Daily Briefing: What does the future hold for RI's quahog?

ALSO: Where is RI's best sandwich? We try to find out. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Wed Mar 13 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. As a kid, I remember summers at my grandmother's house spent digging my feet into the sand along the shore of Quonochontaug Pond. Along with extended family, some with rakes in hand, the catch would become some part of a meal later that day. Maybe turned into chowder or added to other ingredients for a clambake. Some of you likely share similar memories, but unfortunately, they are now mostly just that, memories. As a legislative commission looks at the declining population of the quahog, [The Journal's Alex Kuffner heads out on the water to talk with a commercial fisherman about how a symbol of Rhode Island is disappearing from the state.]( [1A IMAGE - David Ghigliotty heads to another quahog fishing ground on Narragansett Bay, his bullrake at the ready.] David Ghigliotty heads to another quahog fishing ground on Narragansett Bay, his bullrake at the ready. David DelPoio/The Providence Journal That conversation is just one part of a three-part series that explores conflicts on how to save the quahog and what it means for the future of Narragansett Bay. • $1.2 million could buy a lot of pot. That's how much currently sits in an equity fund to help minorities start pot businesses. The fund was established to offer financial assistance and business guidance to qualified social equity applicants wanting to get into the marijuana industry but has gone unspent as the state's legalized marijuana business grows. [The Journal's Tom Mooney talks with those hoping to tap into the fund and finds out why it has gone unused.]( • Who makes the best sandwiches in Rhode Island? It's not an easy answer, but trying to find out is certainly worth the effort. With so many great choices, The Journal's food and dining editor Gail Ciampa has spent the past couple of months trying sandwiches, grinders and hoagies. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. [While Gail doesn't weigh in on which one is the best, she's come up with a pretty good list of the sandwiches you've got to try from Italians to Thanksgiving and everything in between.]( When you're done salivating, [get a closer look at one of the Westerly spots on the list as Gail begins a new occasional series highlighting the places she highly recommends](. • It was a busy year at the Rhode Island Foundation in 2023. Yes, they've brought in former Congressman David Cicilline as the new CEO, but most of their time has been spent supporting causes here in the state. [The Journal's Jack Perry has more on the awarding of a record $89 million in grants last year and the organizations across the state it helped.]( • The perennial clash over gun rights driven by mass shootings around the country resumed at the State House. [The Journal's Katherine Gregg has the latest from Tuesday's legislative hearings.]( WORTH A READ 👮 A groundbreaking drug law is scrapped in Oregon.[What does that mean for decriminalization?]( 📱 [iPhone journal app counts nearby devices]( does not share personal info | Fact check 👨‍🍳 [Should bartenders, restaurant servers get paid minimum wage?]( A Massachusetts ballot question will decide. 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 the states where Americans are spending the most on the lottery, with Massachusetts coming out on top. The study by sweepstake casino [Vegas Gems]( analyzed the latest data on lottery income from the US Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State Government Finances. It then measured this against population data to see which states had the highest lottery spending per person. It found that statistically, people in Massachusetts spend the most on the lottery. 2021’s lottery income in the state was found to be a whopping $6,771,892,000. Rounding out the top five is Rhode Island. Despite the state having the lowest population on the list, with 1,097,379, lottery income came in at $470,768,000 for 2021, around $428.99 spent on the lottery per person on average. [TODAY'S WEATHER]( Partly sunny and mild. Highs in the mid-50s. TOP STORIES [How we got here: A timeline of the Washington Bridge]( [Washington Bridge]( With the much-anticipated forensic analysis on the bridge due soon, we took a look back at the bridge's major milestones. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [Providence head coach Kim English is shown during the second half of their game Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marquette beat Providence 91-69.]( [Wins are crucial for Providence basketball in the Big East Tournament]( The Friars arrive on shaky ground at Madison Square Garden when it comes to their postseason hopes. Wins will be the key to reach March Madness [READ MORE]( [Emerson]( [Hopkinton Breeder voluntarily surrenders dogs amid investigation]( "I was just trying to put golden retrievers into loving families who didn't have $3,000 to pay for a dog," he said. "I bred dogs that were loved." [READ MORE]( [State District Court Judge Melissa DuBose.]( [RI's Judge DuBose wins U.S. Senate nod for judicial seat. What to know.]( Judge Melissa R. DuBose will be the first person of color, LGBTQ+ member to be seated on U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. [READ MORE]( [Gordon Ernst, a former Georgetown tennis coach, departs federal court in Boston in March 2019 after facing charges in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. Ernst is facing additional charges, according to an indictment unveiled this week.]( [Why RI tennis legend Gordie Ernst is asking to be freed from house arrest]( Tennis great Gordon "Gordie" Ernst was freed to home-confinement in September after receiving the longest term in the Varsity Blues scandal. [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]( [Newsletters]( | [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( Follow Us Problem viewing email? 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