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In the news….updates for Sept. 23, 2023
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos are co-chairing The Rodel Institute’s efforts in a few select states, RI being one, to build bridges where there has been partisan divide
Gather RI, a new organization to promote women and on-binary people run for office has formed in RI with progressive women at leadership – members 16 years and older can attend sessions.
Dr. Jha has said about taking the COVID vaccine: for older people, for high-risk people, this new vaccine is critical to preventing serious illness. And for young people, it’ll provide some protection against infection. It also provides some further protection against serious illness. So, I think young, healthy people benefit, but elderly people, high-risk people, they’d benefit enormously.”
Helena Foulkes will be the honorary chair of the 2023 Annual Awards Gala for the Rhode Island Black Business Association
Kristen Welker of NBC, who once worked at ABC6 in RI, is the new host of Meet the Press.
Apple Cider is the new Del’s Lemonade flavor
Both of the old East Bay Bike Path trestle bridges are being dismantled
Bristol Golf Park has opened – a public 9-hole course wedged into the space
Crazy Burger in Narragansett will be featured on Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives
Rhode Island FC – the independent soccer group – will hold tryouts on Saturday, November 11 at Providence Country Day School in East Providence
The University of Rhode Island’s former School of Education is now the Feinstein College of Education. As a college, it will expand its mission of developing future educators from pre-K through higher education, offer new degree programs that are relevant in preparing educators for today’s learners, and prepare education professionals for positions outside of the classroom, while emphasizing leadership practices in clinically based teacher education.
Newport parks with pickleball have proven so bothersome to neighbors that some parks want a ban put into effect
Touro Synagogue’s congregation given temporary stay on eviction.
Massachusetts birth rates have risen 4% from the time of the pandemic, reversing a years’ long decrease in birth rates
There were 69,127 births to Massachusetts residents in 2021, an increase of 4 percent over 2020.
Warwick city council votes to issue a $350M bond to build two new high schools.
A RI special legislative commission that will study the economic and social effects of the short-term rental industry begins meeting, chaired by Rep. Lauren H. Carson, of Newport
PVD Donuts for sale – saying mental health and personal reasons are why they are selling
TopGolf’s liquor license approved
West Warwick says ‘no’ to locating a homeless shelter in an old furniture store in the downtown area
An Indigenous Veterans Monument is now at the Exeter Veteran’s Cemetary
Professional women’s soccer team picks Boston for their team
MA state agencies prohibited from buying single use plastic water bottles
Kim Zandy, formerly of WPRO Radio, is now project manager for RI Kinship Community Connections
Wayfinder Hotel in Newport reopened after fire closed it over a year ago
East Greenwich extends its school day by 6 minutes – all to prevent any snow day from extending the day – and if not used, schools could dismiss earlier at the end of the year
MA wants $250M for migrant shelter services and expedited work permits
Mass & Cass homeless in Boston remain in place
Wood River Health Services goes to Mask Up status due to increased COVID in community
Providence Mayor Smiley launched the Comprehensive Plan Survey, to gather input from residents and stakeholders on the City’s future growth, sustainability, and policy initiatives. The survey is at plan.providenceri.gov/survey – until October 31.
The City of Pawtucket and the Slater Park Looff Carousel will be receiving a special award from the National Carousel Association (NCA).
Nantucket’s annual Cranberry Festival will no longer be held on Columbus Day weekend as production of cranberries continues to decline.
Patriot game attendee who died after an in-stand fight said to have died from an existing medical condition and not from the altercation, as determined on autopsy
A federal court has struck down a legal challenge to Rhode Island’s updated shoreline access law, preserving expanded public access to the state’s coastline. The decision dismisses a lawsuit submitted by the Rhode Island Association of Coastal Taxpayers
Gansett Craft Chocolate, a Narragansett located chocolate making business, won five titles in the International Chocolate Awards’ Americas Division.
Boston College men’s and women’s swim and diving teams suspended for hazing.
Block Island Police Chief Lynch has resigned, effective Oct. 1st – was chief for a year – new chief, Jamie Campbell, will take over, comes from Westerly.
New African Serval has been born at Roger Williams Park. Her name is Velma
Chronic absenteeism in Providence schools has decreased from 60% last year to 50% this year – in 2019 (pre-pandemic) it was 38%. Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing more than 10% of the school year.
Providence announced the city’s Overdose Prevention Plan, outlining the City’s program to invest in recovery and its long-term goals for behavioral health support in city departments.
Nearly a third of the voters in the Sept. 5th CD1 special primary election cast ballots by mail or early, in-person voting
Providence College and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) tied with Bentley University in Waltham, MA, for the top spot among regional higher education institutions in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report College and University Best Colleges rankings. Brown was in the Top 10 and Princeton Univ. was #1.
Brown Univ. reports its 2-day weekend will be just 1-day in 2024 due to budget cuts
Slater Park will reopen its dog park this weekend
Flock cameras will be going up in Pawtucket, latest city to authorize them
Fire at Harbourside Inn determined, preliminarily, to come from defective fire suppression system and a not properly cleaned kitchen exhaust system
Blackstone Valley International Food Trail has 80 participating restaurants: Here: https://tourblackstone.com/foodtrail/
RI Comic Con will be held in Providence Nov. 3-5, 2023
UMass Memorial at Leominster, MA is closing their maternity services today
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
An Indian outbreak of Nipah virus, which has no cure and can kill 75% of those it infects, is being ‘closely monitored’ by UK health leaders
Soccer league leaving Chicago for Atlanta
Head Coach of Univ. of Colorado football, Deion Sanders, has banned Mask Mandates for players and staff.
Princess Diana’s “sheep sweater” sold at auction for $1.1 million
Tesla produced its 5 millionth car
Richard Brand has had sexual assault allegations made against him – his talent agent has severed ties with him. Brand claims innocence.
Senate Majority Leader Schumer changes the Senate’s dress code to allow senators to wear whatever they want on the floor.
Undercooked tilapia results in cautions about eating undercooked fish as woman loses all 4 limbs due to bacterial infection
National health agencies monitor Google for COVID searches to determine if COVID is peaking.
The CDC has a new five-year plan to invest more than $250 million to create a national detection and warning system for infectious disease outbreaks. Part of that funding will go for research at Northeastern University and UMass.
Providence wants to be “America’s first Climate Jobs City” by enacting climate policies that ensure renewable energy, workforce development, decarbonization of buildings, and green infrastructure, among other goals.
CVS and other locations now have the new COVID vaccine available.
Amazon will release a new version of Alexa
Chicago Mayor may open a city-owned grocery because retailers have left the city due to crime and violence
Disney World had a bear running around the development and it has been captured and will be relocated.
U.S. national debt topped $33 trillion for first time in history
Cash bail payments eliminated in Illinois under a “pre-trial fairness act”
Hunter Biden request to appear in court by video has just been rejected by judge.
US military Jet Fighter was lost – but found, crashed, in So. Carolina – pilot had jettisoned out in a malfunction
FAFSA forms are being simplified
President gave temporary legal status and work ability to over 400,000 Venezuelan people coming over the border, thousands a day.
A town on Long Island said it would take any unwanted statues of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson or Christopher Columbus amid a push by “woke” NYC officials to have them removed from public display due to alleged ties with slavery and the mistreatment of Native Americans.
At least 10 states have considered programs that would make it easier for gig workers to access traditional workplace benefits, such as retirement or paid family leave.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) conducted a survey which reveals that almost 50% of parents with children under the age of 13 have given their kids melatonin to help them sleep at night.
66% of small businesses, according to the national chamber of commerce group say they are feeling positive about their business – up 10% from last quarter
Ukraine has received a $1.25 billion grant from the United States
Olive Oil prices up 130%
India has suspended visa services for Canadian nationals
Rupert Murdoch is stepping down, and his son will take on the position of chairman at Fox and News Corp
Jimmy Kimmel has COVID and his Vegas show with Colbert and Fallon is canceled
Steve Martin & Martin Short are canceling their shows this weekend because of COVID among the crew.
$325Million more in aid to Ukraine and first Abrams tanks for the country as Zelenskyy visits Washington – more millions in aid requested – some in congress wrote a letter in opposition
2 adults dead, 5 high school students fighting for their lives after band camp bus crash in Orange County, New York. Bus fell 50 feet. Dozens hurt.
First privately funded passenger rail line in US in more than a century began running in Florida (Orlando-Miami). It is anticipated to cut 30 minutes off the same trip by car – 3 ½ hours as compared to 4.
UAW strike is expected to increase at more facilities and an invitation has been made to Pres. Biden to walk with them.
Writers’ strike may come to an end this week as negotiations are close to agreement
10,000 migrants came over the Texas border in one day – 50-60,000 are heading to the border now
Dominican Republic has closed and strengthened its enforcement with Haiti
California courts have determined it is unconstitutional to limit ammunition capacity on guns
US undocumented immigrant population is estimated to be 10 million
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PASSINGS
Ginger Casey, 67, former NBC10 anchor
Gennaro “Gino” Castellano, 75, waiter captain at Capriccio’s
JoAnne A. Epps, 72, acting president of Temple University, died suddenly at a university event
Billy Miller, 43, soap opera star, of suicide, had battled bipolar depression
Roger Whittaker, 87, folk singer
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