This Just In: Magaziner takes a new path, and RI mobility trends during omicron

Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. We begin with big political news: In a move that was not unexpected, but will certainly shake up the two most-watched races on Rhode Island's 2022 ballot, state Treasurer Seth Magaziner says he is pulling out of the race for governor and will instead run for the Congressional seat soon to be vacated by Jim Langevin. The move makes Magaziner the highest-profile, and by far best-funded, Democrat so far to join the Congressional race.

As the omicron variant sent coronavirus cases to record highs in late December and early January, Rhode Islanders spent less time than usual visiting indoor destinations and more time than usual in parks. That's according to data from Google's Community Mobility Report for Rhode Island. The reports use the location histories of people who have opted in to tracking through their Google accounts, and compare their movement over a stretch of time to the same dates two years ago, before the pandemic arrived.

Google found that in Rhode Island, time spent at places of retail and recreation – restaurants, shopping centers, museums and movie theaters, for example – was down 21% from two years ago between Dec. 11 and Jan. 22. Trends for grocery stores and pharmacies were down 13%. In each category, activity was actually above average in the early part of December, before omicron cases really began increasing. People also spent less time at transit stations (by 52%) and workplaces (by 13%).

Where did Rhode Islanders spend more time during this period? Google found that mobility at "parks" – including beaches, marinas, dog parks and public gardens – was up 26% from two years ago. Rhode Islanders spent more time at home than they did two years ago, by 6%, Google found.

The Rhode Island Department of Health today reported 12 more coronavirus-related deaths and 3,078 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 17,143 negative tests, for a 15.2% positive rate. There were 479 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, up from 460 reported yesterday, with 45 in intensive care. Rhode Island has reported an average of 2,435 new cases a day over the last seven days, down 43% from a week ago and down 54% from two weeks ago.

Former Providence Schools Supt. Harrison Peters is accusing Warwick police of orchestrating a "set-up" that led to the arrest of Olayinka Alege, a former high-ranking school official. The case against Alege, whom Peters had previously worked with in Florida, led to Peters' resignation from Providence last year. The Warwick police have declined to respond to his allegations.

A Canadian woman who hosts a vegan lifestyle show on the A&E network says she was scammed out of $40,000 by a man she later learned was Nicholas Alahverdian, the former Rhode Islander who faked his death two years ago before turning up in a Scotland hospital.

Nearly two months after he failed to show up for a court hearing, a man who is facing charges in a fatal crash that killed an 88-year-old woman in Hopkinton was arrested in a Seekonk motel, where police say he was living under a false name.

Two simple red billboards that display nothing but the word "love" are a tribute to a former Providence schoolteacher who died of cancer, from her daughter.

Peter Robbins, who as a child was the voice of Charlie Brown, has died of suicide, according to multiple media reports. In 2019, he visited Providence for Rhode Island Comic Con, and he spoke at length with a Journal reporter about his difficult life.

Somebody bought a $3-million Mega Millions ticket at a convenience store in Providence.

It still looks like we're getting a big storm this weekend.

The PC Friars are in Cincinnati today to face Xavier in a matchup of nationally ranked teams. Tipoff is at the wonderful time of 6:30 p.m.

And finally, a belated salute to David Ortiz, one of the most exciting athletes of my lifetime and a player who truly embraced New England, on his first-ballot induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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: Magaziner takes a new path, and RI mobility trends during omicron