Then and now

How did your retirement savings do this week?

 

Rep. Tina Spears bill would help to quickly find missing disabled people

“PURPLE alert” legislation for missing individuals with disabilities 

Rep. Tina L. Spears has introduced legislation to establish a “PURPLE alert” system to help quickly find missing adults with serious disabilities that put their own health and safety at risk. Sen. Todd M. Patalano will shortly introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

“As recent events have shown, this is a missing piece in our statewide system of care for the health and safety of adults with disabilities,” said Representative Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly), who serves as the executive director of the Community Provider Network of Rhode Island, which represents providers who support people with disabilities. 

“This legislation would bring together law enforcement, disability advocates, media outlets and state agencies in a collaborative effort to build a system that works similarly to the alert programs that we already have to get out the word to our communities when a person goes missing whose disability and the circumstances of their disappearance place them in danger.”

Last month, a nonverbal autistic woman went missing for several days in Cranston before being found alive in the back of a parked vehicle.  

The Nobel Prize Please. The Strange Physics of Ranch Dressing

Besides being unhealthy, is Ranch dressing liquid or solid?

By Rae Robertson-Anderson, Professor of Physics & Biophysics, University of San Diego

Imagine you’re sitting down for dinner. You pick up a bottle of ranch dressing, flip it upside down, and expect it to pour onto your plate. But nothing happens. It just sits there, stuck inside the bottle, almost like a solid.

So, you shake the bottle, and suddenly, a blob of dressing plops onto your plate. Now it seems more like a liquid.

But unlike water or milk, the ranch doesn’t spread out across the plate. Instead, it keeps its shape, almost like a pile of mashed potatoes. That makes it seem more solid again.

Then, when you dip a carrot or celery stick into the blob, it changes shape. You can smear it around, but it doesn’t resist like a true solid would. Instead, it moves and spreads, much like a thick liquid.

So, what is ranch dressing? Is it a liquid, a solid, or something in between?

Congratulations to five Charlestown first responders who were cited for their service

Five First Responders Who Left A Lasting Legacy In Charlestown 

Patch Community Leaders, Patch Staff

Charlestown is fortunate to have dedicated first responders — police officers, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and search and rescue teams —who work tirelessly to protect and serve our community. Their commitment carries forward the legacy of those who paved the way, demonstrating courage and dedication every day.

In partnership with T-Mobile, Patch is honoring the first responders who came before them—individuals whose impact continues to shape Charlestown. Today, we’re highlighting five remarkable figures who left a lasting mark on our community.

1. Sergeant Phillip Gingerella (Charlestown Police Department)

When a swimmer was swept 400 feet out by a rip current at Blue Shutters Town Beach, Sergeant Phillip Gingerella didn’t wait for backup — he dove in. With no lifeguards on duty and rescue boats still en route, Gingerella fought through powerful surf to reach the man and bring him back to safety. Though he was honored as the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s Officer of the Month for April 2015, Gingerella downplayed the spotlight, crediting the rescue to the teamwork and support of fellow first responders. The experience was so intense, he admitted he hasn’t entered the ocean since — a quiet testament to just how dangerous the situation was that day.

2. Officer Michael Carrasquillo (Charlestown Police Department)

Patrolman Michael Carrasquillo has become a driving force in traffic safety since joining the Charlestown Police Department in 2017. Honored as one of AAA Rhode Island’s 2018 Traffic Hero award recipients, Carrasquillo is known for his proactive yet educational approach to enforcement, choosing to issue warnings and driver education in 70% of his 1,500 traffic stops within a year. His dedication is deeply personal; after losing a close friend and fellow officer to a drunk driving crash in 2016, Carrasquillo made it his mission to reduce preventable roadway deaths. Whether slowing drivers down or removing impaired operators, he’s working daily to make the roads safer for everyone.

3. Firefighter Robert Thomas “Bob” Gardner Jr. (Richmond-Carolina Fire District)

A lifelong truck driver and dedicated volunteer firefighter, Bob Gardner served with the Charlestown Fire Department from 2004 to 2010, rising to the rank of captain before joining the Richmond-Carolina Fire District in 2008. He continued serving there until his passing in the line of duty in 2023. Gardner’s contributions shaped daily life at the station — he trained fellow firefighters to operate vehicles with precision and care and strengthened the department’s sense of community through shared meals and quiet moments of connection. His sudden loss left a lasting void in the community and in the lives of those who knew him as a steady leader, teacher and friend.

4. Officer John Bush (University of Rhode Island Police Department)

Officer John Bush of Charlestown was recognized for his swift and compassionate response during a crisis that could have ended in tragedy. Alongside Officer Nicholas Detroia, Bush helped save the life of a suicidal student at the University of Rhode Island, acting quickly to provide first aid and ensure she was safely transported to the hospital. His decisive actions during the critical moments reflected the highest standards of training and care, earning him a Life Saving Award from the URI Police Department. The incident highlighted the intense real-world emergencies campus officers are prepared to handle — situations where timing, training and empathy can mean the difference between life and death.

5. Officer Shannon Kane (Charlestown Police Department)

Officer Shannon Kane made history as the first full-time female officer hired in Charlestown in nearly 20 years, earning the role after finishing as the department’s top candidate in a competitive selection process. With a background in lifeguarding, emergency dispatch and service with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Kane brought both skill and a genuine desire to serve. She quickly earned a reputation for being approachable and driven, with a clear interest in connecting with the people she served. Her presence has added a new dynamic to the department, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive, community-focused policing.

Trump is trying to destroy our nation's most vital asset—our innovative minds and ability to think for ourselves.

Trump, a Fascist Tyrant, Targets Universities and the Media

Robert Reich for Inequality Media

Trump is following Putin’s, Xi’s, and Orban’s playbook. First, take over military and intelligence operations by purging career officers and substituting ones personally loyal to you.

Next, subdue the courts by ignoring or threatening to ignore court rulings you disagree with.

Intimidate legislators by warning that if they don’t bend to your wishes, you’ll run loyalists against them. (Make sure they also worry about what your violent supporters could do to them and their families.)

Then focus on independent sources of information: the media and the universities. Sue media that publish critical stories and block their access to news conferences and interviews.

Then go after the universities.

Last week, Trump threatened in a social media post to punish any university that permits “illegal” protests. On Friday he cancelled hundreds of millions in grants and contracts with Columbia University.

This is an extension of Republican tactics before Trump’s second term. Prior to Trump appointing her ambassador to the United Nations, former Representative Elise Stefanik (Harvard class of 2006) browbeat presidents of elite universities over their responses to student protests against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, leading to several presidents being fired.

Senator Josh Hawley (Stanford class of 2002 and Yale Law class of 2006) called the student demonstrations signs of “moral rot” at the universities.

But antisemitism was just a pretext.

JD Vance (Yale Law 2013) has termed university professors “the enemy” and suggested using Victor Orban’s method for ending “left-wing domination of universities.”

I think his way has to be the model for us: not to eliminate universities, but to give them a choice between survival or taking a much less biased approach to teaching. [The government should be] aggressively reforming institutions … in a way to where they’re much more open to conservative ideas.”

Trump is also targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on university campuses.

But of all Trump’s and Republicans’ moves against higher education, the most destructive is the cancelation of research grants and contracts. The destruction is hardly confined to Columbia and other suspected left-wing bastions.

Research universities depend on funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Tariffs for dummies

Senator Jack Reed shows the cost to Rhode Island from Trump's new national sales tax

The big question: what happens to LIHEAP now that all the staff have been fired by RFK Jr.

April 24: URI Cooperative Extension aiming to connect all Rhode Islanders to increased home energy efficiency

Kristen Curry 

Everyone was talking about their energy bills this winter. As winter has moved into spring, a team at the University of Rhode Island is hoping Rhode Islanders keep talking about their energy use – this time to them. 

URI Cooperative Extension is hoping to help consumers lower their bills in both the short- and long-term and, in turn, reduce the amount of energy homes consume and pay for. Organizers are particularly interested in hearing from residents in low- to moderate-income communities and the community-based workers who serve these individuals directly as part of the effort focused on increasing awareness of the importance of energy efficiency. 

The sessions start April 24 and are open to any interested community member: renters, homeowners, landlords, community-based workers, energy and public health professionals. Anyone who participates in at least three of the six sessions will be eligible to receive incentives in exchange for their input and time.

According to Cooperative Extension’s Kate Venturini Hardesty, this project hopes to reach and assist income-eligible ratepayers: those who are eligible for assistance programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and those who spend a larger percentage of their income on energy costs. Many of these residents also happen to live in older houses which are less energy efficient, which compounds cost and means homes are not as healthy as they could be.

EDITOR’S NOTE: US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired the entire staff of LIHEAP effectively ending the program. The terminations took place on  April 1^st and are no joke. There has been no statement from the Trump administration on what, if any, provisions will be made for the program and the $400 million in aid money that has been approved by Congress but not distributed.  – Will Collette

New Research Reveals the Effects of Alcohol on the Entire Digestive System

Don't wanna ride that Whiskey Train

By Xia & He Publishing Inc.

Brackets indicate an increased risk of developing cancer, although the relationship is not yet fully established. Credit: Roberto De Giorgio, Fabio Caputo

The liver, responsible for breaking down alcohol, suffers immense damage, leading to cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Meanwhile, the stomach and intestines experience erosion, ulcers, and nutrient malabsorption. The pancreas is at risk for life-threatening pancreatitis, while the gallbladder can develop painful gallstones. Even more alarming, alcohol significantly raises the risk of deadly gastrointestinal cancers. Reducing alcohol intake is the best way to protect digestive health and prevent irreversible damage.

The Hidden Toll of Alcohol on Digestive Health

Excessive alcohol consumption is a major public health issue, contributing to 6% of all deaths worldwide and 5.1% of the global disease burden. It is a key risk factor for more than 200 diseases, including liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, and esophageal cancer, with particularly severe effects on the digestive system. More than half of alcohol-related deaths are linked to gastrointestinal diseases, underscoring the need to understand how alcohol affects digestion. This review explores how the body processes ethanol and how alcohol consumption contributes to diseases affecting the liver, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Liver

The liver is the primary site of alcohol metabolism, processing about 90% of the alcohol a person consumes. Once inside the liver, ethanol is broken down into acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance, is then converted into acetate, which eventually breaks down into carbon dioxide and water.

However, acetaldehyde can cause significant damage to liver cells, leading to a range of liver diseases. These include fatty liver (steatosis), liver inflammation (steatohepatitis and alcoholic hepatitis), scarring (fibrosis and cirrhosis), and even liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC). Chronic alcohol use speeds up liver damage, and factors such as genetics and the type of alcohol consumed can influence disease progression. Women are particularly vulnerable to alcohol-related liver damage due to differences in metabolism and body composition, making them more susceptible to long-term harm.

Promising anti-cancer based on mRNA technology many MAGA Republicans want to ban

Revolutionary Cancer Vaccine Targets Any Solid Tumors but will it be blocked by MAGAnuts?

By Tufts University 

The cancer vaccine targets the lymph system and enhances its
ability to recruit T cells to eliminate tumors. Here, three T cells (blue)
are shown attacking and breaking apart a cancer cell. Credit: Yu Zhao

Cancer treatment vaccines have been in development since 2010, when the first was approved for prostate cancer, followed by another in 2015 for melanoma. 

While many therapeutic (rather than preventive) cancer vaccines have been researched since then, none have received approval. A major challenge in their development is identifying tumor antigens that are distinct enough from normal cells to trigger a strong immune response.

Researchers at Tufts University have now created a cancer vaccine designed to enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize tumor antigens. This approach generates a powerful immune response and establishes long-term immunological memory, reducing the likelihood of tumor recurrence. Unlike traditional cancer vaccines that target specific antigens, this new vaccine utilizes a lysate—a mix of protein fragments derived from any solid tumor—eliminating the need to identify a single tumor-specific antigen.

The vaccine they produced worked against multiple solid tumors in animal models, including melanoma, triple-negative breast cancer, Lewis lung carcinoma, and clinically inoperable ovarian cancer.

CLICK HERE to read more about rightwing attempts to ban mRNA vaccines.

WHO director details health disruptions from US funding cuts, urges a more humane approach

Global infectious disease outbreaks could kill millions, including Americans

Lisa Schnirring

"Make the Plague Great Again"

The United States has been extremely generous for many years with its support for global health projects and is well within its rights to set its own priorities and funding levels, but the country has a responsibility to withdraw direct funding in an orderly and humane way that allows countries and groups to find alternative support, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said at a briefing.

Comments from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, his most direct to date on the US cuts, come as regional health groups take stock of the impact of the cuts and seek to bolster other alliances and ways to boost domestic spending to address urgent health threats.

Not to Republicans it won't

Fisher-kids alert

 

Scouts Fly Fishing Merit Badge 4/15 and 4/17, rain date 4/18 9am - 2:30pm With a dozen spots still available, spread the word to family and friends. Youth attendees don't need to be Scouts, yet they do need to be interested in fishing! This two-day workshop will cover all Requirements listed for the Badge, including fun activities of fly-tying, casting, knot tying, sampling aquatic bugs to match fishing lures, and even fishing. Registration is $30 plus Eventbrite fees and includes the Scouts Pamphlet on Fly-Fishing. Plan to attend Day One on Tuesday, 4/15 at the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association in Hope Valley, RI. Depending on rain and wind, Day Two will either be 4/17 or 4/18 and guardians will be informed upon pick up on 4/15. Day Two will be at a fishing location, at Carolina Trout Hatchery, 3 Old Richmond Townhouse Rd, Carolina, RI 02812. Timing for both dates is 9am - 2:30pm. Scouts of America Fly Fishing Merit Badge will be taught by expert fishermen from 4+ local organizations and overseen by the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association's Merit Badge Counselor, Kassi Donnelly. Angling organizations: Rhode Island Trout Unlimited, United Fly Tyers of RI, Fly-Fishers International and Rhody Fly Rhodders. "My Kind of River" video on youtube highlights the outstanding fishing in this nationally designated Wild and Scenic Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuffMtvU5w4   For questions, Contact Kassi Donnelly, kassi@wpwa.org Registration is required. Register Here Please share this opportunity! Forward this email and share this WPWA Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fly-fishing-merit-badge-workshop-tickets-1259748584929?aff=oddtdtcreator   Our Contact Information Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association 203 Arcadia Road Hope Valley, RI 02832 401-539-9017 http://www.wpwa.org

Butterflies declined by 22% in just 2 decades across the US

There are ways you can help save them

Eliza Grames, Binghamton University, State University of New York

The endangered Karner blue butterfly has struggled
with habitat loss. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

If the joy of seeing butterflies seems increasingly rare these days, it isn’t your imagination.

From 2000 to 2020, the number of butterflies fell by 22% across the continental United States. That’s 1 in 5 butterflies lost. The findings are from an analysis just published in the journal Science by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Powell Center Status of Butterflies of the United States Working Group, which I am involved in.

We found declines in just about every region of the continental U.S. and across almost all butterfly species.

West Coast lady butterflies range across the western U.S.,
but their numbers have dropped by 80% in two decades. 
Renee Las Vegas/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

Overall, nearly one-third of the 342 butterfly species we were able to study declined by more than half. Twenty-two species fell by more than 90%. Only nine actually increased in numbers.

Some species’ numbers are dropping faster than others. The West Coast lady, a fairly widespread species across the western U.S., dropped by 80% in 20 years. Given everything we know about its biology, it should be doing fine – it has a wide range and feeds on a variety of plants. Yet, its numbers are absolutely tanking across its range.