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Rhode Island Current
U.S. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut calls on Joe Biden to drop out
U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, called on Joe Biden to exit the presidential race, becoming the first member of Connecticut’s congressional delegation to publicly say he no longer has confidence in the president’s ability to win reelection. Himes’ statement on X Thursday night that Biden should “step away” came moments after the president […] The post U.S. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut calls on Joe Biden to drop out appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Finland is offering farmworkers bird flu shots. Some experts say the U.S. should too.
As bird flu spreads among dairy cattle in the U.S., veterinarians and researchers have taken note of Finland’s move to vaccinate farmworkers at risk of infection. They wonder why their government doesn’t do the same. “Farmworkers, veterinarians, and producers are handling large volumes of milk that can contain high levels of bird flu virus,” said […] The post Finland is offering farmworkers bird flu shots. Some experts say the U.S. should too. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps
To combat gender and racial wage gaps, nearly a dozen states recently have enacted pay transparency laws that require employers to be more open about the wages and benefits they offer. Most of the laws require employers to disclose wages in job postings and some bar them from asking a job candidate about their salary […] The post More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
AG seeks court order to shut down South Providence scrapyard after blaze
A second fire in three months at a Providence scrapyard has inflamed calls to shut down its operations amid ongoing safety and environmental concerns. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha in a statement late Wednesday announced plans to take Rhode Island Recycled Metals, LLC back to court in an attempt to close the scrapyard and […] The post AG seeks court order to shut down South Providence scrapyard after blaze appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Accidental overdose deaths in R.I. down 7.3% in 2023, marking first decline in four years
Fresh off the deadliest year for accidental drug overdoses in the last decade, Rhode Island saw its first glimmer of hope in 2023 numbers for drug-induced fatalities published Wednesday. The 404 residents who died from accidental drug overdoses in 2023 marks a 7.3% decline over 2022, and the first year-over-year reduction in fatal overdoses in […] The post Accidental overdose deaths in R.I. down 7.3% in 2023, marking first decline in four years appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Legal action on Washington Bridge could start in August, independent legal team says
The independent legal team hired by Gov. Dan McKee to identify and hold accountable those at fault for the emergency closure of the Washington Bridge may be ready to file a lawsuit next month. But taking that step would likely mean delaying the release of a forensic analysis detailing what led to the bridge to […] The post Legal action on Washington Bridge could start in August, independent legal team says appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Massachusetts legislators wary of ‘nuclear option’ with cannabis commission
BOSTON — Lawmakers on Beacon Hill said they are frustrated with the dysfunction at the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, but they were wary of what they called the “nuclear option” – following Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro’s advice to place the agency under a receivership. “I want to underscore, as someone who has been in the […] The post Massachusetts legislators wary of ‘nuclear option’ with cannabis commission appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said NATO “is more powerful than ever” in remarks Tuesday to honor the 75th anniversary of the alliance and reaffirm allied support for Ukraine one day after Russian missile strikes on a children’s hospital killed dozens in Kyiv. Biden spoke at the annual North American Treaty Organization’s summit happening this […] The post Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats appeared to quell some inner tumult over supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, after highly anticipated internal meetings Tuesday showed the president retained considerable support from the Congressional Black Caucus and other lawmakers in public statements. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Democrats from both chambers largely declined to detail their […] The post United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
EPA reaches settlement with Ocean State Job Lot over misbranded bug zappers
The corporation that runs Ocean State Job Lot has agreed to pay a $53,500 penalty under a settlement reached with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for alleged violations in documenting the importation and sale of seven types of electric bug zappers. Ocean State Jobbers, Inc., based in the Quonset Point Business Park in North Kingstown, […] The post EPA reaches settlement with Ocean State Job Lot over misbranded bug zappers appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
RIDOT to collect feedback from bridge construction firms as it retools Washington Bridge bid specs
The request for proposals to replace the western Washington Bridge struck out. Next up at bat: a request for information. Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Peter Alviti, Jr. said Tuesday the state set the bar too high in its accelerated push to solicit bids to replace the badly deteriorated bridge connecting East Providence […] The post RIDOT to collect feedback from bridge construction firms as it retools Washington Bridge bid specs appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Barnstable, Mass., at the center of offshore wind debate
The town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, is putting out the welcome mat for power from offshore wind farms off the coast, but amid growing opposition on Cape Cod it’s unclear whether that will continue. The still-under-construction Vineyard Wind 1, which is bringing its 800 megawatts of electricity ashore at Covell Beach, faced relatively little local opposition. […] The post Barnstable, Mass., at the center of offshore wind debate appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients
Sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process, suggests an interim report released Tuesday by the watchdog federal trade agency. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen […] The post Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
An invisible barrier prevents the Rhode Island Legislature from stopping payday lending
Bills with widespread support end up stalled for years in the Rhode Island General Assembly without resolution while advocates plead with the Senate president and House speaker to allow votes to take place. It happened again in 2024, when the legislature once again failed to stop predatory payday lenders. The Senate president refused to allow […] The post An invisible barrier prevents the Rhode Island Legislature from stopping payday lending appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators
Anna Wysock’s “aha” moment arrived in an Ohio amusement park, as she got ready to ride a roller coaster with her 7-year-old son: The safety bar across her lap would only click into place once. The attendant told her it had to click twice, or she couldn’t ride. She was mortified. “I had to do […] The post ‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt
WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over […] The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Audit faults MBTA for CharlieCard misuse by transit ambassadors
BOSTON — The MBTA knew as early as 2019 that some of its transit ambassadors were using agency-issued CharlieCards for personal use, but the transit authority has failed to address the problem, according to a new state audit. The ambassadors, who work for a private contractor that operates under the name Block By Block, help […] The post Audit faults MBTA for CharlieCard misuse by transit ambassadors appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
RIDOT environmental planner job, key to meeting state climate goals, draws just seven applicants
The job of helping Rhode Island’s transportation sector achieve its goals of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 required a master’s degree and supervisory experience. But when applications closed June 30, only seven people applied to be the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s (RIDOT) supervising environmental planner. “We estimate having someone in the position late summer/early […] The post RIDOT environmental planner job, key to meeting state climate goals, draws just seven applicants appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Prospect says it finally paid off its overdue bills at Roger Williams, Fatima hospitals
Attorney General Peter Neronha has made it clear he doesn’t fully trust the owner of two urban safety net hospitals. So will he take Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. at its word that it has paid off the $17 million in overdue hospital vendor bills, as ordered by a Providence County Superior Court judge? For now, […] The post Prospect says it finally paid off its overdue bills at Roger Williams, Fatima hospitals appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
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