The COVID-19 pandemic gave black-and-white-speckled QR codes their moment in the spotlight—one many hospitality industry professionals predicted would fade in the coming years. To better understand how QR codes rose to popularity, Flowcode analyzed data from Insider Intelligence and information from news coverage and industry reports to identify why QR code use is sticking around […]
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Women's suffrage, but for whom? These 10 Black suffragists fought for the vote before—and long after—the 19th Amendment
Open an American history textbook from the last 50 years to the women’s suffrage chapter, and you will likely find a summary that places Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the forefront of the movement and Seneca Falls as a key location for women’s right to vote. The 1848 Seneca Falls convention has […]
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In The Garden: Plants that can attract butterflies
Cultivating a flower garden that serves as a serene landscape while supporting a healthy ecosystem requires the right plants, care, and—perhaps most importantly—pollinators. Pollinators, from bees to bats, provide essential support for more than one-third of the world’s edible crops by moving pollen between flowers, helping plants reproduce in the process. Among the most beloved pollinators is the […]
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27 senators are up for reelection—which, if any, are 'progressive' relative to the political lean of their states?
Over the past three decades, Democratic Party voters have shifted more to the left than voters in the Republican Party have to the right, according to a report by the Brookings Institution. Gallup Poll data shows that since 1994, the share of Democratic voters self-identifying as “liberal” has more than doubled, growing from 25% to […]
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How climate change drives hotter, more frequent heat waves
In late June 2021, a high-pressure atmospheric system settled over Seattle to create an inescapable heat dome. Jean-Paul Yafali, a resident of nearby Kent, Washington, thanked his good luck for the two secondhand air-conditioning units that a friend had given him back in 2019. He wasn’t used to this kind of stifling heat — not […]
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Warwick among 50 ‘best-run’ cities in America, according to WalletHub
The federal government directed billions in assistance to local governments during the coronavirus pandemic so they would not have to cut essential services just as residents needed them most. Now those governments are wrestling with the fallout from exceptionally high inflation, including the increasing costs of services, materials, and labor. Cities and towns throughout the […]
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Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Providence metro area
It goes without saying that the coronavirus pandemic sparked a wave of uncertainty across myriad industries, and no other market has quite felt its impact like that of real estate. The pandemic became a driving force behind the continued real estate boom, with high demand for vacation homes and a limited supply of housing that […]
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Rhode Island among 10 states where new businesses are most likely to turn into employers
Nearly 434,000 people applied for business applications nationwide in April 2023, according to Census Bureau data. Of them, only about 1 in 3 were deemed likely to become employers. Small businesses are the nation’s most common enterprises and employ nearly half of private workers, according to the Census Bureau. But the evolution from an idea […]
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Counties with the highest cancer rates in Rhode Island
Several factors contribute to cancer rates, from personal habits and genetics to air pollution or groundwater quality in a given area. People experiencing social, economic, or environmental disadvantages are disproportionately affected by high cancer rates in certain regions—including access or barriers to early screening and care. Cancer rates also fluctuate by jobs: Higher rates of […]
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The top careers hiring for AI skills in Rhode Island, according to job postings
The fastest-growing jobs today are driven by technology—and, increasingly, artificial intelligence. For example, AI and machine learning specialists top the list of fastest-growing roles, according to a 2023 World Economic Forum survey of the world’s largest companies. Rising demand for AI-related jobs coincides with the introduction of generative AI and ChatGPT. These tools take prompts […]
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Counties with the most bridges in dire need of repair in Rhode Island
One in three U.S. bridges is in need of repair or replacement, according to data from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, including 29% of interstate bridges. The cost to make these repairs is estimated to be in excess of $54 billion. Stacker investigated which counties in Rhode Island have the most bridges in […]
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Potatoes, beef steaks, and other groceries that rose in price in the Northeast last month
After more than a year of historical inflation, grocery prices are staying steady. Grocery prices fell in March and April for the first time since September 2020 but changed little in May at a 0.2% increase. The drop in recent months was largely fueled by decreases in eggs—which had previously risen dramatically over a short […]
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Eggs, cheddar cheese, and other groceries that dropped in price in the Northeast last month
Grocery shoppers felt a slight reprieve this spring as grocery prices finally fell, after a run of increases spanning back to September 2020. Grocery prices remained relatively unchanged in May at a 0.2% increase, following two consecutive months of decreases, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. It certainly didn’t undo the two years of […]
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The best beach towns in Rhode Island
Summer vacation has already begun for some across the U.S., and if Memorial Day is any indication, travelers should expect a busy summer season in 2023. That weekend, largely considered the unofficial start of summer, the Transportation Security Administration screened 9.79 million people, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. And half of Americans say they will take a […]
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From Stonewall to today: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the New York Police Department unwittingly helped start the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. At the time, clubs with gay or lesbian patrons weren’t allowed to serve alcohol, but the Stonewall Inn still served booze to their customers, giving police cause to raid the bar. The clientele pushed […]
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25 LGBTQ+ people who changed the course of history
Though you might not have known it, some of the most significant figures throughout recorded history were members of the LGBTQ+ community. Some made monumental contributions to various fields—the sciences, visual arts, academia, literature, music, and politics, among others—and did so despite the social pressures and oppositions present during their respective lifetimes, all while overcoming […]
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Same fears, new tactics: How efforts to ban 'bad books' reached a record high in 2022
At the start of 2023, in accordance with HB 1467 passed in 2022, Florida schools made national headlines as teachers and librarians covered shelves with tarps and removed books from circulation. Under the new law, all materials in school libraries and on reading lists must be reviewed by a media specialist who completed a Florida […]
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The 21 most popular ice cream flavors in America
Ice cream is a beloved treat that’s enjoyed by people of all ages, be it families to teens to kids. From classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate to more creative combinations like rocky road and Neapolitan, ice cream aficionados have a plethora of choices, and the sweet treat’s popularity continues to soar. According to the […]
Posted inReal Estate
Can these popular TV characters afford their homes?
Your favorite sitcom characters may be giving you unrealistic living expectations. Sitcoms make us laugh with outlandish yet realistic scenarios that we can all relate to on some level. But what’s unrealistic is how some of these characters can afford incredibly spacious living quarters — especially with many of them living in expensive cities and […]
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The top patent earner in each state last year
Tech and engineering firms were the most inventive patent winners across the U.S. last year—a year marked by growing tension with foreign nations racing to bring world-changing tech like artificial intelligence and space satellites to market. Nearly 160,000 patents were assigned across the U.S. in 2022, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. When […]
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8 tips for healthy grilling
As soon as it is warm enough for shorts and sandals, many of us start firing up the grill. Sure, it makes a hot day even hotter, but that’s part of the fun of this time-honored summer tradition. Maybe you can’t get enough carne asada, you boast of your barbecue skills, or you’re committed to […]
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Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization
In a stunning display of the financial potential of legal cannabis, states across the U.S. have collected a combined total of more than $15.1 billion in tax revenue from adult-use cannabis sales since 2014. As cannabis business owners navigate regulations that can change by state and face growing competition for everything from suppliers to business […]
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Teacher and student diversity in the US: How diverse is your state?
The United States is a vibrant tapestry of racial and ethnic groups. However, the nation’s teaching workforce does not adequately represent the country’s cultural richness. The latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics, which is from the 2017-2018 school year, reveals that around 21% of public school teachers are people of color. This […]
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Biggest tornadoes in Rhode Island of the past decade
Of the 1,600-plus tornadoes that happen around the world each year, the vast majority occur in the United States. A large part of the central U.S.—dubbed Tornado Alley—has become famous for its high number of annual tornadoes; however, even though it has been enshrined in films like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Twister,” the storms […]
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$1.5 billion of unclaimed tax refunds are about to expire
You wouldn’t think that anyone would forget to collect a tax refund, but it happens. Typically, taxpayers have three years to file and claim their tax returns. However, because the 2020 tax season coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the filing deadline for 2019 earnings has been extended until July 17, 2023. Anyone […]