Yahoo Autos Top stories this week: 'Tranq dope' invades RI; gang video; Instagram influencers
Here's a look at The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of Feb. 12, as well as some other news we've been covering, supported by your subscriptions.
The Station nightclub fire, which killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others 20 years ago this month, led to a renewed statewide emphasis on fire safety. But in many communities, fire prevention is falling through the cracks, with local departments understaffed, overworked and starved for funds. Journal reporter Antonia Noori Farzan spoke with fire chiefs and fire marshals across the state to answer a crucial question: How safe are we?
Efforts are underway to restore a recently rediscovered historical cemetery in western Cranston that may hold the remains of a Revolutionary War veteran. The hiker who stumbled upon the cemetery, along with a friend and the Cranston Historical Cemeteries Commission, want to ensure that it gets cleaned up and properly recognized.
Keep up with college and high school sports with scores, game highlights and profiles of The Providence Journal All-Star teams at providencejournal.com/sports.
Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com:
Convicted Chad Brown gang member asks for shorter sentence, but video shows him bragging about crimes
The video captures the three known gang members taunting rivals, threatening “snitches,” and boasting about how soon they will be back on the streets.
Broadcast via Facebook Live July 27, 2022, the men flashed gang signs as they menaced the “East Side” and promised to root out rats — footage all shot from within the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility, the day after the men were sentenced for terrorizing the city with shootings and drug dealing as members of a criminal enterprise, according to authorities.
Federal prosecutors are relying upon the video to convince the court that Keishon Johnson, a member of the gang affiliated with the Chad Brown housing complex, should serve his full sentence.
'People are going to start losing limbs': Animal 'tranq' is reshaping RI's drug landscape
The animal sedative xylazine is on the upswing in the Rhode Island drug supply, and it’s catching people like Amy Treglia off guard for its ability to cause stubborn, scaly wounds and to knock them out for hours on end. Round, gray divots speckle Treglia’s forearms, as if someone had held burning cigarettes to her skin until the flesh melted away.
The drug, a cutting agent known by the street name "tranq" that's often mixed with heroin and illicit fentanyl, increases the risk of fatal overdose and can cause festering wounds that lead to amputation. And it doesn't respond to the overdose antidote naloxone.
“It’s a double whammy. You can die from an overdose. You can die from infection,” said Tara Dorsey, of Project Weber/RENEW, which is urging drug users to use extra caution because of possible xylazine contamination.
Public health: 'People are going to start losing limbs': Animal 'tranq' is reshaping RI's drug landscape
Brayon Freeman kicked off the URI basketball team
Brayon Freeman has been dismissed from the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball program.
The Rams announced the decision in a Monday afternoon statement. URI coach Archie Miller confirmed the sophomore guard’s tenure was over during a news conference at the Ryan Center.
“He’s no longer with us, and we’re going to do everything we can to support his finish here at the university,” Miller said. “I’ll kind of leave it at that."
Sports: Brayon Freeman kicked off the Rhode Island basketball team
RI Judge Licht remains in serious condition after being struck by car near State House
Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Richard Licht remains in serious condition after being hit by a car while crossing Smith Street near the State House on Wednesday night, according to a statement from his family.
At Thursday's House session, Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi told colleagues that Licht, a former state senator, lieutenant governor and director of the state Department of Administration, "has had surgery this afternoon and all indications — and it's very early — are that it looks very good."
The collision happened along a poorly lit stretch of Smith Street between the State House and a parking lot across the street. Providence police are investigating.
Courts: Judge Richard Licht in serious condition after being struck by car near State House
Who's representing RI on Instagram? Meet some of the biggest RI influencers and creators
Here's a fun fact: Two influencers on this list have more followers on Instagram than Rhode Island has residents.
At 1.2 million and 1.1 million, Ashley Iaconette Haibon's and Kiel James Patrick's follower counts just surpass the 1.096 million residents Rhode Island recorded in the last census. So while everyone in the state might not have heard of them, they've certainly become ambassadors of how people (literally) view the Ocean State.
The Providence Journal took a look at some of the biggest Instagram accounts run by Rhode Islanders.
Lifestyle: Who's representing RI on Instagram? Meet some of the biggest RI influencers and creators
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal top stories: Gang brags on video; 'tranq' hits RI
