Subscribe!
In the news… quick look at the week ending May 11, 2024
Quick summary of the week’s news…
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
The Columbus Theater in Providence to close
American Shared Hospital Services of California has purchased 3 radiation oncology practices in RI, including Decof Center at Roger Williams Hospital, run by Genesis.
Steward Hospital system files for bankruptcy
Mayor Smiley announced 2 new members of his staff, Ted Carr, new Director of Economic Development and Erik Scalavino, new Director of Communications, and Wedley Thelemaque as First Source Director
RISD students went into a RISD building downtown and won’t leave – following small demonstration
Lilly Pulitzer opening in Garden City Center this weekend
Providence will launch a new home repair program designed to help income-eligible homeowners who have incurred multiple housing code violations make essential repairs to their homes at no cost.
Viola Davis will receive an honorary doctorate at URI during its May 18th graduation
Steamship Authority will have two new vessels – nearing the completion of the retrofitting process at an Alabama shipyard – they will replace the M/V Gay Head and the M/V Katama
Jet Blue to soon fly direct to San Jose, Puerto Rico
Sumner Tunnel will close for a month by July 5th
Tides to take over St. Mary’s Home for Children
RIPTA former CEO, Scott Avedisian, sentenced to 60 days probation, to be expunged afterwards if no further infractions take place.
Cranston passes regulation to bring city employees minimum wage up to $15/hr – in 2026 budget that will cost about $20K to implement
TF Green Airport is issuing an RFP for toilet seat cover dispensers – over $200K
Walt Buteau, of WPRI has left and is now with Residential Properties
RIPTA will conduct an interactive input session on Mon, May 13th from 4 to 7pm at the AMP in Providence on transportation and RIPTA plans.
RISD students are out of their building occupation, after being threatened with expulsion
Providence Atheneum was evacuated when a package was suspected to be a bomb
Superior/Supreme Courts were evacuated when an abandoned suitcase was suspected to be a bomb, and exploded – it was filled with clothing
John Howell sells Cranston Herald, Warwick Beacon, Johnston Sunrise to Joy Fox. Howell will continue being involved in the Warwick Beacon.
All 3 macaws returned to Roger Williams Park Zoo, after a day’s escape into Cranston
LEOBOR changes were passed in the RI legislature as it moves toward signage
2 Presidential scholars from Rhode Island – Ryan Steven Lukowicz, North Kingstown Senior High School, North Kingstown and Margaret Catherine Lauder, Portsmouth High School
Money from cruise ships coming into Newport will increase – funds will support debt service for planned area upgrades – seawall, harbormaster building, inc.
Babies R Us will reopen – in Kohls – in RI
RI ranked 26th in Best States in US by US News & World Report
Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone wants to hold a laser light show on Sept. 1 instead of fireworks on the 4th of July.
The Station Fire Memorial needs maintenance after 7 years on brickwork, landscaping, etc. – stained and deteriorating walkways leaching from stone facades and masonwork. “It’s falling apart”. Most of the poor work is being named Yardworks – he says they will go back and repair and work on the memorial.
Gov. McKee names Dr. Jerome M. Larkin, of Lifespan, as the new head of the RI Dept. of Health.
ProJo reporter, Amy Russo, leaving the ProJo, getting out of journalism
Barrington HS and other local schools were closed early on Friday – one young man with a knife called police and he was apprehended in an athletic field
2 encampments in Prov. were extended time to leave from Sunday to Tuesday so advocates can work with them to find housing
32 whistleblowers from Boeing have come forward about construction problems
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial honored James Varin & Robert Gardner James from RI in a group of 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023.
This week is National Quahog Week in RI
Gaspee Day Parade is set for June 8th
(From the Boston Globe): Providence’s Newcomer Academy, a new high school that opened last year for recent immigrants over the age of 17 with interrupted education, is being investigated by the USDOJ for failing to adequately teach the students English.
Bill Belichick has purchased a second home on Nantucket, where he has long lived
___
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Mystic Dan won over Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a photo finish, by a nose, closest race in nearly 30 years.
Madonna performed at a free massive concert at a Brazil beach – 1.6 M attended
McDonald’s to test larger burger
Barron Trump, 18, has declined to serve as an at-large delegate at the Republican National Convention, after being elected, saying he has a schedule conflict
ABC News President is leaving – said to have polarizing leadership
VA will cut 10K jobs nationwide
Miss USA stepping down to “focus on her mental health”
Miss Teen USA steps down because the pageant no longer matches her values. She won 6 mos ago.
Columbia Univ. canceled its graduation
13 conservative judges say they will forgo hiring from Columbia Univ.
The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case of Pres. Trump has canceled the May 20th date for trial, with no new date given.
Panera ends their lemonade with very high caffeine, responsible for 2 cardiac deaths
CVS Health acquires Hella+Health, a New York-based Medicare Advantage broker
Individually wrapped cheese would be largely banned under a far-reaching NY Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act requiring companies with net incomes over $1 million who sell or distribute food or products to reduce plastics and other packaging that ends in landfills or waterways by 50% over the next 12 years.
AstraZeneca is withdrawing its coronavirus vaccine, due to low demand
Israel shuts down Al Jazeera media site in country
Burger King turns 70 next week and plans multiple 70 cent promotions
Swiss Army will be producing new pocket tools – without blades.
TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have sued the US govt over the law requiring them to divest
New COVID variant, FLiRT is now active in US
The testimony of 500 people employed at the FDIC documents widespread sexual misconduct and harassment
Tik Tok sues the US, saying they cannot sell the company by June 19th and that it is against the 1st amendment to do what the rules are telling them to do – it is expected to take years to settle the future of Tik Tok
NYTimes added over 200K subscribers last quarter
Prince Harry came to London for the Invictus Game event but did not see his father, King Charles
Certain chemicals, including formaldehyde will be banned in straighteners due to cancer risk.
Press. Biden says he will not ship certain weapons to Israel if they go into southern Gaza – facing serious backlash to that decision. Israel says it will fight alone if it has to
Justin Bieber and his wife are expecting their first child
Babies R Us reborn inside Kohls stores
Beach Boys Brian Wilson to be placed in conservatorship
Chinese Zoo dyed dogs to look like pandas
Michigan woman found living on a roof in a large grocery story sign hollow area – complete with a computer, keurig, etc. She was offered housing, but said she didn’t want it.
Pres. Trump says he will debate Pres. Biden any time, any where – Pres. Biden’s response was “set it up”
Top 10 girls’ and boys’ names of 2023 released by SSA: (in order) – Girls: Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Ava, Evelyn, Luna. Boys: Liam, Noah, Oliver, James, Elijah, Mateo, Theodore, Henry, Lucas, William
MIT protests end on campus when police and clean up crew moved in. Protesters moved to demonstrating in front of the MIT President’s home.
All MA protests on campuses have ended – except for Harvard University
Pope Francis urged Italian families to have more children for the good of society
UVM was pressured by protesting students to cancel commencement speaker, the US ambassador to the UN – protests ended there – as well as at two other Vermont schools
Target says it will “limit availability” of Pride items, noting last year’s problems from conservative shoppers
___
PASSINGS
Susan Buckner, 72, actress famous for “Grease”
Bernard Hill, 79, actor from Titanic
Moorhead Kennedy, 93, freed Iranian hostage
Mary Lee Partington, champion of the humanities in RI