City Seeks Downtown Grocery Store + Woonsocket Woman Arrested

Happy Friday, Woonsocket! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 79, low: 59.

Here are the top stories in and around Woonsocket today:

1. Woonsocket is a designated "food desert," and many low-income and transit-reliant residents have few healthy eating options outside of fast food and convenience stores. Now the city wants to hire a consultant to develop a strategy to attract a good, small food market to the downtown area. (City of Woonsocket)
2. A Woonsocket woman and her brother are behind bars in Massachusetts. Haverhill police said when they tried to arrest a combative woman, her brother choked a police officer, bit him, and bit another officer's hand. Providencia Reyes Rodriguez, 36, and Jesus Reyes, 23, face dangerousness hearings. (The Eagle Tribune)
3. A Cumberland couple must get rid of their backyard chickens after the Zoning Board said "no." (The Valley Breeze)
4. Rhode Island's former top doctor is urging everyone to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status. The Ocean State is reporting a rise in COVID-19 cases not seen since May 20. (WJAR)
5. East Providence council OKs Metacomet development. "East Providence has given the green light to turn a long-time playground for golfers into a new shopping center with apartments,
   offices and restaurants." (The Providence Journal)

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July 23 in Woonsocket

• Levitt AMP Woonsocket - Carsie Blanton with The Beardogz (6 p.m.)
• Pig Roast! American Legion Fairmount, 870 River St. The feast starts at 5 p.m. and ends when everything's gone. $20. Music by The Noyz.

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Job listings:

• Part Time and Full Time Cleaning Positions Available (Details)

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