In the news… summary for July 5, 2022

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Gurney’s in Newport sells for $174 million

Twin River employees vote to strike – then voted to delay that action by 2 weeks

NEARI President Lawrence Purtill will retire in December.

Pawtucket reminded taxpayers they no longer will receive a Motor Vehicle tax bill effective immediately. 

Jennifer Lee, a physical therapist, will lead the VNA of Care New England starting on Aug. 9.

29 percent of Mass. public school students contracted Covid during the academic year. In a few districts, it was more than 50 percent.

Massachusetts has over 25 new reported cases of monkeypox.

Nicholas S. Ucci will be stepping down as the Commissioner of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER). His last day of State service will be July 23, 2022.

Over the holiday weekend, law enforcement agencies across the state participated in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over impaired driving awareness campaign. Officers patrolled the roadways looking for signs of impaired drivers and agencies deployed Drug Recognition Experts to monitor the roads for drivers operating under the influence of cannabis.

RI Electrical Vehicle rebate program will provide rebates for qualified small businesses, non-profits, and public sector entities. Fleets may receive up to $2,500 for newBEVs or FCEVs and $1,500 for used BEVs or used FCEVs. Qualified organizations may be eligible for an additional $1,000 rebate if located within a municipality with the highest asthma rates due to traffic exposure. Entities may apply for up to five vehicles every twenty-four months. Individuals may qualify for up to $2,500

Pawtucket public pool opens July 3. Local police & fire are volunteering to fill in due to shortage of lifeguards, as they did last year.

Providence public pools open today.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse tested positive for COVID, and had mild symptoms.

Supreme Court ruling on EPA restrictions is not expected to impact programs underway in RI, according to new head of RIDEM

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Mass shooting outside of Chicago – Highland Park – at July 4th parade – approx. 6 dead (5 confirmed adults), 24 injured. Suspect captured Monday night – Robert Crimo, III, a “rapper” with an extensive social media platform and videos portraying violence. He is a local resident. Victims were shot with rifle, which was recovered, from a rooftop down on the parade crowd. Hospitals initially overwhelmed with injured. Many police cars were in the parade, so able to respond quickly. 19 were released from the hospital, remaining victims are said to have extensive “war-like” injuries.

Forever stamps are raised to 60 cents each July 10, by US Post Office.

American Farm Bureau: Fourth food costs were up about $10 for most Americans.

National/international monkeypox specialists say there is risk the disease will get away from America due to its slow response.

48 million people traveled over July 4 holiday with many significant delays and cancellations.

Diapers are getting sales-tax holidays in Florida and Maryland

Native American groups said they have no plans to set up federal abortion clinics on their land, as has been suggested by some progressive groups. Military bases and veterans hospitals have also been suggested as locations for federal abortion clinics, by governor of NY.

Passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Michigan to Minnesota reported that the airline offered them $10,000 this week to give up their seat on an oversold flight – they paid people immediately via ApplePay

Gymnast Simone Biles and former Rep. Gabby Giffords will be awarded the President Medal of Freedom at the White House July 7. 17 in total to be awarded: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/01/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&stream=top

Amazon and drug stores are restricting sale of abortion pills due to overwhelming demand – CVS took their ban back and now are offering Plan B for sale with no quantity restrictions

CDC recommending the fall booster be reconfigured to be more specific to Omicron variants

Billionaire Mark Cuban has opened an online pharmacy offering over 800  generic medications at low cost, aiming to break extremely high prices of common meds from the pharmaceutical companies – https://costplusdrugs.com/

BioNTech, Pfizer to starting testing universal coronavirus vaccine in H2.

3 top male contenders at Wimbledon are out with COVID – raising concerns of an outbreak at the Grand Slam Tournament.

US to make over 1 million monkeypox vaccines available

Finland and Sweden will join NATO, a crushing blow to Russia

Party affiliations: In the last two years 1 million people have switched to being a Republican; 630,000 to being a Democrat

At least 53 migrants died in a locked tractor trailer at the Texas border

In a letter expected to be sent Thursday, dozens of reporters organized by freelance reporter BRIAN KAREM criticized press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE and the White House for continuing to restrict certain areas of the White House that were previously open to reporters when covering events before the pandemic. “The continued inability of the White House to be candid and transparent about the selection process for reporters attending his remarks undermines President Biden’s credibility when he says he is a defender of the First Amendment,” the letter said.

A recent NPR/Marist poll showed only 2 percent of Millennial and Gen Z voters said they strongly approve of Biden’s presidency.

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PASSINGS

Mark Gee, 79, of East Greenwich, former Senator,

Norm Leclair, cookbook writer, RI, 86

Mary Mara, 61, drowning, actress

Juan Robles, Prov police officer