Daily Briefing: An invasive weed is taking over RI's ponds and lakes. Can it be stopped?

ALSO: The latest in the battle over shoreline access. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Tue Jul 16 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. It sounds like some type of monster that will take incredible measures to take it down. Living in Rhode Island's waters it can grow 16 feet a day. Fortunately, it won't grab your legs and pull you under, but it could do some work on the state's bodies of fresh water. As The Journal's Alex Kuffner reports, "the dainty strands of hydrilla, also known as water thyme or Indian star-vine, looked innocuous enough. But without intervention, the weed could eventually choke out the native plants that fish rely on for food and shelter, and clog the waters of the pond, crowding out other aquatic life and making it difficult for boaters to get through." [Worden Pond hydrilla,.jpg] Katie DeGoosh-DiMarzio, a principal environmental scientist with the Department of Environmental Management who helps lead efforts to battle invasive aquatic plants, shows a strand of the invasive hydrilla weed in Worden Pond. David DelPoio/Providence Journal How are state environmental teams fighting the invasive plant? [Alex learned more on a recent trip on Worden Pond.]( • Across 49 states and 11 countries, Smithfield company Ozzi is cutting down waste with a closed-loop system based around sturdy plastic containers. The Journal's Wheeler Cowperthwaite reports that now, the company is receiving a "strategic investment" from a North Carolina-based company, Novolex, which makes packaging materials for the food services industry. [The investment is helping Ozzi to expand the possible distribution of the food packaging system.]( • As expanded shoreline access has been celebrated in recent years, is it possible the effort has been dealt a blow? [The Journal's Antonia Farzan reports that a judge has made a first ruling in cases brought by South Kingstown and Westerly homeowners who claim the expanded access amounts to an unconstitutional taking of private property.]( • We're currently in the process of unveiling out all-state athletes and The Journal's Eric Rueb is taking you behind the scenes of the process to get everyone's photograph. [From pizza to candy to swag, Eric explains how the sports staff has worked to increase participation among the state's top high school athletes.]( • What is your AC set at? [Help us settle a debate and vote in our reader poll.]( More from The Providence Journal [Find the latest obituaries here.]( [Subscribers can read the eNewspaper here.]( WORTH A READ 🗳️ [Ohio Senator JD Vance is Donald Trump's pick]( for vice president 👩 [34 women making history at the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament]( in New Bedford 📺 ['Big Brother' Season 26 cast:]( Meet the 16 houseguests competing for $750,000 grand prize 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. According to a new study, Rhode Island has been named as the state with the lowest rate of workplace fatalities. Florida personal injury lawyers [Anidjar & Levine]( investigated which state has the lowest rate of workplace fatalities based on data from the National Safety Council (NSC) spanning from 2011 to 2022. For each year, they calculated the number of fatalities per 100,000 workers as well as the overall rate of workplace deaths over the 12-year period. [TODAY'S WEATHER]( 🥵 Mostly sunny, the temperature near the record of 97 and humid. Highs in the mid-90s. TOP STORIES [RI mother charged with international kidnapping after moving kids to Tanzania]( [Wooden gavel on table. Attorney working in courtroom. law attorney court judge justice gavel legal legislation concept]( A federal grand jury last week indicted Jessica Abreu, 33, of North Smithfield – also known as Shamarzere Yahu – on a single count of international parental kidnapping. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [A customer at Sprint Mart in Jackson buys one of each ticket Thursday morning on the first day of ticket sales for Mega Millions and Powerball in Mississippi Jan. 30.]( [Roger Williams president cashes in lottery winner for $1 million]( The million-dollar-winning ticket sat in a drawer until he stumbled upon it months later. [READ MORE]( [Volunteer Kevin Quirk, right, interacts with Regan Flynn, 3, at Roger Wheeler State Beach.]( [RI's big guide to the perfect beach day]( Planning to hit the beach this summer in RI? We've got you covered. This year's Summer Guide has detailed guides on fun in the surf, sand and sun. [READ MORE]( [Spring All-States logo. Providence]( [Here are the 2024 Providence Journal All-State Baseball Teams]( The Journal Sports staff, with some help from the coaches associations, determine the first and second team members. [READ MORE]( [Kevin Giron during an appearance in District Court, Providence.]( [Providence man sentenced in shooting death of teenager. What we know.]( Kevin Giron, 20, admitted to manslaughter in the shooting death of Juan Carlos Morales, 19. [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? [View in browser]( [Unsubscribe]( • [Manage Newsletters]( • [Terms of Service]( • [Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights]( • [Privacy Notice]( • [Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy]( • [Feedback](