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In the News… Quick Recap of News of the Week, ending Aug. 15, 2026
Here is a quick synopsis of news of the week – for Rhode Island, the region, national and international news, too. Passings of note…
If you have news items send to: [email protected]
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the city will be keeping Flock cameras – as did Mayor of Cranston, Ken Hopkins. Flock responding to nationwide concern with changes
Providence woman recovering after she was attacked by a raccoon while pulling weeds in her backyard.
More than a dozen cars in the Providence Jewelry District had their tires slashed this past weekend
US District Judge McConnell has said he and his family have received death threats
Boston’s Union Oyster House, opened in 1826 – celebrating its 200 year anniversary
Providence Mayor Smiley’s campaign signs in some areas have been vandalized with anti Semitic symbols. The Mayor publicly converted to Judaism in 2024.
Stone E Lea Golf Course in Attleboro will close due to family concerns – future of property not yet decided
Webster, MA park “takeover” by a large gangs of youth – assaulted officers and EMS personnel, arrests made, multiple fights among youth and with officials
Lincoln Little League loses in Connecticut 6 to 2, eliminating RI from Metro Regional
A string of Farm stand thefts has been happening in RI
DOJ announces 11 of 15 people charged in a $1.4 MILLION food stamp fraud ring in Massachusetts are illegal aliens
MA Gov. signed abortion bill that allows doctors full discretion on aborting babies up to and including birth
“Operation Yellow Card,” resulted in safe recovery of 48 endangered missing children during World Cup time
Washington Bridge, RIDOT crews are installing 32 drilled shafts for the new bridge foundation
Washington County Fair this week from Wednesday through Sunday
Gillette Stadium replacing turf put down for World Cup as being not up to standards
Sandra Cano now working in the President’s office at URI to serve as Executive Director for Presidential Initiatives and Strategic Partnerships.
Flock camera lookalike vandalized on Charlestown Beach, but it was a beach webcam
$5-million Cooper Flagg rookie card was pulled at Rhody Breakers, in North Kingstown.
Man attacked on Dorrance St. downtown Providence, by youth – in serious condition
RWP Zoo cheetah, Jenga, has died of gastrointestinal illness
Dozens of Tiverton wells polluted with PFAS, residents on edge
Harvard’s antisemitism case against them has been dropped – judge says they were isolated incidents
It’s been a Wild Week – Raccoons in South Kingstown bit 3 people – Black Bears have entered 50 homes in Connecticut – 30 dead dogfish sharks washed ashore in New Jersey – an unidentified type of shark off Narragansett Beach – 2nd case of tick borne Alpha-gal syndrome in RI – mother and daughter attacked by a fox in Worcester.
Gov. McKee suspended TV advertising for his campaign this week
Newport is getting vending machines for disposal of drug use material, has Narcan, etc.
Neconomi Con Providence runs through Sunday.
FBI and IRS special agents arrested Lawrence, MA Mayor Brian DePena on fraud charges for obtaining over $1.5 million in COVID19 & SBA loans – and using the proceeds to fund his campaign, pay taxes, & pay off $883,000 in high-interest mortgages on several properties
A 38-year old woman from Johnston indicted for SNAP fraud of $56,000
West Nile Virus was found in mosquito samples collected by DEM in Cranston, North Providence, and Providence
Tiverton wells are contaminated with PFAS – research being done
While crime in Boston is going down, as well as rapes and murders, stats show violence is increasing (Axios)
In a survey done by Just Bottle, the top 3 beaches in RI with the most reports of litter are: Scarborough, Easton’s and Misquamicut
Ask Gamblers survey of most Googled sports names in Rhode Island are: Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, and Shedeur Sanders. Lebron James is the #1 in the US
Taste of East Greenwich Stroll planned for August 20th, 5-8pm
New Executive Director at Saint Elizabeth Home in East Greenwich – Brian McGuinness, MBA, NHA, ALRA.
West Nile Virus detected in Cranston, North Providence, and Providence (RIDEM)
Gladstone School in Cranston will hold a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on September 17, 2026
Rudy Giuliani in Rhode Island at the Park Theater on Sat, August 15th at 6pm for Vic Mellor, running for Congress (Magaziner’s seat)
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Todd Blanche confirmed as US Attorney General
PM Netanyahu of Israel rejects Pres. Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza
Several pied-à-terre owners in NYC have filed for a restraining order to put a hold on tax move until an appeal can be decided in court. City say the will defend this tax aggressively.
West Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana AGs have subpoaned Dr. Anthony Fauci to determine if he personally benefitted by COVID recommendations he gave. West Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana
Kellogg’s to remove artificial sugars and coloring in all products by end of 2026
A condom is sold every 37 seconds on… DoorDash
Perez Hilton in serious condition, recovering after live-streaming self-harm with a knife, will need surgery and suffered significant blood loss
Nearly 200K Puerto Ricans under water rationing due to drought situation
Joint Base Charleston has a name change to – Joint Base Lindsey Graham
Sen. Rand Paul and others going on a field trip to Fort Knox to “see our gold”
London’s prisons are too full. They are now proposing an early release program of 5000 to start. These would be people who have sentences for murder, child abuse, rape, etc.
President Trump flew secretly from Turkey on an alternate military aircraft to avoid an Iranian assassination possibility
Lebanon becomes first Middle Eastern country to abolish the death penalty
France is banning unsoilcited telemarketing calls with fines as high as $433,000
A new Barbie doll is out – in a series of celebrity dolls, this one is of Whitney Houston
Taylor Farms pulling more than 20 food items nationwide, including Rhode Island retailers
UK announces it will close its asylum seeker hotels
Taylor Farms sues former President over embezzlement charges
Sen. Darline Graham wins her primary in So. Carolina – sister of Sen Lindsey Graham
Miss Rachel coming out with her first album, “I’m So Happy” – under criticism for continuing to speak out on political issues, support for socialism
Patriot Games end – featured 2 high school athletes from each state.
Putin tells Pres. Trump they will release U.S. Marine held for 4 years for assault
Most watched primary in Wisconsin of Francesca Hong, socialist/communist has her defeated – narrowly – by approx. .4% of the vote.
In Minnesota, Mike Lindell, the Pillow Man, also defeated in the Governor’s primary
Rod Stewart recovering from heart surgery, cancels remainder of 2026 concerts
7 die in Florida of flesh-eating bacteria from swimming
Mark Zuckerberg released a 6,500-word manifesto arguing that AI’s biggest risk is one government or company controlling it – pledging free access, open-source models, and a $1 billion community fund
Univ. of Michigan institutes a pass/fail grading for freshmen out of concern for their mental health
Florida reports more Medicare fraud than any other state
Syrian court sentences ousted leader, Bashar Assad, to death – he fled the country 2 years ago
Karoline Leavitt will leave her position as Press Secretary at the White House spend more time with her family – but will now be an outside advisor.
75% of our homeless are addicted to drugs and 78% suffer from mental illness. Housing alone isn’t enough to fix it – this is a crisis of addiction and mental illness.
New Logo for Instagram – check it out – many say it is unreadable
Entire state of Indiana in a state of emergency due to massive flooding, more rain coming
ICE now has special gloves that give a shock when suspect won’t comply
Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty today in a surprise development
Woman who vandalized D.C. war memorials posted a video of her doing it on FB – arrested by D.C. police and FBI – memorials cleaned up and functioning again
Former Columbus, Mississippi Vice Mayor and former City Councilman, Joseph Mickens arrested and indicted for felony fraud.
Aircraft carrier, Abraham Lincoln, is being swapped out with another after extensive time at sea and with repairs needing to be made and resupplied
Indonesia earthquake results in many buildings collapsing
Pollsters are reeling after the recent Midwest primaries and are rethinking approaches and how they could have been significantly wrong
5 year anniversary of the rule of The Taliban in Afghanistan with control nearly complete – all women other than elementary age girls can no longer attend school – or college. Visbility at parks, in public, etc. not allowed. Women have disappeared from Afghan life.
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PASSINGS
Jessica Bang, 18, Australian golf prodigy, of a brain hemorrhage
Don Nelson, 86, former coach, Boston Celtics
Tina Tomaselli, co-owner of T’s Restaurant and wife of artist Anthony Tomaselli