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In the News… Quick recap of the news of the week, Sept. 20, 2025
A quick synopsis of a busy news week – catch up here, and follow up on items if you want more detailed information – or get in touch with us at [email protected]
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Media shakeup in RI as ABC6 is sold, sports report Nick Coit and meteorologist Kelly Bates, among others, eliminated. ProJo said to have lost 3 veteran writers.
Some MA schools used AI to score MCAS exams and some were graded incorrectly – approximately 1,400
Dept of Justice sues RI over discriminatory loan forgiveness program for only black and minority educators
A new legislative commission is set to begin studying the possibility of creating a statewide whole-home repair program to assist low-income homeowners and owners of small multi-family homes in repairing and upgrading their homes.
Trinity Brew House in downtown Providence sells for over $2M
Whole week ahead of upper 70s – safe beach weather – ahead – remember; no lifeguards
Chan’s Restaurant in Woonsocket up for sale – again
After Brown saw a drop in Black and Hispanic students last year, enrollment has partially rebounded for the class of 2029
Nantucket will work on cell tower system as there are insufficiencies on the island for cell service
Gov. McKee announced $500,000+ in new funding for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) to support key transportation initiatives through the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council to expand on-demand transit services, pilot a vanpool subsidy program, and launch a new promotion effort on bus ridership
Brown awarded $20 million from National Science Foundation to lead artificial intelligence research institute aimed at mental health support – new AI Research Institute on Interaction for AI Assistants.
3 at ProJo leave: Tom Mooney, 65; 39 years, writer – Kris Craig, 66; 40 years, photog – Mark Castonguay, 71; 51 years, editor
Graffiti on new parts of East Bay Bike Path bridges will cost $50K to remove
Woonsocket HS football field opens for play
Mount Holyoke raising tuition for low income families
Pawtucket School official’s speech removed from public posting after it was found to be word for word plagarized from another school official in another state
Monica Cannon-Grant, Boston BLM pleads guilty to 27 counts of fraud in misuse of donations, using them for her personal items
RI State Rep. David Morales will run for Mayor of Providence
Gift Horse chef Sky Haneul Kim, who won for the James Beard 2025 award for Best Chef: Northeast is moving to South Korea to give birth to her first child – says they will be back some day soon – hired restaurant management staff to keep it going
RI economy had a strong July, Len Lardaro said
RI Secretary of State, Gregg Amore, in receipt of a request for voter information from the administration, says he will not participate
The LanternFly is all over RI – cold weather coming should help
URI Rams will now play at the Pawtucket soccer stadium until their stadium is renovated
Bally’s will sell Twin River for $735M to Gaming & Leisure Properties – then it will be leased back
Biogen building new HQ in Boston
At least 19 employees at RIPBS/RI Public Radio – now known as Ocean State Media, took voluntary buyouts
Jim Martin, communications person for US Attorney General’s office resigned
Mass. Teachers Assoc wants teachers not to be laid off due to Charlie Kirk statements – at least 5 have been terminated or laid off now
The Presley Apartments, at 1850 Post Road in Warwick opened – with units for income restricted
West Nile Virus now found in a mosquito in Providence
Boston candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk had 1,000+ at Boston Common
Rep. Amo votes “nay” on US House of Reps resolution on Charlie Kirk – Rep. Magaziner votes “yes”
Budlong Pool in Cranston said to be opening in July 2026 – also a splash pad will be added to area
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Appeals court allows Venezuelan and Haiitian immigrants brought in under Biden, temporarily, to now be deported. This overturns the stay of this action.
FDA will review reports of 25 deaths of children from the COVID vaccine
Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years for attempting a coup in Brazil
France’s plan to eliminate 2 federal holidays – to help the economy – was scrapped by new leadership
Prince Harry went to Ukraine with members of Invictus Games to support their veterans
Fox News Media Buzz going off the air – with Howie Kurtz – after 12 years
5 officers shot in PA while attempting to serve an arrest warrant – 3 in critical condition
Fast-food restaurants are losing breakfast customers to convenience stores
Iryna Zarutka’s murderer Decarlos Brown sent to a psychiatric hospital for up to 60 days to determine ability to stand trial
Gov. Hochul endorses Mamdani for mayor of NYC
Daily Beast issues apology and retraction to First Lady Melania Trump – after implying she was involved with Epstein – and following her lawsuit for millions
US hit 2nd Venezuelan drug boat
The Trump administration will provide approx $500million additional funds to historically Black colleges and tribal campuses
New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Washington are the six states set to participate in a federal pilot program using artificial intelligence for Medicare claims
Pres. Trump suing NY Times for $15B for defamation and libel
There’s a new island in Alaska – land underneath an icy area that broke off from mainland
Santa write-in program up and running –
Publisher’s Clearing House in bankruptcy
$58M more in security for White House and official areas
Fulton County DA Fani Willis permanently disqualified from prosecuting President Trump and his allies for 2020 “election interference” by the Georgia Supreme Court.
Tim Walz announces he will run for his 3rd term as Governor
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has resigned after 47 years, stating he could no longer remain in good conscience due to Unilever’s restrictions on the brand’s social activism, including issues of justice, equity, human rights, and the Gaza conflict.
Man with mental health problem history crashed his car into FBI field office in PA – got out of car, grabbed the American flag and through it into the crash area.
ABC is pre-empting the Jimmy Kimmel Show for the forseeable future following his recent comments about the Charlie Kirk killing.
Israel opens up a road out of Gaza
Starbucks workers sue over company’s new dress code
Gen Z leads other age groups in lower FICO scores and financial instability
Amazon to increase pay, lower healthcare costs with $1B investment
US signs Tech Prosperity Deal with UK
Erika Kirk takes over Turning Point USA as president
Mike Walz now ambassador of United Nations
Senate has confirmed 48 executive branch positions all at once, after a rule change to deal with the delay of the Democrat tie up.
Federal officers arrested 11 Democratic officials in Lower Manhattan after they demanded access to cells used detain migrants
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PASSINGS
Brett James, 57, songwriter, in small plane crash in NC
Robert Redford, 89, actor