This Just In: Who's who in impeachment case, and the lieutenant governor competition

Also, judge says no hate crime in Barrington assault [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Tuesday, February 9 [Rep. David Cicilline]( [This Just In: Who's who in impeachment case, and lieutenant governor...]( Also, judge says no hate crime in Barrington assault Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump under way, and Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline is going to be center stage, as one of the House impeachment managers. If you're following this week's proceedings in Washington and are looking for a guide to the key players, [we've got you covered]( About 60 people [have applied for the job of Rhode Island lieutenant governor]( which pays six figures and comes with very little responsibility — other than being ready to come out of the bullpen for the governor. While many of them are well-known political figures, there are some surprises: a TV weatherman, a recently retired financial officer, a Massachusetts bank employee who says he's "willing to relocate." It was a racially charged case that drew statewide condemnation. But a District Court judge has [found that it was not a hate crime]( when a Barrington man, Dr. Richard Gordon, attacked his neighbor, a man of Iranian descent, in August while hurling racist abuse. Judge Stephen Isherwood found Gordon guilty of simple assault last week, but declined to sentence him under Rhode Island's Hate Crimes Sentencing Act, finding that prosecutors had failed to prove the assault was motivated by race, rather than by a property dispute. Rhode Island's Health Department today [reported 12 more coronavirus-related deaths, and 330 additional cases](. Meanwhile, in his weekly podcast with The Journal's G. Wayne Miller, Dr. Ashish Jha [gave some practical advice for choosing the right face mask]( Speaking of face masks, I'm not sure those are great Valentine's Day gifts, but [what do I know?]( The former Johnston police chief, Richard Tamburini, [violated a detective's civil rights]( when Tamburini suspended him for speaking to a Providence Journal reporter in 2017, a federal judge has ruled. The newly appointed Jamestown harbormaster is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against Starbucks [over the lack of real vanilla in a chilled Frappuccino drink]( Advocates of a statewide ban on plastic bags have been frustrated over the years, but the cause has found much more success in the local level. Now, with about half the state's population subject to some kind of local bag ban, members of the General Assembly [are set to push once again for a statewide law]( Some Rhode Island lawmakers [are looking to clamp down on the fees]( charged by meal-delivery companies like DoorDash and Grubhub. 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