This Just In: What's wrong with Narragansett? Drama on South Water Street

Also, emulating the Tampa Bay Rays. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Thursday, October 7 [The iconic Towers on Ocean Road in Narragansett. The 2020 census shows the town's population fell by 8.4% in the last 10 years, the largest decline in Rhode Island by a wide margin.]( [What's wrong with Narragansett? Drama on South Water Street]( Also, emulating the Tampa Bay Rays. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. Today is Oct. 7; on this date in 1916, before America's entry into World War I, [the German submarine U-53]( paid an apparently friendly visit to Newport before heading out to international waters and sinking nine British merchant ships. The episode infuriated Great Britain and further strained U.S. relations with Germany. Just about anytime the weather's nice, I (and many others) wouldn't mind being in Narragansett. So how can it be that one of Rhode Island's most desirable communities [is also the one that lost the most population]( between the 2010 and 2020 censuses? During recent trips to the town, Patrick Anderson heard a range of theories, and talked to some who don't believe the numbers are accurate. He also found a possible clue: many of those he encountered in town weren't from Narragansett at all, or anywhere close.  In yesterday's newsletter, I wrote about an apparently futile attempt by businesses on South Water Street in Providence to stop a project that will result in the road being reduced to one lane of traffic, in part to make way for a bike lane. A lot has happened in the 24 hours since: the state Department of Transportation dramatically intervened and [asked the city to halt the project]( even though it was already nearly done. And now Mayor Jorge Elorza has responded, essentially telling the DOT [to go fly a kite]( I hear Narragansett's a great place to do that, by the way. The Rhode Island Department of Health reported four more coronavirus-related deaths and 234 additional cases, along with 15,484 negative tests, for a 1.5% positive rate. There were 97 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, the same number reported yesterday, with 10 in intensive care. Rhode Island has reported an average of 259 new coronavirus cases a day over the last seven days, down 12% from a week ago and down 22% from two weeks ago. Gov. Dan McKee [has detailed his plans]( for spending more than $100 million, or about 10%, of the state's federal coronavirus aid money. As he indicated last month, he'd like to give raises to child-care workers, award grants to small businesses and build more affordable housing A Massachusetts man [has been sentenced to more than four years in prison]( for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program by falsely claiming that he had dozens of employees at three restaurants, including two in Warwick. A candidate for lieutenant governor who has been endorsed by the liberal Rhode Island Political Cooperative [is facing questions from fellow progressives]( about old social-media posts in which she expressed opposition to abortion. A person from Providence County is hospitalized with [the first known human case of West Nile virus]( in Rhode Island since 2018. Federal Hill's Columbus Day festival is back this weekend after a one-year hiatus, and it's bigger than before. [Here's what you need to know]( if you'd like to go. Finally, the Red Sox return action tonight as they begin their best-of-five Divisional Playoff series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida. It used to be that the Rays were a sad-sack franchise that desperately wanted to compete with the likes of the Red Sox. More recently, in some ways, [those roles have been reversed]( 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