This Just In: Snowy sidewalks in Providence, and scandal at a local VFW
Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. The good news today is that the temperature is comfortably above freezing. The bad news is that this is creating a slushy mess on the roads and sidewalks. The even worse news is that we're in for a nasty mix of sleet, snow and freezing rain on Friday morning that may make for very treacherous conditions to end the week.
Four days after the blizzard that dropped nearly two feet of snow on Providence, getting around the capitol city remains a pretty big hassle, especially if you're a pedestrian. Some advocates are calling for the city to step up enforcement of requirements that property owners keep sidewalks clear, or even to take on the job itself.
The commander of a VFW post in North Kingstown has resigned amid allegations that she lied about serving in the Marine Corps and earning a Purple Heart. Sarah Cavanaugh began attracting scrutiny after she claimed to be fighting Stage IV lung cancer. Now, a Providence-based organization has begun refunding donations that it collected after sharing her story on social media.
The Rhode Island Department of Health today reported five more coronavirus-related deaths and 995 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 10,387 negative tests, for an 8.7% positive rate. There were 351 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, down from 362 reported yesterday, with 36 in intensive care. Rhode Island has reported an average of 1,168 new cases a day over the last seven days, down 52% from a week ago and down 73% from two weeks ago. In something of a milestone, the daily average of new cases in Rhode Island has now dropped below the peak from last winter, and is at its lowest point since Dec. 19.
Cases may be falling, but the Democratic leadership in the General Assembly is looking to extend the emergency powers assumed by Gov. Dan McKee back in August because of the delta variant. The Assembly's Republicans, and most of the people who testified at a hearing last night, are opposed.
Rhode Island has recovered most of the jobs that it lost at the start of the pandemic, but is doing so more slowly than most other states, according to a study released today by the Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies at Bryant University and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council.
Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the former state health director, has decided not to run for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Jim Langevin.
Deric "Tuna" McGuire, the alleged leader of the Pagans Motorcycle Club in Rhode Island, is back behind bars for violating the terms of his bail. McGuire faces more than 220 narcotics and firearms charges in connection with a series of raids in 2018.
A Pawtucket man is charged with murder in that city's third homicide within a nine-day period.
Here's a strange one: the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for help finding the person or people responsible for what it describes as the "ritualistic sacrificial killings" of chickens, which have been found at various locations in the state.
Miller's Famous Sandwiches, an East Providence institution for half a century, is now in its third generation of family ownership, and considering expanding into other states on the East Coast.
In her latest column, food editor Gail Ciampa calls for Rhode Island to reform its liquor laws – but not by legalizing happy hour.
And finally, they did it again: the PC Friars edged St. John's last night to extend their best start since the days of Marvin Barnes and Ernie D.
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: This Just In: Snowy sidewalks in Providence, and scandal at local VFW
