In the news… for February 25, 2023

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

10,448 Massachusetts residents moved to Rhode Island from 2019 to 2020

Mayor Smiley noted that if a panhandler is IN the street, they can be sited or otherwise moved – but if they are on the sidewalk they cannot

Historic Map Night was held at the Rhode Island State Archives on Feb. 22nd

MA BCBS will continue to pay for telehealth as it does for regular office visits

Rep. David Cicilline will resign from congress to become CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation – story to follow…

S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed its negative outlook on Care New England Health System and kept the state’ second largest hospital group’s B+ bond rating in pl

Federal Hill restaurants will close roads now only on Saturday from May to October

Honeywell to close, putting 100 workers out of work

Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL) is accepting applications for the 2023 Catherine T. Murray Memorial Scholarship of $1,000.  Deadline is 3/24. Applicants should have a significant disability and be going on to college or technical advanced training. [email protected] for more info

Twin River has brought poker back

RI gets $64M+ for small business

There is a bill in RI to reimburse SNAP recipients who had the extra benefits due to COVID times – that would be about $7,800,000 a month – 80,000 people getting $95 per month – this would run from July through December

Michelle Muscatello, meteorologist, announced she is leaving WPRI

Britney Trumpy, meteorologist, will leave WPRI in April

The Northern RI Collaborative intends to close – they serve special needs children for several school districts

Judge Richard Licht, who was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street in front of the RI State House is recovering now at Spaulding Rehab, after having surgery at RI Hospital for undisclosed serious injuries.

The MBTA will soon publish disclosure information on “slow zones” in its system, due to poor infrastructure, requiring trains to run as slowly as 25 MPH

Edits of Roald Dahl’s children’s books have now been undone and restored – consumers can now buy the original or the edited versions (i.e., fat kids was changed to take out the word ‘fat’)

Central Falls Parks and Recs Deputy Director Mavy Pineda is this years RI Cherry Blossom Princess

Winters Elementary School in Pawtucket, closed due to water damage, will reopen on Monday

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Penis size has increased 24% (4.8 to 6 inches, erect) since 1942, researchers looking at chemical exposure from pesticides and hygienic products – called endocrine-disruptors – also attributed in earlier puberty over the years for both boys and girls.

15% of workers polled nationally so “no amount of money” would make them go back to work 5 days a week

North Korea has launched several ballistic missiles – as tests – one, according to officials could reach every corner of the US

A Florida news crew was fired upon while covering the story of a shooting – one journalist died and others have been injured

Catholic Bishop David O’Connell shot and killed in his home in Los Angeles

5 shot, 1 killed in New Orleans Mardi Gras parade

Afghanistan will ban contraception

NPR to layoff 10% of their staff, sites major loss of ad revenue – will impact about 100 people

Don Lemon was off the CNN morning program which he anchors due to his comment about women reaching their prime – he returned with a re-training program and apologized on air

Pres. Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv.

Michael Jordan gave $10M to Make A Wish Foundation to mark his 60^th birthday

Andrew Lloyd Webber has completed an original anthem for King Charles’ coronation

Adderall is in short supply as people are using it for weight loss.

Turkey & Syria hit with another earthquake, 6.2, with new buildings collapsing

Baby formula recall of a soy-based Enfamil plant-based powder formula

Jen Psaki will debut “Inside with Jen Psaki” on 3/19 at noon on MSNBC

Heavy snow falling in California

Starbucks CEO has said unions have no place in his company – and that people are so impacted by life issues and political issues that they are mixing them up with the workplace.

50,000 people went to Kentucky for a 13 day, 24/7 prayer event

CDC has added COVID vaccines to children’s list – they suggest from 6 mos old and up – 2 vaccines followed by a booster

Vivek Ramaswamy, a wealthy tech entrepreneur has announced to run for Presssident

SEC fines Mormon Church for hiding more than $32 billion in shell investment vehicles for many years

Trial of Murdaugh murders has continued live on television this week

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo called for broad support of $52billion effort to restore the U.S. as the world leader in advanced computer chips. This will help us be independent of China, while training thousands if not hundreds of thousands of workers and ancillary industry workers.

US commits to another $2Billion to Ukraine

Pres. Biden says he has no plans to visit the Ohio train accident community in East Palestine

Alabama will resume executions after a 3-month study of the policy

Unconfirmed reports that China has called on Russia to cease fire with Ukraine

Spring training has opened for baseball