Rhode Island

‘She would’ve been alive’: Opening of safe injection site in R.I. is personal for councilwoman who once opposed it – The Boston Globe

Published

1 year ago

December 10, 2024

‘She would’ve been alive’: Opening of safe injection site in R.I. is personal for councilwoman who once opposed it – The Boston Globe

What she heard were numbers: More than 400 people die from accidental overdoses in Rhode Island each year. What she saw were people on the street, outside her own apartment, passed out from opioids. She learned how to administer Narcan, the overdose-reversal drug. The nonprofit organization that’s opening the center, Project Weber/RENEW, answered her questions and addressed her concerns. And eventually, she changed her mind.

“It very much became real to me,” Harris said. “We can’t wait around for people to change their direction. They’re dying.”

In February, she voted with her other council colleagues to authorize the center.

One month later, personal tragedy struck.

The sun was not yet up on the morning of March 26 when Harris received the phone call.

Her 26-year-old granddaughter, a young mother named Emoni Chaney who loved to sing and write, had been found dead in a Motel 6 in Warwick. She apparently overdosed on fentanyl.

Harris, a grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother to six, was shocked. She said the family did not know that Emoni was involved with drugs. To this day, they are still trying to put together the pieces of what happened, including by dissecting Emoni’s journals.

“We don’t know if that was her first time, or if there were 50 times,” Harris said.

But Harris was sure of one thing. If Emoni had been at a center like the one opening soon at 45 Willard Avenue rather than a motel room when she overdosed, someone would have been there to help her.

“I believe she would’ve utilized this center, even though she was ducking and dodging her family,” Harris said. “I believe she would’ve been alive today.”

Providence City Councilor Mary Kay Harris looks at a photo of her granddaughter, Emoni Chaney, who died of a fentanyl overdose in March.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff

The safe injection site, also known as an overdose prevention center or harm reduction center, is allowed under a 2021 state law authorizing the facilities, which must be licensed and regulated by the Rhode Island Department of Health. While there are safe injection sites in other places including New York City, Rhode Island’s will be the first state-authorized facility in the country.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the center, located a stone’s throw away from a hospital, will be held Tuesday afternoon. There’s no opening date yet, as the center is awaiting the final green light from state health officials.

Once it opens, 16 people at a time will be able to access the center, according to spokesperson Annajane Yolken. The facility will not provide the drugs, but will offer clean needles, fentanyl test strips, and trained staff from partner organization VICTA who are ready treat an overdose, if needed. And when someone is ready for help, the center can connect them with addiction recovery services and other so-called “wraparound” services for housing and other needs.

Harris thinks people can probably relate to her initial knee-jerk reaction to the concept.

“I said you know, we should be helping people get off drugs, not making it easier,” Harris said. Some similar concerns were expressed on the Rhode Island House and Senate floors back in 2021, though both chambers overwhelmingly voted to authorize the centers. The Providence City Council’s authorization was unanimous.

The pilot program was slated to expire in three years, but since no facilities opened yet, state lawmakers extended the program to at least March 1, 2026.

Rhode Island's first safe injection site is slated to open soon at 45 Willard Ave. in Providence, R.I. The facility, which is holding a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, still needs final licensing approvals from the Rhode Island Department of Health. — Rhode Island’s first safe injection site is slated to open soon at 45 Willard Ave. in Providence, R.I. The facility, which is holding a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, still needs final licensing approvals from the Rhode Island Department of Health.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff

Annemarie Beardsworth, a spokesperson for the Department of Health, said the Willard Avenue center still needs a certificate of occupancy and clearance from the fire marshal before a final walkthrough with health department officials can take place. “Once they are in compliance, RIDOH will issue a license,” Beardsworth said.

Harris, who plans to speak at Tuesday’s ribbon cutting, said she hopes to spread the message that the opioid epidemic can hit any family. “It could happen to you, just like it happened to me,” she said. “No matter what position you have, no matter how much money you have, the color of your skin … nobody’s family is exempt.”

She remembers her granddaughter for her “beautiful voice,” and from the last time they saw each other, on a summer day on Oakland Beach. A photo of that day is immortalized on a palm card from Emoni’s funeral.

On the back, her mother hand-wrote that she imagines Emoni’s battle like the song “Blackbird,” by Nina Simone.

“Now my sweet girl can soar,” she wrote.

Steph Machado can be reached at steph.machado@globe.com. Follow her @StephMachado.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Mega Millions, Numbers Midday winning numbers for March 10, 2026

Published

8 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 10 drawing

16-21-30-35-65, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from March 10 drawing

Midday: 9-1-3-0

Evening: 4-2-1-9

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from March 10 drawing

11-12-16-27-34, Extra: 05

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 10 drawing

03-27-43-45-49, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

Thousands drop public health insurance coverage in RI after premiums spike

Published

20 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Thousands drop public health insurance coverage in RI after premiums spike

Thousands of Rhode Islanders dropped their health insurance plans after federal subsidies expired.
Enrollment in HealthSource RI, the state’s marketplace, fell by 20% in early 2024.
The average premium for enrollees more than doubled as federal funding ended.

Thousands of Rhode Islanders dropped health insurance coverage through Rhode Island’s public insurance marketplace instead of maintaining plans with rising premiums and lower subsidies, HealthSource RI said.

Enrollment through HealthSource, Rhode Island’s “Obamacare” exchange, plunged 20% between the end of last year and the close of the annual enrollment period a month later, as federal funding for premium tax credits expired, according to a HealthSource new release.

There were 48,060 individual and family enrollments on Dec. 31 of last year, the day the premium subsidies from the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act ended.

On Feb. 1, there were 38,557 enrollments.

Before this drop, HealthSource has posted enrollment increases almost every year since Affordable Care Act exchanges launched in 2013.

How did we get here?

Last year, the Republican-controlled federal government declined to extend premium tax credits after a protracted budget battle with congressional Democrats, who are now negotiating to restore the health insurance subsidies.

The lapse in subsidies coincided with an increase in premiums, driven by a combination of factors, which sent the total cost of coverage climbing.

The average premium across HealthSource enrollees more than doubled (101%,) the exchange said, or $111 per person, per month.

Many enrollees opted for cheaper insurance plans despite their higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.

Others dropped coverage altogether.

“The increase in premiums, combined with the decrease in federal supports, makes this an incredibly challenging year for folks depending on HealthSource RI for health coverage,” HealthSource Director Lindsay Lang said in the release. “Having health coverage helps protect against one bad turn of luck becoming years of financial burden. We will work with every customer to find options that are best for their needs and budget, and continue to work with state leaders and our federal delegation to find long-term solutions.”

Could help be on the way?

Gov. Dan McKee included $9.5 million in his proposed state budget for the year starting July 1 to subsidize coverage for some of the lowest-income exchange enrollees.

The enrollment declines show that may be too little for some Rhode Islanders, and too late for others.

“It is disheartening but not surprising that, as President Trump’s policies have caused health insurance costs to skyrocket, more Rhode Islanders are struggling to pay for health coverage,” McKee said.

Since the exchange opened in 2013, Rhode Island’s uninsured rate has declined by two thirds, down to 2.2%, HealthSource said.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Numbers Midday winning numbers for March 9, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 9 drawing

22-23-28-36-54, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from March 9 drawing

Midday: 5-7-4-4

Evening: 2-1-3-2

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from March 9 drawing

02-14-16-34-35, Extra: 10

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 9 drawing

06-16-26-41-43, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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