In the News… quick recap of the week ending July 19, 2025

A synopsis of happenings in the news this week. To learn more, just put the topics in your search bar and more will come up – or let us know and we’ll help you research the topic.

 

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Rhode Island Catholic and the diocesan Office of Communications and Public Relations won a combined 14 awards by the Catholic Media Association of the U.S. and Canada

Sagres Restaurant in Fall River made the 15 must-try Portuguese restaurants in the United States list

After three weeks, the City of Pawtucket removed a fallen tree that blocked a mobility ramp. The tree had been obstructing access and attracting pests.

Fire at The Gabriel House in Fall River, an assisted living facility for 100-120 – taking lives and many injured

Wingstop will open in Johnston – popular chain serving wings – 1^st location in RI

Bermuda Air no longer flying out of RI – one month trial canceled

Gov. McKee took a group on a tour at The AMP in Providence to begin a pitch to the Connecticut Sun about making Providence their home.  A local investor is interested in buying the team and moving them to Providence.

Boston area sidewalk conditions are being called out for visually impaired, ADA, and dangers for everyone who uses them

Olivia Culpo and her husband announce the birth of their baby girl, Colette

Neil Steinberg stepping down as chair of RI Life Sciences Hub – wants to spend time with his family and travel as part of his retirement, along with working on “other key” priorities in the state including public education, health care and housing.

10 Prime Seafood will open on Empire St. – companion restaurant to 10 Prime Steak & Sushi – owned by John Elkhay

Over 500 people had to be led out of the Blue Line train stranded in a tunnel

Fall River Fire Dept. will increase staffing – adding $1.5 million to the fire department

Frank Mundo’s Café Bistro, a 1,000 square feet on the lower level of the Beswick Building at 1 Exchange St., in Pawtucket will open soon

A new hookah lounge is planned in a plaza at 590 Newport Ave in Pawtucket

Open Doors homeless shelter on Cumberland Street in Woonsocket, is nearly ready to open.

St. Mary’s Feast this weekend in Cranston – starting Thursday and ending with fireworks on Sunday night

USA Today names Providence the SECOND most walkable city in the US, right after #1 which is Philadelphia

DATTCO non-stop bus service between Boston and Newport is back, between Boston South Station Terminal and the Newport Marriott, Friday – Monday, now through September 30, 2025. The bus holds 52 passengers and has a fare of $30 one way. Info: https://www.discovernewport.org/blog/post/boston-to-newport/

Crepe Corner in Cranston for sale

Steward Health Care sues former CEO Ralph de la Torre

WGBH hit with $18 million cut through federal clawback of funds

Female Maine paddleboarder died by strangulation – a 17-year old has been arrested

The newest freight ferry in the Martha’s Vineyard Steamship Authority fleet, the Aquinnah, has more mechanical problems – a hydraulic leak. The Aquinnah will be replaced by the Sankaty, a smaller freight vessel.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Stephen Smith, CEO of L. L. Bean resigned

10 unaccompanied children were working in the CA marijuana fields

Kettle Brand Potato Chips are the best potato chips according to a panel of chefs.

Air India plane that crashed was said to have had fuel cut off to the engines, and then put back on, but it was too late – radio conversation between 2 pilots confirmed they each questioned the other

Israelis make up 40% of new Portuguese nationals

Cheez-It will go gluten free in 2026

LA Mayor is going to give cash cards to illegal immigrants to help them with living expenses

30% tariffs put on Mexico and EU

Ireland is excavating a mass grave of babies from a home for unwed mothers

Barbie’s first doll with Type 1 diabetes comes with accurate glucose monitor, insulin pump

Business jet crashes at London Southend Airport

2 women killed in a shooting in a Kentucky church

Historic Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim destroyed by wildfire, along with the visitor center, gas station, wastewater plant, and dozens of other structures

1st class postage to go from 73 to 78 cents

Tariffs will rise to 100% for countries that buy inexpensive oil from Russia if Russia does not come to a peace agreement with Ukraine in 50 days

Ice cream producers – Turkey Hill – composing 90% of the American supply are REMOVING artificial dyes out of their products.

SCOTUS allows 1,400 Education Depts to be terminated

Cuomo will run as an independent against Mamdani in NYC

Nearly 19% of American labeled “overweight” now classify as “obese”

Vietnam bans motorcycles in Hanoi

Washington Post met with Washington Free Beacon on tips of how to recruit conservative journalists

X acct for ELMO was tweeting racist remarks – Sesame St. has once again taken over the hacked account

Fauja Singh, believed to be the oldest person to complete a marathon, died in a road accident in India aged 114

American Idol music producer and husband found shot and killed in their home

VP Vance broke tie vote to cut NPR and PBS

A Chinese beverage company has paid FOUR TIMES the assessed value for a NEW HAMPSHIRE industrial site with access to the region’s drinking water. A Chinese company has also purchased an abandoned college in the area.

Scottie Scheffler, world’s No. 1 golfer says winning is “fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart”. He says he loves golf, but that “sometimes I just don’t understand the point”

Coca-Cola says they will use “real cane sugar” in US products, per request of the President

Tomorrowland main stage burns down in a dramatic fire – weekend event will continue in Belgium

Welch’s Fruit Snacks to remove synthetic dyes in 2026

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is currently housing five individuals with serious criminal backgrounds deported from the US. They were deported to Eswatini after their home countries refused to accept them. Eswatini is working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to facilitate repatriation to their countries of origin

President Donald Trump underwent medical testing after he had been seen with deep bruises on his hand and swollen legs in recent days, and was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.

June 13 – July 9 – World Cup Games to be played at Gillette

Stephen Colbert Show on CBS canceled

Lilo & Stitch hit $1Billion at box office

Baby boomers control a staggering 41% of the total value of American real estate, and Redfin data shows nearly 40% have lived at their current addresses for at least 20 years.

Peacock will have the monthly fee raised to $11/mo

10 Americans and U.S. permanent residents who had been seized by the Venezuelan authorities and held as bargaining chips were freed today. In exchange, more than 200 Venezuelan migrants whom the Trump administration sent to a prison in El Salvador were also released.

Justice Department asks court to unseal Epstein grand jury records

The UK reduced its voting age from 18 to 16 – years ago it was 21. However, 57% of British oppose this.

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PASSINGS

Felix Baumgartner, 56 famously jumped from the stratosphere in 2012, died in a paragliding accident in Italy

Connie Francis, 87, singer

John MacArthur, 86, head of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, a megachurch, of pneumonia