In the news… update for Nov. 19, 2022

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

DEM Director Terry Gray appointed Susan Forcier as the agency’s deputy director of environmental protection.

The Newport Illuminated Boat Parade will return to Newport Harbor for its 25th anniversary at 6 p.m., Nov. 25. All are invited to watch the free parade of lighted boats compete for best decorated.

Dr. William Buonanno, orthopedic surgeon in RI, will retire

Narragansett’s policy of renting a home to no more than 3 students per house has been turned over by a superior court judge – 800 students were waiting for rooms at URI at the beginning of the school year – with 250 left on the waiting list last month.

Massachusetts is once again turning to vacant hotel rooms for emergency shelter

Connecticut hospitals may ask for National Guard help in dealing with RSV overload.

The Rhode Island FC (Football Club) logo and crest was unveiled and a 39 RI city/town tour took place to put a flag in each RI location. The team will play at Pawtucket’s Tidewater Landing stadium.

Cranston police are running a food drive to help local military veterans in need. The drive is in coordination with the Johnston-based veteran nonprofit Operation Stand Down. This drive lasts until the end of November. A donation box is located in the Cranston police station lobby at 5 Garfield Ave.

Operation Stand Down RI still soliciting gift cards for veterans – they may be dropped off at their Johnston location

Aldi, Walmart, Kroger say they are reducing prices for Thanksgiving

Walgreens is closing some stores in certain areas in the Boston area – and some have accused the company of “racism” over the selection of where those stores will close

Blue State Coffee closing on Thayer Street after 18 years

Ticketmaster is malfunctioning after tickets went on sale for Taylor Swift in MA, and all sales are now halted

Missiles that landed in Poland were an “accident” from the Russian/Ukrainian war – more than likely Ukrainian missiles trying to take down Russian launched missiles

3 past Providence mayors (Paolino, Tavares, Elorza) met with incoming Mayor Smiley to recommend ways to improve education – change management structure, invest in upgraded buildings, invest in out of school learning time, and work with key stakeholders and amplify their voices.

The ribbon on the “Bear Ground” play structure was cut at Roger Williams Park and new art installations were shown.

RSV is posing an absenteeism problem for students and adults in Providence schools

Haverhill, MA HS has ended its football team activity for the year and suspended coaches due to a hazing incident

Charter School applications will be accepted through March 16, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. All charter school lotteries will be held in early April 2023. Families can learn more about our individual charter schools by attending a scheduled open house. www.richarterschools.com.

South County Hospital had to suspend surgeries on Thursday due to computer and phone issues.

On Nov. 10, a new state regulation took effect that allows appropriately-licensed emergency medical service workers − or EMTs − to work in hospital emergency rooms. Their participation cannot pose a problem for their regular-employment locations.

West Warwick HS hazing incident involving their football team is being investigated

A Providence school system related memo was leaked to the public and press highly critical of management – one school board member has resigned

94% of all classrooms are currently staffed with a full-time teacher, leaving approximately 110 classrooms without one, PPSD Chief Communications Officer Nicholas Domings told the Brown Daily Herald. 77 new teachers were hired this summer/fall, but most of those new hires are substitute teachers, teaching assistants and clerks, not full-time, permanent teachers.

Burns Power Tools, an 88-year-old family business in Fall River, was destroyed in a 5-alarm fire on Monday night

Lifespan Corp. has named John Fernandez, current president of Mass Eye and Ear and Mass General Brigham Integrated Care, its next CEO and president

Over 100 people with benefit “credit cards” from Rhode Island works and SNAP have been subject to a skimming action with approximately $500 taken on average. RI DHS is contacting card holders impacted to make them whole. People are reminded to keep their cards safe and their PIN #s private.   

Westerly Hospital has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group in a bi-annual report card released today. This national distinction celebrates Westerly Hospital’s achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors.

$10 Million Reparations budget signed by Mayor Elorza – goal to close the wealth gap that separate people because of inequity.

Rhode Island Board of Elections completed recounts in five General Election 2022 races. No outcomes were changed as a result of recount results.

Jerry Zerrella, who as a Republican led Donald Trump’s campaign in RI has left the party and is now an Independent.

RI is expected to have a $610 million surplus

3 police officers/cars were hit in the past week alone – officials urge drivers to “be more alert”

Silhouettes, described as an “African-American strip club in Providence is suing the city for racial profiling of their customers

Rep. Langevin sponsors a bill to allow lithium-ion batteried wheelchairs on planes after his was denied access

The men’s tie industry is seeing dramatic downtown in sales as a more casual “workforce” is acceptable

Hasbro looking to see their Entertainment One division

Jim Vincent has been voted out as President of the NAACP-Providence Chapter

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Twitter Blue Checkmark on hold for now

John Kerry said there will be a climate change plan modeled after the vaccine rollout – climate trace app for CO2 monitoring, etc. 4 trillion dollars have been spent to reduce fossil fuels by only 1%. Kerry said we should spend 4 trillion each and every year, a doubling down of money and payment to companies.

The World Health Organization noted this year that anxiety and depression increased by 25% across the globe in just the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Banksy, street artist who no one has ever seen, painted a picture of a gymnast on an outdoor wall in the Ukraine

The NYC Christmas Tree will be lit ceremoniously on Nov. 30

800 people tested positive on cruise ship disembarking in Australia

Boston is the 4^th most expensive zip code in the US, noted by CNBC, with a median home price of $699,500

The head of border patrol, after initially refusing to resign, has resigned

University of Idaho – 4 students found dead in home – officials call it a “crime of passion”

UVA – 3 students killed, a critically injured, and 1 with minor injuries after a shooting on a school bus by a fellow student. Shooter captured. All appear to be members or supporters of the school’s football team.

Jay Leno burned in a fire while working on a car – burns on the side of his face and he is hospitalized at a burn center with 7% of his body with burns, the worst are on his face and hand – he’s undergone 2 surgeries and is being treated with “alternative” therapies according to medical team.

Days of Our Lives’ John Aniston has died at 89, announced by his daughter, Jennifer Aniston

Olympics mascots – The Phryges – were chosen in France. They represent the tipped red cap of the French revolution and other efforts to assure liberty and freedom. Pronounced “The Fridges”.

Roberta Flack diagnosed with ALS, leaving her unable to sing.

Amazon will lay off approx. 10,000 corporate and tech employees

Twitter will end free lunch policy at their corporate offices

Pharmaceutical shortages being reported – antibiotics such as amoxicillin; also aderall and Tamiflu

US Soccer team replaces red, white, and blue colors with rainbow colors while playing in a Muslin country

Walmart settles for $3Billion over pharmacies’ opioid sales

The chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Thierry Bollore, has resigned citing “personal reasons”, just days after the automaker reported an improvement in its financial performance.

Kevin Spacey facing 7 new sexual assault charges

Artemis, the most powerful rocket launched by the US, a pre-trip to the moon mission, successfully launched and will return in approx. a week

Donald Trump announced he will run for President again in 2024

Democratic leaders have said that investigations will coordinate against former president Donald Trump – incoming Republican leaders have said they will begin an investigation into Hunter Biden, focused at President Biden.

World population hits 8 billion

Buses of migrants are now arriving in Philadelphia

Hearing loss may impact as many as 1 billion people because, primarily, to the use of ear buds and headphones.

FDA wants naloxone (Narcan) available over the counter

With a zero tolerance policy toward COVID announced in China, one case identified at a university in Beijing closed the entire school and put people into lockdown.

Starbucks union workers are on strike in US (none in RI)

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, has stepped down as speaker but will remain in congress, though not in a leadership role

4-5 feet of snow expected from Michigan to New York in next 3 days

Bitcoin down by 70% – attention turning to celebrities who endorsed the “fraudulent scheme” – $11 billion loss estimated and promoters could be held responsible for part or all of the losses

Alcohol banned at world soccer club stadiums – available in reception areas

Hunter Biden will be subpoenaed by new House of Representatives, now under Republican control, for his dealings in business and influence with the President

Pennsylvania District Attorney impeached

The WHO reports that half of the world’s population (45% or 3.5 billion people) suffer from oral diseases, with 3 out of every 4 affected people living in low- and middle-income countries.

Al Roker, weatherperson/celebrity for The Today Show and NBC is hospitalized with blood clots

North Korea launches another missile, this one with distance to reach the US

Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos has been sentenced to 11 years in her fraud trial. She has a 1 year old and is pregnant with her 2nd child – they will appeal

Ukraine has most of its power restored after attacks on its electrical grid – warm centers and charging centers are also open and train service restored to Kherson – most Ukrainians do not own autos

Dylan Dreyer, meteorologist for NBC10 took the youngest 2 of her 3 sons to the hospital and they’re admitted with RSV and doing well – her youngest was born premature with lung issues

7 million Twitter followers voted on Elon Musk’s poll on whether or not Donald Trump should be restored to Twitter, w/overwhelming majority saying yes – the poll is still ongoing

About 50 migrants from Ecuador, Argentina, and Nicaragua have been bused to VP Harris’ residence in Washington, DC

FIFA World Cup begins in Qatar, first winter world cup, first in a Muslim country

The Biden administration said the crown prince should be shielded from lawsuits over his role in the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

John Kerry tests positive for COVID at COP27 conference – fully vaccinated and boosted, he has mild symptoms and working with negotiators from isolation

Border walls are being reinforced, made higher, etc. between Russia and Finland – Poland and Russia – Lithuania and Belarus – Russia and Belarus – and throughout Europe to limit illegal immigration

California to allocate $1 billion to the homeless issue

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PASSINGS

John Aniston, 89, long time actor on Days of Our Lives

John D. “Jack” Coyle, Jr., 91, North Attleboro Police Chief

Carol Metivier, 89, wife of former Pawtucket Mayor Metivier