Events:

Michael Bilow

News

Omicron virus “variant of concern”: More transmissible, unknown if otherwise more dangerous

A new “variant of concern” (VOC) for the virus that causes COVID-19 has today been assigned Greek letter “omicron” by the World Health Organization at an emergency meeting of the organization’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE). In the particular case of the new omicron variant, designated B.1.1.529 in the PANGOLIN nomenclature, its […]

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Featured

Can Police Dragnet Search All Students to Look for a Gun?

On November 15 at 1:21pm, Principal Brooke Macomber of Coventry High School issued a statement: “The Coventry Police are currently in the building investigating a threat that was overheard during passing time. In an abundance of caution, upon becoming aware of this threat, we placed the school in lockdown and contacted the police… The CPD […]

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News

Meet Charlotte: One of the first RI children protected by COVID-19 vaccine

Maureen O’Gorman was so eager to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination for her 10 year-old daughter Charlotte that she began refreshing her web browser repeatedly 15 minutes before appointments opened yesterday at 2:00pm. They were able to obtain a 7:30am slot this morning at the state-run Sockanosset facility when it opened, making Charlotte one of the […]

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Featured

News Analysis – William Blackstone: The First White Guy

On Indigenous People’s Day, an alternative to the official Columbus Day holiday on October 11, 2021, a few dozen attendees at Veterans Memorial Park in Pawtucket protested the recently erected stainless steel statue of William Blackstone, who is primarily remembered because the Blackstone River and Blackstone Valley were named for him. In a speaking program […]

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News

RI Children Ages 5-11 Likely Start COVID-19 Vaccinations Nov 8

Children in RI could start receiving COVID-19 vaccinations on November 8, 2021, “give or take a few days,” Department of Health (DoH) staff member Tricia Washburn told a meeting of the DoH Vaccine Sub-Committee on October 27. The prior day, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) […]

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Featured

Rent Relief in RI: How to apply, progress report

Rent relief is available for RI tenants with applications accepted on the web – rihousing.com/rentreliefri – and successful applicants will receive grants that do not need to be paid back or counted as income. Money can cover back rent after April 1, 2020; up to three months of upcoming rent; a security deposit if needed; […]

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News

FDA Recommends Third Pfizer Vaccine Booster Shot: Only for age 65 and high risk of severe COVID-19

September 17, 2021 — In an all-day meeting that became somewhat disorganized at the end, the Vaccines and Related Biologic Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended, by unanimous 18-0 vote, authorization for third booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, officially now called Comirnaty, but restricted to those […]

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Health

Sticking With Vax Policy?: McKee’s Mandate Tests His Cojones

News Analysis Will RI Governor Dan McKee stand his ground on the August 18 mandate that all RI health care workers must receive their final dose of COVID-19 vaccine by October 1 or face consequences, possibly including termination of employment? There has been considerable resistance, including a letter drafted by Rep. Arthur Corvese signed by […]

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Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Local hiking expert says your beach days ain’t over yet!

Cliff Vanover has long been interested in the natural world. For decades, he has enjoyed hiking in and near Rhode Island, especially where he can observe evidence of glacial geology. As the proprietor of Great Swamp Press, based in southern RI, he writes and publishes maps and guides for walking and biking that are regarded […]

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News

Evictions may resume: Moratorium ended by US Supreme Court

In an unsigned “per curiam” opinion — supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/21a23_ap6c.pdf — the US Supreme Court tonight ruled that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lacks legal authority for an extension of a nationwide eviction moratorium past July, immediately placing an estimated 3.5 million Americans at risk of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three justices, […]

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