This Just In: The early numbers on the virus and schools

Also, the anniversary of a weather record [View email with images]( [Providence Journal] Wednesday September 16, 2020 [Subscribe Now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Providence Journal]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. On this date in 1932, [more than 12 inches of rain fell in Westerly]( which remains the state's 24-hour rainfall record. In her first coronavirus news conference since the opening of public schools in Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo [announced that 19 adults and children "associated with schools" have tested positive this week in Rhode Island](. Of those 19, eight tested positive at the designated K-12 testing facilities set up by the state on Monday. Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said the 19 people were associated with 18 different schools, each of which has remained open. The announcement came a day after [more than 100 members of the Providence Teachers Union protested conditions in city schools]( with the president of the union calling the governor a liar. Students at Providence College who live off-campus are being asked to stick to remote learning after [several of them tested positive for COVID-19](. The state's [latest community-by-community update]( shows cases declining or stable in much of the urban core, but increasing in northern suburbs such as Cumberland and Smithfield. Six months into the coronavirus pandemic, we compared [the different approaches New England states are taking]( to contain the virus. Rhode Island College is planning to lay off 35 non-faculty employees[to help close a $10.4-million budget gap](. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza joined some of his counterparts across the country today to announce support for a "guaranteed income" program. Elorza [committed Providence to piloting such a program]( next year, which he said would be separate from the "[truth-telling and reparations process]( he launched in July. [Subscribe to The Providence Journal]( The National Rifle Association [has given its highest possible ratings]( to the two top Democrats in the General Assembly: House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. But the large number of F ratings and question marks associated with other legislative candidates in the November election is evidence of the progressives' success in last week's primary. It was a chaotic scene on a Providence street this morning, when four police officers [shot and killed a pit bull]( after first deploying a Taser in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the animal from attacking. In case you missed it, Mark Patinkin's latest column [pays homage to the Venus de Milo]( with a big assist from former Follies superstar Andy Smith. Finally, I still can't get over [that blocked dunk at the end of the Celtics game](. I think I lost a good hour of sleep over it, and I'm not even really a Celtics fan. Have a great night. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, please [encourage a friend to sign up](. providencejournal.com [Facebook]( [Twitter]( You are receiving this communication as a member of the Providence Journal. Providence Journal values your online privacy. For more information, view our [privacy policy]( now. Please do not reply to this message. [Manage Preferences or Unsubscribe]( Providence Journal 75 Fountain Street Providence, RI 02902 © 2020 Providence Journal. All rights reserved.