🌱 Citizens Bank Robbed + U.S. Postal Service Employee Attacked

Good morning, Providence! It's Friday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

A little afternoon snow. High: 40 Low: 9.

Here are the top three stories today in Providence:

1. A Providence bank was robbed on Thursday morning, marking the second bank robbery in two days. A male suspect reportedly passed a note to a teller and took off from Citizens Bank, located at 270 Academy Avenue, with an undisclosed amount of money. A similar robbery happened on Wednesday when a teller at the Smith Street Santander Bank also received a note from a suspect. (GoLocalProv)
2. A U.S. Postal Service employee was attacked and robbed of a package containing more than half a kilogram of cocaine, and two Providence men are now facing charges for the assault. On Wednesday, Juan Bautista Rosario-Sandoval and Duralline Azcona Rodriguez were charged with conspiracy to possess more than 500 grams of cocaine. 29-year-old Bautista Rosario-Sandoval is also facing charges for assault and robbery of a U.S. mail carrier and conspiracy to assault and rob a U.S. mail carrier. (WPRI.com)
3. Mayor Jorge Elorza has announced plans to utilize the American Rescue Plan Act cash to fund nonviolence initiatives. A series of nonviolence programs will utilize the ARPA funding to address the root causes of violence in the city. Last year, Providence recorded its deadliest year since 2009, with 23 homicides and an increase in shootings. (WPRI.com)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Providence:

• Play a Game Family Day!, At Providence Community Library (1:00 PM)
• Collaborative Community Art - Paper Quilt, At Providence Community Library (1:00 PM)
• Martin L. King, Jr. Celebration, At Providence Community Library (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• RENT will be taking the stage at Providence Performing Arts Center tonight at 7:30 p.m. This weekend will be your last chance to see the beloved and celebrated touring production. (Facebook)
• AARP Rhode Island hosted a live Telephone Townhall event to discuss spending priorities for the $1B in American Rescue Plan funds that Rhode Island has to spend. (Facebook)
• The nomination deadline for Providence College's MLK Vision Awards is today. (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you soon!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners, and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.