Mauie Tran
Sam Adams pushes limits on “extreme beer”
It’s banned in thirteen states and sure doesn’t come in a six-pack.
The maker of Sam Adams beer has released an updated version of its biennial beer Utopias.
At 27% alcohol by volume and $150 a bottle, the limited release is now the highest alcohol content beer on the market.
The drink comes in a ceramic-and-copper bottle that [...]
Jobless to start losing federal healthcare subsidy
The first of thousands of unemployed Rhode Islanders will lose a federal stimulus subsidy tomorrow that has helped them afford temporary health insurance.
The subsidy allowed a 65% discount for COBRA, the law that allows those who have lost a job to buy group health insurance through their former employer for 18-months.
However, the stimulus only allows [...]
H1N1 vaccine now available to college students
College and universities in Rhode Island will begin providing the H1N1 flu vaccine this week free of charge to students under the age of 24 who live on campus.
College students who live in campus dormitories have been designated as a high priority group by public health officials. Schools with commuter students will start vaccine clinics [...]
RI police issue electronic traffic tickets
Police officers are issuing traffic tickets with much more ease thanks to a new computerized program called “E-citation.”
According to the Providence Journal, the software was first installed in state police vehicles back in 2006 and has now spread to six towns: Burrillville, Portsmouth, North Kingstown, Narragansett, East Providence, and Pawtucket.
The time- and money-saving program links [...]
Afghanistan finally declares president
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been declared the winner of the disputed presidential election in Afghanistan.
The country’s election commission made the announcement soon after cancelling the November 7th run-off election.
The commission declared Karzai president “because he was the winner of the first round and the only candidate in the second round.” Karzai became the only [...]
School-based vaccine clinics begin today
The state Department of Health has updated its schedule for H1N1 flu school-based vaccine clinics which begin today.
The times and locations of some of the clinics have been adjusted for logistical reasons. Middle school and high school students will be vaccinated during the school day, and clinics for elementary school students will be held in [...]
Senate Dems healthcare reform plan unveiled, with “opt-out”
The White House says President Obama is pleased that a public option has been included in a Democratic Senate healthcare reform proposal.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the announcement yesterday.
Under the proposal, individual states would have the right to opt-out of the public option. Reid said the compromise bill has been sent to the non-partisan [...]
Officials predict RI winter heating costs same as last year
Federal data is predicting Rhode Islanders can stay warm this winter and not worry about their bill. If the data proves to be correct, it will cost Ocean Staters about the same as it did last year to heat their homes.
That’s because the government has forecasted a slightly warmer heating season for 2009-10, but slightly [...]
Cumberland residents protest chemical plant coming to town
Dozens of Cumberland residents turned out last night to oppose a chemical plant that some want to relocate in their neighborhood, saying it could put them in danger.
Mann Chemical Distribution handles the repackaging and resale of bulk chemicals and says there would be no ill effects to the neighborhood. Mann currently has a location in [...]
Providence smashes Guiness bead record
A record-setting strand of beads has helped the city of East Providence put its recent financial woes behind it, at least for night.
On Friday, the city smashed the Guinness world record for longest strand of beads with a 1,349.9 foot string of red and white beads. The previous record was 355 feet, set in February [...]
