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In the news… a summary on 8-13-2022
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Beaches – Starting Monday, August 15, beach amenities will be closed and following off-season operations at Scarborough South State Beach during weekdays, due to a seasonal outflux of staff. This facility will be open weekends only for the remainder of the 2022 beach season. Food concessions will remain open at Scarborough South on weekends, the swimming area will be reduced to Scarborough North’s lifeguard area and restrooms and showers will be closed, however, additional portajohn units will be brought in for this period.
The five southern beaches in RI will not offer outdoor showers or running water as Narragansett faces drought conditions. RIDEM has created a hashtag – #KnowBeforeYouGo to inform people.
Route 295 will be repaved starting on Sunday
RI Energy’s low-income discounted rate program is open for application – at: https://www.rienergy.com/RI-Home/Bill-Help/Discount-Rates. The site will also list ways for you to manage your electric bill if you are not eligible for the discount program.
RI Energy also offers programs to reduce usage and suggests disconnecting unused appliances, replacing old light bulbs with LEDs, or installing a programmable thermostat. Further savings on their energy usage may also schedule a free home assessment through the state’s energy efficiency programs.
Johnson’s Pond water levels have been set very low, contrary to the court order and legislation – the courts have demanded the dam order reset the water levels.
Flock cameras are set to be installed on the Mt. Hope Bridge soon
Showcase retail opens at Providence Place Mall – a retail shop of trendy items – ShopAtShowcaseusa.com
RI is in a statewide drought emergency
The Providence City Council voted to override Mayor Jorge Elorza’s veto of 10 ballot questions, including creating a hybrid school board of elected and appointed members.
AMICA surfacing as likely new named sponsor of “The Dunk”
Providence voters must register by Aug. 14th for primary Sept. 15th
The Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College is receiving a renewal of its University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service designation, which includes a five-year, $3 million grant from HHS.
Breeze Airways announces it will make TF Green its home – adding over 250 jobs – Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) will become a base of operations for Breeze Airways in 2023. There will be a total of 20 nonstop routes – Los Angeles, Breeze’s planned flights from Providence to Savanah, Georgia, and Columbus, Ohio, Providence joins their six other bases: New Orleans, Tampa, Charleston, Norfolk, Hartford and Provo, Utah.
Breeze Airways employees announce they want to unionize.
Warwick Police will begin wearing bodycams
The Crescent Park Carousel opens after renovations.
Brown University announces it will be a science center in the “Jewelry District” in Providence at Chestnut, Elm and Richmond Street area, buildings purchased from Care New England.
Groundbreaking was held at Tidewater Landing, a multi-use development on Pawtucket’s waterfront.
RI announces new $3.3 million in funding for lead pipe replacement and additional safe drinking water funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Providence Water is currently replacing private side lead service lines, at no cost to customers.
Crescent Park Carousel is now open for business again – with a new replaced floor and refurbishment.
Marijuana use & sale regulations will be on the ballot in 31 RI communities: Barrington, Bristol, Burrillville, Charlestown, Coventry, Cumberland, East Greenwich, East Providence, Glocester, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Johnston, Lincoln, Little Compton, Middletown, Narragansett, Newport, New Shoreham, North Kingstown, North Providence, North Smithfield, Richmond, Scituate, Smithfield, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Warren, Westerly, West Greenwich, West Warwick and Woonsocket. Cities/towns that were part of the location license selection were not included.
Dennis Eckersley retiring from NESN as sports announcer
Bishop’s 4th Street Diner in Newport to close.
$1.6 million earmark for Roger Williams University to provide support for shellfish aquaculture farmers in Rhode Island through aquaculture research, resources, and legal services.
$250 million investment in housing in RI will provide once-in-a-generation funding stream allocates $155 million towards housing production; $30 million for down payment assistance to help prospective homebuyers struggling with rising prices; $25 million for community revitalization and home repairs; $36.5 million towards addressing homelessness; and $3.5 million to create a statewide housing plan and increase through a newly created Department of Housing.
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The electric car (EV) tax credit of $7,500 won’t apply to most purchases an electric vehicle must contain a battery built in North America with minerals mined or recycled on the continent.
Gas has fallen to below $4/gallon, in the South
14,000 more unemployment claims filed in last 6 weeks nationally
China hits 3-month high with coronavirus – at its coastal beaches
North Korea declares their COVID pandemic over
New Delhi, India returns to masking
Masks required inside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park buildings due to high transmission of COVID recently.
Provincetown’s water system was shut down for several days – and has been restored for this weekend’s Carnival Week.
Massachusetts has developed multiple ways for commuters to navigate the city while the Orange Line is down for an extended time – all options are at: mbta.com/projects/building-better-t-2022.
The new 87,000 IRS hires have qualifications and responsibilities – one is to learn and have firearms – another is to “be willing to use deadly force” – however, in the last two days the line about deadly force on their recruitment materials has been deleted.
Polio vaccines for all children in London ages 1 to 9
Salman Rushdie was attacked on stage at a Buffalo, New York event while being introduced. He was stabbed multiple times and rushed to a hospital. The Iran leader Khomeini issued a $3M bounty on Rushdie’s head for his death – over 20 years ago. He is on a ventilator and spokespeople have said he may lose an eye, but is expected to survive.
McDonald’s is reopening in Ukraine
Johnson & Johnson will cease production and sale of talcum products
The $280B CHIPS bill was signed this week to promote competitiveness over china, particular with computer chip industry.
A Lyme Disease vaccine test is now underway
The flu season is expected to be more severe and experts are recommending getting the flu shot sooner this year – most drug stores have it available now, but it could be in limited supply.
Tennis star Serena Williams to retire from tennis – US Open will be her last tournament
No. Korean president calls Speaker Nancy Pelosi “the breaker of international peace”
Indiana first state to vote for a “near-ban” on abortion – details are: The ban, which takes effect Sept. 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions will be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10-weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest won’t be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed. Under the bill, abortions can only be performed in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics will lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an illegal abortion or fails to file required reports will lose their medical license.
5 months after most recent postal rate hike, US Post Office wants to raise prices again.
Polio has been detected in wastewater testing in NYC with urges for people who are not vaccinated to get vaccinated against the disease which can cause lifelong paralysis.
Uninsured Americans are at a record low
Best Buy announces significant cut in staff.
Peloton announces major staff cuts, store closures, and price increases.
The UN is shipping grain, critical to prevent starvation, to Africa.
The DOJ released the sealed search warrant for past President Donald Trump’s home saying top secret items were improperly taken and/or stored at Mar-A-Lago. The claim has been disputed by Trump and many Republicans – with some Democrats – as well as media outlets have called for more disclosure on just what they were looking for.
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PASSINGS
Raymond Briggs, 80, author and illustrator of the wordless Christmas classic, “Snowman”
Marc Davis, 80, founder of United Camera in Providence, which ran for over 50 years
Lamont Doier, 81, Motown songwriter
Gloria Duchin, founder, RI Gloria Duchin manufacturing/jewelry company
Ann Heche, 53, actress, after a fiery car crash
David McCullough, 89, author and historian
Larry Rachleff, 67, former director of the RI Philharmonic, after a long battle with cancer
Bruce Schwoegler, 80, former longtime WBZ-TV meteorologist
Thankful that Larry Rachleff graced the RI scene.