Top stories: RI pushback on ‘mass deportation’; Trump flips Johnston

Here are some of The Providence Journal’s most-read stories for the week of Nov. 10, supported by your subscriptions.
Here are the week’s top reads on providencejournal.com:
PROVIDENCE – The governor, along with the mayor of Rhode Island’s largest city, are making it clear that city and state police will not support the “mass deportation” of undocumented immigrants that President-elect Donald Trump promised during his campaign.
In a statement over the weekend, a spokeswoman for Gov. Dan McKee stated that while the Rhode Island State Police “cooperates with [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] on the lawful detention of violent criminals, they are not immigration officers and will not expend any time and resources to support mass deportation efforts.”
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, through a spokesman, echoed that position, adding, “Providence remains committed to being a safe and welcoming city for all neighbors of all immigration status.”
Read on for more details on their positions, and a look back at how Rhode Island responded to a similar push for immigrant detentions in the first Trump administration.
Immigration:Governor, Providence mayor: RI will not support federal ‘mass deportation’ efforts
Rhode Island is hardly a battleground state, but columnist Mark Patinkin says he didn’t have to go to Pennsylvania or Michigan to understand why the Democrats have lost the working class.
The same thing is happening in communities here, such as Johnston, historically a Democratic stronghold. But that changed in 2016 when Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton with 54% in Johnston and four years later got 53% to Joe Biden’s 44%. This year, Trump did better still there, getting 58% to Kamala Harris’ 39.
For insights, Mark talked with Democratic Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr., who said he was demoralized by how the election turned out, not because Trump won, but because of how badly his party has lost touch with his base.
Read the full column for Polisena’s thoughts on how his party can turn that around.
Mark Patinkin: How did Trump flip places like Johnston? Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. counts the ways
PROVIDENCE – Green Line Apothecary is exiting the pharmacy business and plans to close its retail stores so that the owners can focus on other business ventures, like their line of ice cream.
Founded in Wakefield in 2016, the company later opened a second location in Providence and became a popular alternative to large corporate giants like CVS and Walgreens. A smaller, more personal alternative to the chains, it also offered an old-fashioned soda fountain serving ice cream floats and egg creams.
What does this mean for customers? And what are the owners planning to do next? Read the full story to find out.
Business: Green Line Apothecary is closing its pharmacy business. Here’s what comes next for them.
With the fall high school sports season coming to a close with championships and Super Bowls, we caught up with Rhode Island Interscholastic League Executive Director Michael Lunney to see what’s next for high school sports in the state and how the RIIL continuously adapts.
Lunney answers questions on the RPI (Rating Percentage Index), recent changes in the Super Bowl format, and new sports on the horizon for high school programs, among other topics.
The RPI sparked an off-field battle in court last Friday, just hours before the Division III football playoffs were set to begin. Mt. Hope fought for a higher seed based on a perceived flaw in the RPI, but a District Court judge refused to grant a temporary restraining order. Mt. Hope’s season ended Friday night with a 29-19 loss to Rogers.
Sports: What’s next for high school sports in RI? 5 questions with RIIL head Michael Lunney
Coughs, sneezes, runny noses, sore throats, sinus infections.
Doctors in Rhode Island are seeing more patients with those symptoms, and the situation isn’t likely to improve with the holidays and flu season on the way, but doctors say there are steps Rhode Islanders can take to prevent illnesses such as colds, the flu and COVID-19 and keep those around them safe, too.
Find out what’s circulating, when the cold and flu season is likely to peak, and how you can get vaccinations for free if you can’t afford them.
Public health:Sick season has started, and it’s likely to worsen over the holidays. How to stay healthy.
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