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Today’s edition · Sat., Nov. 7

Roger Williams workers join a union; McKee names three judges

Plus, North Providence's council eyes an oversight panel for the Planning Department.

The 5AM North Providence team2 stories12 sources5 min read

Health CareTop story

More than 200 Roger Williams Medical Center workers announce they're joining SEIU 1199NE

200+Roger Williams Medical Center workers joining SEIU 1199 New England

The two groups announced their decision at a press conference on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Sources: SteveAhlquist.news, Providence Business News

If you or someone you love works at Roger Williams Medical Center, here's the news: more than 200 employees announced Thursday that they're joining . Two groups of workers are signing on, skilled maintenance workers and service and maintenance workers.

Speakers described stalled pay and understaffed units. Meanwhile, Attorney General Peter F. Neronha's office is demanding another updated strategic plan from , which operates the hospital. That comes five weeks after Centurion submitted a revised plan at his request.

  • Union: SEIU 1199 New England
  • Jobs: CNAs, dietary aides, psychiatric technicians, plumbers, electricians
  • Same operator: Our Lady of Fatima Hospital

Workers and union leaders put numbers on the pay gap

6 years
without a raise in some cases, a speaker said
18 cents
an hour: the raise a speaker said was offered
$8 to $10
more an hour at other hospitals, a worker said
80,000
Rhode Island AFL-CIO members a speaker spoke for

Source: SteveAhlquist.news

State House

Gov. McKee names three more judicial nominees, and the Senate hasn't formally received them yet

If you follow the courts, Gov. Dan McKee delivered three more judicial nominations to Senate leaders Friday, Nov. 6. He named two new Superior Court justices and a chief judge for the District Court.

McKee named one chief judge and two Superior Court justices

NomineeWould fillCurrent role
Debra SaundersDistrict Court chief judgeDistrict Court associate judge
Denise Cassisi FinkelmanSuperior Court associate justiceFamily Court magistrate
Carly B. IafrateSuperior Court associate justiceEmployment attorney

Source: Rhode Island Current

Saunders would replace Jeanne E. LaFazia, who retired Oct. 9. The sent McKee five names on Oct. 23, including former state Sen. Stephen Archambault, who represented Smithfield, Johnston and North Providence from 2013 through 2022. Saunders had support from all eight commission members. The chief judge runs the busiest court in Rhode Island, some 60,000 cases a year.

  • Senate Judiciary hearings: Nov. 17 and 18
  • Committee size: 10 members
  • Chief judge starting salary: $232,907
  • McKee leaves office: January

The nominations follow a retirement and a commission vote

  1. Oct. 9Chief Judge Jeanne E. LaFazia retires after 16 years on the bench.
  2. Oct. 23 sends five names to McKee for chief judge.
  3. Nov. 6McKee names Saunders and two Superior Court nominees.
  4. Nov. 17Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin considering nominees, meeting through Nov. 18.

Sources: Rhode Island Current, Rams Wire

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News Notes

Planning oversight

The Town Council voted by voice Wednesday night to send a proposed technical review committee to its Ordinance Committee, and no ordinance has been written yet. The panel would oversee the Planning Department, and Councilman Steven DiLorenzo said some house projects now skip planning board review as administrative approvals. Uprise RI

Football

East Greenwich beat North Providence 27-0 in Friday's quarterfinal at a flooded Carcieri Field. Senior Spencer Padula rushed for three touchdowns, and North Providence is out of the playoffs. The Providence Journal

East Greenwich shut out North Providence in the quarterfinal

  • North Providence0
    East Greenwich27
    FinalQuarterfinal at Carcieri Field in East Greenwich

Source: The Providence Journal

Home

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Around Rhode Island

Comic Con

Rhode Island Comic Con opened Friday in downtown Providence. Thousands gathered at the Rhode Island Convention Center and Amica Mutual Pavilion, and the event extends into the Omni Hotel. WJAR

Baby sloth

Roger Williams Park Zoo's sloth Fiona welcomed her fifth baby on Oct. 28, a boy named Bhodi. The zoo said she is already being "the most patient, loving momma." FUN 107

Remembering Retsinas

Nicolas P. Retsinas, a lifelong Rhode Islander and leader in local and national housing policy, has died at 79 after an extended illness. He held postings in government, business, nonprofit and academic areas from Rhode Island to Washington, D.C. Providence Business News

Hockey

Brown beat Harvard 5-3 Friday evening at Meehan Auditorium in Providence. The Bears improved to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in league play. Harvard Athletics

Brown beat Harvard 5-⁠3 at Meehan Auditorium

  • Harvard3
    Brown5
    FinalBrown moved to 3-2; Harvard dropped to 3-4 overall and 0-3 in the ECAC

Source: Harvard Athletics

Asked

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Asked

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Quoted

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.

— Cesar A. Cruz

Things to Do

Things to Do

North Providence, RI

Saturday, Nov. 7

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Asked

How will you watch the Packers at Patriots game Sunday at 4:25 p.m.?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

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The Buy

Around the Block

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Hello .

“I need someone who can fix my freezer door it won’t close.I am in north providence.”

— A neighbor, N.Providence

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The Wrap

Denver, a black Lab, started at The Gordon School in East Providence in 2021 as a specially trained diabetes alert dog for a teacher's daughter. His kindness won over the whole student body, so he's now the schoolwide support animal, and the school just celebrated his birthday. Good boy.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Rabid animal count hits 46 in R.I., and Pawtucket wants a Hasbro apology

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition12 links · 11 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. SteveAhlquist.newssteveahlquist.substack.com
  3. Providence Business Newspbn.com
  4. Rhode Island Currentrhodeislandcurrent.com
  5. Rams Wiretheramswire.usatoday.com
  6. Uprise RIupriseri.com
  7. The Providence Journalprovidencejournal.com
  8. WJARturnto10.com
  9. FUN 107fun107.com
  10. Providence Business Newspbn.com
  11. Harvard Athleticsgocrimson.com
  12. North Providence events calendar5amnorthprovidenceri.com

Past issues

  1. Fri., Nov. 6Rabid animal count hits 46 in R.I., and Pawtucket wants a Hasbro apology
  2. Thurs., Nov. 5Scouts pick up food donations Saturday, plus PFAS wells in Coventry
  3. Wed., Nov. 4CVS reportedly weighs a split; Comic Con hits Providence
  4. Tues., Nov. 3Providence's superintendent resigns and the Biltmore heads to auction
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5AM North Providenceto me · Sat., Nov. 76:00 a.m.

Roger Williams workers join a union; McKee names three judges

Plus, North Providence's council eyes an oversight panel for the Planning Department.

The TLDR

  1. 200+ Roger Williams Medical Center workers join SEIU 1199NE
  2. McKee names three more judges; Senate hearings are Nov. 17 and 18
  3. Town Council eyes an oversight panel for Planning
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM North Providence’s other editions

All the news
HealthRhode Island has found 46 rabid animals this year, nearly double the usual countIf you have a pet or live near wildlife, this one's for you. The Health Department has identified 46 rabid wild animals so far this year, against an annual average of 25 from 2021 through 2025. Recent positives include animals in Providence, Smithfield and Pawtucket.Friday’s editionRead NeighborsPawtucket's leaders demand an apology from Hasbro and haven't heard backMayor Donald Grebien and City Council President Terrence Mercer say they hand-delivered a letter to Hasbro's board last week. It calls CEO Chris Cocks' comments "condescending and dismissive" and asks for a formal public apology.Friday’s editionRead BusinessCVS Health reportedly will split in two, with the breakup planned for early 2028If you work for CVS or fill prescriptions there, the Rhode Island-headquartered company has big plans for its future. Go Local Prov, quoting the Wall Street Journal, reports CVS Health has decided to split in two. Aetna and the Caremark pharmacy-benefit manager would sit in one company, and the retail pharmacies in the other.Wednesday’s editionRead

Around North Providence

From The Day, WLNE-TV and 3 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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  1. The Day43 minutes ago

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