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In the News… Quick Recap for the Week Ending June 20, 2026. Local. Regional. National, International
A quick recap of news events of the week – Catch up on local, regional, national and beyond – with deaths of note.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Unoccupied car pulled out of water in Conimicut Point – owner cooperating in investigation
Toy Story largest new weekend film – $160 Million
2 planes at Logan in a 300 ft. “near miss” this Monday – a Delta and American, pilots handled maneuvers
Train from NY to Providence hit person on the tracks in Warwick, a fatality
Taylor Swift’s Westerly home had a massive tent put up – but not wedding
Gene Valicenti has a new daily TV show, “OffScript” on Coastal RI 6 at 10am
Michael Douglas set to headine RI Comic Con this November
AbbVie to buy Apogee, pharm company in Waltham
On Martha’s Vineyard, to make transportation more accessible, two elder advocacy groups, the Edgartown Council on Aging and Healthy Aging M.V., partnered to create Chappy Connect, a free, door-to-door transportation service for Chappy residents ages 60 and older
Operation Red Card arrested 6 locals for human trafficking at the World Cup – 5 from RI and 1 from Bristol Co. 2 others were arrested previously.
Christopher Wooley, man hit by motorcycle on Federal Hill decides to run for Providence City Council, Ward 5
NBA draft takes AJ Dybantsa from MA to Washington Wizards, first for MA in 40 years
22 y.o.worker fell 30 feet at the I-Way Bridge construction area – not life threatening injuries
Scituate & Johnston have new school bus company, ZOOM, parents can track child on buses by use of an app – 18 states use ZOOM
Mt. Hope Bridge will continue its lane closures to end of construction season for work on the bridge – Jamestown Bridge and Newport Bridge, the same
Westborough, MA police officer crowned Miss Massachusetts – she will compete in Miss America in late August
A Roxbury, MA McDonald’s that closed its dining room due to violent behavior of teens after school was out for the day, reopened, with the presence of police officers, parents, and a coalition of community groups to work with the children
Patriots owner Bob Kraft wants to play Scotland once a year, hosted at Foxborough
MIT Museum gets archives of architect icon I. M. Pei. Pei was the designer of Cathedral Square in Providence
Steakhouses are increasingly opening in Boston
After June 30th guns classified as “assault weapons” can’t be sold or bought in the state.
T. F. Green Airport food service workers are on strike and picketing – some wages as low as minimum wage – they returned to work Friday night while negotiations take place
Big Freedia headlines PVDFest in September
Allan Fung, former Cranston Mayor (I) to run against incumbent Rep. Chris Paplauskas (R)
Steve Stycos will step down as manager of West Bay Farms after 2026
Tele-medicine for pets and veterinarians now ok – RI is 10th state to do so
Oakland Beach Bar & Pub in Oakland Beach auctioned off
RIPTA has expanded its Flex On Demand microtransit pilot program to serve Pascoag, Slatersville, Woonsocket, and Manville.
SNAP in RI: Rhode Island currently has no such restrictions on candy and sugary soft drink purchases. States with bans: Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia and Texas. States with bans approved to take effect: Arkansas, Tennessee, Hawaii, South Carolina, North Dakota, Montana, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Nevada.
Raccoon tested positive for rabies in Providence
Lithium batteries on airlines is #1 safety risk when flying
SCOTUS ruling clears a path for the government to end the status for the estimated 37,000 T Temporary)PS holders in Massachusetts
Massachusetts gas prices fell below $4 a gallon yesterday for the first time in two months, dipping to $3.99.
Free Dog Vaccination and Microchip Clinic at MLK Center in Newport with Potter League for Animals, Thursday, July 2, 5-7pm. REGISTER HERE
Hooters closes all Massachusetts locations
RI Retirement Savers program has over $1 million in total assets now saved – 557 businesses and employers – 2,386 employees have registered and are actively participating in the state’s retirement savings program.
Michael Wagner, MD, President/CEO of Care New England will step down from this role and transition to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. The Board will do a national search for CNE’s next President/CEO
Man in his 60s in Providence County contracted Powassan virus, which comes from a tick – first detected in years – he is now home and recovering. There are no preventives or treatments for Powassan.
Warwick Mayor Picozzi endorsses Helena Foulkes for Governor
RIGOP endorsed Guckian for Governor and Skoly for Congress
TPS Haitians in MA number over 40,000 – in RI just over 2,000 may be impacted by possible SCOTUS ruling on deportation
Mayor Smiley in Providence shocked at RI Gay Pride Parade showing him being run over and bloodied by a steam roller – RI Pride at first defended it and now says they will investigate it
Gardner Museum expands free Thursdays (5-9pm) for summer, starting July 9th – in Boston, about 75 miles from Providence
Reuters reports the U.S. Supreme Court expanded Second Amendment protections in new gun cases and may be eyeing more, including AR-15 bans and magazine limits. That matters here because RI’s assault-weapons sales/manufacturing ban takes effect July 1.
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
World Cup visitors are leaving the U.S. with an unexpected souvenir: a newfound love of ranch dressing.
Student loan interest rates will be cut 1 percentage point for eligible borrowers enrolled in autopay through June 2028 as delinquencies reach a six-year high.
Actor and comedian Mike Myers confirmed Austin Powers 4 is being made
Red Alerts issued in UK, Wales and France due to heat wave expected to increase to 102 or more in the next 3 days. Less than 5% of Europe has A/C, while in US more than 90% does.
World Cup visitors leaving with love of ranch dressing – airlines are giving guidance on how to pack the bottles
Crowds gather at Stonehenge this week for the astronomical start of summer in northern hemisphere
King Charles was the first monarch to release his personal tax returns – paid $39.5M
One man active in the growing sperm donator business, has fathered 180 children
US Capitol Police arrested people demonstrating on behalf of algae at the Reflecting Pool for dumping algae and chemicals into the reflecting pond and ripping up the bottom covering
Some parts of Europe reached 110 degrees, with less than 5% of buildings with air conditioning – 3 have already died
UK Prime Minister resigns – Starmer is the 6th PM to resign
51-year-old man falls to his death at a rock concert at Madison Square Garden
New grads entering a work world where AI proficiency is required and growing – meanwhile many college students and high schoolers have been influenced to distrust and resist AI
Iran tried to sneak terrorists, directly tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard into America by hiding them in their World Cup soccer delegation! They were caught by US screeners and denied admittance
Disclosed that the 2nd note received by Nancy Guthrie’s family said Nancy had died of “natural causes” after they had taken her, and was “buried in nature” – Savannah has acknowledged they believe this note was true and are asking for people to help family find her
Justice Department in a nationwide healthcare fraud crackdown charging 450+ for alleged fraudulent schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims.
SCOTUS: Green card/permanent residents who leave the country while facing charges in US can be reclassified as “seeking admission” and denied re-entry
Fencing going up around Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Mall as people still try to damage it
American Airlines will begin deploying Starlinks in 500 narrowbody aircraft starting early next year.
40 have died in the heat wave in France
Shopify to ban sale of vapes
Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn NYC banned a congressman that supported Jewish issues after he bought a coffee and allowed his daughter to use the restroom. The shop is now experiencing demonstrations outside its building from both pro-Palestinian supporters and pro Israel supporters and Hasidics – the night before he lost his race for Congress after verbally supporting Israel
Texans drilling more than they have in years – “business is booming” – not since 2020 have they been working on a “drill baby drill” directive
In Texas, all charged with conducting ICE ambush attacks were convicted and will serve long prison sentences
Dominion has DISMISSED their $1.3 BILLION dollar defamation lawsuit against Mike Lindell and MyPillow.
In Europe, with less than 5% of buildings with A/C, 48 confirmed dead in France alone, with some temps reaching 110
LA schools move to ban screen use until after 2nd grade
Wendy’s stock increases 26%
Amazon Prime Day exceeds expectations of $8.5 Billion on first day
SCOTUS decisions:
1 – The court holds that Monsanto, the maker of Roundup weedkiller, cannot be held liable for failing to put a warning label on products that they cause
2 – Wolford case. Strikes down Hawaii gun law prohibiting CC permitted holders from carrying on private property (stores, hotels, malls, etc) open to the public without property owner’s ok.
3 – Syrian/Haitian nationals in US on TPS status are not entitled to orders postponing terminations during litigation. Hundreds of thousands now at risk of immediate deportation. Court noted the “T” in TPS meant Temporary
Mistrial in Palisades arson case – will be tried again
Small aircraft crashed into a high rise in Beijing, China, falling to the ground
US retaliated against an Iranian drone attack with attacks
LabX Media Group bought Scientific American just as the brand’s editorial team was seeking to unionize – laying off many staff
TMZ receives another email message saying there is a video of Nancy Guthrie and her captors – will give it to the family for 1 Bitcoin
Former Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling classified documents. $2 million fine, forfeiture of federal pension, may serve up to 5 years, but probably suspended sentence
Caitlin Clark will not play in Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Sparks because of a back injury – following assault on the court yesterday. Player guilty of that assault has been suspended for one game. WNBA will have to address this much more than they have.
Scientific American bought by LabX Media Group just as the brand’s editorial team was seeking to unionize – laying off many staff
Israel and Lebanon sign peace framework with U.S.
2 back to back earthquakes cause massive destruction in Venezuela – 50K missing, 900+ have died, thousands of injuries – US sending relief and workers – there were 6 major earthquakes in 48 hours in one day around the world
Janice Dean leaves television due to the strain the business put on her handling of her MS – she had been on Fox as a meteorologist for many years and was much loved by fans and colleagues – she also reported from Belmont as an avid horse race follower
Reflecting Pool has been fixed of its problem with algae and destruction of painted liner by vandals – reflecting pure now but will be drained and repaired again after the July 4th celebrations
Extreme heat in Europe stops electric buses because they could not be charged
Large venue events can implement a synchronized light show by having attendees scan a QR code that appears on a jumbotron which will synchronize their flashlight app on their phones – was done at least once at the World Cup
The VESPA is 80 years old
UK has set out a new asylum process for people seeking to come into country – citizens have to sponsor, find housing, etc. There will be a limited cap.
Numerous videos being recorded by foreigners here for the World Cup praising America, its people, and saying that the news media in their countries and in the US have lied and painted a negative picture – urging Americans to cherish what we have
Rep. Thomas Keane, NY, has been seen at his home and is scheduled to speak about his 4 month absence from Congress in DC for treatment of a health condition
Research shows that people feel very negatively about the economy – yet – people are spending as never before, effectively keeping prices where they are
Texas has added the Bible to its collection of classic literature being read in its classrooms
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PASSINGS
Nicholas Alahverdian, 39, had been in a Utah prison – suffered from a “degenerative condition”
James Barker, 40, producer of reality series’, while filming in Fiji, emergency medical incident
Clive Davis, 94, legendary talent developer for major singing/music stars
Alan Greenspan, 100, husband of Andrea Mitchell (79), married for 29 years. Former chair of the Federal Reserve. Served under four presidents. Of Parkinsons
Walter Parazaider, 81, member of band, Chicago, of Alzheimer’s
David Clayton Thomas, 84, of Blood, Sweat & Tears