Raimondo unveils new spending proposals

PRO9I'E1&E AP ² Gov. Gina Raimondo on 0onday announced increases to her proposed housing and infrastructure and recreational spending proposals for the upcoming state budget.

The Housing and Infrastructure %ond, which the new proposal increases from 87.5 million to 310.5 million, includes a 40 million increase in the Housing and &ommunity Revitali]ation )und to help design, develop, or repair about 2,000 housing units statewide, the 'emocratic governor said in a statement.

Another 183 million will go toward boosting the offshore wind industry, repairing the state’s roads and bridges, and building a new health laboratory for disease prevention and management to improve health care infrastructure and ensure that the state is prepared for future pandemics.

A 5 million increase in the %each, &lean Water and Green %ond will help fund improvements to the state’s recreational facilities.

“As we look to build a more resilient and eTuitable Rhode Island beyond this pandemic, it’s critical that we make significant, long-term investments in our future,” Raimondo said. “These updated bond proposals reflect the urgency of this moment and our need to spur economic growth and create Mobs while supporting communities hit hardest in our state.”

WEEKEND STATISTICS

There were 233 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and two additional virus-connected deaths in Rhode Island over the past three days, the state 'epartment of Health reported 0onday.

The department does not update on weekends.

There have now been more than 18,500 known cases of &O9I'-1 and 1,004 deaths, the department said.

The state’s seven-day average of new cases is now more than 80, the highest it has been since early -une.

There were 71 people in the state’s hospitals with the disease as of Saturday, the latest day for which the information was available, sending the three-day average of hospitali]ations up slightly. Eight of those patients were in intensive care.

NURSING HOME GRANTS

Rhode Island is providing 100,000 in grants to the state’s nursing homes to help residents remain digitally connected to family and friends during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gina Raimondo said.

8nder the plan, eligible facilities will receive up to 3,000 to purchase smart devices and related accessories for residents, the 'emocrat said in an emailed statement Sunday. )acilities can apply for the grants at the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services website.

The state is also opening what the governor called a “virtual community center” for older residents. The site, agefriendlyri.org, includes educational and wellness programming, technology training, and live chat times to give residents a way to connect.

FOOD PANTRIES

)ood pantries in the 1ewport area are expecting increased demand now that an extra 600 a week in Mobless benefits many families have been receiving during the pandemic is set to end this week.

“I am expecting to see a spike in the number of people coming in when the unemployment benefits expire,” Heather Strout, executive director of the 'r. 0artin Luther .ing &ommunity &enter told The 1ewport 'aily 1ews. “We’ve been planning for this as a real possibility.”

Gina &hen, social services coordinator for the Salvation Army of 1ewport &ounty, is also expecting increased demand.

“We’ve started storing up food,” she said.

Their organi]ations, like many across the state, rely on deliveries from the Rhode Island &ommunity )ood %ank.

The food bank distributes about 1 million pounds of food per month in a normal year, but that has Mumped to 1.3 million pounds per month during the pandemic, Executive 'irector Andrew Schiff said.

GRADUATION CANCELED

Providence &ollege has again postponed in-person commencement ceremonies for the &lass of 2020.

The school at first postponed the traditional spring graduation exercise until Oct. 31, but on 0onday announced that date also has been canceled given the uncertainties about how long current state regulations on large gatherings and Tuarantine reTuirements for out-of-state travelers will last.

The college hopes to celebrate the &lass of 2020 sometime next year, but no date has been scheduled.

The school will send diplomas to graduates’ home addresses.