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In the News… quick recap for the week ending September 4, 2026
A quick recap of the news of the week in Rhode Island, the region, nationally and internationally – with passings of note:
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Newport County parents registered 24 children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at the MLK Cennter in Newport RI, the most ever.
Taylor Swift gives $50K to a Rhode Island woman severely injured after saving another person from being hit by a car, getting hit herself, as she recovers from serious injuries
MIT student hospitalized after exposure to mercury in school lab
63 “forever chemicals” found in Tiverton home wells
Twenty Massachusetts communities ban cryptocurrency kiosks due to scams
Bridgewater couple charged with looting $17K from a homeless man now charged with embezzling $267K from Massachusetts welfare programs
URI opened football season with a decisive win, 34-7 over Merrimack
Nancy Pelosi & Patrick Kennedy came to Providence to campaign for Helena Foulkes this week
RI Police trained in identifying impaired driving due to cannabis
HASBRO employees saying the company may be out of Rhode Island offices by November. Pawtucket Mayor says they aren’t talking to anyone about their plans.
Rep. Julie Casimiro of North Kingstown who moved to South Carolina has resigned after continued pressure
Plans to build a 26 floor, 500 unit apartment building in Somerville, MA have ended
Rhode Island Energy (RIE) completed a $2.7 million electric system reliability improvement project in Cumberland to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages for about 2,300 customers.
New Bedford priest assaulted in church. Recovering, says he forgives his assailant
First Student may strike – bus drivers for many cities/towns in RI – continuing to negotiate
Sign ups for RI Girls Flag Football are strong, many who don’t participate in other sports
German American Cultural Society of Rhode Island’s Oktoberfest in Pawtucket Sept. 26, from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 27, from noon to 5 p.m., at 78 Carter Ave.
Pawtucket seniors can now sign up for assistance shoveling snow through the Senior Center
Pawtucket Veterans pool reconstruction will be a new pool, splash pad, bathhouse, pavilion, parking improvements, and other amenities, and cost $6-8 million, funded through congressional appropriations, the RIDEM Open Space Grant, and a city recreation bond.
Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner report makes and justifies recommendations for adjustments to primary care services reimbursement and financing in Rhode Island – the Primary Care Rate Review
Eleanor Slater Hospital’s Regan Building was reopened
Edesia opening a new facility in North Kingstown on Oct. 22nd
Guinness ranks as the most popular beer in RI
The Second Circuit rules that public school teachers have no First Amendment right to hang Pride flags in their classrooms.
Warwick rabies cluster with two raccoons tested positive, leading three adults and three dogs to receive preventive treatment. Rhode Island has confirmed 34 rabid animals this year, above its recent annual average of 24. Caution around erratically acting wildlife, from squirrels and raccoons to fox and bats.
15th anniversary of Hurricane Irene this week
Encore Casino workers may strike
Another cyclist killed while cycling in a roadway – Lynn, MA
First Student may strike – bus drivers for many cities/towns in RI
All state beaches will close September 8th – no lifeguards, etc.
Grenade found in Cranston home on Wilbur Ave
REGENT completed the world’s first flight of the Viceroy Seaglider prototype, the largest-ever all-electric wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft to fly with people on board on Narragansett Bay
Pawtucket awarded a $4.4 million Lead Hazard Reduction Grant from (HUD) to help make homes safer and healthier for children and families throughout the city.
First Student bus driver strike “postponed” for 750 drivers. Negotiations resume today
Cumberland suspends boys soccer program during an investigation over possible hazing
FLOCK will be staying in East Providence
COVID vaccine now available at CVS stores
RI vineyards being inundated by lantern flies
Johnston may sue to end the bus contract with ZUM Co. over breach of contract as busing problems continue – school committee meets Tuesday
Gov. McKee calls on AG Neronha to resign after he said he prosecuted the Governor during a radio show call-in – AG Neronha says he stands behind his statement (Gov. was never prosecuted or charged, though he was investigated in the ILO matter) Gov. wants comparable airtime – 3 hours – to combat claims prior to election
FEMA denied RI’s final appeal for $19 million spent on February’s record blizzard. RI may bring legal action
Security increased at abandoned Memorial Hospital. Installed lights, sirens and other security measures; police have made 3 arrests since July. Historic review underway before redevelopment plans proceed.
Judge orders release of Massachusetts State Police Flock records to disclose camera locations and information about how frequently officers search the system, following an ACLU public-records lawsuit
Troy Quinn picked as new conductor of RI Philharmonic
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Far-right British provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos deported to UK
University of Alabama opening a $47M collegiate golf facility called ‘Crimson Reserve’.
NYC Mayor Mamdani refusing a low-paid teacher aide compensation program due to budgetary constraints – one of his campaign promises
Britain prepares inspectors for its “mansion tax.” Beginning in 2028, owners of English homes worth over $2.7 million will pay an additional $3,500 to over $10,000 annually. Government valuers may seek access to homes to count bedrooms and examine other features. Withholding information or access would bring fines.
Iceland votes to reject joining the European Union (EU)
Grand Canyon flood leaves two dead and more than 60 people were evacuated by helicopter, while bridges and a critical water pipeline were damaged.
Nepal-Tibet flooding death toll will be in the thousands with reconstruction not seen as possible in the area
NASA Telescope – most powerful ever – successfully launched – the “Nancy Grace”
Google Maps took months to make “Gulf of America” change – days to make “Lake America” change on their maps
Spiderman movie leads for 5th week in a row – $22M
Lionel Richie has been hospitalized and is currently in the ICU
North Carolina Petting Zoo rabies outbreak among goats – visitors put on rabies shots
160+ Truck Driving training programs being closed for fraud – none in RI region
Florida Gov. DeSantis orders all Flock cameras removed from state highways
Woman with 2 knives attacks people in Times Square – 1 dead, 2 injured, attacker killed
Lionel Messi retiring from international soccer
John Galliano art exhibit at The Met canceled due to anti-Semitic remark comments of artist
Army Secretary Driscoll resigns
Haitians going to Canada for jobs as TPS ends in US
US govt pulling back on grants for bike lanes on trafficked roads
Jim Thornton, host of Wheel of Fortune, suspended and now fired after found to have been engaged in a child porn site while on a plane
US launches counter-attacks after Iran attacks US. Country now said to be a “failed nation”
Illegal El Salvador immigrant sexually assaulted 13 young girls in Virginia – given sentence of less than a year – ICE wants to deport – future unclear
North Carolina Petting Zoo rabies outbreak among goats – visitors put on rabies shots
160+ Truck Driving training programs being closed for fraud
Congo’s Ebola outbreak passes 6,000 cases
Apple invests $2.5 billion in partnership with Corning to make the glass covers for iPhones
Judge rules case against Robinson for killing Charlie Kirk can move forward
Apple joins Google in renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America on its US maps
Every 4 minutes a Vietnam veteran passes away
US destroyer now in Thailand for some R&R for crew
Uganda has declared Ebola outbreak is over
Tiger Woods DUI plea deal in Florida accident case – misdemeanor charge, reduced to willful, wanton reckless driving – etc. 5 year suspended license, fine
Chicago weekend stats: 41 shot in the past weekend, 3 dead
Miley Cyrus changes her name to “Miley” – announces new, 10th album, was Dolly Parton’s goddaughter
Penn State drug dealer kingpin out on bail, must live with his parents as he is out on $250K bail – other students at university are testifying against him
Michelob Ultra ranks as the most popular beer in the U.S. followed by Bud Light, Stella Artois, Budweiser, and Guinness.
The LA Clippers found to worked around the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard millions more than what was in his contract, via four separate endorsement deals. Penalties for Leonard, a silent partner in the RI Football Club/Tidewater/stadium development are $700,000 fine and a ban for his uncle.
The El Niño weather phenomenon is set to intensify into 2027 and could be the strongest ever, raising risks of extreme weather – may bring a warmer than usual winter to the northern U.S
Uber cuts 10% of its workforce – approx. 3,300 people
Saturday Evening Post will cease paper publication after 250 years – keeping online
Illegal immigrants killed 13,000 Americans in 2024
AAA says 17 million will fly this weekend
Pro Football players want to go back to college and play on college teams
Work has begun on The Arch in DC
Harvard will have cell phone pounches for those students who want to store their iPhones safely
Nvidia buys Hugging Face for $13B
2 more Beluga whales died at Chicago Aquarium
NY Times sports reporter Dianna Russini, reporting for The Athletic found to have violated their journalistic standards
Norah O’Donnell is returning as co-host of “CBS Mornings” alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson.
WNBA President Cathy Engelbert retires
August employment greatly exceeds expectations. The economy added 162,000 jobs—nearly three times the forecast. The report increased expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates.
Pawn Stars star Rick Harrison undergoes emergency bypass surgery
Kaitlan Collins asked VP Vance about claims Maj. Alex Klinner’s widow lost benefits because no war was declared. The Air Force says her family still receives the same core survivor benefits; combat pay was in his final check. AP’s headline obscures that.
New England submarine-building partnership reports training 10,000 workers since 2021, but officials said they need to train many more to avoid serious workforce shortage
Lindsay Clancy trial ends in a mistrial. Prosecutors have not decided whether to retry Clancy; next hearing is September 29.
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PASSINGS
Carla Jeffery, 33, Actress from Zombies franchise, undisclosed cause
King Oyo, 34, of Uganda who took a world’s record when he became youngest king at 3.
Gloria Steinem, 92, feminist, model, activist, author, has died
Cassandra Wilson, 70, jazz singer