Steve Klamkin & The Saturday Am News

Diane McCrohan is Department Chair and Associate Professor in the Marketing Department of the College of Business at Johnson & Wales University. #WPRO Ann & Hope says it's closing all 11 of its Curtain & Bath Outlet stores in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut due to the significant impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Prof. Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz, director of the URI Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy #WPRO The poll of 600 Rhode Islanders, conducted May 14 - 26, finds majorities of respondents say they were able to find help during the pandemic when the needed it, and gave high marks to Gov. Gina Raimondo's handling of the crisis and to the media's reporting of vital information. https://today.uri.edu/news/uri-poll-shows-social-networks-strong-in-response-to-covid-19-crisis/

Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner #WPRO He looks at the impact of the #coronavirus #pandemic on Rhode Island's economy and finances www.treasury.ri.gov

Jane Koster is President of the League of Women Voters in Rhode Island #WPRO The League of Women Voters, Common Cause of Rhode Island and the ACLU Rhode Island Chapter are asking the RI Board of Elections to take certain steps as the April 28th presidential primary election is postponed to June 2 due to the #coronavirus pandemic. www.lwvri.org

Deb O'Brien is president and chief operating officer of The Providence Center #WPRO Counseling is available by phone and other remote means during the #coronavirus pandemic through the Anchor Recovery Community Center and The Providence Center. anchorrecovery.org providencecenter.org

Jeff Behler is regional director of the U.S. Census Bureau. #WPRO There is a big push in Rhode Island to encourage people to respond to the census. 2020census.gov

Angélica Infante-Green, Rhode Island state Education Commissioner #WPRO With schools closed for at least the next two weeks; remote learning is to begin on Monday for students in all public schools in Rhode Island. www.ride.ri.gov

Christina Myers created a Facebook page: "Self Employed Support During Coronavirus" #WPRO It's a place to share information and to vent for people who are self-employed, and looking for ways to cope during the #coronavirus #pandemic https://www.facebook.com/groups/884519941985762/

Julie Holden is President of the Rhode Island Library Association #WPRO Librarians object to publishers' limits on the number and cost of e-book and audiobook licenses that a library can purchase. rilibraries.org

Meghan Grady is Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of RI #WPRO Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island held their kickoff for their “March for Meals” fundraiser rimeals.org

Amy Nunn is Executive Director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute The group opened Open Door, Rhode Island's first dedicated LGBTQ Health Clinic riphi.org odhpvd.org

Andy Russ is co-producer of the Motion State Dance Festival #WPRO The inaugural dance festival runs Thursday through Saturday, March 5–7 at WaterFire Arts Center in Providence. https://motionstatearts.org/about-motion-state-dance-festival Photo of Bebe Miller by Julieta Cervantes courtesy of Motion State Dance Festival

Daniel Bernard Roumain performs in Providence February 29th #WPRO Violinist and composer Daniel Bernard Roumain performs Saturday, Feb. 29 for FirstWorks at First Unitarian Church in Providence first-works.org danielroumain.comPhoto by Erin X. Smithers

Cortney Nicolato with the RI Complete Count Committee #WPRO Rhode Island Complete Count Committee was formed to ensure that as many people as possible respond to the census. ricensus2020.squarespace.com

Joe Devine, Executive Director of the Tech Collective #WPRO Many small businesses that suffer a cyber attack never recover, and the Tech Collective is offering specialized cybersecurity training called the "Rhode to Resilience" to small businesses across Rhode Island. tech-collective.org

Mary Ellen Lynch on the "Let RI Rent" initiative #WPRO Let RI Rent is the group supporting legislation that would prevent housing discrimination based on renters' sources of income https://www.facebook.com/groups/523956188218242/about/

Neil Steinberg, President & CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation #WPRO The RI Foundation is supporting long-range planning with a $1 million commitment for both health care and education in the state. rifoundation.org

Sue Cienki, Chairwoman of the Rhode Island Republican Party #WPRO RI GOP Chairwoman Sue Cienki talks about President Donald Trump's apparent clear path to the Republican Presidential nomination following his impeachment acquittal, the challenges in finding Republican candidates for state offices, and the battle over the JCLS, the joint committee that runs the business end of the RI General Assembly. ri.gop

Dr.Courtney Howard, an emergency physician in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada on how parents can talk with youngsters to allay their fears about climate change, or what she calls #ecoanxiety. #WPRO drcourtneyhoward.ca

Dr. Alex Caple, an expert at Providence College is out to dispel misinformation about the spread of #coronavirus #WPRO