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In the News – for January 7, 2023
A brief summary of news items in and around Rhode Island, the region, and internationally –
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Plouffe’s Restaurant in Pawtucket has closed
A new Connecticut state representative, Quentin Williams, was killed in a wrong way crash returning from the Governor’s ball – the other driver was also killed
James Diossa, incoming Treasurer and Sandra Cano, welcomed their 2nd child, a boy, Alessandro
Military pensions no longer taxable in RI
RI Auditor General, Dennis Hoyle retires after 42 years
The shopping mall, South Shore Plaza, in MA is proposing the addition of over 450 apartments
RI minimum wage up 75 cents an hour to $13/hr – MA goes up to $15/hr
Retirees exempted another $20K in retirement income from taxes in RI
Sports betting became legal in MA in 2023
Half a million federal dollars secured to train Cranston PD in CIT training – mental health
Plum Island in MA being dredged and shored up to prevent loss of homes
The Meeting Street Telethon will be held on February 4th
Seven Stars Bakery union reaches first contract
Compass Real Estate laid off 250 in RI
Restrictions on the Newport Bridge were corrected to be from a 40 ton limit to a 30 ton limit for certain vehicles with 6 or more axles – this impacts very few cars
The RI Housing “Czar” had a report due on 12/31/22 to the RI legislature which was not submitted on time Josh Saal has issued an RFP on 12/29 for someone to do the report. On January 5th an incomplete report was submitted.
Two homeless encampments were cleared this week – one in Woonsocket impacting about 8 people and one in Warwick which had already been vacated, just leaving items behind.
Pawtucket’s homeless situation has come to the forefront as defecation is taking place on sidewalks near the Slater Mill and people are sleeping in front of the Visitor’s Center.
Rhode Island State Police are investigating the potential misuse of funds within the Newport firefighters union.
Univar Solutions will pay an $800K fine for violating the Clean Water Act at multiple locations including the Port of Providence, having to do with handling of toxic chemicals
Boston EMS says they are at a breaking point due to low staffing levels
East Providence’s 10 new red light cameras and one additional school zone camera are now active, sending warnings to violators all month. East Providence will switch from warnings to $85 tickets for red light cameras starting Feb. 1.
ProJo let go David Ng, its editor, who is now with the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia
RIDEM will be stocking 10 ponds and lakes with salmon, trout, and other fish
UMass Boston on Jan. 9th, reinstates its indoor mask requirement for all students/staff
Massachusetts applied for nearly $2 billion from the federal government to replace the “ancient” Bourne and Sagamore bridges, which was denied, according to the Massachusetts DOT.
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Morocco, England, France, South Korea, Australia, the US, and Canada will require negative COVID tests for travelers coming from China
French President Macron said he will “overhaul” the country’s healthcare system
The FDA is expanding availability of the abortion pill, making it available through telehealth and the mail
Amazon cutting over 18K jobs, saying they hired too rapidly during pandemic
Salesforce will cut over 7K jobs, and scale back office space
Stars of Romeo & Juliet, the classic movie, are suing for ½ billion dollars over a nude scene done without their understanding when they were teens – they are now both in their 70s – the lawsuit was filed after a new law released the statute of limitations for such violations.
NYPD police officers are leaving the state – many are reported to be going to Florida – for “pay and respect”
Leqembi, a new Alzheimer’s medication, is the first showing it can slow the decline in memory and thinking. The FDA has approved it for patients with Alzheimer’s with mild or early-stage disease.
A 6-year old shot his teacher in Newport News, and the teacher is in critical condition.
First Lady Jill Biden will have a lesion removed from over her eye with MOHS surgery as a skin cancer precaution
Many scientists are concerned about spread of a more aggressive form of COVID from China in the next 6 months
Martina Navratolova announced she has both throat and breast cancer
Colorado says they will be sending migrants coming their way to other states such as DC and NYC
Damar Hamlin has been taken off a breathing tube, and is recovering from sudden cardiac arrest suffered during the Buffalo Bills football game, even addressing his teammates during a facetime call to his team.
Star the Bulldog wins best in show at the 2022 AKC National Championship
Half of New York nurses have settled their potential strike issue, while the other half remain unsettled
The U.K. Extinction Rebellion says its activists would temporarily stop blocking busy roads, gluing themselves to buildings and paintings, and engaging in other acts of civil disobedience because such methods have not achieved their desired effects. To further its goals of getting politicians, corporations and the public “to end the fossil fuel era,” the group said it would instead focus on broadening its support with actions such as getting 100,000 people to surround the Houses of Parliament in London on April 21.
Over 500 migrants have arrived in boats at the Florida Keys
New Zealand has said it will not require COVID tests for Chinese arrivals in the country,
A 19 year old from Wells, Maine attacked several police officers with a machete on New Year’s Eve in Times Square
Shopify is drastically rescaling their meetings – eliminating many entirely, and providing structure for others, as much time is wasted on meetings, they find
Bed, Bath & Beyond may declare bankruptcy
War has broken out between Mexican Defense Forces and the Sinaloa Cartel in Culiacan in response to the arrest of El Chapo’s son.
An Iowa woman, 115, believed to be the oldest American, died this week
Rep. Kevin McCarthy secured leadership as Speaker of the House of Representatives late Friday night, on the 15th round.
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PASSINGS
Lincoln Almond, 86, former RI Governor
Anita Pointer, 74, Pointer Sisters, of cancer
Bill White, 81, lost a leg in the Boston Marathon bombing
Fred White, 67, of Earth, Wind & Fire