Rise & Shine! Your Newport County guide for May 6
Rise & Shine! I’m Scott Barrett, managing editor for The Daily News, and today is May 6, the 126th day of the year — 239 days remain in 2022. On this day in 1954, medical student Roger Bannister accomplished what was thought to be impossible — breaking the 4-minute barrier in the mile. The 25-year-old posted a time of 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds.
Here & Now
• Today marks the last day of reporter Laura Damon's time with The Daily News as she leaves to pursue an opportunity in another industry. Laura joined our newsroom way back in April 2017, and she's produced some of the finest journalism in the state and region over the past five years.
Case in point: She recently took third place in the Racial, Ethnic or Gender Issue category in the New England Newspaper & Press Association annual contest for her examination of alleged racism aimed at a bi-racial family in Little Compton.
Laura was willing to do many things for a good story. Last year, she participated in a months-long citizens police academy with the Portsmouth Police Department and once took a women-only pistol course at the Newport Rifle Club.
I asked Laura Thursday which story she had written was her favorite. After thinking about it for a few minutes, she responded: The first story on Zachary Medina.
"I'd always wanted to write a story like that," she said. "And it made me realize crime coverage is more than asking cops what happened. There are family dynamics and so many emotions involved. There are a lot of 'true crime' fans and internet sleuths who, I think, see true crime as kind of sexy and they romanticize it. But the reality is it's gritty and hard and emotional to tackle projects like that. I never really felt like a badass or anything doing assignments like that, and I'm glad that I didn't. They just humbled me."
Laura made phone calls, she knocked on doors and she sat down with hundreds of subjects over the years, asking the tough questions that needed to be asked. She's off to bigger and better things, but Laura certainly will be missed in this newsroom.
• One of Laura's final stories for us is another great piece of journalism. On Aug. 10, 1990, the proprietor of the Canton Restaurant on Broadway left the establishment and drove to his home on Annandale Road.
It was the last time Hong D. Leung made the short commute. The 69-year-old father, husband and business owner was found dead later that night in a case that's never been solved. Read her story here.
• With the departure of Laura, it should be repeated we are hiring for two full-time reporter positions. If you are interested in joining our newsroom, or know someone who is, make sure they apply. Learn more here.
• While Laura moves on, we have another great journalist in Savana Dunning, and I would be remiss if I failed to mention her recent NENPA award. She took second place in the Social Issues Feature Story for her piece on the lack of gay bars in Newport and how that makes the LGBTQ community feel isolated.
• In his weekly Spare Change column, Jim Gillis writes he'll need some convincing before backing the proposed Middletown Center project. Read his column here.
• The Rogers High School boys lacrosse team has a number of committed athletes, but not a lot of wins to show for their hard work. The program is missing one, according to their coach. Find out what it is here.
• Speaking of Rogers High, congratulations to golfer Louis Murphy, who with more than 2,900 votes was named The Newport Daily News Athlete of the Week.
• Several banners marking great achievements hang inside the gymnasium at Tiverton High School, and the most recent one to go up belongs to the unified basketball team. Read more here.
• A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held this morning at 10:30 a.m. for the Sailing Museum on Thames Street.
• From the inbox: As you'll see below, today is National Nurses Day. According to a recent study, Rhode Island ranks No. 9 on a list of best states for nurses. It takes into account two key factors: Opportunity and competition, and work environment. Washington tops the list, while Oklahoma ranks last. Find the state-by-state breakdown here.
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Born today
Meek Mill (rapper), 35
George Clooney (actor), 61
Bob Seger (musician), 77
Willie Mays (athlete), 91
Weather report
Low tides: 5:38 a.m., 5:29 p.m.
High tides: 12:33 p.m.
Sunrise: 5:34 a.m. Sunset: 7:49 p.m.
Water temperature: 49.4 degrees.
Municipal meetings
Portsmouth
Housing Authority, 2 p.m.
Tiverton
Solar Ordinance Advisory Committee, 6:30 p.m.
Jamestown
Board of Canvassers, 9:30 a.m.
Local obituaries
Today is …
National Nurses Day
National Military Spouse Appreciation Day
International No Diet Day
Blast from the Past
Got a news tip, story idea or just want to drop me a line? Don't be a stranger. Send an email to sbarrett@newportri.com.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Rise & Shine! Your Newport County guide for May 6
