This Just In: This Just In: Warwick firefighter overtime; tragic Holocaust history

Also, the $50,000 State House portrait. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Thursday, May 6 [Warwick's mayor wants to see if there is a "pattern of abuse" in how overtime is being calculated in the fire department.]( [This Just In: Warwick firefighter overtime; tragic Holocaust history]( Also, the $50,000 State House portrait. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal, on a beautiful spring day in Rhode Island. Not something I've been able to say too often. When Jim Hummel [reported last month]( that some Warwick firefighters had made more than $100,000 in overtime alone in 2020, it raised questions of how some could possibly work as much as many hours as they apparently had — in one case, a firefighter had averaged 78 hours of overtime a week for the entire year. Today, Jim reported some more context: [firefighters can earn overtime without first putting in a full week's worth of regular work hours](. The findings took new Mayor Frank Picozzi by surprise, and he's ordered a review.  For Journal columnist Mark Patinkin, a recent episode of The History Channel's "Finding Your Roots" brought to light [a tragic chapter of his family's history]( that he did not know about: the death of his second cousin — who was just a toddler — and other family members in the Treblinka death camp. A veteran Cranston police officer, Andrew Leonard, [has been found guilty]( of assaulting a prisoner inside the police station last year, but Leonard will not have to serve jail time. The State Council of the Arts is offering $50,000 for [the official portrait]( of former Gov. Gina Raimondo, which will hang in the State House. That's more than three times what the state paid for the official portrait of Raimondo's predecessor, Lincoln Chafee. The state Department of Health reports that 65% of eligible Rhode Islanders have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, but attention is now returning to the 280,000 or so who are eligible but have not yet received a shot. As part of that, the state is planning [to reach out by phone]( to all of the 13,500 or so who fall in this category and are also at least 75 years old. Meanwhile, the state reported three coronavirus deaths and 187 additional cases of COVID-19. The seven-day new-case average [is down 35% from two weeks ago]( Rhode Island [is closer to a $15-an-hour minimum wage]( with the House poised to approve on its version of legislation to make that a reality by 2025. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza [is calling for full repeal]( of the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights.  A North Providence doctor, who was accused last year of knowingly exposing patients to coronavirus, [violated federal labor laws]( by failing to pay overtime, a judge has ruled. Finally, if you still don't know what to do for Mom on Mother's Day, how about a visit with wine and cheese? Gail Ciampa suggests [some perfect pairings](. 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