This Just In: State's unfit shelter for the homeless; a first in West Warwick

Also, celebrating the work of Sandor Bodo. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Friday, December 4 [Putnam Place in Smithfield, the state-owned building where Rhode Island moved COVID-positive homeless people in the summer.]( [This Just In: Unfit shelter; a first in West Warwick]( Also, celebrating the work of Sandor Bodo. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. It's a lovely late fall afternoon – I even reactivated my porch office for a half-hour or so – but look out, [snow might be on the way]( Back in the spring, when the coronavirus first surged in Rhode Island, the state booked hotel rooms in Warwick to house COVID-positive homeless people. Then, for a few months starting in the summer, the program moved to a state-owned building in Smithfield. It saved money, but one person who was central to the effort says it was a disaster, with areas of the building unfit for habitation. In at least one case, COVID-positive people were mingled with others who were still awaiting their test results. [Read the investigation]( by Brian Amaral of our Watchdog Team. The Department of Health has reported some truly terrible coronavirus data all week, and that continued Friday, [with 13 more deaths and 1,415 additional cases](. The updated data show that a record number of Rhode Islanders tested positive for the first time on Tuesday. The state is now averaging more than 1,000 cases a day over the last seven days. Cafe Nuovo, the iconic restaurant on the Providence riverfront, [is shutting down for the rest of the year]( citing the fact that it expects "less than zero" business around the Christmas holiday. Narragansett's Holiday Faire and Festival of Lights [is among the latest COVID casualties]( Although Gov. Gina Raimondo has emphatically ruled out becoming President-Elect Biden's health and human services secretary, [that hasn't ended speculation]( that she may be on her way to Washington. A new affordable housing complex in West Warwick is believed to be the first in the state [to host a "community solar" project]( HGTV's 2021 "Dream Home" [is in Portsmouth](. People can enter two times a day starting later this month, but they should [make sure they really want it first]( "The Gilded Age," an HBO series set in the 1880s from the creator of "Downton Abbey," is looking for extras to participate in filming next year in Newport. [It helps if you have a beard]( which means I'm out. Looking for something to do under the stars? The Wilbury Theatre Group, with help from WaterFire Providence, is putting on [special outdoor performances of the play "Constellations"]( through Dec. 19.  Finally, The Providence Journal lost a great photographer this week, when Sandor Bodo retired. A native of Hungary, Sandor helped pioneer the newspaper's move to color photography back in the 1980s and had a reputation for creativity. [Here is a slideshow]( featuring a small sampling of his work. Have a great weekend. 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