News

News Analysis – Failure on COVID-19 rapid testing availability: Insurers game the system

A federal mandate issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires health insurers to either directly cover or indirectly reimburse each insured individual for up to eight at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits per month, up to $12 per test. Families on the same insurance plan are eligible for RAT […]

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Nicolella, Gamache named youth poetry ambassador, deputy: Annual appointments resume in 2022 after pandemic hiatus

Lourdes Nicolella of the Moses Brown School has been selected as youth poetry ambassador and Adi Gamache of the Met School has been selected as deputy youth poetry ambassador for 2022 by Poet Laureate Tina Cane, the RI Center for the Book announced in a statement. Adam Fontaine of Smithfield High School and Cyprus Weaver […]

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Alexander-Scott not running for Congress: Former RI health director bows out of politics for now

Dr Nicole Alexander-Scott, who resigned from her post as director of the RI Department of Health a few weeks ago (“RI Health Director Alexander-Scott resigns: Led state’s COVID-19 response from the beginning”, by Michael Bilow, Jan 13, 2022), sent Motif a statement ending speculation that she would be a candidate for the open seat being […]

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Wealth, Power and Whiteness Still Dominate Representation in Woonsocket

Before 1952, Woonsocket was divided into five city council wards. After the 1952 Charter Commission finished its work, Woonsocket moved to the system it roughly has today, with seven at-large city council seats and an elected mayor. Instead of at-large seats, most cities use a district election model that ensures people from different neighborhoods will […]

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Pick Up Lines: A Love Letter To Takeaway V-Day

Valentine’s Day is often a hassle. Impossible-to-get dining reservations plus dull prix fixe menus with predictable rubber chicken entrees and gauche lava cake desserts equal a less than romantic atmosphere for the most amorous day of the year. Luckily, these local gastronomic geniuses save the day with enjoyable divertissements for at-home fun to take Valentine’s […]

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Single, but Not Ready to Mingle: Why RI sucks for dating

It’s February, and we all know what that means: long walks down supermarket aisles filled with heart candies, liking your friends’ long tributes to their partners and engagement announcements on social media, and asking your Bumble Boo / Tinderella to make plans, realizing it’s Valentine’s Day, and rescheduling, because that would be weird.  Some of […]

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Open and Closed: February 2022

Opened The Village Authentic Nigerian Restaurant, 100 Fountain St, PVD. The Village is a family business, with Toyin Wilcox opening a second location beyond their Pawtucket original.   Closed Brewed Awakenings: 100 Westminster St, PVD. It’s brewed sleeping time in PVD. David Levesque’s RI-based coffee chain is leaving the Creative Capital, but still operates four other […]

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