In the news… for July 22, 2023

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

The “R” Line bus on RIPTA will no longer be free in the fall of 2023

Largest “ranch” for sale in Texas being billed as “half the size of Rhode Island” for approx.. $250Million

RI cannabis officials will go on a statewide listening tour

Made the prestigious ranking of No. 12 on the 50 Best pizza restaurants in the United States, is Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana in Wakefield

A dog died in a car at Bally’s casino in Lincoln, RI, during the heat wave

There are four new pieces of exercise equipment at WWII Veterans Memorial Park in Woonsocket

More than 500 of 14,000 Massachusetts dams are at risk of failing

Cranston St. Armory project will not continue with SCOUT; too much risk for RI taxpayers. Should be a citywide project. Will pursue transferring building to Providence. Prov owns parking lot & park, state currently owns bldg.

RISLA (RI Student Loan Authority) has moved to Chapel View in Garden City, Cranston

Primary signatures of candidate Sabina Matos from Jamestown were found to contain fraudulent signatures, including people who were dead.

A 39 y.o. man has died in the water at Scarborough while rescuing two people struggling in the water.

2 films being made in Rhode Island are on hold due to the union strike

Good News Clubs can operate in RI public schools as after school programs, per the RI Supreme Court. They are evangelical groups and have operated prior to COVID in Coventry, Cranston and Chariho districts.

A new basketball court in Central Falls will open at the end of summer, along with a new baseball field.

Breeze Airways will add 2 more flights to Florida from TF Green.

13 Democratic candidates for CD1 have qualified; and 2 Republicans, with no Independents

MA State House had a sub-basement electrical fire

The Amazon building in Johnston will open in 2024

Walter Berbrick was chosen by lottery to be in the first position for the CD1 election ballot

Rhode Island’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.9 percent. Rhode Island’s unemployment rate is also well below the national rate of 3.6 percent

Nicholas Alahverdian who is waiting extradition to the US fell ill with suspected COVID and his case is on hold

Michael Flynn sells his Portsmouth, RI home for $1.9 million

A $2M Powerball ticket was sold in RI

Solitary confinement now limited to 60 days

Bekah Berger moves from Hot 106 radio to 92ProFM Radio – Kim Zandy was let go after 24 years as co-host on 92 ProFM

CD1 candidate, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, held a news conference denying any knowledge or information about fraudulently collected signatures on candidate forms collected by at least 2 campaign workers in Newport, Jamestown, East Providence and Barrington. In Jamestown, signatures included dead people. In East Providence, signatures included the entire EP City Council.

The situation is referred to the RI Attorney General’s office, who has said he will only be doing a criminal investigation, not a campaign one, and that is the responsibility of the Board of Elections. Matos said, “I expected this from the MAGA Republicans…not from…” This is a developing story.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Aviation research shows that the first 3 minutes after takeoff and the final 8 minutes before landing are when 80% of plane crashes happen.

Russia will not allow Ukraine to ship grain – going back on their agreement of last year

Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish have been called as defence witnesses in the Kevin Spacey trial

The number of Americans living alone has more than tripled since 1940

Scotland medical professionals are calling for mask-wearing again

A new NYPD Commissioner has been named – Edward Caban

Home insurance rates in Florida have increased by 130% and many companies are canceling renewals – Farmers and AAA.

An RSV injection for babies is now approved by FDA

Ticket for soccer game with Massi up to $110,000

President of Stanford resigns after his past research was questioned

NYC trains and subways will raise their prices

Google AI debuted a tool for journalists to help take facts and write stories for them

Wesleyan University ends legacy admissions – Amherst, Johns Hopkin and MIT have done so, too

Washington Commanders football team sold for $6billion – with a $60million fine from NFL.  Magic Johnson is one of the new owners, along with private equity firms.

NYC is issuing alerts to migrants coming into the city that they can no longer provide shelter or services to them, and they should consider that when picking a city to locate to. They are also giving 60-day limits to some as well.

Walmart will offer sensory friendly shopping hours at stores from 8-10am on Saturdays when lights will be dimmed, intercoms not used, and television sets turned to static

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PASSINGS

Tony Bennett, 96