Daily Briefing: Keep an eye out for unicorns in Providence

ALSO: The latest on the Washington Bridge. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Fri Feb 23 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. Forget My Little Pony, Providence is being overrun by someone's little unicorns. Around the city, colorful, tiny 3D-printed unicorns are being left for people to find. How and why is a mystery, though there are a couple of common themes in the locations. What is known is that finding them is bringing people lots of unexpected joy. [Mystery unicorn 3] Betha Wood said the unicorns are a source of happiness. "In an increasingly stressful world, it’s wonderful to see people spread joy," Wood said. Betha Wood [The Journal's Amy Russo has found one herself and went on the hunt for the elusive person or persons behind the effort.]( Take a look at what she found. • It's not looking good for the Washington Bridge. At least that's what one report is saying. The draft report from VN Engineers, one of the firms analyzing the bridge, received by RIDOT on Thursday indicated that replacement is the safest long-term option for the span. As The Journal's Patrick Anderson reports, the document "concludes that options to repair and strengthen the bridge 'are limited, complex, and do not completely mitigate the identified risks with the structure.'" [See Patrick's full story to find out what led to this conclusion and how RIDOT is responding.]( • A bill before lawmakers would allow the state DEM to allow the use of animal carcasses by people other than the drivers of vehicles that kill them. Yes, this is a real bill. It may sound like an unusual law, but the bill actually goes much further than just determining who can eat road kill, with the DEM saying there are benefits such as learning more about the state's animal population. [The Journal's Patrick Anderson has more on the bill and why supporters want to see it passed.]( • After taking criticism from political rivals Gov. Dan McKee says the state had "no choice" when it released a Guatemalan man accused of child molestation who was wanted by immigration authorities. [The Journal's Katherine Gregg reports on the back-and-forth sparring following the release of Manuel Garcia Dela Cruz, who was charged with first- and second-degree child molestation on March 13, 2023.]( • Boys high school playoff action started Thursday night. [Catch up on all the action right here.]( WORTH A READ 📵 [AT&T outage just a preview of what can happen]( when cell service goes out: How to prepare [🎤]( [Taylor Swift is not a psyop, but a fifth of Americans think she is](. We shouldn’t be surprised. 🔌 [Vineyard Wind logs another milestone delivering energy to MA homes](. Here's how. 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. New research has revealed which states prove the luckiest when it comes to playing and winning the lottery – with Delaware topping the list, but Rhode Island isn't far behind coming in at number three. Online casino guide [CasinoUS]( analyzed the number of national lottery winners in each state (Mega Millions and Powerball) and scaled this to local populations to determine which has the highest ratio of jackpot wins per 100k residents. [TODAY'S WEATHER]( 🌧️ Periods of rain; turning much colder to start the weekend. Highs in the upper 40s TOP STORIES [Developer floats 58-unit apartment building with tiny units]( [This rendering shows a proposed 58-unit apartment complex at 103 Evergreen St. in Providence on what is now a large lot and a single-family home.]( A Providence developer is proposing up to a 58-unit apartment complex in Mount Hope with very small units, some as small as 203 square feet. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [SBA agent Mike Swartz with Anita Steenson.]( [Federal disaster loan/grant applications due in March for flooding]( The deadline for SBA loans and FEMA grants for physical damage for the September 2023 storms is March 7, 2024. [READ MORE]( [in 2019, Amy Rose Boisvert sits outside a blind in Richmond, scanning the terrain for turkeys. In the foreground is a turkey decoy designed to draw male turkeys near enough to shoot. The number of hunting licenses sold in Rhode Island has fallen since 2000.]( [DEM's introductory firearms course draws men, women, variety of ages]( The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is offering an introduction to firearms course to help support its mission. [READ MORE]( [FILE- In this July 30, 2015, file photo, shipyard workers work at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., prepare a submarine for float-off. Connecticut and Rhode Island officials are celebrating a new submarine contract for General Dynamics Electric Boat as a major economic win for the region's economy. The  $9.47 billion contract with the U.S. Navy, which was announced Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, is for construction and testing of the first two Columbia-class submarines. AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)]( [Electric Boat to increase hiring in RI. What to know.]( President Kevin M. Graney said 2024's hiring goal follows on more than 5,000 hired last year. [READ MORE]( [Feb 20, 2024; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Trey Alexander (23) dribbles against Connecticut Huskies guard Tristen Newton (2) in the second half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports]( [Creighton, Villanova on the rise in latest Big East rankings]( Both the Golden Eagles and Huskies saw their win streaks come to an end, but still sit atop the standings. [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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