This Just In: A story gets results for Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island

Also, a bold prediction for the NBA Finals. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Thursday, June 16 [A baby opossum at the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island.]( [A story gets results for Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island]( Also, a bold prediction for the NBA Finals. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal, and I'm calling it: [the Celtics season will not end tonight]( This morning's Providence Journal featured [a story on the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island]( the only facility in the state that treats sick and injured wild animals. Alex Kuffner reported that the clinic was in danger of shutting down because a veterinarian who had volunteered her services for years had retired, and there was no money to hire a replacement. But less than 12 hours after publication, the story has a happy ending. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, after reading the story, [is planning to amend the state budget]( will be voted on tonight to add the $100,000 that the clinic needs to operate for the year. Speaking of the budget, State House reporter Patrick Anderson is covering the debate and vote in the House and will have news later on providencejournal.com. Before Gov. Dan McKee has even signed Rhode Island's ban on high-capacity magazines into law, a local law firm [is preparing to sue]( on the grounds that it would represent an "illegal taking" under the U.S. Constitution. The Rhode Island Department of Health reported one coronavirus-related death and 359 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 4,331 negative tests, for a 7.7% positive rate. There were 71 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, down from 78 reported yesterday. Rhode Island has reported an average of 315 new cases a day over the last seven days, down 23% from a week ago and down 32% from two weeks ago. A new report from the Brown School of Public Health, with funding from the United Way of Rhode Island, finds that [racial disparities in homeownership]( here are worse than the national average. A Superior Court judge has found that education officials [violated the rights of English language learners]( in Providence by failing to provide them services the law requires. A 15-year-old boy who was pulled from the water at Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods [has died]( In a nearly straight party-line vote, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee [has approved]( President Joe Biden's nomination of Rhode Island Public Defender Lara Montecalvo to a federal judgeship. In blast-from-the-past news, 790 The Score [is coming back]( with an all-sports talk radio format. And closer to home, [here are the five finalists]( to fill a vacancy on the state Superior Court. A week after PVDFest, there will be parties in the streets of the capital city again this weekend, as PrideFest returns for the first time since 2019. [Here's what you should know]( about this year's celebration. The day after Pride is the Juneteenth holiday. Here's a roundup of celebrations taking place [here and across New England](. The temporary closing of Route 10 north at the 6/10 exchange [has been delayed by a weekend](  A double hat-tip to the members of the Journal All-State teams in [boys]( and [girls]( lacrosse. A third hat-tip to the Coventry softball team, which won the [Division I state championship]( yesterday in grand style. And half a hat-tip to the North Kingstown baseball team, [which took the first game]( of its best-of-three Division I championship series against Hendricken. Finally, in a different type of competition, a Providence firefighter is taking on nine other amateur cooks in [a new food show on PBS]( 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