Daily Briefing: 20 years after The Station nightclub fire, a look at fire inspections

ALSO: All the top headlines to start your day. [Read Today's eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Thu Feb 16 2023 Will Richmond | Managing Editor Communities & R.I. [@Will_Richmond]( Good morning, I'm Will Richmond at The Providence Journal and this is the Daily Briefing. Twenty years ago a significant chapter in the history of Rhode Island was written. Most every Rhode Islander — and some from beyond the state's borders — of a certain age has a story to tell about The Station nightclub fire. Maybe they were there, knew someone who was or someone who helped that day whether it was first responders or good samaritans. Those without a tie probably still recall where they were when they first heard the news of what happened on the night of Feb. 20, 2003. Today, the memorial on the site in West Warwick serves as a reminder of the 100 who died and hundreds that were injured. It's not the only thing left in wake of the tragedy. [1A SECONDARY? - 02 fire] Photos taken at the scene of The Station nightclub fire on Cowesett Ave in West Warwick. Family, friends and others came throughout the day to express their grief and sorrow for the lives that have been lost. Bob Breidenbach/The Providence Journal, file [The Journal's Antonia Farzan talked with fire marshals from across Rhode Island]( to learn more about how fire inspections have changed and the ability to keep up with additional regulations that followed the fire. Read her story to find out what she found, which municipalities are adapting and those communities that are struggling to keep up. The Providence Journal is offering a subscription offer for President's Day. [Check out all the details.]( WORTH A READ • It's bigger than a balloon: [Chinese spying in US includes research labs and universities]( • The question has been asked plenty of times: [Is the Lizzy Borden house in Fall River haunted?]( A new Travel Channel show thinks they have the answer. • ICYMI: [Got to love that win Providence College]( pulled out Tuesday night. [Today's Weather]( ☼☔ Record-breaking warmth with some sun, then clouds; a shower late in the afternoon; it will feel more like spring than winter ['Failure is not an option': How a Black-owned tattoo shop made it in RI]( [Joseph Becton, owner of F.I.N.A.O. in North Providence working on a hand tattoo for Erica Foux. ]( When Joseph Becton first started in the tattoo industry he felt unwelcome. Now, he owns two shops with plans to open a third. [READ MORE]( [View from the lot: State House legislator parking. State House parking spaces signal who's hot and who's not.]( [Bill allows police and firefighters to qualify for PTSD treatment]( PTSD: "I've seen and dealt with a lot of things normal human beings don't see In their lifetime" [READ MORE]( [Town Made president and co-founder Ken Procaccianti hired chef Rachael LaPorte as Town Made’s food operations director. She will help small food businesses get started in their Wakefield commercial kitchens.]( [Free kitchen time is available at Wakefield commercial kitchens]( Town Made secured a nearly half a million dollar grant to support use of local food and produce. [READ MORE]( [Pamela Galva, Central Falls girls basketball]( [For subscribers] [Story lines are key as Eric Rueb makes his girls basketball playoff picks]( Who is Eric Rueb picking to win girls basketball titles? In a year dominated by parity, and Central Falls, he takes a shot at it. [READ MORE]( A Better Daily Briefing We've redesigned your favorite newsletter to have a cleaner look and feel. If you're looking for the [eNewspaper]( , it now appears in our new quick links feature at the very top of the newsletter. Let us know what you think! [SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ➔]( [SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ➔]( Sign up for the news you want Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don’t miss out! We’re always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. [SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔]( [SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔]( Follow Us 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](