This Just In: Should RI schools police students' travel?

Also, a day Scott Hornoff has long awaited. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Thursday, September 16 [A slide from a state Health Department PowerPoint presentation that was meant to help school officials weigh the risk of a student's out-of-state travel.]( [Should RI schools police students' travel?]( Also, a day Scott Hornoff has long awaited. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. On this date in 1932, it rained more than 12 inches in Westerly, which remains the all-time state record for a 24-hour period. That would have been during the height of the Great Depression, and it certainly seems depressing. Rhode Island K-12 school leaders are struggling with Health Department guidance on travel for unvaccinated students. Currently, the Health Department recommends that any unvaccinated student who travels anywhere should quarantine for seven days, even with a negative coronavirus test. That applies to all students younger than 12, and will likely continue to apply to them into the holiday season, given the uncertain timeline for FDA approval of a COVID vaccine for younger children. In the meantime, [should school leaders enforce quarantines on kids who spend a night at grandma's house?]( Earlier this week, Brown University announced a range of restrictions on campus life in response to more than 80 positive coronavirus tests in vaccinated students with no symptoms of illness. Brown is unlike other institutions in Rhode Island in requiring even vaccinated students to undergo regular weekly testing. Is that what all schools should be doing? [Public health experts have mixed opinions.]( The Rhode Island Department of Health on Thursday reported one coronavirus-related death and 322 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 18,176 negative tests, for a 1.7% positive rate. There were 121 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, up from 116 reported yesterday, with 17 in intensive care. Rhode Island has reported an average of 360 new cases a day over the last seven days, up 22% from a week ago and up 21% from two weeks ago. Nearly 20 years after he was freed from prison, after serving six years for a murder he did not commit, former Warwick Detective Scott Hornoff [attended the signing ceremony]( for a new law that will allow state compensation payments to people who are wrongfully convicted. Hornoff's story was the driving force behind the new law, but whether he will actually receive any payments as a result of it remains to be seen. State officials and labor leaders turned out this afternoon to break ground on a $100-million expansion of the Bally's Twin River Casino Resort in Lincoln. [Here's what's coming]( to the state's largest casino.  Next week marks the 60th birthday of the Peace Corps, which was created after John F. Kennedy urged Americans to "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country." Many Rhode Islanders have been among the quarter-million volunteers who have served overseas with the agency. [Here are some of their stories]( Newport County has no public ice rinks, but the Longplex Family and Sports Center [is planning to build two of them in Tiverton](  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