This Just In: The debate over solitary, PrideFest postponed, Dunk almost back in business

Also, the latest on the investigation into the fire at Speaker Shekarchi's law office. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Thursday, June 3 [Roberta Richman in 2000, when she was warden of the women's facility at the Adult Correctional Institutions. “It was pretty heartbreaking to see someone with mental illness just disintegrate," she says now, speaking of the effects of solitary confinement. "Lives are being damaged, long-term damage.”]( [The debate over solitary, PrideFest postponed, Dunk almost back in...]( Also, the latest on the investigation into the fire at Speaker Shekarchi's law office. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal, and today I can say that I'm the proud parent of a kid who has finished middle school! But I still feel really young – at least between 9 and 11 most mornings. The Rhode Island Department of Health today reported three coronavirus-related deaths and 41 additional cases of COVID-19. The state has reported an average of 34 new cases a day over the last seven days, which is the lowest seven-day average since the very beginning of the pandemic, back in March 2020. There were 11,393 additional negative tests, for a 0.4% positive rate. These encouraging trends mean that many of the state's trademark summer events are on course to come back – but Rhode Island PrideFest [is not one of them]( at least not yet. The group that organizes the festival and illuminated parade, which usually take place in June, says it is going through a reorganization, and hopes to hold this year's event in the fall. Gov. Dan McKee announced today that the vaccination site [at the Dunkin' Donuts Center will close]( at the end of this month, and events will resume there in the fall. The Rhode Island Convention Center will open for business sooner. But the state is maintaining field hospital capacity in Cranston just in case things take a turn for the worse in the fall. An example of cruel and unusual punishment, or a critical tool for maintaining prison security? A bill in the General Assembly that would limit the use of solitary confinement in the ACI has generated passionate support from advocates for the incarcerated, and strong criticism from the state corrections director and members of the correctional officers union. Katie Mulvaney of our Watchdog Team [examines the issue]( and why the sides are so far apart. In a marathon hearing before the House Finance Committee last night, top officials at the Eleanor Slater Hospital said outdated patient records – some of which had not been changed in more than 20 years – [were to blame]( for a recent spike in the percentage of state hospital patients classified as "psychiatric." The outcome calls into question whether the state is eligible for millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funds. Against the wishes of fishermen and some environmentalists, the Coastal Resources Management Council [gave a key endorsement to a wind farm]( that would be built in an area that is a key marine habitat. The South Kingstown School Committee last night [voted to pursue mediation]( rather than a lawsuit, in a case involving a parent who has filed some 200 public records requests over how the school district teaches race and gender issues. Meanwhile, a parents group is alleging that Barrington High School students [were told to testify]( against a bill that would ban teaching of "critical race theory," but the superintendent denies that was the case. Authorities in Warwick [continue to investigate]( a fire that destroyed the law office of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi . The city's police chief confirmed that investigators are aware of an online post on an anarchist website that claimed credit for starting the fire, but said information in the claim "does not jibe with what happened at the scene" and "it's not an avenue that we think will come to fruition." A former Johnston police officer who was disciplined for speaking to a Providence Journal reporter in 2016 [has reached a settlement]( in his federal lawsuit against the town and its former police chief. Pro tip: Just because a guy has a good day of practice, [doesn't mean he's the second coming]( of Tom Brady. Finally, if you like beer, and who doesn't, Gail Ciampa has three bits of news [that you'll want to see]( 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