This Just In: A funeral home's important place in South Providence
Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. I'll be out of the state next week – seeing Niagara Falls for the first time, if you can believe it – so This Just In will be on vacation. It'll be back in your inbox on Monday, July 11.
We begin today with the story of a local business with a fascinating history. For decades, the Bell Funeral Home in South Providence has been a stately presence, a witness to moments of tragedy, and a vital community resource. The business dates back to 1932, when Andrew J. Bell Jr., who was also a prominent civil-rights activist, opened it in a storefront on Westminster Street. For most of its history, it has been inside a Queen Anne Victorian home on Broad Street. Today it is run by the only licensed female African American funeral director in the state. Katie Mulvaney reports on the home and its legacy.
Rhode Island sports legend Gordon Ernst Jr. is headed to prison for two and a half years, after receiving the longest sentence yet for a defendant in the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal. Ernst had previously pleaded guilty to bribery charges connected to his former job as head tennis coach at Georgetown University. In an appeal for leniency, Ernst portrayed himself as the victim of a difficult childhood, including routine abuse at the hands of his father, a legendary coach who died in 2016.
If your holiday weekend includes a family barbecue, good for you! But such an event could be awkward for the Cardillo family of Johnston. That's because Dennis is running for a seat the state House of Representatives, a seat that is currently held by his uncle Edward, who wants to keep it.
Gov. Dan McKee has been all over the state this week, after launching what he calls the "#RIMomentum tour." But are these events legitimate parts of the governor's job, or thinly disguised campaign events?
Rhode Island's part-time lawmakers are getting a substantial pay increase, but it's not because of any vote they have taken.
The Rhode Island Department of Health reported two coronavirus-related deaths and 283 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 2,092 negative tests, for an 11.9% positive rate. There were 49 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, down from 54 reported yesterday, with fewer than five in intensive care. Rhode Island has reported an average of 278 new cases a day over the last seven days, up 6% from a week ago and down 7% from two weeks ago. For the week, 9.4% of reported tests were positive, up from 7.8% last week.
COVID deaths are down substantially from early this year, but with significant numbers of people continuing to get infected, more people are susceptible to long COVID. Brown University researchers are trying to find out what causes this sometimes debilitating condition.
When Barrington Town Beach was recently shut down for swimmers, it remained open for people looking to harvest shellfish. Jack Perry explored how that could be.
Amy Russo's one of the hardest-working reporters around; she also gets to do cool things for work like going to a clambake.
And finally, our Walking RI destination of the week is an important part of the largest coastal forest from Boston to Washington, D.C.
Have a lovely holiday weekend. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, please encourage a friend to sign up.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: This Just In: Bell Funeral Home important place South Providence
