Daily Briefing: What 'The Gilded Age' gets right about Newport

ALSO: Why is health care in Rhode Island so expensive? ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Thu Aug 8 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. The HBO series "The Gilded Age" has brought a new spotlight on the City of Newport. While the mansions that line Bellevue Avenue are no secret to Rhode Islanders and the tourists who frequent the City by the Sea, the show has opened the world of the late 1800s up to viewers from all over, but are the show's producers getting it right? At least one person thinks so when it comes to a main character. As The Journal's Paul Parker reports, according to Keith W. Stokes, a modern-day Black historian in Newport, the character Peggy Scott was a familiar sight in the real-life Gilded Age of Newport. [LEAD IMAGE - Peggy Scott, played by Denée Benton in "The Gilded Age," works as a newspaper reporter covering a speech by Red Cross founder Clara Barton during Season 1 of the HBO series.] Peggy Scott, played by Denée Benton in "The Gilded Age," works as a newspaper reporter covering a speech by Red Cross founder Clara Barton during Season 1 of the HBO series. Provided by Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO With the help of Stokes, [Paul reports on what Black wealth in Gilded Age Newport was like and what it was like for those who lived in those circles.]( • Is Gov. Dan McKee's "Attendance Matters" initiative working? The results are mixed. Ahead of kids returning to school, [The Journal's Patrick Anderson has the latest numbers.]( • Why is health care in Rhode Island so expensive? A public-policy nonprofit representing about 90 companies in the state says a new study sheds some light on the reason why. [Here's what The Journal's Jonny Williams found out.]( • Thinking about buying an electric car? The state wants more Rhode Islanders to invest in electric vehicles and is now giving out rebates that could cover the entire cost of residential charging equipment, or close to it. [The Journal's Alex Kuffner has the information on what you need to know.]( • Heading to the Washington County Fair next week? [Don't go until you're read this guide to this year's edition.]( More from The Providence Journal [Find the latest obituaries here.]( [Subscribers can read the eNewspaper here.]( WORTH A READ 📉 After dark days for stocks, see [where stock market and economy stand]( 🚨 2 arrested in [suspected terrorist plot at Taylor Swift's upcoming concerts]( 💨 [New offshore wind projects delayed by Massachusetts]( including areas off Martha's Vineyard 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. A new study reveals which states have the highest annual home appliance energy costs, with Rhode Island placing fifth on the list. Home warranty experts, [Cinch Home Services]( analyzed data from Energy Star to determine the average energy usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year for common home appliances. This was compared to electricity average costs in each state according to the Environmental Investigation Agency [TODAY'S WEATHER]( 🌦️ Variable cloudiness with a passing shower or two. Highs in the mid-70s TOP STORIES [RI Recycled Metals can reopen after fire, despite concerns from neighbors]( [Fire crews work to extinguish Wednesday's fire at the Rhode Island Recycled Metals scrapyard in the Port of Providence, which sent plumes of smoke billowing over nearby neighborhoods.]( A Superior Court judge is allowing a troubled Providence scrapyard to reopen after a fire in July, with the business agreeing to a new safety plan. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [8/1/24 MARTHA'S VINEYARD Vineyard Wind's turbine aw38 at the far south west section of the offshore wind farm, 22 miles south of Martha's Vineyard. One of the turbine's blades failed last month, splintering into pieces and sending debris into the sea that has washed up on both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard beaches. Steve Heaslip/Cape Cod Times]( [Surveys from Little Compton to Matunuck underway for wind turbine debris]( Anyone who finds a suspected piece of debris is asked to contact Vineyard Wind's cleanup contractor, or the City of Newport. [READ MORE]( [Princess parties are a popular theme for Confetti Foundation's birthday boxes. Hospitals work the boxes into their operating procedures for birthday celebrating among their patients.]( [Middletown foundation brings birthday parties to hospitalized children]( The Confetti Foundation has provided 20,000 birthday boxes to 451 children’s hospitals over the past 10 years. [READ MORE]( [Mark Patinkin in his Jerusalem hotel room working on this series.]( [Amazon blocked Mark Patinkin's book on Gaza war. He asks if it's political]( Two days after he submitted his book, the site suddenly said the title was “Blocked.” [READ MORE]( [Providence College Director of Athletics Steve Napolillo, at the school's Ruane Friar Development Center.]( [PC to restore men's golf and add a women's team for 2025-26 season]( Men’s golf was a casualty of Title IX cuts alongside baseball and men’s tennis, decisions made 22 years ago by the school’s previous administration. [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. 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