This Just In: Tracking Isaias; changes to the plan for hunting at R.I. wildlife refuges

Plus, the latest on coronavirus in Rhode Island [View email with images]( [Providence Journal] Monday August 3, 2020 [Subscribe Now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Providence Journal]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. Today is Aug. 3; on this date in 1979, Spaniard Jose Ramon Areitio made sports history in Newport, when he hit [the fastest jai alai shot ever recorded]( 187 miles an hour. For nearly 30 years, Areitio's shot was considered the fastest ball speed ever recorded, until Canadian Jack Zuback drove a golf ball 200 miles an hour on a television show, "Sport Science." The biggest story in Rhode Island today might involve what's going to happen tomorrow, [when Tropical Storm Isaias blows into New England](. Right now, it looks like the storm will pass to the west of Rhode Island on Tuesday night, bringing strong winds (gusting up to 60 mph), rough surf and soaking rain. It looks for now that the storm will move through the area quickly, and the rain totals in Rhode Island will be modest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is scaling back some of its [plans to expand hunting and fishing at federal wildlife refuges]( in Rhode Island. In one case that had drawn extensive public comments, the agency has dropped plans to allow gun hunting at Sachuest Point, in Middletown; instead, archery hunts will be permitted in a portion of the refuge on a handful of days of the year. Channel 10 reporter Lindsey Iadeluca has taken a viewer's vicious voicemail message and used it to launch a positive, uplifting campaign against "fat-shaming." [Read her story]( as told to Mark Patinkin. The Rhode Island Department of Health, which no longer reports coronavirus data on the weekend, [released three days worth of numbers]( which showed the number of daily cases and the positivity rate down slightly but hospitalizations continuing to climb. After three straight days with no deaths, the state announced one on Saturday and two on Sunday. Lifespan [is tightening some rules around visitation]( at its Rhode Island hospitals, due to some problems with visitors not social distancing or keeping their masks on. [Subscribe to The Providence Journal]( The Providence Public Schools have amended their plan for the coming year [to allow any parent to request remote learning](. A spokeswoman for the district said that "we know we can do in-person [instruction] safely," but acknowledged that many families remain unconvinced. Meanwhile, a "Herculean effort" is under way to prepare for a safe September opening at the University of Rhode Island. G. Wayne Miller [got an inside look](. No NFL team has had more players opt out of the 2020-21 season than the New England Patriots. On Sunday, four team captains [talked about why they are playing]( and why it was not an easy decision. The first weekend of NBA in the bubble didn't disappoint -- Celtics fans had plenty of reasons to complain about late-game officiating on Friday night, but what else is new? Watching Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum play together is a pleasure, and it's one that local hoops fans [should be able to enjoy for years to come](. 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 or Unsubscribe]( Providence Journal 75 Fountain Street Providence, RI 02902 © 2020 Providence Journal. All rights reserved.