The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is advising residents not to consume certain organic whole carrots and organic baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms, as they may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19. These carrots should be out of grocery stores but may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. […]
Environment & Health
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Rhode Island Energy offering free home energy assessments
Rhode Islanders can cut energy costs and prepare their homes for winter. Rhode Island Energy (RIE) is offering free home energy assessments to help residents save energy and money. The assessments, conducted by energy specialists, will provide homeowners with personalized recommendations on how to make their homes more energy-efficient. During the assessments, specialists will evaluate […]
Posted inCity & Government, Environment & Health
As Rhode Island considers future of gas, advocates call for ‘realism’ on cost, availability of RNG
by Lisa Prevost, Energy News NetworkNovember 13, 2024 As a state committee studies ways to wean Rhode Island off of natural gas, several of its members want the group’s final report to dismiss one potential pathway as wholly unrealistic. Switching to renewable natural gas or other alternative fuels appears to be neither a feasible nor […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Listeria Recall: 4,500 pounds of meat and poultry products recalled nationwide
A recall has been issued for over 4,500 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sent to retail locations nationwide because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. The recalled products were produced by Yu Shang Food Inc. from Oct. 21-27 and have “use by” dates of […]
Posted inCity & Government
SouthCoast Wind clears federal environmental hurdle
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentNovember 12, 2024 A 147-turbine offshore wind project planned off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard will not harm local species and habitat any more than climate change already is, according to a federal review published on Friday. One exception: North Atlantic right whales, which could face “moderate adverse” direct and […]
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Dozens of fires still burn in US Northeast but California fire is under relative control
The Northeast kept a wary eye on dozens of fires that killed at least one person and continued to burn Tuesday amid bone-dry weather, while much larger and more destructive fires came under relative control in California. Firefighters in Massachusetts worked to contain several fires as strong winds and drought conditions continued. The National Weather Service issued a […]
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Blue-Green Algae Advisory Lifted at Smith and Sayles Reservoir
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced Wednesday that the blue-green algae advisory at Smith and Sayles Reservoir in Glocester has been lifted. The advisory was issued due to high levels of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which were detected in the water. According […]
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During Medicare Open Enrollment, RI delegation highlights further prescription drug savings on the way for Rhode Island seniors
With the Medicare open enrollment period underway, U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo held an event at PACE Organization of Rhode Island in East Providence Friday to highlight the additional prescription drug savings coming to the state’s seniors thanks to the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about buying and selling hospitals
Lifespan, which is about to be rebranded as Brown University Health, just bought St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton, Massachusetts for $175 million, making it a two-state hospital system. Should Rhode Islanders care? On the face of it, it’s no big deal. A number of Rhode Island hospitals – Landmark in Woonsocket, […]
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RIDOH issues Halloween safety reminders
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is reminding residents about some safety precautions to take this Halloween to ensure a fun and healthy holiday for all. For trick-or-treaters, the department stresses the importance of adult supervision, especially for young children. Children should be accompanied on their rounds, with a designated time for their return […]
Posted inCity & Government, Environment & Health, Weather
Offshore wind industry says ‘misinformation’ from foes is a strong headwind it must fight
By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The U.S offshore wind energy industry says it needs to fight back against disinformation being spread by opponents of wind farms. During the first day of a national offshore wind conference Tuesday in New Jersey, which has become ground zero for vocal, well-organized opposition to […]
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US chooses winning bids in first commercial sale for floating offshore Atlantic wind
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The U.S. government chose winning bids Tuesday to develop wind power off New England in the first commercial sale for floating offshore wind on the Atlantic coast. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held a lease sale and selected nearly $22 million in winning bids for four lease areas from two firms. The […]
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Newport to host Fall Recycling Day
City of Newport residents can dispose of “harder to recycle” items at the city’s Fall Recycling Day on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 8 a.m. to noon at Easton’s Beach, 175 Memorial Boulevard. The event is free and open to city residents only with proof of residency required. The event will accept electronics, paper for shredding, […]
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URI and RIDOH partner for lead testing in child care facilities
The Rhode Island Department of Health is encouraging all licensed child care facilities to get their drinking water tested for lead, as part of an effort to address childhood lead poisoning. The testing is free and is offered through a partnership with the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension Water Quality Program. “Lead is poisonous […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
Right whale population grows 4% but extinction remains a threat
BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine (AP) — One of the rarest species of whale in the world has increased slightly in population, encouraging conservationists to call on the federal government and the shipping and fishing industries to do more to bring the giant animals back from the brink of extinction. The North Atlantic right whale, which can weigh […]
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Health Alert: Frozen waffles recalled due to possible listeria contamination
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is urging consumers to check their freezers for certain frozen waffle products sold under a variety of brand names due to potential Listeria contamination. The recall affects frozen waffles distributed nationwide and in Canada, according to a RIDOH news release. The waffles were sold under the following brand […]
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Blue-Green Algae Advisory lifted at Larkin Pond
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) recommend lifting the advisory for recreational activities at Larkin Pond in South Kingstown. The advisory was issued earlier due to elevated levels of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria. According to the departments, recent consecutive surveys and sample analyses […]
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Coastal cities have a hidden vulnerability to storm-surge and tidal flooding − entirely caused by humans
Google Earth Philip M. Orton, Stevens Institute of Technology and Stefan Talke, California Polytechnic State University Centuries ago, estuaries around the world were teeming with birds and turbulent with schools of fish, their marshlands and endless tracts of channels melting into the gray-blue horizon. Fast-forward to today, and in estuaries such as New York Harbor, […]
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RIDOH expands meat recall over listeria concerns
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is expanding its recall of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, originally announced on October 9th, due to potential Listeria contamination. The recall now includes approximately 11,765,285 pounds of products distributed nationwide. The affected items were produced by BrucePac from May 31st to October 8th, 2024, and bear establishment […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about medical debt?
So there are now a number of programs and great organizations that buy up and retire medical debt. Which is kind of a cool idea. It turns out that 20 million Americans, or 15 percent of American households, have some medical debt over $250, that Americans owe at least $220 billion to health care clinicians and organizations. […]
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Rhode Island Department of Health expands meat recall over listeria concerns
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is expanding its recall of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential Listeria contamination. This expansion is part of a larger recall issued by BrucePac, which affects nearly 10 million pounds of products nationwide. The recalled items were produced between June 19, 2024, and October 8, 2024, […]
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Tiverton Library to host Medicare enrollment presentation
A free presentation on navigating Medicare enrollment will be held at the Tiverton Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. Christopher Ireland, a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Counselor at Child & Family of RI, will lead the session titled “Medicare Enrollment 101.” The program will take place at the library, located […]
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BrucePac recalls ready-to-eat meat and poultry products
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is advising consumers not to consume nearly 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products recalled by BrucePac. The recall is due to potential Listeria contamination. The recalled products were produced between June 19, 2024, and October 8, 2024, and were distributed nationwide to various establishments, including […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island Blood Center issues urgent call for blood donors
As a second potentially devastating hurricane is poised to ravage the southern U.S., Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) is issuing an urgent appeal for blood donations. Donors are needed to ensure the availability of blood supplies for hospitals in weather-impacted areas, as well as to meet ongoing needs in the local region. Hurricane Milton is […]
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Newport County resident among new West Nile Virus cases in Rhode Island
A Newport County resident in their 60s is one of two new probable human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) announced by Rhode Island health officials. The other case involves a Providence County resident in their 50s. These new cases bring the state’s total WNV count to six for the season, with three confirmed and […]