This Just In: Decision day for lawmakers on legal pot, and the future of North Main Street
Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. It's May 24; Westerly-born singer Billy Gilman turns 34 today.
It's shaping up as a historic day in the General Assembly, with both chambers expected to vote later on to legalize the recreational use and sale of marijuana. If Gov. Dan McKee signs the legislation as expected, possibly later this week, Rhode Island would become the 19th state to legalize adult use of the drug since Colorado became the first a decade ago. Journal reporters Tom Mooney and Katherine Gregg will continue to provide the latest updates throughout the afternoon and evening.
North Main Street in Providence might look nothing like it does today following a transformation project that is beginning to take shape. While the specifics are still very much unknown, the future is likely to include less space for cars and on-street parking, and more for bikes and public transit.
With the 250th anniversary approaching, Providence restaurateur Bob Burke is engaging in some gamesmanship with our neighbors to the north in order to drive more recognition of the Gaspee affair. But the British consul general in Boston, Peter Abbott, opines that the burning of the Gaspee was not "the turning point" toward American independence, even if "Rhode Island seems to take it pretty seriously."
The Rhode Island Department of Health reported three coronavirus-related deaths and 719 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 6,179 negative tests, for a 10.4% positive rate. There were 87 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, up from 77 reported yesterday. Rhode Island has reported an average of 731 new cases a day over the last seven days, down 11% from a week ago and up 3% from two weeks ago.
State Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor is leaving his cabinet post in the McKee administration to run for state treasurer. The news, which ends weeks of speculation, creates an intriguing two-way race for the Democratic nomination between Pryor and former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa.
Firefighters were still putting out hot spots this afternoon following a fire that devastated the recently renovated Wayfinder hotel in Newport. Meanwhile, other hotels were trying to make space for the guests who were displaced as a busy holiday weekend approaches.
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza said shootings in the city so far this year have been about half of what they were last year, the second year of a bump in crime that came in the wake of the pandemic.
The actress Zendaya paid a visit to Providence this past weekend. Here's what she was doing here.
Meanwhile, a black bear paid a visit to Coventry. Not as big a name, but maybe even more of a spectacle.
And finally, it hasn't been pretty, but it has at least been unpredictable. The Celtics and the Heat are now tied at two games apiece in the Eastern Conference finals, and what happens next is anyone's guess.
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: Decision day for lawmakers on legal pot; the future of North Main
