Daily Briefing: Could RI government really become more transparent?

ALSO: Keep up with all the latest as the RI high school basketball season playoffs heat up. [Read Today's eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Thu Feb 23 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. OK, I'm going to take a moment to nerd out a little bit about journalism stuff. But believe me, in this case it's a benefit to us all. During my two decades in journalism I've filed or helped reporters file a countless number of public records requests. Some requests have been filled, others denied, appealed and potentially denied again. A couple probably even ended up in the void, as I may have lost interest in the topic, or maybe even forgotten I filed it in the first place. While it's part of our job as journalists to hold public officials accountable, obtaining public documents is an important instrument in that effort and too often it can be difficult due to interpretations or old language in public records laws. So it was welcome news to see a bill being filed at the State House to expand RI's access to public records law. The Journal's Antonia Farzan has the story about the bills filed by Sen. Louis DiPalma and Rep. Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. that includes about two dozen key changes to the current law. [04 Parking 02052023] The RI State House Kris Craig, The Providence Journal Among some of the biggest highlights, at least in my opinion, are making police body cam footage public record and opening up emails from official public accounts. But there are a lot of other changes being proposed that could make individuals more active in municipal government, which is really a benefit for all. [Check out Antonia's story for all the details and if you agree with me, let your elected officials know.]( President's Day may be over, but out great subscription deal isn't. [Find all the details here]( before time runs out. WORTH A READ • With [a pandemic, a rise in school violence and threats of school violence]( data indicates stressors in young people are increasing. • Rhode Island has mostly avoided [the presence of Great White]( [sharks]( but it's a different story on Cape Cod. • ICYMI: Rhode Island high school basketball playoffs are heating up. [Catch up on all the latest action.]( [Today's Weather]( ☔ A touch of morning rain; otherwise, cloudy, breezy and colder. Highs in the upper-30s. TOP STORIES [College Hill apartments OK'd despite opposition]( [The proposed five-story apartment complex on Waterman Street.]( A developer is moving forward with a 25-unit apartment complex in College Hill despite complaints from neighbors about noisy college students. [READ MORE]( [Mother Ashley Lucero with her son Desmond Houle on the school playground.]( [Foundations Academy, serving students with special needs, may close]( Parents of students at the Northern Rhode Island Collaborative don't know where their students might go next. [READ MORE]( [The Chocolate Chip cookie at Crumbl is their signature.]( [New cookie shop opens Friday in East Greenwich]( The shop at 1000 Division Street is the first in RI from the Utah-based chain. [READ MORE]( [Feb 22, 2023; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Providence Friars guard Jared Bynum (4) defends against Connecticut Huskies guard Tristen Newton (2) during the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports]( [For subscribers] [Connecticut all but ends Providence's hopes for regular-season crown]( What had been a tie game with 1:04 left in the first half quickly unraveled for the Providence Friars [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](