🌱 New COVID-19 Testing Site + Cook Punches Robber In Face

Welcome back, Providence! Let's get this Tuesday started. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today in Providence.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and milder. High: 47 Low: 32.

Here are the top three stories today in Providence:

1. Amid surging demand for appointments, a new COVID-19 testing site has opened in Providence. The new testing location, inside the former St. Joseph’s Hospital located at 21 Peace St. in Providence, opened its doors for the first time at 8 a.m. on Monday. The site is run by the state, but operated by vendor Smart Bio-Tech, and will accept 400 rapid testing appointments per day, seven days a week. (WJAR)
2. An attempted robbery of a Providence pizzeria was stopped when the suspect was punched in the face by a cook. Police responded to PVD Pizza at 1035 Douglas Avenue shortly after 10 PM and arrived to find employees holding down the male suspect. Police said that during their investigation they found that the suspect had been carrying a dust pan in his jacket -- to make it look like he had a weapon. (GoLocalProv)
3. Providence police are looking for a missing 11-year-old boy who was last seen on Christmas day. Erwin Rivera Ochoa left his Atwells Avenue home around 11 p.m. wearing black jeans, a black backpack, black socks with no shoes, and a black, blue, and white jacket. Anyone with information is urged to call Providence Police at (401) 272-3121 and ask to be connected to the Youth Services Bureau. (WPRI.com)

Today's Providence Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Providence!

Today in Providence:

• Chronic Pain Self Management Workshop, At Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Stand up for the local food system by donating to the Farm Fresh Rhode Island's 2021 annual fund before year’s end! (Instagram)
• Interested in plant-based diets but not sure you can give up meat completely? Rhode Island Hospital offers resources to learn about going flexitarian. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update!

— 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.