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In the News… recap for week ending Oct. 5, 2024
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Rhode Island Catholic received the Publick Occurrences Award by the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) for its “Israel at War Series,” deemed “a remarkable 4-part report on the conflict in Israel and Gaza, written from firsthand observations.”
The Newport City Council passing a resolution that directs the city manager to explore relocation options and funding mechanisms to restore and preserve Easton’s Beach Carousel
Newport refused to ban new short term rentals
Dr. De LaTorre stepping down as Steward Hospitals CEO
NBC10 Boston has laid off five members of its “special projects” team, which includes investigative journalists.
The Seasons Assisted Living in East Greenwich will soon be part of Saint Elizabeth Community, the state’s largest nonprofit provider of eldercare
The Wayland Square Diner on the East Side of Providence is closing, saying “failed lease negotiations” were the cause
Pizzeria Uno in Smithfield to close, also notes lease agreement was too expensive
CVS laying off 2,900 workers, less than 1% of their workforce, and is considering structural changes, specifically involving Aetna Health.
Pro-Palestine supporters will hold a demonstration at the RI State House on Oct. 5th, just prior to the anniversary of the massacre in Israel by the Hamas
Lifespan has finalized its acquisition of Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, and Morton Hospital in Taunton, Massachusetts.
Norman Bird Sanctuary celebrates its 75th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of its Harvest Fair this weekend
Homes in Cranston and Johnston will begin being bought out by federal programs due to flooding from Pocasset River
US Attorney General Merrick Garland visited the Rhode Island US Attorney’s Office
Ocean State Oyster Festival takes place at a new venue this year: 195 District Park along the Providence River. On October 5
MA Gov blocked proposal for a National Guard machine gun range on the Cape
New proposed Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement between the City of Providence and Lifespan confirmed – first formal PILOT agreement between Lifespan and the City, providing $1.5 million in voluntary contributions over 3 years to the City – the first voluntary payment in three years
Nantucket’s South Church Preservation Fund is advising the community that the Unitarian Church bell will go silent for six-month starting on Oct. 15 as it undergoes repairs
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded a $1.3 billion contract to Pratt & Whitney, in East Hartford, CT, to modernize the engines used in military fighter jets and help protect jobs
RI Airport CE, Iftikhar Ahmad held a news conference to talk about the anonymous emails to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on what they say were false claims of a toxic workplace and of a walkout harmed the airport financially, and efforts to support and/or break the union.
Crossroads says over 7,000 will be homeless this year in Rhode Island
RI Rental Registry – Delays and errors plagued the new website where landlords are required to register rental properties and provide evidence of work done to remove lead-based paint work done to remove lead-based paint in older properties.
Amherst, MA may build a joint 40-bed homeless shelter and 30-unit single-room occupancy apartment complex at the site of the former Veterans of Former Wars property.
Moosup Valley bridge now one lane until 2026, for repairs
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport has been named one of the top ten airports in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards
South Kingstown will use at least 3 empty schools for homeless housing and eventually to build lower income housing
Seats are being installed at Tidewater Landing for soccer in Pawtucket
The City of Providence, and MENTOR Rhode Island will use $1M ARPA funds to administer Relationships at the Center, an initiative that will support 20 community organizations and serve more than 1,000 youth.
Johnson & Wales University is celebrating its 110th anniversary
Providence Teachers Union President Maribeth Calabro is running for president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (Boston Globe) – Cynthia Robles, VP, will take over.
West Place Animal Sanctuary announced the death of Erna, a Crested Pekin duck, who passed away at 17-and-a-half years old, the last of their original rescues from 2007, and believed to be the oldest duck in RI, and perhaps the country.
North Kingstown house in contest for Scariest House in America – new reality show which began airing 10/4
The MBTA’s Green Line Extension is back in operation after a derailment Tuesday afternoon sent several passengers to the hospital
Johnston HS new construction will be paused to determine size. State approved size which is less than currently enrolled numbers. Town Council and Mayor agree on pause.
Boston Mayor to give out 225 new liquor licenses
Rate increases coming for MV and Nantucket ferries
New Yorkers headed to Nantucket for the island’s annual Christmas Stroll can now get there with dedicated Cape Air flights – $1400 roundtrip
Tonight’s Waterfire will be the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation Waterfire
Newport City Council is looking at ways to calm traffic on Admiral Kalbfus Road, including adding bike lanes and limiting truck access, after residents voiced concerns about safety and increased traffic.
An invasive pest from China and Vietnam called the spotted lanternfly has been identified in a handful of western Massachusetts towns
The U.S. Naval War College will celebrate its 140th anniversary today with a special ceremony.
Audrain’s Newport Concours & Motor Week, 50th Anniversary Harvest Fair, Cardines Classic this weekend
Michael Browner Jr., Ph.D. appointed to the Rhode Island Ethics Commission – currently principal of Frank E. Thompson Middle School in Newport
Pleasant View Elementary School will have a ribbon cutting to recognize it as the fourth new or like-new school opened in the Providence District
TODAY – Providence Roller Derby celebrates their 20th anniversary with a ‘Creepy Carnival’ double-header event. PRD
Johnston Elementary School will have a topping off and beam signing event on their new construction on Oct. 22nd
RIDEM is buying Sweet’s Hill, with plans to add the 151 acre East Avenue lot in Burrillville to an existing recreation area, and maintain it as open space.
Rhode Island Commerce infrastructure projects to improve broadband service for an estimated 6,700 locations in Jamestown, Newport, and Westerly will be Verizon and GoNetspeed. $25M will be spent in one of two rounds of projects
Anna Cano Morales, former vice president of external relations and DEI at Rhode Island College, will receive a severance of $180,000, a year’s salary, plus a stipend for health care.
November 9th to 17th will be a program with Sicily to promote climate change issues
Casino Training Academy opens at CCRI
TF Green Airport and employees involved in toxic workplace claims, each side blaming the other
Great Pumpkin Contest declared a winner from Sharon, MA – noting there were fewer entries than previously, with “growing conditions” attributed
Geoffrey Noble sworn in as head of the MA State Police, formerly of Rhode Island
Stop & Shop facing price gouging charges in MA
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
In Florida, entire town of Steinhatchee wiped out by Hurricane Helene
Chevron will buy Hess for $53 Billion
Samsung will cut thousands of jobs throughout its company
2 or 3 state police departments are using AI to write a police report generated from their body cam – it interprets, then with a chance for edits to be done
CNN will begin experimenting with charging some readers for digital access as part of a bid to shore up its business as cable television erodes industrywide
The Commander of Hezbollah’s Preventative Security Unit and a member of their Executive Council, Nabil Qaouk, was eliminated in a precise IDF strike.
Usha Vance, wife of VP candidate JD Vance has left the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
DNA testing company 23andMe may not be long for this world, with uncertain results for all the genetic data it now owns
A new drug to treat Alzheimer’s is about to become available
Pres. Jimmy Carter, turned 100
An explosion at a Japanese airport was determined to be from a WWII American bomb underneath the tarmac
California Gov signed bill banning foods with 6 food dyes, additives from school lunch program
Prince’s Purple Rain house is now a BNB
Legacy students will not have an advantage in application to California private colleges beginning in 2025, per a bill passed by Gov. Newsome
Verizon experienced wide outage at the beginning of the week – slowly getting restored
Colleges and universities crack down on protests on campus – try to restore emphasis on education and safety on campus – record decrease in admissions at several schools
5 additional immigrants arrested on Nantucket for “violent crimes”
Direct TV will buy Dish for $1
Verizon will sell cell towers for $3.3Billion to Vertical Bridge
45% of people will not get fall/winter vaccines – flu, COVID, etc.
After a 15 year hiatus, the legendary Orient Express train service (Paris-Istanbul) will be returning in 2025.
Starbucks have 500 stores that have unionized
Florida makes living on sidewalks or in tents illegal
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The WHO wants to decrease deaths by 2.5% every year, saving 2.5 million lives over 20 years.
CNN & Verge are asking people to pay a subscription
Special Counsel Jack Smith tries to keep case alive against Pres. Donald Trump after Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity – released previously redacted content
Target plans to hire 100K holiday workers and will offer less expensive items
A Nintendo Museum opened in Japan – there is a lottery to gain admission
New trend to have parties early in the day so people can get to bed early, as the young people get older – some times are 5pm to 10pm – others are even held in the morning.
US Govt. says it will not have enough money to respond to the 2024-2025 Hurricane season
Pope Francis holds Synod of Bishops at the Vatican
Use of condoms among young people, particularly college age is declining, due to better birth control medications
Amazon will hire 250K seasonal workers
Dockworkers strike is suspended until mid-January
Augusta National Golf Course, with nationals set for April, 2025, sustained flooding damage and renovations are underway
PC Women’s Basketball set to play 4 games on national TV
Garth Brooks charged with sexual assault 5+ years ago, which he denies, saying she has been demanding millions of dollars for the past year – he says “this is human behavior I am not capable of”.
Caitlin Clark named WNBA Rookie of the Year
Pres. Biden’s newest student loan forgiveness plan shot down by judge
Melania Trump reaffirmed her support for women’s right to choose, regarding abortion
IV supplies are being conserved, because Baxter Int’l, which makes the majority of them, is closed due to flooding in North Carolina.
TODAY, Elon Musk will campaign with Pres. Donald Trump in Butler, PA, where the assassination attempt took place
UN report says food prices have risen the most in the past 18 months in September
Jobs numbers added 254,000 jobs in September, significantly more than the 150,000 expected. Unemployment rate is now 4.1% with hiring most in service industries relating to bars and restaurants and fast-food, healthcare and construction
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PASSINGS
John Amos, 84, actor
John Ashton, 76, actor, Beverly Hills Cop
Bahij Ibrahim Boutros, “David” 57, South Kingstown, owner of Baja’s Restaurants in RI
Drake Hogestyn, 70, actor who played John Black lead on Days of our Lives, of pancreatic cancer
Kris Kristofferson, 88, singer and actor, at his home in Hawaii
Dikembe Mutombo, 58, NBA player who stood 7’3”
Ken Page, 70, did voiceovers for CATS, etc.
Pete Rose, 83, Cincinnati Reds, never installed into the Baseball Hall of Fame
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