Daily Briefing: 🍃 RI's trees are under attack – again

ALSO: Are you prepared for the effects of a UPS strike? Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Wed Jul 19 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. If it feels like Rhode Island's forests are under attack it's because in some ways they are. Emerald ash borers have had their sights on the state's ash trees for years and now there's a new creature threatening beech trees across Rhode Island and the early results aren't good. At risk at old-growth forests, with trees standing hundreds of feet tall. They literally have roots in the state, with some of the trees hundreds of years old. Now, as The Journal's Alex Kuffner reports, they're about to disappear from the landscape in some parts of the state as beech leaf disease takes over. [04 Beech disease] Rhode Island plant scientist Heather Faubert walks through acres of sick beech trees in Middletown. Some that appear healthy show early warning signs of leaf damage on closer inspection. David DelPoio/The Providence Journal Recently touring sections of Aquidneck Island, Alex saw firsthand the effects caused by the tiny nematodes that infest and attack the leaves as they're blooming in spring. Unfortunately, Aquidneck Island isn't even the hardest hit spot in the state. While some trees and, worst, forests appear lost, there is an effort to fight back. But will it work? [Check out Alex's story to learn more about beech leaf disease, where it is and what to look for.]( Find all the stories that matter across R.I. with a subscription to The Providence Journal. [Check out our latest offer and subscribe today.]( WORTH A READ ✉️ Here's a visual breakdown of [how the UPS strike could impact delivery globally.]( 🌾 [Flooded fields have left Vermont farmers with major crop losses.]( 📰 ICYMI: Here's [everything to know about RI's new shoreline access law]( before you head to the beach. [Today's Weather]( 🌤️ Partly sunny with a thundershower in spots in the afternoon. Highs in the mid-80s. TOP STORIES [Why fewer RI attorneys are taking work as court-appointed lawyers]( [Stock photo]( Low pay, big caseloads and red tape are causing lawyers to drop off the state's list of court-appointed attorneys. Are those who remain up to the job? [READ MORE]( Advertisement [Autiello]( [Democrat Nick Autiello drops out of CD1 race]( Autiello's announcement came an hour after his campaign claimed that he had "the second highest name ID in the race." [READ MORE]( [A street-side memorial in the West End neighborhood for Providence's eighth homicide victim in 2023: 17-year-old Darnell Whitford.]( [In Providence's West End, 17-year-old killed while walking with a girl]( He was walking with a girl in the city's West End on Friday night when at least one assailant approached and opened fire. [READ MORE]( [Clam cakes are on the menu at the Andrea restaurant, right by the beach in Misquamicut.]( [The clam cake gets its due in 'The Great Clam Cake and Fritter Guide']( What's your favorite RI clam shack? [READ MORE]( [Kelvin Odih, La Salle boys basketball]( [La Salle's Kelvin Odih to prep at South Kent as recruiting war intensifies]( At 6-4, Kelvin Odih has grown into a legitimate perimeter player [READ MORE]( Advertisement 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 ➔]( SUBSCRIBE TODAY Our Reporting. Your Stories. Full access to subscriber-only content on all devices. Share bonus subscription with a family member or friend. The universal eNewspaper, the digital version of our print paper, plus bonus monthly magazines and hundreds of local papers. Original reporting of our hometown teams, from high school sports to the pros. [Unlock news for $1]( [SUBSCRIBE TODAY]( 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](