Daily Briefing: Making the best of a bad situation

We can't change this situation, so let's just change our attitude – and maybe this PR campaign will help us do just that. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Fri Apr 19 2024 Lynne Sullivan | Regional Executive Editor [@LSullivan73]( As you can imagine, I've traveled over the Washington Bridge from my home in Somerset many times since a portion of it was closed to traffic in December. In good weather and bad, early morning and late evening and everything in between. Sometimes it's smooth-sailing, other times it's dreadful. Folks, not to be trite but it is what it is. The bridge is broken; we are stuck with this situation. I find myself – as a mom, as a boss, as a wife, as a sister – often repeating to those around me that it's not worth dwelling on something we cannot change. The only thing we can change in these situations is our attitude. I hate sitting in traffic. I am not good at sitting still. But what I've started to do is pay attention – really pay attention – to the new routes my GPS takes me when navigating Washington Bridge traffic. I've already hit up some restaurants I never knew about in East Providence (Miller's Famous Sandwiches might be tonight's pick!). The gentlemen directing traffic are delightful, truly, despite some of the angry faces. And the extra drive time has given me a chance to think, or decompress, possibly even catch up on phone calls. In other words, it can't stress me out unless I let it stress me out. And I know that nothing has changed about Providence – it's still great and still worth driving to – just like nothing has changed about my side of the bridge, too – it's still great, and still worth driving to. So frankly, I'm happy to read about the [PR campaign]( the state has authorized. Asher Schofield, the proprietor of the eclectic [Frog & Toad]( in Providence's [Hope]( and [West End]( neighborhoods, told Kathy Gregg the bridge problem requires creative problem-solving. I think this PR campaign is one piece of that. Don't get me wrong – I think there's plenty to be angry about in terms of how we got here and how the bridge got so bad. But the reality is, it's closed. We can't change that. So let's just change our attitude – and maybe this PR campaign will help us do just that. More from The Providence Journal [Find the latest obituaries here.]( [Subscribers can read the eNewspaper here.]( RHODY RANKS The State of School Lunch Report by [ProCare Therapy]( compared U.S. states for how healthy their school lunches are. Good news! Rhode Island came in ninth place. "Access to nutritious and appealing school lunches is crucial for the health and academic success of our nation's children," said ProCare Therapy Senior Vice President Stephanie Morris. "This report serves to recognize the states that are leading the charge in offering high-quality, healthy meals to their students, and to encourage other states to follow suit." WORTH A READ 🍐 Bradford pears may be pretty, but they're invasive and smell awful. Here's [what Massachusetts is doing]( about them. 📺 The [Portuguese Kids]( debut TV series “[Portuguese Problems]( on Portugal’s [RTP international]( broadcasting service has been conquering fans across the globe, and discussions for a second season [may “be happening soon.”]( 😢 It's been 25 years since the Columbine shooting, but the [wounds still feel fresh](. ☁️ Cloudy today, with a high of 44. TOP STORIES [RIDOT data: Way more crashes on Washington Bridge since westbound closure]( [Washington Bridge eastbound traffic with three lanes now open on April 9, 2024.]( Gov. Dan McKee told reporters collisions have almost tripled on the bridge. Here's what the data says. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [Listing agent Anne McCrann, left, greets the Martinez family of North Providence, Jose, daughter Rosalynn and Maureen, during a recent open house in Johnston.]( ['It's a madhouse': Here's what RI's real estate market looks like.]( Buying a house in Rhode Island continues to be a challenge as interest rates are up and the number of units on the market remains low. [READ MORE]( [Chaia Elwell, Chariho girls lacrosse]( [Chariho lacrosse's Chaia Elwell stars off the field by saving a life]( Elwell had attended the Health Careers program at Chariho, where she learned life-saving measures such as the Heimlich maneuver. [READ MORE]( [Old mattresses are hard to get rid of in Providence, so they end up on roadsides, in vacant lots and in other illegal repositories. Here, a stack of throw-outs at a city mattress depot on Allens Avenue.]( [Old mattresses are everywhere in Providence. Why does this happen?]( There are several ways for Providence residents to dispose of mattresses legally, and it doesn't have to cost anything. [READ MORE]( [Miss P. (AP)]( [Exeter woman to be a judge at prominent dog show]( Lori Pelletier has been breeding terriers for 30 years. Now, as a judge, she will pick the best of the best at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. [READ MORE]( Advertisement Vote with Confidence This 7-day newsletter course will help you be an informed voter before Nov. 5. [SIGN UP NOW]( SUBSCRIBE TODAY Our Reporting. Your Stories. Full access to subscriber-only content on all devices. Share bonus subscription with a family member or friend. The universal eNewspaper, the digital version of our print paper, plus bonus monthly magazines and hundreds of local papers. Original reporting of our hometown teams, from high school sports to the pros. [Unlock news for $1]( [SUBSCRIBE TODAY]( [Newsletters]( | [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( Follow Us Problem viewing email? 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