By Janine L. Weisman | Editor-in-Chief

Good Friday morning!

It will be a sunny day in Providence, with a high near 56, the National Weather Service reports.

A memorial service is at 11 a.m. at the Rhode Island IX Memorial in Remembrance Park between the Providence River and Dyer Street in Providence to honor the nine U.S. Marines from Rhode Island killed when a suicide bomber struck their barracks in Beirut. Lebanon, on Oct.23, 1983. Participating in the service will be Gov. Dan McKee, U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Reps. Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, Marine Corps Col. Timothy Scott and Michael Harris, a survivor of the attack.

The fallen Rhode Islanders are Sgt. Timothy Giblin of North Providence; Lance Cpl. Thomas Julian of Portsmouth; Cpl. James Silvia of Middletown; Cpl. Stephen Spencer of Portsmouth; Cpl. David Massa of Warren; Cpl. Edward Soares, Jr. of Tiverton; Cpl. Rick Crudale of West Warwick; Cpl. Edward Iacovino, Jr. of Warwick; and Cpl. Thomas Shipp of Woonsocket.

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High tide in East Greenwich is at 6:02 a.m. and 6:36 p.m. Low tide is at 11:58 a.m. Sunrise is at 7:07 a.m. Sunset is at 5:52 p.m.

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The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission meets at 1 p.m.

The Judicial Nominating Commission meets at 2 p.m. to take public comment and interview six candidates for the District Court vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Judge Jeanne LaFazia. The commission will decide which names to forward to the governor’s office from the following candidates: Stephen Archambault; Associate Judge James Caruolo; Associate Judge Colleen Hastings; Associate Judge Mary McCaffrey; Associate Judge J. Patrick O’Neill; and Associate Judge Debra Saunders.

Summer Street Apartments in Providence, a 176-unit development for formerly homeless adults, was highlighted by housing advocates as a sign of progress amid Rhode Island’s ongoing housing affordability crisis. (Courtesy photo from Crossroads Rhode Island)

By Christopher Shea

As voters consider $120 million in state housing bonds and a $25 million Providence housing bond in the November election, a new HousingWorks RI report highlights rising housing costs and affordability challenges across Rhode Island. But it did find some positive trends.

Members of the Providence School Board meet at district headquarters on Westminster Street in Providence on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

By Alexander Castro

Wednesday night’s Providence School Board meeting spilled into Thursday as the board emerged from behind closed doors and postponed a vote to remove President Ty’relle Stephens until Nov. 18. The board opted to review its bylaws and pursue a restorative process to address internal conflicts that have started to spill out into the open.

The price health insurance companies charge for employer-sponsored plans increased again this year, according to a survey by KFF. (Photo by krisanapong detraphiphat/Getty Images)

By Jennifer Shutt | D.C. Bureau

The cost of individual health insurance plans rose to $9,804 on average, while family coverage reached $28,303, according to a survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF. Both represented a 5% increase over the last year.

An aerial view of Quonset’s Port of Davisville. (Photo by Quonset Development Corporation)

COMMENTARY

By Stephen J. King, PE

Question 3, the economic development bond on the Nov. 3 ballot, could invest $100 million in infrastructure and support business growth in Quonset Business Park. The North Kingstown business park has a proven track record of economic success, the managing director of the Quonset Development Corporation writes.

ICYMI

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