In the news… summary on May 4, 2024

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Women can join the New Bedford Feast Committee now, voted on unanimously

Rustic Drive-In is now open

Newport full time residents with house values below $1.1 million will not have a property tax increase

No. Prov. will be the first city to compost all left over food from school lunch program

3 homeless encampments are being shut down in Fall River within a few days

Johnston Elementary School groundbreaking TODAY, 10am

$1.3 million in direct grants and supports for businesses hurt by the closure of the Washington Bridge. East Providence will receive $600,000 distribute to businesses. $400,000 going to Providence for the same purpose. $300,000 will go to the Executive Office of Commerce to support businesses in other communities, or be redirected to Providence and East Providence

New traffic pattern for I-95 viaduct, routes 6 annd 10 all being worked on on Friday and Saturday night

Bally’s Twin River has a new non-smoking area

The Gaspee Days Committee Grand Marshal for the Gaspee Days Parade will be Dean Scanlon, owner of Revolution American Bistro in Cranston.

Commencement Speakers:  Johnson & Wales, Dale Venturini – Rhode Island College, Gov. McKee

RI Ethics Commission agrees to take under investigation nepotism charges against Cranston Mayor Hopkins made by a former aide to former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung.

Former No. Prov. Employee arrested after harassing NP Mayor Lombardi

Attorneys for the state, investigating the Washington Bridge, have notified several companies to notify their attorneys to be prepared:  AECOM, Cardi Corporation, Barletta Heavy Division, Aetna Bridge, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Michael Baker International and others

RI hotel workers took to the streets in an informational picket over staffing cuts

Washington Bridge East Providence police detail has topped $500K

Jed Thorpe leaving Clearwater RI to become Director of Advocacy at Save the Bay RI

Mt. Hope Bridge fully open again, 2 weeks ahead of schedule

RI Journalism Hall of Fame will induct Barry Fain, John Pantalone, and James Rhea

RI housing legislation seeks to mandate statewide rules over city/town regs, such as building housing in commercial zones, apartments over shopping strips, mobile homes on any single family lot.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

2 dozen Republicans in the House are set to retire or not run for re-election

Cuba says it is running short of cash

Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after his return to jail following his court appearance

World Central Kitchen has started up again in Gaza

SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites

rue21 clothing stores to close – after 3rd bankruptcy filing

Cicadas invading the south – historic bugs, estimated to be trillions with extremely loud callings – one kind comes out every 13 years, another every 17 years, this year both at once – with Illinois being the central spot – could be as loud as 100 decibels (lawn mower loud)

Massive flooding and destruction in Kenya

United Methodists lifts ban on LGBT becoming clergy

CNN’s Poppy Harlow leaving after fall lineup did not have an anchor position for her

4 officers shot, 4 more shot and killed in No. Carolina, while trying to serve a warrant

$1.3B Powerball winner is immigrant in cancer treatment. Says he will use money to get the best doctor – winnings will be split with another person, and his wife

Pres. Donald Trump fined $9,000 for violating gag order and warned him that the next could become a jail term

Dave & Buster’s will allow betting on arcade games

House passing new anti-Semitism definition bill – unclear if it will pass in the Senate

CVS stock dropped 16% in one day

Arizona abortion ban repealed by Gov. – a new restriction “after 15 weeks” takes its place

Hasbro stock rallies after last quarter big dip

In NYC, 25% of those arrested as protesters were not affiliated in any way with colleges/universities.

The George W. Bush Institute will loan the past president’s color portraits of service members and veterans to Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion.  

The Iranian university, Shiraz University has offered scholarships to students expelled from U.S. and European universities due to their anti-Israel protests.

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PASSINGS

Janice Glynn, 69, long time anchor of WPRI-TV12

Chuck Wentworth, 72, founder of RI Rhythm & Roots Festival