This Just In: Waiting on snow, and farewell to Zeus
Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. Today is Dec. 8; the British occupied Newport on this date in 1776. They stayed for nearly three years; during that time about 200 buildings were torn down and nearly every tree on Aquidneck Island was cut down for fuel.
As I write this newsletter, it's supposed to start snowing any minute. Oh the anticipation.
The Rhode Island Department of Health today reported no new coronavirus-related deaths and 693 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 10,674 negative tests, for a 6.1% positive rate. The number of new cases was lower than it has been in recent days, but so was the number of negative tests, suggesting a possible delay in reporting many results. Rhode Island has reported an average of 855 new coronavirus cases a day over the last seven days, up 43% from a week ago and up 85% from two weeks ago, which was the day before Thanksgiving.
Hospitalization numbers continued to increase rapidly: there were 226 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, up from 203 reported yesterday, with 35 in intensive care. Hospitalizations are double what they were this time last month (although they're still less than half what they were this time last year).
He helped police find a missing 76-year-old man, alive; and recover the body of a teenage drowning victim. Along the way he brought joy to thousands of schoolchildren with appearances around the state. Zeus, a dog who had a "storied career" with the Rhode Island State Police, died Sunday.
Going back centuries, huge numbers of herring have traveled from the Atlantic Ocean up the Narrow River and Mettatuxet Brook to get back to spawn in Carr Pond in North Kingstown. But along the way, thousands get confused and end up stuck underneath and around the historic water wheels outside the Gilbert Stuart Museum – leading some visitors to complain about the stench from dead fish. As Alex Kuffner writes, conservationists think they have found an answer to the problem.
Forty years after he was convicted and sent to prison for armed robbery – a crime he did not commit, and which another man later confessed to – Paul Courteau is set to invoke a new state law and request more than $500,000 in compensation from Rhode Island. As Tom Mooney writes, Courteau's life has not been easy since he was released from prison on parole in 1994.
A judge set $20,000 surety bail for Dauda Elegushi, the driver for a subcontractor of the state's medical transportation provider who was involved in a fatal crash late last month. Elegushi is charged with DUI in addition to other offenses, and prosecutors said he is in the country illegally. Judge Anthony Capraro labeled Elegushi a flight risk and ordered his passport seized.
The city of Providence is giving a half million dollars from its federal COVID funds to Crossroads Rhode Island to help proactively find and find shelter for people living on the streets.
During the first hearing on the state's proposed legislative maps for the 2022 election, multiple progressive candidates said the new boundary lines were drawn to give them a disadvantage.
I'm going to blame it on having a a teenager and a pre-teen, but I haven't been feeling too much in the holiday spirit just yet. If you're like me, Susan McDonald has these ideas for getting into the festive mood.
And what's more festive than Christmas cookies? Gail Ciampa suggests 12 places to go if you love the cookies but would prefer not to do the baking. Did I mention that it was supposed to snow soon?
Finally, a hearty congratulations to Marquis Buchanan of Classical High School, the 2021 Gatorade Rhode Island Football Player of the Year.
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: Waiting on snow in RI, and farewell to Zeus
