Lead contamination at Westerly site deeper than thought by DEM

Lead Paint From Water Towers Found Buried Deep

By FRANK CARINI/ecoRI.org News staff

PROVIDENCE — A study of data from hundreds of soil samples taken around old water tower sites in southern Rhode Island found that even when lead levels on the surface are low, concentrations can sometimes be greater at depths down to a foot. These findings will help improve efforts to assess the effect of lead paint from old water towers on surrounding properties.

The recently published analysis of soil samples from 31 properties was led by Brown University Superfund Research Program researchers at the request of the state Department of Health (DOH).

Money and Politics

An evening with authors of important new book

By David Segal

I'm writing to invite you to a free event at Brown next Wednesday, about the biggest threat to American democracy -- and how we can fix it.  It's cosponsored by a number of great orgs, including mine: Demand Progress.

On Wednesday, join Nation magazine DC correspondent/MSNBC contributor John Nichols and renowned communications scholar Robert McChesney for a discussion of their new book:

Dollarocracy: How the Money 

and Media Election Complex Is

Destroying America

When: 7:00pm Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Where: Smith-Buonanno Hall, Brown University, Room 106

95 Cushing St. (corner of Cushing and Brown)

Admission: FREE

Event cosponsored by Brown Democracy Matters, DemandProgress.org, and RI Progressive Democrats of America.

About Dollarocracy

Charlestown Dems begin vetting candidates

Ed Pacheco, candidate for Secretary of State, courts Charlestown Democrats

CDTC news release

(Charlestown) The Charlestown Democratic Town Committee launched its series of meetings with candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for state and federal offices. 

Over the next several months, the CDTC plans to meet with each declared Democratic candidate for Governor, Lieutenant Government, Attorney General, General Treasurer, Secretary of State, Rhode Island House and Senate, US Senator and House of Representatives (District 2).

What could go wrong?

Common sense solutions

by Tim Eagan

Click here for the answers we need.

Horse in Richmond dies from Eastern Equine Encephalitis

First Reported Case of EEE in a Horse from Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that test results from the remaining 123 mosquito pools, or samples, from 35 traps set statewide during the week of September 9 are negative for both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The testing results were confirmed by the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) laboratory.

DEM and HEALTH announced last week that both Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) were confirmed in samples of mosquitoes collected on September 9 in Rhode Island. Test results from one mosquito pool, or sample, from a trap set in Exeter was confirmed positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and three mosquito pools from traps set in Providence, East Providence and North Kingstown were confirmed positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).

This year, to date in Rhode Island, seven pools of mosquitoes have tested positive for WNV and four pools of mosquitoes have tested positive for EEE.

URI Theatre season opens with Be Aggressive

Rhodes’ Scholar, URI grad Rachel Walshe directs production

Aggressive Cheers: This whole team 'takes no prisoners' with
cheerleading. Anya Fox of South Kingstown, Julia Bartoletti of
Worcester, Mass., Mia Rocchio of White River, Vt, Christine O'Connell
of of Newport, R.I, and Alex Walsh of North Salem, N.Y.

Bonnie Bosworth, URI

KINGSTON, RI—University of Rhode Island Theatre will open the new season with the high-spirited, yet dramatic production of Be Aggressive by Annie Weisman. 

The show will be staged Oct. 10 through 12 and Oct. 17 through 19, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct 13 and 20, 2013 at 3 p.m. in J Studio in the URI Fine Arts Center on the Kingston Campus. General admission for the performance is $20, $15 for seniors, URI faculty/staff, and $12 for students. 

Tickets can be purchased by calling 401.874.5843 beginning Sept. 23 or online at web.uri.edu/theatre.

The show is directed by guest artist Rachel Walshe ‘00, who became URI’s first Rhodes Scholar in 2002. Walshe is now a director for Gamm Theatre, Pawtucket and company member with Rivendell Ensemble, Chicago.

Healthcare in America needs to be at the center of the national conversation.

OCTOBER 8: You can be a part of that discussion.

From David Henley

Wood River Health Services will be hosting the broadcast of an important new documentary on healthcare in the US, ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare, followed by an interactive web cast of a panel discussion on the film. 

An official selection at Sundance , Escape Fire has won awards at film festivals across the country. It was purchased and presented on CNN earlier this summer, but they have released it for community showings. 

The film was called "compelling," "provocative and often disturbing," and "an unparalleled  unflinching and quite frankly unflattering look at one of the most pressing American contemporary issues," by critics, who also said it "should be seen as the starting point for a mature new debate on the subject."

Bursts of Light and Fresh Air

Peace and tolerance are starting to break out.

By Donald Kaul

I know that life is supposed to be full of surprises but the last few weeks have been ridiculous.

For example, you had the unnerving spectacle of Vladimir Putin, the former KGB thug who runs Russia, rescuing Barack Obama, the former community organizer who runs his mouth, from the trap Obama had laid for himself.

Out of work in Charlestown

High numbers for long-term unemployed and dank prospects...unless we choose to act!

By Will Collette

When I checked the new RI Department of Labor and Training unemployment numbers for Charlestown, I was mildly encouraged to see a drop of 0.1% (from 9.1% to 9.0%) for the month of August. Any drop is welcome.

Unfortunately, the numbers reflect the trend of workers dropping out of the labor market. The DLT stats show 51 Charlestown workers dropped out of the market between July and August. That’s the real reason for the 0.1% decline in Charlestown’s rate, not that nine fewer workers were collecting unemployment benefits. Indeed, those nine workers might simply have exhausted their benefits and fallen into oblivion.

Life is good...for the 1%

Trouble Ahead?

Lobster Shell Disease Moves North

By ecoRI.org News staff

KINGSTON — Recent reports that lobster shell disease has turned up along the coast of Maine have Kathy Castro worried. 

The University of Rhode Island fisheries scientist has led a 15-year international effort to understand what causes the disease that has, until recently, been confined primarily to the waters of southern New England and Long Island Sound. 

If it expands as rapidly in Maine as it did in Rhode Island waters, it could have a dramatic effect on the iconic Maine fishery, according to Castro.

The Stiffing State

You can be for a smaller government or a bigger one but you have to pay your bills.

By Donald Kaul

My cousin Mona called me the other day about her husband Harry, who had come home from work and said:

“We’re spending too much money, Mona. It’s got to stop. We’re going broke.”

“Really? I thought we were doing OK, sort of.”

“OK? Look at the stack of bills on my desk. You call that OK?”

 “It’s not as though we’re big spenders, Harry. Most of our money goes for household expenses — food and rent and things like that. What’s left over goes into Sonny’s education fund or for insurance.”

“Education. Insurance. That’s what I’m talking about. We don’t have enough money for frills. We have to cancel the insurance.”

Tough news

First Human Case of West Nile in RI Reported

A 33-year-old Exeter man has been treated for West Nile Virus.

From the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

An Exeter man was treated earlier this month for West Nile Virus. The Rhode Island Department of Health announced that the 33-year-old man is the first human case for the state this year.

The man was diagnosed with viral meningitis caused by the West Nile. According to the Dept. of Health, his symptoms began on Sept. 11 and was admitted to South County Hospital two days later. He was released on Sept. 17 and has since been at home recovering.

Oops!

Busted!

By Bob Plain in Rhode Island’s Future - See more at: http://www.rifuture.org/busted.html#sthash.yWYo5VP0.dpuf

There is no shame in being shamed by Justin Katz, Doreen Costa and John DePetro.

It rather feels like a badge of honor. Or at least a testament that the work we are doing at RI Future matters for something. 

If nothing else, we’re at least getting under the skin of the most mean-spirited minds in Rhode Island politics. 

The irony is that they each probably oppose seat belt laws and marijuana prohibition, but why let principles get in the way of a good political smear.

Here’s some of my favorite coverage: