Rhode Island Medical Imaging and its 90 physicians have agreed to join independent practice coalition Strategic Radiology, the two announced Wednesday.

Around for over 80 years, RIMI has a network of 16 private diagnostic imaging facilities overseen by its staff of subspecialized radiologists. The practice also performs procedures and interprets images for 10 Rhode Island hospitals and one more in Massachusetts.

Practice President John Pezzullo, MD, said Rhode Island Medical Imaging made the decision to help preserve its autonomy.

“RIMI is proud to join the Strategic Radiology community and is committed to continuing as a physician owned and operated independent practice,” Pezzullo, an associate professor of diagnostic imaging at Brown University, said in a statement. “In becoming part of this esteemed organization, we not only expect to strengthen our independent practice model by taking advantage of SR’s operational efficiencies, but also contribute to the future success of the organization by sharing best practices.”

Rhode Island Medical Imaging is currently developing a peer learning program and maintains a “sophisticated” quality infrastructure, Strategic Radiology noted. The American College of Radiology has recognized its outpatient offices as Centers of Excellence, and the ACR and Joint Commission have accredited the academic and community hospital radiology departments RIMI serves.

“RIMI’s commitment to quality patient care, independent practice, and the future of the specialty are private practice hallmarks shared by all Strategic Radiology members,” Scott Bundy, MD, chair and CEO of Strategic Radiology, said in the same statement.

The practice reached its considerable size, in part, through acquisition, adding Radiology Associates and its three locations in 2015.

Strategic Radiology now represents over 40 privately owned, independent practices employing 1,800-plus physicians. Most recently, Wake Radiology in Raleigh, North Carolina, and its 60 rads joined SR earlier this month.

Here is its full list of members:

1. Advanced Radiology Services, Grand Rapids, Mich.
2. ARA Health Specialists, Asheville, N.C.
3. Carolina Radiology Associates, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
4. Casper Medical Imaging and Outpatient Radiology, Casper, Wyo.
5. Catawba Radiology Associates, Hickory, N.C.
6. Chesapeake Medical Imaging, Annapolis, Md.
7. Delaney Radiology, Wilmington, N.C.
8. Gaston Radiology, Gastonia, N.C.
9. The Hill Medical Corporation, Pasadena, Calif.
10. Hot Springs Radiology Services, Hot Springs, Ark.
11. Huron Valley Radiology, a division of Advanced Imaging Alliance; Ann Arbor, Mich.
12. IntelliRad Imaging, Miami.
13. Intercity Radiology, Bozeman, Mont.
14. Mecklenburg Radiology Associates, Charlotte, N.C.
15. Mountain Medical Physician Specialists, Salt Lake City.
16. Naugatuck Valley Radiological Associates, a division of Advanced Imaging Alliance, Waterbury, Conn.
17. Northwest Radiologists, Bellingham, Wash.
18. Northwest Radiology, Indianapolis.
19. Pacific Imaging Associates, Portland, Ore.
20. Quantum Radiology, Atlanta.
21. Radiologic Medical Services, Iowa City, Iowa.
22. Radiology Associates, Corpus Christi, Texas.
23. Radiology Associates, Jeffersonville, Ind.
24. Radiology Associates, Eugene, Ore.
25. Radiology Associates of Albuquerque, N.M.
26. Radiology Associates of Macon, Ga.
27. Radiology Associates of North Texas, Dallas.
28. Radiology Associates of Richmond, Va.
29. Radiology Associates of Tallahassee, Fla.
30. Regional Diagnostic Radiology, Sartell, Minn.
31. Rhode Island Medical Imaging, Warwick, R.I.
32. Riverside Radiology Medical Group, Riverside, Calif.
33. Rome Radiology Group, Rome, Ga.
34. Skagit Radiology, Mount Vernon, Wash.
35. Southern Radiology Consultants, Baton Rouge, La.
36. Summit Radiology, Fort Wayne, Ind.
37. Tower Imaging Medical Group, Santa Monica, Calif.
38. Triad Radiology Associates, Winston-Salem, N.C.
39. United Imaging Consultants, Mission, Kan.
40. Wake Radiology, Raleigh, N.C.
41. X-Ray Consultants, a division of Advanced Imaging Alliance, South Bend, Ind.

There was not a second “calamari comeback” during the ceremonial roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday.

The fried delicacy included in Rhode Island’s nominating presentation stole the show from the 2020 virtual roll call vote that nominated then candidate Joe Biden.

A reappearance from chef John Bordieri was highly unlikely since the Associated Press reported in June that the so-called “calamari ninja” was a supporter of then President and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz won the ceremonial roll call that mirrored the party’s virtual vote held on August 6.

The roll call included an appearance by Atlanta rapper Lil’ John.

The Democratic National Committee convention is in Chicago through Thursday where Harris is scheduled to formally accept the party’s nomination for the 2024 Election.

Democratic convention live updates: Barack Obama, Michelle Obama set to take the stage

How to watch and stream the 2024 DNC

USA TODAY will provide livestream coverage on YouTube each night of the DNC, Monday through Thursday.

The convention will air live on its website, from the United Center in Chicago between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m Central) on Monday, and 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central) the other days.

When and where is the Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois.

The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the main venue for the DNC.

Chicago has hosted the Democratic Convention 11 times, most recently in 1996 when the United Center saw President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second time.

What are the themes for each night of the DNC?

The DNC announced nightly themes for the convention. The title of the convention is “For the People, For Our Future.”

Here are the themes for each night:

• Monday: “For the People”
• Tuesday: “A Bold Vision for America’s Future”
• Wednesday: “A Fight for our Freedoms”
• Thursday: “For our Future”

There are more homes on the market in Rhode Island, but buyers are paying a significantly higher premium compared to last year, the state realtor association said in a report released Monday.

The median sales price for a single-family home in July was $495,000, a 12.5 percent increase over what buyers paid in July 2023 and a record, according to the Rhode Island Association of Realtors.

In the condo market, the jump wasn’t as high, but home shoppers are still feeling it: The median sales price for a condo was $395,000, a 9.75 percent bump and a record.

And multifamily properties are still in demand as shoppers look for an investment or a way to help them pay the mortgage. The median sales price for a multifamily in the state was $550,000, a 10 percent jump.

Inventory on the rise

Inventory bumps in the condo, single-family, and multifamily markets — 14.73 percent, 16.19 percent, and 27.04 percent, respectively — are steps in a healthy direction, but “July’s 2.2-month supply of homes for sale pales in comparison to the 4.1-month nationwide supply reported by the National Association of Realtors in June,” the association said.

“We’re seeing inventory begin to creep up slightly and mortgage rates have fallen a bit lately, but we’re still not where we need to be,” Sally Hersey, association president, said in an Aug. 2 press release on the state’s quarterly results. 

“Homeownership is out of reach for far too many Rhode Islanders,” she said.

A supply of at least five months is widely considered balanced.

“We are beginning to see an increase in the number of homes listed for sale,” Hersey said Monday. “And fortunately, anticipated rate cuts this fall should entice more homeowners who were previously unwilling to let go of their current low mortgage rates to consider making a move. While this is good news, more new development remains the key to repairing our housing crisis.”

Mortgage rates remain high

A lot of the hope for buyers hinges upon expected drops in the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage, but economists have warned not to expect significant decreases. The rate stood at 6.49 percent on Aug. 15. Five years ago, it averaged 3.6 percent, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

“Fortunately, the Federal Reserve indicated in its July meeting that the first cut in its benchmark interest rate in more than two years could be on the table at its September meeting,” Hersey said in Monday’s release. “That would be a positive step for prospective home buyers as mortgage rates typically follow the trends set by the Federal Reserve.”

Despite climbing prices and mortgage rates in the 6s, buyers are still snapping up single-family properties:

The 18-day timeframe for single-family homes was “the shortest window on record since 1988 when record-keeping began,” the association reported.

In-migration

Out-of-state buyers are playing an outsized role in the price increases and ramped-up competition, but the pace is slowing, according to the association: “Last quarter, 23.4 percent of all residential sales were transacted with buyers from other states, compared to 26.7 percent in quarter two last year.  Unsurprisingly, Providence County attracted the most out-of-state buyers, given that most interstate sales came from neighboring Massachusetts. Newport County saw the second-highest sales involving those from other states.”

The median sales price in Providence County was $450,000 for a single-family home, an increase of 8.43 percent. Homes in Providence proper, for example, sold for a median sales price of $440,000, a jump of 13.26 percent.

In Newport County, the state’s priciest overall, the median sales price for a single-family home hit $695,000, a decrease of 0.36 percent based on a whopping 95.45 percent jump in sales. That’s 86 properties.

“The percentage of Ocean State homes sold for $1 million or more to out-of-state buyers also fell from 49.1% in the second quarter of 2023 to 42% this year,” the association reports.

There were 20 single-family home sales in the city of Newport in July for a median sales price of $1,285,000, a decrease of a little more than 17 percent.