This Just In: Apartment plan raises ire on East Side; Hopkins for governor?

Also, a big whale in Little Compton. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Tuesday, January 11 [Artist Tayo Heuser on the back deck of her Providence home on Monday.]( [Apartment plan raises ire on East Side; Hopkins for governor?]( Also, a big whale in Little Compton. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal, and it's nice to see [someone new]( win the college football national championship. Next week, the I-195 Redevelopment Commission will decide on one of three proposals to put a large apartment building near the pedestrian bridge on Parcel 2, between South Main and South Water Streets. But for some on the East Side, any of the plans on the table [would ruin their views of the skyline and the Providence River](. Now they're organizing to try to get changes made, but the effort might be too little, too late. The Rhode Island Department of Health today reported eight coronavirus-related deaths and 5,076 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 17,124 negative tests, for a 22.9% positive rate. There were 459 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals, up from 410 reported yesterday (a number that was revised up). Rhode Island has reported an average of 5,369 new coronavirus cases a day over the last seven days, up 61% from a week ago and up 266% from two weeks ago. The uber-contagious omicron variant of COVID accounted for more than 95% of the new cases in the six New England states last week, [the CDC reports today]( COVID hospitalizations in Rhode Island have recently approached, though they have not yet reached, the high set in mid-December 2020. But with omicron both more contagious and apparently less severe than previous variants, health officials in some states are reporting that a significant percentage of their COVID patients were actually hospitalized for other reasons. Rhode Island, however, [does not currently have plans to make this distinction]( Just walking around out there was pretty painful today, with highs in the teens and wind chills around zero. The good news is that the next couple days should be much more comfortable. But the weekend – [that's another story]( The snowstorm on Friday provided an early test of Providence's [expanded system of speed humps]( which are meant to slow speeding vehicles but became a source of contention in the city last year. Some plow drivers The Journal interviewed last week [expressed aggravation]( with the speed humps, with one saying they would defer him from contracting with the city, but the public works director insisted that the humps should be a nonissue for plows. Will the mayor of Cranston be the Republican nominee for governor in 2022? Kenneth Hopkins, who succeeded two-time GOP gubernatorial standard-bearer Allan Fung at the helm of the state's second-biggest city in 2020, confirms to The Journal that [he is exploring a run]( for the state's top job later this year. The state Ethics Commission [unanimously voted to dismiss]( a complaint filed against Gov. Dan McKee's former chief of staff, Anthony Silva, over his failure to disclose his interest in a wetlands property in Cumberland. Zachary Cunha, the newly minted U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, [has named an all-women leadership team]( The Department of Environmental Management and scientists from Mystic Aquarium are hoping to learn why [a 10-ton humpback whale turned up dead]( on a remote beach in Little Compton this weekend. And finally, the PC Friars are back in action tonight against Creighton. Tip-off is at 9 o'clock (yuck). The Friars fell seven places in the AP Top 25 poll after [last week's ugly loss at Marquette]( 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]( © 2022 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902