Daily Briefing: Will RI renters get the protection they seek?

ALSO: How DEM is hoping to reduce children drowning. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Fri May 24 2024 Will Richmond | Managing Editor Communities & R.I. [@Will_Richmond]( Good morning, I'm Will Richmond at [The Providence Journal]( and this is the Daily Briefing. As Rhode Island's leaders continue to seek answers to the state's housing shortage much is made of building new, affordable homes. As potential homeowners wait for those projects to become available, renting is the only viable option, leaving them in need of protection as well. With many housing-related bills making their way through the State House, The Journal's Wheeler Cowperthwaite checks on the status of those meant to protect renters. [Reclaim RI rally 5-21-2024 3x.jpg] Reclaim RI holds a rally at the statehouse on May 21, 2024, in favor of a set of bills that would extend more rights to renters. Wheeler Cowperthwaite/The Providence Journal Just what bills are likely to pass and what exactly will they do? [Wheeler rounds up those in the so-called "tenant bill of rights" and talks to advocates about why some of these changes are needed.]( • Money to buy and retrofit a Citizens Bank-owned office building in East Providence will not be included in the upcoming state budget. [The Journal's Patrick Anderson reports on why House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi is pulling the plug on the proposal.]( • Rhode Island's top elected officials travel on state, campaign and personal business, but none as frequently as Treasurer James Diossa, who was out of office 74 days since January 2023. How does that compare to some of his counterparts in the state? [The Journal's Katherine Gregg found out.]( • An afterschool program at Blackstone Academy is making a difference in a young child's life. Students in the robotics class and after-school club gather twice a week to retrofit a motorized mini-car with dual motors, a joystick for steering and driving, caster wheels and a chair to turn it into a functioning wheelchair for a child with disabilities. [The Journal's Jonny Williams explains how the program came to Blackstone Valley and why the benefits go far beyond what you might expect.]( • As drowning deaths become more prevalent, the DEM had hoped to find a vendor to provide swim lessons to kids who come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, expect no one offered their services. Now, they have a new plan. [The Journal's Jack Perry explains how the DEM is now approaching the problem and how kids can benefit.]( • A couple of notes before we head into the long Memorial Day weekend. The full daily briefing will return on Tuesday, but you continue to receive the top headlines in your inbox all weekend long. We wish Amy Russo a fond farewell as she wrapped up her last day at The Providence Journal yesterday. Amy left a mark on Rhode Island during her time here from her column that offered a Rhode Island newbie a head-first dive into what makes the Ocean State unique to her coverage of Providence and the state's education scene. We'll miss Amy's presence at the paper and readers will most certainly miss her excellent work. More from The Providence Journal [Find the latest obituaries here.]( [Subscribers can read the eNewspaper here.]( WORTH A READ 📰 Jeffrey Epstein, [a survivor’s untold story and the complexity of abuse]( 📰 [Operation Lone Star explained]( What's happening in Eagle Pass, Texas? 🎓 'It takes a village': [Why parents are joining their kids on the stage at graduation]( RHODY RANKS Every day we receive emails ranking Rhode Island. While the work behind the ranks may be dubious, they can be fun. Each day I'll share where Rhody Ranks from one of the latest emails. New data has revealed the fast food capitals of America, with Rhode Island taking the 27th spot. Price-tracking website [Pricelisto.com]( examined the number of popular fast food restaurants in each state and compared this against the state population to see which ones have the most per 100,000 residents. The research included 22 fast food franchises, such as McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell and Chipotle. [TODAY'S WEATHER]( 🌤️ Very warm and less humid with increasing amounts of sunshine. Highs in the mid-80s TOP STORIES [Providence firefighters riding bikes to get to emergencies more quickly]( [Providence Firefighter Grayson Smith and fire Lt. Matthew Kiley navigate North Main Street on their department-issued fire rescue bikes.]( The department tried out bicycle patrols last year. This year it's expanding them. Here's why. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [Union leaders and state lawmakers called for increased funding of DYCF on Thursday.]( [Amid increase in child deaths, DCYF could lose $4.6 million in funding]( The embattled agency stands to lose $4.6 million that was supposed to go to salaries, but didn't get spent last year. [READ MORE]( [Christopher Del Guercio, of Newport, recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, just like his brother and father did before him.]( [How this very special Eagle Scout mobilized a community]( "He's definitely inspired not just youngsters, but adults, too,” said his scout master. "He exudes positivity all the time.” [READ MORE]( [Theatre By The Sea in South Kingstown.]( ['Chorus Line' to '42nd Street': Theatre By The Sea unveils 91st lineup]( The restaurant on-site has undergone a transition that promises classic American fare with “very creative presentation.” [READ MORE]( [CUMBERLAND, RI—Thursday, June 2, 2022—Portsmouth vs Cumberland baseball playoff. PICTURED IS: Cumberland’s Luke Plumer slaps the ball to rightfield for a RBI single in the fifth inning. Glenn Osmundson/Special to The Providence Journal]( [Previewing the RIIL high school baseball playoffs]( Teams fortunate enough to secure byes will have the luxury of waiting until Tuesday. Others will play this weekend with their seasons on the line. [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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