This Just In: A Census error that worked out fine for us

Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. Today is May 19; one year ago today President Joe Biden touched down briefly on Rhode Island soil en route to the commencement ceremony at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

It was one of the biggest and most consequential surprises of last year: the U.S. Census announced its 2020 count found Rhode Island had gained enough population (nearly 45,000 additional residents) over the previous 10 years to keep both of its congressional seats. Thirteen moths after the Census Bureau revealed those results, it is now saying that they were probably in error. In fact, Rhode Island may have lost more than 10,000 residents from 2010 to 2020. So should Rhode Island be commended or condemned for its "vigorous efforts" to "encourage participation"?

The Rhode Island Department of Health reported no new coronavirus-related deaths and 1,043 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 8,345 negative tests, for an 11.1% positive rate. It was the first time since Feb. 1 that the state had reported 1,000 cases in a single day. There were 103 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, down from 104 reported yesterday, with six in intensive care. Rhode Island has reported an average of 830 new cases a day over the last seven days, up 10% from a week ago and up 38% from two weeks ago.

COVID is just one reason that emergency room waits at Hasbro Children's Hospital are running as long as seven hours. Hospital officials held an unusual news conference to warn parents of the "perfect storm" they're facing.

Jim Hummel reports that some local businesses are finding the latest COVID government-aid program to be unnecessarily burdensome. One even said he'd rather get a "root canal at the DMV," which sounds like quite a thing.

The first confirmed case of monkeypox in the United States this year was found uncomfortably close to our borders.

Eighty-eight Providence schoolteachers recently received warning letters from human resources because they took sick days immediately before or after a school vacation week. But some of them say they did nothing wrong.

Even though fewer passengers are returning to Narragansett on the Block Island Ferry than in years past, the job of keeping order in the Port of Galilee is becoming more expensive. So the town wants to increase the landing fee on every passenger ticket.

Federal prosecutors say Nathan Carman should remain in prison until his murder-on-the-high-seas trial takes place, because they think he is likely to flee or to harm someone else if he's released on bail.

The contest to be the next mayor of Providence just got a little less crowded.

Lifespan has named the former president of Newport and Miriam Hospitals to be interim CEO when Dr. Timothy Babineau officially leaves office at the end of the month.

Will Cole Strange be a good player for the Patriots? No one knows, but they say he's very impressive in the gym.

And finally, the Celtics will be looking to make up for their second-half meltdown from a couple nights ago when they face the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. This time, both Marcus Smart and Al Horford are expected to play. The tip will be some time after 8:30 on ESPN.

Have a great night. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, please encourage a friend to sign up.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Census error that worked out fine for RI