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In The News… summary for February 3, 2024
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
East Providence, 5th largest city in RI, has plans to build its first community center
UNH has closed is Museum of Art due to declining enrollment and funds
Meteorologist Anthony Macari at NBC10 has announced he is leaving the station, going into another line of work, but staying in the local area – he will go into project management for a family electrical company
WJIB will continue broadcast in Cambridge as an easy listening station
Caroline Parente ’24 was placed fifth at this year’s Miss America Pageant, marking the first time that a Miss Rhode Island has placed in the top five.
New EV chargers have arrived on Mass Pike
Representatives from the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Pawtucket have turned down city officials’ offer of financial assistance to restore a historic mansion and will tear it down
A driver shortage is causing the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority to cancel
Bankruptcy filings increased 6.3% in Rhode Island in 2023
12 states can file on a new IRS free site in March – RI is not one
URI graduation ceremonies have been changed with schools graduating separately, rather than 1 large ceremony
4 Massachusetts state troopers facing federal charges in bribery scheme for giving passing scores for passing people in commercial driving licenses – CDLs
Naval Station Newport, and local communities have agreed to reduce the speed on Burma Road, also known as Defense Highway, which runs through Middletown and Portsmouth, RI on the west side of Aquidneck Island, beginning on March 1st going from 45 mph to 35 mph.
President Laura L. Douglas, Ph.D., of Bristol Community College, announced her retirement in January of 2025, having served a seven-year tenure as President
Cape Cod bus transportation is now free for those over 60 and those with disabilities.
1st drug use program to open near RI Hospital this summer – to be run by Project RENEW
Massachusetts governor opens migrant shelter in Boston rec center because “we really don’t have a choice”
350 people laid off at MA-based iRobot after Amazon pulls out of deal to buy them
Annette Bening is identified as Harvard’s Hasty Pudding honoree of the year for 2024
CEO of Crossroads – Karen Santilli – taking CEO position of Greater Providence YMCA, replacing Col. Steven O’Donnell
Pawtucket City Council votes to purchase Freight Street mill and adjoining parcels as City Hall becomes unusable.
Speaker Shekarchi announces he will run for re-election in Warwick
Cane’s Chicken Restaurant gives a $10K scholarship to the Chariho HS student who saved a customer from choking during their opening week
Ella McCay, a movie, will be filmed in RI with Jami Lee Curtis and Woody Harrelson
19 Brown students begin a hunger strike, wanting the school to divest of certain investments
New traffic patterns in East Providence – and no trucks on Henderson Bridge – two steps to try and ease traffic in RI due to the 195 highway closure – also Gano Street will be closed on Saturday as emergency repairs are made to a retaining wall
FHA (Federal Highway Administration) official to tour Washington Bridge with RI officials on Monday morning
The AG reports that multiple children have been lead poisoned by a 3-tenement on Smith Street in the 300 block
A Boston court ruled that the arraignments for the “johns” in the Boston sex ring would be private, so they will not be identified publicly and media not allowed
Pile of dirt left behind TopGolf in Chapel View area of Cranston is said to have been “sold” and was set to be removed, after complaints of the uncovered pile being picked up by the wind
Michael Mota’s company now wants out of their lease at Skyline Restaurant in Providence – which it leases from the city.
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Cash apps are high for fraud – some “robberies” have happened with people being confronted on the street to Venmo or Zelle them money in real time
US museums are closing Indian exhibits because of new “protocols” saying tribes should be asked to provide informed consent before exhibits can be shown
DeVal Patrick has moved from Bain Capital to Obama’s company of interest – Vistria in Chicago
San Francisco’s oldest toy store closing, due to crime
Jay Leno has reportedly filed for a conservatorship over his longtime wife Mavis Leno, after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Utah passes bill to ban DEI programs in their government agencies
New religion survey 28% not religious affiliated. 40% Protestant and 20% Catholic
Amazon says it will not purchase iRobot
Walmart will give up to $20K in stock to its store managers
In Chicago, closed community centers and schools in poor communities have been shut down and are now opening again as migrant shelters
3 US troops killed, all from a Georgia contingent, over 34 injured in Jordan by Iranian
drone attack
Tax filing season opened Jan. 29th
40K migrants are now in Denver
12,000 UPS jobs to be cut
Statue of Jackie Robinson stolen, cut off at the feet – found burned, broken into pieces
Birth gestation changes continue, with 76% of US births are before 40 weeks as compared to 60% in England and 56% in the Netherlands – researchers are seeing a shorter gestation period in US
US Capitol Police decline to press charges against Senate aide who had sex with his friend on the floor of the US Capitol
Florida sending 1,000 guard members to Texas to help close the border
Bally’s is building a major league ballpark in Las Vegas, replacing a casino
Sky News cutting 1,000 jobs in UK – move to go to streaming and internet rather than wiring services in homes and businesses
John Podesta will replace John Kerry as “climate envoy”
Zuckerberg was asked to apologize at a congressional hearing room filled with parents who had lost children to FB and social media bullying, overdoses, etc. – and he did
Portland, Oregon declares a 90-day state of emergency over fentanyl overdoses
Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson announced his wife has died
Bahamas travel cautioned for Americans
Harvard’s Diversity Officer facing plagiarism charges
FAFSAs are now not coming until April due to system glitches
The US has begun retaliatory strikes in Syria for the death of 3 US soldiers and over 35 injured and well over 100 strikes taken by drones against US station in Middle East
Groundhog Day prediction was for an early spring
A federal judge canceled Donald Trump’s March 4 trial date on conspiring to overturn the election, while awaiting an appeals decision on whether he had immunity as president. The case is now off the calendar.
South Carolina polls open today for president
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PASSINGS
Michael Grando, 81, internationally known mime, author, actor, teacher
Chita Rivera, 91, actress and singer
Carl Weathers, 76, actor known for his role in Rocky