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In the News… recap for week ending Feb. 15, 2025
Stories that hit the news in Rhode Island, the region, nationally and internationally – and passings of note.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Naval Station Newport is preparing for increased traffic volume at the installation beginning last Monday – a result of the Executive Order directing federal employees to return to their organizational work places.
Massachusetts has the fifth-largest homeless population of any state in America
Massachusetts high school athletics policies are under investigation for “Title IX violations” by the U.S. Department of Education
All 5 candidates proposed by Mayor Smiley for the Providence School Board voted in.
Two Green Line trolleys crashed in Somerville – 4 hospitalized
WGBH removes DEI language from their website
Newport School Committee working on erasing DEI – some public backlash
Seven employees at the EPA’s Boston office are on paid administrative leave because of their work on environmental justice and DEI.
RI has its first case of measles
GBH’s “Inclusion & Equity” webpage now reads “The Four Cs” (referring to culture, content, community and connection) week.
Verdi Productions is filming another film in RI
A woman was accidentally locked inside Ned Devine’s bar at Faneuil Hall Marketplace overnight after staff failed to check the women’s restroom during closing.
Cambridge will allow four-story residential buildings across the city – this will add 3,590 homes by 2040.
Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s chief nursing officer and several other high-ranking staff members were among the hundreds of employees let go this week across Mass General Brigham, the sprawling healthcare giant that owns Nantucket Cottage Hospital
Brown Univ. tuition for 2025-26 to rise by 4.5%
Salve Regina University receives $12M gift to expand business learning
Southcoast Rail service in MA slated to begin March 24
Rocky Hill Day School names Christine Heine as head of school
RI has a Top 100 Truck Bottleneck location – the 95/195 area is rated #25 in US – Rhode Island, Route 95 at Route 195 which includes the troubled Washington Bridge, once again made the list rising fifteen spots nationally to #25.
Ocean State Job Lot is buying 15 Big Lots which are “no more”
Brown U. says it may lose 200 jobs
Empty building in Post Office Square in Boston’s financial district could go to housing, with 60 units
RI launches new math skills initiative, provides $2.1M in grants for support
The Law Centre at the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity published a legal letter and filed an official request with the RI Department of Education (RIDE) requesting that it repeal its 2018 Transgender Regulation
Brown University Health, said the nonprofit health system has roughly 2,200 job openings and is still experiencing “persistent staffing shortages”
The RI J.C. Penny store in Warwick will stay open
R.I. Department of Housing envisions 15,000 new homes to be built in 4 years
New pipeline to begin construction (9-12 mos) will bring down energy prices in New England and New York 50-60%. Will be announced this week.
AG Neronha one of 11 state AGs bringing suit over establishment of DOGE
Study shows New England students are still at least ½ a grade behind – from the pandemic school restrictions
Memorial Hospital plans to open in March as a homeless shelter, taking residents first from Motel 6 in Warwick, which is set to close. Capacity will begin at 120
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Professional sports’ home invasions now ID’d as being done by South American gang members
$7 billion arms sale to Israel
Goldman Sachs and Disney no longer have DEI minimum standards
PBS closes its DEI offices.
Michigan judge sentences shoplifters to washing cars in a parking lot when spring comes
Colleen Shogan, head of the National Archives was dismissed. Shogan had been named to the position within days of the order from NARA to retrieve records from former Pres. Trump’s Mar-a-lago estate, and working with the DOJ to do so.
Pres. Trump wants to eliminate bike lanes in dangerous places in NYC – and – congestion tolls
More than 2 million baked goods, including some products sold at Dunkin’, were recalled over concerns of potential listeria contamination
All 10 bodies now recovered from crashed Alaskan airline
Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl
25% tariffs put on steel and aluminum
PBS “hides” its DEI staff and department
Fort Bragg has been returned as the name of Fort Liberty, which was changed in Biden admin – however, it will be memorializing a different military hero named Bragg
News reports Google removing Pride Mo, Black History Month, etc. – but they began only noting federal holidays in early 2024
Private jet owned by Motley Crew drives into commercial plane on the tarmac in Scottsdale, AZ. One killed, one trapped, 4 injured total. Said landing gear failed, couldn’t stop
The Westminster Kennel Club best in show – Giant Schnauzer, Monty
HUD director Scott Turner announces $260M found, so far, working with DOGE
Gulf of America now noted on map services of Google, Apple, Duck Duck Go and Bing – AP says it won’t for now because they are a news service of the world
2 runways reopened at DC airport and increased # of flights
March 12th now set to return stranded astronauts home, as one flight schedule is delayed
CVS Health posts strong 4th quarter – stocks up 45%
Tulsi Gabbbard confirmed as Director of National Intelligence, receiving the oath of office in the Oval Office
Joann Stores closing down
USDOJ sued New York officials, including governor, head of DMV, for failing to share information with immigration officials
US attorneys throughout US receive termination letters – could be 93
75,000 have taken advantage of federal buyout – which is back “on” with another court turnover of the turnover
Hamas says it will release 3 more hostages on Saturday – it’s old plan – not the request of the U.S. but what will happen next will be Israel’s decision.
Endowments for most universities have risen an average of 9% across US
Crack in the pilot windshield of a plane carrying Marco Rubio on the way to Munich – plane turned around and Rubio bordered another
15 J.C. Penny stores in US will be closed
Helicopter crash in DC finding: Pilot’s “talk” button was down on the microphone and may not have heard the instruction to fly behind the plane – also discrepancy in being 300 or 400 feet.
3 Israeli hostages released – in exchange for 369 prisoners kept in Israel (36 serving life, 24 of which will be deported to other countries.)
In and Out Burger moving corporate offices from Texas to Nashville, TN
635 million offshore acres taken off the US balance sheet now returned.
Pope Francis remains hospitalized for severe case of bronchitis – listed condition is “fair”
Gov. of Utah signs law banning union collective bargaining for public employees – police, fire, teachers
Dana Bloomberg, wife of Robert Kraft, named to Kennedy Center Board of Directors
Russian drone attack in Ukraine hits protective shield over Chernobyl damaged reactor
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PASSINGS
Robert Yaffe, 70, owner of Wildflower Café & Garden Grille