This Just In: Rhode Island's other license plate contest entries

Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. Today is April 8; St. Mary's Church of Newport, Rhode Island's oldest Roman Catholic parish and the site of John F. Kennedy's wedding to Jacqueline Bouvier, was established on this date in 1828.

Earlier this week, we found out what Rhode Island's next license plate will look like. Today was almost more fun. The DMV released all 900-plus designs that amateur artists submitted over just a month this winter for consideration in the license-plate contest. Until today, the public had only seen the five that officials had selected as finalists in the online vote. But if you think the winner really should have highlighted the Big Blue Bug, or the Rhode Island red, or Dunkin' Donuts, here's a look at what might have been.

The Rhode Island Department of Health today reported one coronavirus-related death (which actually occurred prior to this month) and 339 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 4,818 negative tests, for a 6.6% positive rate. There were 50 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, up from 49 reported yesterday, with five in intensive care. Rhode Island has reported an average of 266 new cases a day over the last seven days, up 40% from a week ago and up 68% from two weeks ago. For tests that were reported this week, the positivity rate was 5.8%, up from 4.0% last week and 3.0% two weeks ago.

Now that federal authorities have authorized a second vaccine booster for people older than 50, and younger people who are immunocompromised, we have this Q&A for those considering whether to get the additional shot.

The prom is often a singular event in a teenager's life (at least that's what I've heard), but in 2022 it's a lot like other things: complicated by supply shortages and inflation.

David Letterman's visit to Providence last summer didn't go the way he wanted. A fall on a city sidewalk knocked the legendary comedian out cold. But in a video released this week, Letterman says the care he got at Rhode Island Hospital's emergency room turned a scary experience into something "delightful."

Workers at a Starbucks off Bald Hill Road in Warwick are the first in the state to announce their intent to unionize.

The annual drive is back on to get colleges and universities to pay local taxes, with the colleges and universities once again saying that forcing them to do so would be counterproductive.

Former President Bill Clinton will come to Brown University later this month to take part in a lecture series named in honor of the son of one of Clinton's former ambassadors.

In a Journal op-ed, former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino describes crime in the city as "out of control" and urges the current candidates for mayor to take a multipronged approach to combating it.

John Vincent Gormley spent hundreds of hours clearing, blazing and maintaining trails in the Arcadia Management Area, performing this labor of love into his 80s. For this week's Walking RI column, John Kostrzewa explored the trail named in Gormley's honor.

In her latest column adventure, Amy Russo visited the quirky and historic home of the Providence Art Club.

Susan McDonald tells you what you need to know about the next season at the Gamm Theatre.

And finally, it's Opening Day for the Boston Red Sox, who are in The Bronx taking on their ancient rivals, the Yankees. Last year at this time we weren't expecting too much, but Bill Koch writes that the success of 2021 has set the bar much higher this year.

Have a great 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: Rhode Island's other license plate contest entries