News Summary
This week, Providence, Rhode Island reported a significant job loss of 2,400 positions, the highest in over two years. Concurrently, a heat advisory is in effect for Southern New England, with temperatures expected to exceed 100 degrees. Local officials are urging residents to stay hydrated and safe. In a related context, a Department of Justice inquiry into election integrity has been initiated. The community is also dealing with a power outage linked to extreme weather conditions, further stressing local resources.
Providence, Rhode Island faced a challenging economic landscape and extreme weather conditions this week, highlighted by a significant job loss and a heat advisory affecting Southern New England. The latest data indicates that Rhode Island has lost 2,400 jobs since May, representing the largest one-month decrease in over two years. This downturn poses concerns for local employment and economic growth.
In a related development, Angel Taveras, the former Mayor of Providence from 2010 to 2014, has been appointed by RI Secretary of State Gregg Amore to oversee a Department of Justice (DOJ) inquiry into the state’s elections. The inquiry comes amid heightened scrutiny regarding election fraud and the integrity of voter processes. The DOJ contacted Amore on July 10, expressing a desire to meet and discuss “ineligible voters” within the state. This correspondence suggests that the DOJ is seeking an information-sharing agreement to examine potential illegal voting activities.
The email that initiated the inquiry was signed by Scott Laragy, Principal Deputy Director, and Paul Hayden, Senior Counsel at the DOJ. However, there has been no scheduled call or meeting between the DOJ and Amore to date. The Secretary of State also noted that the DOJ’s request is unusual, given that states hold constitutional authority over their election processes. Amore suggested that this inquiry may relate to ongoing narratives regarding the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
Furthermore, the DOJ’s email clarified that this issue is separate from another initiative currently involving requests from the Civil Rights Division concerning Rhode Island’s voting information. Despite the inquiry taking place, Amore affirmed that the DOJ has not requested Rhode Island’s voter file, and so far, this is the only communication received from them.
Amid these developments, a heat advisory has been put in place for much of Southern New England. The advisory is effective from July 15 until July 17, with anticipated heat index values soaring as high as 100 degrees. Local health officials are urging residents to remain hydrated, stay indoors during peak temperatures, and check on the well-being of neighbors to minimize heat-related risks.
Weather forecasts suggest that temperatures in Providence will remain high over the next several days, reaching 86, 89, 88, and 90 degrees from Monday through Friday, with Wednesday expected to be the hottest day. However, relief may be in sight as a cold front is anticipated to bring showers and thunderstorms at the end of the week, reducing temperatures.
Additional stress on the community came from a power outage that affected the Rhode Island State House, attributed to an underground cable failure exacerbated by extreme heat conditions. The outage impacted areas surrounding Providence, although approximately 90% of the outages caused by this cable failure have since been restored. Local utilities are working diligently to ensure full service is returned as quickly as possible.
As Rhode Island grapples with these significant job losses and extreme temperatures, both the economic and physical well-being of its residents remain areas of concern for local officials and community leaders.
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Additional Resources
- Providence Journal: RI Weather Heat Advisory Issued
- Weather.com: 10-Day Forecast for Providence
- Turnto10: Power Outage in Rhode Island
- WPRI: Weather Now for Friday
- Patch: Rhode Island Heat Wave
- Wikipedia: Rhode Island
- Google Search: Rhode Island Weather
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
