Mayor's Office
(Johnston, RI) -- The son of Johnston Mayor Joe Polisena is planning to run for his father's office. Joe Polisena Jr. says he is stepping down from his deputy counsel position in Governor McKee's office to focus on the campaign. Polisena Jr. is also a member of the Johnston Town Council. Joe Polisena Sr. has been the mayor since 2007. He is not seeking another term after 2023.
>>P-Bruins Hosting Three More Games At Dunk
(Providence, RI) -- The Providence Bruins are continuing a homestand at the Dunkin' Donuts Center with three games on Friday, Sunday and Monday. The three opponents in order are the Springfield Thunderbirds, Syracuse Crunch and Hartford Wolf Pack. The P-Bruins hold second place in the AHL Atlantic Division with the top six teams making the playoffs.
