Daily Briefing: Conclusion nears on Mark Patinkin's journey to Israel

ALSO: Is Rhode Island becoming Hollywood East? ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Fri Feb 2 2024 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. For two weeks, The Journal's Mark Patinkin has found himself crisscrossing Israel in search of stories to tell our readers back here in Rhode Island. It's an effort he undertook himself to learn more about what's happening on the ground after writing frequently about his perspective of the Israel-Hamas War from what he saw from from here in Rhode Island. Throughout his trip, Mark hope to get to the front lines of the way and today you can read about that experience. [Joining a group of journalists, Mark went into Gaza, embedded with an Israeli Defense Forces unit.]( [Mark Patinkin Israel IDF Gaza embed] Mark Patinkin, center, and other journalists in an IDF Humvee driving through Gaza. Mark Patinkin/The Providence Journal You can share in his experience today and this weekend his series of dispatches from the Middle East will wrap up with his final column coming on Sunday. • Journal reporters continue to work their way through the more than 230 pages of email related to the Washington Bridge closure. Here's the latest on what they've found. As details about the timeline of the bridge failure and closing come out, [Gov. Dan McKee said he should have been made aware sooner, The Journal's Patrick Anderson reports.]( While the email release provided more information about the situation, there are still plenty of unanswered questions. [The Journal's Katherine Gregg explores what potentially hasn't been revealed.]( You've probably heard a lot of names and companies tossed around in discussions about the Washington Bridge. [The Journal's Paul Parker has a scorecard of the who's who.]( • Now that the legislative session is underway and Gov. Dan McKee has unveiled his budget, advocacy organizations are making their pitch for funding and programs. The latest group to do just that is RIght from the Start, composed of eight organizations and led by the advocacy group Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. The Journal's Amy Russo was with the group Thursday as they made public their priorities for 2024 including an expansion of the state's Child Care Assistance Program. [What else is on their agenda? Amy has the story.]( • [Is Rhode Island becoming Hollywood East?]( [10_Ella_McCay_02012024.JPG] Photo Op with star Jamie Lee Curtis. Kris Craig, The Providence Journal The State House had a couple of unusual guests Thursday when Jamie Lee Curtis and Woody Harrelson came to town to celebrate the upcoming filming of "Ella McCay," which Curtis described as "a movie about big ideas." WORTH A READ 📺 [Did 'Wheel of Fortune' player get cheated out of $40,000?]( Contestant reveals what she said 📰 As Maine governor pushes for new gun laws, [Lewiston shooting victims' families speak out]( 🏨 A Massachusetts bill would [train hotel workers to spot trafficking]( RHODY RANKS Every day we receive emails ranking Rhode Island. While the work behind the ranks may be dubious, they can be fun. Each day I'll share where Rhody Ranks from one of the latest emails. Rhode Island Ranks first among the states where auto loan debt is increasing the least, according to a study from WalletHub. With Americans owning nearly $1.6 trillion in auto loan debt (over $13,400 per household), the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on the [States Where Auto Loan Debt Is Increasing the Most](. [TODAY'S WEATHER]( ☁️ A morning shower in places; otherwise, cloudy and breezy. Highs in the low 40s. TOP STORIES [Uncle Pennybags lookalike brings joy to Hasbro Children's Hospital]( [Vin Marzullo, who folks think looks like "Rich Uncle" Pennybags (Milburn Pennybags), the cartoon mascot for the Monopoly board game is a volunteer at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence. He is photographed across the street from the hospital.]( Vincent Marzullo started growing his mustache a decade ago and had always been a collector of hats, which started people calling him "Monopoly Man." [READ MORE]( Advertisement [Rhode Island College sign on campus.]( [Here's who might be the next president of RIC]( Three candidates are being interviewed this week to possibly lead the state college. [READ MORE]( [Richard Thomas stars as Atticus Finch in the touring production "To Kill a Mockingbird," Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of Harper Lee's prize-winning story, at Providence Performing Arts Center from Feb. 6-11.]( [Star Richard Thomas embraces updated 'To Kill a Mockingbird," at PPAC]( The stage adaptation coming to Providence on Feb. 6 isn't entirely faithful to the Harper Lee novel or its 1962 movie adaptation, says Thomas. [READ MORE]( [Matthew DuPlessie, founder and CEO of Level99, plays with connecting lights in the Computer Circuit room at Level99 in the Providence Place mall.]( [Not a Super Bowl fan? 5 other ways to spend game day]( Don't care about football? Try one of these things to do instead. [READ MORE]( [Jan 31, 2024; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Providence Friars guard Devin Carter (22) returns up court against the UConn Huskies in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports]( [Lesson learned for Providence basketball in facing No. 1 Connecticut]( Cumberland's Tyler Kolek's mid-season slump at Marquette looks to be a thing of the past. [READ MORE]( Advertisement Vote with Confidence This 7-day newsletter course will help you be an informed voter before Nov. 5. [SIGN UP NOW]( 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](