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From Minnesota, @short_pants weighs in on Tim Walz – The Boston Globe

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From Minnesota, @short_pants weighs in on Tim Walz – The Boston Globe


So Driscoll, who was on jury duty Tuesday, agreed to provide a scouting report on Harris’s vice presidential pick.

”He’s your Midwestern uncle,” Driscoll said of Walz. “There is plainspokenness to him, but dedication. He has been the real deal for a long time.”Harris clearly saw Walz as an effective communicator, he said, noting Walz went viral after describing former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, as “weird.”

He said Harris must have been impressed with Walz’s “working family agenda,” which has included signing legislation to provide free school breakfasts and lunches to all students regardless of income, and legislation providing paid family and medical leave for Minnesotans.

Also, he said Harris must have seen Walz as a governing partner who has executive experience and is now chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.

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Republicans have criticized Walz’s handling of the 2020 protests following the police killing of George Floyd. But Driscoll said, “The governor was operating under extraordinary conditions between the pandemic and civil unrest, and he provided calm and steady leadership.”

Some had expected Harris to choose a vice president from a swing state, such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. But Driscoll noted Obama picked Joe Biden although he represented Delaware, which is far from a swing state.

While Republicans are casting Walz as far left, Driscoll said the “authentic” and “avuncular” governor will help win over Midwestern voters while combatting attempts to paint the ticket as too liberal. He said Walz never seems more at home than when he’s taking part in the opening of the fishing and hunting seasons in Minnesota.

But Driscoll joked that Walz gives off a “different vibe” than former Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun, who made headlines for shooting three racoons on his waterfront estate in Newport in 1993. “He is not going to be shooting raccoons on the front lawn of the governor’s mansion,” he said of Walz.

And that brings us back to the story of why Driscoll still uses the handle @short_pants on X (formerly Twitter).

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In 2008, Driscoll was a field organizer for Obama’s Rhode Island campaign when an elderly man stopped by campaign headquarters as Driscoll was charging a woman $3 for an Obama bumper sticker. A man stepped forward, saying, “Do you know who I am?” Driscoll said, “Sorry, sir, I don’t.” “I’m Bruce Sundlun!” the man boomed. Driscoll jumped out of his seat. “Do you know why I’m here?” Sundlun asked. Driscoll said, “No, sir.” Sundlun told him, “I’m here to kick your (butt)!” Sundlun, who lived in Jamestown, said he’d counted 18 John McCain signs on Aquidneck Island and not a single Obama sign. Raymond J. Sullivan Jr., then the Obama campaign’s state director, said they didn’t have signs yet but he gave him Obama T-shirts and bumper stickers. “Are they free?” Sundlun asked. Sullivan said, “Of course, governor.””Well, (expletive) short pants here is hustling bumper stickers at $3 a pop,” Sundlun said, pointing at Driscoll, who was wearing shorts.


This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.


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Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.





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Dreamflight Studio Releases Rhode Island for MSFS – FSElite

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Dreamflight Studio Releases Rhode Island for MSFS – FSElite


Dreamflight has released its rendition of Rhode Island for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024.

Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (KPVD) features the Bruce Sundlun Terminal, a modern two-level facility with North and South concourses housing around 20 gates. It’s served by major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and Breeze, offering frequent connections to major hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and Washington, along with seasonal routes to Florida and select Caribbean destinations.

Dreamflight’s version of TF Green Airport delivers an accurate and up-to-date recreation of the real location, featuring a fully modelled terminal interior, detailed ground work, and the current 2025 layout. Handcrafted textures, tuned night lighting, and realistic clutter help bring the environment to life, while static aircraft placements match real-world operations. The package also includes a GSX profile for enhanced ground service compatibility.

You can buy it from Contrail for 16.99 (excluding taxes).

Features

  • Accurate, data-driven airport recreation – Modeled using real-world references to deliver the most precise TF Green experience available
  • High-quality textures and detailed custom modeling
  • Fully modeled terminal interior
  • Custom ground poly – Realistic pavement detail, accurate taxiway markings, and updated surface materials
  • Up-to-date 2025 airport layout
  • Professionally tuned night lighting
  • ATC tower interior
  • Authentic ground clutter and service equipment
  • Patriots 767 parked as in real life, static business jets
  • Handcrafted PBR materials
  • Detailed parking lots and landside areas
  • GSX Profile by pvrlpe



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Renovations bring new look, new stores to TF Green Airport

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Renovations bring new look, new stores to TF Green Airport


Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is undergoing a multimillion-dollar project to improve the airport’s terminal.

The project includes multiple new restaurants and stores along with a new decorative flooring that will replace the old carpet throughout the terminal.

The new restaurants inside the terminal include Narragansett Kitchen and Bar in the North Concourse, replacing the location of the old TGI Fridays.

“It’s a great facility, we opened this in May of this year, it’s over a $2 million investment,” said Nikolas Persson, executive vice president of business development. “We want to make sure that when our passengers are arriving here, they have the best impression of our state, and when they’re leaving that the last impression is a lasting one.”

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In the South Concourse, the new restaurant is Federal Hill, an Italian restaurant.

Federal Hill is a new restaurant in the South Concourse at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. (WJAR)

The old Providence Provisions will be replaced with a new Block Island-inspired seafood restaurant.

A Burger King will also replace Rhode Island Burger Co. near the TSA security line.

“We want to make sure that our of our customers have something that their familiar with,” said Persson.

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The project to install the new retail and restaurant attractions cost $21 million, while the flooring cost $20.5 million.

According to the airport, the projects are funded by federal funds and airport revenue, not taxpayer money.

It's not clear what will happen to the sailboat at the information center at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. (WJAR)

It’s not clear what will happen to the sailboat at the information center at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. (WJAR)

The airport said it’s unclear what will happen to the sailboat by the information desk at baggage claim. But the airport ensures the live piano music will remain.

In the near future, the airport will undergo a $64 million project to improve its walls, ceilings, seating and lighting. Each project at the airport is done in phases.

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Ammonia leak from Rhode Island food processing facility sends 13 to hospital, 2 in critical condition

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Ammonia leak from  Rhode Island food processing facility sends 13 to hospital, 2 in critical condition


More than a dozen people were hospitalized, including two in critical condition, after falling ill from an ammonia leak at a food processing facility in Rhode Island on Thursday night, officials said.

Hazmat teams were working to ventilate the Infinity Fresh Kitchen facility, which is run in partnership with Taylor Farms in North Kingston, after an anhydrous ammonia leak around 6 p.m., according to the state’s Department of Environmental Management.

Thirteen people were hospitalized after an ammonia leak at a food processing facility in Rhode Island. 10 WJAR

Thirteen people were hospitalized and two are in critical condition, the department said.

“We had people coming out of the building complaining that they were smelling of ammonia with irritation to their eyes and throats. There was no liquid ammonia leak, it was all vapor,” North Kingstown Fire Chief John Linacre told WJAR.

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The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management originally reported that 15 people were ill at Tyler Farms. 10 WJAR

The Department of Environmental Management explained that a technician at the facility turned the ammonia system off, so a full evacuation wasn’t required.

The agency is still probing the cause of the leak. Linacre told the outlet that they suspected it originated from a valve on the roof that came loose, which created an opening for the air intake to suck the ammonia into the facility.

Officials are investigating the leak. 10 WJAR

Taylor Farms was previously fined a whopping $650,000 for an ammonia leak that stemmed from its refrigeration system and sent 15 employees to the hospital in 2020.

Last week, 36 people were hospitalized, including four in critical condition, after ammonia leaked out of a tanker truck that was rolling through a small city in Oklahoma. Roughly 600 people in the surrounding area had to shelter in place for hours until officials gave the all-clear.

Taylor Farms was previously fined $650,000 for an ammonia leak in 2020. 10 WJAR

In 2022, one HVAC contractor died and another was sickened at a food plant in Massachusetts when an ammonia pipe they were working near started to leak.

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Exposure to ammonia can cause severe irritation, burns, and difficulty breathing. In high concentrations, it can lead to life-threatening conditions.



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