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In the News… recap for week ending Dec. 21, 2024
Each Saturday we bring you an abbreviated “index” of stories of the week – those specific to the Rhode Island region and those beyond. We hope it is helpful to you in finding stories you would like to know more about:
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
The Natick Select Board proposed a policy on Wednesday that would make the town a “sanctuary city,” which would prohibit town employees from asking anyone their immigration status and bar local police from holding anyone on federal ICE detainers.
A ranking by a nonprofit tech firm called SmileHub named Massachusetts the best state to attend college
RIDOT says the Graystone Bridge in Johnston will be taken down and that they make decisions by the data and not what the public wants
Providence School Board President & VP have not reapplied for their positions
Everett Leader Herald newspaper to shutter after 139 years as part of a settlement of a defamation lawsuit won by the Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria.
RI Treasurer Diossa announced that families of children enrolled in childcare centers can receive a one-time $100 CollegeBound incentive if they open an account before the end of the year.
A Special Master will now have complete control and management of the RI Recycled Metal site’s environmental permitting process and compliance, including site remediation and stormwater pollution prevention.
SK Fire Dept helped to pick up a camel who laid down but could not get back up.
WPRI cuts are part of Nexstar Media’s nationwide cut – #s in the high-single digits of employees, include at least one reporter, some sales staff, and several part-time employees. Plus, “Dan Yorke State of Mind” – a weekly public affairs show hosted by Dan Yorke has been put on hiatus after laying off the show’s producer.
Harvard Law only enrolled 19 black students this year – as well as a steep decline in Latino students – however, Stanford law enrollment doubled among minorities
52% increase in homelessness in New Hampshire
Dune Brothers opens fish market and restaurant on Wickenden St
Holy Smokes, smoke shop, closes in Providence
The median price of single-family homes sold in Bristol County, Mass., dipped to $476,000
Ocean State Job Lot purchases Cumberland Crossing shopping center for $12.5M
Newport Pickleball opens 12/26 – the facility has 11 indoor courts, a restaurant, and events can be held there
The Steamship Authority’s new freight boat, the M/V Barnstable, made its maiden voyage
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse announced he will take on the role of Ranking Member on the powerful Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in the 119th Congress. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over matters related to infrastructure and environmental policy, including air and water pollution, climate change, federal highways, bridges, ports, fisheries and wildlife, nuclear energy, and water resources.
Brown Health expanding into MA to increase their bottom line.
Roger Williams University president won $1M with the RI Lottery and put it toward a scholarship at the school
New Washington Bridge RFP issued – bridge will have 5 lanes and 2 new exit ramps
43 million flew through Logan in 2024
Great Salt Pond named as prettiest lake in Rhode Island by Reader’s Digest
Rhode Island Commerce approved a comprehensive package of incentives for Organogenesis Holdings Inc., a regenerative medicine company specializing in the development and manufacturing of advanced wound care and surgical products, to open a manufacturing facility in Smithfield.
The Rhode Island State Fire Training Academy will host a graduation ceremony for 14 recruits of Class 34 of the state’s Municipal Fire Academy Training Program.
University Orthopedics has opened a new state-of-the-art facility in Middletown
The most popular Christmas cookie in Rhode Island is “the Italian Christmas cookie” – in Massachusetts it is the “Chocolate Peppermint Cookie” – in Connecticut it is also the Italian Christmas cookie. In Florida it is the “Oatmeal Raisin Cookie”
May 3rd first game of soccer at the Pawtucket stadium
Connecticut pulls out of 3-state offshore wind agreement
Brockton dinner for homeless children moved to Gillette now canceled due to payment issues
Lynn, MA will be the 18th city to have a Poet Laureate as they search for one. Applications will be taken through Jannuary, with a selection to be made in March. Post lasts for 2 yrs, and pays $2,500.
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
In a settlement between ABC News and Pres-elect Trump, ABC News agrees to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential library to settle defamation suit filed by president-elect.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi was transported to Landsthul Regional Medical Center in Germany for hip replacement surgery after a fall in Luxembourg
New cars by 2027 must have alarms on rear seat belts
Gunmen kill American couple in Mexico – leaving 3 children
Jamie Foxx was hit with a glass in a restaurant and had to have stitches
Brazilian president who passed out last week had a brain bleed and is now recovering
New York has stopped sale of puppies at pet stores
Prince Andrew will not join the rest of the Royal Family for Christmas at Sandringham
Florida lawmakers introduce bill to ban the display of BLM, Pride, and other “political” flags on Gov’t property..
New law REQUIRES that FAFSA opens each year by October 1st
Pres-elect Trump says he would consider pardoning NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Billy Eilish hit by something thrown during a concert – she continued to perform
17-year-old girl, a student at a Madison, WI school, shot and killed at least 2 (including herelf) and injured 5 others
Nexstar Media will cut 2% of their workforce
Astronauts now “stuck in space” won’t come back in February – it’s now June
Pornhub will pull out of Florida, blocking access for millions of users starting January 1, 2025, when the new age verification law takes effect.
Pres-elect Trump sues the Des Moines Register for attempting to influence the election by releasing a bogus poll that Harris was ahead, just before the election. Also suing the independent pollster who has shuttered her company. The Des Moines poll was widely quoted by MSM.
Hunter in Virginia killed when the bear his hunting partner shot, in a tree, died and fell on him
Large quake – over 7.4 – in the island of Vanautau
Russian Gen. Igor Kirillov and his aide were killed Tuesday in Moscow by an explosive planted in a scooter. An official with the Ukrainian Security Service confirmed to the New York Times that Ukraine carried out the assassination.
Walgreens and Walmart have stepped back from their healthcare services ventures, but CVS, Kroger and Amazon are forging ahead, says Modern Healthcare
CVS is being sued civilly for their opioid prescriptions in the past by the US DOJ
Stone 10 Commandments tablet found in Israel sells for $5M at auction
Caitlin Clark’s # at Iowa to be retired
Luigi Mangione waives extradition to New York
Atty. Fanni Willis cannot prosecute Pres-elect Trump
FAA banning all drone flights across New Jersey – and in some parts of New York
Big Lots will close all stores
Party City will close all stores
Late Thursday night both the president and vp returned to the White House, cutting their vacations short.
Starbucks begins strike initiative in 3 states, with more to be added over the next few weeks
Political advisor, David Gergen, was diagnosed with Dementia – his daughter captured his thoughts on the country in a recent Boston Globe story
Tik Tok case accepted by SCOTUS for January
ICE has deported 270K people to 192 countries in the last 12 months
In Germany, a driver plowed through a Christmas shopping crowd, some reports of at least 2 killed, over 68 injured – driver was German resident in his 50s, a physician originally from S. Africa, motive unclear
Congress passed a bill to keep American economy going, slimmed down, with no debt ceiling
$25M funded by Federal Highway Commission to North Carolina to build crossing bridges for endangered red wolf
Gallop Poll shows 31% of U.S. adults say they own a gun; 1 in 3 Republican women now own guns, compared to 1 in 5 a dozen years ago. Gun purchases went up during COVID and during violent outbreaks in US.
Houthis have bombed Tel Aviv from Yemen
Life expectancy in US not up 11 mos from last year (fewer COVID deaths) to 78.4
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PASSINGS
Francis Bellotti, 101, MA Attorney General, former candidate for Gov
Diane Delano, 67, actress, best known for her role in Northern Lights
Thomas DiLuglio, former RI Lieutenant Governor
Jim Donaldson, 73, former sportswriter with the Providence Journal
Bill Hennessy, 67, famous court artist who worked with national media
Jill Jacobson, 70, actress from Star Trek
Friedrich St. Florian, 91, architect