Daily Briefing: There's a dam debate going on in Westerly.

ALSO: Catch up on everything from the Super Bowl. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Mon Feb 12 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. There's a dam debate going on in Westerly. For years, environmentalists have been working to remove dams across the state, yet one – The Potter River Dam – remains in place. Advocates for removing the structure say it will allow fish to spawn, reduce the risk of flooding and improve recreational opportunities. Those living along the river, especially upriver from the dam, have a different perspective. [Potter Hill Mill Dam] Westerly's Potter Hill Mill Dam over the Pawcatuck River. Kris Craig/The Providence Journal The Journal's Antonia Farzan looks at the history of the dam, including the back-and-forth fight over the years related to the dam's future, and why the issue is back up for debate once again. • A first is coming to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League's winter season: A girls wrestling state championship. The Journal's Jake Rousseau reports, the event comes as girls participation in the sport has grown, with 73 girls wrestlers this year, which is up from just eight in 2014. The state championship comes after Scituate hosted an all-girls exhibition with schools from North Providence, Mount Pleasant, Juanita Sanchez and Exeter-West Greenwich participating. [01_ Girls-Wrestle_02072024.JPG] North Providence wrestler Kaedyn Minta-Jacobs and Kate Egan square off on the mat. Kris Craig, The Providence Journal How do the wrestlers and coaches feel about this opportunity? [Check out Jake's article to find out.]( • Everybody has questions about the Washington Bridge, including lawmakers. With a joint hearing of the House and Senate oversight committees beginning at 3 p.m. today, four dozen questions were provided to RIDOT in advance. In response The Journal's Katherine Gregg reports that "state transportation officials sent lawmakers a torrent of documents, including inspection reports, a timeline of the crisis ..." Among the biggest questions? [What's next for the Washington Bridge]( • Do you feel like you have a top workplace in Rhode Island? The Providence Journal is partnering with Energage, the Pennsylvania-based company that conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 65 markets nationwide and surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in the past year, to recognize the best place in Rhode Island. [Learn more to see how your company can get involved.]( • College basketball fans know we've been pretty spoiled in Rhode Island the past couple of years. Providence College, URI and Bryant have all found themselves in the NCAA tournament since 2018. With conference tournaments and Selection Sunday on the horizon, it's time to take stock of where the state's programs stand [The Journal's Bill Koch offers up his report card on the 2023-2024 season so far.]( WORTH A READ 🏈 Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs leave no doubt in Super Bowl: [They're an all-time NFL dynasty]( 🏈 49ers praise Brock Purdy, [bemoan 'self-inflicted wounds' in Super Bowl 58 loss]( [🏈]( [Usher's Super Bowl halftime show]( brought skates, abs, famous friends and a Vegas vibe 🏈 Rewatch all [the best Super Bowl commercials.]( [🏈]( [Super Bowl security uses smart Taylor Swift strategy]( to get giddy pop star from suite to field 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. Are you thinking of proposing this Valentine's Day? A [new study]( from Rare Carat found Rhode Island is the No. 10 most expensive state for engagement rings this Valentine’s Day averaging $8,787 per ring. New York tops the list, while our neighbors Connecticut and Massachusetts place fourth and fifth, respectively. [TODAY'S WEATHER]( 🌤️ Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 40s. TOP STORIES [The history of Black immigration to RI and why many live in Providence]( [A memorial to slavery on the front campus of Brown University was established after the university's first Slavery and Justice report was issued in 2006.]( While slavery was prevalent, free Black people were living in Rhode Island as far back as the 1700s. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [Veterns Day stock art]( [Breaking the silence: Veterans encouraged to use 911 for mental health]( New VA program allows veterans in mental health crisis to call 911, receive no-cost care at any facility, preventing suicide. [READ MORE]( [Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., vice chair of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, on Dec. 19, 2022, in Washington, D.C.]( [Brown University to host former Rep. Liz Cheney this week]( Cheney will give a speech on campus on Feb. 13. The talk comes after the recent release of her memoir. [READ MORE]( [Community Medical Services provide the three FDA approved medications for opioid use disorder. Those three medications, Methadone, Buprenorphine and Naltrexone, and help treat substance abuse withdrawals.]( [Federal officials unveil new rules on methadone treatment]( New opioid treatment rules allow Rhode Islanders to dose at home, meet providers vis telehealth [READ MORE]( [Rhode Island's David Green heads to the hoop against a UMass defender on Sunday afternoon at Mullins Center. 2/11/24]( [URI final jumper rims out, Rams fall to UMass in A-10 road battle]( URI erased nearly all of its 14-point deficit with 5:36 to play, but Luis Kortright's potential winning jumper rimmed out. [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. 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