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In the News… recap for week ending Dec. 14, 2024
Each week we publish a quick synopsis of news notes of the week – in Rhode Island, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Stefan Pryor who headed Housing in RI is now a partner in Palm Venture Studios – closest office is in Boston – specializing in turnaround capital for early-stage startups.
Hadley Affordable Housing Trust Fund putting $100K into a nearly $20M redevelopment of the former Econo Lodge hotel on Route 9, Framingham, into a mix of 51 one-bedroom and studio apartments for low-and moderate-income residents.
RI Department of Housing will produce a report on housing governance by December 31. The report should offer recommendations for institutional changes to define clearer lines of authority between the state’s various housing agencies and offer proposals for a more formal relationship between the Department, RIHousing, and the Housing Resources Commission. – per RIPEC
50th anniversary of The Nantucket Christmas Stroll met with continual electrical outages all day Saturday, leaving some businesses and restaurants closed. Insurance companies said their losses will not be covered.
East Greenwich HS had antisemitic graffiti found in the boys’ bathrooms
Salve Regina will build a new dorm for approx. 250 students
Nantucket Hunting Assoc will move forward with plans for an indoor shooting range that would include a 2,160-square-foot main building, a below-grade 50-yard rifle/pistol range, and an area for a future 100-yard below-grade range.
Mass & Cass problems with homelessness and drugs have moved to Nubian Square
The smoke shop off Thayer St took the name Brown Smoke Shop – it is now doing away with that for unknown reasons
RI ranked 47th out of 50 for charitable giving. Worst than RI is Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. In New England, Maine is #4, New Hampshire, #24, Vermont, #26 Massachusetts, #30 and Connecticut, #31. (Wallet Hub)
Safe Injection site in Prov opens – part of $5M, 4-year research project between Brown and NYC with NIH
American Bridge Company (PA) & MLJ Contracting (NY) joint proposal – and Waltz Construction (CHICAGO) are the two company proposals narrowed to from the original 5 to rebuild the Washington Bridge. One will be selected from the two.
RI Energy had 25,000 people without power during this week’s rain – with over 7,000 still out the next day in Kent Co.
Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Aquidneck Island and across North America
Albertsons Cos. Inc., the owner of Shaw’s, ends plans to merge with Kroger.
Hemenway’s will close for a few months starting in January for renovations
The cancer care tower of the Phillip and Susan Ragon Building now under construction will be named for the owner of the chain of Boston-area car dealerships – Herb Chambers
Drones continue to appear at night in several states – RI’s Johnston has seen 6-8 at once. Other drone sitings in Warren and over TF Green Airport, around Cranston.
Gov. McKee holds emergency press conference to announce a massive cybersecurity breach in its health and human services benefits software called RIBridges which resulted in the state shutting the system down and advising cautions for anyone using the system to apply or receive benefits. (see video & story: https://rinewstoday.com/hundreds-of-thousands-in-rhode-island-could-be-impacted-by-massive-cybersecurity-breach/)
Poplar Point Lighthouse will once again be lit – it is privately owned and has been restored
Nephew of Chief Perez, Prov. PD, to be sentenced as “drug kingpin”
Selena Gomez engaged
Crown of Thorns has been returned to Notre Dame Cathedral
Gov. of Taunton rec’d 6 mos probation for an altercation with her husband
WBUR cancels “Radio Boston”, after a 15 year run
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
STAT news lays off 11
Phil Robertson, ‘Duck Dynasty’ diagnosed With Alzheimer’s
Dick Van Dyke, 98, says his son is 74, and he is aware that his last day could be “any day now”
US Appeals Court rules Sanctuary Cities can’t stop deportations “Appeals Court just ruled the US can deport illegal immigrants even if local governments oppose those removals” “This validates is the ability for ICE to do their job.
Syria has fallen to rebels, Assad has fled
Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals
Notre Dame Cathedral opened amid pomp and circumstance, with Macron, Pres-elect in attendance – Mrs. Biden – Zelenskyy – and other world leaders. Several side meetings were held.
Nation’s milk supply will be tested for bird flu – first states up will be California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Oregon
$1 Billion more from US to war in Ukraine
Young families are leaving large cities – especially Boston, San Francisco, New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Seattle, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Suspect in UHC CEO killing arrested in PA at a McDonald’s after an employee called authorities. A manifesto was found, along with the gun used. Luigi Mangione of Maryland. Masters from UPenn. Valedictorian from his high school. Lived in Hawaii where he suffered a back injury while surfing and had “unsuccessful” surgery and lived in constant pain. His family had lost touch for about a year, his mother filing a missing person’s report 4 months ago. He is fighting extradition to NY.
Daniel Penny found innocent on all charges coming from the subway incident where the person he was restraining for his violent outburst later died
Word of the Year by Merriam Webster – polarization
Taylor Swift ends her ERAS tour – earning $2Billion more
Gangs in Haiti on a murdering spree – having killed nearly 200, primarily elderly
Tokyo moves to 4-day work week to encourage family growth
8% of Americans still do not have health insurance
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 79, Pres. of Brazil undergoes emergency brain surgery for a brain bleed – resting in ICU.
Greg Gutfeld, host of “The Five” on Fox network, #1 show of its kind in the market has been off the air for 2 weeks – he and his wife, Elena, now announced they had a baby girl, Mira.
Dick Van Dyke was rescued from his Miami home, located in a wildfire area
SpaceX headquarters now moved to Starbase, Texas
Joseph de Soto, elected to serve as a delegate in the West Virginia House, was arrested for making “several threatening/intimidating threats against government officials
Nancy Pelosi, hospitalized in Luxumberg after an incident while on a government trip
Crystal Mangum, the former exotic dancer who accused three Duke men’s lacrosse players of rape in 2006, igniting a national firestorm, now says she lied about the encounter.
Officials at Buckingham Palace are promising to follow a “robust disciplinary process” after a staffer — a housemaid — was arrested at a Christmas party at a local bar for her behavior. The woman is alleged to have tried to assault a member of bar staff and broken a glass.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been impeached by the National Assembly over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law
Pres-elect Trump says he is committed to eliminate Daylight Savings Time
King Charles has been informed that a close confidante of the Duke of York, known as H6, has been identified as a Chinese threat to the country.
The Mirror is reporting that King Charles ordeal with cancer has had a profound impact on the palace, “hastening preparations for Prince William‘s ascent to the throne”.
Macy’s announced its Bold New Chapter strategy, calling to shutter 65 stores after the holidays
Increasing concern about the spread of bird flu in the US
Conan Obrien‘s parents died, 3 days apart
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PASSINGS
Luigi Manocchio, 97, organized crime leader in RI
Blessings to Dick Van Dyke who just celebrated his 99th birthday.
Mr. Van Dyke lives in Malibu, California which was subjected to wildfires.