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In the news… for Dec. 26th, 2022
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Wethersfield Commons residents in Warwick are upset about a proposed large dog day care which will be considered again at a hearing on Jan. 11th.
30+ homeless families are staying at the Extended Stay America hotel in Metro Center, Warwick – most are said to have jobs and cars – the plan is to return to Memorial Hospital when repairs are made due to a water leak
40+ individuals/families are staying at the Motel 6 in Warwick, under the supervision of Thrive Behavioral Health ($876K)
RI ranks 42nd out of 50 states in its favor for fast foods – solidifying our love of good, food
Pawtucket will premiere a new promotional video – This is Pawtucket – on Jan. 5th at 5:30pm
MA wants to hire a Housing Czar – will also begin to remove people from the streets
URI basketball games canceled due to COVID outbreak
Sweetspot, RI’s 6th marijuana dispensary will open in South County
13 more charter schools in RI were approved
A man committed suicide by jumping from the kitchen area at the Graduate Hotel on to the street
The former office manager for a Pawtucket dermatologist’s office – School Street Dermatology and her son are facing federal charges for ½ million dollars embezzlement, fraud, and health care fraud
The Urban League building will be razed and a new building for services in the community will take place due to $1M commitment from Mayor Elorza
The Vanderbilt Hotel in Newport is debuting its renovated guest rooms
Jim Vincent to become senior advisor to BLM RI PAC
RI stay at home day care providers settled contract that gives them increased wages, retroactive to Jan 2022, but not retirement benefits and health insurance they sought
LaSalette celebrates its 70th year and will remain “lit” through January 1st
RI Foundation gives $550K to 24 animal-welfare groups
Head of the Providence School Board – Kinzel Thomas – will leave when his term expires 1/1/23
Speaker Shekarchi said he wants to abolish the office of EOHHS (Health & Human Services)
As of Dec. 22nd, nearly 400 large capacity gun magazines were turned into local police departments
RIPTA and Providence police were faulted for not all carrying Naloxone (Narcan) in their vehicles
Over 3,200 Rhode Islanders left the state last year
A fire of lithium batteries closed ABC6 stations in Providence, leaving fire officials with a warning about lithium batteries
Polar Park construction company – Gilbane – pays nearly $2M in fines for not fulfilling pledge to hire certain percentage of workers that were minority or women-owned sub-contractors
Boston is considering a temporary mask mandate in schools
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Elon Musk took a poll to see if people want him to stay on as head of Twitter – it was in the negative. He is now actively seeking someone to manage it
Quebec is moving residences and businesses in from the shore, saying they recognize they will not win against climate change encroaching on the coastline
Over 379 million doses of fentanyl were seized in 2022
China is seeing both a surge in COVID and an extreme shortage of basic medicines such as ibuprofen but also paxlovid
78% of children’s hospital beds in US are full due to RSV
400 National Guard members deployed to border as Title 42 continues to stay in place by emergency order
Children’s pain meds are harder to find at local pharmacies
The Stealth bomber fleet is grounded after an emergency landing and fire
Ukrainian president Zelenskyy visits the White House on 12/21 – first trip out of country
Scott Peterson loses new trial bid; convicted killer to remain behind bars for life
Barbara Starr retires from CNN
NBC Universal closes their Vermont news bureau for NECN & NBC10 Boston will also close their Vermont news bureau
Donald Trump’s taxes will be released by the end of the year
6.4 earthquake in northern California
Due to several recent turbulent airline flights, it is advised people keep their seatbelts on whenever they are seated
In the UK, ambulance drivers are on strike, and people are being asked not to play sports, drive unnecessarily or drink
USPS will begin to transition to electric vehicles
Congress passes $1.7 trillion budget
Several buses of immigrants arrived at VP Kamala Harris’ home in DC
Taliban have forbidden women from attending universities
Taliban have told NGOs that women employees can no longer work and must stay home
In UK, a Downing Street source said plans are being worked on to bring older people back to the workforce, especially those who retired early – over-50s – to help bolster the economy
The new budget includes a provision increasing mandatory retirement withdrawal from 72 to 75
4 NGOs have left work in Afghanistan due to Taliban banning women from working for them. They are: Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE.
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PASSINGS
Stephen Evangelista, 74, founder of RI Special Olympics
Tony Freitas, Plunderdome testimony responsible for conviction of Buddy Cianci
Franco Harris, 72, Pittsburgh Steelers fame
Frank “Cadillac” Salemme, 89, member of RI crime family
Kathy Whitworth, 83, the “winningest” golfer in history