In the News… recap for the week ending Feb. 8, 2025

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Fire at Hill Funeral Home in East Greenwich – home will be demolished and rebuilt – no bodies were involved

Maine offshore wind projects acknowledge they will not meet their 2030 goal of generating power

The Providence nightlife scene has a $990 million economic impact on Rhode Island, according to Mayor Bret Smiley

Hasbro may move to the Seaport area of Boston – just the latest rumor

Deloitte provided Rhode Island with $5 million to help pay for expenses related to the RIBridges data breach. Separately, Deloitte is covering the cost of the data breach call center, credit monitoring, and identity protection for impacted customers

Rhode Island’s new Chief Medical Examiner is Dr. Marius Tarau

General Dynamics/Electric Boat intends to hire over 3,000 this year

Non-stop service to Bermuda coming in May from T F Green

The former St. Joseph’s Hospital at 21 Peace St., owned by Paolino Properties, is scheduled to be sold at auction.

Massachusetts approves funding of $425m for migrant housing

Surgeons at Mass General transplant kidney of a genetically modified pig into a 66-year old man with kidney failure

Secret Garden Tour returns to Newport’s historic Point section in June

Brown University appointed a new VP for Diversity and Inclusion – Matthew Guterl P’26 P’28, professor of Africana studies and American studies

RIHousing’s Dexter Street Commons development, a 150 unit mixed-use in Pawtucket was originally approved by RIHousing as a 100% affordable and middle-income development—now contains only 30 units of middle-income housing and 120 units of market-rate housing. The project received nearly $16 million in pandemic era one-time funds as well as state commerce subsidies and tax credits. 

Gov. Healy, Massachusetts, will run again for Governor

RI Gov. McKee will run again, and announce soon

More controlled demolition of Washington Bridge next week – Mon, Tues, etc.

Pawtucket City Hall is fully relocating by end of year to new facility – restoration attempts may develop old city hall into fire/police municipal unit – looking for private partner

Coast Guard seizes 8,000 lbs of cocaine off Newport

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

USAID being paused with charges of corruption, while all federal agencies that deal with international aid are being reviewed

Beyonce receives Grammy for best album

State of emergency in Greece because of potential earthquake activity

Pete Davidson is removing all 200 of his tattoos

Sect. of State Rubio met with Panama – US Navy vessels will now be offered free passage, saving between $2.5 million to $3 million per year. Also, Panama ends contract with China.

DOGE Committee invites NPR, PBS chiefs to testify on their federal funding, sponsorship and advertising as nonprofit media outlets

Zelenskyy says they were promised $177B but have only received $75B and he does not know where the funds went

A federal judge cleared Tempur Sealy’s $4 billion takeover of Mattress Firm

Researchers in Cyprus found a hidden portrait beneath a 1570 painting by the Italian master Titian

Crayola has 8 colors making their return for a limited time – Dandelion, retired in 2017, Blizzard Blue, Magic Mint and Mulberry, retired in 2003, and Orange Red, Violet Blue, Lemon Yellow and Raw Umber, retired in 1990.

Shamrock Shakes returning soon to McDonald’s for St. Patrick’s Day

US temporarily ends accepting packages from China & Hong Kong

Pres. Trump to be the 1st president to attend the Super Bowl

60 Minutes will give tapes of Kamala Harris interview in suit by Pres. Trump

Andrea Mitchell to leave MSNBC anchor chair this Friday after 17 years

Federal workers had until 2/6 to decide about the buyout

The FDA approved Journavx, the first non-opioid painkiller backed by the agency in more than two decades. The drug, which uses the analgesic suzetrigine, is produced by the company Vertex and targets nerves outside the brain, making it far less addictive than opioids.

Thousands of FBI employees are reportedly also being sent a questionnaire inquiring about their involvement in January 6 investigations. Those involved will be terminated. 8 executives have been terminated so far.

President signed both American Heart Month and Black History Month proclamations

Canada & Mexico have agree to more border protection – tariffs were delayed by 30 days

Former president Joe Biden signs with talent agency

Federal employees must return full time by March 17^th

Florida Gov. DeSantis deputizes troopers for border enforcement

The Environmental Protection Agency has directed officials to allow the disbursement of funds from at least some programs

Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan terminated “for cause” and given 3 hours to leave her govt home

Japan Air and Delta planes collide while taxiing at Seattle airport

79% of Americans polled support banning biological males from women’s sports

Nationwide has removed “diversity, equity, inclusion” from its website and shut down special programs

West Point disbands “affinity” groups of minority students – assimilating them into one

NFL removes slogan “end racism” from end zone field for Super Bowl

New Jersey schools will have a 2-hour delay on Monday, day after Super Bowl – Philadelphia schools will not

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, is set to host a new weekend prime-time program on Fox News

Helicopter in DC crash had safety system turned off

USAID being downsized from 10,000 to 290

NY shuts down at least 7 live poultry markets because of bird flu

Kansas City sports reporter, 27, of Telemundo, dies prior to SuperBowl in New Orleans – woman with history of drugging and stealing from men who was video taped leaving his room arrested

NCAA bans biological men from women’s sports – agreeing and complying with Pres. Trump’s EO

Pres. Trump will reverse ban on plastic straws

Flu levels the highest they have been since 2009 swine flu, says CDC

US will sell American oil to Japan

Japan will make a major investment in US, estimated to be over $1 Trillion

Amtrak to require employees to return 4 days a week – and eliminates DEI programs and policies

The USAID offices in DC have had signage removed and are now occupied by Customs and Border Patrol

90% fall in migrants coming over southern border since Inauguration Day

Pres. Trump fired most members of the board of the Kennedy Center and put himself as chair, eliminating drag performances targeting young people

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PASSINGS

Tom Kraeutler, 65, host of radio show, The Money Pit, of complications of surgery

Virginia Halas McCaskey, 102, four-plus decades as principal owner of Chicago Bears

Marion Wiesel, 94, wife of Elie Wiesel, translator and strategist