1. McKee ending R.I. mask mandates for businesses, schools POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 9. Gov. Daniel J. McKee announced that the state would lift its statewide indoor mask mandate on Feb. 11 after imposing it on businesses and other venues in mid-December. McKee also said the state’s in-school mask mandate will be coming to an end on March 4 after a steep decline in the COVID-19 infection rate that came in the wake of an omicron-fueled surge of cases in early January.
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PBN FILE PHOTO/CASSIUS SHUMAN[/caption]
2. Change in state leadership led to permanent closure of R.I. Office of Innovation POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 16. A shift in state leadership hastened the closure of the R.I. Office of Innovation, according to state and former office employees who say the office had been intended as a temporary measure. The office closed permanently last June, though some of its programs live on.
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3. AG denies Lifespan-CNE merger over concerns about competition, quality of care; FTC also opposed POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 17. Attorney General Peter F. Neronha denied the proposed merger between Lifespan Corp. and Care New England Health System, citing the “extraordinary” control the merged entity would have over the state’s health care system. The Federal Trade Commission will join the attorney general’s office in filing to block the merger in federal district court, the agency announced, citing concerns about costs and quality of care.
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PBN FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM[/caption]
4. Contested downtown multihub bus plan scrapped POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 15. State officials scrapped a contested plan to split up the central downtown Providence bus hub across three locations, appearing to move ahead with an alternative, single-hub option. The multihub plan drew backlash from riders, as well as business and community groups.
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PBN FILE PHOTO/MARK S. MURPHY[/caption]
5. State regulators approve sale of R.I. utility business to PPL Corp. POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 23. The R.I. Division of Public Utilities and Carriers announced it has approved the sale of Narragansett Electric Co. from National Grid to PPL Corp., effective immediately. The state approval marks the final regulatory hurdle for the Pennsylvania-based company to take over Rhode Island’s utility company, having already secured approval from federal regulators and the company’s board in the $3.8 billion deal.
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6. Employee housing proposal sparks thoughts of mill villages POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 11.
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7. Urbanica and its proposed 6-story apartment complex selected by I-195 panel POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 2.
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8. McKee: ‘Heavy’ negotiations ongoing for ‘Superman’ building, proposal ‘has legs’ POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 3.
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9. Massive warehouse project proposed in Smithfield POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 10.
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10. Report: Bryant University among best in U.S. in return on higher education investment POSTED ONLINE: FEB. 21.
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