Michael Bilow

COVID-19 Update: Still here, still deadly, vaccines available

Current recommendations from the CDC for the updated 2023 – 2024 COVID-19 vaccines are that everyone age five and older needs at least one dose and adults who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may need multiple doses; children age six months through four years need at least one dose and may need multiple doses, depending […]

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Washington Bridge Westbound Bypass Lanes Open Early: In time for Friday morning commute

Two eastbound lanes have been repurposed to carry westbound traffic across the Providence River over the Washington Bridge on I-195 in time for the Friday morning commute, the RI Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced in a statement at 2:45am. The westbound side of the bridge had to be closed on an emergency basis due to […]

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Heavy Rain, High Winds, Minor Flooding Sun – Mon: 60°F precludes any chance of snow

At Providence, rain beginning Sun afternoon and continuing until Mon mid-day, possibly heavy at times and accompanied by winds gusting to 45MPH, could cause minor street and coastal flooding, especially during high tide Mon morning a few hours before and after sunrise. Wind gusts may cause downed tree limbs and electrical power outages. Thunderstorm activity […]

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Obituary — Megan Marie “Megz” Serafine: “tireless advocate for the creative arts”

Megan Marie “Megz” Serafine, a member of the Motif staff a few years ago, unexpectedly passed away due to a medical event in her sleep on Nov 7, a few weeks before her 37th birthday. In Providence after relocating from her native St. Petersburg, Florida, she was a tireless advocate for the creative arts ranging […]

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Cannabis Case Records Progress Report: 31,158 records expunged, 4,956 (more or less) to go

The RI Cannabis Act signed into law on May 25, 2022, legalized recreational use and provided for automatic expungement of eligible criminal and civil records by no later than July 1, 2024. That process is the responsibility of the state court administrators and is on track to meet the statutory deadline. A person whose records […]

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Opinion — Has the Hamas attack on Israel started World War III?: We’ll soon find out

[Follow-up from “Opinion — When Hamas seeks martyrdom” by Michael Bilow on October 7th, 2023.] Note: This was published two days before Israel began its ground offensive in Gaza on Oct 27. Significance The situation in the Middle East has the United States itself on the brink of war. One critical aspect of World War […]

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Opinion — When Hamas seeks martyrdom

[Follow-up to “Opinion – Has the Hamas attack on Israel started World War III? We’ll soon find out” by Michael Bilow on October 25th, 2023.] The situation in Israel is chaotic and unclear, as a surprise attack by Hamas terrorists infiltrating across the border from Gaza has been reported to have killed at least 150 […]

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