This Just In: Elorza vs. McKee, and questions over a CRMC pick

Also, a moving tribute to a fallen corrections officer. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Thursday, July 29 [Mayor Elorza, right, speaks words to Gov. McKee, as unidentified person holds him back]( [Elorza vs. McKee, and questions over a CRMC pick]( Also, a moving tribute to a fallen corrections officer. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. It wasn't exactly Ali-Frazier but it had more action than some early Mike Tyson fights. At an event last night to celebrate [the return of WaterFire]( Mayor Jorge Elorza [stole the show]( in a manner of speaking, when he loudly confronted Gov. Dan McKee over the tentative contract agreement that McKee's administration has reached with the Providence Teachers Union. Elorza's aggressive approach to McKee [generated some blowback]( on Thursday, but he generally [stood behind his actions]( while McKee has not commented. The contract, which is up for a ratification vote tomorrow, has not been released publicly, but The Journal did obtain a copy. Education reporter Linda Borg writes that, while Elorza and others had pressed for transformational change, the deal [falls short of that]( McKee raised some eyebrows in late May with [his eleventh-hour appointment]( of Lindsay McGovern , the vice president of a company that develops solar farms, to the state agency that oversees coastal development. McGovern's appointment received confirmation less than two hours before a contentious meeting about the South Fork Wind Farm project, and she ended up casting the deciding vote against a motion that would have required the wind farm's developers to negotiate compensation payments to fishermen. To the fishermen, it's the latest example of state government showing unfair favoritism to the offshore wind industry. Meanwhile, others are concerned that it's another example of the CRMC tilting toward developers. The Rhode Island Department of Health today reported 199 additional coronavirus cases, along with 6,622 negative tests, for a 2.9% positive rate. Once again there were no new deaths, but hospitalizations were up to 32 at last count, on Tuesday, from 29 reported yesterday, with seven in intensive care and four on ventilators. The seven-day new-case average is now 114, up 86% from a week ago and the highest since before Memorial Day. So far indoor mask mandates have not made a comeback in Rhode Island, except for students and others in schools. [That doesn't sit well with some parents](. Thirty years ago today, Russ Freeman began his career as a correctional officer at the ACI. He died of COVID last year, one week before prison staff began receiving the vaccine. Today, Freeman and his family received [a moving tribute]( from the other side of the country. Rhode Island skies filled with smoke from Canadian wildfires. It's certainly unusual, but it's not unprecedented. Nineteen summers ago, the smoke drifting down from the north [was thicker than it has been recently]( Every day up and down the New England coastline, anglers catch edible fish for which there's barely any market. Some fishermen and restaurant owners [are working together to try to change that]( Amy Russo got a tour of Westerly for her latest New to RI column, and [she ate better than I did that day]( Finally, the NBA Draft begins tonight at 8, and Providence native David Duke is [hoping it's going to be a special night]( I hope you have a special night too. 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