🌱 County Hospitals Near Capacity + New Pawtucket HS Renderings

Happy Saturday, Pawtucket! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

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First, today's weather:

Colder with a wintry mix. High: 39 Low: 35.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Pawtucket:

1. The CDC is predicting 6,300 and 18,400 daily new COVID-19 hospital admissions by Jan. 7, which may stretch Pawtucket-area hospitals to their capacity limits. Across the state, approximately 88 percent of inpatient beds and 92 percent of ICU beds were occupied as of Dec. 16, according to Rhode Island Health Officials, and 12 to 13 percent of those occupied beds are COVID-19 patients. In Providence County, inpatient and/or ICU beds at four out of five hospitals are currently at or above 90 percent full. (Pawtucket Patch)
2. After seeing renderings of the proposed new Pawtucket High School at the McCoy Stadium property on Thursday, a subcommittee unanimously voted to recommend the proposal move forward. The proposed project includes a 482,500 square foot Pawtucket High School campus concept that would accommodate 2,500 students and combine the student populations from the city's two public high schools. The state-of-the-art school will also include a fully integrated Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway space. It is currently unknown when a vote will be held by the Pawtucket School Committee to finalize the development plans. (Turn to 10)
3. An overnight crash left an SUV upside down on the train tracks in Pawtucket. The crash took place just before 1 a.m. Friday near the intersection of George Bennett Highway and Campbell Street. An ambulance was seen leaving the area, but there is no information available at this time about the vehicle's occupant(s) or their injuries. (WPRI.com)

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Today in Pawtucket:

• ¡Felíz Navidad! Storytime - Bilingual Children's Story Class At The Pawtucket Public Library (10:30 AM)

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From my notebook:

• This week, the Pawtucket Police Department received a donation of hundreds of toys for local families, especially those with foster children. The toys were collected during the 2nd Annual Muscle Movement Toy Drive. (Facebook)
• This holiday season, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Pawtucket Police Department want all drivers to remember: "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over." Residents will see Pawtucket officers working together Dec. 15, 2021, through Jan. 1, 2022, to take drunk drivers off the roads. (Facebook)
• In accordance with the Governor of Rhode Island and Department of Health, all members, employees, and guests of the YMCA of Pawtucket branches will be required to wear a mask in the building at all times (except in the pool) as of Monday, Dec. 20. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday! See you all Monday for another update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.