This Just In: Friction over vaccine strategy; RI General Assembly debates Trump

Also, how colleges and universities are planning to welcome students back for the winter term. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Tuesday, January 12 [Volunteer Rosemary Stitt arranges vaccine-filled syringes on the mobile cart used to vaccine residents of Wilfrid Manor public housing in Central Falls on Wednesday afternoon.]( [This Just In: Friction over vaccine strategy]( Also, how colleges and universities are planning to welcome students back for the winter term. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. Today's one of the sadder days of the year for me, because it's the day the Christmas tree comes down. Oh well, we'll soldier on. Rhode Island [is at odds]( with the federal government's latest guidance on administering coronavirus vaccines. At a news briefing Tuesday, the U.S. secretary of health and human services, Alex Azar , said states should immediately schedule all residents 65 and older for vaccinations, since older adults are much more likely to die from the virus. However, Rhode Island — which has put hospital workers, nursing homes, first-responders, certain inmates and staff at the Adult Correctional Institutions, and the hard-hit city of Central Falls at the front of the line — says it does not have adequate supply to take that approach and does not plan to follow suit. The state Health Department [reported another 23 coronavirus-related deaths]( as well as 786 additional cases of COVID-19. Rhode Island has now attributed 1,970 deaths to COVID-19, and four in five of those have been among people 70 and older. College and universities are welcoming students back to Rhode Island, and they have different plans for keeping everyone safe. [Here's a rundown]( of how they're approaching the winter term. Rep. David Cicilline is at the forefront of congressional Democrats' second attempt to impeach President Donald Trump, and his spokesman says Cicilline's [been inundated with threatening voicemails]( as a result. Meanwhile, the Rhode Island Senate [is set to vote today]( on a resolution calling for the president to be removed from office, with the House likely to follow suit next week. [Homicides and nonfatal shootings were up significantly in Providence in 2020]( as they were in many cities across the United States. Experts are wondering whether the violence will end up being an aberration resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and social unrest, or will mark the beginning of a trend. The job of lieutenant governor has hardly ever received as much attention as it has in recent weeks. With current Lt. Gov. Dan McKee about to ascend to the governorship after years of laboring in obscurity, politicians are making the case for why they should be picked to step into McKee's shadow. Now one lawmaker [is calling for a special election]( to choose the lieutenant governor, and end what she described as the "insider political jockeying" currently under way. Leading members of the General Assembly are not happy about the news that Rhode Island College [signed a $76,000-a-week, no-bid contract]( with a consultant as it seeks to close a $10-million deficit. Considering we're 12 days into January, I've had enjoyed some lovely running weather already this year. How long will the dry, mild air stay in Southern New England? [Forecasters don't necessarily agree]( Finally,ast night's college football national championship [didn't exactly go down to the wire]( which means that I may have the energy to stay up late for [tonight's PC-Marquette game]( 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]( © 2021 75 Fountain St. , Providence, RI 02902