Newport Daily News
NEWPORT The city had the lowest graduation rate among all the communities in the state for the Class of 2020, according to the 2021 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook.
Newport’s graduation rate was only 64%, lower than the core cities of Central Falls at 69%, Woonsocket at 73%, Providence at 75%, and Pawtucket at 77%.
That statistic is causing some consternation in the community. It came up during the regular School Committee meeting Tuesday night, and School Committee Chairman Raymond Gomes said he would schedule a workshop on the issue once administrators have a chance to review the data in detail.
“There is no way we can be at that 64% for Rogers,” said School Committee member Louisa Boatwright. “That’s for the overall city of Newport. Students can go to a variety of schools for different things. For the students who go to Rogers, that is not a fair assessment.”
AARP is calling on the RI Senate to make adjustments to proposed TCI expansion.
AARP Rhode Island is calling on the Rhode Island Senate to take action to allow minimum-wage and low-income workers to benefit more practically from Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) the state’s paid family leave program that supports family caregivers.
AARP RI says it supports Senate Bill 688, which would extend coverage to eight weeks. However, Rhode Islanders in lower-paying jobs simply cannot makes ends meet on the current benefit of 60% of their wages, says AARP. AARP Rhode Island encourages a compromise with bill S436 that would increase the benefit rate from the current 60% of wages to 90% in 2022 for those earning minimum wage and to 75% in 2022 for those earning twice the minimum wage. GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Coal miners, crawfish offer, full-capacity Opry: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
Alabama
Montgomery: Public health officials are urging people to get COVID-19 shots as soon as possible, after the White House informed governors last week that it might reallocate supply from states with decreasing demand. Distribution has been in steady decline for several weeks, according to Alabama Department of Public Health data. “Y’all, we want shots in the arms and off the shelf,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “If you have not made it a priority to schedule a vaccine, I encourage you to go get the shot as soon as you are able. If you are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine, please speak to a physician you trust and ask if he or she would recommend it for you. If we don’t use it, we could lose it. This is our ticket back to normal. The vaccine is free and could possibly save your life.” In the early stages of the vaccine rollout, the Al
Report: Rhode Island s kids suffered greatly during pandemic
May 10, 2021
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) The mental health and education of Rhode Island children suffered greatly last year during the coronavirus pandemic, and children of color were the hardest hit, according to data released Monday by Kids Count, the national child advocacy nonprofit.
“Unacceptable gaps continue to exist between children of color and white children in nearly every Factbook indicator,” Rhode Island Kids Count executive director Elizabeth Burke Bryant told The Providence Journal. “These gaps have persisted because of systemic racism and barriers to opportunity that must be addressed and dismantled to ensure that every child can succeed. The COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on stark economic, education, and other disparities and challenges to children’s success.”