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Office of the Mayor

WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND

 

Mayor Baldelli-Hunt Reveals New City Art Sculpture and Its Location With a SMILE

WOONSOCKET, R.I.: Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt disclosed today that the mysterious new art sculpture which the City of Woonsocket collaborated with Riverzedge Arts to create, will be a large, brightly colored, steel construction rendering of the word "SMILE", and that the location of the sculpture will be on the Truman Bypass, on the same side as the bikeway. It is expected that the sculpture will be installed this fall, and that an official public unveiling ceremony will occur soon thereafter. The sculpture was funded with a $10,000 Community Grant that the Mayor and Riverzedge Arts obtained from the Rhode Island Foundation.

Mayor Baldelli-Hunt stated, "A smile is a universal symbol of welcomeness, acceptance, success, and positive feelings, and this SMILE sculpture will visually offer these uplifting attributes to all Woonsocket residents and visitors who pass by. This sculpture will be a comforting piece of art that will immediately lift our spirits, and send us on our way in a better mood, with actual smiles on our faces. It will also present a great photo opportunity for all who travel the bikeway." The Mayor added, "We are pleased to have partnered with Brad Fesmire and Riverzedge Arts, as well as the Rhode Island Foundation, to bring such a fun piece of art into our City, and look forward to future collaborations.

Brad Fesmire, Artistic Director of Riverzedge Arts offered, "This piece of public art will visually activate the Truman Bypass with a positive thought that everyone can enjoy."

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments on Donald Trump's claim of presidential immunity in his federal election interference case. Trump's attorney D. John Sauer argued that every president could face blackmail and extortion by political rivals if they don't have full immunity for official acts taken while in office. Justice Sonia Sotomayor pressed Sauer over the argument, asking whether a president who orders an assassination of a rival he views as corrupt can have immunity.        Former President Trump is back in a New York City court this morning as his criminal hush money trial resumes. Jurors will again hear testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker who has explained this week how he protected Trump from negative stories leading up to the 2016 presidential election while smearing Trump's opponents. Trump faces felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair.       Stocks are tanking after new economic data shows a sharp slowdown in growth. Gross domestic product rose by one-point-six-percent in the first quarter, against expectations of two-point-four-percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has been down more than 650 points at times in today's session. The Nasdaq has been down over 200 points at times as well.       Texas Governor Greg Abbott says pro-Palestinian protesters in Austin are antisemitic and "belong in jail." The Republican also said students who join protests at any public college or university in Texas "should be expelled." This comes after hundreds of students walked out of classes Wednesday at the University of Texas and began a sit-in protest to support civilians in Gaza who are being bombed by Israel.        Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is having his conviction for sex crimes in New York overturned. The New York Court of Appeals ruled Weinstein did not receive a fair trial. The court found the judge in his trial made an error allowing women to testify about alleged sexual assaults committed by Weinstein that were not part of the charges against him. Weinstein was also sentenced in Los Angeles in February of last year to 16 years in prison after he was convicted of rape and that conviction still stands. The New York court has ruled a new trial must take place.       The NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit tonight. The Chicago Bears have the first pick and are widely expected to select University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams. Quarterbacks are also expected to be taken by the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots with the second and third picks. The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers round out the teams drafting in the top five picks.        

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