This Just In: Raimondo's future; when COVID inspections go bad

Also, a couple stories about beer. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Wednesday, December 2 [Gov. Gina Raimondo appears with then-Vice President Joseph Biden during Biden's 2016 visit to Rhode Island.]( [This Just In: Raimondo's future; when COVID inspections go bad]( Also, a couple stories about beer.  Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. It's a busy day today, but Bowie and The Clash are helping me through. NBC News is reporting that Gov. Gina Raimondo is one of two finalists for health and human services secretary in President-Elect Joseph Biden's Cabinet. While Raimondo's office is not commenting, Political Writer [Katherine Gregg reports]( that some of Raimondo's onetime critics have stepped forward recently to say that she would be a good choice. In the meantime, the governor continues to lead Rhode Island's coronavirus response. And the numbers continue to suggest that it's not going well. [The state today reported]( another 1,099 new cases, along with 11 deaths, and test positivity close to 9%. The state Health Department's [latest list of cases by community]( shows that over the last seven days most suburbs saw cases increase, while most cities saw them decrease. Cranston, [where an outbreak is raging]( at the Adult Correctional Institutions, has surpassed Central Falls as the community with the most new cases per capita. Each week members of a task force of about 35 inspectors from the Department of Business Regulation visit about 1,000 businesses in the state to measure their compliance with COVID regulations. Usually the businesses pass without incident, but [sometimes the encounters turn testy]( What is it like to work in one of Rhode Island's new COVID field hospitals? Brian Amaral spoke to the chief medical officer of Care New England's facility in Cranston, and learned about [a poignant moment]( on the day the field hospital opened. With federal approval of the first coronavirus vaccines possibly less than two weeks away, a General Assembly task force focused on vaccine distribution [is meeting for the first time this afternoon]( Upserve, the Providence-based company started by Angus Davis, [has been purchased for $430 million]( in cash and stock. Researchers from Rhode Island will join their colleagues from elsewhere in the United States and Canada [for a large new study of great white sharks]( It's been called Rhode Island's response to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Nibbles Woodaway [is ready for another holiday season]( If you like beer, food editor Gail Ciampa has you covered this week. Either [with alcohol]( or [without]( It's a big college basketball night in Rhode Island, as URI faces Seton Hall and Providence takes on Alabama. [Check back with us tonight for news and analysis]( Have a great night. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, please [encourage a friend to sign up]( [Discover more with our newsletters: Get the latest headlines, things to do and more in your inbox. Sign up here.]( [click here]( 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]( © 2020 75 Fountain St. , Providence, RI 02902