Rhode Island

Rhode Island Officials: School Mask Mandates May Return

Published

2 years ago

August 15, 2022

Rhode Island Officials: School Mask Mandates May Return

A second Rhode Island well being official has not dominated out bringing again faculty masks mandates, whereas talking in a deposition carried out for an ongoing lawsuit introduced by dad and mom upset their youngsters needed to put on masks at college.

“Primarily based on what we all know right this moment, RIDOH wouldn’t suggest a masking mandate be put in place,” Jaime Comella, director of the Heart for COVID-19 Epidemiology on the Rhode Island Division of Well being (RIDOH), mentioned throughout a July deposition, based on a transcript reviewed by The Epoch Instances.

“Until one thing adjustments drastically with a brand new variant that will trigger a rise in pediatric hospitalizations or dying, I don’t foresee masking being mandated in colleges,” she added.

Comella was not conscious that there have been zero pediatric deaths in Rhode Island brought on by COVID-19. In reality, no one below 25 has perished from the sickness, based on RIDOH knowledge.

Comella is the second RIDOH official to not rule out bringing again a masks mandate within the state, the nation’s smallest by measurement.

Dr. James McDonald, the company’s former director, who was nonetheless employed by the division when he spoke in June in a deposition for the case, additionally mentioned a mandate might be introduced again.

The college masks mandate beforehand in place in Rhode Island was lifted in March, based mostly on a call by the well being division and Gov. Dan McKee, a Democrat.

RIDOH and a spokeswoman for McKee didn’t reply to requests for remark.

Letter Questioned

On Could 19, RIDOH despatched out a memo to main faculty directors, saying it beneficial “common indoor masking insurance policies” in colleges situated in counties that the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention designated as having excessive group transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19.

A day later, a letter to oldsters and college students mentioned that college students who examined optimistic for COVID-19, even when they had been vaccinated, “should keep house and isolate for at the least 5 days” and, in the event that they returned to highschool on day 6, “they have to put on a well-fitting masks on the bus, in class, and in any respect school-associated masks.

McDonald claimed the letter was not a mandate. He mentioned compliance was voluntary regardless of using the phrase “should.”

He additionally mentioned he didn’t compose the memo or the letter.

Plaintiffs within the faculty masking case had been instructed by a lawyer with the Rhode Island Workplace of the Legal professional Basic that Comella was “most accountable” for speaking to the Rhode Island Division of Training that the Could 19 memo “ought to be interpreted as recommending that faculty districts situated in ‘excessive’ tier communities mandate the sporting of face masks whereas in class.”

Comella mentioned she didn’t draft the memo, although a working group she’s part of with individuals from different states’ departments did focus on “the ideas” that had been included.

Comella additionally mentioned that oldsters studying the letter can be incorrect to assume it was conveying a masking requirement.

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Zachary Stieber covers U.S. and world information. He’s based mostly in Maryland.

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Rhode Island

High School Roundup: Scores and recaps from Wednesday’s games across RI

Published

5 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Press Room

High School Roundup: Scores and recaps from Wednesday’s games across RI

Coaches are asked to send in game results by email – pjsports@providencejournal.com – or by calling the Sports desk between 6 and 10 p.m. on weeknights, at (401) 277-7340.

▶GIRLS BASKETBALL

Division I

Bay View 61, Shea/Tolman 44

Strong outings by Qiana Sumner (18 points, 20 rebounds), Mia Forbes (22 points) and Sinai Robinson (15 points) paved the way for the Bengals victory. Leading the way for Pawtucket co-op in the loss were Tiyara Gonzalez, who scored 19 points, and Zareia Colome who was good for 9 points.

Moses Brown 71, Ponaganset 51

Lauren Bousquet poured in 27 points, all from 2-point range, Marielle Nassiff nearly matched her with 26 points — five from outside the arc — and Jaelynn Perez chipped in with 12 points as the Quakers won their second game in three decisions. Marron Nerney led the Chieftain, now 1-1, with 16 points.

Portsmouth 60, Chariho 36

Gyselle Mairs scored a game-high 21 points, and she also did it defensively, making 5 steals, pacing the Patriots to the victory. Annie Hurd also had a strong game, scoring 8 points and making 7 steals for Portsmouth, which improves to 2-1. Kylie Delemos and Stella Orr chipped in with 8 points apiece. Maddie Fizzanohad 11 points for the Chargers, who fall to -4.

North Kingstown 41, Barrington 37

Division II

Lincoln 41, Cumberland 37, OT

Brielle Lambert had a team-high 13 points and teammate Charlotte Labossierre added 10 more points to help Lincoln escape with a win over Cumberland in overtime. Alexis Parenteau had a game-high 16 points for the Clippers in the loss.

Rogers 45, East Greenwich 38

The visiting Vikings prevailed in this clash. They were led by Tameka Robertson with 14 points. She was supported by 11 points each from Telayiah Aponte and Anyha Walaski as Rogers maintained it lead after halftime. Chloe Hartman led the Avengers in scoring with 9 points. Maeve Kiernan had 8 points and Rowan Carney scored 7. Rogers gets its first victory of the season and is 1-2, while East Greenwich suffers its first loss and is 1-1.

Division II/III

Central 19, Middletown 17

Division III

Pilgrim 44, EWG 32

Lily Hall scored 11 points, including a 5-for-5 performance at the free-throw line, as she led the Patriots to their second win in three games. Avery Marques helped by scoring 8 points and Skylar Hawes and Lia Wasilewski each added 7 for the victors. Niniola Olawuyi led all scorers with 15 points and Isabella Tramonti chipped in with 10 for the Scarlet Knights, now 1-2.

▶BOYS BASKETBALL

Division I/II

Coventry 77, Johnston 40

Riley Finegan paced the Div. II Oakers with 20 points, Brayden Martin recorded 15 points and 9 assists, and Tyler Broady added 12 points and 10 rebounds as Coventry improved to 2-1. For the Div. I Panthers (0-3), Anderson Villa scored a team-high 9 points and Aiden Niel had 8 in the loss.

Division II

Burrillville 73, Woonsocket 62

Logan Gelinas led the Broncos with 26 points en route to the team’s first league win of the season (1-0). Sean Zanella buried all three of his 3-point shots for 15 points and Alton Kelley added 8 points. For the Novans (0-3), Angel Hernandez led a balanced attack, scoring 16 points, with Andrew Bissonnette adding 15 and Demetri Brin recording 12 in the loss.

▶GIRLS SWIMMING

Barrington 65, Narragansett/South Kingstown 27

Medley Relay ― B, 2:02 2; 200 free ― Ava Webster, B, (No time); 200 IM ― Sadie Brown, B, 2:30.11; 50 free ― Molly Digiacomo, B, 25.29; 100 fly ― Colleen O’Brian, N/SK, 1:05.50; 100 free ― Grace Fontaine, B, 58.58; 500 free ― Addison Bonner, N/SK, 6:02.56; 200 fr ee relay ― B, 1:48.20; 100 back ― Ava Yui, B, 1:08.87; 100 breaststroke ― Webster, B, 1:14.45; 400 free relay ― N/SK, 4:17.40.

▶Thursday’s schedule

BOYS BASKETBALL

Central Falls at Mt. Hope, 5:15 p.m.

Davies at PCD, 5:30 p.m.

Smithfield at Classical, 6 p.m.

Mount Pleasant at East Providence, 6:30 p.m.

Middletown at St. Raphael, 6:30 p.m.

Juanita Sanchez at Chariho, 6:45 p.m.

Pilgrim at West Warwick, 6:45 p.m.

Cumberland at Barrington, 7 p.m.

Lincoln at Shea, 7 p.m.

North Providence at Cranston West, 7 p.m.

Moses Brown vs. Rogers at the Martin Recreation Center, 7 p.m.

South Kingstown at Tiverton, 7 p.m.

Blackstone Valley at EWG, 7 p.m.

Hope at Scituate, 7 p.m.

Westerly at East Greenwich, 7 p.m.

North Kingstown at La Salle, 7:15 p.m.

Prout vs. Paul Cuffee at John Hope Settlement House, 7:15 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Times2 at Davies, 4:30 p.m.

Cranston East at South Kingstown, 5:30 p.m.

Johnston at Narragansett, 6 p.m.

Toll Gate at Mt. Hope, 7 p.m.

WRESTLING

EWG and Chariho at Westerly, 5 p.m.

Toll Gate and Tolman at Cranston East, 5:30 p.m.

Woonsocket at Lincoln, 6 p.m.

La Salle at North Kingstown, 6 p.m.

Juanita Sanchez, Prout at Johnston, 6 p.m.

South Kingstown at Smithfield, 6 p.m.

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island Man Accused Of Strangulation Assault In Fairfield: CSP

Published

13 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

Rhode Island Man Accused Of Strangulation Assault In Fairfield: CSP

FAIRFIELD, CT — A 28-year-old Providence, Rhode Island man was arrested on a warrant by Connecticut State Police this week in connection with a strangulation assault on Dec. 7 at the northbound I-95 rest area in Fairfield.

Ariel Dejesus Valdez, who state police said had overstayed a visa from the Dominican Republic, was charged with the following:

Risk of Injury to a Child
Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree (2 counts)
Strangulation or Suffocation in the 2nd Degree
Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree
Larceny 3rd Degree
Breach of Peace 2nd Degree

The incident began at about 6 p.m. when Valdez got into an argument with a person, strangling them and smashing a window in a truck that sent shards of glass that cut an infant inside.

Find out what’s happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Valdez then ran off.

Fairfield police were first called to the scene, and temporarily evacuated the rest area while searching for Valdez, but did not find him, according to state police.

Find out what’s happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Valdez was eventually found back in Rhode Island, and was taken into custody this week. He was turned over to Connecticut State Police on Monday.

Valdez was released after posting bond on bail of $30,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Jan. 23.

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To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

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Rhode Island

Does Rhode Island have the worst drivers in the country? One state is worse, per new study

Published

20 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

Does Rhode Island have the worst drivers in the country? One state is worse, per new study

Which states have the worst drivers? Rhode Island is one of them, according to a new study.

The online marketplace platform LendingTree released a new study revealing the worst drivers across the country, and Rhode Island took the second spot.

The silver lining is you can still say Massachusetts drivers are worse, as they took the top spot.

The study was compiled based on insurance inquiries from November 2023 to November 2024. Researchers tallied the number of accidents, DUIs, speeding-related incidents and general citations and calculated the total per 1,000 drivers in each state.

Alternatively, other New England states like Vermont and New Hampshire were ranked among the best drivers around the country.

Why does Rhode Island have bad drivers?

Rhode Island has the second worst drivers in the country because it has one of the highest rates of driving-related incidents, at 60.6 incidents per 1,000 drivers between November 2023 and November 2024.

The only state with a higher rate, Massachusetts, has 61.1 incidents per 1,000 drivers.

Rhode Island has the second-highest accident rate, at 39.7, tying with California.

The Ocean State also ties with Wisconsin for the 13th-highest DUI rate, at 1.9.

As for speeding-related incidents, Rhode Island ties with Hawaii as the 28th-worst at a rate of 2.4 incidents per 1,000 drivers.