🌱 City Leaders Defend Vaccine Mandate + VA Suspends Visitors

Happy Thursday, Providence! Here's what's happening in Providence today.

First, today's weather:

A little afternoon rain. High: 44 Low: 39.

Here are the top stories in Providence today:

1. Providence leaders are defending their decision to mandate that all city employees must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as the police union is pushing against it. All Providence city employees must be fully vaccinated by February 28. Currently, 86 percent of employees are vaccinated. (Turn to 10)
2. The Providence VA Medical Center suspended visitors because of the quick spread of the omicron variant of coronavirus. However, visitors are allowed to see their loved ones if they are in end-of-life care. Five of the hospital patients have tested positive for COVID, and all of the staff are fully vaccinated. (The Providence Journal)
3. On early Wednesday morning, someone stabbed a 29-year-old man in the leg near Broad and Portland streets. The victim's injuries were not life-threatening and rescue took him to Rhode Island Hospital. Police haven't made any arrests. (WJAR)

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Today in Providence:

• Take & Make Kits At Pawtucket Public Library (All Day)
• Snowman Scavenger Hunt At Pawtucket Public Library (All Day)
• SOAR Referral Case Conference At Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Providence College: "A LOOK BACK AT 2021: We salute the faculty, students, and staff who received grants, scholarships, and recognition this year for research and creative work: • Dr. Laura Hauerwas (top left), professor of education in the School of Prof..." (Instagram)
• Adoption Rhode Island shared on Facebook that it is hiring. (Facebook)
• The Rhode Island Convention Center shared a COVID testing update, and that The Rhode Island Convention Center and the Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence do not receive results for anyone tested at the Covid Testing Booth outside our facility. They are encouraging residents to visit the Rhode Island Department of Health portal for more information. (Facebook)
• The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management shared that the 2021-2022 Pheasant Stocking Program came to a close last week and thanked the network of experts who helped make it a success. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.