Daily Briefing: What happened at the State House while you were sleeping

ALSO: The latest on what's happening at St. Mary’s Home for Children. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Fri Jun 14 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. While we were all sleeping the legislative session came to a close early this morning. In the final hours, a budget was passed, a tax break for one of the state's biggest employers was approved and a substance made from the leaves of a southeast Asian tree that has opioid and stimulant effects was legalized. [And there was a lengthy dispute over chicken cages.]( And that's just a small fraction of the action from the night. [06_Statehouse_End_06132024.JPG] Senate chambers about to get underway for the last session of the term. Kris Craig/The Providence Journal [The Journal's Katherine Gregg and Patrick Anderson were at the State House until the final gavel dropped at 1:33 a.m. and have the details on everything that happened in the wee hours of the morning.]( • After months of upheaval and uncertainty at St. Mary’s Home for Children, the state Department of Children Youth and Families says it is asking that construction of a 12-bed addition at the North Providence psychiatric center be halted for now, The Journal's Tom Mooney reports. [There's also a change in leadership at the facility.]( • With nine of the 65 foundations for Revolution Wind turbines installed, construction of Rhode Island’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm still has a long way to go. But that didn’t stop Gov. Dan McKee, U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Elizabeth Klein and other federal and state officials from gathering in the Port of Providence on Thursday to mark progress on the 704-megawatt project being built about 17 miles southeast of Point Judith. [The Journal's Alex Kuffner has the latest on the project.]( • Twenty nonprofit agencies "on the front lines of addressing the state's opioid crisis" have been awarded $1.3 million in grants to continue their efforts. [The Journal's Jack Perry reports who received the funds and how they'll be used.]( • Throughout the school year, The Providence Journal has been honoring the best of the best in high school sports. Later this month, we'll have some help with that effort. Softball player and analyst Nicole Mendes will be the guest speaker for the All-State Rhode Island High School Sports Awards on Thursday, June 27, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. [Learn more about the event and Mendes here.]( More from The Providence Journal [Find the latest obituaries here.]( [Subscribers can read the eNewspaper here.]( WORTH A READ 📰 [President Biden says he won't commute son's sentence]( after conviction in gun case 🦈 [How common are shark attacks in the US?]( Take a close look at the latest data. 🏀 [Criticism of Luka Doncic mounting]( with each Mavericks loss in NBA Finals 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. To mark Father’s Day on June 16, LawnStarter ranked [2024's Best Cities for Single Dads]( comparing the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on eight categories including parent-friendly state policies, affordability of housing and child care services, and access to resources such as child care, health care, yard size, and playground access, among 38 total metrics. In Rhode Island, Warwick placed fifth nationally. [TODAY'S WEATHER]( 🌦️ Breezy with some sun, then increasing clouds; a heavy thunderstorm late in the afternoon; thunderstorms can bring small hail and localized damaging wind gusts. Highs in the low 80s. TOP STORIES [Salisbury wins Senate approval to lead Corrections]( [Wayne T. Salisbury Jr.]( Gov. Dan McKee’s nomination of Wayne T. Salisbury Jr. as director of the state Department of Corrections faced stiff union opposition. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [Gayle Jendzejec, owner of Lifetime Advisors Group in North Kingstown, meets with longtime clients Donna and Richard Warner, of Warwick.]( [Erasing gender gap in financial literacy is Gayle Jendzejec's business]( Gayle Jendzejec's business education began with a paper route. Now she's a financial adviser giving other women the confidence to manage their money. [READ MORE]( [Mayor Brett Smiley speaks at a PVDFest press conference Thursday, June 13.]( [PVDFest returns to Providence Sept. 6-7. Here’s who is performing]( After a major letdown last year, PVDFest is returning downtown with performances and block parties. [READ MORE]( [Nikki Pellegrino, market manager for Lucky Foot Ranch, in Saunderstown, restocks greens Friday morning at the farmers market in Goddard Memorial State Park.]( [You can visit a farmers market in RI every day of the week]( Some 40 farmers markets bring the farmstand to RI cities and towns throughout the summer. [READ MORE]( [DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 12: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics attempts a shot while being guarded by P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)]( [Celtics could take home their 18th title with Game 4 win Friday]( The Celtics are looking to sweep the Mavericks Friday night in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. [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. 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