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(WJAR) — A flavored vape ban is now in effect in Rhode Island.
It’s just one of a list of new laws across Southern New England starting in 2025.
The ban on the sale or “possession with intent to sell” flavored vape products went into effect on New Year’s Day.
Vape stores are critical of the ban and said the new law will hurt business.
State leaders said E-cigarettes are dangerous, especially for children.
Teachers have even had conferences to discuss vaping problems in the classroom.
“We hear from counselors and teachers that students are really struggling with nicotine addiction. One out of three Rhode Islanders have tried e-cigarettes and currently 17% report past 30-day use,” said Natalie Kimmerlein, with the South County Prevention Coalition.
A new vape tax will also go into effect. Single-use vape products will be taxed at 50 cents per milliliter of liquid.
Meanwhile, there will be a 10% tax on the wholesale price of Refillable E-cigarettes.
Two local vape companies filed a motion in court to try to delay the flavor ban, but a federal judge denied it.
An 18-year-old “involved” with the Department of Children, Youth & Families died in an “incident,” the department disclosed Thursday.
The fatality occurred Wednesday, DCYF said in a media release, and the department “has notified the Office of the Child Advocate.”
“While confidentiality laws prohibit DCYF from disclosing additional details, we are always
disheartened to learn of these incidents,” the release said.
Last month, DCYF reported a 2-year-old died in November from “maltreatment.”
Also in January, a 2-month-old baby “nearly died,” according to DCYF.
(WJAR) — With Rhode Island state workers recently complaining about not getting paid properly, it was 10 years ago that NBC 10 also reported on payroll problems with the state.
It was 10 years ago that NBC 10 also reported on payroll problems with the state. (WJAR){ }
Last month, Brian Crandall reported that the state cut separate checks to workers who were short-changed because of a new payroll system.
And just last week, state workers got W-2’s which said their employer was the State of Rhode Island Umbrella Company.
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The state is sending out new ones.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after two bodies were found in a car parked outside Miriam Hospital Wednesday night.
Kristy dosReis, a spokesperson for the Providence Police Department, confirmed the bodies were discovered in the hospital’s parking lot near Seventh and Summit streets.
Neither of the bodies have been identified.
It’s unclear whether their deaths are considered suspicious at this time. dosReis said it is up to the state medical examiner to determine how they died.
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