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In the News… quick catch-up for the week ending May 14, 2026
Here is a quick recap of news items of the week – in Rhode Island, in the region, nationally and internationally, and death of note.
RHODE ISLAND & REGION
Brown U classrooms impacted by the shooting will be renovated this summer – students are indicating greater discomfort in returning than faculty
Local artists in Boston coming up with a way to beautify the Tobin Bridge in Chelsea, including decorative lighting for $10M
Boston’s GBH and Western Massachusetts-based New England Public Media (NEPM) and Cape and Islands radio station CAI merging – to expand local journalism across the state.”
Diocese of Providence News: Warren, RI church Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish will merge into Saint Mary of the Bay Parish, and the Saint Thomas building will remain available as an additional worship site for Saint Mary. Saint Brendan Parish and Saint Martha Parish, both in East Providence, will merge together into a new, combined Saints Brendan and Martha Parish, and maintain both current worship sites. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Community, a quasi-parish in Exeter will close and Saint Bernard Parish in North Kingstown will maintain their records.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island officially coming back for Season 2 – filming begins in July
7 Alarm fire in North Attleborough complex – 100 displaced – no injuries residents, firefighters. Hawthorne Village Condominiums
100 staff positions in the Providence Public Schools set to be eliminated
Olivia Culpo having baby #2
Foster Parrots’ New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary now caring for over 400 birds
June 13-July 9 are World Cup soccer games here at Gillette
The Dari-Bee Ice Cream shop in EP will open TODAY
Boston Mayor Wu cancels firefighter cancer screening same week hiring staff to hand out grants to immigration nonprofits
Most popular cereals in New England: Fruity Pebbles (RI) – Cheerios (CT, VT, NH) – Raisin Bran (ME)
State House new rugs that had the wrong name of the state on them have been replaced – at least one came from China
Aspen Aerogel in East Providence set to reopen after their explosive fire
The founder of Alex + Ani has filed a lawsuit accusing her sister of misusing assets from their family’s RI-based jewelry company to kickstart her own business venture.
Salve Regina University offers new bachelor’s degree to prepare students for fast-growing travel and tourism industry
AG Neronha sues Quidnessett over their illegally built retainer wall at the waterfront
RI House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski appointed four veteran House members to his Leadership Team. Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty, First Assistant Speaker; Representative Alex Marszalkowski, Second Assistant Speaker, Representative John G. Edwards, Floor Manager, and Representative Karen Alzate, Deputy Floor Manager
Parking at Gillette (now Boston) Stadium for FIFA World Cup games will be $175
Sale of Connecticut Sun approved, and they will now move to Houston
New Bedford facing a $32Million shortfall in their budget – City Council to consider
First sighting of a white shark this season off coast of Martha’s Vineyard
FIFA World Cup in RI: United Way looking to recruit 500-600 volunteers to work as greeters or help with events like the “PVD FanZone,” watch parties and youth soccer tournaments around the state. There will be training and even those who can work only part of the time are welcome
PVDonuts closed – creditors pursing
The congregation evicted from Newport’s historic Touro Synagogue in 2025 can continue worshipping in the building across the street but can’t draw on some $4.7 million in trust funds,
RI Summer of Soccer looking for volunteers
Whole Foods is moving small, boutique markets into Boston areas
Rocky Point getting a facelift at the entrance and exit – as well as a possible development located right across the street from the main entrance
Shellfish areas restricted due to raw sewage will be reopened on Monday
Businesses in Cranston – Itri Restaurant and Campanellas – involved in invesstigation and appointment of a receiver due to bad business practices – at least 6 other companies may be involved
Rent Stabilization veto of Providence Mayor Smiley NOT overrode by Providence City Council vote
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Katy Perry will perform at SoFi Stadium before first World Cup game in U.S.
Washington DC Zoo Lion, 21 year old, passes away
VP JD VANCE is headed to Maine in relation to fraud investigations
Access Hollywood canceled after nearly 30 years on the air.
Savannah Guthrie will host a new game show based on “Wordle,” in 2027
Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, California, has been charged with acting as an illegal foreign agent for China – Wang pleads guilty and resigns as mayor
10 Million said to be coming into the US for FIFA World Cup
Mexico cancels plans to end school year early for World Cup
Jamie Foxx and girlfriend, Alyce Huckstepp, announces they are expecting
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary is leaving his role – said to be differences with administration over range of policy issues including vaping, abortion and drug policy.
Bezos family donates $100M to charity funding NYC preschool education
Court orders new trial for Alex Murdaugh on death of his wife and younger son – based on improper behavior of court clerk. He stays in jail from financial charges.
Walmart terminating 1,000 corporate jobs
US suspending requirement for visitors from certain countries to post bonds of as much as $15,000 to obtain a visa, an effort aimed at easing the financial burden for foreign soccer fans attending the World Cup
US Senate unanimously passed a 99–0 resolution that would withhold lawmakers’ pay if the government shuts down.
800 of LA hospices have been suspended. 800 hospices that last year charged the federal taxpayer $1.4 billion will no longer be paid.
Toronto Public Health giving out 6 free soccer-condoms that “celebrate the energy of the games while promoting sexual health” as hundreds of thousands are expected for the FIFA World Cup
More than 1,700 people are confined on a ship in Bordeaux, France, after a death possibly related to gastroenteritis
Rudy Giuliani returned to his podcast on Wednesday after his hospital stay, ICU care, and intubation – bout with pneumonia
Shakira, Madonna and BTS will headline the first halftime show at a World Cup final in NYC
20 US execs accompanied Pres. Trump on his trip to China
Five Guys will close 15 locations – not RI
COVID Whistleblower, James Erdman III, a CIA employee testified before Congress
Parent loans for college has new restrictions July1st, limiting loans to $20K/yr, $65K total
College educated career dads spending more time with child care than doing more at work
United flight attendants get 31% pay raise
CBS anchor broadcasting on China trip from Taiwan because he did not get a VISA in time – while doing a live report his cameraman falls ill and they stop the broadcast, while calling for a doctor – he is not recovering and said to be doing ok
E.L.F. Cosmetics co-founder Scott-Vincent Borba, 53, gave away his sizable fortune—for more godly pursuits to pursue becoming a Catholic priest
8% of those on ankle monitors in Chicago are unaccounted for
Mike Banks, director of Border Patrol resigns/retires
DOJ alleges Yale favors minorities in admission policies
CVS to sell Omnicare for $250M
Cuba’s power grid collapses after 2 weeks without oil deliveries – US officials land in Cuba
Harvey Weinstein 3rd trial jury deadlocked – unclear if there will be a 4th
Preakness to run TODAY – at Laurel Park due to field conditions at Belmont – no Triple Crown this year as Golden Tempo is not running
Ebola, highly contagious virus out of the Congo has 246 cases with 65 dead so far – spreading to Uganda
US contingency in CUBA
The Supreme Court rejected an attempt by Virginia Democrats to restore a Legislature-adopted congressional map for the 2026 elections.
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PASSINGS
Brandon Clark, 29, NBA Grizzlies, dies – possible overdose
Jason Collins, 47, NBA player, first to say he was gay publicly in the NBA, of brain cancer
Bobby Cox, 84, baseball manager
David Frerichs, 74, Warren, of Frerichs Farm
Claudine Longet, 84, actress and singer
Burton Stallwood, former Town Administrator for Lincoln and a RI US Marshal