This Just In: Raimondo reduces beach parking in response to growth in COVID cases

Also, a Rhode Island native takes her place in nation's political spotlight [View email with images]( [Providence Journal] Wednesday July 15, 2020 [Subscribe Now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Providence Journal]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. There's a lot of news to get to today, so let's get right to it. Following two consecutive days of concerning coronavirus data reports, today's numbers were more of a mixed bag. There were fewer new cases (52) than in some recent days, the percentage of positive tests was back below 2%, and hospitalizations dropped. But the seven-day average of new cases is up nearly 50% from what it was at the start of July, and Gov. Gina Raimondo [is clearly concerned](. At today's news conference, she said she was reducing the parking at two state beaches that have been too crowded recently, and she urged Rhode Islanders -- especially those 20 to 29 years old, who are testing positive for COVID-19 at a higher rate than the general population -- to refocus on preventing spread of the disease. For context: according to [covidexitstrategy.org]( Rhode Island now has the highest number of new coronavirus cases per-capita in New England, plus New York and New Jersey. But, at least for now, the state is still doing much better compared to the rest of the country: Rhode Island's per-capita rate of new coronavirus cases is ninth-lowest among the 50 states. Raimondo also outlined more details of [her plan to help struggling small businesses](. The recent positive tests include [seven inmates]( at the Adult Correctional Institutions; six of the seven among prisoners in the women's unit. State Rep. Moira Walsh [is in quarantine]( after being exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus, and she is calling on the legislative leadership to allow an option for remote voting. The Providence Public Schools [released their proposed guidelines]( for protecting students from the virus, which are part of the district's larger plan for reopening schools on Aug. 31. The guidelines, which the Department of Education must approve, include requiring students to wear masks before they enter and leave school, and having teachers fill out a questionnaire every day to attest that they are in good health. Meanwhile, a family-owned business in Fall River is helping by [donating 50,000 reusable masks]( for Providence teachers and students. Can downtown Providence's restaurant scene survive the coronavirus pandemic? Gail Ciampa examined the question. She found a lot of people hustling very hard to survive, while fearing the worst is yet to come. [Subscribe to The Providence Journal]( May real-estate sales in Rhode Island [were down 15%]( from the same month last year, but that at least was an improvement from April. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza made the big announcement that the city is launching a "[truth-telling and reparations process]( although the exact form that reparations might take remains unknown. Two former police officers have been sentenced in separate cases involving unethical behavior. Former Rhode Island State Police Lt. John "Jay" Gibbs [got a suspended sentence with probation]( for giving a false document to a public official, in a case related to a private business he ran. And former Middletown Lt. Richard Gamache [was sentenced to 18 months in the ACI]( for fraudulently altering police records to help his girlfriend obtain an emergency housing voucher. Felix Hernandez-Rosado, a suspect in a shooting death on July 1, [has turned himself in to Providence police]( but a 14-year-old girl who authorities thought might be with Hernandez-Rosado remains missing. Finally, a Rhode Island native will be in the national spotlight this fall, as the Democratic candidate in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate contests. Sara Gideon, who graduated from East Greenwich High School, [won the Tuesday primary in Maine]( and will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Liberal-leaning donors, who see Collins as vulnerable and are angry over her support for Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, have poured millions into Gideon's campaign. Have a great night. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, please [encourage a friend to sign up](. providencejournal.com [Facebook]( [Twitter]( You are receiving this communication as a member of the Providence Journal. Providence Journal values your online privacy. For more information, view our [privacy policy]( now. Please do not reply to this message. [Manage Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( Providence Journal 75 Fountain Street Providence, RI 02902 © 2020 Providence Journal. All rights reserved.